One month FREE

Any new student can bring in a printed copy of this email to get a month free.  Please forward to a friend! The email must be presented before March 1, 2012.

2012 Calendar available for download

Download the 2012 calendar here.  Please mark your calendars for the annual Taekwon-Do International seminar and summer camps.

Birthday parties

The Do-Jang is available for birthday parties on weekends.  Please talk to Master Mannion or Ms. McCabe about days/times and pricing as well as the services included.  More information is forthcoming.  However, if you or someone you know is looking for a large, indoor location for fun and games, a Taekwon-Do birthday party is a fantastic way to spend a special day!

March seminar

Master Mannion has asked and Master James Kelley has accepted the invitation to come and lead a seminar on Saturday, March 3rd from 1pm until 5pm.  The seminar will focus on patterns and is offered at no charge.  All students green belt and above are encouraged to attend.  The seminar is considered mandatory for red belts and black belts.  If you cannot attend, kindly notify the school.

You will learn the finer points of the patterns including the purposes of the techniques.  Most importantly, you will learn how Master Kim has taught the fundamentals of movement over the years.  Master Kelley has been training with Grandmaster Kim since 1998 continuously and is currently a 4th dan black belt.  Adult students are invited to come out for dinner afterward at a place TBD.

Children’s program expanding

Continuing success with our children’s program has encouraged us to add more weekday classes.  If 4 new students enroll, we will add a class on Tuesdays especially for new students.  The Tuesday class will focus on fundamentals and white belt lessons.  All children students will be invited to participate, but the lessons will be geared towards newer students.  Please spread the word.  We will be following up with parents and children who have been on a waiting list to see if we can get the needed 4 new students.

Credit card payments

We regret that we can no longer process credit card payments using anything other than Paypal.  To pay tuition using a credit card, please send a payment to instructor@oneontatkd.com on PayPal.com  Unfortunately, the cost of other methods is exorbitant and very time consuming.  There are billing services we can use.  However, they always require a 1 year contract which we do not require of our students.

Test videos

The February promotion test videos are posted online.

Please remember that you can request us to remove pictures/videos at any time.  We will endeavor to accommodate your wishes as quickly as possible.  It is our policy not to reference the last names of our students, especially the children for privacy reasons.  Reviewing your videos from time to time is a great way to assess where you need to improve and where you have already improved.

Please like and share the articles on the website and share the pictures and videos on Facebook as much as possible.  It generates interest in our programs and helps us grow to cover the costs to run the school.

Thank you again for all of your support and hard work.

Black uniforms

Many students have inquired about purchasing a black uniform.  We will place the order this Friday.  Our supplier imposes a minimum order quantity.  If you would like to purchase a uniform, the cost is $35 (including a union patch).  Please email us to let us know what size and how many!

Help wanted

If you would like to learn about internet publishing and running a social network website, Master Mannion would like your help in expanding our website to have individual profile pages.  Familiarity with the internet, Facebook, and a little HTML knowledge is preferred but not required.  Contact Master Mannion for more information.

Congratulations to all those who tested!  Thank you to everyone who came out to support the students.  Rest up over the Christmas holiday and be ready to come back with a full mind, body, and spirit!

Click on the image to see a full sized picture

Bradon Pullyblank demonstrated an excellent effort, concentrated focus, and solid technique.

Sheadan Rifenbark made her board break look easy and has a nice snap in her kicks!

Numfor and Sebastien demonstrate Do-San and break with side kicks

Nizam earned his second red stripe as the “headliner”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fTnL8vpa0I

Happy Holidays to all of our friends from Oneonta Taekwon-Do!

Please come and celebrate our 7 year anniversary this Friday, December 16th at 6pm. This will be a small test but we will give away some prizes and celebrate with food and refreshments after the test. All adult students are invited out for some drinks and an after-party.

Among those testing are Finn, Nizam, Braden, and Sebastien.  Please come out to show your support

Gift certificates available online

Give the gift of a healthy body, mind and spirit this holiday. You can buy online and pick up a gift certificate at the school. Gift certificates are good for any class: MMA, Taekwon-Do, Belly Dance, Tai-Chi, Yoga, or Zumba. Taekwon-Do gift certificates can come with a new uniform to put under the tree!

Oneonta Taekwon-Do Sweatshirt

Another great gift idea is an official Oneonta Taekwon-Do hoodie. We have a couple in each size still available for only $35.

On the topic of testing, please read this article written by Ms. McCabe. It is a useful guideline which answers the question “When should I test?” Many people think it is every 3 months. Some assume it is only after a certain number of classes, still others think they should test after they know the pattern. This article should answer all of your questions!

Finally, I’d like to thank you all for an excellent year. We experienced growth in a number of areas and maturity and depth in others.  I expect that 2012 will continue our success, bringing more black belts to Oneonta.

Taekwon Do International has set 30 classes as a general guideline for the interval between tests. This is a recommendation, not a hard and fast rule. Many people are ready to test after 25 classes, but as each person’s skill and ability differ, students will be invited to test at the discretion of the head instructor. If you have not been invited to test, and feel you are ready, by all means ask the head instructor and discuss your preparedness with him/her.

The number of classes attended is important, but this is only a small part of being ready to test. The instructor will factor in basic techniques, board breaking ability and pattern demonstration. It is not enough to know the pattern, you must master your pattern and execute it beginning to end without mistakes and with confidence. As you progress through the ranks, your patterns become increasingly difficult and more time may be required to perfect them.  During a test, you should not be worrying about making mistakes.  You should know for sure that you know the pattern very well.

Black belts take an interim test only every 6 months, and it is years in between dan levels (black belt degrees). Being told you are not ready to test is not a punishment; the instructor wants you to do well, both for your confidence and because your performance is a reflection of the instructor’s teaching. Tests are scheduled every six weeks; the extra 10 or 12 classes can take your basic techniques and pattern from just okay, or even poor, to great. It is important to not get stuck in the mindset of “I test every 3 months”. If you attend 3 or 4 classes a week, you may be ready after only 2 months. Conversely, if you attend only 2 classes per week, you may need 4 months between tests.

When you were a beginner, a white or yellow belt, the next belt level was fairly easy to attain, provided you attended class regularly. Once you get to green belt, it becomes progressively more difficult. Don’t rush! Enjoy the belt level you are at; you can’t ever go back and be a lower belt.

Show off your school spirit and stay warm this winter with an Oneonta Taekwon-Do hooded sweatshirt.  The cost is $35 each,  (cash or check only).  See Mr. Mannion or Mrs. McCabe today if you would like to purchase one of these great sweatshirts.

The hoodies feature two front pockets and a zip-up front perfect for easy on and off.  Makes a great Christmas gift.  Hurry though.  We only have a few of each size in stock and won’t be ordering until next year.

Oneonta Taekwon-Do Sweatshirt

Congratulations to all those who were promoted.  Enjoy learning your new pattern, breaking in your new belts, and remember to look for your attendance card in a different section!

Zach earned his green stripe by demonstrating Chon-Ji and Dan-Gun and then breaking with a rear leg side kick

Congratulations to Lexis and Rylie on earning their green belts.  Because the children’s classes are only offered twice a week, it takes longer for the kids to qualify for a promotion test.  We are proud of the hard work, patience and commitment of these two youngsters and wish them continued success.  Unfortunately, we missed the board break videos – if you have a copy, can you please notify the school?

Congratulations to Justin on earning his green belt.  I’m sure there are many senior belts who are eager to help him break in his new sparring gear.

Phineas Brown-Collins is now a red belt:

Jennifer Butler demonstrates Hwa Rang and breaks two boards with alternating back kicks

Finally, Phineas and Jennifer spar

Two words that we frequently use to describe our Taekwon-Do are “original” and “traditional”.

“Original” is in reference to the original patterns and intent of Taekwon-Do when General Choi and many others came together in 1955. Some years later, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) came into existence with the intent to redefine the movements and develop the art into a competitive sport. Our practice and way is in keeping with the original prpurpose and method of training.

“Traditional” means that we follow the traditions laid before us.  Our purpose is to completely develop ourselves as martial artists. That means keeping our attention on improving our mind and spirit in addition to training our bodies. It also means exploring the use of our skills and way of practice in a variety of confrontational situations both physical and non-physical.

While these two words might indicate a sense of blind faith to old ways, the truth is Taekwon-Do is a living, breathing, and changing art. Grandmaster Kim continues to improve upon his technique, his way of teaching, and his way of training.  I urge all students to keep your minds open for the self-teaching that Taekwon-Do provides.

Congratulations to all those who tested.  Enjoy learning your new patterns.  The next test is August 18th, only 4 weeks away.

Justin and Rick demonstrate Dan-Gun.

Justin and Rick break a board with a rear leg side kick.

Jeff, previously a red belt in another school, demonstrates Dan Gun and Do San and earns his green belt.

Jeff’s lead leg side kick

Lori and Nizam demonstrate Won Hyo

Yul-Gok

Lori breaks 2 boards with a lead leg side kick

Nizam breaks with a lead leg side kick or maybe a skipping side kick

Theo and Tyler demonstrate Hwa Rang

Tyler demonstrates Choong Moo

Sparring:

Theo back kicks

Tyler back kick and punch:

Theo breaks 2 boards each with alternating back kicks

My father once said (using a different metaphor), sometimes you break the boards, and sometimes the boards break you.

I was glad that our students persevered through what turned out to be indeed, a bad batch of boards.  If you don’t believe me, ask someone who saw Priscilla McCabe’s hand after her multiple attempts at breaking left the boards intact.

It seems this test came with it a higher-than-normal ratio of new belts as opposed to stripes.  A new belt carries with it a new sense of identity and a new chapter of the Taekwon-Do journey.  To those who did not test this time around, please enjoy the remaining weeks and months of your current belt level as you will not be at this level again in your life!

Enjoy the videos.  Please play them repeatedly and try to analyze your strengths and weaknesses to work on being the best you can be.

Please also take a moment to let your friends on Facebook know about these videos.

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Tina, Anne, and Sebastien earn yellow belts

Leo, Eli, and Riley earn green stripes

Kara, Dylan, and Aidan earn green belts

Jake and Devyn – the dynamic duo
Christina, Addison, Alex and Jaden earn blue belts

Finn earns his 2nd red stripe
Black belt demonstrations