SKILLS STRIPE FOR THIS WEEK
Students will be working on the following skills and striped this week:
Monday and Tuesday – Red Stripe
Early Skillz – Blocking
Basic Skillz – Focus
Kids, Teens/Adults – Agility
Wednesday – Friday: Orange Stripe
Early Skillz – Hopping
Basic Skillz – Balance
Kids, Teens/Adults – Intensity – Board Breaking
This testing cycle, students will be working on the following forms:
Basic Skillz – Chon-ji
Beginners (white and yellow belts): Ki-Bon
Intermediates (orange – sr. Purple belts): Dan-Gun
Advanced (Blue – Sr. Red belts): Jong- Gun
Black Belts
1st Degree Probationary and Recommended: Gwen-Gae
1st Decided: Poe-Eun
1st Senior: Gae-Baek
2nd Degree: Chong–Jang
2nd Decided:Yoo-Sin
2nd Senior: Ul-Ji
Videos of forms can be found on our student website, fortbendtaekwondo.com under forms. White, Yellow, Orange and Senior Orange Belts can also find videos of one steps on our website. Remember the videos are to supplement class instruction and not replace it.
SUMMER HYGIENE REMINDER
It’s summertime … which means a lot of fun, and also, sometimes, smelly smells that smell even smellier.
So, as a friendly reminder, please:
- Wash your feet before coming to the school. And wear shoes from your car to the school – you don’t want to know what’s in the parking lot and sidewalks, and we really don’t want it on the mats.
- Deodorant is your best friend. Even if you’re 8 years old. Yep – an 8 year old is NOT too young for deodorant, if they need it.
- Showers should include soap and shampoo. Jumping into a pool isn’t taking a shower.
- Please, please, please trim your toenails regularly. You wouldn’t believe how many toenails we vacuum up off the floor, every single day.
- If you have sparring gear, be sure to wipe it down with Clorox wipes once a week. Wash your elbow pads in the laundry (don’t throw them in the dryer, though) and rinse out your mouthpiece with mouthwash or brush it.
Thank you for helping us keep the school clean and fresh!
SUMMER FUN AND TAEKWONDO
The summertime also means LOTS of summer fun in the pool and outside, often all day, before you come to taekwondo class. We’d like to offer some friendly advice for making sure you get the most out of class should you plan to spend the day in the sun.
- You need to stay hydrated with LOTS of WATER. Many children don’t ever think about drinking water while in the pool all day…because they’re in the water! However, kids WILL BE DEHYDRATED if they are in the pool all day and not keeping up with liquids. Then, when they come to class, they’re lethargic and can’t think. We’ve already seen it happen this summer. Please be sure to stay hydrated.
- Coming straight from hours at the pool to taekwondo often leads to a not-so-great class. If you’re planning on doing both for the day, its best to head inside to relax and re-energize for a couple of hours before heading to class.
- Be sure to take care of your eyes while swimming. It’s really hard to focus when eyes are irritated from pool chemicals.
- Be sure to still properly fuel yourself with good quality foods, and not just carbs.
- If you’re not going to be outside for the day, please do not sit on your iPad, computer, or game console all day. “When every finger swipe brings about a response of colors and shapes and sounds, a child’s brain responds gleefully with the neurotransmitter dopamine, the key component in our reward system that is associated with feelings of pleasure. Dopamine hits in the brain can feel almost addictive, and when a child gets too used to an immediate stimuli response, he will learn to always prefer smartphone-style interaction—that is, immediate gratification and response—over real-world connection. The article, “What Screen Time Can Really do To Kids Brains” on Psychology Today states, “A child will also be more easily frustrated and give in sooner when they’re used to so much immediate gratification and response. (See the full article here)
STORM THE DOJO IN-SCHOOL TOURNAMENT TAKES PLACE JULY 14
Registration is now open for our in-school tournament that takes place Saturday, July 14.
For those of you not familiar with a taekwondo tournament, here’s how it works:
Students compete against others at their belt ranks and/or age for their form and one-steps or sparring. So, a 6-year-old while belt would not ever compete against a 17-year-old black belt. The larger the tournament, the smaller the age and belt rank differences there are. (Because of the nature of the in-school tournament, we expect that all white and yellow belts will compete against each other; all orange through sr. purple belts will compete against each other, and all blue through sr. red belts will compete against each other.)
We view tournaments as a great way to challenge students to get out of their comfort zone. Yes, we do award medals to first through third and/or fourth places, but the experience of pushing yourself, competing against others, and learning what you really can do when you set your mind to something, is the true reward for students who go to a tournament.
We hope to see many of our students compete at this event! And, with the Taekwondo America Fall National Tournament taking place in September in Dallas, our tournament will be a great way to get some competition practice in before the big tournament!
Early Skillz students have a special obstacle course competition at the in-school tournament! This cost is $20.
The in-school tournament’s regular competition price for Basic Skillz and all kids and teens/adults is $50. Students who attend our kids or teen/adult classes also have the option to enter our board breaking challenge for an additional $15.
Are you excited?!? You should be! A tournament is one of the best experiences for students! To register, please stop by the front desk and complete a tournament registration form.
If you have any questions, please be sure to let us know.
TX TA SUMMER REGIONAL CAMP REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
It’s time to register for the TX TA Summer Regional Camp for orange belts and higher ranks!
Here are the details:
TX TA Regional Summer Camp
July 20-22
Friday, 7/20 until Sunday, 7/22
Registration: $200 and includes a t-shirt, room/board, all of the workouts (plus usually a keepsake from a workout), dinner Friday, all 3 meals Saturday and breakfast on Sunday.
Our Regional Summer Camp is where all of the Taekwondo America schools in Texas come together once a year for an overnight camp in Coriscana, TX! It is open to all Orange belts and above who are old enough to spend the weekend away from home. (Parents are also welcome to pay the registration and come with us.)
Campers/students will be doing a variety of training including weapons, free sparring, forms, target pads, self defense, taekwondo games, board breaking, flexibility, etc.
Campers will also get to experience all the benefits of attending a camp: making new friends, exploring the world around them, and learning that “I can” is much more powerful than “I can’t”. In an environment created just for them, children learn real life skills, develop self-esteem, and gain a sense of independence and community. Whether children are playing, exploring nature, conquering new heights, or becoming part of a camp family, they are creating memories that will last a lifetime.
We only have a certain number of spots available in the dorms, so don’t delay – register ASAP! While the form does say you have until Saturday, July 7 to register, due to the school being closed July 4 – 6, you’ll need to register NO LATER THAN JULY 2.
Registration forms are available at the front desk.
Please note that we do rent a 15-passenger van to transport students to the camp. Students who need a spot in the van will split the cost of the van rental + gas. At this point, we can take 5 more people in the van. I don’t want that to be a limiting factor, though, so if we have more people signing up, we will figure out a way to transport y’all in the most economical way possible.
If you have any questions, please let us know.
RESERVE YOUR HOTEL ROOM FOR THE SEPTEMBER NATIONAL TAEKOWNDO AMERICA TOURNAMENT IN DALLAS
You can now book your room for the September National Taekwondo America National Tournament taking place in Plano, TX!
The Taekwondo America National Tournament comes to Dallas only once every 2 years – you DON’T want to miss this event! Our tournaments are for ALL students regardless of age and rank.
In addition to the tournament, Mr. Lacy, a school owner in Frisco, TX, will be receiving his 9th degree black belt at the event – and Nicholas Cioti and Marcus On are planning on testing for their 3rd degree black belts, too!
This hotel is super nice – and once you get there, you really won’t have to leave until its time to head back to Houston as its in an upscale shopping center.
To book your room for the tournament, go here for all the details and links:
http://www.taekwondoamerica.org/project/dallas-tx-sep-2018/
DO NOT WAIT TO BOOK YOUR ROOM!!!! This event WILL sell out – book now. You can cancel if you don’t attend. The Marriott allows you to cancel 2 or 3 days prior to your stay. Taekwondo America asks that you cancel your room one month ahead of time if you’re not going to attend.
2018 TESTING DATES
August 6 – 8
October 8 – 10
December 3 – 5
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 14 – In School Tournament
July 20 -22 – Texas Taekwondo America Regional Summer Camp, Navarro College, Coriscana, TX – for orange belts & higher ranks 9 and older (8 year olds may attend with parent chaperone and permission from Mrs. Chapman)
September 21 – 22 – Taekwondo America Fall National Tournament – Plano, TX – You DON’T want to miss this one!