NO CLASS on Veteran’s Day Nov 11^th, Thanksgiving Nov 27^th, and Christmas / New Year’s Holiday break Dec 24^th - Jan 5^th

Sr. Grand Master Sereff Fall Championship.  We took a large group of students from Axe TKD to participate in Sr. Grand Master Sereff ‘s Fall Championship that took place on Sunday, October 19, 2014 in Broomfield, Colorado.  Axe TKD was very well represented, Axe JV Team placed 1^st and Axe Team NEMO placed 2^nd in the team breaking competition.  Many thanks to our friends from Kirksville for teaming with us in the breaking competition.  We had several great performances from our students and Miss Ragone competed for the Black Belt Grand Championship again.  During the tournament, Sr. Grand Master Charles Sereff promoted our own Head Instructor, Master Ricky Todd, to 8th Dan, Sr. Master.  He is only the 23^rd individual ever to be promoted to this rank within the USTF.  Congratulations Sr. Master Todd, 8^th Dan, USTF-8-23!  We are very proud of the competitors and of the honor bestowed upon Sr. Master Todd.

USTF Class B Instructors Course: Grand Master Mike Winegar will be teaching a USTF Class B Instructors Course in Broomfield, Colorado on November 8-9^th.  You must be a 3^rd Dan black belt to certify for the Class B, but the course is open to all black belts.  This course covers requirements from 1^st Dan through 4^th Dan black belt, covers all the various flying kicks, and is a very challenging but fun course to attend.  Only the 3^rd Dans certifying for the first time will take the written test.  Cost for initial certification is $200.00;  2^nd Dans costs are $100.00 and recertification is $75.00.  You must be certified as a USTF Class B Instructor prior to being allowed to test for 4^th Dan.  This course is typically offered every other year. If at all possible, I encourage you to attend with this group in November.

November Promotion Testing:  We have testing scheduled for Thursday, November 20^th which is a scheduled class night.  The length of the testing will depend on how many are testing.  The instructors are evaluating all the students and will hand out testing forms to those deemed ready to test.  You must know all your new requirements and be able to demonstrate them without assistance, you must be actively training (a minimum of 7 classes per month), your tuition must be current, and you must demonstrate the correct attitude.  If you not able to meet any of those requirements then you are not ready, and you will not be asked to test.  Keep training hard and you will get there.

Weather:  As we enter the winter season, we want to remind you of the weather policy.  We will have class as long as the Youth Center is open.  If the base closes due to weather, the Youth Center will close.  We never close class on our own.  Use your best judgment with your safety in mind; if it’s slick out, it may be your individual judgement to drive to class or not.  In the event the Youth Center closes, we will post the closure on Facebook, and attempt to email and/or everyone.   In the past, the Youth Center has closed with very little warning, so on stormy weather days make sure you can get into the Youth Center before your ride leaves.

Gear:  Please contact Mr. Bushor if you would like to purchase any gear, books, shirts, jackets, etc.  We have commercial accounts and you can purchase some great items for holiday gifts.  All students need to purchase their own sparring gear, which typically is around the green stripe / green belt level.  We do have class gear you may use, but most students prefer to have their own gear.  All students are required to wear hand, foot, head gear and a mouthpiece when sparring.  All males are required to wear a protective cup.  These are for safety and insurance purposes.

Taekwon-Do, Anytime, Anywhere  By Mr. Patrick Finan, IV Dan, USTF Armed Forces Director

As part of my current duties in the Air Force, I have the opportunity to travel all over the world.  This allows me to be able to help in the spread of Taekwon-Do.  While I was in Korea, I started up MTM Taekwon-Do, and had the pleasure of teaching over 20 students during the year I was there.  I have taught classes in Al Udeid, Qatar on my two most recent trips there.  I try to make every effort to help spread my knowledge of Taekwon-Do.

On this last trip, I was able to reconnect with a former Axe student, Mr. Glen DeMars.  He and I both got there within a week of each other, but had drastically different schedules.  We set up a time that was “convenient” for both of us, 0500.  I say it like that as it was before he normally got up and shortly before I went to sleep.  As my schedule changed, so did our class times and locations.  We worked out at 9 at night, 11 in the morning; I even had a class at 2AM.  We would meet wherever we could find space, the basketball court in the Coalition Compound, the day room in Mr. DeMars’ dormitory, the walkway between dorms, and the racquetball court in the BPC gym.  It did not matter where or when we met, as long as we had a small area to move around.  Unfortunately, my schedule changed quite often, decreasing the amount of time we were able to meet, but we still put forth an effort to keep with it.

I also had the opportunity to meet with Kenneth Rogers, a former student of Master Hannon, who is interested in starting up his own school.  He had been out of Taekwon-Do for several years, and I worked with both he and Mr. DeMars to get them back up to speed.  Even though time was limited, we met as much as possible and were still able to accomplish quite a bit. 

It was great working with old friends and creating new ones half way around the world, while imparting knowledge of Taekwon-Do to help improve others.  TAEKWON!