Essay
Nathaniel Sizemore
The Hardest Thing

Announcement for 2019-03-19

Mr. Sizemore will not be able to attend class on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 — the Wellness Center will be open, however, so we will have an informal “practice” class. Run through every pattern you know at least twice, and then choose one aspect that you’d like to improve in your stances, motion, or other technique. Grab some floor space to yourself, and focus on that aspect, see if you can find a way to improve it. Try doing it slowly, or by count, or from a different position. Often, slow repetition of a good habit is the best way to break — or, more accurately, replace — a bad habit.

Remember that you can consult the Patterns Handbook or (respectfully!) ask senior students if you are unclear about something.

News of cooperation between ITF, WTF

Two of the most important Taekwon-Do organizations, World Taekwon-Do (WT) and the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) are taking more steps toward cooperation, including integration of their events. For most students, this news will not have any noticeable impact. We will still work to perfect our patterns, to improve our sparring, to push ourselves to have greater speed, strength, and understanding. We still study the Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do and base our practice from what Gen. Choi detailed there.

However, the increasing cooperation of WT and ITF may pave the way towards opening more international competitions — including Olympic events — for more students of Taekwon-Do. One of my favorite aspects of training has been pushing myself in tournaments, and I hope that this agreement provides more chances for Taekwon-Do students to face off in ring, pushing each other to excel.

I also hope it can be an example of promoting the spirit of mutual concessions and greater cooperation between people with differing ideas — not only in organizing martial arts tournaments, but in the world.

No (formal) class Tuesday, 2018-11-20

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, Trillium Taekwon-Do will not have a formal class Tuesday, November 20, 2018. However, the Rec Center will be open that day — if your travel plans allow it, come and work out with us! And even if you are traveling, remember what a wise man once said: “A day without patterns is like a day without sunshine.”

Enjoy the holiday, and remember to take a moment to reflect on the many things for which we can show gratitude.

No (formal) class Tuesday, 2018 Nov 06

School will be out on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 for Election Day, and as such Trillium Taekwon-Do will not be having class — at least officially. The Rec Center will still be open, so feel free to come down and use the space to train.

Also, remember that Gen. Choi implores all Taekwon-Do students to “build a more peaceful world” in the student oath. One of the easiest ways to work toward that commitment is to vote.