Fun Foto of the Week

Demo team members Alex Garcia, Joe Zarif, Yong Chong, and Alex Aguinada as they celebrate their 1st place Demo Team victory at the Chul Jin Martial Arts US Open Championship, Feb. 2010.

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

April Testing Results Are Up!

Congratulations to the students who tested last week! The Belt Ceremony is this Friday 4/23 during your usual class time.
(If you cannot attend the Belt Ceremony, you'll receive your belt the next time you come to class).

YELLOW

Alex Tsankov

Ari Alva

David Rubin

Evan Aizenman

Farhad Shafa

Greg Campbell

Jason Merhdad

Michael Damico

Michael Rubin

Olivia Jeong – OUTSTANDING

Presley Sacavitch

Stella Seid

Yaniv Levey – OUTSTANDING

YELLOW STRIPE

Cameron Khosravi

Ezra Frain

Gyula Kangiszer

Hendrik Koster

Lucas Hron

Swapnil Dash - OUTSTANDING

PURPLE

Chacta Brice – OUTSTANDING

Jacob Accardo – OUTSTANDING

James Lee

Sam Varzandeh – OUTSTANDING

PURPLE STRIPE

Aidan Lee

Benjamin Simon

Cameron Cooper

Ethan Kim

Henry Kraft

Hunter Griswold

ORANGE

Advik Paharia

Alex Munzon – OUTSTANDING

Catherine Denton

Josh Gelman – OUTSTANDING

Oshea Chilton

Peter Choi
Peter Moon – OUTSTANDING

Y-Thien Lam – OUTSTANDING

Yuval Meron

ORANGE STRIPE

Daniel Burns

Ethan Esrawi

Isabella Slimp

Maya Lee – OUTSTANDING

BLUE

Djimon Regis – OUTSTANDING

Isabella Samuel

Max Levotman – OUTSTANDING

Shriram Krishnamachari

BLUE WHITE STRIPE

Aerryelle Parker

Bruce Olsen

Jadon Gilliard

Joshua Garcia

Nazeer Qureshi – OUTSTANDING

Rocio Rincon

GREEN

Ariella Adhout – See Office

Harry Lake

Oliver Seid - OUTSTANDING

Renee Spei – OUTSTANDING

Shawn Adhout

Valentina Maria

GREEN WHITE STRIPE

Bryce McMullin – See Office

GREEN DOUBLE STRIPE

Benjamin Schlange – OUTSTANDING

Nicky Grib – See Office

RED WHITE STRIPE

Eli Lawrence

Rebecca Masliah

RED BLACK STRIPE

Elaine Sir – OUTSTANDING

Gwynn Lawrence

Stephan Kim

Fun Foto of the Week

It's a close one, but I think our yellow belt Y-Thien Lam is going to win this judo sweep contest against Master Jun Chong!

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

Nickelodeon Casting For TV Show!

Nikelodeon is casting for: "Supah Ninjas"
A new TV pilot for a kid's network.

We are looking to cast an Asian Boy between 14-15 y/o who has martial arts experience. Acting or comedy experience a plus.

Auditions are being held now until the end of April.

If you or someone you know fits this description, contact us at London/Stroud Casting at (818) 567-6190 ext. 124. Ask for Shaunda or Lily.

For more info about the show, click here.

Fun Foto of the Week!

Students, parents, and fans wait in line for the Kogi truck during our first Jun Chong TKD Open House event in September 2009. YumYum!!

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

Support a Black Belt's 52-day Bike Ride!

Black belt Carolyn Oros is doing what many of us would never even imagine possible: Riding a bike across the US in 52 days to raise money for MS!!!

On June 5th Carolyn will be riding 3,847 miles from San Francisco to New Hampshire. She has been training for about 10 months and needs to raise $4000 towards a cure for MS. Please help her cause by donating any amount you can. Everything is tax-deductible and much appreciated.

For more information or to donate, please visit her website. You can also follow her blog by clicking here.
Her flyer is below.

Fun Foto of the Week

It's those 2 Brazilian brothers, and they're back playing bad boys in an upcoming film!
Congratulations to red belts Ramiro and Mateus Pare as they continue on their path to Stardom!! Ask them when the movie will be coming out!
If you have any good photos that you'd like to submit, email them to me at junchong411[at]gmail.com. Enjoy!

Students of the Month!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR APRIL STUDENTS OF THE MONTH,
ALEXANDER MUNZON & AFSANEH SAFAVI!

Full Name: Afsaneh Safavi
Occupation: Actor/writer/BA in Broadcast and Electronic Communications
Belt Rank, Training since: Green, Training since September 2008

Q. Describe yourself in 3 words:
A. Loyal till death!!!

Q. Name one thing you wish you knew before joining Tae Kwon Do:
A. Wish I would have known to start much sooner in my life!

Q. Your biggest vice:
A. Acting on STAGE.

Q. Your favorite food:
A. Kabob and rice

Q. How has TKD changed you?
A. It has made my blurry visions more clear. So, Focus.

Q. What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in TKD?
A. Got angry at a fellow classmate and struck her in the back of her head when she wasn't looking. It's very embarrassing to see that kind of weakness in yourself.

Q. What are your hobbies?
A. Photography, Dancing, singing.

Q. What made you want to join TKD?
A. I needed to regain focus.

Q. What are you best at in TKD?
A. Not sure yet, It takes a lifetime to know.

Q. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A. Studying with Grand Master Chong! What else...

Name: Alexander Munzon
Educational Level: Kindergarten
Belt Rank, Training since: Purple Stripe/May 2009

Q. Describe yourself in 3 words:
A. Outgoing, friendly, hardworker.

Q. Name one thing you wish you knew before joining TKD:
A. How to tie my belt

Q. Your biggest vice:
A. Video games, Modern Warfare!

Q. Your favorite food:
A. BBQ sticks with vinegar.

Q. How has TKD changed you?
A. I am now stronger and a lot more focused. I can also protect myself from bullies at school.

Q. What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in TKD?
A. When being told to do push ups!

Q. What are your hobbies?
A. Drawing and swim.

Q. What made you want to join Tae Kwon Do?
A. My moms a third degree Tae Kwon Do black belt. (& I want to be like her!)

Q. What are you best at in Tae Kwon Do?
A. Forms and breaking boards.

Q. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A. A black belt and part of the demo team.

Testimonial from Black Belt Mason Williams

Testimonial of Martial Arts Mastery

by Mason Williams, 4th dan black belt

Through the study of martial arts and dedication to practice, we are given the opportunity to learn, develop, strengthen, hone, and eventually master ourselves. This begins purely on the physical level and it requires years of diligent practice before we can begin to transfer these same processes to our mental approach. Similarly, it takes time to transfer the mental approach to our spiritual outlook and philosophy. No matter which stage we find ourselves, the approach remains constant. Consistency and intent are required to reap the benefits that the martial arts offer. The longer a student remains dedicated to training, the more benefits they are exposed to.

Learning martial arts, or any endeavor we truly dedicate ourselves to, occurs on four levels. The four levels are Form, Function, Feeling, and Freedom. Form means we learn how to do things. At the Function stage martial artists begin to absorb the reasons why techniques are performed and the connections between them. Feeling means eliminating thought from the art. No longer does the artist concern himself/herself with how and why. The final stage of learning is Freedom. Freedom exists when Form, Function, and Feeling meld together and the artist personifies the spirit of the Do. Knowing ones' standing in relation to the levels is paramount and we all have the ability to proceed through them all.