Responsibility and Progress

Since implementing the Attendance Card program and Basic Training Homework Log for our students, we have seen a marked improvement of students desire to achieve and perform well. From fighting ability and fitness to leadership and organization, those who strive to keep up and seek feedback from instructors, we are now sure that this is a good program.

Our school puts a lot of responsibility on the student for their own success (and parents for the younger students). It's not easy. However, it makes everyone accountable for themselves. This is the essence of good citizenship and responsibility. Please treat your attendance card like a valuable object. In fact, it is!

What if I lose my attendance card? Answer: We will give you a new one.

Unfortunately, here's what will need to be done with a new card:

1. You will need to have all techniques re-examined before anyone can sign off on them.
2. You will have lost all the wonderful leadership, basic training and homework stickers that you earned (we cannot replace those stickers).
3. You will need to arrange with an instructor to arrive at class 30 minutes early so we can go back through our grade-book to re-enter your attendance dates.
4. You will have lost a wonderful record of your progress that can be used if you move to another school.

How can I prevent losing it?

1. Organize: Look at the Being a Star Student article we gave you. It contains tips for keeping everything for class in one safe place (binder with sheet protectors, duffle bag or backpack) .
2. Make a color copy of your attendance card after each class and keep it at home in a separate place.

Class Week-In-Review August 3, 2014

Drilling kicks for self-defense with Sifu Leonard

On Monday, we drilled all of the Yellow Belt striking techniques and included application with step-sparring. As usual, we worked up a nice sweat and learned about the tools in our arsenal.

Wednesday was a special treat, as Sifu Leonard stopped by and helped us do the same thing on Monday, but with kicking techniques. Using the kick as a push-away was a fantastic drill for getting distance before running from an attacker.

Thanks to Ramza for leading the warm-ups both days. On Saturday, we awarded some of our students with stripes for their belts: Ramza and Niabelle. Congratulations! We also had the great pleasure of having the help of Sensei Erjan. We have many green belt students who seemed to have forgotten their kicks and striking techniques. It is very important to practice what you learn so you can be a better student and leader. Also on Saturday, Ramza led the first stick fighting class. If you are interested in learning, put your name on the sign-up sheet in class. It is open to all ranks. Be sure to show up no later than 10 am to start.

We'll have a short month of classes in August. Please pick up a new calendar. Our focus will be self-defense during the month. If there are specific techniques to be signed off for on your attendance card, please tell an instructor to help you learn or review them. Please be prepared.

New Belt Stripes Program

This new, no-cost program will help encourage all students to continue practicing what they learn and seek promotion and leadership with more enthusiasm.

When a student of any rank from (White through 1^st Brown) has the sections below in their attendance card completed (signed by an instructor), an instructor will use the appropriate electrical tape color to put a stripe on their belt.

Red stripe:     All blocks signed off on attendance card.

White stripe:  All strikes signed off on attendance card.

Blue stripe:    All kicks signed off on attendance card.

Yellow stripe: Form/Kata/Hyung AND stances signed off on attendance card.

Green stripe:  All self-defense signed off on attendance card.

Each color has a specific meaning. They can be earned in any order. These stripes are symbolic of progress. Stripes do not indicate rank promotion. The student must also have all other sections completed on their attendance card, such as CLASS SESSIONS ATTENDED, PREVIOUS BELT REQUIREMENTS, FITNESS and TEACHING TIME.

Class Week-In-Review July 27, 2014

Focusing on forms (kata/hyung) this week, we saw tremendous improvement from all the students. Special thanks to Sensei James for helping Niabelle get a sign-off on her attendance card for Chon-Ji. Remember: The key to your success in the martial arts is in how much you practice on your own outside of class.

Also, Ramza will begin offering basic stick fighting classes at 10 am on Saturdays. So far only one brave student has signed up. 

Next week: Techniques.

Class Week-In-Review July 20, 2014

Small class on Monday, but we covered much!

For this week in sparring we reviewed footwork drills: Sliding, one-step-in, switching and pivoting. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. This included basic strike and kick attacks. All of these can be practiced at home. We still have a lot of work to do when it comes to using our techniques in actual sparring rounds.

Special thanks to Angel for holding yet another successful warm-up class Saturday. He has covered for other students who were assigned, but did not arrive on time. Check your calendars. Your name may be assigned to lead a class. Be ready. Be early!

The most enjoyable part of Saturday was the showing off the homework projects. This was the first of such projects inspired by martial arts teaching expert Keith Pascal. We hope to assign more such projects in coming months.

This first project was to write a report based on the story of Master Hee Il Cho in an article published by Black Belt Magazine. Master Cho vividly describes the differences between martial arts training when he was a child to the training widely used today. They also had a choice of writing a poem, creating a Venn Diagram, comic book or illustrated scene of his life as described in the article. The students who did the assignment created wonderful projects. Although every single project was fantastic and none exceded the other in creativity, Niabelle's project must be noted as exceptional in that she created seven page comic book in Korean and English for her report!

You can view or download a PDF of everyone's projects for free below.

Hee Il Cho Projects