Welcome to 2009!

Gyul-Dan/Geun-Gi or Determination and Persistence is our CTC theme of the year! It is a theme that has to be built like a muscle, and it may be the one factor that differentiates between those who succeed at their aspirations and those who fail. World renowned sports psychologist, James Loehr writes in his book, The New Toughness Training For Sports that toughness training is the art and science of increasing your ability to handle all kinds of stress.

Determination is the acting of making one's mind up. Persistence is the act of continuing an activity without interruption. These two Moogong-Ryu Words of Wisdom should be like muscles that need to be worked-out everyday!

There are many great stories of determination and persistence in martial arts. My first instructor told me the story of the National TKD Team Coach who tried for something like ten years to make the Korean National Team without avail. After finally making the Team, he was then able to keep winning at the national level for over ten years!

Although I did not have the experience of being on top at the national level for ten years, I did have the experience of competing somewhere in the neighborhood of ten tournaments before even getting my first third place trophy. This built some muscle in me to persevere to next win a second place trophy.

I think that it is easier for students to learn determination/persistence if they do not win at their first competition, break their board the first time, etc... So even though there may be some tears to get over, on the other side is a martial artist that is empowered to stay the course!

Happy Year of the Bull!

Master Korchak

12/5/07 -

As we end this year at CTC with Harmony and Unity as our theme, I would like to sum-up martial art's primary purpose in modern society as the empowerment of individuals so they may reach higher in every endeavor. Empowerment comes from mind, body, spirit, and emotions working in harmony and developing a unity of thoughts, words, and deeds.

The Power of Recognition

A pupil from whom nothing is ever demanded which he cannot do. Never does all he can.
John Stuart Mill

We learn something by doing it. There is no other way.
John Holt

The modern belt promotion system has given us our most important tool to help students develop confidence, stay motivated, see progress, and become better taekwondoin. This system helps students continue to improve month after month and year after year.

Younger students are immediately attracted to the different color belt and achievement stripes. These extrinsic rewards are like a “candy shop” for children. Although many adults will express a desire only to improve their skills, and that they are not concerned with belt promoting, they may be covering up anxiety around performing in front of others. These test become the best way for students to see advancement and make long and short-term goals.

Anxiety around public performance decreases and performance abilities increase as students gain experience. The fact that you are accountable in your martial art training makes learning so effective. Performing in front of one’s seniors and family, and peers is part affirmation of what a student has learned, part training in performance skills, and part celebration and graduation. This part of martial arts truly exemplifies the training of mind, body, spirit, and emotions all at once.

11/20/07 - Happy Thanksgiving! I appreciate all of the positive energy and hard work everyone is doing at CTC to make it the best martial art school anywhere!

Here is the next installment of my thesis:

The Power of Self-Defense


The only people you have to get even with are those who have helped you.
R.H. Rehwinkles

Our first line of defense is self self-defense.
Paul Korchak


I like to tell my younger students that they are like “ super heroes in training.” and that the extraordinary abilities they are developing have to be used for good always. They really relate to this concept.
Internal peace comes from building confidence through challenge. It comes from developing the mind, body, spirit, and emotions, through determined practice. It also comes from becoming aware of our higher purpose in life.
External peace is a direction of a student’s inner peace. Parents and students who are concerned that martial arts encourage violent behavior find that well trained black belts are the most peaceful, grounded humans you could meet. Developing inner peace dissuades students from needing to fight for survival. Human interaction turns into cooperation and compassion. The ability to be able to fight for survival with one’s hand and feet allows the martial artist to move through life with inner confidence. He or she will also exude this confidence and will not be targeted by bullies and predators.