Future Planning:
Sereff Tournament
On October 16th we will be travelling to Denver, Colorado for the Sereff Tournament on Sunday the 17th.  We will return on Monday the 18th.  We understand that some of you will not be able to attend due to school or work.  However, this is the largest tournament of the year.   If you truly want to test yourself and have the time available, we invite you to attend.  There is more information posted on our website.

Halloween Party
In past years we have held Halloween parties in class, any interest this year?  Please contact Ms. Bowing if you are interested or have any ideas.  We would hold this event the Thursday prior to Halloween during normal class times.  We are asking your opinions on this and Ms. Bowing can be reached at arbowing11@hotmail.com 

Holiday Party
Our annual party will probably be Tuesday, December 21st during class time.  Then there will be no classes December 23, 28, or the 30th.  Classes will resume the first Tuesday in January.  If anyone would like to volunteer to run the holiday party please contact Ms. Bowing.

Instructors Course:
We are hosting the USTF instructors course March 26th and 27th 2011 here at Axe Taekwon-Do.  All black stripes and above are required to attend and certify.  If you are already certified you will be required to attend the refresher.  The course is taught by Grand Master Winegar, USTF Director of Technique.  The flyer will be posted soon on our web site.  Prices are listed on the flyer.  Registrations and deadlines listed on the flyer are for students outside our class.  Our deadline is 30 days prior to the date listed.  Your deadline for registration and payment will be January 15th, 2011.  Due to the cost of this mandatory event if you want to make payments prior to the deadline please see Mr. Bushor.  We will accept payments now.

Chivalry (By Master Todd, references from various internet sources)
We practice the tenets of Taekwon-Do as outlined by its founder Gen. Choi.  However, one important tenet, which is very important inside and outside the dojang, is courtesy.  I find this lacking outside our class by almost everyone I meet on a daily basis. I don’t even expect it anymore and I am utterly surprised when I encounter someone courteous.  A small example from yesterday.  I order a meal at a fast food restaurant, one of the combo meals including fries.  When the meal is delivered to my car, it’s missing the fries.  When I ask for them I am informed, “they will be right out”, not a problem you are thinking?  Well the manager delivers them to me personally to let me know the original order was rung up without the fries but here are my “free” fries.  I really didn’t care how they were ordered, as that wasn’t the point.  A mistake had been made and they followed the usual method of blaming someone else then acting as if they are doing you a favor.  Again, a courteous response would have been sorry sir, here are your fries.

In my line of work, I bite my tongue daily with smart responses I would love to give people but due to my courtesy or at least striving to be courteous, I refrain and bite my tongue.  I do not want to be that type of person who is rude or discourteous.  I expect, no really demand the same from all Taekwon-Do students from white belt on.  This courtesy goes back to the knights and their ideas of chivalry. 

As students of a martial art, do you know what Chivalry is?  It was once a term regarding knights and knighthood.  While we do not have knights anymore, now it can be used to explain courteous behavior.  Especially of men towards women.   In history, we can find the following examples:  Knights protecting the honor of the weaker members of society; Knights were taught to excel in the arms, to show courage, to be gallant, loyal and to swear off cowardice and the code of the value of a man's honor, respect for women, and a concern for those less fortunate. 

The tenets of the Knights as outlined in an encyclopedia are: Duties to countrymen and fellow Christians: this contains virtues such as mercy, courage, valor, fairness, protection of the weak and the poor, and in the servant-hood of the knight to his lord.  Duties to God: this would contain being faithful to God, protecting the innocent, being faithful to the church, being the champion of good against evil.  Duties to women: this is probably the most familiar aspect of chivalry. This would contain what is often called courtly love, the idea that the knight is to serve a lady, and after her all other ladies. Most especially in this category is a general gentleness and graciousness to all women.

I could describe many other things, opening the door for others (not just women), being respectful to your elders, mothers, fathers, etc.  One area that I am reminded during social events with my seniors is the courtesy of allowing the most senior person to eat or drink first.  You might think this only applies inside a Taekwon-Do setting but the same applies in social settings.  When in a restaurant or at home, you should wait until everyone is served their food.  Then start eating together, in a Taekwon-Do setting wait on the most senior to start.  Your family may not observe this rule, but it is the courteous thing to do.   Of course, my role is to instruct or guide you, rest assured I will do that and point out when you are not following the rules.  My goal is not only to provide you the tools to defend yourself but also to make you a better person in society.  Do not become the lazy manager that brings the fries and actually blames the customer or “someone” else for an error.  Become the knight, a shiny example of courteous behavior. 

 SCHEDULE 2010:
Oct 16th – Basic HSS – Kirksville, MO
Oct 17th – GM Sereff Tournament – Denver, CO
Oct 28th – Potential Halloween party
Dec 21st – Holiday party
2011
Jan – Promotion Testing
Mar 26th – 27th – Class “C” Instructors Course- Bellevue, NE
Apr – Promotion Testing
May – Axe TKD Tournament
June 25th – 26th – USTF Nationals – Broomfield, CO