Class Bulletin

Ciao, Fort Marcy

After 15 years at Fort Marcy, we moved out at the end of March 2011. As of April 1, we are training at Aspen Santa Fe Ballet School, 550-B St Michael's Drive.

Jennifer in Ireland, summer 2010

In late June 2010, Jennifer competed in the International Martial Arts Tournament in Dublin, Ireland. She placed First in Forms!

Her highlights from the tournament:

"I enjoyed meeting Master Nar of Dublin who coordinated the event, as well as meeting Master Carson and re-meeting Grand Master Yi. I was greeted most warmly ... especially wonderful given the effort that it takes to get to Europe from Santa Fe!"

A memory that stands out:

"The unusual surface ... it was carpet ... It seems that each tournament has its challenges ... crowds, different types of flooring. So it helps to do multiple practice sessions before one actually perfoms, to get used to whatever the surface is."

In retrospect, she wishes she had ...

"... done weapons. However, I went as a 3rd gup ... am now a 2nd gup and they only allow 1st gups and higher to do weapons."

The pictures are of a castle on the way to Dingle Bay in the southeast part of Ireland; Dingle Bay; Dublin in the afternoon; and Jennifer savoring victory!

TSD Camping Trip, summer 2010

Photos: Sunrise lighting up the Jemez mountains; practicing reinforced block; partial group shot; pretty flower

August 2010 Goodwill Tour trip to Korea

>> Click here for photos and videos of the sights, demos and meet-and-greets posted by various schools.

Read this!

Last year, Sam Dan Angela Gulick completed her first marathon -- that's
26.2 miles!
>> Read about her experience

Studio notices / Events

2010 Tucson 5th Annual Tang Soo Do Championship results:

JENNIFER THOMPSON, 39 years and up Brown / Red:
3rd place Forms, 2nd place Weapons

SABINA GULICK, 12-14 years Red / Cho Dan Bo:
1st place Forms, 1st place Weapons, 1st place Sparring
>> See Sabina's Bong Hyung Sam Bu at the championships
>> Sabina sparring

AMY DALNESS, 19-39 years Black Belt:
2nd place Forms, 1st place Weapons, 1st place Sparring
Male and Female Forms Grand Champion, Female Sparring Grand Champion
>> See Amy's Sip Soo at the championships

ANGELA GULICK, 39 years and up Black Belt:
1st place Forms, 1st place Weapons
>> See Angela's Dan Gum Hyung Il Bu at the championships

>> 2010 CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTOS

2009 Tucson 4th Annual Tang Soo Do Championship results:

SABINA GULICK, 12-14 years Red / Black Belt:
1st place Forms, 2nd place Weapons, 3rd place Sparring
>> See Sabina's Palche Dae at the championships

ALISSA GULICK, 12-14 years Red / Black Belt:
2nd place Forms, 3rd place Weapons, 2nd place Sparring
>> See Alissa's Palche So at the championships

MCLEOD ARRINGTON, 12-14 years Red / Black Belt:
3rd place Forms, 1st place Weapons, 3rd place Sparring
>> See video of McLeod's Palche Dae at the championships

JANE BORIACK, 40 and up Bown / Red Belt:
3rd place Forms, 2nd place Weapons, 3rd place Sparring

TOM TROTH, 19-39 years Black Belt:
2nd place Forms, 2nd place Weapons, 3rd place Sparring

AMY DALNESS, 19-39 years Black Belt:
3rd place Forms, 1st place Weapons, 1st place Sparring
>> See Amy's Jang Gum at the championships

ANGELA GULICK, 40 and up Black Belt:
1st place Forms, 1st place Weapons, 1st place Sparring, All Adult Male and Female Forms Grand Champion,
All Adult Female Sparring Grand Champion
>> See Angela's Jang Gum at the championships

2008 Tucson Tang Soo Do Championships results:

CORBIN PLUGGE, 19-39 years Green Belt:
1st place Forms, 1st place Weapons Forms

SABINA GULICK, 10-12 years Red Belt and Cho Dan Bo:
1st place Forms, 1st place Weapons Forms, 2nd place Sparring

ALISSA GULICK, 12-14 years Red Belt and Cho Dan Bo:
1st place Weapons Forms, 2nd place Forms, 2nd place Sparring

TOM TROTH, 19-39 years Red Belt and Cho Dan Bo:
2nd place Forms, 2nd place Weapons Forms

AMY DALNESS, 19-39 years Red Belt and Cho Dan Bo:
1st place Forms, 1st place Weapons Forms, 1st place Sparring

ANGELA GULICK, 40 and up Black Belt:
1st place Forms, 1st place Weapons Forms, 1st place Sparring
Adult All Ages Female Sparring Grand Champion, Adult All Ages Male and Female Forms Grand Champion

A letter from Mr. Meyer

Gup tests take place twice a year -- usually in May and December. Students will be admitted to tests based on the following requirements:

Class attendance

Attitude

Effort

Implementation of 7 Tenets

Technical Development

Test results will reflect

Effort

Attitude

Implementation of 7 Tenets

Class Attendance

Technical Development

A word about testing and promotion:

How your name comes to be on the test roster is, to some degree, based on your technical development between tests. Some people develop more quickly than others. So, some people will test more frequently than others.

I'm hopeful you can see that your technical development is the last thing on the list. It's the last thing of importance in the requirements. It's the last thing I'd be surprised by at the test.

In the tradition I know and respect, one doesn't get a black belt in two years (or even four, for that matter). One of the main things that distinguishes Tang Soo Do of Santa Fe from other martial arts programs is that there is no rush to get promoted here.

My main objective is to have students match their gup level, not precede it.

I've been training in Tang Soo Do for some years. I'm not telling you this out of pride; I just want you to know, I'm not in any hurry for me or you. I'm in the training. It's nothing I'm looking to finish. There is no finish.

I visit many martial art studios. Many of them have a motivational banner on the wall that reads, "Black Belt is our Goal". Were I to hang such a banner here, it would read:

"Black Belt Is the Beginning."

The consistent hard work is what's worthwhile, not these outward constructs. If what you want is a black belt, tell me your size. I'll order you one.

2009 Tucson Championship Videos

>> Back to Championship results

2010 Tucson Championships

2010 Tucson Championship Videos

>> Back to 2010 Championship results