Essay Contest Winner: Nicholas Isaacs

December 13, 2015–  After some delay TaeKwonDo Life Magazine is pleased to announce the winner of the “Why I Love Taekwondo” Essay Contest.

The winner is :  Nicholas Isaacs

All the essays were thoughtful and inspiring.   The top 3 were all terrific and it took the Judges a while to decide but you are all WINNERS.

Special thanks to our panel of Judges:

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Master George Manlove

George Manlove, Sabunym (Tang Soo Do)
Black Bear Tae Kwon Do, University of Maine

 

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Master Edward Park

Master Edward Park, 5th Dan

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Jake Gretner, 3rd Dan

Jake Gretner, 3rd Dan Instructor

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Jason Aptekar, 2nd Dan, Certified Instructor

Essay Contest Finalist #3, Sean Chae, Age 9

                           

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Sean Chae, Age 9

     

Why I Like TaeKwonDo

One of the reasons I like TaeKwonDo is because it makes my busy schedule more fun. Also, my dad promised that when I become a black belt he would join TaeKwonDo with me. He was a TaeKwonDo teacher and taught part-time at a small TaeKwonDo summer school. He is a 3rd degree black belt! Even though we are both busy, we are going to try to come as often as we can so we can spend time together doing a sport we both love.

I also love TaeKwonDo because we have the world’s nicest teacher, Master Edward! He adds fun things while training us students. He turns board breaking into competitions and he lets us have sparring matches with other students. I started TaeKwonDo in Levittown but when we moved to Jericho I refused to change TaeKwonDo schools. But it is still a little far, but it is worth it to become a martial artist! All the instructors are AWESOME! I am proud to be a Korean doing a national Korean sport with other Korean and non-Korean teachers and students.

 

Essay Contest Finalist #2 Cavan McBrien, age 8

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Cavan McBrien, age 8

November 16, 2015–    I just started Taekwondo and I love it.  I love Taekwondo because it’s fun to kicking combos, blocks, and punches.  Board breaking is really fun!  The first time I broke a wooden board was my yellow belt test.  I was very excited and proud.

My masters are great teachers.  They are strong and kind.  They show respect for everyone.  They also teach us respect for each other and for Taekwondo.  We show respect by bowing-in when we enter the Dojang.  We also show respect by listening and paying attention to the masters.  During lessons we always take time to honor our country by saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

I mostly love getting stripes in Taekwondo because it makes me feel happy getting stripes.  It also makes me try harder to get the next belt.  I love Taekwondo because it is fun and it is good for me.

Essay Contest Finalist #1: Nicholas Isaacs, age 11

November 10, 2015-  We were so excited to receive so many great essays for our “Why I Love Tae Kwon Do” writing contest.  Our judges have narrowed the competition down to a few selections.  They will be published, in no particular order, here of the next two weeks and the Grand Prize winner will be announced on the 23rd of November.

To all the participants.  YOU ARE ALL WINNERS!

ESSAY FINALIST #1- Nicholas Isaacs, age 11

Nicholas Isaacs and Master Edward Park
Nicholas Isaacs and Master Edward Park

I’m an 11 year old Black Belt about to test for my third stripe towards my second Dan. My parents put me in Y.H.Park TaeKwonDo Academy at age 7 because it seemed like they would teach me many things.

Since I joined TaeKwonDo I’m able to focus better and have more confidence. For example, this year I joined the school newspaper, performed board breaking for the school talent show and was invited to the White House for the Easter Egg Roll, because I sent a picture I drew of Abraham Lincoln to President Obama. I even received a personal letter from the President! I would never have accomplished any of these things without the confidence I gained from being a TaeKwonDo student.

TaeKwonDo has given me a closer relationship with my family. After I joined, my mom did and she is now a Black Belt too. I also train with my cousins who are new Blue Belts. It’s taught me how to be a leader and make new friends. My master and grandmaster encourage me to never give up and to always work hard. This is why I love TaeKwonDo!

“Why I Love Tae Kwon Do” Writing Contest FOR KIDS 7-12

Tae Kwon Do Life Magazine Kids Writing Contest
Tae Kwon Do Life Magazine Kids Writing Contest

Tae Kwon Do Life Magazine WRITING CONTEST ($25 Prize):
Eligibility: Children 7-12 years old
Topic: “Why I love Tae Kwon Do”
Format: Written- No more than 200 words
Where: tkdlifemagazine@gmail.com
Published: Top 5 Entries will be published on our site with the writer’s photo and name
Winner: Will be Voted on by our Readers.  The winner will receive a $25 Gift Card
When: Submit by November 7, 2015
GOOD LUCK!!

TKD Life Magazine Celebrates the 70th Anniversary of Jidokwan

Jidokwan-The Hose of Wisdom
Jidokwan-The House of Wisdom

October 20, 2015– Jidokwan is one of the original nine schools of the modern Korean martial arts that became Taekwondo and was founded in what is now South Korea at the end of World War II. Its name translates as “School of Wisdom”. The Jidokwan in Korea still exists today. It functions as a social fraternal order.  Jidokwan supports and endorses the Kukkiwon method of Taekwondo, and supports the WTF.

Are you a practitioner of Jidokwan Style of TKD?  Tae Kwon Do Life Magazine is preparing a story on the 70th Anniversary of Jidokwon. We would love memories, stories, and photographs to celebrate this founding style. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:

tkdlifemagazine@gmail.com

Help us celebrate “THE HOUSE OF WISDOM”

Tae Kwon Do Life Exclusive- 2015 NY Open Press Conference Photos

Mineola, NY– On Tuesday September 29, 2015, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano held a Press Conference with the New York Open Tae Kwon Do Championship and Korean Cultural Festival Organizing Committee to declare Saturday October 17, 2015 “Tae Kwon Do Day” in Nassau County.   On October 17th Nassau County will jointly host one of the largest Tae Kwon Do championship tournaments in the country at the Butler Building at Mitchel Field.   This event also serves as a Korean Cultural Festival and a Charity fundraiser.  This year’s recipient will be the Girl Scouts of Nassau County.  The Director of the Girl Scouts was on hand to acknowledge the selection of the Girl Scouts as the charitable recipient.  The Press Conference concluded with a high level Tae Kwon Do Demonstration courtesy of the YH Park Taekwondo Academy Demonstration Team, who will be competing at the event.

Photos are courtesy of James C. Haxton, Tae Kwon Life Magazine Staff Photographer.

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano declares Tae Kwon Do Day in Nassau County, NY
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, together with former Olympic Coach and Grandmaster YH Park, declares Tae Kwon Do Day in Nassau County, NY
Master Edward Park- Tournament Director
Master Edward Park- Tournament Director
Girls Scouts of Nassau County Director
Girls Scouts of Nassau County Director
The Media Witnessed a High Powered Demonstration
The Media Witnessed a High Powered Demonstration                                by the YH Park Demo Team
Members of the Elite YH Park Demo Team. Jake Gretner (L), Adam Reidlinger, Master Elliott Park, Alex Turcios (R)
Members of the Elite YH Park Demo Team. Jake Gretner (L), Adam Reidlinger, Master Elliott Park, Alex Turcios (R)