STUDENTS OF THE MONTH!

CONGRATS TO OUR STUDENTS OF THE MONTH!
TAYLOR WIEMER & ELAINE SIR

Full name: Taylor Wiemer

Education Level: 5th grade

Belt Rank: Red first stripe

Q: Describe yourself in 3 words
A: Happy, funny, and playful

Q: Name one thing you wish you knew before joining Tae Kwon Do

A: I wish I knew how to jump rope when I started Tae Kwon Do

Q: Your biggest vice:
A: No major vices yet

Q: Your favorite food:

A: Pizza

Q: How has Tae Kwon Do changed you?

A: It gives me more confidence

Q: What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in Tae Kwon Do?

A: I did the form incorrectly when I was 5 years old.

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: I like sports cars and tae kwon do

Q: What made you want to join Tae Kwon Do?

A: My dad

Q: What are you best at in Tae Kwon Do?

A: Kicking

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A: Black belt in a Lamborghini

Full Name: Elaine Sir

Occupation: Attorney by trade, Fox Music exec.
Belt Rank: Red with white stripe.

Q: Describe yourself in 3 words.
A: Curious, loyal, uninhibited

Q: Name one thing you wish you knew before joining Tae Kwon Do.

A: My body as a teenager and its limitations are different than [this] one. Merits by repetition in adulthood are sloooowed.

Q: Your biggest vice:

A: Hard on myself, perfectionist, obsessive, ambitious

Q: Your favorite food:

A: Korean, Indian, Sushi

Q: How has Tae Kwon Do changed you?

A: It has taught me the significance of setting an example, of being patient and courteous with myself and others, and being receptive to criticism. TKD has (ironically) taught me to slow down.

Q: What is the most embarassing thing that happened to you in Tae Kwon Do?

A: Knocked someone down in sparring before the “START” whistle went off.

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: Music shows, writing, reading, learning drums, soundartla.org

Q: What made you want to join Tae Kwon Do?

A: Every Sat morning during childhood, my sister and I involuntarily attended Korean school. After school, the boys learned taekwondo -- while the little girls were thrusted into an auditorium to learn the Korean Fan dance (and forced to tick tock our lighthearted smiling faces back and forth). Tomboy-hood started at age 2 for me -- so the fan dance wasn't working for me. I ditched the room to watch the boys.

Q: What are you best at in Tae Kwon Do?

A: Commitment. Concentration. (I'm working on precision/accuracy.)

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A: Black belt, showrunner, mom.

Fun Foto of the Week!

Who remembers that old yellow sign we used to have at the old Wilshire location? Here's a photo of our storefront to celebrate the coming 1993, our 21st anniversary at Jun Chong Tae Kwon Do. Hard to imagine the school still there without us in it...but life is change, and change is always good. =)
If you have any good photos that you'd like to submit, email them to me at junchong411[at]gmail.com. Enjoy!

Fun Foto of the Week!

Who is this cute kid?? A very young Jun Chong poses with a bright-eyed Erik Morrissette at the old Wilshire studio. If anyone knows the year this might be, let me know!
If you have any good photos that you'd like to submit, email them to me at junchong411[at]gmail.com. Enjoy!

JCTKD Testing Results for August 2009

Congratulations! Receive your new belt at our Belt Ceremony is this Friday, August 21st at your usual class time.
Stay afterward for our Movie Night at 7:30pm, featuring "5 Fingers of Death!" (1973)

YELLOW
Alexander Munzon-OUTSTANDING
Alicia Richards
Astro Halliday
Benja Simon
Catherine Denton
Cleo Walker
Gregory Forston
Hunter Griswold-OUTSTANDING
Joon Boo
Josh Gelman
Joshua Garcia
Joshua Spivey
Noah Velasco
Peter Moon
Pierce Freebairn
Robby Rey
Sydney Rey
Y-Thien Lam

YELLOW I
Kaleo Golden

PURPLE
David Hazany
Harry Lake-OUTSTANDING
Isaac Abecassis
Isaac Amsterdam
Isabella Slimp-OUTSTANDING
Jaeho Lee-OUTSTANDING
Justine Halliday-OUTSTANDING
Juwon Lee-OUTSTANDING
Lucas Lovegrove-Leak
Shayne Liggins
Shriram Krishnamachari-OUTSTANDING
Steven Aceti
Yaakov Sadeghi-OUTSTANDING

PURPLE I
Ethan Esrawi
Daniel Burns

ORANGE
Jackson Gross
John Alamillo
Leah Korori
Renee Spei Heislop-OUTSTANDING
Shayan Hazany

ORANGE I
Cosima Lovegrove-Leak

BLUE
Afsaneh Safavi-OUTSTANDING
Ariella Ahdout-See Office
Crystal Miles-OUTSTANDING
Joshua Mehrdad
Ryan Nikravesh
Shawn Ahdout
Valentina Maria-OUTSTANDING
Yael Balakhane

BLUE I
Nima Nikravesh-See Office

GREEN I
Alper Ulus
Matthew Jefferson

RED
Kyle Pari-See Office
Noam Firestone-See Office

RED I
Alejandro Urquiza-OUTSTANDING
Bennett North
Cameron Ro
Gwynn Lewis Lawrence
Saeyoung Kim
Samantha Rawlins
Taylor Wiemer-OUTSTANDING

Interview with Instructor Mason Williams

Master Mason Williams is a 4th dan Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido and a Jun Chong black belt since 1985. His natural teaching abilities have come through since he began teaching at the Wilshire location in 1990. Master Williams’ martial arts awards have included 1992 National Collegiate Silver Medalist (Finweight Division), 1993 California State Silver Medalist (Finweight), 1993 National Collegiate Bronze Medalist (Flyweight), 1993 California State Silver Medalist (Flyweight), 1995 N ational Collegiate Forms Silver Medalist, 1995 National Collegiate Bronze Medalist (Flyweight). He was a member of the University of California, Berkeley Taekwondo Team from 1992-1995, and the Team Captain in 1995. He was also the Jun Chong Tae Kwon Do Wilshire Chief Instructor from 1998-2000.

His Background:
Mason Williams began studying at the age of 5 after being introduced to the art by his father, Master Greg Williams. Mason achieved his black belt at the age of 10 and decided that martial arts would be an integral part of his life from then on. He began teaching classes at the age of 15 and in college was a nationally ranked fighter for the University of California, Berkeley Tae Kwon Do team. After graduating, Mason returned and became Chief Instructor at the Wilshire Studio. In 2007, Mason achieved the mastery level of 4th dan and is thankful to be a part of Grandmaster Chong's legacy as he teaches the system that has made him who he is.

His Teaching Philosophy:
Martial arts training is the delicate balance between having a fun, enriching time while being conscious of the discipline, philosophy, and cultural legacy that separates the martial arts from other "sports." Physical training is a gateway to unlocking inner potential and gaining greater understanding of our higher mental and spiritual selves. Immersing oneself in the martial arts heightens the life experience and can improve our lives and those we interact with. Through training we learn form, function, feeling, and freedom. The path to mastery is endless and each step should be cherished.

What to Expect in His Classes:
Master Williams' students can expect a fun, rigorous class where they walk away feeling accomplished each time. Kids classes are taught with a balance of youthful excitement and old-school discipline. Adult classes are taught with the desire to help each student achieve his/her utmost physical and mental potential.

Fun Foto of the Week!

If you were around for this one, you might say that this was one of the most BEAUTIFUL martial arts facilities in the world!!
Our very first Jun Chong Tae Kwon Do Santa Monica school opened in 1992 on Santa Monica Blvd. and Cloverfield. The big earthquake damaged this school pretty hard, and when the lease was up and non-negotiable in 1997, we relocated to our present and fabulous location on Santa Monica and Armacost Ave.
If you have any good photos that you'd like to submit, email them to me at junchong411[at]gmail.com. Enjoy!

Movie Night "5 Fingers of Death"

Prepare yourselves for a blast from the past!
This month's Movie Night showcases one of the first successful martial arts movies in America, "5 Fingers of Death" (1973). One of Master Chong's favorites and an inspirational movie for later stars like Bruce Lee and Quentin Tarantino, this film paved the way for Kung Fu films to mainstream into American cinema.
Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 (after the Belt Ceremony)
Time: 7:30pm Open Seating, Movie starts at 8pm
Food: Free popcorn and soda!
If you wanna eat some delicious Rocco's Pizza, please bring in $5 in advanced!
Seating: Bring blankets and chairs (no pointy legs) to enjoy more comfortable seating on the mat during the movie.

Don't forget to RSVP at the office by calling (323) 658-7570 or emailing us at junchong411[at]gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there!

Interview with Instructor Siaka Harding

Mr. Siaka Harding recently received his 3rd dan black belt in 2008 and has been teaching at Jun Chong Tae Kwon do since 2004.His Background:
Born in Washington DC to parents from Sierra Leone, Mr. Siaka Harding was then able to live in several countries because his father was an Ambassador. He began training in Kenpo Karate where he received his first black belt and became exceptionally good at sparring. He later received another black belt in Tae Kwon Do while living in Colton. When he moved to Los Angeles permanently, he shopped around at several schools before he found Jun Chong Tae Kwon Do. He liked the traditional values, the discipline, and the similar sparring styles. Mr. Harding has now become fully integrated into the Jun Chong Tae Kwon Do system, testing for his 2nd and 3rd dan black belts and even teaching adult group classes, exclusive black belt classes, and private lessons at the school. Mr. Harding has competed in numerous tournaments with many wins including an Amateur World Championship and has represented Jun Chong Tae Kwon Do several times in Men's Team Sparring. When Mr. Harding is not at the studio, he's found pursuing his other passions in acting and producing.
His Teaching Philosophy:
“I love to help students reach their full potential and realize that as they excel, the lessons they learn can be used in training and in life to have complete balance.”

What to Expect in His Classes:
“Students in my class know that I come with an open heart and an open mind to pour out knowledge and care in order to help them develop into great martial artists.”

Interview with Instructor Rila Chartier

Ms. Rila Chartier is a 2nd dan Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido and Jun Chong black belt since 2004. She has been teaching with Master Chong since 2006, working with the Little Tigers and children's classes.Her Background:
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ms. Rila Chartier started Tae Kwon Do in an afterschool program while in elementary school at the age of 5. Once she decided she loved the sport and wanted to take it more seriously, she moved to Jun Chong Tae Kwon Do in Santa Monica and achieved her black belt at 11 and her 2nd dan 2 years later. She has competed in over 8 tournaments including 1 in Korea, and has won many gold medals including representing Jun Chong Tae Kwon Do, Santa Monica in Women’s Team Sparring.

Her Teaching Philosophy:
“My philosophy of teaching is to make people learn as much as possible but while having fun.”

What to Expect in Her Classes:
“Students can expect a fun but firm class in which they will get exercise and information.”

Fun Foto of the Week!

Master Jun Chong poses here with actress Linda Blair ("The Excorcist") while shooting a feature film "Silent Assassins" (1989).
The movie also included actors Sam Jones ("Flash Gordon") and of course, our very own Phillip Rhee and little Joanna Chong (who was only 8 years old!).
If you have any good photos that you'd like to submit, email them to me at junchong411[at]gmail.com. Enjoy!

August Students of the Month

Congratulations to our Students of the Month

SAEYOUNG KIM

&

ALEJANDRO URQUIZA!

FULL NAME: Saeyoung Kim

OCCUPATION OR EDUCATION LEVEL: Advertising (Broadcast Production)

BELT RANK, TRAINING SINCE: Red, July 18, 2007

Q: Describe yourself in 3 words.

A: Goofy, random, and animated

Q: Name on thing you wish you knew before joining Tae Kwon Do.

A: That it requires so much patience for yourself. Also can't be too hard on yourself. Patience is the key.

Q: Your biggest vice:

A: Addicitve personality, my latest addiction, Tae Kwon Do.

Q: Your favorite food:

A: Impossible to pick one. To name a few, sushi, steak, korean, mexican, and thai.

Q: How has Tae Kwon Do changed you?

A: Changed everything, changed my body, my mind, my soul and I really mean it.

Q: What is the most embarassing thing that happened to you in Tae Kwon Do?

A: Besides falling on my a$$ a thousand times, hmm... I consider myself pretty damn tough, but I actually cried when I got kicked in the head and lost balance and was out of it. But I'm a warrior and a true warrior never quits, so I finished the fight.

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: Besides Tae Kwon Do, watching movies and playing cards.

Q: What made you want to join Tae Kwon Do?

A: I've always wanted to and one day I woke up and thought I had to do it before it was too late. (But I realized it's never too late).

Q: What are you best at in Tae Kwon Do?

A: I don't know yet but I can tell you I'm getting pretty good at learning/analyzing/improving myself at all levels, as a person and as a martial artist.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A: Probably have just earned my 2nd degree black belt and in the process of getting myself to start training for my 3rd degree black belt.

FULL NAME: Alejandro Anibal Urquiza
OCCUPATION OR EDUCATION LEVEL: Student
BELT RANK: Red

Q: Describe yourself in 3 words.
A: Smart, Athletic, Friendly

Q: Name on thing you wish you knew before joining Tae Kwon Do.
A: How to play soccer

Q: Your biggest vice:
A: I watch wrestling instead of doing homework.

Q: Your favorite food:
A: Double cheeseburger

Q: How has Tae Kwon Do changed you?
A: Taught me how to defend myself and help me focu

Q: What is the most embarassing thing that happened to you in Tae Kwon Do?
A: When I peed on the mat

Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Playing soccer, xbox, and practicing Tae Kwon Do.

Q: What made you want to join Tae Kwon Do?
A: Because I used to watch "Power Rangers" and loved it.

Q: What are you best at in Tae Kwon Do?
A: Forms, techniques, and sparring

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A: I see myself being a black belt and going to Junior High school.

Fun Foto of the Week!

This week's fun foto is a fairly recent but memorable one. This was our first martial arts field trip to Korea in 2007. We spent about 10 days traveling to different parts of Korea and had a tour group of over 50 people!
We are making plans for our 2010 Korea trip which may include stops to Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Thailand. If you are interested in getting information, please contact us at the email below to be put on the list.

If you have any good photos that you'd like to submit, email them to me at junchong411[at]gmail.com. Enjoy!