February 5, 2011

The TAO annual promotion test for 3rd Dan and above took place on Saturday January 22nd, right after day 1 of the Annual Technical Conference.  The grading was conducted by the TAO Promotion Committee Cheif examiner Master Vincent Affatigato assisted by Vice-President (USA) Mr. Lee Benson and Technical Director Mr. Mike Morningstar.   The examination began with a physical test of 10 min. of skipping, 80 push-ups, 80 sit-ups and 20 berpies which took 20 minutes for everyone to complete.  The actual test is divided into 5 catagories: patterns and fundamental movements, self-defence, sparring (which included 3, 2, & 1-step & model sparring), breaking and theory (a written test was completed by all candidates).  After 6 1/2 hours, a few bruises and good amount of broken boards, all candidates were successful.  Congratulations to Kathy Albright, Frank Albright, Brandon Negron, Jeff Butt and Leone Frame and their promotion to 3rd Dan,  Roland Klassen, Wendy Cools-Lartigue, Tawanda Beale and Savandara Leang on their promotion to 4th Dan and Mr. Fran Ott, Mr. Rick Winsor and Mr. Sean Sutton on their promotion to 5th Dan.

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January 30, 2011

On the weekend of January 22-23, one hundred red belt to 7th degree black belt participants from Pennsylvania, Arizona, New York, New Jersey, Newfoundland, Alberta and accross Ontario decended on Oakville for our Annual Technical Conference.  Technical Director Mr. Mike Morningstar and Senior Advisor Master Vincent Affatigato took everyone through all 24 patterns throughout the two days.  Keeping true to the teachings of the founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi, the students and instructors were drilled on correct sine wave and the proper application of techniques.  By the end of the 10 hour training everyone was exausted but motivated in their efforts to keep Chang Hun Taekwon-Do alive in it’s purist form.

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January 21, 2011,

A very productive Annual General Meeting of TAO was held on Friday January 21st at the Holiday Inn Oakville Center.  The meeting was Charied by Mr. Roland Klassen, President of TAO and was attended by all the Board members.  School instructors in attendance were from Arizona, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Calgary, Hamilton, Oakville, London, Woodstock, Ottawa,  and St. Johns.  Not present were California and Albuquerque.

January 14, 2011

We would like to welcome 5^th Dan Black Belt Mr. Chris Howes and the students of Lightning Taekwon-Do in Calgary, Alberta as the latest members of TAO. 

Mr. Howes has had the privilege to train directly under the founder of Taekwon-Do General Choi, Hong Hi and has traveled as a direct assistant to Grandmaster Choi Jung Hwa .  Mr. Howes has also been the Head Coach for Team Canada at both the 2004 World Championships in Daejon. South Korea and the 2006 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

Welcome Mr. Howes and the students of the Lightning Taekwon-Do.  For more information please visit www.lightningtkd.com

January 5, 2011

The TAO “Annual Technical Conference & AGM� is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday January 21-23, 2011.  This training is open to all Red Belts and Black Belts and will cover from Chon-Ji to Tong-Il. 

There is no cost for this training.

The Annual General Meeting will be on the Friday evening at 7:00pm at the Holiday Inn Oakville Center.  The Saturday portion of the training will take place in the Trafalgar Ball Room of the Holiday Inn Oakville Center and will begin at 8:30am and run through until 5:00pm.  Sundays training will be at the Main Dojang of Morningstar Taekwon-Do in Oakville, just minutes from the Holiday Inn.  Sundays training will be from 9:00am to Noon and will be for 3rd Dan and higher.  Registration is officially closed as we have reached 100 prticipants!

December 18, 2010

Along with a new Dojang, Thames Valley Taekwon-Do recently promoted 2 students to 1st Degree Black Belt.  What made this test unique is that Mr. & Mrs. Phipps moved to their new 2500 square foot location on the Friday evening before the test.  The test was conducted by 5th Dan Mike Morningstar and began at 1:30pm and continued through until 5:00pm.  Congratulations to all who were successful.  Vist www.thamesvalleytkdandfitness.com

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December 15, 2010

Thirty four Oakridge Taekwon-Do students recently attempted and were successful in their quest for new ranks.  The test was conducted bt TAO Technical Director Mr. Mike Morningstar and assisted by Oakridge Taekwon-Do head instructor Mrs. Cathy Hadubiak.  Congratulations on your promotions and good work promoting Taekwon-Do in the City of London.

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December 9, 2010

The seminar started with an extensive warm-up followed by an hour long focus on proper kicking drills. Sabum Nim Morningstar as always introduced a new way to keep training fresh.  One drill in particular followed the Chon-Ji diagram with kicks in place of hand techniques.  This spin gave an entire new perspective on how to combine kicking drills while still practicing the tuls diagram.  After a short break Sabum Nim  led the group in all the patterns from Chon-Ji to Moon Moo.  This was a great time for Mr. Rick Windsor, Mr. Sean Sutton, Mr. Fran Ott and many other students as it is the last time they will be able to have their patterns critiqued by their instructor before promotions in Oakville, Ontario at the Techinal Seminar in January. 

Bringing the event to a close was a demonstration by Sabum Nim. He demonstrated Moon-Moo followed by a barrage of hand a foot breaks including a blindfolded 180* Jumping Back Kick and a 5 board knifehand strike. It was a great day for all that attended and inspired everyone to get back in the Do-Jang as soon as possible. 

Submitted by Mr. Fran Ott 4th Dan

December 6, 2010

The International Taekwon-Do Academy (ITA) is proud to join TAO.  The ITA Dojang is located in Phoenix, AZ, under Head Instructor 6th Dan Mr. Lee Benson.  For over 20 years, Mr. Benson has focused on Traditional Taekwon-Do, per the General, in his training and instruction.  The ITA focuses on students leaving the world in a better place than when they came into it.   This is based on Mr. Benson’s philosophy toward self and world improvement.  The ITA may be small in number, but what it lacks in numbers it makes up for in students who strive to live the tenets of Taekwon-Do on a daily basis.  If you find yourself in the Phoenix area, please feel free to come and train; the door is open!

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November 24, 2010

On November 19th to 22nd  TAO Technical Director Mike Morningstar conducted the 9th annual seminar for all students of Cabot Taekwon-Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland.  Saturday morning consisted of a 3 hour-long seminar from white belt to black belt after which Mr. Morningstar did a short demonstration.  That was followed by Black Belt training that covered patterns Kwang-Gae up to Moon-Moo.  Mr. Morningstar also did some one-on-one training with Mr. Winsor.

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In the evening on Saturday, Mr. Winsor organised a dinner banquet for the black belts to celebrate the 9th annual seminar.   Mr. Winsor presented Mr. Morningstar with a beautiful painting of Cabot Tower, personally engraved to Mr. Morningstar comemorating his visit.  Sunday was a day of sightseeing visiting such famous spots as Cabot Tower, Signal Hill and Cape Spear, the most easterly point in North America.  Congratulations to Cabot Taekwon-Do and Mr. Winsor in doing a fantastic job promotiong the true Taekwon-Do of General Choi in the Province of Newfoundland.