July 16, 2010

The TAO “AGM & Annual Technical Conference� 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 in the Argus Meeting room of 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 9:00am 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. 

This training is limited to the first 100 participants.  Deadline for registration is January 10, 2011.  Rooms have been reserved at the Holiday Inn for those who need to stay a few nights.  Please mention the “Taekwon-Do Technical Conference�  to benefit from the special event room rate of $104.00/night based on 4 people per room.  The room release date is December 15, 2010.

July 6, 2010

We would like to welcome Mr. Denis Alvey as the latest members of TAO. Mr. Alvey is the head instructor of Chon-Ji Martial Arts in Hamilton and is currently an ITF 6th Dan. We look forward to working with Mr. Alvey in promoting the Taekwon-Do of General Choi Hong Hi in the Province of Ontario.

For more information about Mr. Alvey and Chon-Ji Martial Arts please visit his website at www.chonji-martialarts.ca

June 26, 2010

Morningstar Taekwon-Do recently promoted 18 students to 1st Degree Black Belt and 1 student to 2nd Degree Black Belt. The test was conducted by Morningstar Taekwon-Do head instructor Mike Morningstar and began at 10:00am and continued through until 4:00pm. Congratulations to all who were successful.

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June 19, 2010

Over the weekend of June 19th, Morningstar Taekwon-Do hosted an amazing and eye opening seminar conducted by  Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha “the worlds best student ever of Taekwon-do” as stated by the Founder General Choi Hong Hi,  In 1997 Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha became the first Grand Master to be promoted to 9th Degree by General Choi.  Grand Master Rhee was accompanied by his son, 7th Degree Master Andrew Rhee.

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The seminar was very interesting not only from a technical and physical perspective but also the amount of historical facts and stories that Grand Master shared with the students.  The people who unfortunately could not attend this seminar missed a great opportunity and experience that rarely comes around. Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha was the closest person to General Choi and he is one of his original Students.

In the evening all the participants gathered at a local Korean restaurant for a dinner banquet where Grand Master’s Park Jong Soo and Grand Master Kong Young Il, the original members of the famous 1973 ITF demonstration team that toured the world promoting the ITF and General Choi’s Taekwon-Do.  If not for these great men, Taekwon-Do would not be enjoying the status that it is today.

June 5, 2010

On Saturday June 5th, 2005 the Can-Am Championships were held in Oakville hosted by Morningstar Taekwon-Do. The tournament featured competitors from 7 Provinces and 5 States and boasted a head table of 4 Masters, including the President of the Canadian Taekwon-Do Federation (CTFI), Master Clint Norman and the Vice-President of the USITF, Master Ruben Suarez.  The tournament brought over 300 competitors and 400 spectators to the beautiful town of Oakville, nearly filling the 1,000-seat venue. The cheers from the crowd were most notable whenever there was a final match between the USA and Canada, each country encouraging their country’s competitor.

The tournament started with an opening ceremony that was culminated with some inspirational words from CTFI President, Master Norman, who emphasized the importance of competing in the spirit of the tenets of Taekwon-Do.  The tournament was highlighted by a fiercely competitive Black Belt division consisting of over 130 participants, many of whom had international experience competing in the previous year’s ITF World Championships and looking for a spot on Canada’s National Team.

May 22, 2010

Blackburn Taekwon-Do recentely hosted a sparring seminar with 7th Dan and coach of the German National team, Master Lam.

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May 8, 2010

TAO Technical Director Mr. Mike Morningstar recently conducted a 6-hour technical seminar in London, Ontario. The event was hosted by Mrs. Cathy Hadubiak, head instructor of Oakridge Taekwon-Do.  Fifty two participants were put to the test with a very challenging warm up.

Mr. Morningstar covered fundamental movements, kicking and leg strengthening  exercises, patterns, 3-step and 1-step sparring and self-defense.  This was the 3rd annual training workshop hosted in London.

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April 11, 2010

On Sunday April 11, 2010 from 1:30 to 4:00 PM, Blackburn Taekwon-Do hosted a Red Belt & Up training with Master Kou (7th Degree) and Mr. Steven LeGrow (5th Degree) to honor the 55th Birthday of Taekwon-Do.  The training started with cardio and conditioning drills led by Master Kou Iat Chio.  He pushed the students through various punching, kicking, push-up and sit-up exercises.  After a small break, he continued with some Patterns.  After that the training was continued by Mr. LeGrow who led the class through various sparring drills to enhance attacking and counter skills in sparring.  After the sparring session, the class had the opportunity to practice board breaking with plastic re-brakable boards.

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March 20, 2010

On Saturday March 20th TAO Technical Director Mr. Mike Morningstar was invited by Lighting Taekwon-Do and Mr. Chris Howes to conduct a 6-hour training session.  The first 2 hours of the session was for all levels and the last 4 hours were for Black Belts only.  The training covered physical conditioning, basic movements, self defence and patterns Chon-Ji through Se-Jong.  On the Sunday Mr. Howes treated Mr. Morningstar to a day of sightseeing through the beautiful Rocky Mountains, the town of Banf, Alberta and an afternoon at the outdoor Hot Springs.

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March 6, 2010

On Saturday, March 6, 2010, Blackburn Taekwon-Do hosted the 2010 Ontario Invitational Championships.  Competitors from Ontario, Quebec, Philadelphia and Connecticut came together for a day of intense competition in both individual and team competitions.  The day started with a quick demonstration and on to color belt competition.  In the afternoon the black belts competed demonstrating some great skill in patterns and sparring.  The tournament was concluded at 5:30 PM.
Blackburn Taekwon-Do would like to thank all who supported this event.

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