Upcoming Tournament: Tournaments are a safe way for students to challenge themselves and utilize what they have learned in class instruction.  A reminder, students who are red belt and above are required to attend at least one per year to be eligible for promotion.     

October 19  Tournament - Denver, Colorado.  We will depart early Saturday the 18^th.  This tournament is on Sunday the 19^th, and we will travel back Monday, the 20th.  This is the biggest tournament of the USTF every year.  It typically features over 45 divisions.  The cost is $25 for one event or $50 for both.  The tournament features sparring, patterns and team breaking competition.  Master Todd is also being promoted to 8^th degree black belt, Sr. Master status by Sr. Grand Master Sereff, 9^th dan, President of the USTF during the tournament.  The flyer is on the Axe TKD website. As always, we welcome any questions to help you make a decision.  You can still attend this event if interested.

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

FYI November Testing: We have testing scheduled for Saturday, November 22^nd but we may change this to a class night.  Scheduling will depend on how many are ready for testing.  We should be able to finalize the date before the end of the month and let everyone know the exact date.

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; 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 email everyone and post to Facebook.   

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 typically around the yellow belt green stripe to green belt level.  We do have class gear you may use, but most students prefer to have their own gear.  When students begin sparring they need hand, foot, head gear and a mouthpiece.  All males are required to wear a protective cup.

Motivation by Master Todd:  What motivates you to train?  I think about this every year.  I have been involved in Taekwon-Do for 31 years now.  The longest break I have taken was probably 2 weeks during a move from one military base to another.  I know students are challenged with work, outside sports, school, life, etc.  I was also challenged with all that but remained steadfast in pursuing the art of Taekwon-Do, it never ends.  You have to face the fact you will never actually master the art.  If you become really good at one aspect there are others to work on developing.  Become a great breaker and your patterns need attention, look great at patterns, then you need to work on kicking.  It never ends.  Some students accept where they are at or a few feel they are better than they actually are at Taekwon-Do.  As I am promoted to Sr. Master Status, 8^th degree black belt, I still don’t have it mastered.  I need work also.  I have never trained/taught less than 4 hours every week yet still I have techniques I need to perfect.  I think that is what I have really enjoyed about Taekwon-Do; I can keep pursuing it and work hard at different aspects of it.  I do find it humorous when a student feels “why should I train so hard, I can’t test for 4 years”.  I think really, well mastering Taekwon-Do isn’t about testing or attaining rank.  It's really about learning to defend yourself, boosting your self-confidence and attempting to master the entire system.  That includes hand and foot techniques, advanced kicking, patterns, step sparring, free sparring, self-defense, breaking and passing the written tests.  Anyone can join a martial arts class and learn to kick and punch.  Ask someone outside of our class, why they turn a certain way, why do they strike at a 15 degree angle, why, why, why. It’s never ending. 

Some martial arts don’t have the answers, they simply say “because that’s how it is, or that’s how I was taught”.  We fortunately have resource books that we can study.  This includes a 15 volume encyclopedia written by the founder of Taekwon-Do, Gen. Choi Hong Hi, condensed versions of the encyclopedia and booklets produced by the United States Taekwon-Do Federation (USTF).  I am lucky enough to follow the founder of the USTF, Sr. Grand Master C.E. Sereff who will promote me again on October 19^th.  I was also fortunate enough to attend several courses and train with the founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi. 

So these are the things that motivate me to include my pride in producing excellent students.  Through Axe Taekwon-Do I have been fortunate enough to produce many Grand Champions.  Some schools are lucky if they ever have one, let alone the number we have produced.  Grand Champions:  Ashleigh Ragone, 2^nd degree (3 times), Graysen Ragone, 2^nd dan (once); Deborah Ragone, 3^rd degree (once) and Sarah Navratil, 2^nd dan (once).  This is just a small sampling of the accomplishments that Axe TKD students have attained.  I have taught hundreds of students over the years but the students at Axe Taekwon-Do are the most knowledgeable.  Ask any of the students that travel to events our students do well in all aspects and my seniors constantly compliment me on their etiquette and technique.  That’s what motivates me.

With that being said, not everyone is motivated for the same reasons. Some are motivated by the physical activity, the friendships in class, the power one feels in breaking, the mental development, or learning the defense moves.  Regardless of WHAT motivates us, Taekwon-Do can continue to reward you if you stay motivated to learn.  It is a lifelong journey!