United States
News:
West Coast:
Tae Soo Do® Black Belt Graduation Class of Summer 2008:
We would like to congratulate the Tae Soo Do Black Belt Candidates
Class of Summer 2008!
They have worked diligently for the last four months, taking one
pre-test each month for three months starting in March, 2008. Finally
they have met all their requirements and now most of them will embark
on a new journey of becoming a Hwarang Warrior!
 Spencer
Kent is 9 years old and is in 3rd grade. Other than Tae Soo Do,
Spencer likes running, kickball, basketball, and handball. Spencer
says that Tae Soo Do has made him stronger and has helped him
in all areas of life – social, academic, and physical. He
wants to be a runner when he grows up. “My dad runs marathons,”
he says. Spencer will move on to the Hwa Rang Do Black Sash Program,
making a commitment to acquire his black sash which will take
approximately another 8 to 10 years. |
 Spencer’s
brother, Ryan is 7 years old and is in 2nd grade. He also likes
basketball and handball, as well as baseball. TSD has taught him
how to do cool jumps and kicks and has made him athletic. He is
unsure of what he wants to do in the future, but he still has
plenty of time to figure that out. He also loves Island’s
Fish Tacos and Hamburgers. Ryan will move on to the Hwa Rang Do
Black Sash Program, making a commitment to acquire his black sash
which will take approximately another 8 to 10 years. |
 Dresden
Meyer is 12 years old and is in 7th grade. She enjoys body boarding,
computer games, and swimming. When Dresden was searching for a
martial arts program nearby, she stumbled upon Tae Soo Do. She
came, tried out, and signed up! Dresden says, “It has taught
me many life lessons that are essential to leading a good life.”
TSD has also made her mentally and physically stronger. “I
am be able to defend myself against opponents by practicing techniques.”
When Dresden grows up, she wants to be a doctor so that she can
save lives. Her favorite movie is Iron Man and she loves custard. |
 Conor
Meyer is a 9-year-old and is in 4th grade. He enjoys many different
type of sports including basketball, baseball, football, and soccer.
He also likes studying and jogging. Conor tried a few other martial
arts before he chose Tae Soo Do. TSD has taught him discipline
and self-control. “Training makes me stronger physically
and mentally.” Conor is realizing one of his goals: getting
his black belt, but he would also like to join the army. His favorite
movie is I Am Legend. |
 Isaiah
Faulkner is a business owner and musician. His interests are in,
“most things that involves speed, fuel, and a decent level
of danger.” Tae Soo Do has given him more focus, strength,
stamina, and a better sense of calmness. Everything he has learned
here he has applied to his life. He wants to increase his musical
success with his current band, Mad Life, and plans to continue
training in Hwa Rang Do. |
15th Annual Anniversary and
Chief Master Taejoon Lee’s Party:
The fifteenth annual West Coast Hwa Rang Do Academy Anniversary Party
kicked off with a KIAP! As Do Joo Nim watched over, Susuk Kwanjangnim
led his students once again through the labyrinth of self-discipline,
along the path of honor, through the fields of practice, and onto
the mat for a demonstration unlike any other!
Parents, friends, colleagues, family and fellow Hwarang all watched
as Little Tigers demolished boards, with reverse punches, front kicks
and jumps spin kicks; as families took to the mats together, wielding
Ssang Jyel Bongs with speed, power and accuracy; as children and teenagers
performed open hand forms with precision, and brown belts wielded
jang bongs at dizzying speeds causing whirlwinds inside the dojang;
as the Hwa Rang Do Juniors flipped and fell, Jokyonim Day dazzled
with his spear form, and the Hwa Rang Do adults pummeled each other
into fantastic submissions! Jokyonim Day then threw Christian Boothby
around like a rag doll, pinning him, spinning him and finally suflexing
him to the mat!
Of course we cannot forget that this anniversary also marks Chief
Master Taejoon Lee’s birthday. He has injected his spirit into
the Dojang to give it life and it is befitting that the Dojang grows
a year older with its life-giver. Chief Master Lee received a wonderful
gift from all his students and was graciously accepted.
As we do every year, the family also brought plenty of food to feed,
from enchiladas to kim chee, from Chinese chicken salad to barbeque
spare ribs. After working hard to perform punches, kicks, open hand
and weapon forms, techniques, attacks, and defenses, the West Coast
Hwa Rang Do Academy played hard with music, food and fellowship well
into the night.
Just wait until next year!
Reynaldo Macias – TGT Member/KCC Editor
Chief Master Taejoon
Lee Lectures at Team Karate Center:
On June 27, 2008 Chief Master Taejoon Lee did something he’d
never thought he’d do… he went outside his beloved Hwa
Rang Do® family, and lectured for 2 hours to a group of Hapkido
black belt candidates about a myriad of topics related to his love
& passion for the martial arts, his love & passion for Hwa
Rang Do® and the REAL value training in the martial arts brings
to society.
You may be wondering, “What’s the big deal about speaking
at another school? Why was this so earth-shattering?”
Well, in order to understand why this was so important, there are
a few things you must understand about Hwa Rang Do and the martial
arts industry in its current state. First off, Hwa Rang Do is the
world’s only martial art whom has their name internationally
trademarked and their entire curriculum, from white belt to 7th degree
black sash.
This was done in an effort to preserve the integrity, quality and
identity of the art.
Hwa Rang Do wants to remain Hwa Rang Do, and not be mixed or associated
with other arts for the sake of just mixing. Today, Hwa Rang Do by
itself is the world’s most comprehensive martial art, and from
a practical matter, does not need to mix curriculum with other arts.
Aside from that, it was “a big deal” for Chief Master
Lee to speak to another martial arts organization, because of the
state of the martial arts industry today. Especially, with the rise
of mixed martial arts and the spectacle of cage fighting, the industry
has become increasingly commercialized where profits take priority
over serving society and those who practice the martial arts.
In a world where you are judged by your friends and their actions,
one has to be really careful with whom they associate with. The risk
of forming any connections with other organizations should be something
that is weighed heavily.
However, Chief Master Lee still wanted to bring back to the martial
arts industry, some of the values, traditions and etiquette which
made martial artists such incredible role models in years past. Business
will always be business and of course profits are important, but Chief
Master Taejoon Lee did not want to simply stand by as these traditions,
etiquette and personal growth took a back seat to over-hyped “kill
a man with your bare hands” message the industry was putting
out.
Fortunately, Chief Master Lee does know a handful of friends in the
industry who do operate with integrity, see the great value in traditional
martial arts and have the ability to influence the industry.
The result of this desire within Chief Master Lee and a connection
to the rest of the industry was a lecture to a group of young and
aspiring black belts. He did this with the hope of stirring their
consciousness and, hopefully, having them be the ripple which shifts
the direction of the industry as a whole.
Here is Master Lee’s lecture where he reveals much about Hwa
Rang Do, martial arts and its history, but in reality it’s only
the icing on the cake. Of course to learn it all, you must become
his student.
http://completemartialart.com/ml_lecture.html
We hope this adds value to you as well.
Hwarang,
Fernando Ceballos – TGT Member/Internet Development Team
Also see:
Summer 08 “Kwan Chang Chronicles” – West Coast Hwa
Rang Do Academy Quarterly Newsletter (http://www.hwarangdo.net/school/nl/KCC15.2.red.pdf)
Florida:
Student Spotlight:
Joe Markey is a purple belt Tae Soo Do student at Hwa Rang Do School
of Jacksonville. He’s been in Tae Soo Do for two years, and
besides training in our Art, he is also a dancer. Joe has studied
ballet and tap for two years, this year he began jazz dance.
Joe attends his Tae Soo Do classes one day per week, joining in the
Little Tiger class in addition to his regular Junior class. The Little
Tigers benefit from Joe’s example, and he has the extra time
to practice his techniques.
On June 21st Joe performed in his dance recital in Jacksonville,
and as the only boy in his dance troupe, he brought balance to the
performance. He also brought Tae Soo Do to jazz!
The finale of the jazz dance, entitled “Jump” now includes
Joe’s Tae Soo Do jump chop kick. Joe says, “Ballet helped
my jumping and balance in Tae Soo Do. But jumping to ‘baqua’
side in Tae Soo Do helped me land softly in dance. After I watched
Kegan (a Tae Soo Do elder brother) doing jump kicks, it helped me
with landing and with ballet.”
Apparently it helped quite a bit; in July Joe’s dance troupe
won 2nd place Overall in the National Dance Competition.
International
News
Italy:
The First Tae Soo Do® Promotional Examination in Pisa
- June 20, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008 in the gym "Mithos" (Pisa) we had
the first TSD promotional examination for the new students. This club
started on April 8th, 2008 by Pietro Picconi, a TSD apprentice instructor.
He has been helping Ins. Mattiucci with many things and was excited
to take on the responsibility to manage and teach the club.
We all are very proud of the TSD students in Pisa. Instructor Pietro
has done a great job. All his students were very nervous, but gave
it their all. After the examination, Ins. Mattiucci gave a wonderful
talk on our art and the value it has on our daily lives to all the
family and friends who were present. Of course everybody was impressed
with the physical techniques, but most all they appreciated the spirit,
attitude, and mindset carried by Tae Soo Do & Hwa Rang Do students
and our code – Hwa Rang Do Meng Sae.
Asst. Instructor Pietro is sitting next to Kyosa Mattiucci as he
administers an oral test to one of Pietro’s students on Hwa
Rang Do and its history.
Hwarang Forever in Pisa!!!
