The Best TKD Seminar EVER in Hawaii

Mr. Rosbarsky and others attended the Team Progression Event in Hawaii last March and came honme with unmatched TKD knowledge and an experience which will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

This year the Team Progression Event is also in Hawaii on March 14-17 and proves to ba a life changing event for all who attend.

Please attend the January 14th Meeting at 6pm for further information and to express you r interest in this and other events in the coming months.

The cost is around $300 for room, board and the seminar.

From the Desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky

Help Plan for 2009 at the Booster Club Meeting 11/5

November Meeting

The Booster Club had a very successful event running the concessions and button sales at the MTC Championships on October 25th. The monthly meeting on November 5th from 6-7PM will be used in part to decide how the funds should be utilized, to discuss upcoming tournaments including Junior Nationals in Austin Texas, recap the Fall's fundraising and plan the Winter and Spring of 2009.

The Booster Club is open to all MTC Families. Utilizing the Booster Club is easy and individuals can join for $5 per year or $15 for a lifetime. Those who are interested in facets of the Booster Club or are interested in traveling to Hawaii, Las Vegas, Colorado Springs or Austin, TX for TKD event coming up in '09 should attend this meeting.

From the Desk of Mrs. Rosbarsky

We're all back from Hawaii

We're all back from Hawaii safely. Were delayed in SLC, but everyone has everything and we're home. I'm taking a nap! ALOHA! :)

Here is SLC. Everyone's beat.

Here is SLC. Everyone's beat. Love you all, home soon! 7:56 am

Hawaii (Monday)

"Good morning. It's quarter to five Hawaii time, but some gals had to leave to catch their shuttle to go, and I'm awake. It's dark, but even from our little cabin at the base of the mountains, I can hear the ocean, a faint sound like wind in the trees or cars on the highway. The smell of the ocean is in the air, and the sunrise and sunset happens much faster than We're used to, much shorter dawn and dusk, the sun doesn't linger. " Ruth

"It's funny, i should be sleeping, but i'm filled with happiness and thoughts of my Tkd family at home, and I miss my Shadow cat, funny as that sounds. :) I am constantly filled with a sense of awe at the people in our dojang. I've never been in another sport where the TEAM mentality is so strong, and we all work for the betterment of each person. It's everyone's job in the school to help and support and encourage everyone else, and Mr. R IS SUCH A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT TEAM PLAYER! Last nite susi and I talked. Team Montana was always the last team helping do clean-up and tear down after every meal, and Mr. R's out there with us, wiping tables and sweeping the floor. It's maybe a small thing to some, but Lead By Example is a philosophy that this school embraces. Now, if I could only acquire some of Mrs. R's flexibility by association! We love you Amanda!
But seriously, our whole crew has been courteous and helpful, made friends with the staff, and We've all become closer as a result! I mean, perfect example, take Megan. One who may have unwittingly kicked me in the head and changed my life. :) I'm over my fear! She's filled with enthusiasm, kicks faster than I can think and has a great smile! Or Abbey, who I learned plays wicked piano, and is simply an amazing fighter and awesome person. She embraces challenge, willingly helps others, and is the most capable 12-year-old I've EVER MET! And Susi fought almost every match yesterday, including against Simona! I am so proud of her! She said she credits hoodie training for her success, despite the ribbing we took for it. :) LOL! Mark Miller always has a ready smile, is a GREAT sport, and was so thoughtful. He held down KP duty most of the weekend and never complained. In addition, he looks out for others to check in to see how they are doing, TKD and otherwise. Austin James I also got to know better, he is a very calm person, but with resolve and fortitude. Austin is also a great fighter, and has an ease about him that is a contrast to the frenetic energy to some of his team.:) I'm so glad to get to know both him and Megan better. Viet, I knew could pay the guitar, but last nite I discovered He's not only a musician, but a singer/songwriter as well! Around the campfire he played a song he wrote for me, he is always ready to laugh, or even better, to send me into a total laugh attack by showing me his mouthful of food. Seafood anyone? Ryan, the white belt superstar, gets props on several counts. Not only did he quit smoking and is determined to sick with it, but he fought black belt national and international competitors with a smile. He was also my partner, and gave me a killer trophy bruise. I'm glad he was here, the most fun I had was going a few sudden death rounds with him. And that I survived sparring Megan. LOL! ...And Mr. R is the best coach I could ever hope for. He knows when to be strict and when to be gentle, he is an incredible mentor, and CARES about every member of his team and his school. You know if you miss a practice, he NOTICES because he cares.
This has been a life-changing event for me to come here. I had my "epiphany" on the beach yesterday. I just want to say how much I love my TKD family, both the team here and everone else at home, especially my dear friend Kim. You never know what tomorrow may bring, so it's imperative that I live EVERYday being the best ME that I can be, and my TKD family supports that growth and progress. Every person is committed to the betterment of everyone else. That's very special. It may sound cliche or trite, but true." Ruth

It's now quarter to six, I've spent an hour texting out my thought in the dark, but it was important. I ended up talking to Omar yesterday, who won the US Open, Mr. R told me. And Omar asked me how I got into TKD. I told him my brother started ten minutes before I did, and the I wanted to join too. Mr Randy Quam was our instructor. I've had gaps in my training, but now I'm determined that martial arts will be a part of my life for the rest of my life. It's not the destination, It's the journey, as Mr. R says. It's about being the best that I can be mentally, physically, and spiritually thru my practice, living "The Way'. I called both my parents to thank them yesterday. I would not be here without them. Hawaii or this planet. I want them to know I live and appreciate them supporting my dreams and helping me fulfill my goals. The only way to go from here is up. All my best from Oahu!" Ruth


"Eating lunch after being on the WAIKIKI Beach. We're at the Tiki grill. It's HOT today. A St. Patrick's Day parade with bagpipes and Irish dancers came by. Happy 4Leaf Clover Day! Non of us want to leave. Ok, well it will be good to be home too. I have learned that hiviscus is a tree as well as a bush, which I didn't know! I'm having a cheeseburger and a VIRGIN strawberry daquiri. Susi and Abbey had virgin lava flows, like a pina colada with strawberries. US GIRLS NEEDED FRUITY DRINKS!:). Leave beach by 4 to gather all our bags and be at the airport early. That will be good!" Ruth

"We're heading to Oahu TKD center now to pick up all our bags, then get dropped at the airport. I spent way too much on memorabilia. I like that word better than souvenirs. :)" Ruth 8:54pm MST

"We are having such a great time. I have learned a lot about the things I am strong with and the things I need to improve on. I have come up with a phrase that helps me to remember to try things even though I might fail. The phrase is 'Bring it On' Whenever I have self-doubt, I think....Bring it on. One example on the physical side is my fear of sparring. To get over that I asked Simona to spar. A mental example is the up coming black belt test. It's the journey not the end point I should be focusing on........Bring It!" Susi

In Hawaii (Sunday)

"Good morning. Last night we had an open sparring tournament which was amazing! Everyone learned something new and many bumps and bruises. All in all. . .great time" Viet Le

"Having lots of fun, love the mountains. Yesterday's free fight was great, things going great and I'm feeling good." Marcus Maximus

"Blog number two from Austin...Yesterday was so fun but was by far the longest day of my life. For breakfast we got a random mix of pears, rice, eggs and hawaii's version of sausage. Which all of the foods should be pretty fun when we have conditioning in a half hour. ha. It's been so much fun so far and I will check back in later. Bye" Austin James


"Good morning! We had the STRANGEST breakfast: pears, eggs, white rice, and sausage. Very odd. Last night a wild sow and her 3 piglets apparently cruised thru camp. This morning it sounded like awakening in an aviary, the birds were so loud, but beautiful. There's a bird called a quarter to six bird that sounds just like an alarm clock. Everyone was gettin mad but it was a bird! Ha ha!" Ruth

"Well, right now we are eating breakfast, but last night we did open sparring. I fought up into group three. I fought one girl who every time she fell down, I would kick her in the head. I felt really bad, but I also did better. I think I gained a lot from last night." Abbey

"This morning's agenda, we'll do strength training, then we'll have seminar 3. Then match fighting again today. Viet has a hand injury, Megan's got a bum thumb, and others of us have various bumps and "kickies" Lol!" Ruth


Ryan talking to the coach.


"It's another breezy, but beautiful afternoon in Oahu. Susi and Abz are finishing their seminar, I'm at the beach doing my homework for Simona's women's seminar this afternoon. We have a soccer match set up between Team Montana and the staff at 5:30, team picture at 6 tonight and We'll do our group photo on the beach. There will be a bonfire beach party. :) It's amazing to know that we're like 5000 miles away from Montana right now, and I talked to my best friend and my Mom. :) we can't believe It's almost over, everyone said they fought better today than yesterday. A few bangups on the team, but no serious accidents. :) I am grateful for this chance, for Mr. R's tireless coaching and support, and to my team all here with me. I only wish that EVERYONE could've been here. A special thanks to the parents, family and donors who made this possible, and to Kim for putting our blog up- my friends have been checking it, and Mom leaves it open all day. :)" Ruth








"Seminar for women with Simona. What a great talk, She's all about the future of female athletes. Nutrition, positive self-talk, hydration, goal setting. And she signed my card of hers!" Ruth












"Playing soccer with the YMCA staff before dinner. Took beach pix of the whole crew--Susi and I bought Oahu TKD tshirts. :) Almost time for dinner:)" Ruth

"Abbey and I got to spar Simona!" Susi

"Ok, I rolled my ankle playing soccer, but the scope was close, dispute over score, some say 3 to 4. Some say the goal was good. Ha ha! All went to dinner, BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, baked beans, rolls and coconut squares. then cleanup and to the beach bonfire for S'mores. Yay! I'm wearing my new dress. :)" Ruth

To view a slideshow of pictures sent so far CLICK HERE.


To choose a picture to view CLICK HERE.

In Hawaii (Saturday)

"It's after breakfast. We all have a little free time. Abz and I ran the beach this morning watchin' all the crabs scuttle sideways into the surf. It was the guys' idea to go, but only Abbey and me and 2 gals from Texas ended up going. About a mile round trip. We've probably guilt tripped them into going tomorrow." Ruth

"All of sat together for dinner last night, ravioli and garlic bread, green beans, brownies. We played a wild game of soccer that afternoon, but it was more like paddle ball, cuz we kept chasing the ball from going out of bounds. I can't tell you how gorgeous it is here, we don't miss the snow. Most are sunburnt already. :) It's after breakfast." Ruth




The first session with Abbey and Susi was good, dynamic warmup, a lot like what we do, inchworms and high knees. Scott Fuji and Simona ran a lot of that one. Then time for our session. Everyone but those two is in the other group. We did ankle pops, which is like popping off the ground with force. We did a little kicking. I was very fortunate to get help from Simona. Everyone is very nice--she asked me to stop calling her ma'am. I told her I couldn't help it. :)" Ruth


"I got to play piano after dinner, Abz can rock too, she played some tunes that Mark and Megan could jitterbug to. :) then the crew walked the beach to look at the stars, but a whole crew of kids and their chaperones were out with lanterns looking for crabs. The sound of the ocean and the feeling of the sand under my feet is something I don't know if I could ever get enough of! It's amazing to be here, and personally, with this group of people. We're learning and getting a great opportunity to grow as martial artists! Plus, IT'S HAWAII!! Anyone who complains is crazy!" Ruth


"We played cards in the guys' cabin, It's awesome, all the 5 guys are in one, all 4 girls in another. Only Mr. R. is housed with the coaches. I did have to extinguish the life of a HUGE millipede, or centipede, I'm not sure which. Ugh! It had to go to its new reincarnation. It's seriously 4 inches long. Viet had a gecko on his arm at breakfast. He said it tried to sell him insurance, so he put it outside." Ruth





Everyone said We'd have a hard time adapting to the time change, but here it's easy. There's so much to do and see! :) The wild boar in our cabin was an unexpected twist, but he didn't hurt anything. I'm so grateful to have this opportunity. I met Omar this morning, who Mr. R told me, won the US Open this year. He's from California. And we met Louis in our shuttle ride. So I'm surrounded by greatness, not only in my own team, but also in the coaches and instructors here. If I rub them enough will some of it transfer over to me? Hee hee! We have options this afternoon for archery and rock climbing. I'm heading over now to watch Susi and Abbey go session #2, :)" Ruth





"Abz and Susi doing their first scenario sparring drills where they set up mock situations to see how you respond. Looks hard, but good." Ruth

"Susi in her gear. They set a scenario, you have a scoreboard that they set with an imaginary score, now you figure out strategy." Ruth


"I officially have made it through two days of Hawaii weather without becoming a tomato from the sun. The food here is some of the best crap camp food I have had and the lunch guy made Mark and Ryan our slaves to go get food for us and make us salads which is pretty cool, because I was not the one picked to be the slave. We have only had one training session so far and it was a light training before dinner which was awesome because I was able to get all the junk out of my legs from sitting so much that day and on the plane the day before. Another cool thing about the training was Mr R kicked out and his training partner was Luis Reyes who is the National Team member for fin weight..you could see the best out there demonstrate the drill." Austin James

"Everything is great here. Here is a little of our Abbey sparring." Mr. Rosbarsky

"First practice done, feel really good about sparring. Love the view, soaking up the sun and having a blast." Marcus Maximus

"Lunch of meatball pubs, fresh tropical fruit, green salad, and potato salad. then to situational sparring, the women's seminar, and open match sparring 2nite at 8." Ruth



"A view RIGHT from camp. The scenery is awesome, the breeze is fabulous! The flowers are everywhere." Ruth





"A little pool time, then beach time after the scenario sparring. Everyone thinks they fought better! The coaches are super nice and it was helpful to go thru scenarios where they set it up, like the other person is up 2 to 0, you've got 30 seconds to make up the points, or sudden death overtime. So that was good! Very skilled athletes here, FAST!" Ruth

"Ok, for the rest of us, we finished our 2nd seminar. A lot about timing and kicking on the motion and kick on the close. Also discussed long kicks and strategy. We're heading for a little lunch now. It's 12:30 Hawaii time." Ruth


"I miss u! Learning tons. I will have some great stuff to improve on for the black belt test." Susi

To see a slideshow of pictures sent so far CLICK HERE

In Hawaii (Friday)

"Good morning. It's 6:30am here and everyone's asleep still. I am awake tho. Catching up my journal with yesterday's activities. Today we go to Camp Erdman. We'll be there early so we have time to explore the area and beach there. :) Megan and Ryan made it safely on their later flights, all are here now." Ruth

"Funny story, last night ...Steve, Abbey and I were still hungry so we went to the hotel restaurant, Willoughby's. I ordered a fruit and sorbet dish, and since I'm scapbooking the trip, I took a pic of my dinner. Fresh fruit in Hawaii. Well, the joke got started that I was going to save dried pineapple and I got a laugh attack in the restaurant. We're still laughing hysterically as we load into the elevator, and then Susi tries to put the credit card in the elevator, and we LOSE IT! This poor man was Terrified to get into the elevator with us. Ha ha! then we go and meet Megan the first time all red-faced and laughing ha ha! I'm like, 'Susi, It's not a PAY elevator' and eventually the guy gets in. It all worked out well." Ruth








Hawaii's state flower









"We're heading across the island today, going TO THE CAMP. I think everyone's feeling a little jet lag today. We're all Not quite as chipper. Lol!" Ruth




Susi and Ruth on the beach at the Taekwondo Training Center


Susi and Abbey at the Seminar


See slideshow of all Hawaii pictures sent so far....... CLICK HERE

In Hawaii (Thursday)

"I'm officially in Oahu! It's 80 degrees and windy, the palm trees are waving! :)" Ruth








"My first view of Hawaii" Ruth





"Hawaii is officially HUMID! It's gorgeous, 3pm here, We're too hot in jeans! :) most everyone is calling, texting family, etc. Flowers, palm trees, happy dances! Luggage claimed, We're on our way to hotel in our shuttle van."
"First order of business, get our rooms, at the hotel Ohana Honolulu hotel. second order of business, find a BEACH! ha ha!:) palm trees everywhere, flowers, birds. Some of us were disappointed, no one got leied when we got here. LoL! :) we will get better pictures to send once we get settled. 4pm now. It's very green. :) We're all jacked up again, most of us napped on the plane. :)" Ruth



"Exciting to say the least! Play tonight, work through the weekend. It's going to be great!" Master Bartholomew


"Ok. On our way to the beach. 5pm. Susi and Ruth learn to make the elevator go...you have to use you keycard. Ha Ha! But We're on the bus, the sun is warm. There's a lady IN A SWEATSUIT! can't believe it! Sunny, but the mountains are wreathed in clouds, the water is so so so blue! There's skyscrapers, flowering trees and shrubs everywhere!" Ruth






"Hawaii baby!" Mr. V. Le









"Ate at Zippy's for dinner. Susi and some of the more adventurous had surf pak and Korean chicken, Ruth stuck with plain hamburger, thanks. Gorgeous sunset on waikiki beach, we all went swimming. Oceans are very salty, lol! Combed the beach for shells, only pebbles. PEBBLE! Then ride the bus around forever, we were on the wrong one. Now it's 8:30." Ruth

"Honolulu is on of the most gorgeous cities I've ever been to." Marcus Maximus

The Trip to Hawaii

7:21am "Booya! We're on the plane and heading out. :)" Ruth





Marcus Maximus and Susi on the plane.






8:53am "We're in overcast Salt Lake. It's dreary here, will make Hawaii even better!" Ruth








 
"Breakfast Layover in SL" Susi



11:11am "We're all sitting and waiting in SLC for our plane. The earlier excitement has faded slightly after food and waiting, lots of IPods out, Mark and I are reading, Susi went for a walk." Ruth

12:19pm "Happy 3", "Leaving SLC! I have THE BEST seatmates EVER!" Ruth

Sparrers headed for Hawaii today

We will see if their Hula improves after the Hawaii trip.

The competitors have been putting on layers to get used to more heat. Susi and Ruth sporting their hoodies.

If there is reception where they are staying, we may expect some blogs from Hawaii.