News

Congratulations to the following students for successfully completing the Summer 2007 testing cycle. The new promotions are:

Dr. Meetze	3rd Dan
Bob Thomas	1st Dan
Chris Scarpino	Cho Dan Bo
Kosta Livitisky	1st Gup
Angelika Fretzen	1st Gup
Richard Heppner	2nd Gup
Daniel Maibor	7th Gup
Mark Gerlovin	8th Gup
Tony Messina	9th Gup
Anthony Davies	9th Gup

We would also like to welcome the following new students

Tony Messina

Antony Davies

The First Annual Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation New England Black Belt Camp took place over the weekend of June 8. 2007. A number of black belts and red belts from Cambridge Tang Soo Do accompanied Master Klacko to far western Massachusetts for two days of intensive training, testing, learning, and camaraderie with the students and masters from other New England Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do schools. The weekend began with a general workout and a black belt test (including our own Dr. Meetze testing for Third Dan) on Friday evening. Saturday and Sunday morning were filled with training and individual clinics with masters sharing their knowledge of advanced techniques, forms, and weapons. Each evening ended with memorable and inspiring speeches from Master St. James about the history, protocol and way of Tang Soo Do.

For Cambridge Tang Soo Do, it was a weekend of firsts. As new entrants to the Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation, many of us were meeting the masters and students from the other schools for the first time. Every student in attendance saw something new and learned something for the first time, from new bong hyungs to advanced takedown techniques to self defense using a cane. It was, of course, all too short and barely an introduction to the wealth of knowledge and experience the masters had to share.

Learning new techniques is only part of what it means to advance in our art form, however. We also practiced the most basic of forms and reviewed the fundamental principles and ancient history of Tang Soo Do. Even though it was a retreat for advanced students, everyone benefited from a return to basics such as practicing forms step-by-step to the beat of a drum. Tang Soo Do is an art form where learning occurs on two levels, the introduction of new material and the continual review and refinement of what we think we already know. The First Annual Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation New England Black Belt Camp was an opportunity to do both.

John Maxwell says: “It takes a strong team to build a big dream.”

When it comes to the achievement of worthwhile and important goals, I’m sure you would have to agree with that statement. If I looked back at any of the truly magical moments and greatest victories in my life, I can quickly relate to the power of a strong team.

Based on the “Chopstick Theory”, which simply states that one chopstick is very easy to break, it may even be easy to break three or four. However, when you put several together, they become more and more difficult to break. Eventually, you can put enough chopsticks together to form an unbreakable bond.

If you are always there for your friends and team mates, your friends and team mates will always be there for you. Most people, not all, believe in reciprocity.

Law of Significance stresses that One is too Small a Number to Achieve Greatness. Your greatest victories and achievement usually happen when working together with others toward a common goal or objective. It strengthens your power and gives you someone else to share the joys of winning and overcome the setbacks. Working together – leads to winning together as a team!

Cambridge Tang Soo Do would like to thank Master Molitano for attending our Spring 2007 Gup testing. The students who have successfully completed the test are:

Sheraz Choudhary	2nd Gup
Angelika Fretzen	2nd Gup
Colin South	8th Gup
Isabel Kunkle	8th Gup
Lance Martin	8th Gup
Daniel Maibor	8th Gup
Jason Green	8th Gup
Scott Bae	8th Gup

We would also like to welcome the following new student

Jessica Xie