Seminars:

There will be a womens/girls only seminar on Saturday 1/21 at 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

There will be a double black stripe only seminar on Saturday 2/4 at 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Have a Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year!

- Double Black Stripe Only Seminar – Saturday November 12

- Bring a Friend / Parent / Sibling Day – Saturday, November 5

- New Sports Poomsae Class – starts on Saturday Oct 15

- West Side Taekwondo Warm Up Jackets

- Thanksgiving Weekend Closings – Wednesday Nov. 23 – Sunday November 27

- Next Promotion Test – Saturday December 3 and Tuesday December 6

- Upcoming Tournaments      

- Private Lessons

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Black Belt Only Seminar – Basics, Basics, Basics

 After the overwhelming success of the first seminar, we will be holding the second of a series of Black Belt seminars on Saturday October 22nd, to be taught by the Masters of West Side Taekwondo.  With such a large Black Belt presence at our Dojang, we would like to continue to invest in guiding your training and journey towards your continual growth as Taekwondoists and pillars of our community. 

 Please consider these seminars to be mandatory and for your benefit, and make every effort to attend!   Please reply to Master Lim if you cannot attend.

 Please note the change in date to October 22. There is no fee to attend this seminar.

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Double Black Stripe Only Seminar – Get Ready for your Black Belt Test!

 On Saturday November 12, from 3-5 pm West Side will conduct a pre-black belt seminar for all Double Black Stripes.  Attendance is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for all students who are on the cusp of taking the Black Belt test.  There is no fee to attend this seminar.

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Bring a Friend / Parent / Sibling Day

Our always popular “Bring a Friend / Parent / Sibling Day” is back!  Bring a friend or family member and help us introduce them to a healthier, happier life!

Please bring your friends and family to West Side Taekwondo on Saturday, November 5th, 11.00 am, 11.45 am, and 12:30 p.m. and help us stretch, push and pull them into better and smarter shape! Give them a taste of what we do and why we do it. No uniforms required.

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NEW SPORTS POOMSAE CLASS LAUNCHING!

 Ms. Lisa Zhou will begin teaching a weekly Competition Poomsae Class at 2.30 pm on Saturdays.  First class kicks off on Saturday, October 15!

 Sports Poomsae competition is a great new way for everyone to compete locally, nationally, and even internationally.  Ms. Zhou, with expected guest appearances by National Teammates including Master Christina Park, will lead students through the new exacting standards of performing forms – who knows, you might be the next US National Team member!

 Please note that those attending this class must know their current Poomsae.  Class will be focused on perfecting the details of techniques, as executed under current World Taekwondo Federation guidelines, and as s special treat Ms. Zhou will be teaching in the new competition uniforms.  Master Pedro Espino’s popular Monday 7.30 pm Poomsae classes will continue as scheduled, as will the Wednesday 6.30 Poomsae class (led by Master Lim, Mr. Tabachnick and Mr. Clark.) 

 Sports Poomsae Class will be limited to Green Belts and above. 

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Warm-up Jackets

 Due to the popular demand for the new warm up jackets, West Side Taekwondo will be taking one last order of the Adidas Tiro II jackets, the new ones you see the instructors wearing.  They come in men’s and women’s designs and adult and youth sizes, and the men’s style has black sleeves.  $100.00 includes your name in the front of the jacket and all the embroidery in the back and front. Please speak to Master Lim for what will surely make a great Holiday Gift.

 Deadline is Saturday October 15th, 2011.

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Thanksgiving Weekend Closings

 We will be closed for Thanksgiving Weekend beginning Wednesday, November 23 through Sunday, November 27.  We will reopen for class on Monday, November 28.

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Next Promotion Test

 Please note the schedule for our next promotion tests and belt ceremonies:

Main Test:                        Saturday, Dec. 3, 11:00 am                          NO CLASSES all day.

Make-up Test:                 Tuesday, Dec. 6, 6:30 pm                             NO EVENING CLASS.

Belt Ceremony:               Tuesday, Dec. 13, 6:30 pm                           NO EVENING CLASS.  

 Individual makeup tests can also be scheduled.  Please contact Master Lim at younslim@aol.com.

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Upcoming Tournaments

 For those of you interested in competition, Team West Side attends local tournaments on a regular basis.  If interested, please contact Team West Side Tournament Coordinator Master Paul Lim at younslim@aol.com.   For those of you who aren’t familiar with tournaments, here is a little primer on what to expect, and what is expected of you as a competitor or a parent: WST Tournament Handbook.doc.

 Our next tournament will be Champion’s Open on Saturday November 5^th at Queens College. Please contact Master Lim for more information.

 Following that:

 Northeast Technical Championships (poomsae tournament)
The Northeast Technical Championships will take place on Saturday, November 19th, in Coventry, CT.  Hosted by Grand Master David Turgeon (5-time US National Poomsae Team Member), the event promises to be a great experience for all students interested in sport poomsae (forms) competition.  There will be both color belt and black belt divisions, separated by age, so everyone from children to those who thought they were past competition age are welcome to participate!  Unlike other tournaments, all competitors will have the chance to perform 2 poomsae instead of just 1, meaning you’ll have more mat time to gain experience.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask Ms. Lisa Zhou in person or at lisa.linwen@gmail.com.  Registration is $45 and closes November 17; more information can be found at https://ctcdk.com/ntc.html.  If you are interested in participating, please also inform Ms. Zhou or Master Lim so they can coordinate coaches and rides.

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Private Lessons

 Private lessons are a great way to brush up for the promotion test, and are available subject to instructors’ availability. Please contact Master Lim if you’re interested.

From Lisa Zhou, 1^st Dan Black Belt from West Side Taekwondo, and member of the 2011 USA National Poomsae Team

Master Christina Park and I just returned from the World Poomsae Championships in Russia.  It was my first time competing on the world stage (Master Park has been to several World University Games) and it was a fantastic experience!  Imagine being surrounded by elite athletes from over 50 countries–whether you’re warming up in the training area, or cheering on your teammates in the stands, or finally trading places with them in the rings.  Every morning, flags were draped all across the venue as each national team staked their spots in the stands.  Right before competition began on the first day, Spain started of with a team cheer, setting off a friendly relay of cheers from USA, Vietnam, China, Iran, Colombia, Great Britain, and the list goes on.  This was the colorful and exciting, raucous but intimate, competitive yet supportive atmosphere that we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in for 3 days.

Master Park and I, along with our teammate, Rene Chen, competed in the 1st female team division on the 3rd day.  We were thrown a curveball the night before, when we found out that our preliminary round had been cancelled, and we would be advancing straight to the semi-finals – up until then, we had been focusing on Taegeuk 6 and 7, and had to suddenly switch gears for different forms.  

Besides the competition aspect, our Russia trip was also great because of the camaraderie with our fellow US teammates  From hours of practicing each day, playing games on the bus in transit between the venue and the hotel, and sharing every meal together, we really bonded.  I didn’t realize how close we had become until while traveling back to NY with just Master Park, it hit me how much it felt like something was missing.  I’m also extremely grateful for our coaches–Master Jimmy Kim, Master Noreen Thackrey, and Masters Ibrahim and Muhammad Chishti–who were able to help us improve tremendously even over the course of a few days.

Thanks again to everyone who supported us!  We couldn’t have done it without you.  Please do not hesitate to approach us if you’re interested in hearing more–we’re more than happy to share what we saw and learned, and will be offering another Poomsae Seminar this Fall.  With what we gained on this trip, we feel better equipped to make national team again next year and hopefully represent West Side Taekwondo and the United States at another World Championships!

Once again, West Side Taekwondo is pleased to announce BOOT CAMP during the last 2 weeks of August 2011, starting on Monday August 22^nd.   The camp hours will be from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Mondays thru Thursdays.  The camp will focus on Taekwondo fundamentals (basics, forms, and sparring), with the goal of preparing students for the September belt test.  The cost of the camp is $200.00 per week or $75.00 per day.  If you have any questions, please contact Master Lim.  For currently enrolled West Side Taekwondo students only.  Students must bring their own lunch and refreshments.

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Adult Day Classes

There will be no Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 p.m. Adult All Classes from August 22^nd till September 2^nd due to Boot Camp.

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Holiday Closing – Labor Day Weekend

We will be closed from Friday September 2^nd until Monday September 5^th for Labor Day Weekend.  Classes will resume on the Tuesday September 6^th with the start of the Fall Schedule. 

August 19 / 20 Closing

 Please be advised that West Side Taekwondo will be closed on Friday August 19^th and Saturday August 20th.  This is related to the fac that our very own and dear Master Christina Park is getting married on August 19^th to Mr. Alan Chusuei (now also a proud West Side TKD’er).  Congratulations to the happy couple! 

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Fall Belt Test

Tuesday September 13^th at 6:30 p.m.  NO EVENING CLASSES. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO SATURDAY TEST THIS TESTING PERIOD.

Please contact Master Lim if you can not attend to arrange a private test.

Belt Ceremony

Tuesday September 20^th at 6:30 p.m.  NO EVENING CLASSES

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Fall Schedule

Please be aware that that fall schedule starts on Tuesday September 6^th.

JUMP

New World Stages

340 West 50^th Street, NYC

“Pure, madcap enjoyment!” – The Guardian

“Dazzling! Acrobatic prowess mixed with kung-foolery!” – The Scotsman 

“Hilarious! A blast! Impeccable comic timing with energy and charm!”- Bangkok Post

JUMP, the internationally acclaimed martial arts comedy sensation, makes its triumphant return to New York City!  This gravity-defying, internationally acclaimed show combines comedy, martial arts, acrobatics and butt-kicking, live-action shenanigans.  It’s the story of one, very unusual family and all the mishaps and misadventures that ensue. Seen by over 3 million people worldwide, JUMP will have you on the edge of your seat, rolling on the floor laughing and cheering for more.  For more information, visit: www.JUMPtheshowNYC.com

DISCOUNT OFFER:

$39 (Reg. $66.50) – All performances

HOW TO ORDER:

1.  VISIT www.BroadwayOffers.com and use code JPSOAR411

2.  CALL (212) 947-8844 and mention code JPSOAR411

3.  BRING a printout of this discount to New World Stages at 340 West 50^th Street.

RESTRICTIONS: Offer valid for select performances between 5/11/11 and 10/2/11. Subject to availability and prior sale. Blackout dates may apply. Offer may be revoked or modified at any time without notice.  Ticket price includes a $1.50 facilities fee.  Limit of 8 tickets per customer. All sales final; no refunds or exchanges.

BELT TEST

Saturday June 4th at 11:00 a.m.  NO CLASSES ALL DAY

Tuesday June 7th at 6:30 p.m.  NO EVENING CLASSES

BELT CEREMONY

Tuesday June 14th at 6:30 p.m.  NO EVENING CLASSES

All applications and test fees due by Friday June 3rd.

Willie Breslau was awarded the Third Annual Doris Rosenblum Youth Leadership Award for his work founding the TKD360 program at West Side Taekwondo (www.tkd360foundation.org) on January 20 at the home of City Council Member Gale Brewer.

Congratulations to Willie and fellow West Side Black Belts David Marin and William Mosconi, his teammates in this effort. You young gentlemen exemplify Black Belt leadership!

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Commonwealth Championship Gold Medalist Lenn Hypolite! 

WS TKD and Trinidad & Tobago National Team member Lenn Hypolite topped the male welterweight division at the Commonwealth Championships which are being held in Chennai, India.  Lenn TKO’d a competitor from Scotland with a back kick in his first match, then overpowered successive opponents from India and Bangladesh, before winning against another opponent from Scotland in his gold medal match.  

Congratulations to Lenn and Sabumnim Sr., who served as Team T&T National Coach!