Getting the Most out of Taekwondo-Poomse

Many people who call us seeking Martial Arts instruction for their children tell us their "kids need some discipline."  We listen and calmly explain that our approach is not to discipline them but to hopefully build their sense of self worth by offering challenging, but attainable goals, so that they may come to feel that they are worth the effort it takes to have self discipline.  This is reflected in Master Rosbarsky's unique approach of compassionate leadership.  Consequently we are attempting to equip our student for, and gently urging them along each of their individual paths, to self betterment.

The two hours a week that most of our students spend in Taekwondo class is many times just not enough to fully prepare them to conquer all the challenges they will meet.  For most people we watch their greatest struggle be Poomse.  Poomse ( a set pattern of self defense against imaginary attackers) needs to be performed on a regular basis to be committed to memory.  We have found through personal experience and other's accounts that the decision to be "good" at poomse is the first step along the path.  The method we recommend to integrating poomse is to define a time, of 15 minutes or less each day, (like right before TV time) to dedicate to doing it.

We watch all of our students enjoy the feelings of accomplishment when they carve out time to practice and ask all MTC families to find a time that works so that we may continue to watch our students self confidence grow.  It really can be a very small amount of time but the key is to make it routine and it does not even need to be every day but should be worked out to be done more days than it is not done.

An added benefit of individuals practicing on their own is the higher level of instruction possible in each class.  If the students come to the teacher already knowing the alphabet and having a practiced vocabulary together they may begin to create a rich and meaningful story.

from the desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky

Tournament Planning/Kids Pay for Their Own

Learn how the Booster Club can enable your family to raise funds to offset your own out of pocket expenses for Taekwondo activities and gear.  We call all available parents, competitors and supporters to a General Meeting on Wednesday October 6th from 5:30 to 6:30PM.  This short meeting will cover many important issues regarding fundraising opportunities and tournaments including Nationals.  With the tournament coming up, there will be lots to discuss.

Cookie Dough Sale

All MTC Booster Club families (joining is easy and only $5 per person (max. $15 per family)) may participate in the Cookie Dough Sale to earn money they can use for tournaments, gear, and fun TKD events.  Pick up a cookie dough sheet and sell as much as possible.  Cash prizes awarded for fastest to turn in $$ and form and for top sellers.

Thank you, Doug Ardiana, for putting together this sale.  It is a great start to our fundraising efforts.

Haunted House and Pot Luck Halloween Party

The MTC Halloween Party is BACK!  And this year Halloween falls on Saturday so the party will be super fun and spooky with our haunted house back for the second year in a row.

We are excited to invite all of our students and their families to join our ghouly fun.  Please plan to bring 5 nonperishable food items as your entrance fee (to be donated to the Missoula Food Bank, last year we donated 437 lb.s!).

We will have dishes catered from China Garden and invite all to bring their favorite dish to share, or for those who prefer not to cook we always need drinks, plates, forks and spoons.

Share food beginning at 5 then enjoy the haunted house from 7-8:30.

from the desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky

FUN Tournament for all MTC/STC

ALL MTC/STC students are invited and encouraged to participate.  Parent are also encouraged to be active spectators and partake of the Booster Club Concessions.

This event will be a fun tournament with fully matted rings and electronic scoring held solely for Missoula and Stevensville Taekwondo Center students.  Those who are brand new to Taekwondo and/or tournaments will use this opportunity to learn what great things tournaments have to offer them in a supportive and encouraging environment with familiar supportive faces in a familiar place.  Students who have competed in tournaments before will have this opportunity to ease back into the season with their teammates and get some real time experience to prepare them to have a positive experience in the fast approaching tournament season.  Red and Black Belts have an opportunity to refine their skills in officiating and will in turn have more rewarding experiences in future tournaments. (Red and Black Belts who help for the day may compete for FREE). Parents can utilize this opportunity to learn about all aspects of competition including competition rules, general order of tournament events, use of scoring equipment, how poomse and sparring are scored in competition, and the general nuances of Taekwondo competition.

Tournaments can be fun, rewarding and life enriching events if you go into them with a basic knowledge of what to expect and are surrounded by supportive "family" members.  We want our students to have every reason to participate in upcoming tournaments.  With this FUN tournament our students will find out what they can expect at future tournaments and reap the benefits to be had by joining the greater Taekwondo Community in Montana and the rest of the world.

Sign ups are on the bulletin board or online at missoulatkd.com (soon).  The cost is $25 per person.  Please sign up by Friday September 10th.

from the desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky

Homecoming Parade - We are the World

The 2010 Homecoming Parade is coming up FAST, and we invite all of our TKD families to join us to walk/demonstrate and/or hand out candy.  To join us for this event please sign up at the dojang by September 9th.  This is for everyone-white belt to black belt ages 4 and up.   Parents are also welcome to walk with us and hand out candy.  Practices will be held only for 1/2 hour each on September 21st and 23rd at 7pm.

We will wear new long sleeved MTC shirts for the parade.  Shirts for parade participants will be $15.  Be sure to sign up by September 9th to ensure having your shirt for parade day.

Please call 829-1328 or email amanda@missoulatkd.com with questions.

from the desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky

MTC Championships

The October 16th 7th Annual MTC Championships is the BEST opportunity to experience a state wide invitational Taekwondo Tournament.  It is locally held and hosted by MTC.  The cost to our students is the lowest of any area tournament ($40 for up to 4 events). And our entire TKD school pulls together with a tremendous group effort to make this the smoothest tournament experience there is in Montana.  (In 2009 the MTC Championships was the largest event to date and was completely finished and packed away by 2PM).

To have the greatest benefit from these events we encourage all families to find ways to be involved.  Our event will be most successful with help from our entire TKD Family.  There are many ways to be involved:  food donation, tournament participation, tournament volunteering, fundraising opportunities, spectating and general support. Sign up sheets will be available September 20th.

The FUN Tournament on September 11th will be perfect preparation for this tournament.  We encourage participation in both events and welcome questions and concerns about any related topics.

Last year's event was such a success because so many of the MTC family contributed their time and energy.  We look forward to a great coming together this year as well.

from the desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky

MTC Women and Girls join us for fun at the Diva Day 5k

Missoula Taekwondo Center women will be running/walking as a team for fun and to celebrate our strong beautiful selves on October 2nd. All students of MTC and their family members are invited to join us.  We have registrations at MTC or online at runwildmissoula.com.  You can send in your applications with your $18 fee by September 19th.

Contact Mrs. R if you have questions.

from the desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky