Meet Our Black Belt Candidates!

Meet our black belt candidates for our April 5th promotions!

Sonya Joy Versluys (39) Testing for 3rd dan black belt.   

Sonya has been involved in Martial Arts since she was a child, and studying Taekwondo for 9 years.  She was born in Australia.

Sonya broke her spine at age 11 and has a prosthetic implant and limited mobility in her left side.  In 2012 & 2013 Sonya fought a life-threatening illness. She credits her continued Martial Arts training for helping to keep her focus and determination.

Sonya is married and has two children aged 12 and 14, whom are both 1st dan black belts.  In addition to being a partner and Instructor in Mountain Taekwondo, she is a writer and photographer, and co-founder of Summit Children’s Foundation. Sonya believes that you really can do anything, that the only limits you face are of your own making.

Samuel Jae Sung Yi (13) Testing for 3rd dan black belt.  

Samuel has been studying Taekwondo for 9 years and says that Taekwondo has helped him become a better person mentally and physically.  Taekwondo has also taught Sam a lot about respect and interacting with people.

Samuel is a full time student and hopes to one day become a Major League Base Ball Player.  

Samuel believes that Taekwondo can help everyone in becoming what they want to be.  Taekwondo will give them the strength they need and make them more respectful, encouraging, and mentally ready for anything. Taekwondo will also help to relieve stress, helping them to become successful in life.

Brenton Jay Seung Hoon Song (26) Testing for 2nd dan black belt.  

Brent has been studying Taekwondo for 12 years and says that it has helped him maintain his stress levels, provided a consistent exercise regiment, and maintained discipline in his life.  It also makes him proud to be able to study a sport that he has cultural ties to.

Brent is a soccer coach and student, who hopes to complete his Masters degree and attend medical school.  In Taekwondo, he hopes to achieve his 4th dan black belt and, maybe, even a full split!

Brent believes that you should commit yourself fully to whatever you do.  You should take on tasks that you can dedicate yourself to, with the belief that you will do a good job.

© Mountain Taekwondo.  All Rights Reserved 2014

Pokemon Winner!

Congratulations Dorothy!

Our student from Family Class, Dorothy Dade, won third place in regional and first place in State for a Pokemon tournament.  Now, it's off to the nationals!

Congratulations and good luck Dorothy!

Self-Control

Self Control

"He who loses control of his emotions gives his opponent a powerful ally." - Anonymous

A Martial Arts Perspective:  

Next to confidence, self control is the most desired skill sought by new students at our school.  Obviously, self control impacts all areas of a persons life whether they be a child or an adult.  From domestic relationships, school, work or social situations, self-control plays a major role in your success.

Self control means more than just avoiding conflict.  It represents staying balanced in all areas of your life.  Avoiding excesses of food, drugs, alcohol, smoking and even exercise, can be difficult yet obviously the need to do so is quite important to your health, happiness and well being.  

For a child, lack of self control is most often noted for more active impulses that impact personal friendships and learning at school. Parents may feel completely overwhelmed by their child's seeming inability to sit still during a meal, during classes or in social situations where being in control of one's body is the accepted norm.  

But, as with any new skill, children can be completely unaware of what is expected of them.  Self control is a learned skill just like any other, and without guidance, a child has no parameters or frame of reference for their behavior.

Adults may be completely aware of what areas in their life they lack self-control in, but having not practiced the skill very often, they may actually just need to know that they are more than capable of exercising restraint when necessary.

For the Student:

What does self-control look like?

How can I practice self-control?

In the dojang, students are expected to practice absolute self-control at all times.  As a beginner, this is sometimes overwhelming, however, the very nature of a martial arts atmosphere, and especially a group martial arts atmosphere, is that you are given a very simple set of parameters and behavioral expectations to follow.  Actually relinquishing a little bit of control to the rules themselves allows you the freedom to simply work on your skills.  Do we expect you to stand still?  Yes, we do.  Do we expect you to answer when you are called?  Yes, we do.  Do we expect you to be respectful?  Yes, we do.  Do we expect you to try your best at all times?  Yes, we do.

Over time, your behavior in class becomes very natural.  It becomes easier and easier to maintain control over your body and mind while you work on new skills.  Having self-control allows you to learn more efficiently and focus on the task at hand.  As time goes by you will notice that it takes you less time to master a new skill with a much higher complexity level.

In a more practical application that students can more readily understand because of the immediate ramifications, is that martial arts can be dangerous to both you and your training partners or opponents if you do not exercise self control.  In a sparring situation, you will most certainly lose, and perhaps be hurt, if you do not maintain control and think about your next move.  Allowing yourself to lose control emotionally will most certainly result in a lack of focus and ability to rationalize.  In this scenario you will most certainly give your opponent a lot of power and certain victory.

The legitimate practice of martial arts is founded upon non-violent principles such as respect, courtesy and patience.  It is the practice of these very simple principles that will allow you to develop self-control.  The advantage of all of this practice, is that you WILL possess the necessary skills to apply self control to all areas of your life.

© Mountain Taekwondo 2014.  All Rights Reserved.