USTF Instructor Course – Class C:

On February 19^th and 20^th, Kirksville Taekwon-Do in Kirksville, Missouri hosted the USTF Class C Instructors Course.  The course was taught by the USTF Director of Technique, Grand Master Winegar; and was attended by 17 first time students plus an additional 20 return students.  Congratulations to Mrs. Duralia, Ms. Grant, and Mrs. Chamberlin, who all passed the final exam.  It was 2 days of over 11 hours each, with great instruction and many, many, many kicks...

Maestas TKD Tournament – March 19th:

The first USTF Taekwon-Do tournament we will be attending this year is in Arvada, Colorado on Saturday, March 19^th.  We will leave the Youth Center on Friday, March 18^th and return Sunday, March 20^th.  We sent home letters and the registration forms for this event.  You can download a registration form also from our website at http://www.axetkd.com/PDF/Maestas_Tournament_16_000.pdf  It is still not too late to attend and participate.     We are arranging transportation and lodging for all that are attending.  If you have questions please contact Sr. Master Todd at ustfneb@cox.net

Final Payment World Camp – Apr 1^st:

The final payment for the USTF World Camp to be held at Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado from July 10^th-15^th 2016 will be due on not later than April 1^st.  The final payment is $300 per person, which covers housing, meals, t-shirt and training.  The flyer is posted on the Axe TKD website.  Last year 11 students attended, and we are excited to have even more interested this year.  A large group from Australia will be in attendance again.  This is a wonderful opportunity to be submerged in not only TKD but different students around the world.  It is still not too late to attend, so see Sr. Master Todd ASAP.  Get your final payment to Sr. Master Todd by Tuesday, March 29^th.  Credit card information, if desired is located on the registration form.

Sr. Grand Master Sereff – Course – April 16:

Sr. Grand Master Sereff the founder of the USTF will be teaching his last seminar at USTF Headquarters in Broomfield, Colorado on Saturday April 16^th.  We will depart the Youth Center on Friday April 15^th and return on Sunday April 17^th.  All black belts should strongly consider attending this event.  The seminar will be from 1-4pm and the cost is $40, all color belts and black belts are invited.  Many of you have not trained with Sr. Grand Master Sereff and this will be his last time teaching. 

Sr. Grand Master Sereff is a direct student of General Choi, the founder of Taekwon-Do.  Our linage can be traced without question to the founder of Taekwon-Do; we are the “Original” Taekwon-Do. 

weekends per year.  He has coached US teams to world championships in Montreal, Athens and Malaysia.  He started teaching an annual USTF Summer camp that began with 50 students to over 400 in 1993. 

Sr. Grand Master Sereff was the President of the USTF, directing over 15,000 USTF members.  There is a great video montage at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlX-YqTyCoE

We will arrange transportation and lodging for all that are interested in attending.  Please contact Sr. Master Todd if you would like to attend this momentous occasion at ustfneb@cox.net.

Summer:  (Sr. Master Todd, 8^th dan)

My annual summer reminder that I understand family commitments, baseball, soccer, etc.  Please remember that you only train two times per week.  If you are not making the required number of classes you will not be eligible to test.  This does not mean that I want you to stop training, just understand your progression may slow during the summer for your other events.  I know that I press everyone including parents to attend class.  I was very active as a child in youth baseball and played baseball, basketball and football in high school.  I know the pressures of those activities.  I would like to say I would have still made every Taekwon-Do class but I know that isn’t possible, I still may miss perhaps one class per year.  Taekwon-Do is a lifetime activity, youth sports and activities are not.  My children were heavily into ice hockey and it consumed our schedule when they were younger.  I still made all my TKD classes, but I was only running the kid shuttle. 

I am okay with anyone pursuing their interests as I said TKD is a lifetime activity.  A very small percentage of children actually get to play in organized sports beyond high school or into college.  Many parents and kids (I know I did also) dream of playing professional sports and it's good to dream.  Pursue those interests as they do make you grow as a person.  TKD will always be there.  However here is my warning to parents and students.

okay for maintenance but will not lead to growth.  Compare how well you would do in aerobics on your own versus an organized class. I have lost many talented Black Belts to this.

2.  During other activities you are still bound by our rules if you want to remain in the class.  This means you (students) are still required to let us know when you are going to be out of the class for any reason.  This is part of our lesson in responsibility.  It is true you pay for classes but this doesn’t entitle you or us to be anything other than respectful of each other’s time.  You can call or email us.  Our contact information is on the website.

3.  Return to class in a full time capacity as soon as possible.  Don’t become frustrated that you may fall behind, remember you chose your other activity and TKD is a lifetime activity.  It really doesn’t matter what belt rank you are as long as you are proficient.  You can be a great Green Belt or join another class and become a mediocre Black Belt.  I would always choose the great Green Belt.  Please remember if we tell you that you can’t test or need to wait longer we are doing you a favor, ensuring you a better martial artist

4.  Finally in addition to your already busy schedules we do have two very important events to consider.  The Axe Tournament and USTF Camp.  I know I push these very hard each year.  These events will not be successful without your participation.  Besides the fact you are required to participate in a tournament, it will also provide you with valuable lessons.  Camp also provides a great learning experience and can lead to new friendships and a fun summer event!

New Students:  (Mr. Bushor, 6^th dan)

Because most of us are tied to the military in one way or another, we know that students come and go and we continually have new students join the class.  Other TKD schools around the country don’t see this type of turnover in their students.  We are currently on a recruiting phase now and we want new students!  You can play a big part in recruiting new students for our class.  As you meet new people at school or work and talk about school, hobbies, work, etc., I’m sure TKD always comes up.  If someone seems interested, invite them to watch a class, tell them to visit the school website (www.axetkd.com), and answer all the questions you can.

As new student join our class, take the time to welcome them.  Try to get to know them, they are new members of your Taekwon-Do family, and should be included in everything we try to do.   Remember, you were new to our class at one time too.