Calendar

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Belt Test — February 4, 2012

The next belt test is scheduled for Saturday, February 4, 2012. Please get your completed application, check, and (children only) copy of your latest report card to one of the Masters BEFORE the test day.

Please arrive about 10 minutes before the start of your test:

* If you recently tested for Bo Black belt or a Black belt, you must attend at this time to receive your belt. If you have any questions, please speak to Master Kim.

There will be no classes during the tests. Be on time & look sharp. Bring sparring gear.

Click on Promotion on the side bar for help getting ready for the test. There are photos of all the taegeuk and blackbelt poomse on the Kukkiwon's poomsae web page. (It seems to work better in Internet Explorer than in Firefox.) If you want to watch the video, you will need to register with the site.

If you need to make special arrangements regarding the belt test, please check with Master SH Kim before the test day.

Severe Weather Policy

In case of bad weather, please check our web site before coming to class. Depending on the conditions around the school, we may need to cancel classes. We will make every effort to announce on this site if we are open or closed. If there is no notice and you are unsure, please call us first. Your safety is our top priority.

Contract Issues

Our tuition billing is outsourced. Information about it is on your contract. If you run into any billing problems, please contact Master Kim for assistance.

Yoga Classes

Mary V. Edara, a certified and experienced teacher of yoga, is teaching yoga at our school. Class times are Tuesday and Friday mornings at 11am-noon. Make-up classes are held every other Sunday 4-5:30pm. Please phone Mr. Kim at (703) 442-3232 and ask about a free trial.

Email Notifications

Announcements are posted on this website, but several parents have asked for email notifications. In response to this demand, we are implementing an optional email list beginning in 2010.

If you wish to receive email when our school has an announcement, please send an email from the email address you want us to use to our webmaster (See Contact Us web page) with "SHKim Email" in the subject line and student's name in the body of the email. If you wish to discontinue notices, send your request to our webmaster using the same subject line.

Taekwondo Textbooks

We have available official Taekwondo Textbooks from the Kukkiwon. Volume I includes everything a color belt needs to know. Volume II covers black belt forms, competition rules, etc. Each paperback volume costs $25. See Master Kim if you would like to purchase a copy.

Bo Black Belt (pre-blackbelt) & Black Belt Candidates

If you recently tested for Bo Black belt or a Black belt, you must attend the next test to receive your belt. If you have any questions, please speak to Master Kim.

Get Well Soon

Black belt student Julia had major surgery on May 4, 2009. Read her journal and leave comments in her guest book at CaringBridge.

Julia, we miss you and hope you are all better soon!

After School Program

If you are interested in our after school martial arts / taekwondo program and optional transportation from local elementary schools, please phone Mr. Kim at (703) 442-3232 for details.

SH Kim School at USA Today

On September 18, 2007, SH Kim US Tae Kwon Do participated in the wellness fair at USA Today in Tysons Corner. Master Kim, Instructor Vicky, Carlo, and Ramsey demonstrated punching, kicking, poomse, sparring, and breaking.

Attention Black Belts

If you earned your black belt at our school but did not pick up your certificate, please contact Master Kim. We award black belts and certificates at belt tests, between the two test sessions. Please phone before the test day so that we can have everything ready for the ceremony. On the day of the ceremony, please arrive early wearing your uniform and current belt and be prepared to give a short speech.

Testimonial

On May 9, 2005, Masters SH Kim, HS Kim, and Shepler; Instructors Laura and Vicky; and two adult TKD students participated in The Potomac School's health day. Master Kim ran a well-attended demo class for the middle school. We received this thank you note from Kerry Kirk, health department, The Potomac School:

S. H. Kim,

Thank you so much for volunteering your time and expertise with our students. For the past two years, your activity for health day is the favorite! Also, please thank all of your volunteers for helping!

Many thanks,
Kerry Kirk

Attention High School Students

As you think about college, consider what you might write on your college application:

Good: Earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do at age 13.

Better: Have a 1st degree TKD black belt and am working on my 2nd degree.

Best: I am a TKD 2nd degree black belt candidate, perform with my school's demo team, and assist the instructors and masters in teaching my junior students. A letter of recommendation from Grandmaster Soon Ho Kim is attached.

If you help out teaching, your instructors get to know you better and will better be able to write you an outstanding letter of recommendation. Make an appointment to see Master Kim if you are interested in becoming an assistant in the children's classes.

Mature middle school students looking for opportunities to enhance their high school applications may also meet with Master Kim (along with their parents) to discuss options.

Poomse CD-Rom

We have for sale a CD-ROM with all the tae geuk poomse and the first three black belt forms! You get to choose one of five characters (or all 5 in a group) and one of five locations (outside, in a dojang, etc.) as the setting and then can watch the form from different angles. It has a cool, 3-D look to it. Makes a great gift and will help you prepare for your next belt test! See Master Kim to purchase one today! Supplies are limited.

Student Jim P. offers us this helpful advice for setting up your poomse CD ROM:

1. Place the CD ROM in proper drive and follow prompts to install
2. Disregard instructions to register with idance (unless you can read Korean)
3. When prompt asks to launch Taekwondo Player, reply "yes"
4. If three files appear on a prompt, double left-click "taekwondo Player"
5. Otherwise, pick the poomse on the right (by number) and select class on the left
6. Use controls at bottom to play, pause, replay etc.
7. Place the pointer on the screen and move it about to change the perspective of the view (e.g. view from above, behind or either side)

If you have a problem with these directions, email the webmaster who will put you in touch with Jim. He has generously agreed to help you by phone. "The CD is very cool and helpful," says Jim.

Help Improve our Web Site

If you wish to contribute any ideas or materials for our school website, contact our webmaster, Ms. Linnell, either in person or by email.

Calendar of Events

Saturday, February 4, 2012 — Belt test.