Waldorf Maryland Martial Arts and Fitness

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What Taekwondo Can Do For You!

Lessons for Life.

Taekwondo is a Korean Martial Art. “Tae” means foot, “Kwon” means hand and Do means “the Way”. Literally translated it means The Way of the Foot and Hand. The word “Taekwondo” was coined in 1955 by a South Korean Brigadier General named Hong Hi Choi. Taekwondo was born out of an indigenous Korean Foot-Fighting art called Tae Kyeon and Japanese Karate (which the General learned while imprisoned by the Japanese Government during their occupation of Korea). General Choi headed up the Military School of Taekwondo called the Oh Do Kwan (meaning School of My Way). The Famous South Korean 29th Infantry Division (also known as the White Horse Brigade) was the vehicle through which he developed Oh Do Kwan Taekwondo Training for the R.O.K. Armed Forces. At the same time a colleague of his, Won Kuk Lee, was training civilians in South Korea at the Chung Do Kwan School of Taekwondo (Chung Do Kwan means School of the Blue Wave). Master Lee’s Chung Do Kwan was the largest and most popular civilian Taekwondo School in Korea.

In the late 1950?s and early 1960?s, American Armed Forces were called to South Korea to help control the attempt of Communist North Korea to dominate the Democratic Republic of South Korea. While stationed in South Korea, many U.S. GI’s learned Taekwondo from the South Korean soldiers. Upon returning to the States, they began teaching Taekwondo themselves to Americans. Most notably, Chuck Norris, actor and martial artist, came back and began teaching Taekwondo to movie stars and film directors in Hollywood, California. This eventually led him to his now highly successful career in acting.

Today, Taekwondo is taught in countries all over the world. It is the most popular and most widely practiced of the Asian Martial Arts. Taekwondo is recognized as not only the most effective and scientific method of learning self-defense but also as a fun and exciting means to teach our youth values such as respect, discipline, patience, courage, and effort. Adults practicing Taekwondo can expect reduced stress levels in their lives, keep fit and feel better, increase their energy and self-esteem, and enjoy the comradery and friendship of other adults with an interest in Taekwondo.

As you can see, Taekwondo is not just a sport. While it does have a competition aspect, this is just one small facet of the Art. Furthermore, the competition aspect of Taekwondo was not developed to win medals at all, but rather to test one’s skills in a situation that, as closely as possible, resembles an actual self-defense scenario; it was meant to make a student face his or hers own fears and learn to control them under pressure.

In reality, the Art of Taekwondo in its entirety is a way of thinking and acting. It is a way of life that all students can enjoy. The utmost purpose of Taekwondo is to develop an individual’s self-confidence and self-esteem; to help him or her realize their full human potential, not just physically, but mentally and spiritually as well! It challenges each individual to develop, to the fullest, their personal abilities.

Taekwondo’s purpose is to strengthen the individual physically and spiritually through its rigorous training methods and morally and ethically through its philosophy. As Taekwondo accomplishes this end we will begin to see stronger families which lead to stronger communities and ultimately to a more peaceful world for us all. This is the promise of Taekwondo, the Art. And everyone, young or old, male or female, weak or strong, big or small, may enjoy the benefits attained from practicing Taekwondo’s physical and philosophical lessons.

Dear master instructor, instructor, school owner, fellow black belt,

As you know, I am hosting a tournament May 11^th sanctioned by a new organization to our area, the World Taekwon-Do Alliance (WTA).  While most of you know very little about this organization, they are a truly international organization.  The USA chapter is very strong out West and in the South.  They also have an excellent Dan Certification Program. They host  Black Belt Camps/Retreats each summer in the beautiful Ozark Mountains at their lodge.  The WTA host several National Championships each year as well as participate in International Championships abroad (this year in Canada, England, and Russia).   I, too, am still learning about the organization and I like what I’m seeing!  Their Black Belt  athletes are very, very talented.  Some of the best I’ve seen anywhere.

I am excited to announce the Vice Chairman of the WTA Grand Master Scott McNeely, 9^th Dan will be attending the May 11^th Mid-Atlantic WTA Championship to meet and greet everyone as well as answer questions, concerns comments, etc., about the WTA.  I hope all of you with an interest in finding out more about the WTA get a chance to talk with GM McNeely.  He’s extremely personable and easy going.  Please find time to introduce yourself and chat with GM McNeely while at the Championship on May 11^th.

Yours in TKD

Master Roger Cavanaugh

Tournament Director

Grand Master Scott McNeely

As a fifteen-year old student of Taekwon-Do, Scott McNeely began his Taekwon-Do career in Hot Springs, Arkansas under Mr. Robert Hardin. Today, with a thirty-three- year teaching career that is ongoing, Grand Master Scott McNeely enjoys status as one of the highest ranked, active practitioners of Taekwon-Do who does not have a Korean heritage. Noted as being the “Youngest Instructor to have achieved the 9th degree Black Belt from the original pioneers of Taekwon-Do”. His communication skills, charisma, and commitment to the martial art are unprecedented and are a source of continuing inspiration to his students and the living pioneers of Taekwon-Do.

Some highlights of Grand Master McNeely’s career include the following:

1972 – Earned 1st Degree Black Belt

1973 – Began teaching in Benton, Arkansas

1975 – Founded the first Taekwon-Do training school in Fort Smith, Arkansas

1981 – Assumed the role of Regional Chief of Instructor for the American Taekwon-Do Federation as a 4th Degree Black Belt.

1983 – Assumed the role of Vice-President, United States Taekwon-Do Federation

1986 – Began training with Grand Master Cho, Pung Que

1986 – In Houston, Texas, trained with the Founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi

1986 – Inducted into the International Karate Hall of Fame with Bill “Super Foot” Wallace

1987 – Coached and led the first USTF Team to compete internationally at the 5th ITF World Championships in Athens, Greece.

1990 – Assumed the role of President of the United States Taekwon-Do Federation

1990 – Co-founded the Global Taekwon-Do Federation

1990 – Began training with Grand Master Park Jung Tae in Toronto, Canada

1990 – Developed the USTF Instructor Training Manuals.

1994 – Assumed the role of Secretary General of the Global Taekwon-Do Federation

1994 – Demonstrated at the GTF World Championships in Sardinia, Italy, unveiling a new pattern designed by Grand Master Park.

1994 – Along Grand Master Park, served as GTF ambassador throughout Europe and North America.

1994 – Tested under Grand Master Park Jung Tae for 7th Degree Black Belt in Toronto, Canada.

1994 – Led a training excursion comprising fifty-one black belts to Yong In University in Seoul, South Korea to train with the gold medal Olympic Fighting Team

2002 – Tested under Grand Master Park Jung Tae for 8th Degree Black Belt in Hot Springs, Arkansas during the USTF Grand Nationals.

2002 – Formed the World Taekwon-Do Alliance after the death of Grand Master Park Jung Tae.

2004 – Assumed the role of USTF Chairman.

2004 – Assumed the role of President, Legacy Unity Vision Films, LLC, an entity founded to produce a feature length documentary on Taekwon-Do

2005 – Met and began training with Grand Master Kong Young Il.

2005 – Assumed the role of Vice-President, International Chang Hon Taekwon-Do Federation.

2006 – Tested for 9th Degree Black Belt before the Pioneers of Taekwon-Do in Las Vegas, Nevada during the First WTA Tournament.

2006 – Assumed the role of Executive Vice-President of the newly organized World Taekwon-Do Alliance.

2010– Attended the Taekwon-Do World Championships in Teleford, England.

Became involved with Taekwon-Do International as a member country.  (Gold medal won by Mr. Steven Miller in the heavy weight division.  Student of Grand Master Robert Hardin, CTF.)

For those of you interested in the World Taekwondo Alliance National Championship, June 27-29, 2013, in Memphis, TN.  I have created a page on our website that contains information about the championship including events, divisions, sparring rules, team rules, etc.  It sounds like this is going to be a GREAT weekend!  Bookmark and check out the WTA page weekly for updated and additional info I will post as I receive it.

wta-nationals-event-information

Please find the time to drop off a new toy for a local child who is less fortunate and may just have a happier holiday due to your kindness and generosity!  We are located in the ELITE Gymnastics Building on Old Washington Road, Waldorf.  our address is 2745 Old Washington Rd.  Phone: 301-645-1650.  A drop box is located in our lobby.

Everyone’s invited!  Just bring a dish of your special holiday favorite to share and ENJOY!