October is here! 

As the fall season approaches, this means a few things for Axe TKD.

• First, travel for tournaments is coming to an end.  Master Todd and fellow students are appreciative of all who attended the tournaments with us.  We know that it can be costly, but hopefully the experience gained, whether by a win or a loss, has in some way made you a stronger person and better martial artist.  The final tournament for this year is the Senior Grand Master Sereff's Tournament in Colorado! (specific details below)  We look forward to you joining us!
• Second, during this time, a few classes will be canceled due to the holidays. Those dates are listed in the Upcoming Events for you.  Be sure to mark your calendars!  While we realize that family and school events pick up around this time causing students to miss class for a variety of reasons, it is expected to contact Master Todd, Mr. Bushor, or Ms. Bowing PRIOR to class to inform them of your absence.  Please note that missing class may affect promoting on time.  Students may attend multiple classes to make up for the classes they have missed.
• Lastly, now is a great time to start planning for next year!  Master Todd will collect money throughout the year in an account for your tournament fees if this will help you!  A few people have asked why the tournaments were always in Sept/Oct.  Typically, we attend three traveling tournaments annually - the Kirksville/Wyoming in September and Colorado in October.  Every other year is Nationals in Colorado; the next nationals will be 2015.  The only tournament that Master Todd expects ALL students to participate in is the Axe TKD tournament end of April/first of May every year. If you have further questions, please email ask.   The tournaments are worth the investment and a fun experience for all who attend!

 CONGRATULATIONS-Kirksville, Missouri

 On September 28^th students traveled to Kirksville, Missouri for Sr. Master Stephenson’s 25^th annual “Battle of the Belts” competition. It was a smaller tournament than usual, but our competitors still had an opportunity to test their technique in patterns, sparring and if over 16, breaking in front of the judges. Congratulations to those attended and a special thank you to the families who traveled with us!  Remember win or lose, something valuable is always gained. Facing fears and being defeated is sometimes a greater reward than any medal!  It takes courage to get up there and do your best! 

Last tournament opportunity!-Broomfield, Colorado

On October 20th Sr. Grand Master Sereff will host this annual event. We will leave the Youth Center early Saturday morning and return late Monday evening. This is an 8 hour drive. We encourage everyone to attend whether you are competing, refereeing, or supporting Axe TKD students. They make an effort to come to our tournament so we should try and do the same for their tournament. Also, we can chaperone any student who wants to go, but as always, parents are welcomed to travel with us. 

 Promotion Testing-

The next testing has been scheduled for Saturday, November 23 at the Youth Center.  Doors open at noon for set up and warming up.  Testing will promptly start at 12:30 and should end by 4pm. We should have a fairly large testing with students testing for various color belt ranks.  We also have students testing for 1^st degree through 5^th degree black belt.  We anticipate Ms. Bowing testing for her 5^th degree black belt.  This will be significant testing for her as her tournament career will end since the USTF does not allow 5^th degree black belt and above to compete.  She will also be the first student that Master Todd has ever tested or promoted to 5^th degree black belt.  All students who are eligible for promotion will be observed over the next few weeks to determine if they are prepared to test in November.  Remember just because you have met the attendance requirements, does NOT automatically mean you will test.  You must demonstrate your pattern with correct motions and stances, perform kicks and hand techniques with balance and control, and have memorized your step sparring requirements.  Parents, please note that information can be found in the Study Guide on Axe TKD and also there are books for sale on Patterns, Testing and Step Sparring.  Let us know if you need them!  Testing forms will be passed out to those who are determined “ready to test” by Mr. Bushor a few weeks before testing. Don’t wait until the last minute to show you are ready.  Every student needs to start preparing now! 

USTF World Camp 2014-

USTF, Sr. Grand Master Sereff will be hosting their World Camp June 22-27, 2014.  This is a week emerged in Taekwon-Do education, etiquette, training, and building relationships with others in TKD around the world!  Past camps students have went hiking, stood in waterfalls, enjoyed the peaceful scenery, and much more.  Students will travel to Snow Mountain Ranch in the Rocky Mountains for one week.  All students, 13 years and older, are invited to attend.  Students under 13 may be permitted to go, but only with the approval of Master Todd as required by the USTF.  The total cost of the camp is $500 per student which covers housing, daily meals, a camp T-shirt, and all training by the highest ranked instructors in the USTF.  A non-refundable deposit of $250 is due to Master Todd by December 5, 2013.  The remaining portion is due by April 30^th, 2014.  Payments can be made by check or credit card.  Make checks out to USTF.  Those paying by credit card see Master Todd for further instruction.  Everyone that has gone to the World Camp has had an amazing experience!  I hope you make it part of your summer plans!

Comments by Master Todd:  Early in my TKD career I went to this camp several times.  It is a full immersion into the TKD world.  You are with fellow TKD students and instructors 24 hours per day.  They do have scheduled “fun” and other activities and the purpose of the camp is to have fun and learn TKD.  I know some of you have been to the Missouri camps in the past, but this camp will by far exceed that camp.  I plan on going to this camp and I would like to see as many Axe TKD students attend as possible, however you need to be very serious with this camp.  It will be instructed by 9^th degree Grand Masters and a few others.  This is a “World” camp and there will be TKD students there from other countries.  The learning potential at this camp will be outstanding. I am required to personally recommend in writing any students under 13 that wish to attend.  If any parents and/or students have questions about this camp or process please contact me.  You can come into the school or email me at ustfneb@cox.net.  It will be a great summer event and you will be surrounded by your TKD family.  The USTF will keep us busy during this week with a schedule full of training activities. 

What can I do when I am not with an instructor? By Mrs. Ragone

During any given class, the instructors will do their best to work with each and every one of you.  However, with over 75 students who have individual needs this can pose a challenge.  Master Todd and the other instructors may work with the students has a whole group or call up the groups individually by belt rank, and at times, you may be asked to practice on your own.  So what do you do with that time?  Do you stand and talk, mess around with other students or do you continue to train?  Your journey in Taekwon-Do is what you make of it.  One thing I have learned in the past 6 years is you have to give 100% in class both mentally and physically.  That is not to say I have always succeeded at that, but I do always TRY.  When asked to work “on your own,” I would encourage you to try the following:

Truly work on what your instructor has asked you to do.  If it is your pattern, then give it your all and fix something.  This is time for you to memorize the moves in your pattern so that you can then learn more!  Perfect the moves you already know or just learned.  Don’t continue to do it incorrectly!  Make it better than you did before meaning improve your balance, your foot position, hand technique levels and speeds and so on.

Use the windows and watch your reflection to work on something Master Todd has pointed out.  Check the facing of your body, your facial expressions during your pattern, your sine wave.  Really be honest with yourself and improve what you see.

 
Use the blue patterns book.  If you are unsure of your next move, there are patterns books out for you to use.  Also, reading the pattern yourself, can help you memorize the steps and levels.  Reading reinforces what you have been taught.

 
Find a spot on the floor and do your pattern from beginning to end.  Do you start and stop on the same spot?  No?  Then your stances are not correct.  All patterns should begin and end at the same place.

In order to check your stances, use the thick red line on the gym floor to check the width of your walking stances.  Find a one inch line to check your L-stance.  Stances must be performed correctly in order to promote or do well in tournaments.  Keep in mind, stances can change over time as you grow.  For example, as you get taller your walking stance should get longer.

Practice your step sparring.  Again, use the yellow sparring book if you need help.  All of the steps for your rank are in that book.  Step sparring is probably the weakest area during testing.  Step sparring can be done with or without a partner.   You should really do your step sparring on your own once a week during class AND once a week at home to really have it down by testing.

Work on your balance, control and kicks.  Do your kicks in slow motion.  Check your foot position.  Is it correct?  Do you have a floppy foot or is your foot tightly locked?  Are your hands in the correct position when you kick?

Last, ASK FOR HELP.  If you are stuck and don’t know what to do, find an adult or senior ranked person and get help so you can continue practicing.  Standing around and distracting other students isn’t the best you can do and it hurts the other student equally. 

There is no excuse to not be ready for testing.  If you are in class, TRAIN and TRAIN HARD!  Lead by example the next time you are to work on your own and others will follow you.  Every second counts to make yourself the best martial artist you can be, and when you are the best, other will want to be YOU!