Jan
2003
ENMTKD News
LETTER
FROM MR. BLAKELEY
Mr. John Bridges is now the same rank as I am. It
is exciting for me to have a student that has made the commitment Mr. Bridges
has to my art, Chang Hung Taekwon-Do. Mr. Bridges has been a student of mine for
20 years and I hope that in the future I have several 20 year students. Well
the house is coming along nicely. Jane and I plan to be moved in by Christmas
2003. When this happens you will see some major changes in the studio. I plan
to put in a pro-shop and office in the location Jane and I now call home. I hope
to stock some new Taekwon-Do merchandise. I am asking all the
red and black belts, no matter what your age, to workout during the advance adult
class times when possible. These classes are longer, more physical, and generally
smaller then the junior and tot classes. If this is a scheduling problem for parents
or students, let me know. Working out at these times will give us an opportunity
to work through your ever increasing test requirements. Remember
those of you that are red stripe or above you have the opportunity to join the
black belt club. This means you will sign a contract with me. The contract says
you will make a commitment to Taekwon-Do to train hard to get your black belt.
In return I will pay your YCTA dues and purchase your embroidered black belt to
be displayed in the lobby of our studio. I am also considering a special patch
to be worn on the uniform. If you are eligible, catch me before or after class
so we can talk about your joining the club. Also, I want every student that obtains
the rank of red stripe to help and attend a black belt testing before they test
for their black belt. This will better prepare you for the transition from colored
belt to black belt, it is a major jump. BLACK
BELT TEST
I want to congratulate our new black belts. The testing was
held on September 28, 2002 and by the time this newsletter is published all of
them will have received their belts. Mr. John Bridges tested for V Dan, Mr. Manuel
Lucero tested for III Dan, Mr. Andy Fair tested for II Dan, Ms. Nicole Frank tested
for I Dan, Ms. Jordan Roehl tested for I Dan, and Mr. Daniel Brown tested for
I Dan. Ms. Nicole Frank took “Best Test,” great job everyone! It
is hard for colored belt students to truly understand the commitment of time and
“MONEY” it takes to make each progressive rank of black belt. These
folks do deserve your respect and admiration. BLACK
BELT WALL OF HONOR
I am sure by now all of you have noticed the pictures
hanging on the front wall of the studio. These are the black belts of ENMTKD.
They are placed in belt rank order to reflect the hierarchy of the school. As
each of you test for I Dan, you will be added to this place of honor. The next
time you get a chance take a good look at these individuals and try to estimate
the amount of workout hours that have gone into Taekwon-Do training in our school.
To give you an idea Mr. Blakeley has over 31 years of training in the art of Taekwon-Do.
You figure he has worked out at least 5 or more hours per week since he started.
That is 52 weeks per year times 5 hours each week = 260 hours times 31 years is
8,060 hours. That does not take into consideration, summer camps and weekend retreats
almost every year for the past 20 years, with an average of 40 hours of training
during a single week of summer camp. Add that additional training you now have
an estimated 8,860 hours of training and that is just Mr. Blakeley’s time.
Now, add up the training of the additional black belts of our school and see what
total you calculate. This total is the experience every student of ENMTKD draws
on when they walk through the doors of this studio. As your Taekwon-Do experience
increases your value to the other students of the school increases. It is very
important you pass along what you learn. GUP
CERTIFICATE NUMBER
Have you noticed the certificate number on you colored
belt certificates? For the past 15 years Mr. Blakeley has been tracking the students
tested at each of the colored belt ranks. The number on your certificate indicates
the number of persons that have tested at this level in our school. For example:
if your 9th gup certificate number is ENMTKD-9-5110 you are the 5110th person
to test for 9th gup in our school. As you are promoted in rank the numbers will
decrease. This number reflects that fewer and fewer students have achieved this
rank. The number of students that have tested to 1st Gup black stripe is 28 big
difference from the over 5000 students that have tested for 9th gup. ENMTKD
PARENT’S DAY
OK parents it’s your turn. Come workout with
your kids and see what Taekwon-Do is all about. On Thursday evening, February
20, 2003 don your sweats and come kick and punch. Kids, it is up to you to make
sure your parents attend. This is an annual event and fun for the whole family.
Parents you might even find you enjoy the time with your kids, or maybe not. At
least you can say you have done Taekwon-Do. NEW
YCTA STATE ADMINISTRATOR
Ms. Virginia Schmuck has been elected to take
the position of Yom Chi Taekwon-Do Association New Mexico State Administrator.
Ms. Schmuck will be taking over for Ms. Tamara Legendre (Rio Rancho) whose term
expires this month. We look forward to the great things Ms. Schmuck will have
in store for us in her two year term as Administrator. Ms. Schmuck has been busy
trying to establish a full schedule of Taekwon-Do activities for the state. THE
STATE OF
YOM CHI TAEKWON-DO ASSOCIATION (YCTA)
Mr. Blakeley feels
it is important to keep everyone abreast of the state of the Yom Chi Taekwon-Do
Association. You pay for membership to this organization and have a right to know
what is happening. Yearly updates will be posted in the ENMTKD Newsletter. Master
Lang, Master Griffin, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Blakeley, and Mr. Treich created the organization
after leaving the United States Taekwon-Do Federation. The YCTA is a non-profit
organization which is under this scrutiny of the New Mexico State Corporation
Commission. The organizational books and records are open to anyone requesting
to see them. The organization has been in operation for five full years. It started
with three states and has grown this year to ten states and Puerto Rico. New Mexico,
Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, Nevada, California, Oregan, Texas, and Missouri.
Make sure you check out the YCTA Web site at www.yomchi.org. The
current national officers are; President, Mr. Douglas Arnold, Secretary, Mr. Steve
A. Blakeley, Mr. Dan Kohler, Treasure. The Board of Trustees are; Master W.L.
Lang, Mr. Douglas Arnold, Mr. Steve A. Blakeley, Mr. Gerard Treich, Mr. Michael
Holloway, and Ms. Barbara Matus. New national officers will be elected this month
for the next two year term. The new list of officers will be posted in our next
newsletter. Make sure to check the YCTA Web site at yomchi.org. THE
FOUNDER OF TAEKWON-DO PASSES
Grandmaster Choi Hong Hi died June 16,
2002. He is and will always be remembered as the founder of Chang Hung Taekwon-Do.
Grandmaster Choi was laid to rest in the city of Pyong Yang, North Korea. He was
born in North Korea in 1918. His son Choi Jang Hwa, VIII Dan has been selected
to head the (ITF) International Taekwon-Do Federation, Canada. The ITF was founded
by Grandmaster Choi Hong Hi and will be directed by his son. MASTER
LANG RECEIVES VIII DAN
Master W.L. Lang’s promotion to VIII Dan
is official. The promotion was posted on the International Taekwon-Do Federation
Web site on October 7, 2002. Master W.L. Lang received his VIII Dan in ceremonies
held during YCTA Nationals in Pasco, Washington. This included an exclusive dinner
held Saturday evening. Master Lang received gifts from several states that attended.
ENMTKD presented Master Lang with a gold VIII pin with 8 diamonds mounted in roman
numeral lettering. He also received his VIII Dan ring from Master Floyd Griffin
and the state of Oklahoma. Master Lang is only the third individual in the United
States to receive this level of black belt. As you know, Master Lang has been
Mr. Blakeley’s instructor for the past 15 years. MR.
BLAKELEY RECEIVED THE YCTA PRESIDENT’S AWARD
At the September 2002
YCTA Nationals, Mr. Blakeley was presented the Yom Chi Taekwon-Do Associations
highest award. The “President’s Award” is in appreciation of the
dedication to Taekwon-Do. The recipient is kept secret until the presentation.
Mr. Blakeley was surprised at Nationals when he received the award. This award
has only been giving to two other individuals since its creation. The “The
President’s Award” plaque presented to Mr. Blakeley at nationals now
hangs in the lobby of our school. YCTA
NEW MEXICO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The YCTA New Mexico State Championships
held September 14, 2002 could not have been better. Mr. Blakeley, host; Mr. Holloway,
the tournament Director; and Mr. Vard McGuire from Utah, chief referee, did a
wonderful job of keeping things rolling. We did develop a delay or two however,
when you consider this was the largest tournament ever hosted by the Yom Chi Taekwon-Do
Association, it went rather well. There where 148 competitors from four states
and 11 schools represented this year. This was some of the best competition to
be gathered in one place in New Mexico in years. Mr. Blakeley
wanted to thank all the parents and friends of Eastern New Mexico Taekwon-Do for
their assistance in registration, bracketing, scoring and timing. A special thanks
to Christy Carter. She worked at the bracketing table all day long and only took
a minute or two off the film Brandon as he competed. It is parents like this that
make our studio so strong.  YCTA
NATIONALS
Yom Chi Taekwon-Do Association National Championships was
held on October 19, 2002 in Spokane, Washington. This years event was attended
not only by YCTA members, but several other ITF affiliates from across the United
States. Ms. Barbara Matus, the tournament host, made special arrangements for
students to workout with Master Lang, Master Griffin and others the day before
Nationals. Senior black belts from across the United States worked out with Master
Lang and were treated to a great class in Taekwon-Do technique.
This
was a very special event in that Master W.L. Lang received his promotion to VIII
Dan during ceremonies during the middle of the day. Eastern
New Mexico Taekwon-Do had a special interest in this event. Mr. Blakeley was asked
to be the “Tournament Director” and Mr. Bridges was ask to be the “Chief
Referee.” ENMTKD also had several students make the long trip to compete
this year. Mr. Mark Hardage, Ms. Audrea Brown, Mr. Joshua Bullard, and Keane Brown
represented our school well. Mr. Blakeley was very proud of our schools competitors.
We are sorry that at this time we do not have the metal results from Nationals.
Make sure to visit with our school competitors to see how they did and what fun
was had by all. FATHER AND SON BLACK
BELTS
For the first time in Eastern New Mexico Taekwon-Do’s history
we have father and son black belts, Mr. Huie Brown and his son Daniel Brown. (See
photo above) Huie completed his I Dan test on September 2001 and Daniel completed
his I Dan test in November of 2002. Make sure you congratulate both of them for
this achievement. CAN YOU ANSWER THIS
ENMTKD
HISTORICAL QUESTION?
The first five persons that can answer
this question will receive a free set of pattern flash cards. Who
were the first black belts to represent New Mexico at the USTF Black Belt Nationals?
A hint, only three of them were from ENMTKD. EXTRA CREDIT,
the first person that can answer this question will receive a free Pattern History
book. List the group that competed and what metals they won
at Black Belt Nationals that year.
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