Contents:
- Tuition                                                                       
- Memberships
- Testing
- Calling
- Class Online
- Grade Cards
- Christmas Party
- Art or way (article by Mr. Todd)

Tuition
      We are still experiencing students failing to pay for their classes on time.  We will continue to check for students who are behind on their tuition and under no circumstances should a student pay their tuition later than the 15th of the month.   Contact one of the instructors if you are having problems getting the tuition paid on time and we will work with you on this matter.  Please work on eliminating this topic from future newsletters. 

Memberships
      There are still students at yellow belt green stripe and above who have not joined the United States Taekwon-Do Federation (USTF).  This is a requirement prior to being promoted to green belt.  In the future students may test but will not be promoted to green belt unless there is some outstanding reason for failing to join.  The cost is $35.00 which includes your lifetime membership (there is a small annual maintenance fee), an identification card, and patch.    Please contact Mr. Todd or Mr. Bushor for additional details. 

Testing
      Currently we are reviewing students who will be ready for promotion testing.  The next promotion testing will be Saturday, November 6th  starting at 1230.  We will pass out a testing letter outlining who will be testing on Thursday, October 21st.  Students will test when both Mr. Todd and Mr. Bushor have agreed they are ready.  Normally this will be three months, but some students may require longer.

Calling
      Some students are still not calling or emailing us when they will miss class.  The requirement is that a student must notify Mr. Todd or Mr. Bushor if the are missing class.  You can notify Mr. Todd at 293-2610 or email rtodd@axetkd.com, or Mr. Bushor at 291-4013 or email kbushor@cox.net, or the Youth Center at 294-5152.  If you call or email your absence will be excused.  All other absences will be subject to a penalty of 50 pushups for each absence.  Please support us in enforcing this rule and eliminating this topic from future newsletters.

Class Online
      As you are probably aware we have a web site for our school at http://members.cox.net/ustfneb/.  You can read past newsletters, obtain pattern information, download forms, etc.  We are considering placing a roster/listing of students and their current rank on the web site.  There will be no personal data other than the student’s name and rank listed.  Please let Mr. Todd or Mr. Bushor know if you are opposed to having your or your child’s name listed.

Grade Cards
      We want to assist students into developing into mature, responsible individuals.  In an effort to do this we are requesting that all students in school bring in their progress reports.  This is not punitive and we are hoping to support your efforts in doing well in school.  Remember all students must work hard in and outside the class.  Our responsibility as instructors is to produce well rounded students. 

Christmas Party
      We are planning on having a potluck Christmas party at the Youth Center for all students and their families.  We will be sending a flyer home soon outlining this event.  This is a great time for students to get to know each other, parents to meet the instructors and enjoy some holiday spirit.  This event will be held on a class night during class time to minimize any disruptions to your already busy holiday schedule.  Please consider this an essential event to attend.  Mrs. Schultz will be coordinating this event and may solicit students and parents for assistance. 

Art or way
By Ricky J. Todd, 6th degree

     I am going to briefly discuss the art or way of Taekwon-Do in my opinion.  The DO in Taekwon-Do is literally translated as the art or way.  This article has held up this edition of the newsletter since I have so many thoughts that I would like to share concerning this but I will keep it to a minimum. 

     All of us start the martial arts for many different reasons.  Reasons vary from exercise, self-confidence, something fun to do, self defense or other reasons.  Whatever the reason you started you are really cheating yourself and the art if you don’t pay attention to the art or way.  This is what separates us from other martial arts including the various schools that call themselves Taekwon-Do.  We want students to learn about all aspects of Taekwon-Do.  We keep the mental knowledge minimal for the kid’s class but expect more in the advanced class.  You have to understand more than just how to perform your pattern.  You must understand all your techniques required for your belt and the belts below you.  Can you fully explain everything about your techniques including the proper name, where to strike an opponent and with the correct striking tool?  If not you are missing out.  Do you understand the reason your pattern was named?  The art or way demands that you question everything and try to know as much as possible each technique.

     There are many times when a student feels they are ready for promotion and they really have not learned everything required for their current rank.  A good example is side piercing kick.  You learn this kick at white belt yellow stripe and really don’t perfect the kick until you are a black belt.  If you train hard you might be able to attain a black belt in about 3 ½ years.  You may ask 3 ½ years to have a good side piercing kick?  I would say yes, you have to be able to throw it without thinking about the proper knee and foot alignment.  It has to be an instant reaction to a threat or when it is needed.  This is why in sparring you may feel “I should have thrown…” but your mind isn’t fast enough to throw the technique.  This is because you have not been mentally and physically conditioned to react naturally and instantly.  There is nothing in Taekwon-Do that is natural, we normally don’t pick up our feet higher than our knees, so all kicking and other techniques have to be worked on extremely hard.  This is all in the pursuit of the art or way of Taekwon-Do.  Do not rush to learn additional technique.  You should work hard on what you have learned and attempt to master each individual technique before moving on to the next. 

     Sadly, many other martial arts push students fast to be promoted either because the instructors don’t understand the art or way or in a desire to make more money.  What good is this?  You will have technically inferior students.  Taekwon-Do in the past was something to be proud of and if you stated you were a green belt, people were awed and mystified that you were taking something that required hard training.  Now people will even disrespect the black belt.  If you mention that you are a black belt (any rank) people will immediately state they know someone who received their black belt in 2 years or that is 12 and a 3rd degree or something ridiculous.  These students are promoted without understanding the art or way of their art. 

     We strive to be a complete martial art and this is why the discipline is strict.  This is also why you must study your required mental knowledge and work hard.  In the past a green belt possessed the skill to .  Today many black belts in other styles would not survive an attack due to poor training and not taking the martial arts serious. 

     Many people see martial arts as a physical exercise.  There are now many classes for Tae-Bo or kick boxing where the instructors have no martial arts experience.  This might be good for aerobic exercise but some of these classes advertise they are teaching self defense.  Students that are in these classes might be able to kick and punch but do they understand how to generate maximum force or strike vital points to disable an attacker?  No, and they are not practicing martial arts, they are simply kicking and punching.

     There are also people who claim to be black belts in different styles or want to study different styles?  Why?  It will take a lifetime to master any martial art to the point of being able to react naturally, understand all techniques, and be able to explain the technique, demonstrate and teach it fully.  Every martial art has strong points; they are all only as good as the instructor teaching it.  You may like the throws or falls in Judo, if so then dedicate yourself to that art.  You can’t become good at both Judo and Taekwon-Do.  I have talked with some of these instructors that claim to have black belts in different styles and some stated they only do this for fun.  We don’t practice Tae Fun Do, we practice Taekwon-Do and it has to be serious.  When you first start training at white belt it might be for fun, but by the time you reach green belt it has to be more than fun.  You have dedicated many hours of practice, missed other events in your life, spent money and studied hard.  It has to be for the art or way and making yourself a better person, not just for fun.  Taekwon-Do is also not for just getting in shape.  Our moves are designed to be explosive and actually energy conserving.  Sparring might be aerobic but usually you only spar for a two minute round.  Getting into shape is not the purpose of Taekwon-Do.  Its purpose is for self defense, develop self confidence, being able to handle yourself in stressful situations, and being able to react naturally in a self defense situation. 

     We take Taekwon-Do seriously and insist that students take the art very seriously.  We expect students to be loyal and dedicated to the art and their instructor.  In my past it wasn’t discussed if you would be at class, you would be at class if you wanted to be part of the class.  You didn’t join the class, you were accepted into the class by the instructor and if you trained 3 days per week, 2 hours per class you were allowed to stay in the class.  You were not allowed to stay in the class because you paid your tuition.  You were allowed to remain in the class because the instructor trusted what he was teaching you would be used properly and you were deserving of learning this technique.  This unfortunately has changed and students still feel they can not show up at class or fail to call to inform their instructor why they won’t attend.  We do understand other commitments, family, school and other sports, but do expect students to keep us informed. 

     Testing is another area where some styles have basically promoted students because they show up to class and pay their test fees.  Belts are not given in our class for this reason.  Belts are awarded because you are deserving of learning more.  Your belt signifies that you have learned and earned up to a certain point in our art.  It also means we trust you to learn more.  You may see arts that promise a black belt in a certain number of months.  How can you do this when all students develop at different rates?  We usually state it takes around 3 ½ years.  Some will take more.  Those that receive a black belt in lesser time without truly understanding their art will cheapen the image of the black belt.  It has come to the point were it is almost embarrassing to talk about being a black belt because there are so many people that are not serious about the martial arts that have been “given” black belts.  We still take pride in our black belts and in any student that we award, not “give” this rank.  If you earn your black belt with us you will feel a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment.    

     I am not trying to make a statement that we are the greatest instructors, but I am trying to show that we are a martial art and it takes dedication, time, and a tremendous amount of mental and physical effort.  I am not trying to discourage anyone, you can have fun with Taekwon-Do, but you have to be serious about training and the art. 

     I am also not asking for or expecting blind obedience to your instructor.  In the past when an instructor asked a student to go to an event, attend a weekend tournament or something similar a student was honored and made a solid effort to attend.  You have to be willing to attend some of these events to progress in the art.  You will learn a tremendous amount by traveling and observing other people and how they teach or practice.  When I tested for red belt and black stripe I traveled 600 miles on a weekend for testing.  Now there are more black belts available and not many have to do this, but I never questioned the distance or spending my personal time in the pursuit of becoming a better martial artist. I didn’t hesitate to spend the time, I knew that I wanted to progress and learn more. 

     I also traveled from Wichita Kansas to Hahn Germany to test for my black belt.  I flew commercially at my own expense and spent 30 days training with my instructor.  This was to honor him and show him that I was a loyal student and thankful for him showing me the art, allowing me to progress, and trusting me enough to teach me additional technique.  I also wanted to show him what I had learned in the 3 ½ years that I had been training.  I never once regretted the amount of money or time spent on this testing.  It was something that was important to me in my pursuit of the art or way. 

     A serious student of Taekwon-Do will try to practice hard and live by the tenets of Taekwon-Do and the student oath inside and outside the school.  Practice courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit.  Continue to challenge yourself both physically and mentally in your pursuit of the art or way of Taekwon-Do.  If you do this you will be separated from those that simply go through the moves of a martial art and define you as a martial artist practicing Taekwon-Do.