Students of the Month:  The students of the month for October are Mr. Logan Frank and Mr. Keith Buckley.  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). Taekwon!  Please visit the webpage to their information.

Testing:  Our next scheduled testing will be on Friday, November 21st, starting at 5:30pm.  This is a new day and time for testing.  The Youth Center will no longer allow us to use the building before their official opening time.  We have decided to do the next testing on a Friday evening and we will see how that goes.  Please mark your calendar now and plan on this date.  We want to eliminate any testing on other nights. Currently testings are held in February, May, August and November.  Our goal is to not test in December to prevent any conflicts with the holidays.  However due to nationals and other events in 2009 the schedule will be changing.  We will conduct our last test of this year in November as listed above.  However, in 2009 the schedule will be February (early), April, July, and October.  Then January 2010. 

Testing Eligibility:  I would like to take a few minutes to explain the process we use when considering who will be allowed to test.  Axe Taekwon-Do tests our students every three months (as mentioned above).  You must be in class a minimum of 3 months before we will consider you for testing.  If you are close and meet all the other requirements we may waive this strict 3 month requirement, but you will need to be an exceptional student.  The next thing we consider is if you are “actively training.”  The United States Taekwon-Do Federation defines “actively training” as attending a minimum of 7 classes each (and every) month.  If you do not attend the minimum number of classes during a particular month, it does not count towards the 3 months.  Once you meet the first two requirements, you are evaluated on how well you know all the required physical requirements (patterns, kicks, step sparring, etc) and the general knowledge requirements (which is in your student study guide).  Finally, if you meet all the other requirements, you must have and display the right attitude.  This means you show up on time, pay attention in class, and work hard in class, without causing problems or distractions to other students (like goofing off).
You cannot be expected to remember everything we teach you if you do not practice and study outside of the class.  You must be ready to do any of the patterns, kicks, hand techniques, Ho-Sin-Sul requirements, and step sparring formats for any of your previous belt levels.  YES you read that correctly, you have to remember everything which means that you need to practice everything.  Since we have limited time in class, and that only leaves practicing outside of class.  As you progress in rank, we expect your technique to get better.  We may let your technique slide at the lower ranks, but if you still have bad technique as a black stripe, you will have a long wait before you will be allowed to test to black belt.
There are some additional time and age restrictions as you progress through the black belt ranks.  Master Todd and I have made some exceptions to the requirements explained above, but we will only consider waiving any of these requirements for the exceptional student.
It is not enough just to WANT to advance, you also need to show the motivation and drive to work hard, train hard, and study hard to actually advance.  You’ve got to want it!

Saturday Classes:  There will be no Saturday classes until further notice.  We will let you know as soon as Basketball season is over.

Tentative Schedule

2008
November 21st – Axe TKD Testing, NEW DAY and START TIME, Friday - 5:30pm
December 25th – January 1 – No classes scheduled due to the Holidays
December 18th – Axe TKD Holiday Party
2009
February – Testing
February 21st – 22nd – USTF Class C Instructors Course – Colorado
March 14th – USTF Referee Course – Axe Taekwon-Do
April 25th – 26th – USTF Class B Instructors Course - Colorado
April – Testing
May 9th – Axe TKD Tournament – 2nd Annual
June 26th – 28th – 2009 USTF Nationals – Kelso, Washington
July – Testing
Aug – (Camp should be in Aug or July)
Sep - Battle of the Belts (20th) - Missouri
Oct – Testing

Who Said It?  Which of our students said that “…music is my passion.”?

USTF News Letter:  The official United States Taekwon-Do Federation News Letter is called the “The T.K.D. Flash”.  Master F.M. Van Hecke from Wisconsin is the editor.  This is a monthly news letter and Master Todd has included a link on our school’s home page to the most current edition.  If you would like to write an article for submission to the USTF News Letter, please let Master Todd and Mr. Bushor see it before you send it off.

Black Belt Requirements:  The Black Belts have numerous additional requirements they must complete before they are eligible for testing.  These include community service, and attending formal classes for Tournament Referee training, Instructor training, and Ho-Sin-Sul training, just to name a few.  All of the specifics are listed in the Black “Dan Testing Syllabus”.  The USTF Headquarters has been very lacked on enforcing these requirements in the past, but that has changed.  You will not be promoted to your next Dan rank until you have completed all requirements for that rank, NO EXCEPTIONS!  You should know what is required and get it done.  We will make every effort to have the required courses available in Nebraska, but that is not always possible.

Black Belt Dress Requirements:  All Black Belts will be required to be properly dressed at all official TKD functions.  This means a clean and ironed white dress shirt, with an official USTF tie or tab, dark blue pants (Dockers, etc), and white tennis shoes.  Black Belts are expected to be properly dresses for all official TKD functions starting in January 2009.  If you have the proper dress before then you are encouraged to wear them.  Official TKD functions include, but are not limited to, promotion testings and testing dinners, USTF tournaments, or meetings with any USTF official or senior Dan (Grand Masters and Masters) on official business.

Parent Participation:  We encourage parents to be active in the development of their children in Taekwon-D by attending class, testings or tournaments.  However we would ask if you have any questions about their development or the classes in general to please contact Master Todd or Mr. Bushor.  The other black belts in the class are assistant instructors and are not responsible for the class curriculum or content; they are there to continue developing into instructors and are under the direct supervised by Master Todd or Mr. Bushor.  We have a master guide for class content and must adhere to the teaching requirements established by the United States Taekwon-Do Federation.  If you have any questions please contact us at ustfneb@cox.net or kbushor@cox.net.