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12 Jan. 2004
Happy New
Year
Another new
year has rolled in with a good taste of cold and snow. So in
regards to Weather
closings etc. If the facility is open, I plan to be here.
However, please rely on your sound judgment and common sense as to
what the road conditions are or may turn into during the evening.
Anytime the roads are expected to be icy-I will stay home
regardless if they are open.
Tournament
News- As most of you know, 31 Jan. is the Friendship TKD
Tournament in Chesapeake. For those that are competing, be sure
and do additional aerobic and training other than what we do in
class. Remember:” The days you don’t train, you can bet
somewhere your next opponent is training.” Don’t forget early
registration is $60 and $75 at the door.
Testing- A
Saturday in February (TBA later) will be the next promotion test.
Don’t ask-I’ll let the promotional candidates know when you get
your test package. Speaking of testing, a new test fee of $25
will start this year for candidates. Testing fee for each
additional family member is $15. Even though I may give you a
test package, your parents have to sign your exam sheet allowing
permission. So if your grades at school, duties at home or your
attitude is not what they expect and require, they may deny that
you test at that time. Promotional testing is not only how you
perform in the dojang, but you daily activities. Since I only see
you a brief two hours a week, your parents are the ones I have to
rely upon.
Our club is a
member of Grand Master John Pellegrini’s Independent TKD
Association (ITA). You may ask, “why do we need to be in an any
association”? Here’s why... Anyone can purchase a uniform and
black belt and they may convince people that they can teach
martial arts. There are people around that really do that. We
have had folks that have tried to join our club who were phony as
$3 treasurer note. We belong to the ITA for several reasons.
One- it gives our club and members credentials. ITA is a world
renown known organization as well as its founder GM Pellegrini.
Two-I obtain your color belt promotion certificates from him as
well as your Black Belt certificates for those few that will make
it. Third- it allows me to have an instructor to look to for
guidance and a venue for me to get promoted. Access to training
seminars and networking with other schools and instructors. The
same reason applies to the ICHF Combat Hapkido program.
The ITA
program has created a membership program like the Combat Hapkido
program. Unlike the Combat Hapkido program, it is NOT mandatory
to join. All are encouraged to join the ITA on a yearly basics.
The fee is $20 the first year and $15 for renewal. What do you
get.... well mainly it supports our headquarters in Florida. You
also get a Certificate of membership, ID card, and the large ITA
patch. I will no longer be purchasing the patches for all who
passed their first promotional test. You may also purchase
additional large patches at $5 and the new 2-inch patch for $3.
You may join on line or thru me or not at all. This is not
mandatory!! For all Black Belts and color belts, regardless of
age that join the ITA, I will be creating an ITA members
council. More coming on this later. |
Last year due to
corruption and unfairness, I withdrew our club’s support from the
United States TKD Union (USTU-$100 per yr) as well as the Virginia
State TKD Association (VSTA-$30 yearly individual dues). We were
members primarily for our own state and national TKD competitions.
The USTU was also the official governing body for TKD in the
Olympics.
The ITA and ICHF
each have a club fee of $100 annual, with only the ICHF having
mandatory individual memberships.
So in order for
our club to participate in a state or national TKD competition, I
joined our club in the Amateur Athletic Union. (AAU Club fees are $50
per year-Sept~Aug). They represent just about every sport you can
think of and host events for all. The annual membership runs from
Sept~Aug, and is $12 for youth competitors and $22 for adults. The
youth membership also covers all sports. As an AAU member and club
member of SWC, it provides competitors and coaches with some insurance
at tournaments and practices. This can also be accomplished on line
with a CC and you’ll need a printer to print your membership card. You
can also enroll via the mail-I have the enrollment forms. You need
to include our club membership number on the form (VATWWC4KA). It is
only mandatory for AAU state and national competitors.
On 24 April at
Garfield HS in Woodbridge, Va. is the state AAU championship for TKD.
I don’t have the details at this moment, however, this is a qualifier
if you would like to compete in the National AAU TKD Championship. I
think the nationals this year is in Ft. Lauderdale, but not sure.
So now that I
have told you of several ways to spend yours or your parent’s money,
here is a way you can raise some fund$ for the above memberships or
contribute to our clubs treasury. ESPN has a fund rising program
that you may wish to participate. Here’s how it works.
As
students/parents, you sell subscriptions of ESPN and their choice of
two additional magazines from the list at $40 (all three at $40) per
year. We get to keep $30 out of the $40. I will set up a pool in
our club so that the first $60. you sell goes to you for memberships,
test fees, or competition fees. If you sell more than 2
subscriptions, the fund goes to a general fund to support our clubs
annual membership fees or if we travel to tournaments. If you are
interested, I’ll have a fund raising package for you. This is a win
for all who wish to participate. If you don’t care to peddle the
magazines, then that’s ok too. This past year I didn’t have the
funds to provide the Christmas Skating party as in the past. Perhaps
this program will make it possible for the end of year Skating party
for those that participate or something else special for those who go
the extra mile.
Note: You may be
enrolled in SWC classes just for the exercise and self-defense. In
that case, there is no memberships or dues or testing fees of any kind
required. Only to TRAIN HARD!
Once again, Happy
New Year!
Instructor Wayne
Spencer
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