January 29-31, 2010

On Friday January 29th, TAO held our Annual General Meeting.  The meeting was very productive with all Ontario instructors in attendance.  On Saturday and Sunday January 30-31, over 80 red belt and Black Belts from New Mexico, Philadelphia, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland attended our 4th Annual Technical Conference.  We also had a surprise visit from the Pioneer of Taekwon-Do in Canada, Grand Master Park Jong Soo.

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On the Saturday TAO Technical Director, Mike Morningstar, put everyone through the paces covering from Chon-Ji- Juche Tul.  Keeping true to the teachings of the Founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi, Mr. Morningstar covered the training secrets and the proper application of techniques.  By the end of the 7hr training on Saturday, everyone was exausted but motivated in their efforts to keep Chang-Hun Taekwon-Do alive in it’s purest form.

Our special guest instructor for Sunday’s training was Master Pierre Laquerre, the technical director for the CTFI.  Master Laquerre conducted the training Sunday for 3rd dan and higher.  Master Laquerre made very clear the importance of perfecting basic techniques and ettiquette.  The warm-up consisted of some excellent exercises to remind everyone of some muscles that they forgot they had.

January 1, 2010

The Taekwon-Do Academy of Ontario would like to wish all our members a very Happy and prosperous 2010!

ITF Ontario would also like to extend a congratulations to all the Canadian Athletes that competed in Argentina.

Below are the medal results for Canada.

Sean O’Neil – GOLD – Jr Boys 2nd Dan Patterns
Phillipe Boyd – SILVER – Jr. Boys 1st Dan Patterns
Anne-Sophie Desautels – SILVER – Jr. Girls 1st Dan Patterns
Isabelle Bond – SILVER – Women’s 4th Dan Patterns
Brandi Merritt – SILVER – Women’s Special Technique Breaking
Team Canada (Women) – SILVER – Woman’s Team Patterns
Isabelle Bond, Myriam Desmarquis, Genevieve Desmarquis, Marie-Chrystine Blouin, Audrey De Ladurantane
Steven LeGrow – BRONZE – Men’s 4th Dan Patterns
Joana Reibeiro – BRONZE – Women’s 3rd Dan Patterns
Carol-Ann Blouin – BRONZE – Jr Girls Heavy Weight Sparring
Chelsea Stone – BRONZE – Women’s Light Weight Sparring
Miranda Seifert – BRONZE – Jr Girls Hyper Weight Sparring
Steven LeGrow – BRONZE – Men’s Hyper Weight Sparring

You can see videos and photos from the event at the CTFI Facebook group fro the World Championships here:

December 10, 2009

Twenty three Oakridge Taekwon-Do students from White Belt to Blue Belt 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 instrcutor Mrs. Cathy Hadubiak.  Congratulations on your promotions and good work promoting Taekwon-Do in the City of London.

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November 21, 2009

For the 8th consecutive year, TAO Technical Director Mr. Mike Morningstar conducted a 2nd degree black belt test and a 7-hour technical seminar for the Instructors and students of Cabot Taekwon-Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland.  The event was hosted by Mr. Rick Winsor, head instructor of Cabot Taekwon-Do. Participants ranged from white belt to 4th degree black belt of all ages.  Ashley and Shane Williams were successful at their attempt for 2nd dan after a grueling 4-hr test on the Friday evening.  The Saturday seminar covered stretching, conditioning, basic and advanced kicking drills and patterns.  For the last hour all black belts in attendence were taken through Kwang-Gae up to Juche Tul.  Both Mr. Morningstar and Mr. Winsor are planning a joint training between their Dojangs in 2010 for the 9th annual seminar.

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October 20, 2009

Students from Trigger’s Taekwon-Do, Freedom Taekwon-Do, Blackburn Taekwon-Do, Johnson’s Taekwon-Do and Morningstar attended the 2009 Battle for the Bell Tournament this past weekend in Philadelphia.  This competition was hosted by Mr. Fran Ott and Mr. Sean Sutton and brought compettitors from accross the USA and Canada.  Congatulations to those who participated….and this year they even played the Canadian National Anthem!!!!!

Johnson’s TKD

Mitri Hanna – Bronze (Patterns); Bronze(Sparring)
Nadine Hanna – Silver (Patterns); Gold (Sparring)
Sheldon McNaught – Gold (Patterns); Silver (Sparring)

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Morningstar TKD

Louie Mendez – Bronze (Patterns); Gold (Sparring)
Alex Llabres  – Bronze (Patterns); Bronze (Sparring)
Scott Seguin – Bronze (Patterns); Silver (Sparring)
Thao-Nguyen Nguyen – Silver (Patterns); Gold (Sparring)

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Blackburn TKD

Clement Goh – Bronze (Sparring)
Brigitte Jobin – Bronze (Patterns)
Angie Routier – Bronze (Patterns)
Jesse Boudreau – Gold (Patterns); Silver (Sparring)

Trigger’s TKD

Chris Arranz – Bronze (Sparring); Bronze (Patterns)

Freedom TKD

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Kevin Larkin – Bronze (Sparring) Silver (Patterns)
Laine Karkin – Bronze (Sparring) Silver (Patterns)
Suzanne Baker – Silver (Sparring) Silver (Patterns)
Betty Ann Villeneuve – Gold (Sparring) Bronze (Pattern)

September 26, 2009

August 9-10, 2009

Morningstar Taekwon-Do recently held their 15th annual Instructor Certification Course.  Thirty students from Morningstar Taekwon-Do, Oakridge Taekwon-Do, Thames Valley Taekwon-Do as well as Albuquerque Taekwon-Do attended this course which is designed to develop teaching skills.  Topics that were covered were; how to conduct a proper warm-up, teaching a beginner their first day and under 5 days, how to discipline, how to motivate, teaching sparring, self-defense and over-all general teaching skills.  Sunday’s training was a pattern seminar up to Choong-Moo.

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August 5, 2009

On Saturday, June 27, Blackburn Taekwon-Do hosted Master Laquerre, the technical director of the Canadian Taekwon-Do Federation for a series of workshops.  The morning session consisted of Fundamental Exercises and Patterns, while the afternoon session consisted of Sparring Techniques and strategies.  Master Laquerre was well received with 37 Students from Ottawa, Cornwall and Laval.  Everyone enjoyed the training and is looking forward for more opportunities for these workshops in the fall.  Blackburn Taekwon-Do would like to thank all those who attended the Seminar and gave their support.

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