Eventually, through repetition, concentration, and experimentation, the movement will become smoother and more second nature. By the time you are demonstrating the pattern for your next test, the movement should be one you are comfortable executing with full exertion and confidence. Remember, every move in the pattern should be executed strongly enough to break a board. (Even the blocks?)

In my opinion, General Choi was quite brilliant in his selection of movements in the patterns. Each pattern helps the practitioner evolve further toward total mind and body control. In Chun Ji, we learn how to turn, step, and punch and block. We learn to focus and pay attention to our movements. In Joong Gun, we learn to move backwards and forwards and shift comfortably between L stance and walking stance and how to generate power by dropping down into a rear-foot stance.

I hope you enjoy learning your new patterns and that you continue to pursue mastery of them. Over time, Chon Ji will remain as difficult as your highest pattern since there is always something to learn and always something to improve.

In my opinion, General Choi was quite brilliant in his selection of movements in the patterns. Each pattern helps the practitioner evolve further toward total mind and body control. In Chun Ji, we learn how to turn, step, and punch and block. We learn to focus and pay attention to our movements. In Joong Gun, we learn to move backwards and forwards and shift comfortably between L stance and walking stance and how to generate power by dropping down into a rear-foot stance.

Your first job is to learn the rythm of the pattern, the steps and the basics of the movements. After, you know how to step through the pattern, you should make sure you know the exact stance for each movement. In a couple of weeks, you can begin to refine the movements through experimentation. Strip away what is wasteful or ineffective. After two months or so, you should focus on keeping your fingers tight, your eyes focused, the precision of the strikes and blocks and perfecting your stances. Please don’t hesitate to ask a senior student about the purpose of a difficult movement or for some help in it’s execution.
I hope you enjoy learning your new patterns and that you continue to pursue mastery of them. Over time, Chun Ji will remain as difficult as your highest pattern since there is always something to learn and always something to improve.

Our friends at SUCO have a sparring class on Fridays at 3:30pm.  Please ask an instructor for details.

Please note the schedule below. You can download a printable copy here.

Instructor Ray Mannion has returned to work at 12 S. Main Street full time. Oncura, a division of GE Healthcare has hired him to develop SAP solutions interfacing their US and UK systems through the end of the year.

New Classes

Classes will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:30pm on a trial basis for the next 3 weeks.

New Book

3 free copies of “Living the Law of Attraction - Real Stories of People Manifesting Health, Wealth, and Happiness” will be available at the school to existing or new students. Jennifer Mannion is featured in the book for her triumph over chronic pain. The book was conceived and put forth by some of the authors featured in The Secret.

Next test

The next promotion test is scheduled for Thursday October 16th to begin at 6pm. There will be no 5pm class on the day of the test and students are encouraged to arrive by 5:30pm to warm up. All students are requested to have a union patch sewn on the uniform. The patches are $10 each but each student will receive the first one free.

Ray Mannion and Owen McCabe are scheduled to test for their next promotion in NYC with Grandmaster Kim on Friday October 24th. If you are due to test on Thursday October 16 but would prefer to test in NYC, you are invited to do so.

Reminder

Students at the color belt level are permitted to test after 25-30 classes. Currently, our school does not offer monthly tests. However, there is no reason to wait until a large group test. If you are due for a promotion test, please speak to an instructor to coordinate an interim or make-up test. New students are encouraged to learn more about the tests from an instructor or senior students. Senior students are encouraged to offer assistance and guidance to new students regarding testing. Links to oral questions are found on the “Our School” page of our website.

Saturday August 9, 2008 will be the next Oneonta Taekwondo test and demonstration.  All visitors, friends and family are welcome to attend.  This will be crowded and seating may be limited.  Ace Film Company will be recording the test for a TV/internet video commercial.  Breakfast pizza and juice will be available after the test.

The test will begin at 9:30am - students should arrive early to warm up.  Again - friends, family, and visitors are welcome to observe.

Students are reminded to study the school rules, meaning of the patterns, school motto, tenets of taekwondo and basic korean.  You can use the “search our site” box on the school website or review the information on the “Our school” page.

Pricing change effective 9/1/08

The family discount will be reduced from 50% to 25% effective September 1, 2008.  Existing students will be “grandfathered” and retain 50% discounts for life.  If you or a family member have been waiting to join, now is the time to enroll your family member before the pricing changes.

Current pricing is as follows:  $175 for a 3 month tuition, $325 for a 6 month tuition.  Month-to-month is $65 per month.  All new students get a free uniform and 2 private intro lessons with a registered black belt instructor.  Scholarships are available - call the instructor at 607-437-7866 for more information.

Class schedule change

Effective immediately, double-classes will resume.  Classes begin at 5pm and 6pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Saturday classes remain at 9am.  Students are encouraged to attend as many classes as possible at no extra cost.  Students can take the second class if space permits.

Upcoming test and demonstration - Saturday August 9th at 9:30am

Several students will be testing including Mr. Brian Davis doing an interim demonstration which includes a 4 board break. Please come and support Owen McCabe testing for his red belt. We have invited a master instructor from NYC to help administer the test although we are not sure who it will be. As usual, food and beverages will be provided after the test.

Summer weekend at Camp Pontiac - applications and payment is due this week.

Please complete all forms and bring a check payable to “SJ Kim’s Taekwondo”. If you need an application, please see the summer camp post on our website.  The price goes up if payment is not received by August 1st.  Remember that scholarships are available.  Please view the Camp Pontiac website for information on the facilities or view the brochure on our website.

New Location

Oneonta Taekwondo is searching for a larger location within Oneonta.  Several vacancies exist down town.  We expect enrollment to grow significantly this fall.  I am pleased that we have such a strong set of students and leaders as our school grows.  If you know of a building with 2000 square feet or more, please email me with any contact information.

New students

We anticipate several new students in September as this is historically the busiest time.  If you or someone you know is contemplating signing up, now is the time.  We are committed to giving each new student 2 private introductory lessons and availability may be limited in September.  Remember, family members are eligible for a 50% discount on tuition!

Scholarships for tuition

Effective immediately, Oneonta Taekwondo tuition scholarships are available.  The scholarship is for children and adults without the financial capacity but the strong desire for Taekwondo training.  Contact me by phone for more details.

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Please click on this link for the sjkim-summercamp-2008.

Please click on this link for the sjkim-camp-application.

Note that scholarship essays are due before the end of the month.  Family members receive a 20 percent discount.  Non-Taekwon-do practitioner family are invited to attend for $150.  See the Camp Pontiac website for more info on the amenities.

Please call me if you have any questions.

Train fare from Trenton to NYC: $102
Parking in Trenton: $10
Gas from Mt.Laurel to Trenton: $12
Protein shake for dinner in Penn Station: $4.50
Total Trip time: 7 hours
Time in Do-Jang: 2 hours
Class at SJ Kim’s Taekwon-do: Priceless

If I wait for it to be convenient, it will never happen.

These words echoed in my head the past few weeks. I had many excuses - mostly related to a lack of cash. Finally, I realized that I will never have enough money, never have enough time, and it will never be “convenient” to go to NYC and practice. I checked the train schedule, got in my car, bought tickets and went.

I was greeted with smiles and bows the moment I stepped foot into the school as faces familiar and not-so familiar took a moment to say hello. I changed in the locker room and introduced myself to a man in his early thirties attending his 2nd class. He said sheepishly, “A few more classes and I can progress from very embarrassing to just embarassing.” To which I replied: “It takes tremendous courage just to put the uniform on the first time. Congratulations, I hope you have fun.”

Grandmaster Kim launched immediately into a commentary on gas prices, China, Iran and speculators. He loves following football coaches and international events. I’m sure his keen understanding of leadership is reinforced by this passion. All I can think of are Taekwon-do questions I wish I could ask but patience and listening are important for training. His comments are insightful and brilliant as always. Whatever things I need to know about Taekwon-do, I know he will tell me at the right time.

Third Dan Silvio lead the warmup and I relished in the ability to focus on my stretching rather than the needs of the class. Grandmaster Kim stepped onto the mat to take over class and said: “Joon Bee. Close your eyes.” Ah, like coming home for Thanksgiving, sitting at the table and being presented with a feast of delicious food. All I could do was close my eyes and be grateful for the opportunity to once again be in the presence of my Grandmaster and fellow blackbelts, about to feast on the spirit and knowledge surrounding me.

Leg raises and front kicks, front turning kicks. The master says “more hips”. Double turning kicks, triples, then combinations: punch-turning kick-back kick, skipping front turning kick low and high, reverse hook kick, skipping hook kick-back kick. My legs were filled with lead. Why can I maintain balance on a left back kick, but not on the right?
Punches, 3 punches - oops, forgot that we do them too quickly upstate. The master moves my arm higher.
We bow and I am invited to kick the bag. A 2nd Dan holds the focus pads and instructs me to do “reverse turning kick, switch feet, another reverse turning kick”. This is a hamstring-stretcher!

Black belts observe and help color belts on Won-Hyo, Yul-Gok, and Choong-moo.

My breath is finally calming down from the basics when I am invited to demonstrate patterns for a 3rd Dan who offers a couple of improvement suggestions for Choong-Jang and Ko-Dang. Grandmaster Kim seems pleased that I demonstrate the correct “high cross-cut” rather than a simple knife-hand strike at the end of Ko-Dang.

The master instructs me to face Mr. Borelli and practice one-step sparring. Again, more slow and controlled than we practice in Oneonta. Mr. Borelli performs more along the lines of the videos of the North Korean demonstration team. (Scan exactly 1:30 into this video for an example).
Free fighting. “Gently now fellas” warns the Grandmaster. Mr. Borelli and I move like dance partners. My first move is met with two punches to my ribs which land effortlessly and I can’t imagine how it could have possibly happened. I fake and throw a kick or two and he pulls his side kick just before it meets my stomach. “Patience….Free fighting is all about patience….” says the Grandmaster.

We finish with sitting stance punches and bow out. Mr. Borelli helps me with the most difficult pattern I know, Eui-Am

Finally, I listen to many stories of eye-witness accounts of Grandmaster Kim’s recent free fighting with senior black belts and the bruises that ensued. Of course, Grandmaster Kim at age 55+ still walks away unscathed. Amidst the discussion, we touch on the quality of students versus the quantity. “Some students come here, and they get the spirit and they stay. Others, they talk and don’t have the right attitude and they don’t last.” Nicely said, Mr. Borelli.

All students are encouraged to visit NYC several times per year if possible.

But, the pictures came out terrific thanks to Raphael Web. If you ever need quality photography with excellent editing. Raphael is a great choice. Please click hereto access his website for other photography he does.

Here, Owen and Alex have a laugh over an old entry:

Stay tuned - the journals will return shortly.