The 12th Annual Koryo Karate School Christmas Party was held on Friday, December 18th.  We were at the Recreation Center Training Room (aka "the dojang") from 6pm - 830pm. 

Festivities began at 6pm, with several people arriving early.  Everyone got right to mingling and playing assorted games.  Thanks to those who brought their favorite games to share with the group. 

As always, the food this year was terrific.  We had a wide assortment of hot & cold foods, with more treats and snacks to go along with them.  And, strangely enough, a couple of cheesecakes showed up . . . . . all was delicious – I did my best to sample a little of everything! 

Towards the end of the night I called everyone together so I could give a quick run-down of the year.  I also took the opportunity to acknowledge a few people who are helpful to me throughout the year. 

I gave a special thanks to my very loving, supportive and helpful wife, Nancy.  Without her love and support, I would not be able to teach classes.  She has always backed me 100%, and for that I am truly appreciative! 

I also want to thank my sons, Derek and Daniel.  Not only did they help me with the set-up for this night, but over the years they have been my at-home training partners, which is a great benefit. 

I took a moment to thank my “Mighty K’s”, Kyosanim Nicole Cartier and Kyosanim Missy Richardson.  Throughout the year they come to my aid when I need to call upon them to stunt-double for me when my full-time job keeps me from classes.  They also teach classes for me on occasion, when I am doing paperwork or meeting with a new student.  And, they assist me with the class schedules, the NewsLetters, and are good sounding boards for classes. 

I also singled out Chinese Goju stylist Terry Rosenbarker.  Mr. Rosenbarker has been a steady attendant at classes for about a year now, and is a great example of training hard and smart, and with a positive attitude!  His insight is always appreciated. 

After all the talking was done, I handed out the most recent Promotional Certificates that I had neglected to hand out during the last few classes of the year.  (If I missed you, please let me know!) 

Next came my Acknowledgment Awards.  Every year I hand out Awards in two categories: Most Improved Student and Student of the Year.  I award these to a boy and girl in the Kids Class and in the Adult Class.  Most Improved Student – as the name implies, goes to the student who has shown the most improvements in the most areas throughout the year.  Student of the Year goes to the student who exemplifies hard work and dedication, a student who can be counted on to “set the example” for the other students. 

I am proud to announce the following recipients for 2009: 

Kids Class 

Most Improved Student – Girl   -   Miranda Rose

Most Improved Student – Boy   -   Brenden Norwood 

Student of the Year – Girl   -   Caitlin Perrigo

Student of the Year – Boy   -   Dylan Vonderhaar 

Adult Class 

Most Improved Student – Girl   -   Sarah Pooler

Most Improved Student – Boy   -   Luke Wade 

Student of the Year – Girl   -   Sarah Baines

Student of the Year – Boy   -   Charlie Duffield 

Congratulations to all.  Very well-deserved awards.  2010 is a new year, let’s see who will earn those awards next year! 

After the Awards ceremony, I handed out my yearly gifts.  The gift is always something related to classes.  This year I gave every student a black “sport pack”, with my crossed kickers symbol screen printed on it.  This can be sued to carry your dobok, or fighting gear, or school books, or whatever you want!  Inside the bag were several Discount Coupons, to be used on purchases for karate-related items for classes.  Also inside the bags were several Free Class Coupons, which I encourage all students to give out to prospective students. 

Students then presented me with some gifts.  I received 2 padded shields, which will be put to good use in classes in 2010.  These are the mid-sized hand-held pads, which were use quite often, so this gift is greatly appreciated.  I also received a Gift Card to Cinemagic.  I’m thinking that will come in handy when I go see “The Last Air Bender” next summer.  I’ll let everyone know when I go so we can get a big group together!! 

I also received a Batman Book from the Coulombe family.  Excellent!  Can’t ever have too many Batman books! 

And Dylan was nice enough to give me a miniature Batman figurine.  If you check out the photos from that night, you’ll see him taped to my right shoulder… 

Speaking of photos, I have posted all the photos to my Facebook site (search for “Koryo Karate School”).  The good thing about that photo site is – you don’t have to be a member of Facebook to get the photo link. 

After all the festivities were done, I had a terrific clean-up crew (pretty much everyone there!).  Everyone went right to work to get the Rec back in order, and we left the place cleaner than we found it. Thanks to all for a great year. 

Please enjoy your time off, and come back in 2010 ready to train hard!   I’ll see you on Monday January 4^th, or Tuesday January 5^th – depending on which class schedule you are going to be following… 

~tmm~

The 11^th Annual Koryo Karate School  Christmas Party took place on Thursday, December 18^th.  Festivities were held at the OOB Recreation Center Training Room (aka “the Dojang”), starting at 6pm and ending just after 8pm.  I will say that this years spread of food was the best ever!  I couldn't decide what to have first, second, or last!  A few dishes did get re-visited (I just couldn't help myself!!!) 

There was lots of mingling and game playing, and everyone had a great time.  Be sure to check out the Albums page for all the photos.  *For some reason, Shutterfly would only allow me to add 10 pictures at a time, so I had to make 4 albums!  Check them all out, and remember - any picture you see that you like, save it to your own computer.

I had the pleasure of giving out my certificates for Most Improved Student and Student of the Year in both the Kids class and the Adult class.  This years recipients: 

Most Improved Student - Kids Class - Bradford Bouthot 

Student of the Year - Kids Class - Sophie Loranger 

Most Improved Student - Adult Class - Steve Wynne 

Student of the Year - Adult Class - Sarah Baines 

Always a hard decision, but the recipients of these awards are very deserving...Congrats on a job well done! 

I also took a moment to recognize my Mighty K's (Kyosanim Cartier and Kyosanim Richardson).  Without their help, both in class and behind the scenes, my life would be much more difficult!  I was glad to publicly thank them for all their assistance, all year long.  (THANKS AGAIN!)

My gift to the students this year was a Koryo Karate School ceramic mug, with the new symbol (like the one on the t-shirt) on each side.  I have wanted to do mugs for a few years now, and I am happy with how they came out.  In each mug I put the following: 2 hot cocoa packets; 2 peppermint candy canes (to stir the cocoa!), 3 10% discount coupons; 3 "2 Free Classes" coupons - to be handed out to friends, family, neighbors or even strangers!, as a means to increase enrollment; a handful of bite-size candy...because you have to have candy at Christmas!

The students gave me several thoughtful gifts.  A set of Batman pens, with a Batman notepad; a Batman padlock; a Batman calendar (which every student added their birthdate to); and a gift card to Jimmy the Greeks.  (Notice a theme there???)  Thanks so much, I appreciate it!

Thanks to all who were able to attend, it was a great time.

Remember, enjoy your time off, but be prepared for a test of ALL of your acquired knowledge on 1/6/2009, Day # 1 of the 2009 season!  So relax, but study!

~tmm~

Kids Classes:  (Ages 6 - 12 years)

Tuesday & Thursday   6pm - 7pm  (ALL ranks)

Adult Classes:  (Ages 13 & up)

Tuesday & Thursday   7pm - 8pm  (ALL ranks)

* Footwear is acceptable for classes, however,  I prefer you wear a set of footwear that is "karate only".  Wearing your regular shoes into class tends to bring a lot of outside debris onto the floors, which is not good for classes. 

* Please bring a water bottle to class.  This makes water-break time go much quicker and smoother.

General Information - Scheduling

Classes generally run month-to-month, starting on the first Tuesday or Thursday of each month.  However, prospective students can come at any time, to watch a class, or even try a class out.  If you decide to join, you need not wait for the beginning of the next month, and can start training right away!

One thing that separates martial arts training from any other sport is the fact that we train year round.  Martial arts training doesn't have a "season".  With that in mind, it is perfectly acceptable for a student to train for a few months at a time, and then take time off to be able to take part in other sports; such as baseball, basketball, football, etc.  I think that each sport compliments the other.  Certainly your martial arts training will aid you in all the other sports, as some of the main things we work on is flexibility, coordination and proper body mechanics.

 Once your other sport is done (which is limited by a specific time period), come back to class and continue in your martial arts training.  You could continue to train in this way for the rest of your life.  At some point you may discover that you want to devote more time to your martial arts training.  While that is fine with me, I would never want anyone (especially the younger group, i.e. school-aged kids) to miss out on the possibility of playing a school sport.  Kids spend a relatively short amount of time in school, and I would not want anyone to miss out on that just because of taking a martial arts class.

Life, and martial arts training, is about balance.  Hopefully your martial arts training is something you will want to do for the rest of your life.  A variety of training is good for you.  So never miss out on experiencing being on a baseball, basketball or football team because you train in the martial arts.  Allow each sport to work together, to make you a more complete person/althlete/martial artist.

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Greetings to all!

I will use this site as a way to keep everyone updated on news and events, and anything related to classes. 

One of the main goals of my running this school is to provide students with some practical self-defense training, as well as general physical conditioning.  I want to share the knowledge and training I have, with as many people as possible. 

Another goal is to get people interested in training in the martial arts.  A very small percentage of people who start training actually end up as Instructors.  I hope to show that training is fun and exciting, and that it can become a lifestlye - as opposed to just an activity you do a couple nights a week.  I want people to think of training as something they want to do for the rest of their lives.  My hope is that one day a student of mine will become a teacher, and they will then have a student who will become a teacher, and the cycle will continue!

The Koryo Karate School  is geared towards teaching students both parts of martial arts training:  The physical aspects, and the mental aspects.  I like to discuss the concepts surrounding how techniques work, more than locking students into specific movements.  I feel it is important to know more about body mechanics and proper positioning, with an emphasis on allowing the situation to dictate what technique(s) you should apply.  Due to my training in Law Enforcement, I am also able to discuss the legal aspects surrounding a physical confrontation. 

The history and background to the art are also important to know.  In this way, the student isn't learning just how to punch and kick, but they are also learning the "why" of what is taught.  History is important, because it gives insight into how the training developed.  It also shows that, while some aspects of training will always remain the same, some parts actually do change with the times.  This is the nature of Tae Kwon Do...


   Class Format:  Classes generally start with several minutes of warm-up drills, followed by some stretching.  If it is a specific training night, we start right in with that training.  If it is a General Training night, we will perform different drills, sometimes using the entire floor, sometimes doing stationary or two-person drills.

   I try to vary the format, so that the training doesn't become to "routine".  While it is important to practice the basics on a regular basis, I don't feel that too much time should be spent on doing overly-repetitous drills.  Muscle-memory is important, so I do use these drills.  But I also realize that students would quickly get bored if I did the same thing night after night. 

   Hyungs are an important part of training, but they are more for learning movement, proper breathing and the use combinations.  They don't have much to do with handling a real fight, but then again neither does extended time in a horse stance.  However, both do work your mind and your muscles, and any time you are exercising you're doing something good for your body.  Hyungs are also what differentiates each art, as each martial art is known by the hyungs they practice.

   With that in mind, I am always looking for feedback on classes.  I take suggestions seriously, so if there is an interest in doing a certain activety, I am more than happy to focus on that.  As I have mentioned before, I want the Koryo Karate School  to be "by and for" the students. 

   Some of the benefits from taking part in a martial arts training program are:

     ◊ Gain Confidence

     ◊ Increase Flexibility

     ◊ Improve Overall Fitness

     ◊ Reduce Daily Stresses

   With the winter season in full swing....I want to refresh everyone's memory on the Class Cancellation Policy.  Basically, we follow the Old Orchard Beach School System's school days.  If school is cancelled due to inclement weather (like a snow storm!), then classes for that night are also cancelled.  If it's too nasty to be out and about, we aren't going to hold classes.  Stay home and walk through your forms, or practice your stances, or study your Korean terminology...

   As far as Holidays are concerned, we will once again follow the OOB School's lead, for the "Major Holidays" aka Thanksgiving & Christmas.  Any classes that fall on these dates will be cancelled.  Pretty much all other Holidays, if they fall on a class night, we'll still have class.  One of the reasons I have classes on Tuedsay's & Thursday's is to avoid a majority of the Holidays.  *Except for Thanksgiving & Christmas, there are NO scheduling conflicts in 2009.

   You can also check this site on stormy days, as well as tuning into the local News channels for storm cancellations.  Basically, if it's nasty outside - EVEN IF school wasn't cancelled, use your best judgement on deciding if you should be out and about.  It won't hurt my feelings if you decide to stay home! 



 

   I have been training in the martial arts since 1981.  At that time I started to study Tae Kwon Do with Master James Hadley.  I studied under him until his untimely death in 1991.  His senior students, Gregg Guillemette and Richard W. Smith, Jr., took over teaching Tae Kwon Do.

   There are a couple of different styles of Tae Kwon Do  taught in the U.S. The main differences in these styles is the forms that the students are required to learn.  The style of Tae Kwon Do  that I teach is International Tae Kwon Do. (Chang-Hon System)  My rank is 4^th degree black belt. (Master)

   From 1992 to 1994 I studied Hakkoryu Jujutsu with the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation.  Unlike Tae Kwon Do, Jujutsu deals more with specific defenses against specific attacks.  The techniques used are joint locks and pressure point attacks, as well as body positioning and throws.  I have also been shown some of the concepts and principals that make up other grappling forms of Jujutsu.  I find this art very practical, and demanding.  A combination of these two Jujutsu arts are what I use for the basis of the schools self-defense training requirements.

   A combination of the two martial arts styles is taught, but with an emphasis on Tae Kwon Do.  It is my firm belief that a person needs a strong foundation in "A" martial art before they can expect to learn another. The Tae Kwon Do  training is more broad-based, giving the student a wider range of information to draw from.  Once this base is established, the concepts of a new art are generally easier to understand.

   Over the years I have been exposed to many styles, and I believe that all styles have something to offer.  Whenever I am able to learn from another style, I will share that information with you.  No single style could possibly fulfill all your martial arts needs, and this will ensure that an open-minded approach to all arts will be maintained.

   My profession is as a Police Detective for the town of Windham Police Department.  I have worked there since 1984.  I have been a Defensive Tactics (police self-defense) Instructor since 1989.  The need to apply my martial arts training in real-life situations has given me a unique understanding of how the techniques really work.  Through these encounters I have discovered techniques that work, and some that do not.  I will relay this knowledge to you, to ensure that only practical and efficient techniques are being taught.

   I first started teaching in 1993.  I was located at the Racket & Fitness Center in Portland, and we used a spare racketball court.  The floor was terrific, but the acustics were terrible!  For a variety of reasons, I was not able to continue to teach, and had to give it up after less than a year.

   When I was considering what to call my new school, I thought about what message I was trying to relay.  Through my studies in Tae Kwon Do, I was aware of the Koryo Dynasty, and it's effect on the country.  During the Koryo Dynasty, martial arts training was of the utmost importance, and martial arts training reached it peak.  It was clear to me at that point.  I wanted to emphasize training, and decided to call my school the Koryo Karate School.  This was a blend of 3 things:  Koryo - to represent the origins.  Karate - at one time a specific art, now it is an accepted generic term for all martial arts training.  School - more than just learing punching and kicking, requirements would be just like a "regular" school, with an emphasis on learning terms, history and concepts. 

   I designed the school patch myself.  I wanted the outline of the patch to be unique, not the standard round design many schools have.  I started off with the name of the school at the top of the design.  I added the Um-Yang symbol, to show a link to the founding country, and to symbolize balance.  I also included the Korean symbols for Tae  and Kwon, to denote the actual art itself.  I included a fist, which was representative of a part of the patch from Sabumnim Hadley's school patch.  Like the Korean flag, I chose a white background, and then added a distinct black border. 

   In 1997, I took over Horangi-San Dojang, which was being run by Sabumnim Gregg Guillemette.  Sabumnim Guillemette moved away, and I was approached by his existing students, to see if I wanted to take over the school.  I was an occasional student at class, so everyone there knew me.  I had no plans to start teaching again, but decided that I would see if I could juggle teaching while working full-time.  (This had been my earlier down-fall, as I was working a rotating Patrol shift, where my days off and hours changed every few months)

   At the time, we were in a multi-purpose room at the University of New England in Biddeford.  In 1998, UNE expanded.  Naturally, they took our room, which really left no place for us to train.  Wanting to continue with teaching, I contacted the Old Orchard Beach Recreation Department, and spoke to them about starting a Rec Karate Program.  It was a good fit for all, and we have been in OOB ever since.

   One of the good features to being a "Rec Program" is the ability to provide quality training, while keeping prices reasonable.  I am not a full-time karate school, and I don't look to compete with people who teach for a living.  My goal is to provide the highest quality training, that is affordable for all.

   The down-side is not having a place of our own, no room or place we can call "home".  We get moved around from time to time, and we have to make due with less than ideal conditions, but we still keep training. 

   One day I plan on opening my own dojang.  But until then, we will train when we can, where we can, making the most out of what we have!

*     *     *     *     *     *     *
   Pictured below is a photo of my original Instructor, Master James Hadley.  Part of the reason I teach Tae Kwon Do is to honor his memory...

   


                                      The History of Tae Kwon Do

   Tae Kwon Do is a method of self-defense that is over 1600 years old.  Monks who trained at the Shaolin Monastery in China traveled to all parts of the world spreading their knowledge.  In the 4th Century they traveled to the northern provinces of Korea, and shared their martial arts knowledge with Korean Monks.

   There was a highly spiritual aspect to the training, besides the vigorous physical demands they endured.  For that reason, Korean Monks would only train on Temple grounds.  They did not share their martial arts skills with non-Monks, whom they felt did not possess the proper spirituality to learn these techniques.

   Training was eventually extended to the general public in the 7th century. This was due to the warring between the three kingdoms of Korea.  (Kogyuro in the north, Paikche in the southwest and Silla in the southeast) In 668 a.d. the Silla Kingdom emerged as the victor.  They set up a centralized government, and also established Buddhism as their national religion.  The Silla Dynasty lasted until 935 a.d., and was known as the Golden Era.  During this time, the practice of the national martial art, known as Tae Kyon, began.  Also during the Silla Dynasty, a group known as the Hwa-Rang-Do emerged. Their purpose was to cultivate moral and patriotic ideals amongst the educated noble-born youth of Korea. Because of their dedication to training mind, spirit and body, they also incorporated the study of Tae Kyon.

   In 935 a.d., the Silla Dynasty was overthrown by the warlord Kyonghum.  He established the kingdom of Koryo, which is the basis for the western name of Korea.  Martial arts flourished during the nearly 500 year reign of the Koryo Kingdom.

   In the 15th century, the Yi Dynasty took over control.  They emphasized learning and scholarly activities.  The practice of Tae Kyon declined, as did the practice of Buddhism as the national religion.  Confucianism became the new religion.  For the next 4 centuries the practice of Tae Kyon continued to decline.

   In 1910, with the Japanese occupation of Korea, Tae Kyon was banned. This was done as part of an attempt to strip the Korean people of their identity and will to resist. Tae Kyon was still practiced in remote areas and in underground movements.  Many Koreans left to study in other parts of the world where martial arts training was not censored.  They traveled to such places as Okinawa, Manchuria, China and the United States.

   At the end of World War II, many of these displaced Koreans returned to their homeland.  They opened up martial arts schools, and incorporated what they had learned in other parts of the world to their Tae Kyon training. Seeking a national name for the new art, the leaders of the Korean martial arts community gathered in 1955.  The new name chosen was Tae Kwon Do. It was chosen because it bore a resemblance to the original name of the art and was also highly representative of the art.  Literally translated, Tae Kwon Do means: Tae ‑ "to kick and smash with the feet" Kwon ‑"punching with the fists"  Do ‑ "art" (the art of kicking and punching).

   Tae Kwon Do continues to be a popular, growing martial art.  It is an efficient method of self-defense, and easily translates to the "sport" aspect of karate, as seen in tournaments.  The vigorous training is also a way to keep the body strong and flexible.  Gender and age are not factors that would limit anyone from taking up the practice of Tae Kwon Do.