Pizza Ranch Fundraiser: Monday, March 9^th students volunteered to bus tables at Pizza Ranch and other students went to support our cause. We raised $102.00!! All proceeds go towards our trip to Boston this summer for the USTF International TKD Tournament. We plan on doing more fund raisers in the hopes to raise more donations, so if you have any ideas or contact information for good fundraisers let Mr. Bushor or Miss Bowing know A.S.A.P. please.

Arvada Tournament: March 21^st Maestas TKD will be hosting a tournament. We have several students already pre-registered, and everyone is invited and can decide to attend until the morning we leave. The tournament is in in Arvada, CO which is 20 min from Denver. This is the first time we are going to this tournament and we would like to make a good impression and bring as many students that are able to go. We will be leaving Friday morning and returning Sunday evening (20-22 of March).  Let Sr. Master Todd know if you have any questions or would like to add your name to the list going.  You can read our flyer at http://www.axetkd.com/PDF/Maestas_Tournament_15.pdf

USTF Referee Course:  A USTF referee course will be held in Kirksville, Missouri on Saturday, March 28^th.  We will leave the Youth Center early Saturday, attend the course and return Sunday.  Remember all students must become Referee certified prior to being promoted to black belt.  We have sent home information and are still compiling a list of those attending.  Please contact Sr. Master Todd if you are going as we are planning the rooms and rides now.  The cost for initial certification or upgrade is $75.00, refresher is $35.00.  You can read the flyer at http://www.axetkd.com/PDF/Referee2015.pdf

USTF Instructors Course: USTF Class C Instructors Course, April 18th & 19th in Broomfield, Colorado.  This course is open for all students but you must be a red belt black stripe or above to certify for the Class C Instructor.  No students can test for 2nd degree black belt until they successful passed this course.  The course is taught by Grand Master Winegar, the USTF Director of Technique.  The course is 8am-6pm (sometimes later) both days.  We will leave Bellevue on Friday, April 17th and return Monday, April 20th.  The cost is $200 for certification and $75 for refresher.  Again you should attend these courses after initial certification whenever possible to learn as much as you can.  This course covers every aspect of Taekwon-Do from white belt through black belt.  The course is designed to make you a better black belt.  Written tests are only administered for initial certification.

USTF Tournaments:  (By Sr. Master Todd)  There will be plenty of opportunities to sharpen your skills and enjoy friendly competition in 2015.   

March 21 - Maestas Tournament, Arvada, Colorado.  This will be our first trip to this tournament.  This is their 15th annual tournament and Master Martin & Master Pettijohn have a great school.  I have the flyer loaded on the Axe TKD website.  The tournament features breaking, patterns & sparring.  There is also a competition for the school that earns the most 1st, 2nd or 3rd place awards.  It should be interesting.  We are compiling a list of anyone wanting to attend so we can plan rooms/rides.  We sent home the tournament flyer.  Your forms and payment need to be turned into Sr. Master Todd by March 3^rd.  For this tournament we will leave Bellevue on Friday and return Sunday.

May 16 - Axe TKD tournament, Offutt Youth Center. This will be our 8th annual tournament.  Remember all students are required to attend at least one tournament per year.  While I hesitate to make anything mandatory, I would like to see all students of Axe Taekwon-Do attend this tournament.  We will have competitors from Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Missouri who have already inquired about our tournament.  It will feature breaking, patterns and sparring.  The flyer loaded on the Axe TKD website.

July 25/26 - USTF Internationals, Boston, Massachusetts.  This will be the largest USTF tournament in the past 15 years or more.  USTF has invited schools from Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia and South America.  I personally know there will be competitors from the following states:  Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Alaska, NEBRASKA, Kansas, Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi.  If you are interested in attending this event, Axe TKD is renting a 15 passenger van and driving whoever would like to attend.  If we get more than 15 people we will rent a second van.  We will plan rooms to keep the prices down.  Please contact Sr. Master Todd for more information, either in class or at ustfneb@cox.net.  We will have a flyer and registration details posted soon.  We are planning fund raisers now to defer some of the cost for Axe competitors.  We will hold an informational meeting soon.

Sept 12 - USTF Tournament in Casper, Wyoming.  This date has changed in the past month, so check your calendar for availability.  We will also be compiling a list of anyone wanting to attend so we can plan rooms/rides.  For this tournament we would leave Bellevue on Friday and return Sunday.

Sept - USTF Tournament in Kirksville, Missouri.  The exact date is unknown at this time but we will announce the details when we have them.  We will also be compiling a list of anyone wanting to attend so we can plan rooms/rides.  For this tournament we would leave Bellevue early Saturday morning and return Sunday.

Oct 18 - USTF Tournament in Broomfield, Colorado.  The exact date is unknown at this time but we will announce the details when we have them.  We will also be compiling a list of anyone wanting to attend so we can plan rooms/rides.  This tournament is typically held on a Sunday so we would leave Bellevue Saturday morning and return Monday.

I understand that students and families may not be able to attend all events.  The May tournament is easy since we don't travel.  I would suggest you look these events over and decide what you want to do.  All are USTF events and will be run safely.  The Boston event will probably be the most exciting.  In terms of size of competitors at these events that I think will attend:  #1 Boston; #2 Colorado; #3 Axe; #4 Missouri; #5 Casper.  My basis for this is attending the competitions for the past few years and witnessing the actual numbers in attendance.

Sparring Gear:  You will need sparring gear to spar in class or at any of the tournaments we will be attending. Everyone is required to wear head gear, hand gear, foot gear, and a mouth piece; additionally all male competitors must wear a protective cup.  Shin pads and arm pads are allowed and are encouraged but are not mandatory.  If you would like to order a set of sparring gear (head gear, gloves, and boots) for your very own, please let Mr. Bushor know as soon as possible.  The cost is $69 for the entire set of sparring gear.  There is an assortment of colors and sizes.  You can purchase a mouth guard and protective cup at any major sporting goods store or at Walmart.

Class Size:  We encourage all students and their families to help us spread the word that we have Taekwon-Do classes and encourage others to join the class.  We have flyers and brochures we can provide you if needed.  Our overall size is about the same as usual but we have a lot of inactive students right now.  We would like to increase our overall size in 2015.  We would appreciate your assistance with recruiting new students.