Class Changes

On April 1st, 2004, the class formerly known as Meek’s International Taekwon-Do was changed to Axe Taekwon-Do. The class will be instructed by Mr. Ricky J. Todd, 6th degree and Mr. Kevin Bushor, 4th degree. You can read their biographies which are at the end of this newsletter. Master Meek has relocated to South Carolina and Mr. Meek to Alabama. As you read the biographies you will notice that Mr. Todd and Mr. Bushor have extensive teaching backgrounds in Taekwon-Do and since both are retired military the class will continue with a few small changes. We will publish a monthly newsletter to inform students and parents of any changes or news in the class, Taekwon-Do or the USTF. 

We have changed the time to 6-7 p.m. for the youth class and 7-8:30 p.m. for the adult class. We will usually move students from the youth class when they reach 7th grade, to balance the class size or under other circumstances that will be decided by both Mr. Todd and Mr. Bushor. 

Tuition

The class prices will remain the same but we would like to encourage students to pay their tuition on the 1st class day of the month. We will continue to check for students who are behind on their tuition and under no circumstances should a student pay their tuition later than the first class after the 15th of the month. As you will not have to ask us to teach you, we should not have to ask you to pay your tuition. If you have a problem with the tuition, please contact Mr. Todd or Mr. Bushor.

Testing

Currently we are reviewing students who will be ready for promotion testing. The next promotion testing will be Saturday, May 1st starting at 1230. Students will test when both Mr. Todd and Mr. Bushor have agreed they are ready. Normally this will be three months but some junior students my require longer.

Sparring Gear

We encourage students to purchase sparring gear in the near future. We are going to be participating in free sparring with light contact. This is one of the building blocks of Taekwon-Do and an essential part of class. All students will wear headgear; hand and foot gear, mouthpiece and males will wear a protective cup and supporter. We are selling the sparring gear as follows: hand gear $22-$25 a pair; foot gear $22 a pair; shin guard (not required but suggested) $8 - $10 a pair and head gear $25 each. We will supply head gear that students can share but some students prefer to have their own head gear. We suggest you purchase a mouthpiece and protective gup (males) from Wal-Mart or Target. Since we have a wholesale account with Century Martial Arts we can offer prices far below retail. You can check their website at http://www.centuryma.com/ or look at our catalogs for the various items that can be purchased. Some of these items make great gifts.

Memberships

We invite you to join the United State Taekwon-Do Federation (USTF) at your earliest opportunity. It is required at the yellow belt green stripe level. The cost is $35.00 which includes your lifetime membership an identification card and patch. Please contact Mr. Todd or Mr. Bushor for additional details.

Expectations

As you have probably discovered by our classes we expect students to train hard. We can fix technique that requires work, but you have to train hard to produce results. Our primary function as an instructor is to produce technically proficient students who can and are great examples of the tenets of Taekwon-Do. We will emphasize the tenets of Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit. All we ask is that students try hard every class and be very respectful. This is a martial art, not a class to play in. Provide us an open mind, train hard and practice outside of the class and you will see amazing results. You will get out of this martial art exactly what you put into it. We also request that you call the youth center, Mr. Todd or Mr. Bushor when you are unable to attend class. You can also email us at rtodd@axetkd.com or kbushor@cox.net

Instructor Bios

Mr. Ricky J. Todd, VI Dan, USTF-6-106

Mr. Todd is an internationally certified instructor under the United States Taekwon-Do Federation (USTF) and is the Senior Instructor at Axe Taekwon-Do. Mr. Todd began his training under Master Gary W. Meek, 7th degree black belt at Meek’s Taekwon-Do Center, McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kansas. Mr. Todd was the chief instructor at that school after Mr. Meek’s departure from 1985-1986. Due to military service Mr. Todd moved to Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster, Missouri. He founded Todd’s Taekwon-Do Center on the base and was there from 1986-1990. In 1990, Mr. Todd moved to Incirlik Air Station, Adana, Turkey. He founded Todd’s Taekwon-Do Center on the base and was there from 1990-1992. Mr. Todd moved to Onizuka Air Station, Sunnyvale, California and founded USTF California Taekwon-Do in Mountain View, California. He was in California from 1993-1996. In December 1996, Mr. Todd moved to Offutt Air Force Base, Bellevue, Nebraska and was the assistant instructor at Meek’s International Taekwon-Do at the Offutt Youth Center until April 1998. He founded and opened a commercial school named Bellevue Taekwon-Do in April 1998, which was open until 2001. Mr. Todd moved again to Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri in 2000 and started founded Whiteman Taekwon-Do and Windsor Taekwon-Do teaching there until 2002. In 2002 he retired from the Air Force and assumed the head instructor position at the Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska in 2004. He was the USTF State Director for Kansas and Nebraska and the Armed Forces Director. He is currently the USTF Region III Director responsible for Taekwon-Do operations in Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana. Mr. Todd is a retired Air Force paralegal and currently working as a law office manager for an Omaha law firm.

Mr. Kevin A. Bushor, IV Dan, USTF-4-541

Mr. Bushor is an internationally certified instructor under the United States Taekwon-Do Federation (USTF) and is an Instructor at Axe Taekwon-Do. Mr. Bushor began his training under Master Gary W. Meek, 7th degree black belt at Meek’s International Taekwon-Do, Offutt Air Force Base, Bellevue Nebraska in 1992. Mr. Bushor is currently a Class B USTF Instructor, and Class B USTF Umpire. In March 2003, GM Sereff appointed him as the Nebraska State Director, a position he still holds. Mr. Bushor was the head instructor of Axe Taekwon-Do between September 1996 and September 1997 at Araxos AB, Greece. Mr. Bushor has participated in numerous tournaments and in April 1995 was selected Grand Champion, Executive Division, of the Spring Break ’95 tournament in Unionville, Missouri. In October 2001, Mr. Bushor retired after 20 years of active duty with the United States Air Force. During his 20 years he was fortunate to travel to numerous countries around the world to include England, Japan, Turkey, Germany, Italy, and Greece. He now works as a System Manager for Lockheed Martin Information Technology on a computer system located at Headquarters Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE.