TKD Opportunities Sprouting Up this Spring

Coming to class is a tremendous way to tap into the world of Taekwondo and how it can enhance your own varied abilities. To open the floodgates of your own potential Taekwondo offers much more. 

Attending activities that expose you to new teachers, new classmates, new challenges and new information will help you grow as a martial artist and person.  Consider doing just one of the following to enhance your life experience and become something greater than you were before 2013.

Tournament opportunities for all students: 

• February 2nd MTC Fun Tournament, 
• February 9th Zootown Kickdown hosted by MT TKD Academy, 
• April 13 Great Falls Tournament hosted by GM Scott Miranti,    
• April 20th Dae Myung Tournament in Butte
• May 4th Livingston Tournament hosted by GM Dan Williams.

Some other tournaments for passionate pursuers are the US Open in Las Vegas February 18-24th, the MT State USAT National Qualifier and MT Collegiate Fight Off on March 23rd in Bonner, National Collegiates in Colorado on April 13th, and USAT Nationals in Chicago July 3-9.

It is not just tournaments that can expand your martial arts experience. Growth may be spurred by something as simple as picking up an extra class during the week or even just once a month. Every person in a class changes and enhances the dynamic. Even when learning from the same instructor, with different students, he or she may approach a lesson from a slightly or completely new angle which may reach right to the heart of your understanding.

We highly encourage attendance at the seminar being given by Grandmaster Park in Butte (for all belts)on Friday March 1st and/or the Judo winter camp at Clark Canyon Bible Camp also instructed by Grandmaster Park (for blue belts and above) on March 2nd and 3rd. A seminar with Grandmaster Park is a rare occurrence in Montana and should be treated like it may never happen again.

from the desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky

Why do we Do?

When our Grandmaster speaks he constantly reinforces that martial arts are for life. That we may be kicking, punching, blocking, rolling, throwing, sweeping, holding and pulling, but what we are really doing is enhancing our own lives and the lives of everyone we know.

We are utilizing the knowledge we gain to enhance our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual selves. We are developing our physical bodies to use in and outside of the dojang. We are building relationships that will help us uncover our own true hearts and that will support us through the highs and lows of training and life.

Simply, our daily training goal should be to do Taekwondo tomorrow as well as today. Listen to and respect what your body tells you and internalize the entwined lessons of humility, perseverance, modesty and self control.

Broadly, our training goal should be to do Taekwondo for our whole life. Not just until we die, but also to become a better human being every step of the way. To contribute in a positive way to all our rolls in life.

Tae Kwon Do, the way of kicking and punching, is primarily about the way.  Grandmaster Park also defines it as “the Life Road”.

Through your entire journey stay mindful of the fact that whether you are in a period of incremental growth or are leaping forward along your path, you are still making progress along your life road.

Taking on Thomas Edison’s way of thinking, you can see where what you learn in Taekwondo can take you. He said, when asked about all of his attempts at inventing the light bulb, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that it won't work.”  Let your failures and your successes be woven into the fabric of you. Celebrate and own every stitch of your existence. Develop your “Do” through a lifetime practice of Tae Kwon Do.

from the desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky

We are Dae Myung

Dae-Myung or the International Dae-Myung Moo Do Federation (IDMF), is the name given to the organization headed by our Grandmaster Jae Ho Park.  Although Grandmaster Park only makes it to Montana twice a year, he is ever present in all f our Taekwondo journeys.  We reflect on his picture at the start and finish of every class at MTC and he is martial arts and life mentor to Master Rosbarsky, making his influence apparent in every teaching at Missoula Taekwondo Center.

To myself and Master Rosbarsky, being Dae-Myng is a privilege.  It is a privilege to be a student of Grandmaster Park, as he is a thoughtful martial artist and the most humble student of life who still considers himself, at 9th Dan Black Belt, to have more to learn.  Having asked to not be promoted to 10th Dan (the highest possible promotion) as that would imply that he no longer had anything to learn.  Requesting instead to be promoted to 10th Dan when he dies.

With the passing of the former IDMF president, Grandmaster Karlo Fugiwara, a restructuring of the organization has led us to be a more defined group.  There is now a process to become an individual member.  When testing for yellow belt all Missoula Taekwondo Center students will become Dae-Myung members.  There is an application to be filled out and a $15 fee for individuals and $25 fee for families of 2 or more.

Membership renewal will happen at every full colored belt (yellow, green, blue and red).  Sr. Red belt and Black Belt.

We ask that all students who are currently yellow belt and above fill out and return the application to MTC with a check payable to IDMF by July 16th.  If you have already paid the fee please fill out the application and return it also by the 16th.

We are excited to give our students the opportunity to be a part of this great lineage and partake in the greater IDMF community.

August Camps

Ninja Camp

The much anticipated Ninja Camp is nearly upon us.  We will be accepting a few more campers.  The first ever Ninja Camp is August 9-13 (Tuesday to Saturday), 9:30AM to Noon for 8 year olds and up.  This camp will be a melding of Taekwondo and Parkour and will culminate with a performance for parents on Saturday.  Sign ups are at the Dojang on the bulletin board. Registration Form.

Dae Myung Camp with Grand Master Jae Ho Park

A very rare opportunity to train with Grand Master Park and his son Edison Park are coming up August 26-28. 

 Grand Master Martin of Butte has coordinated an International Dae Myung Moodoo Federation Camp at Clark Canyon Bible Camp near Dillon, Montana.  The schools attending are IDMF schools from around Montana (MTC included), New York, California and possibly Rome, Italy. 

We will receive instruction in Taekwondo, Judo and Hapkido.  Aside from the instruction in techniques participants will come home with tremendous exposure to the Philosophies of the Martial Arts we hold so dear. Grand Master Park, Master Edison and Grand Master Martin are great men and gifted teachers who have much to offer us in the way of knowledge and humanity.

This camp is open to ALL Belts and ages!  We can not stress enough what a life changing opportunity this is and how seizing this moment is tremendously important.

The cost of camp is $130 which includes meals, lodging and instruction without instruction the cost is $95.  This means families can attend.  All campers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Please contact Mrs. R for questions about these camps and forms are available at missoulatkd.com.

 From the desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky

Grand Master Karlo Fujiwara Passes

On June 17th one of our Grand Masters, Karlo Fujiwara, died after suffering a massive stroke. 
Grand Master Fujiwara was a resident of Billings for most of his life and made a significant impact on thousands of Montanans   through his martial arts teaching and impacted thousands more in the world community just through his presence on this earth as a loving teacher. 
The funeral services were brimming with family, friends, community members and most notably his martial arts family.  As his son spoke at the funeral, we, his martial arts family were all asked to stand and bow to Grand Master Fujiwara.  It was with a swelling heart and sad eyes that we observed from the back row a huge portion, over half, of the congregation stand and for the last time, bow to this great man.  Among the many respected and influential martial artists at the funeral was our Grand Master Jae Ho Park.  His presence there was felt by all as he formally bowed to GM Fujiwara upon finishing his comments at the funeral.  This gesture was so simple yet so powerful, it speaks to the fact that one does not need to perform monumental acts to show a great deal of respect.
Master Rosbarsky’s martial arts path has been observed by GM Fujiwara from the beginning.  He was a consistently loving and gentle man who constantly, not just on the mat, exemplified the tenets and philosophies of Taekwondo: modesty, perseverance, self control, indomitable spirit, etiquette, respect, humility and patience.
In the last few years we had the incredible good fortune to increase our closeness with GM Fujiwara.  On March 12, 2010 I sat with Grandmasters Fujiwara and Park and listened to them divulge, at great length, some of what made them the incredible men they are.   GM Fujiwara said something that has great pertinence today, “Don’t begrudge the storms of today, embrace them for what you can learn from them and offer help to others in the future.” 
In this time of grieving, let us remember that because of today we will have the knowledge and depth to help others somewhere in our future.

From the Desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky