Students of the Month:  The junior student of the month for July is Jacob Carter.  The adult student is Ms. Katherine Hosein.  We believe they are excellent examples of the finest qualities in TKD, and display the tenets of Taekwon-Do (Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit). Congratulations!   Please visit the webpage to view their information.

Region 6 Camp:  The camp Registration Form and information is posted on the web site.   Currently we are taking 38 people from Axe Taekwon-Do.  This will be the best year ever.  We thank you for your support and are sure you will have an excellent time.  We can still take a few more if interested but you must contact Mr. Todd or Mr. Bushor quickly.  The camp this year will be held August 10th through the 12th in Trenton, Missouri.  This is about 3 ½ hours from Bellevue and is over 2 hours closer than the camp has been in the past few years.  This is a new location with a new training and food format.  It should be exciting and offer great training.  The prices are:  White belt through 3rd degree $95.00 per student.  A family rate is offered this year with the first student being full price than each additional family member paying $75.00 per student.  Any students that want to attend and not stay at the camp will pay $65.00 per student.  Parents, etc., that want to attend but not participate in classes will pay $65.00 per person.  Again, these fees pay for all your training, lodging, food and a camp T-shirt.  Everyone will receive a t-shirt this year.  You will be required to bring your own pillow, linens, blankets, etc.  You will also need to bring bathroom items and towels for showering and sleeping.  Last year Axe Taekwon-Do had the largest group there and we want to do the same again this year.  You can read about the camp location at the following web site:
 http://www.mostateparks.com/crowder.htm

2007 Events:  (all dates are tentative)
July 19th - 22nd – USTF Nationals Taekwon-Do Tournament – Madison, Wisconsin
July 28th – Black Belt – Pre-Test – 12:00 pm
August 10th - 12th – TKD Camp, Trenton, Missouri
August 25th – Testing, Large Gym – 8:30 am
September 29th – Battle of the Belts Taekwon-Do Tournament – Harrisburg, Missouri
October – Black Belt Pre-Test – 12:00 pm
November – Testing, Large Gym – 8:30 am
December – Holiday Party

Class Picnic & Testing:  On Saturday, June 16th we had a class workout, Black Belt testing and family picnic at the Base Lake Pavillion.  Mr. Finan successfully tested for his 2nd degree black belt.  After the testing we had some hard workouts in the heat, and then we all enjoyed the picnic that the “Axe TKD” Team Moms put on.  Thanks to Mrs. Finan, Mrs. Carter, Mrs. MacCaffrey, and everyone else who helped out.  If you were not there you missed a great time.

Testing:  We will have our next on Saturday, July 25th in the large gym at the Offutt AFB Youth Center.  Mr. Todd and Mr. Bushor will be considering every student and will publish a list shortly.  The testing will start promptly at 9:00 am, so don’t be late.  The Youth Center will be open at 8:00 am and we expect all those testing will be in uniform and stretching not later than 8:30 am.  All students, even those not testing, are expected to attend the testing.  If you cannot attend you must let Mr. Todd or Mr. Bushor know in advance.  Parents, family, and friends are all invited to watch and take pictures or video during the testing.  Come and support all the students testing to their next level.

New Articles
Each month we invite anyone to submit articles for publication.  This month we provide the following from Mr. Finan:

Integrity (By Patrick J. Finan, 2nd degree)
Last month we talked about courtesy.  Let’s take a look at the second tenet of Taekwon-Do, integrity.  Integrity has two main components that work together to foster one concept.  The first part is knowing right from wrong.  That seems easy enough on its own.  We all should have a basic concept of what is right and what is wrong.  Say you are about to do something and you take a quick look around to see if anyone is watching before you do it, then it is probably wrong to do, and you know this because you are checking first to see who is looking.

This brings us to the second part of the concept of integrity, doing what is right, even when no body is looking.  Your integrity is in question if you only do what is right when people are looking.  Now there are times when you can do something wrong and know you can get away with it because no one will ever find out, but you will always know. 

Here is an example…your parents tell you to clean your room.  You start picking up your toys and clothes and you are doing a really good job.  About twenty minutes into it, you decide you do not really want to be cleaning anymore, so you start to just push stuff under your bed, or throw it into your closet and close the door.  Your parents come in to look at your room and see your bed made and everything appears to be cleaned up so they say you can go out and play.  Is your room REALLY cleaned?  No it is not.  You just moved your stuff around your room, but it is not put away.  Your parents may not go into your room to look in your closet or under your bed, but you know you did not clean your room the way it was supposed to be cleaned.  No one was looking so you took a shortcut. 

You need to practice integrity in every aspect of you lives; at home with your family, at work or at school with your peers, and during class when you are working out with Taekwon-Do.  It should be a part of everything you do. 

The Student-Instructor Relationship (By Kevin A. Bushor, 5th degree)

As a fourth gup Blue Belt, students are required to learn about the 10 parts of the student’s responsibility to the Student-Instructor Relationship.  These are things that a good student should keep in mind to get the most out of their training in Taekwon-Do.  Instructors also have their own responsibilities in the Student-Instructor Relationship.  All fourth degree Black Belts learn about the 12 parts of the instructor’s responsibilities in this relationship.  When comparing the two lists of responsibilities there is one theme that is common between them.  The student is told to: “Never tire of learning.  A good student can learn anytime, anywhere.  This is the secret of knowledge.”  And the instructor is advised to:  “Never tire of teaching.  A good instructor can teach anywhere, anytime, and is always ready to answer questions.”  Both of these responsibilities happen to be the first ones listed in there respective list.  This is not an accident, since they are the most important parts of the Student-Instructor Relationship.

These two themes should have a more important meaning to all the members of Axe Taekwon-Do, students and instructors alike.  We are all affiliated with the military, and most of us have or will move away from the Omaha area at some time.  Some of us have been fortunately enough to be able to return here and we hope to make this our final home, but not every one will be as lucky.  That is why I think it is so important that student and instructor (or future instructor) take these responsibilities to heart.  You may not have a great school to attend if you leave here, but that shouldn’t dampen your desire to learn.  You may have to start your own school, just like Mr. Todd and I have at other bases.  Look for every opportunity to train or teach, because you may not know when the next chance will come by.  If you are ready to learn at anytime and any place, you will probably always find someone to teach you or train with you.