Successful Gup testing for Bradford

Greetings fellow blue wavers!

Here is the latest news from the Bradford gym.  On Tuesday, February 17th we had 7 new ranks awarded after a very successful testing.  Congratulations to: Evan and Gabe Fagan who now join the ranks of our beloved red belts,  Kevin Eaton who successfully tested for his high green belt, Amy Cook who received her green belt and last but not least congratulations to Anna and Claire Cook, and Makayla Coffin who all received their high yellow belts.  A quick thank you to Master Robinson and all of the black belts that were there to share the evening.  Nice job everyone!

As for upcoming event we hope that everyone is excited for winter camp...Bradford will be there and representing!

Regional Testing March 28, 2008

Another Friday Night - Another Regional Testing at the Bradford Dojang.
A huge crowd of several hundred onlookers and fans joined the - ok, it wasn't a huge crowd, but the energy was positive and I guess we all felt supported. It was a fun testing, I personally enjoyed it very much.
Ms. Fearon did an excellent job calling the test, now that Mr. Elliott has joined the board. Mr. Emerson was the videographer in charge and taped (this is not the right word, we're digital), anyways, Mr. E. took a video of the testing and I can't wait to see it.



The Bradford Blue Wave has now

- 1 new 8th Gup (Makayla Coffin)
- 1 new 7th Gup (Tasha Wauk)
- 1 new 6th Gup (Kevin Eaton, who gave an uuuuplifting performance)
- 2 new 4th Gup (Michael Eaton, Alexander Ussler)
- 3 new 3rd Gup (Mark and Jonathan Butler, Martha Ussler)
- 2 new 2nd Gup (Ron Danforth, Dirk Ussler)
- 1 new 1st Gup (Julie Fagan)

I am always so excited to be supported by fellow students and hearing their cheers and claps. It really does make a difference!

BVT Tournament in Randolph

The Annual Bruce V. Twing Tournament in Randolph is now history. I just wonder why my son Alex is always the last to compete. When he had his second fight, many contenders already left, and the medal ceremony saw only two athletes on the podium. But that might just be my own selfish way...

Regardless, the time went by quickly. We saw a lot of inspiring fighting and some great poomsae. Some of the youngsters had a tough time, though. Sparring is, after all, full contact. Inevitably heads got kicked, limbs bruised, and the wind knocked out. But the real fighting spirit showed itself again and again. If you get really creamed and kicked in your first fight, it takes indomitable spirit to get back in the ring and face your fear. For some this was not an option, and that is sad. Everyone should have had fun, and remembering the tournament should always invoke pleasant thoughts. On the other hand, sometimes you have to walk through the valley in order to enjoy the peaks.

All of our youngsters won in one or the other category. We have to add on to our house to store all the medals (proud parent talking here....)

It is always nice to see athletes from all over and to connect with fellow students and other parents. For me, tournaments are still a place to learn, in particular rules, sparring, scoring. I look forward to participate myself in a tournament soon. My feet and hands were itching yesterday, and after all, Taekwondo is the Way of the Hand and Foot.

Now I hope we won't get stuffed with snow - it is supposed to snow 8-12 inches.

Hoping for no snow!

Dirk

New BW Forum

By now everyone should have heard about the new Blue Wave Forum. You can access it at http://bluewavetkd.ning.com/
Once you're there, look up the sign-up link on the top right hand corner of the page and, you guessed it, sign up. You will get a confirmation from Master White and then you're all set.

Also remember:
December 1st, 2007: 9th Annual Blue Wave Juniors Tournament
http://www.bluewavetkd.com/bvt2007dec.pdf
Our annual spring Juniors tournament has been moved to December 1st
Location will be Vermont Technical College in Randolph VT
Pre-Registration Only!

If you haven't registered yet, please do so. There will be no walk-in registrations!

Ki Energy in TKD and Martial Arts

Many martial artists have sooner or later heard the term "Ki" or "CH'i". Often we associate some mysterious, far-eastern spiritual "thing", which is only available to the initiated and only after long years of study.

I was intrigued by the idea of "Ki" and the possibility to gain some "power" others don't have. You might have heard the story of the Japanese/Chinese/Korean Grandmaster, who knocked out a 220 pound man without even touching him. Is this really possible? Can I gain powers like this?

After reading a little bit about Ki it became obvious to me that the concept of Ki is not what I thought it was. Then I did Karate for a few years and our Sensei spoke about Ki and how to use it in martial arts. Finally it became clear that Ki is not a foreign concept at all, in fact Ki is something we all have, whether we want it or not.

So, if we all possess Ki, I might as well use it to my advantage. But how?

Do I need to study for it? Go in to a monastery? Meditate until I am able to touch my inner Ki?

Well, aside from going into a monastery, meditation and studying does help. Once you have a grasp of the fundamentals, you can apply them to your martial art, whatever that might be.

I think, to many of us, this Ki-thing still sounds a little bit hokey pokey. But I am embracing it more and more, in particular since it adds to my spiritual development, not only as a martial artists, but as human being as well.

Here are a few links to web sites focusing on Ki. I will try to add more in the future. If you have a link that will fit in here, please send me an e-mail: ussler@together.net

And here it is:

Understanding Ki and it's development

http://martialartslibrary.blogspot.com/2006/06/understanding-ki-and-its-development.html

If the origins of nearly every traditional martial art in existence today were explored, one would find that the theories and principles of 'Ki' training are in existence in the original teachings. Many martial artists today who are studying these arts do not understand exactly what 'Ki' power really is. Although some people like to market 'Ki' as some mystical power that only they possess, 'Ki' is no secret. The word itself translates to "energy, life- force, spirit, and/or breath." Everyone has 'Ki': If you didn't, you'd be dead!

Quick intro and very readable article.

Another article deals with Ki Breathing in Amrtial Arts:
http://www.changshapkido.net/hapkido1_023.htm

Though geared toward Hapkido students, it is still worth reading.

And finally: A short discussion about Ki and Taekwondo at
http://www.taekwondobible.com/discussion/others/ki.html

Enjoy!

Dirk

Bradford Blue Wave Students Test at Annual Summer Camp 2007

Eleven students from the Bradford Blue Wave Tae Kwon Do gym successfully tested for their black belt rankings in early August this summer. This annual test was held at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds with 160 participants from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The testing was the kick off for the rest of the summer camp activities.
The week end camp was full of seminars and classes geared toward improving Tae Kwon Do skills. Campers of all ages were taught by Blue Wave Masters and Black Belts from all over New England.This camp fosters excellence in Tae Kwon Do balanced with many fun events ranging from dodge ball to cribbage. A Blue Wave Association pot luck dinner and barbecue was also enjoyed.

Bradford Blue Wave Tae Kwon Do students who successfully tested are:

3rd Dan/Degree

Steven Williams, Bradford, VT.

2nd Dan/Degree

Adam Heathman, Newbury, VT,

Dylan Parkin, Bradford, VT.

1st Dan/Degree Decided

Sally Coffin, Fairlee, VT,

Robby Montgomery, Fairlee, VT.

1st Dan/Degree Recommended

Allan Heathman, Newbury, VT

Kerry Pollner, Piermont, NH

Nickolas Berner, Corinth, VT

Jonah Richard, Corinth, VT

Connor Williams, Bradford, VT

Sam Berner, Corinth, VT

Berner Boys to circumnavigate the World

In case you haven't heard yet - Sam and Nick Berner are going to circumnavigate the globe - well, not quite. But they are going on an adventure many of us will never experience.
Together with their mother they will leave South America on a sailboat to the South Pacific where they will meet their father and continue to Australia. You can read about this exciting trip at

http://www.boatus.com/cruising/shangrila/

Hopefully these guys will the opportunity to show some BW TKD in Tahiti, Curacao, Perth or wherever the path leads them.

What a great experience it will be. I spent six months on a merchant vessel myself, cruising the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Danube. From my own experience I know the excitement to see new countries and places, meet new people, listen to foreign languages, and, above all, enjoy the incredible silence on the ocean. Seeing the moon or sun rising above the horizon is such a sight - and on the high seas it is even more impressive.

I wish Sam and Nick all the best on their incredible journey. Come back well and healthy, with lots of impressions and things to share. I am sure we will follow your progress in the gym...

Save travels!!!!!