Students of the Month:  The students of the month for October are Ms. Brooke Stelly and Mrs. Sharon 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.  We will evaluate all students eligible for testing during these times.  If students are ready, they will test, if not they will wait until the next test period. 

Saturday Classes:  Due to the construction in the large gym and the basketball season our last Saturday class will be October 25th.  After the basketball season we will return to Saturday, however it may change.  In 2009 we may have 22 black belts in class.  If that continues Master Todd may take 2 Saturdays per month for a black belt classes only.  We will discuss this after the first of the year, but for now the Saturday classes will end 10/25.

Do bok: (by Master Todd)  The official term for our uniform is a do bok.  Most of you are aware of the rules regarding the do bok.  Only authorized patches can be worn on the do bok and it must be white with the TKD tree on the back and the ITF on the leg.  We do allow students transferring into the class to wear their old uniforms until they decide if they are staying with us, usually this will last no longer than 1-2 months.  Your do bok must also be clean (washed) and be fairly wrinkle free.  All students should take pride in their do bok.  Similar to a military uniform it should be worn with pride and not be worn when it starts to look bad.  Also the do bok can’t be worn to any event that would bring disrespect to Taekwon-Do, this would include wearing it to parties or trick or treating. Please dress in something else during the Halloween season. 

Also your belt follows the same rules.  You worked hard to earn the belt that you now wear.  It should also be treated with pride and respect.  It should not be worn outside a training hall (dojang) or martial arts event.  All students should remove their belt and place it in a bag or carry it folded in your hand.  It should not be draped around your neck or any other body part.  Actually the do bok and belt have specific requirements for folding and transport.  Master Todd or Mr. Bushor will show the students soon how this is done.  If you have any questions on this please see Master Todd.  I have included the following from the Taekwon-Do encyclopedia.

Practice Suit (Do Bok):  (Page 176-178, Volume II, Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do, by Choi Hong Hi) (Summarized by Master Todd)
When we wear a uniform, we accept a certain role in society and we are obliged to behave accordingly.  Our martial art was given the name “Taekwon-Do” to distinguish its technique, philosophical system, spiritual foundation and rules of competition from other Oriental martial arts.  We have a uniform unique to Taekwon-Do for the same reason.  The ITF introduced this do bok in 1982.  It is the product of many years of research and development.  This new do bok retains the aspects of the traditional do bok while representing a new age in terms of design.  It eliminates many of the inconveniences associated with other martial arts uniforms.  It will not, for instance, become undone during practice or tournament.  It has also put an end to the dishonest practice of relying on starched material to create an artificial sound.
The do bok is considered a primary necessity in both training and tournament for the following reasons:

1. The wearing of the do bok should instill pride in the student as a practitioner of Taekwon-Do.
2. It identifies the degree of skill and cultural education in Taekwon-Do that the individual has attained.
3. The style of the do bok is symbolic of Taekwon-Do heritage and tradition.
4. Grade and degree changes indicated by belt color create incentive while simultaneously preserving humility.
5. The do bok is extremely practical and healthy.
6. The official do bok distinguishes orthodox Taekwon-Do from its imitators.

The do bok consists of a shirt, pants and belt made of a synthetic material, detron mixed with cotton.  This material is a vast improvement over standard cotton in that it is more durable and flexible.  The shirt and pants must be white in color to symbolize the traditional color of the Korean costume.  Superfluous frills, piping, lettering and designs are not permissible.  It is very important for the student to keep the do bok clean at all times, wear it correctly and treat it with the respect he owes to his art.  Black piping around the edge of the shirt is worn by the black belt holder.  The piping is 3 centimeters in width and is symbolic of the royal family and members of aristocratic houses during the Koguryo, Baekje and Silla Dynasties.  An international instructor is distinguished by black stripes 3 centimeters wide on both sides of the shirt and pants. 

Shirt:  (do bok top): A tapered shirt is more practical and aesthetically pleasing than a tight or lose one. The sleeves should be long enough to reach the wrist.  The length of the shirt should be to the top of the thigh.  It is permissible to wear a T-shirt under the do bok if the student desires to do so.  (Axe TKD rules only allow for white T-shirts)
Pant: (do bok pants): The length of the pants should be to the top of the ankle bone. 

Tournaments:  The class recently attended both the Battle of the Belts in Missouri and the USTF Grand Master Sereff Fall Championship.  All students did very well and should be proud of their accomplishments.  Pictures will be posted on the website soon of both events.  This will be the last tournament for this year.  In 2009 we will have several tournaments:  May – Axe TKD 2nd Annual – Offutt; June – USTF Nationals – Washington; Sep – Battle of the Belts – Missouri.  There may be more tournaments but these are the tournaments currently scheduled.  Again, we encourage students to participate in tournaments when they can.  Remember, you must compete in one USTF tournament prior to making your black belt.  We encourage black belts to compete in one tournament per year.  Tournaments are about more than just earning medals.  They are an excellent way to gauge your patterns against others and to conquer your fear of performing in crowds and against other students. 

Black Belts:  (By Master Todd)
Next year we may actually have 22 black belts in the class!  That would be amazing and I would be extremely proud of this event for our class.  I have included wording below from the Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do to keep in mind.   

Significance of first degree:(Page 94-95, Volume I, Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do, by Choi Hong Hi)

First Degree – Expert or Novice?  One of the greatest misconceptions within the martial arts is the notion that all black belt holders are experts.  It is understandable that those unacquainted with the martial arts might make this equation.  However, students should certainly recognize that this is not always the case.  Too often, novice black holders advertise themselves as experts and eventually even convince themselves.

The first degree black belt holder has usually learned enough technique to defend himself against a single opponent.  He can be compared to a fledging who has acquired enough feathers to leave the nest and fend for himself.  The first degree is a starting point.  The student has merely built a foundation.  The job of building a house lies ahead.  The novice black belt holder will now really begin to learn technique.  Now that he has mastered the alphabet, he can begin to read.  Years of hard work and study await him before he can even begin to consider himself an instructor and expert.

A perceptive student will, at this stage, suddenly realize how little he knows.  The black belt holder also enters a new era of responsibility.  Though a freshman, he has entered a strong honorable fraternity of the black belt holders of the entire world; and his actions inside and outside the training hall will be carefully scrutinized.  His conduct will reflect on all black belt holders and he must constantly strive to set an example for all grade holders.  Some will certainly advance into the expert stages.  However, far too many will believe the misconception and will remain in novice, mentally and technically.

Tentative Schedule

2008
October 30 – Class Halloween Party – See Ms. Brumbaugh or Ms. Reep for info
November 8th & 9th –  USTF Class A Instructors Course
November 15th – Basic Ho Sin Sul Course – Kirksville, Missouri
November 21st – Axe TKD Testing, NEW START TIME 5:30pm
December – Axe TKD Holiday Party
2009
February – Testing
February – USTF Class C Instructors Course – Colorado
March – USTF Referee Course – Axe Taekwon-Do
April – Testing
May – 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