Holiday Party

   Our annual holiday party was on Thursday, December 19^th and it was another outstanding event.  We would like to thank Mrs. Duralia and everyone who volunteered their time to make this a special family event.  We believe everyone enjoyed themselves, and hope everyone had plenty to eat.  A special thanks for the gifts from the class to the instructors, while this is unnecessary it was greatly appreciated.  We welcome any suggestions for next year’s event, and the planning will rotate to give all a chance to show your planning skills.

Annual Axe TKD Closure

   Our classes resume on Thursday January 2^nd.  We hope that you enjoy your time off with your families this holiday season.  We will be able to tell who practiced on their own during the break!

USTF Memberships - Initial and Annual

  The Initial Fee for USTF first time memberships is $50.00.  The Annual USTF Maintenance Fees are determined each year and for 2014 the fees are $75.00.  This fee is due no later than Thursday, February 27^th, payable to Mr. Bushor.   The Annual USTF Maintenance Fees for 2014 stayed the same this year. These fees allows the USTF to operate a full time office.  In order to continue to help our Taekwon-Do families, the following discounts will apply:

  For family discounts;            1^st family member is $75.00

                                                        2^nd family member is $50.00

                                                        3^rd family member is $25.00

                                                        4^th family member is Free

  As the USTF Nebraska State Director, Mr. Bushor, 6th dan is responsible for collecting, tracking and working this program.  All students Green Belt and above must be members of the USTF.  We collect your initial fee when you test, typically for Green belt.  The appropriate forms and fees are forwarded to the Headquarters in Colorado. We pass out the USTF and ITF patches and membership cards when they are returned to Mr. Bushor.  Students who recently joined the USTF (since October) will not need to pay the maintenance fee this year.  If you have any questions please ask Mr. Bushor kbushor@cox.net.        

Training for 2014 (by Master Todd)

  So for 2014, did you set goals or make any resolutions?  Did they include Taekwon-Do?  I hope that all of you have some Taekwon-Do goals in mind for the coming year.  My goal will be to increase the size of the class and continue to provide quality instruction for all students that join Axe TKD.  Our Instructor staff features a master instructor, a 6^th degree black belt, a 5^th degree black belt, and a 4^th degree black belt.  Not many schools can offer that level of instruction.  That is coupled with the other 19 black belts that are currently assistant instructor certified for this year.  We have many qualified black belts who can assist with instruction.  So is your goal to become a black belt?

  There are no ancient secrets to becoming a black belt.  Only hard training and dedication can help you reach this goal.  Yes, a student could go to another school and make their black belt quicker and easier but what do they really earn?  Some black belts from other schools have the knowledge and skill of some of our yellow or green belts.  This is because we have a great system left for us by the founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi.  This was left to us by his teaching, books and courses.  I was lucky enough to train with him several times at instructor courses, and I continue to keep updated yearly at other USTF courses.  I push that knowledge out with the assistance of Mr. Bushor, Ms. Bowing, and Mr. Finan.  I am not equal to Gen. Choi’s knowledge or Grand Master Winegar’s knowledge, and I never will have in TKD.  Those types of instructors are “a once in a lifetime deal”.  All of you missed out on training with Gen. Choi in person; however you can still train with Grand Master Winegar at the USTF Instructor’s Course. 

  I am really dismayed when a black belt states “I am already certified, why do I need to go again?” I think, “Really?”  I honestly can’t count the number of Class C courses I have attended- maybe ten, maybe more.  I learn something every time, and I am always available to help my students understand what is being taught to them.  I had a student tell me one time that Grand Master Winegar throws 100 percent of his knowledge at you hoping that about 40 percent will be retained.  This is probably true as it is in our class.  Think of when you first learned the side piercing kick.  By yellow belt green stripe you probably think well, I have that kick down.  Then look again at that kick when you are a blue belt; it is way better than it was at yellow belt.  Look again at red belt then at black belt.  That one simple kick gets better and better.  It didn’t change; it's the same technique, but through countless hours of performance and correction by your seniors, it gets better.  I hope by throwing 100 percent of the knowledge and training tips I have learned that you absorb it all eventually. 

  Remember we were all white belt beginners at one time.  I tested and promoted to every rank that you will; I have learned through trial and error, constant experimentation what will work and what doesn’t.  Take advantage of the time we have together and learn as much as you can.  If you really want to excel don’t stop training.  Once you achieve your black belt you must train even harder, attend more than the minimum number of required classes necessary (2 per week) and you will see the results.  Technically proficient black belts always train more than the minimum.  I have never set a goal for myself to become the minimum, or to be average.  Why would you?  Make your goal to be the best Taekwon-Do student you can be this year!

TENETS OF TAEKWON-DO  (by Mr. Bushor)

  Your success or failure in Taekwon-Do depends largely on how you observe and implement the Tenets of Taekwon-Do.  You are a student of Taekwon-Do 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and all serious students of Taekwon-Do should use these Tenets to guide their life and actions.  Your conduct inside and outside the do-jang reflects not only on yourself, but also on the art, your school, and your instructors.

I renew my challenge to you this year is to live up to the Taekwon-do tenets and student oath we all learned as White Belts.  I want you to try and actually practice them in your daily lives. They should be more than words we repeat from time to time. If we all try our best to follow the tenets and student oath, to treat each other with respect, and to help one another, we will help build the more peaceful world that General Choi dreamed about.

COURTESY (Ye Ui)

  It can be said that courtesy is an unwritten regulation prescribed by ancient teachers of philosophy as a means to enlighten human beings while maintaining a harmonious society. It can be further be as an ultimate criterion required of a mortal.
Taekwon-Do students should attempt to practice the following elements of courtesy to build up their noble character and to conduct the training in an orderly manner as well.

1) To promote the spirit of mutual concessions

2) To be ashamed of one's vices, contempting those of others

3) To be polite to one another

4) To encourage the sense of justice and humanity

5) To distinguish instructor from student, senior from junior, and elder from younger

6) To behave oneself according to etiquette

7) To respect others' possessions

8) To handle matters with fairness and sincerity

9) To refrain from giving or accepting a gift when in doubt

INTEGRITY (Yom Chi)

  In Taekwon-Do, the word integrity assumes a looser definition than the one usually presented in Webster's dictionary. One must be able to define right and wrong and have a conscience, if wrong, to feel guilt. Listed are some examples where integrity is lacking:

1) The instructor who misrepresents himself and his art by presenting improper techniques to his students because of a lack of knowledge or apathy.

2) The student who misrepresents himself by "fixing" breaking materials before demonstrations.

3) The instructor who camouflages bad technique with luxurious training halls and false flattery to his students.

4) The student who requests ranks from an instructor, or attempts to purchase it.

5) The student who gains rank for ego purposes or the feeling of power.

6) The instructor who teaches and promotes his art for materialistic gains.

7) The students whose actions do not live up to his words.

8) The student who feels ashamed to seek opinions from his juniors.

PERSEVERANCE (In Nae)

  There is an old Oriental saying, "Patience leads to virtue or merit, One can make a peaceful home by being patient for 100 times." Certainly happiness and prosperity are most likely brought to the patient person. To achieve something, whether it is a higher degree or the perfection or a technique, one must set his goal, and then constantly persevere. Robert Bruce learned his lesson of perseverance from the persistent efforts of a lowly spider. It was this perseverance and tenacity that finally enabled him to free Scotland in the fourteenth century. One of the most important secrets in becoming a leader of Taekwon-Do is to overcome every difficulty by perseverance. Confucius said, "one who is impatient in trivial matters can seldom achieve success in matters of great importance."

SELF CONTROL (Guk Gi)

  This tenet is extremely important inside and outside the dojang, whether conducting oneself in free sparring or in one's personal affairs. A loss of self-control in free sparring can prove disastrous to both student and opponent. An inability to live and work within one's capability or sphere is also a lack of self-control. According to Lao-Tzu "the term of stronger is the person who wins over oneself rather than someone else."

INDOMITABLE SPIRIT (Baekjool Boolgool)

  "Here lie 300, who did their duty," a simple epitaph for one of the greatest acts of courage known to mankind. Although facing the superior forces of Xerxes, Leonidas and his 300 Spartans at Thermoplylae showed the world the meaning of indomitable spirit. It is shown when a courageous person and his principles are pitted against overwhelming odds.
A serious student of Taekwon-Do will at all times be modest and honest. If confronted with injustice, he will deal with the belligerent without any fear or hesitation at all, with indomitable spirit, regardless of whosoever and however many the number may be.

  Confucius declared, "It is an act of cowardice to fail to speak out against injustice." As history has proven, those who have pursued their dreams earnestly and strenuously with indomitable spirit have never failed to achieve their goals.