The Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club Blog

ATTENTION BLOGGERS, FOLLOWERS, and READERS!

2010-11-04T18:39:00.000-07:00

Because of a Blogger error, the LVTKD blog has been moved to Wordpress.
There will be no more posts on the old blog- only the new one! Don't worry- everything was transferred there! Please visit the new blog at the below link, and subscribe to that one instead!

www.lvtkd.wordpress.com

LVTKD Pictures

2010-10-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

Master Bosse and the other high-ranking officals at the nationals

Students lined up at the opening ceremonies (Patricia, LVTKD student, on the far right)

Students lined up at the opening ceremonies

LVTKD gold and silver medalist performing Ge-Baek

Master Bosse as a center referee

Gino DeArmas (red fighter) gold and silver medalist sparring

Patricia DeArmas sparring (on the right)

Gino DeArmas (on the left) sparring

Gino DeArmas (on the right) sparring

At http://www.itf-usa.org/ on the front page, you can find pictures of the LVTKD students along with Master Bosse at the ITF-USA National Championships that were in San Jose, California in August! There is even a special thanks to Master Bosse written above the link that allows you to view the pictures. There are more than I added to this post!

Also, former LVTKD student Patricia DeArmas has an article published in Totally Tae Kwon Do magazine in the October issue. It is viewable in the October issue, titled "What The Mind Believes the Body Achieves."

As well, congratulations to the Taekwon-Do students testing this weekend for black belt! Have fun!

My goodbye to Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club

2010-08-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was my last class at the Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club. I am sad to leave my beloved Taekwon-Do classes in Nevada, and our great instructor and his kind wife, but I will continue to practice Taekwon-Do- at home and at a new do-jang near the location I moved to.

This Wednesday, LVTKD Mt. Charleston Taekwon-Do was moved to the outside of the Lundy Elementary School, at Mt. Charleston. It isn't inside of the building yet, but there is still hope of achieving this goal! For the final time coming from me, please tell anyone you know about Taekwon-Do and spread the joy of being a part of this fantastic martial art, and keep Taekwon-Do at Mt. Charleston going.

This is my last post here concerning things about the LVTKD do-jangs. I will post every so often about tournaments coming to locations in Las Vegas, and I will continue to keep the polls going, but that will be all. So for my last post as an LVTKD student, I want to thank all of the people who I've trained with over the years.

Thank you to the Whitney Ranch Rec Center students whom I trained with for nearly three years. With you, I set off on my Taekwon-Do journey.

Thank you to the students at the Heinrich YMCA, whom I trained with for only a few months and saw at End of the Month Tournaments and Red and Black Belt classes. You helped me get my black belt and become a good competitor.

Thank you to the Mt. Charleston Taekwon-Doins, that I trained with for over a year and that helped me become a better teacher.

Thank you to all of the students that were my sparring partners, especially the very brave ones, that helped me to become better at sparring.

Thank you to every person who helped me with my patterns, and everyone who allowed me to help them with theirs.

Thank you to every student that ever did step-sparring and ho sin sul with me. Sorry for having to throw you around.

Thank you to my fellow End of The Month Tournament-goers, who assisted me in becoming a better competitor.

And most of all, thank you to Master Bosse, without him, my Taekwon-Do journey would have never began.

For the last time,
Taekwon,
Patricia

2nd dans and farewells

2010-08-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

Above: Me testing for my 2nd dan

Today, I am proud to say that I tested and was awarded my 2nd dan (degree) black belt by Master Bosse! It was a fun test, though my patterns were not as good as they normally are.

But I am sad to say that today we had to say farewell to the Mt. Charleston Do-Jang garage. Today was the last class there- now LVTKD Mt. Charleston Classes (the ones at Mt. Charleston ONLY) will be taking place at the Mt. Charleston Elementary School. Temporarily they will be outside, but hopefully classes will soon be allowed inside the building. Being at the school is a good thing, but it was sad when Master Bosse, my dad, and I took up our padded floor, flags, pictures and kicking walls, and left our old do-jang as we had left it: a plain, concrete-floored garage.

Make sure that you now go to classes at the school- and if you don't know where it is, just call (702)-456-4505 to reach Master Bosse.

Just because it is at a school does not mean that Taekwon-Do is only for children- it is supposed to double as a sort of rec center, meaning that anyone of any age can take Taekwon-Do classes there. Like I have said before, tell you friends to join Taekwon-Do, especially the ones that can go to Mt. Charleston, as Master Bosse needs to have a good amount of people there to keep the class going!

LVTKD National Champions

2010-08-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

Hello, Las Vegas TKD Club Blog readers!
We've been to the Nationals- and we each got a gold medal for patterns and a silver for sparring! GO LVTKD CLUB! It was a great event- not only did I have fun comepeting, but I was very interested and entertained by watching others compete! One of the most amazing things I saw was a man named Mr. Tidus, smaller than I am, who jumped about nine feet in the air to kick a board! There were about a hundred people there- small for a National Championship but it was amazing to me- the most Taekwon-Doins I have seen in one place was about half that amount!

Thank you very much to Mr. Morris, 5th dan black belt, an ITF-USA vice president, and LVTKD blog reader, who did a big part in organising the entire event. Also many thanks to ALL OF the others who helped out- whether they were a referee, judge, or someone who cleaned up trash- everyone was very busy and was very helpful!

I am sad to say that Richard could not make it to the tournament, but the small amount of students that did go along with Master Bosse did fantastic- which were my dad, my brother, and I. I learned a lot!
Taekwon,
Patricia

The last Friday class at Mt. Charleston

2010-08-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

Today was the last Friday class at Mt. Charleston. After that, the classes will cease to exist. Because we are moving, I can't teach Friday classes anymore. I'm sad that this was the last one, but the classes I have taught were pretty fun times!

Also, make sure that you tell people about Taekwon-Do and get more students at the Mt. Charleston class. We need to have at least 10 people in the class- so tell people you know! Also, we need to get Taekwon-Do at the school up here. There are people working on it now, but there is a chance Taekwon-Do at Mt. Charleston might not have a do-jang area, room, or backyard to practice in at all if we don't get the school! Taekwon-Do would be such a great addition at the school up here, so I really hope everything works out. The school was supposed to be a sort of rec center, too, so anyone who wants to can take Taekwon-Do up at the beautiful Mt. Charleston.

Today is exactly one week until the US Nationals in San Jose! I'm really excited and a little worried, but I will just go, have fun, do my best, and see what happens!

Moving students

2010-07-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

Old pictures from my LVTKD journey.

Hello, LVTKD readers.
I am posting to let everyone know that my family and I are moving out of Nevada. This means that me and the rest of my family that take Taekwon-Do will have to stop being students of Master Bosse at the Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club. This doesn't mean that we will stop taking Taekwon-Do- we have found a place to practice where we are moving. But the years here that we have had with Master Bosse- for me, almost four and a half years, are unforgettable. They were fun, educational, and amazing, and Taekwon-Do has been the best thing we have done since moving to Nevada. It has improved us as individuals so much, and has become my favorite thing to do. I would give up being able to speak if I had to choose between talking and no TKD or TKD and no talking. It will be sad to leave LVTKD behind, but as General Choi Hong-Hi said, anywhere under heaven is do-jang, and this can include anywhere in the world, including where my family and I are moving to. I could go on forever about Taekwon-Do and the affect it has had on our lives, but I need to ask the other posters to post things here since I will no longer be able to.

Please, students of LVTKD, post on this blog when I am gone. Post anything TKD-related- even pictures or videos, you don't have to write anything if you don't have time. But please- keep this blog updated and promote the Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club, in my opinion the best Taekwon-Do school in all of Las Vegas.

As for Taekwon-Do at Mt. Charleston- start recommending Taekwon-Do to your friends and family! Without my family there, the class will only include a few students- the 15 we used to have has been lowering in numbers, and without us there will only be three students left! Feel free to reccomend Taekwon-Do to your friends at Mt. Charleston or nearby. Send the link www.lvtkd.com through email or texting. Give Taekwon-Do as a gift- pay for the first month of TKD for a friend or family member instead of buying them the newest fighting video game or Kung-Fu movie. Taekwon-Do is great for anyone who is willing to learn it.
Taekwon,
Patricia

18 days

2010-07-25T23:19:00.000-07:00

There are only 18 days until the USA National Championships in San Jose California for Taekwon-Do! Only a few of the Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club members are going, but the students that are will attend along with Master Bosse (though he is not a competitior) to compete in pattern competition and sparring competition as non-qualifiers. I am very excited and I am practicing both my patterns and my sparring, as I am competing there along with two of my family members that are fellow Taekwon-Doins. It would be great to come home a national champion, but although winning would be awesome, the knowledge gained from the tournament will be far more valuble than any gold medal can be, even if I don't get 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. But that doesn't mean I am not going to try! I would really like to win- but that isn't all I need to focus on. Master Bosse says: "It isn't who wants it the most; it's who refuses to lose." That will be one of the things on my mind at the tournament and before then. But in the meanwhile, I will continue to work on my smooth, flowing motion, concentration of power, accuracy of technique, speed, endurance, power, and mindset so that I will compete my best- and my best is all I can do! So in that case, what I am I doing writing this at 11:30 at night? I'd better get to sleep- that is important, too!

Not nervous anymore

2010-07-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

Above: someone doing a Taekwon-Do pattern

Mysterious- I don't get nervous anymore. Since performing a play a few months ago, I haven't been nervous. I wasn't nervous when acting, didn't get nervous when going to the past end-of-the-month tournaments since May; I seem to have lost my ability to be nervous in competition! How did this happen? I guess I just get so into what I am doing, the nervousness doesn't come. It is kind of hard to explain. It is a bit easier with acting, and slightly harder with Taekwon-Do. But I can do what I want when in the pressure of the moment without being nervous. I wish I could tell other people how to do this. I guess that you just need to think of what you are doing- for example, your pattern,- and only think of that. It stops the nervousness from coming. If you stop thinking of being nervous, the nervous feeling dissapears. Has anyone else had this happen? Though I can't say that when thinking of doing certain things I don't get nervous, but when I actually get out there to do what I want, the nervousness goes away.

No red and black belt class!

2010-07-07T23:01:00.000-07:00

There is no red and black belt class on the 10th this week!
Don't come to class- Master Bosse won't be there!

Taekwon-Do USA National Championships Reminder

2010-07-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

As taken from http://www.itf-usa.org/2010 USA World Qualifiers and National Championship
This year, the World Qualifiers and National Championship will be held in San Jose, California, USA on August 13 to 14! Come on out to the west coast and compete for your place on the team to go to New Zealand in March 2011! More information found at: www.mightyfist.com
Official ITF rules

Additional Information:
-- Non-Qualifiers is now open to BLUE BELTS and above.
-- Sparring is broken down to Female and Male groups. Additionally, in individual sparring matches, competitors shall participate in the category according to their weight. It is not allowed to participate in any other weight class.

______________________

Remember to register! Your registration form must be recieved by mail by July 23rd, 2010! Download the registration form at http://www.itf-usa.org/events.html
"August, 2010- USA World Qualifiers & National Championships
Thomas More School
San Jose, California, USA"

Also, your equipment MUST be blue or red. If you are competing as a qualifier (must be member of the ITF) you have to wear Top-Ten Sparring Gear, also in blue or read.

A non-qualifier is someone just competing in the nationals but not attempting to compete in the World Championships in New Zealand.

Taekwon-Do Belt levels

2010-07-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

In every sort of ITF Taekwon-Do, the belt levels are the same, though sometimes the 'stripes' are called 'tags' depending on the school. Above are all the belt levels up to 1st dan (or degree) black belt- after that there are degrees of black belt up until 9th dan/degree.

I won a Taekwon-Do book!

2010-07-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

In a Totally TKD Magazine contest, I won a volume of Start Paul Anslow's Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do Patterns! My name even appears in the magazine as the winner. You had to answer which pattern three tecniques represented, I guessed Won-Hyo and was correct, my name entered a drawing for the book, and I won! I'll write about the book when I get it!

The snap at the end of your technique

2010-06-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

Above: A Taekwon-Do uniform

A while ago, Master Bosse got a call on the phone. It was a man asking for a Taekwon-Do uniform. "But, can you give me one of those uniforms with all the snap in it?" he asked, and Master Bosse replied, "sorry, but you have to provide the snap yourself!"

Taekwon-Do uniforms, (or 'doboks') don't come with snap already in them- you have to get the snap at the end of your technique yourself. Of course, uniforms help you hear the snap when you are able to get your tecnnique to snap, but they don't make the snap happen; you can't just do a weak punch and it will have a nice snap at the end of your technique, you have to have a powerful punch with an explosion at the point of impact. To make this little explosion, you slightly pull your tecnique back in to simulate a rebound. Taekwon-Do is a unique martial art because it emphasizes rebound on your technique instead of just doing the technique and leaving the technique still. When you block, make it a strike. When you block a kick, strike the part of your opponents' foot that you blocked, and do the same thing for other kinds and blocks blocking other attacking parts of the body of your opponent. The block will hurt your opponent instead of his or her attack hurting you.

You can practice getting snap at the end of your technique just walking around; do various kinds techniques that are more difficult to have an explosion at the end of.

If you don't know how to get snap on your tecniques yet, begin by practicing with front kicks and punches; these are easier to get an explosion at the end of. You can also talk to your instructor about snap if you don't do Taekwon-Do here at the Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club.

Taekwon-Do on Vacation

2010-06-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

We're going on vacation, so my family has to miss a few classes. I'll still practice while I am gone, though, and when we get back I'll hopefully have a few awesome Taekwon-Do pictures!
Practicing patterns is a good way to make up for missed classes, so if anyone else is going on vacation, just a few patterns during your trip is a good idea, even if you don't want to do other exercises.

There is no Taekwon-Do class on Friday, June 25th, because of this trip, since I won't be there to teach the class, but all the other classes that week are still going on- Master Bosse will still teach, of course!

End of the Month Tournament

2010-05-27T22:52:00.000-07:00

Today at the end of the month tournament, I came in 1st in patterns, Gino came in 1st in patterns and Gabriel came in 2nd in patterns, and in sparring Gino got 1st, Gabriel got 3rd and I got 2nd. (us three were the only DeArmas Taekwon-Doins that came this time) In sparring I sparred Eric and won, and then Cassie and lost. She did really well- I got her to back up, but she then hit me in the face once and head twice with fast outside crescent kicks. I learned that I need to keep my hands up a lot better! I actually cried- but not because the kick hurt that bad, because I was so mad at myself! It was a very fun tournamnet, and I can't wait until next month's tournament! Today was also a Taekwon-Do class- my Friday class was switch to today because I am out of town tommorow.

There will probably be some videos from the tournament put up here soon!

More Black Belt Test...

2010-05-17T18:49:00.000-07:00

This post includes more pictures from the test and a few of when some of the students joined Master Bosse for pizza after the test.

Lots of Black Belt Test Photos

2010-05-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

This post includes a large amount of photos from the recent black belt test! I'll post more in the next post...

What is Model Sparring?

2010-05-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

What is Model Sparring? Model Sparring is sort of like Reverse Attacks- there are two sides, an attacker and a defender, and the attacker will step back into a fighting stance (or possibly a walking stance) and kihap, and the defender will kihap in jumbi, in a parallel ready stance. Then the attacker will make an attacking movement or several attacking movements, and the defender will defend him or herself. The Model Sparring sets can include quick exchanges of however many movements desired, and one of the two wins. But within the Model Sparring, there must also be slow motion movements, and these movements should repeat a technique that just happen. The fighters in the Model Sparring fight are allowed to fall down. The whole set-up is pre-arranged.

You are required to make up Model Sparring for your 2nd dan black belt test at our Taekwon-Do school, and I am very excited to make up mine! Master Bosse suggests to create six very clean Model Sparring sets, and have one where the attacker makes one move, the defender makes one move, and so on with one-technique exchanges until one of them wins (which has to be me) and then one where it is an exchange of two techniques until one of them wins.

And yes, in that Korean Taekwon-Do Team demonstration, the step-sparring in the beginning seems to be Model Sparring, from what I read about it in the Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do.

More Black Belt Test Photos

2010-05-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

Here are more images from the recent black belt test!

Model Sparring

2010-05-10T19:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of a demonstration by the Korean Taekwon-Do team. It first shows some sort of Step-Sparring, and then shows more including breaking and Ho Sin Sul. I found it looking for a video with Model Sparring. The beginning might have some sort of Model Sparring, but I don't know.

I need to make up Model Sparring for my 2nd dan test, and watching movies of it will help me understand and maybe give me ideas.

If anyone knows of a good Model Sparring video, please comment with the link or post it here on the blog.

Thank you!

Black Belt Test May 2010 Music Video

2010-05-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

Here is a collection of videos from the test set to music! Enjoy! I tried to put it on YouTube, but it had an error and I decided that I might put it there later and add it here now, since Blogger videos are ready faster than YouTube- it takes a long time for videos to upload there.

Patrick's 3rd dan Ho Sin Sul

2010-05-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

Here is Patrick's Ho Sin Sul for his test!

Black Belt Test May 2010 Photos

2010-05-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures I took from a black belt test today.

Black Belt Test

2010-05-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

Patrick doing a two-directional kick at his 3rd dan black belt test. Patrick, Cody, Nathan and William just tested. Everyone tested for their 1st dan except Patrick, who just got his 3rd dan- everyone passed, of course! I'll add more pictures and some videos in a second- the others just take longer to load. Great job, guys!

Taekwon-Do Videos

2010-05-04T18:22:00.000-07:00

A Taekwon-Do Sparring Music Video- Some of the special effects are kind of irritating, but many of those techniques in this video are really cool!

Check out that 180 Turning Kick! I wonder if he got in trouble, though... because I think the guy who got knocked down might have gotten a bloody nose.

Effective Taekwon-Do Sparring

2010-05-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone! I recently read a book called Effective Taekwon-Do Sparring by Master Jim Hogan and James Home, a book that talks about techniques, stances, set ups and more to use to improve your sparring, specifically in competition. Even though this book is meant for ITF, this book can be applied to other martial arts and to other Taekwon-Do styles, as long as the competition rules aren't too different from the ITF Taekwon-Do's sparring match rules. Although I don't always agree with the sparring stance offered in this book, as it doesn't seem to go with the way I spar, the combinations, set ups, and technique ideas are well worth the read, and I think that testing out the sparring stance in different situations is probably worth it, too, and it might fit different fighters quite well. I reccommend this book to any serious ITF student, or any serious martial arts students who spar simmilar to the International Taekwon-Do Federation practitioners. The set ups and combinations in this book are very smart, and trying them out in competition is a great idea, as well as certain foot positions and body positions are great to consider! We especially like The Blitz- a certain way that you step and punch that works really well if you use it at the correct time. Slide your front foot in while falling forward, stepping two times into a middle section reverse punch on the last step. This book is great because other ITF books don't talk much about what to do in sparring, including General Choi Hong-Hi's Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do. The book says that it is a good book for beginner to intermediate sparring levels, but I think that advanced fighters will value this book as well. In the book, there are a few of Master Bosse's sparring tricks, but it also includes some things that most people don't think of using.
Effective Taekwon-Do Sparring should be read by Taekwon-Do students everywhere!

United States ITF Nationals

2010-04-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

The United States Taekwon-Do National Championships will take place in San Jose, California August 13-14, 2010! When you are a junior, if you win 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place you qualify for the USA team to go to New Zealand for the World Championships, and when you are a senior you have to win 1st to qualify for the USA team! And San Jose isn't too far from Las Vegas! Ages 14 and up can compete for a place on Team USA, and if you are younger you can still compete, you just can't qualify for the World Championships! If you don't want to compete for a place on Team USA, that's okay, when you sign up just fill out a form saying that you do not want to.
Visit HERE and scroll to August, 2010 to download more information about the tournament!

To the Blog Visitors...

2010-04-21T23:34:00.000-07:00

Hello, visitors of the LVTKD Blog! I was just posting this to remind everyone that if you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you'll find a monthly LVTKD Poll- a poll that's just for fun where you can click to cast your vote for different subject options that are TKD related. Also, you can rate each post- just one click and you can share what you think of the blog's videos, pictures, stories, and more. Feel free to comment if you have something to say, have any questions, or have any answers to other questions. This is just a reminder of what you can do as a viewer, if you didn't know how!
To see pictures in their biggest size, just click them. If a video is taking too long to load, just pause and wait until the line that will be on the video screen is all darkened. Then the video will load faster, and you can watch the whole thing without any pauses.
If you want to learn more about Taekwon-Do, visit www.lvtkd.com- there is lots of Taekwon-Do info there, and even if you already take Taekwon-Do you can look there to see the references and the pictures and videos.

___________________________________________
Also, congratulations to Roman, my dad, Austin and Richard on their new belt grades! And Richard and Austin got surprise tests- Austin wasn't there when Master Bosse said who was testing and no one even knew that Richard would test! Great job, everyone!

Look what I found...

2010-04-21T23:08:00.000-07:00

The 3rd dan black belt test of Cassie Bosse, an LVTKD student. The sparring is no-contact.

And you can't miss out on her Ho Sin Sul! Also, go to www.lvtkd.com and click on 'Pictures & Videos' to see two other Cassie vs. Andy Ho Sin Sul performances (Ho Sin Sul is a pre-arranged self-defence scene that is supposed to look like a real fight but in actuality, no one gets hurt)

The Mt. Charleston Class

2010-04-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

Wow! We have four white belts, one gold stripe, one gold belt, three green belts, two blue stripes, one red belt, one black belt, and Master Bosse in our class! That makes 13 students plus one instructor! That's a lot of students for our small Mt. Charleston class- it doesn't seem so small anymore! Here are some pictures from a few days ago, and this is before another new student joined yesterday, and on a day when not all the students were there! Our little Do-Jang Garage is getting pretty crowded now, are we going to have to find someplace bigger? But new students are still welcome, so don't hesitate to come to class! Also, congratulations to Gino, Gabriel, and Sebastian for their new belt promotions, and to Roman, my dad, and Austin for their upcoming tests!

And speaking of new belt promotians, even if this might sound kind of silly, at the Whitney Ranch class the students were always saying that the new belts smelled like different kinds of candy- the gold belts were supposed to smell like honey, the blue belts like cotton candy, the red belts like cherry, ect. Me and my brother, once Whitney Ranch students, don't remember what they other ones were supposed to smell like, but I believe that one of them was supposed to smell like chocolate. I have never found them to smell like anything. MythBuster-type test: Do new belts really smell like candy? Take a whiff of your next new belt to find out for yourself! I don't believe it, but my brother and lots of the Whitney Ranch students say at least some of them do! So comment to share the test results of this (clearly a myth, I think) Whitney Ranch TKD myth!

Cold Water Training and Walking Barefoot on Snow

2010-04-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

General Choi Hong-Hi reccomends walking barefoot in snow and doing cold water training. He writes: "By taking cold showers and baths or exercising on snow-covered ground in bare feet, students build tenacity and pride." And next to these words are an image of a man doing a heaven hand behind a waterfall and three boys standing waist-deep in a lake, both of course, cold. I hope walking barefoot through snow to get to a freezing cold lake to do a side kick in front of a waterfall on top of a wet log that's halfway in a stream is considered doing cold water training! With the extra benefit of walking barefoot through snow three times! I didn't really do it to build tenacity and pride; in fact I'd actually forgot what the benefit of cold water training was; I actually did it more for the cool picture at first. But after doing that, I was pretty proud of myself! The water didn't seem too bad, and though the snow was really cold, I managed to walk through it!(But if my toes could talk, they probably would have yelled at me for letting me get them so cold!) Here are some pictures. Also, I want to make sure that I don't scare off any potential students- cold water training is absolutely NOT REQUIRED to take Taekwon-Do -it is not like we go out with Master Bosse to train in waterfalls every class! So if you want to take Taekwon-Do but don't want to make your feet cold, it's okay, the cold water training is just an optional thing that individuals can do for fun if they so choose.

TKD Cookies

2010-04-13T09:02:00.000-07:00

Since yesterday was the day after Taekwon-Do's birthday, I made Taekwon-Do cookies and brought them to Taekwon-Do class- Peanut butter cookies and oatmeal cookies, some of which I decorated to have Taekwon-Do pictures on them. Since they were a big hit, I'll give the recipe here!

Peanut Butter:
2 cups smooth peanut butter
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
(Optional: 2 cups chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix all ingredients together until smooth. If wanted, add chocolate chips at the end of your mixing. Drop (by desired size- the grow a lot, though!) onto buttered cookie sheet or one covered in parchment paper. Back 10-13 minutes until golden around edges. Don't take off the cookie sheet until the cookies are cool- if not they might break.

Oatmeal Cookies:
3 cups of oats
2 cups oat flour
1/2 teaspoon guar gum
1/2 teaspoon xanthun gum
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 cup of maple syrup
1/2 cup of sugar
1 1/2 sticks of butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon cinnamon
(Optional: 1 cup of raisins)

Preheat the oven to 350.
Mix ingredients together- you can start with creaming the butter and sugar together, or you can melt the butter and add it later. You can switch out more sugar for the maple syrup if you do not have any. Put the cookies onto a buttered pan and cook for 15 minutes or until golden around the edges.

Royal Frosting:
Beat one egg until it is foamy. Add in 2 cups of powdered sugar and the flavoring of your choice (vanilla, almond, ect.) Color it if you like, and thinly frost the cookies. This frosting will harden on the cookies and shine nicely. If you let the frosting sit too long, it will start to harden and won't look as smooth and shiney on the cookies.

I put Taekwon-Do techniques on some of my cookies, but we didn't get a picture of them...

Happy Birthday, Taekwon-Do!

2010-04-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

On April 11th, 1955, General Choi Hong-Hi founded Taekwon-Do, and the most popular martial art was born! Today is the day that Taekwon-Do was founded 55 years ago! Happy Birthday Taekwon-Do! And in celebration, I am wearing a Taekwon-Do T-Shirt from a 1994 tournament with Joe Bosse doing a split kick on it (and a bunch of other kicks on the back), an 'I Love Taekwon-Do' pin, a bracelet that reads 'Taekwon-Do Black Belt,' a dogtag necklace that says 'Patrica- Black Belt' on it, and a necklace that says 'I Love Taekwon-Do!' I almost wore my Yin-Yang necklace, too, but decided three necklaces was too much. So, do you think I like Taekwon-Do?!

Taekwon-Do Eggs

2010-04-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

So here are my Taekwon-Do eggs from different directions. And there was also a General Choi Hong-Egg but he's not on here.

People X Taekwon-Do=Metamorphosis and The Heartbeat of Taekwon-Do

2010-04-08T17:04:00.000-07:00

Master Bosse wrote two great papers called, "People X Taekwon-Do=Metamorphosis" and "The Heartbeat of Taekwon-Do." They are both really good, and they are both on the LVTKD website here. Check them out!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-02T21:36:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter for all of you who celebrate it from the LVTKD club! And no, I don't know if the Easter Bunny actually takes Taekwon-Do, for all of you that are wondering. Ask him yourself! Have a great Easter- and if you make any Taekwon-Do Easter eggs post pictures here on the blog, if you're a poster for it!
Taekwon!

End of the Month Tournament

2010-03-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

I am very happy today. Yesterday, for the End of the Month Tournament, I did well in pattern competition- I went in a group with JP (2nd dan), Eric (1st dan), Patrick (2nd dan) and Cassie (3rd dan.)I won against JP (split decision) and for 1st and 2nd place I lost to Cassie- but that was also a split decision! Wow! I got a split decision against Cassie- Master Bosse's granddaughter who has really good patterns and is great at sparring. At least I am getting better- and I'll keep working on my patterns so maybe I will win next time! And also for sparring I went against Cassie, who's feet I am usually sacred of during sparring, and I wasn't scared- I went in on her and did good, though my technique could have been better. Cassie won that, too, but I did well against her and Cassie didn't think that she'd won.

So, yay! I'm getting better!

I'm Learning Free Sparring Pattern # 11/ Black Belt Free Sparring Pattern #1!

2010-03-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

Hello, Taekwon-Doins! I am learning Free Sparring Pattern #11, or Black Belt Free Sparring Pattern #1. In case you readers take Taekwon-Do but not at the Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club, the Free Sparring Patterns (Or Free Spar Patterns for short) were created by Master Park and the Young Brothers Taekwon-Do Associates. As far as we know, Master Bosse is the only person left in the world that teaches them. He teaches 10 of them, and you learn one at each belt up until black stripe, but there were originally 13 patterns. And I am very fortunate to be able to learn number 11, meant for 1st dan black belts! I am about halfway through the pattern (I'm on number 7 of 13 movement groups)and it is really fun and cool!

In case you are wondering how they go, they consist mostly of kicks with punches at the end of each series of movements, and they are patterns to learn alongside the regular patterns (Chon-Ji, ect.) They too have you end where you started from, and they are full of great combinations of kicks that, unlike quite a few of the combinations in the regular patterns, are very helpful in sparring.

Also, if you know of anyone who teaches these patterns, please comment here! I'm very interested to find out if we are the only students of Taekwon-Do that learn these 'lost patterns.' It's hard for me to imagine Taekwon-Do without them- testing would be way too easy for the color belts!

Another Cool Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club Image Group

2010-03-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

CLICK TO SEE FULL-SIZE
Here is a cool Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club image that I made! Hope you enjoy!

The ITF World Cup in Las Vegas was cancelled

2010-03-18T08:46:00.000-07:00

The World Cup was cancelled. After forever of deciding whether they would keep it or not, the ITF cancelled the tournament. All they wrote on their website was this:

"This is to inform the Members that the upcoming World Cup to be held in Las Vegas on October 2010 has been cancelled."

I am tired of bad news on this blog! Somebody post something happy- about how they tested or something!

I hope that to make up for it, the rest of you will enjoy the Utah Cup instead.

Utah Cup 1010

2010-03-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

On the 15th of May, 2010, the Utah Cup takes place in Salt Lake city! On this website www.ustf-utah.com/calendar.htm it says the following:

Utah Cup
1st Saturday Following Mother's Day
Venue to Be Announced
Salt Lake City, UT 15 May 2010

It has a bunch of 'links' to PDF files with more information, but nobody added the actual links yet. The tournament is associated with the USTF, which we are no longer a part of, but the USTF is also affictated with the ITF, which we are still a part of, so it seems we are able to go!

It makes me want to jump for joy in a kick like that guy in the above picture!
________________

I have just been informed that the dates for my homeschool commonwealth play are the SAME as the tournament. So I can't go. Now I feel like crying...

I hope all of you that get to go enjoy it.
Taekwon.

Red and Black Belt Class and Whitney Ranch Saturday Class

2010-03-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

Hello, this is just a reminder that the Red and Black Belt Class is today at the Heinrich YMCA! And also, Master Bosse has started teaching a third class at the Whitney Ranch Recreation Center on Saturdays. I am unsure of the exact time it starts, but I believe it ends at 11... when I know, I'll post more information later. For those of you who live closer to the Whitney Ranch Rec Center, don't miss out on the Saturday class!

A Temporary President Chosen

2010-03-12T18:08:00.000-08:00

Since Grand Master Tran Trieu Quan, last president of the ITF, passed away recently, Grand Master Pablo Trajtenberg has become the acting president. Here is a message from the current president that was posted on the International Taekwon-Do Club website.

Dear ITF Taekwon-Do Community,

I address you in a moment of profound sorrow for the ITF Taekwon-Do world, due to the demise of our late President, Great Master Tran Trieu Quan, who in such tragic circumstances lost his life, leaving a void impossible to fill.

In spite of everything, his work will endure among us, that of a democratic ITF, provided with a solid structure, and endowed with great achievements and projects.

I cannot help but think on the fugacity of our existence, such as our founder, Gen Choi, expressed upon creating the 24 patterns. In the same way as he once departed, leaving us his legacy, it is now my turn to take over the position that GM Tran leaves and which someone else will eventually occupy.

This fact proves our maturity in understanding that we as individuals are only passengers and that it is the institutions which last.

I have the same determination as my predecessors to carry on leading our beloved ITF to the highest rank ever achieved by a martial art, in the belief that this podium is reserved for ITF Taekwon-Do.

I have the clarity to realize where we are headed to and I will give my utmost capacity to fulfill that determination.

At present ITF has a team made up by a solid Board, willing to work together in close harmony, with our Charter ahead of any personal interest. No obstacle will possibly be able to block this capacity.

I hope that all of us shall put in our effort and that each one may give our very best to lead our dear ITF and therefore give back a fraction of all that the wonderful Taekwon-Do has given us in the course of our lives.

There is no better way than this to honour the memory of our Seniors. I will be in Quebec on March 21st, where a memorial will be held. This shall not be a farewell for GM Tran but a living promise that master Quan will forever inhabit in our hearts.

With all my affection.
Pablo Trajtenberg
Acting President

PS: I wish to share with you the message read at our beloved President´s funeral.

Dear friend Quan, I have come from Argentina to bid you good-bye and I believe also on behalf of many countries, for all of ITF sadly says farewell. I was fortunate enough to share with you a long way in Taekwon-do and in the course of these years I was captivated by your inspiring and visionary style, always ahead of the times and provided with your unique style which led you to conquer the Canadian sportspeople first and later on the whole world.

You were one of the chosen few to share numerous trips with Gen Choi Hong Hi and to nourish on his teachings from the source and along that path you deserved and obtained one of the awards that extols one of your most endearing values: that of loyalty, of which you were always an example in your way of being and in your impeccable way of acting.

You were a precursor of democracy in Taekwon-do and one of the first to understand the difference between verticality in the gym and consensus in the administration of institutions, which you defended as a pioneer and convinced the Gen to apply as an instrument of justice in the world of Taekwon-do and for which we must thank you so much, to have taken our ITF to such high standing.

It was your fate to become the successor to the founder, our dear Gen, and you knew how to lead our institution during all these years with such passion and endeavour as in each of the projects you undertook.

Not always did everyone understand you but your work survives as the greatest project launched in Martial Arts, for you had the vision that only a great leader possesses, who knows where he is headed to. Now it is my turn to take over from you and I promise that we will keep along the course that you set for us, the way of honesty, of teaching values through the Do, for which you worked so hard be cause you always understood that it is useless for anyone to learn how to fight if he does not have the necessary ethics that leads to a better society.

How much we shall miss your mastery, dear friend Quan.

May your family know that you will live forever in the heart of those who love you.

Art, ITF and the world bid you: TAEKWON.

___________________________

As for the World Cup in Las Vegas, the decision still has not been posted if it will be canceled or kept.

ITF World Championships 2009

2010-03-08T19:51:00.000-08:00

Pre-Arranged Sparring:
It is created Step-Sparring where you pause to show your technique.

Women's Team Pattern:
This is pretty good! I wonder why they walked up that way, though? Maybe to make even their entrance in unison, yet different.

Senior Sparring:
Here are some adults sparring.

Above are a few videos from the ITF World Championships 2009!

Taekwon-Do Books

2010-03-04T21:45:00.000-08:00

Lost your Taekwon-Do book? Don't have one yet? Take Taekwon-Do at another place, and not at the Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club? Never fear, because you can now read the Taekwon-Do books online for free here!

There are currently two books in the series, one being about testing and one about Step Sparring and Releases. The testing book tells of all the testing requirements, the answers to questions, and which techniques you will learn next up until your 1st dan black belt test. The Step Sparring and Releases book shows how to do the Step Sparring and Releases we practice at our class. If you do not take Taekwon-Do yet, the Ultimate Taekwon-Do Testing Book has a lot of Taekwon-Do information, if the LVTKD website does not include something you are curious about. Enjoy!

Cool TKD Pictures

2010-02-26T20:10:00.000-08:00

Above is a cool group of pictures that I made. Click to see full-size!
Hope you enjoy it! They are all from our Las Vegas Taekwon-Do club. A few are from when the Mt. Charleston Taekwon-Do class was outside.

Also, we have some bad news. Taekwon-Do at the Heinrich YMCA might not be able to be at the basketball court anymore. A new floor was put in, leaving a huge gap between the floor and the kicking wall pads, and it is possible that basketball will be played there full-time. Will Taekwon-Do have to move to the arobics room, or the small room we sometimes have to have the Red and Black Belt Class in? The full-time basketball is not confirmed yet, as I only heard it from a lady who works at the YMCA, but as far as I know it has been moved to the arobics room.
More news later.

Videos on lvtkd.com!

2010-02-25T15:42:00.000-08:00

Click here to see tons of awesome videos on the Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club site!

The videos I made are up! I hope you enjoy them all!

The Recent Test and New Students

2010-02-25T10:51:00.000-08:00

Hello, everyone! Firstly, I would like to congratulation my brothers Roman and Gabriel, my dad, Dan, and Richard on their new belt grades. Roman and my dad got their blue stripes, Gabriel got his green stripe, and Richard his green belt! Second, I am happy to announce that we got two new students! Our class is small with only 8 students (with one not at class because of an injury) and having two more is fantastic! 10 students seems like so many when only 7 come regularly!
Above is a group of pictures illustrating the procedure of a test, from various belt tests in the past at different LVTKD locations in Las Vegas. Of course, sometimes sparring and the question aren't always at the same times as they are listed above, but the picture shows the general idea.

CLICK PICTURE TO SEE FULL-SIZE

Grand Master Trân Triêu Quân is Dead

2010-02-21T12:04:00.000-08:00

Grand Master Tran, president of the ITF, was found dead in Haiti under several tons of debris. His death is a sad thought for all Taekwon-Doins. He was there in Haiti in the first place to work with the government to create design guidelines that would make buildings safer from natural desastors, and it is sad to say that he was seen going into his hotel 10 minutes before the earthquake, which he didn't survive. Because of his death, the ITF World Cup in Las Vegas may be canceled, since he was the one in charge of the whole thing. We will discover the final decision this month (Febuary).

Speaking from Argentina, Senior Vice-President Grand Master Pablo Trajtenberg stated: “We are so sorry to hear about Grand Master Trân’s death. We are still in shock. ITF and Taekwon-Do have lost a very strong and devoted leader, a great defender of our art in the tradition of our Founder, General Choi Hong Hi. He will remain forever a model that will inspire us all. We wish to extend our deepest sympathies to Grand Master Trân’s dear wife, Mrs. Nguyen Thi My; his children, Joliette, Cécilia and Nicolas; his son-in-law, François Beaudin; his grandchildren, Jasmine and Sandrine; his brothers, Trân Triêu Cung and Trân Triêu Lân; and all the Trân and Nguyen extended families. The fact that Grand Master Trân lost his life in a country such as Haiti is meaningful because he strongly believed in the contribution of Taekwon-Do to the building of strong citizenship qualities in developing countries. He had set time aside to meet with a group of Taekwon-Do students during his stay in Port-au-Prince. We already miss him.”

Happy Korean New Year!

2010-02-14T18:31:00.000-08:00

Above: Korean New Year in South Korea

Happy Korean New Year, and Happy Valentine's Day! Korean New Year happens to be the same day as Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, and the New Year celebrations of many other places. In South Korea, everyone gathers to see the first sunrise of the new year, and some go to different places where they make wishes as the sun comes up. Throughout the day, they play traditional Korean games and have events. On New Year's Eve, more than 150-thousand Korean people got to see the striking of an old temple bell at the Bosingak pavilion. The bell rings 33 times to greet the New Year's coming. Then, the Korean people will have many festive events, including parades, fireworks and traditional cultural performances until the end of the New Year’s Day on the first January. I don't know what they do in North Korea, though- if anyone knows, you can post or comment!

Korea was where Taekwon-Do was invented and founded, by General Choi Hong-Hi. In class, we use many Korean words, such as for counting, and words that mean such things as 'stop' and 'start' and 'return to ready position' and more. In the Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do, the Korean name for each of the techniqes are even added! And, of course, the ITF Korean Taekwon-Doins that I have seen are awesome- in some of the videos I have on this site, you can see them in action!

Happy Korean New Year!

High Side Kicks

2010-02-12T20:22:00.000-08:00

Above: How I WANT my kick to look (a quick Photoshopped image)

Above: My highest side kicks for real.

Imagine: you lift your leg, chambering, and extend your foot, toes pulled back far and footsword aimed, kicking towards the sky- strait into the air, like the Chinese splits in standing position. I want my side kick to be able to do that- to go strait up in the air,like in the Photoshopped image at the top of this post. I've been practicing for it, too- I've done the splits every night for I-don't-know-how-long. From sometime in the Summer, I believe. It seems like since forever. I've also done all sorts of leg exercises and kicks on the wall to help with my techniques as well. Master Bosse said that if I can get my kicks that high, it will be easy for me to kick lower, so easy that, during sparring, my kicks will be like lightning and my foot will dart about like a humming bird! I want to have leg control like Master Joe Bosse, 7th dan black belt and son of our instructor Master Gary Bosse. I want one foot to come up, do a great combination of kicks, and come down before my opponents even know what hit them. I want my kicks to come as quickly as the letters do as I type this sentence. And I will make that happen! I'll be that good- someday. I will not stop trying! I discovered today how high my current side kick can be- I was amazed! Those are the pictures above- and I must say, that's pretty high! But not high enough, though!
Pretty soon, there will be a REAL picture of that strait up side kick on this blog- just as soon as I can get it there!

Taekwon-Do Snowman #2 and #3

2010-02-11T14:43:00.001-08:00

Remember the Taekwon-Do Snowman? Here are #2 and #3. They are at the entryway into our do-jang at Mt. Charleston doing a low block (which doesn't look too good, in my opinion) and a high-section side kick!

And also, this Saturday is the Red and Black Belt Class- so be sure to be there, and be on time!

Me in the TKD Times Magazine!

2010-02-09T17:50:00.000-08:00

Remember when I posted here a few months ago saying that my picture was going into the TaeKwonDo Times Magazine? It's in there now! On the 'Big Break' page of the 'Women's Special' March 2010 Issue, there is a picture of me breaking a board for my 1st dan black belt test. I took a picture of that page in the magazine, and here it is. That's so cool!

No Red and Black Belt Class

2010-02-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

Yes, it was two weeks ago that it was the last Red and Black Belt Class, but this month, the classes are on the 13th and the 27th (you can check the schedule.)Awww...
So no class today. But I hope everyone enjoys the Super Bowl- maybe you could do push-ups whenever the team you don't want to win scores. Or do a pattern.

As for the videos in the below posts, those are from the last End of the Month Tournament. The last sparring video for that division wouldn't load, but hopefully I'll be able to get it in my next post.

End of the Month Tournament Sparring #4

2010-01-30T16:59:00.000-08:00

Patrica (Blue Fighter) vs. Jose (Red Fighter)
Winner: Patricia (Blue Fighter)

End of the Month Tournament Sparring #3

2010-01-30T14:35:00.000-08:00

Eric (Red Figher) vs. Richard (Blue Fighter)
Winner: Richard (Blue Fighter)

End of the Month Tournament Sparring #2

2010-01-29T19:25:00.000-08:00

Gino(Blue Fighter) Vs. Brandon (Red Fighter)
Winner by Split Decision: Brandon (Red Fighter)

End of the Month Tournament Sparring #1

2010-01-29T15:10:00.000-08:00

Gabriel (Blue Fighter) vs. Brandon (Red Fighter)
Winner: Brandon (Red Fighter)

I finally figured it out!

2010-01-27T18:27:00.000-08:00

I asked Master Bosse to watch my pattern "Ge-Baek" today, to see what I needed to work on. He said that I was de-connected from my pattern afterwards. He said that my techniques were good, but I looked like a robot. He explained that I needed to put my personality into my pattern. Comparing it to lasagna, Master Bosse said that it would be like someone just cooking up lasagna noodles and eating them plain. Not very exciting. Or, you could cook them and add a little butter, which would give it a little bit different flavor. Or you could add all kind of spices, changing the taste totally. It's the same lasagna, only you have to put your own spin on it, your own personality into it. It's the same with patterns. He said that my patterns had pretty good technique, but there was no Patricia in them. It was like a robot doing a pattern. Some people do their patterns a little bit slower. Others faster. Some people pause at different times. You put yourself into those patterns. If not, then it will be robotic. It could even be unexciting. The patterns are the same, but I have to make them different. He also suggested that I move my eyes a little more, instead of keeping them strait ahead all the time. I tried this. WOW! EUREKA! It's completely different! I always watch my patterns and wonder what is wrong with them. Master Bosse has been telling me I looked like a robot, that I was too stiff, for pretty much forever. I just didn't get it! It completely makes a difference. I also figured out that I need to not be nervous and get into my pattern, put myself in my own little white room of Ge-Baek, or Choong-Moo, or Dan-Gun, or whichever pattern I am doing. Master Bosse also compared it to teachers. You could have a teacher with the same tone of voice for the whole class, making it boring no matter how exciting what they are talking about should be, or you can have a teacher who moves his or her voice up and down, and move his/her eyes around, and body and arms, making you hang onto every word, never knowing what they'll do next. Below is what I decided you need to have good patterns:

To Have Good Patterns:
Know the pattern
Have spirit
Have good technique and stances
Have good sine wave, power, and speed
Have smooth, flowing motion
Put yourself into your pattern

As soon as I tried putting myself into the pattern, I got a result. It made such a difference. I'll imagine sparring, or doing a Ho Sin Sul. I'll have perfect technique, smooth. Patricia will be in that pattern.
Thank you, Master Bosse!

To all of you Taekwon-Doins, tomorrow (Thursday) is the End of the Month Tournament. You can go if you're from any of Master Bosse's classes. See you there!

How Sweet Is That?

2010-01-25T20:40:00.000-08:00

An obviously Taekwon-Do belt cake (Notice 'Taekwon-Do' Written in Korean- I wonder if the eater took ITF?)

We don't eat our candy for Halloween. Instead, I build a huge candy house- this year it was a country farm nearby a stage, lake, and outdoor TKD do-jang! Here are some images of the Taekwon-Do guys- the girl doing the splits would not stand up to kick or punch, so I had to make other arrangements. And I had to give them belts that look brown because there wasn't any other color that was good except yellow, and I forgot why I didn't use that...
And I found a Taekwon-Do belt cake that looked cool, so I posted that too. This year, maybe I can make a Taekwon-Do cake!

I'll have somebody kicking on it, maybe, drawn in frosting. Possible on top of marshmallow fondant. Maybe in front of the LVTKD logo! Yes...

What would you make a TKD cake look like?

"The Only Thing You Have To Fear is Fear Itself"

2010-01-24T21:56:00.000-08:00

They say the only thing you have to fear is fear itself. I wish that was the only thing I feared! You see, breaking boards with side kicks, jumping front kicks, and flying side kicks normally aren't too hard for me. But when I do reverse hook kicks and reverse turning kicks, I stop at the last second and don't break the board. It's because at the last second, I get afraid of the board. I don't go all the way through; I barely even kick hard! I don't feel scared at first, but when I spin, my foot just stops. I wish I could stop this, I wish I could get over my fear. I remember when it used to be like this for me when I did jumping high over the head front kicks. But I wasn't as afraid, I was extremely FRUSTERATED. But when I got to the Christmas Demo, when I looked at that board, I felt nervous. Very nervous. But soon, it wasn't regular nervousness. It became excitment, confidence, exhilleration. All on top of the nervousness, as if the nervousness only empowered these - I guess I'd say brave- feelings. I'd say that this would be'getting into the zone.' I barely even remember breaking the board on the first try. After that, I felt like a champion!
Above is a video of that moment. I was a blue belt, at 12 years old. If only I could do that with reverse turning kicks. It isn't too difficult to preform these kicks, it's just I get freaked out. This is harder for me that a jumping high over the head front kick ever was! This is more than frusterating; I know that at the moment I should be braking the board, I feel fear instead of my heel flying through the board. And now, when I go to kick, I automatically assume I'm going to get scared at the last second and do bad, so I don't even try hard enough, accidentally!

This is a question: how did you overcome your board breaking fears/chokes/lack of power? Did you ever have any problems with certain breaks?

If you could please answer this question, I would be very thankful.

Because the only thing that you should have to fear is fear itself, and if I can get rid of this silly reverse turning kick and hook kick fear, then I'll be one step closer to getting to that point.

Thanks!

Jumping Long Distance and Early Red and Black Belt Class

2010-01-24T19:33:00.000-08:00

In my basement I Jumped Really far on a bean bag. and master bosse let me do the red and black belt class even if I am a red stripe. And could somebody post on this blog?

Grand Master Tran - President of the ITF- is missing

2010-01-24T13:11:00.000-08:00

Above: Grand Master Tran

The ITF president is missing! Below was copied from the ITF website:

Grand Master Trân was in Port-au-Prince on business when the earthquake struck Haiti last Tuesday. He was staying at the Montana Hotel (room 306). Grand Master Trân was seen going to his room 10 minutes before the earthquake. “My husband is trapped in the rubbles of the Montana Hotel and our family is still awaiting news from the rescue teams", Mrs My Nguyen Tran, his wife, said this morning.

Dr. Janel Gauthier, former Chair of the ITF Ethics and Discipline Committee and close friend of the Tran family, stated: "Taekwon-do practitioners all over the world are hoping that Grand Master Tran will be found alive and well very soon. Their thoughts and their hearts go to his family. Many Taekwon-do Masters, Instructors and practitioners from the Americas are deploying tremendous energy and using all possible channels and tools of communication to get vital information to the multi-national professional rescue teams to locate Grand Master Tran in the rubble of the Montana Hotel. Others are rounding health and sanitation stations in Haiti and neighbouring countries in case Grand Master Tran has been evacuated without identification".

"I thank all of those who are working the medias and the web, searching for information or spreading information on my father and his possible location", said Grand Master Tran's daughter Joliette.

Grand Master Tran is the father of Joliette (6th degree black belt), Cécilia and Nicolas (4th degree black belt).

For further information:

Master Willem Jacob Bos,
ITF Secretary General
E-mail: itfadmhq@fastwebnet.it
Phone : + 39 06 45443165

Notice anything different...?

2010-01-23T22:26:00.000-08:00

The blog layout is different! That's right, we have a blog with a columm on either side of the posts! Wow! I have always dreamed of a template like this.... ahhh...

I found this at blogcrowds.com, it's free, no download required, and fantastic!
Don't worry, posters, everything is still the same to do. It's just... better!

Today was the Red and Black Belt Class! Gino got to come- even if he is a red stripe and not a red belt! He behaved very well and did a great job! Yay, Gino! We got our new schedules for the Red and Black Belt Class for 2010 today. I posted it here, you can find it by clicking on the Red and Black Belt Class image on the left side of this screen. Also, I added a translator to our blog- that way, readers can translate comments and posts to their languages. (I got a few comments in Chinese, and I got the idea)

Red and Black Belt Classes for 2010

2010-01-23T20:01:00.000-08:00

Lost your paper? Here is a list of the dates of the red and black belt classes for 2010:

Red and Black Belt Classes for 2010:

Jan. 9 & 23
Feb. 13 & 27
Mar. 13 & 27
Apr. 10 & 24
May 8 & 26
Jun. 12 & 26
Jul. 24
Aug. 28
Sep. 11 & 25
Oct. 9 & 23
Nov. 13 & 27
Dec. 11

They are held at the Heinrich YMCA from 1:15 to 4:15 PM- be on time!(We have to start later currently because there is a karate class that goes on before the Red and Black Belt Class now, since we hold TKD in the aerobics room)

FAQs

2010-01-22T21:47:00.000-08:00

Find FAQs at the LVTKD Website.
But, here are some more that are not answered on the site:

Q. How can I find time for Taekwon-Do?
A. There is always a way to find time for Taekwon-Do! Firstly, the classes are timed after most kids are done school, and some adults are done work. To see the days and time of the classes, click Here.

Q. I took Taekwon-Do somewhere else and got to a certain belt. Will I have to start over from white belt again?
A. No. If, however, you took another style of Taekwon-Do, you will still keep your belt but be taught our techniques and patterns.

Q. Can you actually defend yourself with Taekwon-Do?
A. Absolutely! ITF Taekwon-Do is a very effective martial art that can be used in a real fight- but only if you absolutely need to defend yourself. Getting into a fight to test or show off your techniques would be misusing Taekwon-Do, and that isn't right!

Q. I heard that Taekwon-Do is almost all kicks. Is this true?
A. No. You may be thinking of WTF, where in competition, there isn't much hand techniques at all. Actually, there are many hand movements, blocks, strikes, and releases in Taekwon-Do, too!

Q. Do we learn how to use weapons in Taekwon-Do?
A. True Taekwon-Do does not include weapons. However, we learn many defences against weapons as we progress through our belt levels. This includes defence against almost any weapon you can think of!

Q. Any weapon you can think of? How about a light saber?!
A. Well, since that is a lot like a sword, then I assume the answer is yes.

Q. I have seen some of the stuff you do in Taekwon-Do. Will I be able to do things like that?
A. If you persevere, then yes! But of course, we are not going to be teaching you how to do 360 reverse hook kicks at white belt, or try to force you to learn how to do a back flip because it looks cool.

Q. Do I have to be flexible to do Taekwon-Do?
A. No, not at all! You can be the least flexible person in the world and still do Taekwon-Do! TKD will help you become more flexible as you do it, too: before I took Taekwon-Do, I couldn't even touch my toes! Now I can put my hands flat on the floor without bending my knees!

Q. Is Taekwon-Do an acrobatic martial art?
A. No, not really. However, there are a few kicks that require you to jump, spin, or even flip in the air to preform, but you won't learn these for a while. The flipping kicks are very, very few, and I believe some of them are just to show techniques in demonstrations, not for actual fights. But if you feel like learning how to do flips, then it can really make a Ho Sin Sul exciting, though this is entirely not required.

Q. Is Taekwon-Do expensive?
A. Our ITF Taekwon-Do is very inexpensive as far as Taekwon-Do classes go. Taekwon-Do imitators' classes are expensive, and they don't even train you in a true martial art! The prices for our classes vary from $30 to $60 per month depending on the location, as Master Bosse teaches in different places. It is very much worth it to just pay up to $60 per month for something that will last you for life; something enjoyable and beneficial for anyone from age 6 to 600!

Q. How can I post on the Taekwon-Do blog?
A. Once you start taking Taekwon-Do, explain you want to post on the LVTKD blog and give Master Bosse your email and tell him to give it to Patricia at Mt. Charleston. You'll then receive an email asking you to 'contribute to Patricia's blog.' Make a Google account (it's all free) and start posting!

Q. I am already on the TKD blog but don't know how to post (ect.)How do I..?
A. Please click Here to learn how to post. Scroll down and check out the 'help' area on the right side of the screen for more assistance.

Christmas Demo 2009 Clips

2010-01-22T13:54:00.000-08:00

Above is a video I made with short clips from the Christmas Demo. It doesn't include everything, and I might make another movie with more things in it at another time. Also, I just created a new label: 'demonstrations and competition.' You posters can add this label to your posts that have to do with any tournaments

Another Cool Video

2010-01-19T23:05:00.000-08:00

Here's another movie that was on the MySpace (the LVTKD MySpace is pretty much out of use, but it is still worth it to visit- look at the cool pictures! There is a link in the link list on the right side of this screen- just scroll to find it)

The patterns don't always have good technique in the above video, and I think there was a mistake in Chung-Moo, but you have got to see the breaking and the self-defence. (Ho Sin Sul) I wonder if that roundoff-back-flip-mid-air-kick thing that girl used to break a board can be used in real life, or was that just to show her technique? I haven't learned that yet, so I don't know. But it is in the Encylopedia of Taekwon-Do; it just isn't listed on how to use it. Unless I missed that part.

And just so you know, the sparring looks full-contact because I think it is. They only do that in Britain or something, mostly everywhere else you are not allowed to go full-out. They must have a lot of rules at those full-contact tournaments to keep people safe!

Some cool ITF TKD vidoes

2010-01-19T22:06:00.000-08:00

I got these off the LVTKD MySpace.

Wow! Awesome breaking!

Somebody's cool Ho Sin Sul (an acted, pre-arranged fight) the stances aren't too good, though, the weight distribution seemed 50-50 even though it looked like they were supposed to be L-stances.

Another Ho Sin Sul! It seems to skip the end though, aw...
Still, with weird stances. Good, though! I wish I could do that back-flip kick!

Part of yet another cool Ho Sin Sul!

Blue Belt Reverse Attacks

2010-01-19T17:17:00.000-08:00

Here are the Blue Belt Reverse Attacks that I did with Gino for his test. He got a 6.5 on it, which means that they are good. His first ever!
Testing scores are:
6.0- Passing, needs work
6.5- Good
7.0- Really good
7.5- Exellent
8.0- Perfect. Not given out.

Master Bosse has only given out like two 7.5s ever. And 7.0s are hard to get as well. It is my goal to get one!

Tests and a (possible) Snow Storm

2010-01-19T16:49:00.000-08:00

We could be practicing in the snow! Okay, not literally. We aren't going to be practicing barefoot in the snow anytime soon (however, it feels awesome to do it- we just don't do it during class) But we are expecting up to 7 feet of snow up here at Mt. Charleston, (in fact it is snowing right now) and that'll mean it will probably be hard for Master Bosse to get up to class pretty soon, not to mention some of the students! And this will also mean my family won't be able to get to the end of the month tournament or the red and black belt class! Ahh!

Also above are some pictures from a test the other day. Gino and Richard tested and passed! Gino is now a red stripe and Richard got his green stripe! Congratulations! Gino is very happy that he got his first 6.5, ever- two of them. One was for his Joong-Gun and another for his Reverse Attacks, which I'll probably post here.

Me and Gino did the Reverse Attacks. I think we did okay. Gino did awesome, his best ever, though!

We are writing the tenets on the kicking pad boards. We have most of them colored in.

Recent Classes & The Upcoming Tournament That Is Making Me Jump For Joy and Giggle Rather Uncharacteristically

2010-01-07T20:15:00.000-08:00

Just yesterday my youngest little brother Gabriel tested for his gold belt, and broke a board for the first time- then afterwards, he broke boards with ease! He did well and passed his test with a 6.5 on his Chon-Ji and Four-Direction Block. Afterwards, we all broke boards instead of free sparring- I think that it is the best we have done in board breaking at Mt. Charleston, ever. One person once got push-ups for not breaking a board the entire time! (For those of you who do not take our class, we sometimes line up and take turns breaking boards with various kicks, and if you can't break the board after a few tries, you do 10 push-ups and then get back into the line to keep going- it is really fun!)For other tests, before Christmas my dad and brother Roman got their green belts, and my other brother Gino (current blue belt) and Richard (current gold belt) will test next week. Congratulations and good luck!

Also, I am very excited about the ITF World Cup in Las Vegas. I discovered (among other things) that the sparring rounds are two minutes long for black belts, and that the ITF is holding more than 1,500 rooms for those attending the event, and that building that they are holding it in is the Las Vegas Convention center, in the Hall N3 Hall, which has a 101,443 square feet capacity, under a 25-foot high ceiling. Wow! And so, when finding out about just how many people from all over the world they expect to attend the event, I jumped around and giggled with excitement. Yes.

YAYYYYYYYAAAAYYY!!!!!

They also have pre-arranged free sparring (which seems to be like Ho Sin Sol) for black belts, and of course the power-breaking and pattern competition. This is very exciting, and I plan to start sprinting as soon as all the snow melts and it warms up a little bit so that I will have more endurance for the free sparring.

Taekwon!

Taekwon-Doman (AKA The Taekwon-Do Snowman)

2010-01-02T12:37:00.000-08:00

I made a Taekwon-Do Snowman- a Taekwon-Doman - outside yesterday. Unfortunatly, his punching arm fell off, and when I put it back on, it's alot smaller since the snow got hard. But from the front, he still looks okay.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T12:06:00.000-08:00

Well, it's the new year! 2010, a new year of Taekwon-Do, and also the year of the Taekwon-Do World Cup in Las Vegas ! New Year's Day was on Friday, Taekwon-Do day, but we did Taekwon-Do anyway. Besides, nothing special ever happens on New Year's Day, right? It's New Year's Eve that's the best!
Think of it, in 2010, it's another great year of Taekwon-Do classes, and each month there will be End of the Month Tournaments, Mid-Month Tournaments, and Red and Black Belt classes. There will be another Christmas Demo, and anyone blue belt and higher will have a chance to compete in the ITF World Cup this year. There will be alot of sparring, patterns, promotions, board breaking and new students. This will be the year I earn 5,000 dollars so that by the time I'm 16 I can buy a car, get 'Taekwon' written on the licence plate, and drive to all of Master Bosse's Taekwon-Do classes. (Ahh... Taekwon-Do almost every day...I can't wait!)
Well, Happy New Year's, everyone!
-Patricia

Merry Christmas from the Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club!

2009-12-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from LVTKD! Christmas was great- I loved watching people open their gifts, opening my own gifts, doing Christmas-y things and doing Taekwon-Do! Since it's Friday, I had Taekwon-Do- even though it is a holiday- by myself, because no one else wanted to come. Later, though, after doing all the patterns and Free Sparring Patterns except #10 and my black belt patterns, my dad and fellow Taekwon-Doin came over and I taught him his new techniques and the pattern Won-Hyo- he and my brother Roman both got their green belts! Then after that, I finished up the patterns and did some kicks on pads, and then ran, crab walked, and duck walked back and forth a few times, then stretched and ended my class at 5:30 as usual. Not to brag or anything, but I am proud to say that I love Taekwon-Do so much that I wanted to do it on Christmas! Also, for Christmas I got a few Taekwon-Do presents- a movie called Tae Kwon Do: Presented by Bob Wall that shows an interview with General Choi Hong-Hi and some exercises that he does, as well as some other TKD guys doing patterns and breaking and more (it's worth owning, but it has really bad editing), a book called 'A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do' (that talks about the creation of ITF and WTF Taekwon-Do, and some other TKD stuff) and a shelf that I can move all my Taekwon-Do books on and my some of my trophies (they might double as good book ends!), and there is room for other stuff as well. And for the rest of my family, my little sister Jessi (the Taekwon-Do baby) got a doll with a martial arts uniform and some belts. It comes with all the Taekwon-Do belts, as well as an additional purple belt, brown belt, and orange belt. (she can use those non-TKD belts to tie up the girl's hair!) and she likes the extra outfit that comes with it -just normal clothes. And I got my dad a book called Mind Manipulation, and another book about the same thing, that tells of how to use your opponents' minds against them in martial arts and in life. He says it is good so far! I made Master Bosse a LVTKD logo, painted on wood, and we all got him 'A Killing Art' as well- I hope that it is a good book! But with Master Bosse reading it, we will find out if it tells the truth or not! And, of course, I got and gave some other cool stuff, too, but I'm not going to post that- this is a Taekwon-Do blog, not a Christmas website!

Well, Merry Christmas to All and to All a Taekwon!
Patricia

How to Do the Splits- Easy

2009-12-17T11:00:00.000-08:00

Picture One: Me doing the Russian Splits
Picture Two: Me doing the Chinese Splits

First of all, if you are/get injured when trying to do the splits, then this does not apply to you. And no, if the stretching hurts, then then still DOES apply to you-you are just not flexible enough.

1. Practice them at a set time every day- just do a little beyond what you are comfortable with, hold it there for a few seconds, and you're done. A minute every day is worth it!
2. For the Chinese Splits keep your feet flat on the ground- it stops your legs from bending at the knees, thus helping you do a true split. If you don't do this, your legs will naturally bend slightly, no matter if you can do the splits all the way down or not.
3. Ever notice how you can do splits better after you have practiced Taekwon-Do? Loosening up helps you be able to stretch more.
4. Doing all the exercising in Taekwon-Do helps you become more flexible- before I took Taekwon-Do, I could not even touch my toes! Now I can put my hands flat on the floor- that's even further than just touching my toes!
5. For the Russian Splits, be sure to practice with both the left foot in the front and the right foot in the front- it is harder for some people to do it one way when the other way is easier.
6. The real Secret of the Splits: practice! Just do them every day, and presto! Easy splits! That is how I am able to do the splits now. Once you can do the splits, try doing them between two chairs- a foot on each, and hang down in the middle. Just make sure you have something to grab on to!

Christmas Demo Pictures

2009-12-16T21:56:00.001-08:00

Here are a few pictures from the Christmas Demo! Later I'll probably put a group of video clips from the Christmas Demo, too! You can put videos on this blog two ways: a code from YouTube for YouTube videos (paste on the 'New Post' screen), or the little video icon on the 'New Post' screen. If anyone else has videos they want to post here- feel free!

Does Anyone Have This?

2009-12-16T21:35:00.000-08:00

Does anyone have a picture or video of Gino and Austin doing the flying side kicks at the Christmas Demo, 2009? We don't have the movie of Gino breaking the board, and would be really happy if someone else shared this. Could you post it here, maybe?
Thanks!

I CANNOT WAIT!

2009-12-15T08:56:00.000-08:00

I can't wait for the Christmas Demo! It's today! HOORAYYY!!!!
I hope that lots and lots of people come, and that we'll all have a great time!
Well, I now go back to waiting and making Christmas Demo Potluck food.
See all you Taekwon-Do guys and girls soon!

Ohhhh...................

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!
Okay, I have to go distract myself... (as if that will work)
Patricia, who is trying not to go insane and be patient.

Stories from General Choi

2009-12-11T20:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a series of vidoes of General Choi Hong-Hi talking about Taekwon-Do and telling stories of his life. Of course, since he prefers to talk in Korean, we have to have the same silly translator that translated the ITF documentary, the guy that always says 'Tie'kwon-Do. However, it is as if part of the book Taekwon-Do and I is told live!

Number One- His Childhood and Perseverance

Number Two- How He Started Caligraphy

Number Three- Singing

Number Four- Being the the Jail for the Student Rising against the Japanese

Number Five- Teaching Karate In the Jail

Taekwon-Do In the Olympics

ITF Open to Anybody and Everyone

Taekwon-Do and Moral Education

Philosophy, Taekwon-Do and Eternal Life

These are all the ones that I could find. You'd think that all the parts of this film would be on YouTube, but the person who put it there skipped quite a bit out.
Hope you all enjoy this!

'Twas the Night Before the Christmas Demo

2009-12-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

(Click on picture to see it in full-size)

'Twas the night before the Christmas Demo, with snow on the trees,
Not a person was stirring, well, all except me.
My belt was in the closet, set there with care,
All ready for tommorow, which soon would be there.
Not sleeping, I tossed, not snug in my bed,
While visions of Taekwon-Do danced in my head.
Being too excited, I just could not sleep,
I wanted to shout and give a happy leap!
I had to wait a long night and a day,
Before we'd be in the car and up and away,
Headed to the Christmas Demo in cheer,
Well, at least I didn't have to wait a whole year!
I picked up a book, but still stayed awake,
Because reading the Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do was a mistake.
Who could doze off when, instead of a yawn,
You just want to do Gae-Baek and Po-Eum?
Who would be the winners of trophies this year?
Could you jump a chair and break a board wihout fear?
Would your ho sin sul be the hit of the night?
If only I could spar right now, I want to fight!
And when I lay on my pillow, instead of sinking deep,
I visioned myself breaking boards with my feet.
But what if it snowed, too much to leave?
Well, I'd shovel it all, I'd roll up my sleeves,
And get it all done before 5:00 PM sharp,
I'd figure a way, I'd find something smart.
It was late, I discovered, when I looked at a clock,
But the time was nothing compared with my desire to block,
Or kick or jump or break or punch,
But at this rate, I'd stay up 'till tommorow's lunch!
I shut off the lights and covered my head,
And tried to get cozy in my tall metal bed.
I don't know when it happened, my sleep had to be a trick!
But that didn't stop me from dreaming
of jumping front kicks.

This is my poem called 'Twas the Night Before the Christmas Demo.'
The 15th- that's in only like four days!!!

Also, the Red and Black Belt class is tommorow- our last practice before the Christmas Demo. Be sure to come, everyone!
See you soon!

Me in TKD Times!

2009-12-11T10:27:00.000-08:00

Hi, all!
This picture of me doing a double jumping front kick at my black belt test is going to be put in the TaeKwonDo Times (yes, they spell Taekwon-Do strangly) Magazine! I submitted the picture for the Killer Kicks section of the magazine a few months back, and I just got an email saying that TKD Times would like to use it! So my mom sent in parental permission, and now I get to be in the magazine!
This is so cool! When it's in the maganize, I'll put up a picture of it in the magazine and post it here.

Taekwon,
Patricia

The Christmas Demo

2009-12-03T15:36:00.000-08:00

I love the Christmas Demo! It comes every year. It's awesome! This year it is on the 15th of December. I love how other people and me do cool stuff in it. I also love how there is alot of food. And if you're a green belt or higher and you're good at the tenets you can win trophies. But if you are a black belt you can only win Best Attendence, Best Free Sparring, Best Patterns and the Best Black Belt award. And people do cool stuff, like jumping over people, and jumping over chairs, and breaking boards, and sometimes they break bricks and they have to break alot of boards while in the air. I love how everyone spars! And if you want to see your friends again from another class, you can! It's awesome! I am going to do my pattern and jumping over something to break a board with a flying side kick. Well, I hope that maybe I could break a wooden board. I think I will. And I hope some people are really good actors in knife attacks, patterns, and other stuff.

Controlling Aggression

2009-12-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

I'm having a hard time controlling my aggression during free sparring. I'm naturally a competitive person and sometimes the moment will get the best of me. I've tried to spar defensively but my counter attacks are just as aggressive. I really like my sparring partners and I don't want to hurt anyone. In the spirit of the tenets of Taekwon-Do, does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do?

Why Post

2009-12-01T08:59:00.000-08:00

Dear Taekwon-Do Posters,
Some of you may be wondering 'why should I post on this blog?'
This blog is for future Taekwon-Doins and the current martial artists to enjoy, learn about what is going on with other students, learn more about Taekwon-Do, and ask questions. Feel free to post videos, pictures, stories, information, and other enjoyable things related to Taekwon-Do. Write papers on why you like Taekwon-Do, what you do to practice at home, cool TKD facts, and anything else you can think of! Have a question? Create a post with your question, and other students can comment and answer it for you. Everything you post here doesn't have to be your own. If you find a cool ITF Taekwon-Do video on YouTube, or an awesome picture of General Choi Hong-Hi, those are fine to post too. Also, check out other posters' profiles- they can write about themselves, where they take Taekwon-Do, and some favorite things of theirs. You might found out something about someone you take Taekwon-Do with you never knew before! If you don't feel like posting, check out the other cool things on this blog: there is a list of Taekwon-Do related links, posts by other people, and of course the profiles and blog followers. Also, you can write about your favorite Taekwon-Do events and when they'll happen: the Red & Black Belt Class, the Christmas Demo, the End of the Month Tournament, the Mid-Month Tournament, or even testing coming up soon!
Just think: anyone who finds this blog will get to read about the TKD stuff you posted!
Taekwon,
Patricia

General Choi Hong-Hi

2009-11-28T09:38:00.000-08:00

Here is a collage of pictures of General Choi Hong-Hi that I made. He was the father of Taekwon-Do, and worked on creating it until he founded it on April 11th, 1955. He died in 2002 and was born on November 9th, 1918. Without General Choi, this blog, these classes, us as Taekwon-Doins, would not exist!

Green Stripe Releases

2009-11-27T18:23:00.000-08:00

Today at the Friday Mt. Charleston class, I had Gino (blue belt), Roman (green stripe) and Reznor (green stripe) perform the green stripe releases for the rest of the class and relatives watching. I am so proud of their spirit! Here is a video below:
This video is only of Gino as the defender, Roman's and Reznor's aren't here. The two green stripe releases have two attackers 'the bad guys' and one defender 'the good guy.' There are two releases; one where the attackers grab each one of the defender's wrists, the defender releases himself and re-grabs the attackers' hands, and kicks the attackers with side kicks. Then, for number two, an attacker grabs the the defender from behind, while the other attacker runs at him from the front. The defender hits the attacker with a front kick, then does the bear hug release (this is learned at gold stripe)and the releases are done.
Good job, guys!

Cassie vs. Sam- Was This A Point?

2009-11-27T09:12:00.000-08:00

Instant replay! Cassie vs. Sam- did Master Bosse make a mistake? At first sight, it looks like Sam actually got a point right there, and that Cassie's punch might not have counted! Did Master Bosse not see? Watch the instant replay- you decide!

My answer: at first, I thought that Sam's punch or backfist might have counted as a point, but after watching it in slow motion, I saw that Sam missed and, even if Cassie turned her head, her punch landed, thus earning her a point. Wow, Master Bosse is REALLY good at spotting points- this scene is so fast, I wouldn't have been able to tell!

If anyone would like to discuss this, you can comment on this post.

End Of The Month Tournament Sparring Video

2009-11-25T20:44:00.000-08:00

Here is a movie I made containing video clips from yesterday's free sparring at the End of the Month tournament set to music. We don't have any of the patterns, but the free sparring here is pretty cool!

End Of The Month Tournament

2009-11-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the End of the Month Tournament at the YMCA.(Above Pictures) For all of you students from the Whitney Ranch and at Mt. Charleston, you are allowed to go, too. There were more people than last time, but still not as many as their used to be. All of us Taekwon-Do students need to come to the End of The Month Tournament!

I came in first place in patterns and first place in sparring. Then, we had a team spar against Cassie, Master Bosse's granddaughter- a 3rd Dan black belt and a champion in free sparring. It was me (1st degree black belt, Jose, (red belt) Sam, (red belt)and Eric (1st degree black belt)as a team against Cassie. We each took turns sparring her- but our team lost 10-0! Let's win against Cassie next time- Cassie, if you're reading this, be sure to come!

Today, at Taekwon-Do at Mt. Charleston, Master Bosse's son Master Joe Bosse visited. With both of them, I learned alot about chambering my leg when doing a side kick and how to move to the side and block or attack while free sparring correctly. I also just figured out that my stances are often messed up when doing patterns because I just focus on my hand and feet techniques instead of my stances, too, even if I know how to do them pretty well.

Today, Gabriel got his gold stripe and Richard got his gold belt. Congratulations!

For all of the students from the Whitney Ranch class and the YMCA, tommorow on Thanksgiving there won't be any class, unfortunatly. When I went to the Whitney Ranch and later the YMCA, since there was no Taekwon-Do on Thanksgiving I would practice at home. If you would like, try practicing your patterns, doing push ups, sit ups and leg lifts, stretching, and if you have siblings also in Taekwon-Do, help them out or have them help you, and free spar with them and/or do your step sparring or releases.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Taekwon-Do Over Snow

2009-11-15T23:41:00.000-08:00

Above:
Picture One: Our Shoveled Driveway
Picture Two: Me Doing A Side Kick
Picture Three: The Beauty of the Mountain

It's November, and it was our first snowfall of the year at Mt. Charleston. The trees and mountains were surrounded by low misty clouds and up high, Cathedral Rock looked like it had been sprinkled with sweet powdered sugar. The rocks, plants, hills and driveway were blanketed in a few inches of snow; deep enough to sled on but not quite as deep as it could have been- last year we had over three feet of snow, and even more in some areas! It was a not-quite-winter wonderland, except for the fact that the snow in our really long driveway was going to turn into treacherous ice overnight! That meant no driving anywhere- we wouldn't be able to go to get groceries, to go to my Shakespeare and Key of Liberty homeschool classes, and to go to the red and black belt class! As a surprise for my dad and so that we would be able to drive places-especially the red and black belt class- I gathered my younger brothers (Roman, Gino and Gabriel) grabbed some shovels and started to clear the driveway. Since our driveway is so long, it took over and hour, but we kept scooping and pushing the snow and slush out of the way, determined to clear it. I realized that not only would this be a great surprise and our ticket to town, the students for the Friday Taekwon-Do class would be able to park somewhere. Cheering, "Taekwon-Do Over Snow!" and talking of how great a surprise it would be, we finished the driveway. Perseverance and teamwork really pays off!

A word about profiles

2009-11-15T23:30:00.000-08:00

If you are a poster on this blog, you won't want to add anything to your profile you don't want anyone else to know. You can write your interests and about yourself, as well as add a picture. For us, it is really just for this blog's readers and each other to read, but in the interests section if you click on something you wrote it will take you to a list of other bloggers that also have that interest. If others do the same, they might come upon your page.

Don't worry, no one can contact you unless you put up your email address, but if you don't want people to know your birthday or where you live, please don't add it. Profiles are optional and are just fun for us Taekwon-Doins and possible students to look at.

To add to your profile, either click on 'edit profile' when you are on the dashboard (the page your are taken to when you first log in) or click on your name in the blog poster area to the right of this post, and choose 'edit' on your page. Then you can write your favorite things- music, movies, books, and other interests. You can add your birthday, too if you'd like, but if you are younger than 13 it won't let you, so if you want to add your age just put it in the 'about you' section. They also allow you to do other things, which are simple to figure out, and some things aren't worth adding or are pretty neat. You can upload an image for yourself- it can be of you or an icon image that you like from the internet.

So that others can know where you take Taekwon-Do, you can put that in the 'location' area- Whitney Ranch, Mt. Charleston or the Heinrich YMCA -instead of where you live.

Taekwon-Do Videos

2009-11-15T23:09:00.000-08:00

Here is a video of General Choi Hong-Hi, the creater of Taekwon-Do, teaching. It's in Korean, but it's great to find a video of our founder.

Above is another video, that shows ITF Taekwon-Do techniques and lots of breaking! It also includes General Choi Hong-Hi.

Above is the third video, which is mostly free sparring. In this movie, it seems to be full contact, but in class we never use full contact, so that no one gets hurt. This one doesn't always show people with good technique, but there are some pretty fast foot movements that are worth the watch.

Mt. Charleston Friday Class

2009-11-07T18:58:00.000-08:00

Master Bosse says that I get to teach classes on Fridays! This is another class in addition to the Monday and Wednesday classes. I did okay, but the order of things that we did wasn't so good and I stuttered sometimes. I'll do better next time! I think that everyone enjoyed the class, and I know that I did.

Picture One: Stretching
Picture Two: Playing a Slapping Game
Picture Three: Turning Kicks
Picture Four: Our Do-Jang
Picture Five: Side Exercises

We do Taekwon-Do inside now at Mt. Charleston. Snow will come soon, but though it has been warm lately it gets dark out too early to do Taekwon-Do outside. Our do-jang is a basement of a large house and our floor is covered in belt colored interlocking foam pieces. It looks awesome! On our wall is an American flag, a Korean flag, and three pictures: the ITF tree, the LVTKD logo, and a drawing that has General Choi in it. We have a Wavemaster, two small kicking pads, two large kicking pads, and two of those handheld black kicking pads with the handles. We also have a mat to roll and do step sparring on.

Taekwon-Do Baby Picture

2009-11-07T18:55:00.001-08:00

Turning kick! I'm glad my sister enjoys Taekwon-Do so much!

Taekwon-Do Baby!

2009-11-07T18:37:00.000-08:00

My little sister Jessi is 15 months old (older than a year) and she watches everything. She's watched us practice Taekwon-Do, and decided to do turning-kicks! She even exhales when she does them! In this movie, you can't hear it, though, because I muted it- too much background noise. I also taught her how to do a sitting stance. She doesn't do them in this video much, though, except for in once part, shortly. So cute and amazing! Taekwon-Do really can be for anyone, even a one-year-old! Look out for this future Taekwon-Doin!(I wonder if she's the first 15-month-old ever to do Taekwon-Do?)

Halloween

2009-11-04T21:19:00.000-08:00

This Halloween, I carved a pumpkin into a Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club Pumpkin! Here are some pictures.

How To Post On This Blog

2009-10-29T21:32:00.000-07:00

For all of you new bloggers, here is how to post on this blog.

Click on 'post' in the upper right corner of the main page.
You will be taken to a screen which shows a few pictures. The b and the i are for italic and bold letters. The ABC with the check mark is for spell check; click on the words in red to fix them. If there are none, then you didn't misspell anything. the picture of the earth with the paper clip-like thing is for inserting a link. Highlight a word, and then click on the green earth and type or copy and paste your link. Click on the picture to add a picture. There, you can get one from your computer (this takes a while to load) or copy the HTML on an image from the internet (like in Google images- click on the image you want, see full size image, and copy the link above) You can write more in your post while you are waiting for a picture to appear. On the picture of the movie slide, you can upload movies from your computer. They can't be over a certain amount of MB, though, I think over 100. If you want a movie from YouTube, copy the code on the YouTube page and paste it inside the post. If you want, you can add tags to your post. Click on show all to see the ones already added to other posts so you can add your post to the same categories. If there isn't a category that fits your post, you can make a new one. All of this is optional. When you are done, click on Publish Post!
Hope this helps!

Why I Like Taekwon-Do By Gabriel Age 6

2009-10-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

Me with other students being taught on our first day of class

Me above

I'm Gabriel, I'm six years old, and I am a white belt. I take Taekwon-Do at Mt. Charleston. Here is why I like Taekwon-Do.

It's awesome

It's fun

I love it

It's the best I ever did

Some of my favorite things to do at Taekwon-Do are...

One step flying side kicks

Jumping front kicks

Running up the wall ten times

Doing patterns- I like all the ones that I know

Sparring (I am allowed to spar even though I am a white belt because there is an uneven number of people)

Taekwon-Do is so cool! I love it!

I like so much I am never ever going to quit until I am an old old man!