Congratulations: To the following students who have graduated from high school.  They will all be attending college this fall.  We are proud of their accomplishments.

Ms. Lefebvre, Mr. Jewell and Mr. Mr. Ferrara

Farewell:  Mrs. McKiernam, Mr. McKiernam, Steve and Robert are moving to Virginia.  They will be missed.  Mrs. McKiernam who is now a first degree should be able to establish a school there soon.  Congratulations to both Steve and Robert who were promoted to green belt during our last class. 

Testing:  We have a promotion on Saturday, May 21st at the Offutt Youth Center, large gym.  The doors will be open at 10:00 am and the testing will begin at 12:30pm.  The testing list is posted on our website at http://www.axetkd.com.  There are three things that we consider to determine who is eligible to test: 1) have you been training for a minimum of three months, 2) have you attended most (80-85%) of the scheduled classes, and 3) can you execute all the new requirements for your next belt.  We are a little flexible on the first two.  We looked at every student to make sure they will be able to meet the third requirement.  If your name was not on the list, that does not mean you are failing, it just means you need a little more time before you test.  Remember it is a breach of etiquette to ask to test.  Selecting who is going to test is something that your instructors take very seriously.  This testing will have one person testing for second degree black belt and three for first degree black belt.

Promotion Dinners:  Due to the size of our class we are unable to have large organized dinners and keep the cost down for all students.  Instead of having a promotion dinner after every testing we are going to schedule a couple during the year along with a cookout and some other events for everyone.  When you are testing for any degree of black belt, all the black belts and the red belt black stripes testing will go to a dinner together to welcome the black stripes into the black belt rank and celebrate any black belts being promoted to the next degree.

Summer Breaks:  We understand that many of you will go on summer vacations soon or may have conflicting sports schedules.  We ask that you try to attend as many Taekwon-Do classes as possible.  It is not a good idea to take off the summer, as you will find that you forget many of your techniques.  It takes a long time to condition your body to execute the movements gracefully and immediately without hesitation.  This only comes from constant training.  Many students that take off the summer or extended periods of time do not return to the class.  We want you to enjoy your summer and other events but not be gone for too long or miss many classes.

Events:  We hope you enjoyed the recent sparring and patterns tournaments.  We will schedule a breaking tournament that will be open to all yellow belts and above.  We will have more information available soon.

Website:  Do you check the website?  We are located at http://www.axetkd.com.  We try to post changes to your class schedule and many educational items on the website.  You can also look at your individual patterns if you are having trouble remembering your movements.  This site is for you, so if there is something you would like to see on the site please inform Mr. Todd or Mr. Bushor.

Taekwon-Do Camp:  The summer camp will be August 5th, 6th and the 7th in Missouri.  We should have details soon.  This is a great camp where you can go at any rank.  This camp is hosted at a military school that is out of session for the summer.  We are housed in dormitories and there is plenty of supervision.  The cost is reasonable and includes your place to stay, food and about 8 hours of Taekwon-Do instruction per day.  It is not all hard work there are plenty of opportunities for fun, including a pool.  We will ensure that anyone that wants to attend will have transportation to and from the camp.  We will have several adults or their parents from the class driving.  Please consider attending the camp this year.  Look for details soon.

Student Instructor Relationship (General Choi Hong Hi – Founder of Taekwon-Do) (Comments by Mr. Todd, 6th Degree Axe Taekwon-Do)

1. Never tire of learning. A good student can learn anywhere, any time. This is the secret of knowledge. 

(We see students who learn a technique then feel that it’s good enough and they do not try to perfect the technique before moving to the next.  This is a bad way to train and will result in a student that has poor technique and will not be able to or progress in Taekwon-Do)

2.  A good student must be willing to sacrifice for his art and instructor. Many students feel that their training is a commodity bought with monthly dues, and are unwilling to take part in demonstrations, teaching and working around the do jang. An instructor can afford to lose this type of student. 

(We really do not ask much in the way of sacrifice except to be in class on time and call or email us if you will be missing class.  Are you the type of student who arrives early or that runs out the door immediately after class or do you assist in setting up and cleaning up the classroom?  This is where you can be of great assistance.  Be active in your class.)

 3.  Always set a good example for lower ranking students. It is only natural they will attempt to emulate senior students. 

 (This is very important because lower ranking students will do exactly what the seniors do in class.  Why should a white belt say, “yes sir” or try hard in class if the green belts are not doing it?  The minute you walk into the classroom or put on your uniform you are an example.  Remember everyone is watching you and you must set a good example for others.)

4. Always be loyal and never criticize the instructor, Taekwon-Do or the teaching methods.

(This would be extremely disrespectful.  Why would any student do this?  In the past I have encountered several students that joined my classes who were initially taught by another instructor.  Several displayed this attitude and did not make it in our classes.  If you don’t like the way we teach or promote Taekwon-Do, you are more than welcome to move to another class.)

5.  If an instructor teaches a technique, practice it and attempt to utilize it.

(We do see students not abiding by this rule.  They either do not practice the step sparring or self-defense movements as taught or are too eager to try something new or that they feel is better.  This is not the correct attitude.  We teach the techniques in a specific order because they work and are proven to produce a quality student.  If you are requested to perform a technique, do not provide excuses why you can not do it, just try your hardest.)

6. Remember that a student's conduct outside the do jang reflects on the art and instructor.

 (This statement requires some thought from all students.  You cannot be respectful in the class then disrespectful outside the class.  You should be striving to make yourself a better person in and out of class.  We would rather have students that are role models of good behavior outside of class.  This shows that we are not teaching people just to perform dangerous self-defense techniques but teaching students to be better people.)

7.  If a student adopts a technique from another do jang and the instructor disapproves of it the student must discard it immediately or train at the gym where the technique was learned.

(This is an easy rule to follow.  First you should not be training at any other martial arts classes.  This will only cause confusion for you and slow your training.  You should strive to be your best in whatever art you chose, whether it is Taekwon-Do, Kung Fu or Karate.  This could occur if you learn a technique at camp or another Taekwon-Do event.  If the technique is different from what you learned in this class show Mr. Bushor or I and we will either approve it or tell you that you that you must not use it.)

8. Never be disrespectful to the instructor. Though a student is allowed to disagree with instructor, the student must first follow the instruction and then discuss the matter latter.

 (Not many students are disrespectful intentionally.  Here are a few examples that we consider disrespectful that you may not have considered.  a) Not calling when you will miss class.  b) Talking when an instructor is teaching or talking.  c) Interrupting when we are teaching other students or talking to them.  d)  Not paying your monthly tuition or turning in your testing forms on time.  e) “Forgetting” to bow or say sir.  f) When you are told to line up continuing to talk instead of being quiet.  g) Requesting to go to the bathroom (class is one hour to one and a half hours long, you should go to the bathroom prior to or after class).  h) Turning your back to an instructor.  I) Not informing your instructor when you are quitting the class.)     

9.  A student must always be eager to learn and ask questions.

 (My favorite type of student is the person who wants to know everything about every technique they are taught.  Example of a white belt:  Why do you rotate your fist when punching?  Why do you only punch with your first two knuckles?  How do you make a tight fist?  What line do you punch on?  What level are your punches?  Why do we pull the other hand back to our belt?  Why do we punch from the belt?  Why do we exhale when we punch?  Why do you tighten your abdomen on the moment of impact?  How can I punch harder?)

 10.  Never betray the instructor.

(This is about mutual respect; we trust you by teaching you the art of Taekwon-Do and expect you to be respectful to us and not misuse what we are teaching you.  If you place your trust in us we will not break the trust either.)