We wish you and your family a very happy and healthy 4th of July!  Since school is out for the summer, let's remind our kids that Independence Day is more than a chance for family and friends to gather for barbecues and fireworks displays, it is an annual celebration to commemorate the courage and faith of our founding fathers in their pursuit of liberty.  Let's remind ourselves that there are still courageous men an women serving in our stead who continue to fight for our freedom...

...freedom...it was once explained to me that freedom is not the right to do what ever you want but rather it is the want to do what is right.  In Chinese, freedom is written 自由(ziyou). 自(zi) is the character for self, and 由(you) is the character to follow, with an additional connotation of reason. Freedom thus implies a necessary connection between individualism and a rational duty.

(and on a lighter note)

...freedom...like our inalienable right to have a hot dog eating contest, like the world's most famous one sponsored every year since 1916 by Nathan's Famous in Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY.  It was supposedly started as a way to settle a dispute among four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic.  Don't forget to eat the buns if you want to win!  Last year two-time defending champion Joey Chestnut prevailed by setting a new record of 68 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes!  What will you do with your freedom this year?

Be sure to practice your ooooh's and aaaaah's for the fireworks display at the lake, or where ever you choose to watch one!  In 2009, New York City had the largest fireworks display in the country, with over 22 tons of pyrotechnics exploded.


PS...Just quietly nod in agreement when SBN claims that the celebration is just for him.  He still believes that the fireworks spell out "Happy Birthday Larry" during the finale like his parents claimed they did when he was a kid.

This month we'll discuss one of the 8 Key Concepts of Tang Soo Do: Shin 신 Chook 적 (Expand/Contract or Relax/Tense).  Shin Chook is perhaps the most frequently discussed concept when we examine the efficiency of our techniques.  This concept has stronger Neh Gung (internal energy) and Weh Gung (external energy) tendencies than its Shim Gung (spiritual energy) counterparts; thus it's application is a bit easier to demonstrate and discuss.

The third line of the Song of the Sip Sam Seh (13 influences) states: "Pay attention to the slightest change from full to empty."  The balance and transfer of energy when moving is controlled by paying attention to changes in tension and relaxation.  In science this would be described as the change from potential to kinetic energy.

The opposing feelings of tension and relaxation can also be explained as 'contraction and expansion', 'open and closed' or 'full and empty'. Regardless of how we choose to explain this theory, we can support it with a variety of examples. Imagine a cat's stance before it gets ready to pounce. Contraction to expansion becomes the energy that the cat uses to lunge forward. Think of a time that you shot a rubber band. Expansion to contraction becomes the energy that propells the band through the air. This same relationship is evident in our Tang Soo Do techniques when we focus on how our hur-ri (hip) and dan-jun (center) are used.

Study the movement you were taught to perform a low block. You collapse your arms about your body (frame) and turn your hip in. As you move forward your arms separate and your hip moves out. This is an example of contraction to expansion. Think now of your movement during a center punch. One arm extends as you aim in preparation, chambering the other arm to the side, all while pulling the hip back.  As you move forward your arms exchange position as your hip snaps forward. This is an example of expansion to contraction.  What is your breathing like during these motions. The dan-jun (center of your abdomen) changes from full to empty, epecially as you ki-hap. Note that this change from full to empty aids in contracting the muscles of your body on impact or completion of the technique.

The important thing to remember is that being conscientious of Shin Chook helps us create power. The more proficient we are at defining relaxation and tension in our movements, the more effective we become in our execution of those techniques. If you try to move with tight muscles to be more powerful it actually works against you. It was once explained to me like this: when it rains, a drop of water falling through the air represents relaxation and the moment it impacts a surface represents tension. When thinking of it this way you can imagine that there is much more relaxation then tension to move gracefully through space. This is not altogether simple to implement, but don't be discouraged;  the more mindful you are about your practice of tension and relaxation, the quicker you will be able to train your body to demonstrate the concepts accordingly.

Now that you are familiar with the physical (internal and external) applications of shin chook you should challenge yourself to discover ways that you can (or already do) apply the principle to the spirit of your training and life outside of the dojang.

A Note on the 8 Key Concepts:
The late Kwang Jang Nim Hwang Kee stated that the focus of our training is not the physical technique, but rather mental development, and that the Eight Key Concepts develop the total person.  Integration of these concepts into personal life allows the individual to become more than an athlete. The benefits of utilizing these concepts and the ultimate purpose of training in Tang Soo Do is a rejuvenation and expansion of our lives.

“If a diamond is not polished it will be unable to show the great luster of the diamond itself. Even though we say the martial arts are good, we cannot show the great value of the art if we do not practice it with effort.” - Kwang Jang Nim Hwang Kee

Jillian Michaels talks tough with the people who appear on her shows, The Biggest Loser and Losing it with Jillian, but perhaps that’s because the 36 year old fitness guru once went through similar struggles with weight. She's featured in the new issue of Redbook baring her belly on the cover and some of her childhood secrets in a revealing interview. 

In the interview she admits that she struggled with weight at a young age. She says that by the age of 12, she weighed upwards of 175 lbs. “Oh, my God, it was pure hell,” she recalls. “I spent all of eighth grade in my classroom because God forbid I ever left. I was terrorized. And karate saved my life. It all stopped the day I broke two boards with a kick.”

Weight problems weren’t the only thing that plagued the reality TV trainer/life coach, as she admits she also suffered from nightmares as a child, so much so that she needed therapy.  Now, as an adult, Michaels admits she wishes that her contestants and viewers were a little less intimidated by her, and claims that the biggest misconception about her is “that I’m a mean. I really don’t have a mean bone in my body!” (To read the full article online follow this link)

A Recipe for Confidence
Confidence or lack of effects everything in our life, our social network, friends, family, school work are all effected by our level of confidence. Bullies and criminals unanimously target people whom lack confidence which is demonstrated by poor posture, eye focus and weakness in speech.

Polls and research shows that victims of bullying typically have poor eye contact when speaking. This is almost always followed by bad posture and weak speech patterns.

So our recipe for confidence is demonstrating our inner strength through our eyes (Shi Sun) voice (Ki Hap) and posture (Ja she). Adopting this practice in EVERYTHING you do be it martial arts techniques, shaking hands, or walking in a parking lot will dramatically decrease your chances of attracting bullies and criminals. Not only that it will INCREASE the positive way people view and feel about you.
 
Here are some simple ways to put the Confidence recipe into practice:

• Look people in the eye when you talk to them or are listening to them.
• Practice keeping a straight posture throughout your day (sitting and standing)
• Speak confidently, don’t talk to fast or too slow. In class respond to questions with a loud clear voice (‘Yes Sir/Mam’) this will strengthen your vocal cords so they don’t tighten when you become nervous.
• Volunteer - practice getting out of your comfort zone. Put yourself on the line more often, it will become second nature and dramatically increase your confidence.

Follow these simple yet powerful steps and your confidence will be felt by everyone you meet.

Please join me in congratulating Mr. Michael Torchia for reaching 4th Dan in Tang Soo Do at the Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa held in Fayettevelle, NC last week.  The San Kil Tang Soo Do Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa is a grueling 4-day process that includes 12-hour training days, teaching evaluations, and extensive written, oral and physical examinations. Most importantly it's a test of leadership and character that ignites a fire within and challanges one to become a better instructor and role model.  The Shim Sa was administered by Kwan Jang Nim David Sgro with assistance from Kwan Jang Nim Steven Voelker and Sa Bom Nims Garth Charland and Jeff Galvin.  As a result of his performance at the Shim Sa Mr. Torchia was awarded a 4th Dan and Sa Bom (Master Instructor) certification.  Also promoting at this spring's Shim Sa were Sa Bom Nim Nick Coffman (5th Dan), Keith Beardsley, Phil Lawton, Ginnie Pajak, & Brian Nutter (all 4th Dan, Sa Bom).

Sa Bom Nim Torchia began his training along side me at the age of 6 in New London, CT.  We each tested and passed our Dan Shim Sa (black belt test) in 1991 shortly after Mike celebrated his 10th birthday.  I recall how impressed all of us were with his strength and determination at such an early age; something his father (a US Army Green Beret) had no doubt instilled in him.  He and I tested side-by-side for both 2nd and 3rd Dan tests.  I've watched him grow into the strong man and fine role model he is today.  I'm extremely proud of his most recent accomplishment and I look forward to continuing our training together for many years to come.
 
Congratulations Sa Bom Nim Torchia!

There's more new COLOR in the school! We are pleased to announce the promotion of 19 Tang Soo Do students who left it all on the floor during two 2-hr tests yesterday.  We graduated two our our Team Turtle Students, Alex H. and Cole B., into the Jr Kicks program.  They rocked the house with their Team Turtle forms demonstration!  In addition, one student was recognized for standing out among his peers and really impressing the instructors with his fantastic stances and knowledge. Noah J. shined and is our newest OCKicks MVP!  Way to go Noah!

Please join us in congratulating the following students:

5th Gup Green
Anthony Chawki, Blake Evans

6th Gup Green
Don Evans

7th Gup Orange
Nathan Coppersmith

8th Gup Orange
Mike Stevens, Zachary Seamons, Caden Coppock

9th Gup Orange
Evan Gauvreau, Jake Kuta

Gold/Blue
Stephen Aigner, Noah Joseph (MVP!)

Gold/Black
Jack Ackerman, Greg Marks, Jenifer Marks, Wade Dungan, Katie Marks, Derrick Burton

Gold/White
Alexandra Hamm, Cole Burke (Team Turtle Graduates!)

Shi Sun (시선): Attention or “sight/line.” Line of Sight (physical); Focus (mental) &  Intentness (spirit).

The underlying theme of many of our classes in May was Shi Shun. You should recall your instructors asking you to improve your focus in class.  In the upcoming movie, the Karate Kid, Mr. Han tells young Dre that "your focus needs more focus!"  Where you focus your visual attention (shi sun) communicates many things.  Shi Sun is the terminology we use for eye focus but Shi Sun is more than that.  Shi Sun demonstrates your mental focus, intensity and commitment.  If the eyes are the windows to the soul then Shi Sun reflects your level of confidence, courage and centeredness.  Shi Sun reflects your inner dedication and focus to staying on target.  When you visualize conquering a challenge or overcome a hardship you are actively engaging Shi Sun.

Have you ever had the experience of looking at someone intensely and suddenly they turned and looked right back at you? Or felt someone looking at you and turned and saw that very person?  Shi Sun is a very basic but vital component of our Martial Arts training. Here are some simple ways to strengthen your Shi Sun:

1. Dedicate yourself to not move your eyes when doing form
2. Look into your partners eyes when practicing
3. Look into people’s eyes when communicating with them (shaking hands for example)
4. See yourself breaking a board before attempting to break it

When applied correctly your Shi Sun can be a non verbal form of communication. It can be used to avoid confrontations on a by looking into antagonists eyes and communicating confidence through Shi Sun. You can also connect with other people on a more positive, caring level by looking into their eyes when talking to them.

We wish all of our students, their families and our friends a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend.  Please take time to say "thank you" to the men and women that you see this weekend who serve for our freedom and safety.

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." - John F. Kennedy

Congratulations to Kyo Sa Nim Torchia for repeating as the Mens Sparring Grand Champion at the 8th Battle of LA on May 29th!  And congratulations to the other 17 OCKicks competitors who all received medals in at least one event that they entered.  Although the holiday weekend made for a smaller tournament than normal the level of competition was still quite high and we're proud of everyone for rising to the challenge.

All 18 of our competitors this year made it to the medal round taking a total of 38 medals, 8 of which were Gold and our 2nd Grand Champion Trophy in Men's Black Belt Sparring!  Our school was also awarded a Grand Champion Trophy for having the most competitors.

Larry Gilliland
3rd Place Master Forms

Mike Torchia
1st Place Men's Black Belt Forms
1st Place Men's Black Belt Sparring
Grand Champion Men's Sparring

Annette Chawki
3rd Place Red Belt Forms
3rd Place Women's Green/Red/Black Belt Sparring

Ethan Daniel
3rd Place Boys 10-11 Red/Black Belt Forms
3rd Place Boys 10-11 Flying Side Kick
3rd Place Boys 10-11 Red/Black Belt Sparring

Adam Gilliland
2nd Place Boys 10-11 Red/Black Belt Forms
3rd Place Boys 8-11 Red/Black Belt Weapons
3rd Place Boys 10-11 Jump Front Kick
 
Mekai Collins
2nd Place Boys 8-9 Red/Black Belt Forms
2nd Place Boys 8-9 Jump Front Kick
2nd Place Boys 8-9 Flying Side Kick

Kendra Conger
1st Place Adult Red Belt Forms
1st Place Adult Red Belt Weapons
1st Place Women's Jump Front Kick

Ed Collins
2nd Place Adult Red Belt Forms
3rd Place Men's Flying Side Kick
2nd Place Men's Red Belt Sparring

Michelle Garcia
2nd Place Women's Green Belt Forms
2nd Place Women's Jump Front Kick
2nd Place Women's Green/Red/Black Belt Sparring

Chris Ortega
1st Place Men's Green Belt Forms
2nd Place Men's Green Belt Sparring

Anthony Chawki
3rd Place Boys 12-13 Green Belt Forms
3rd Place Boys 12-13 Green Belt Sparring

Blake Evans
2nd Place Boys 8-9 Green Belt Forms
2nd Place Boys 8-9 Green Belt Weapons

Sammy Conger
2nd Place Boys 8-9 Green Belt Sparring

Jack Riccardi
3rd Place Boys 8-9 Green Belt Forms
3rd Place Boys 8-9 Green Belt Sparring

Kyrin Garcia
2nd Place Boys 8-9 Green Belt Forms

Don Evans
1st Place Men's White/Gold/Orange Forms

Zach Seamons
1st Place Boys 12-15 White/Gold/Orange Forms
3rd Place Boys 12-15 White/Gold/Orange Sparring

Evan Gavreau
2nd Place Boys 10-11 White/Gold/Orange Forms
2nd Place Boys 10-11 White/Gold/Orange Sparring