On Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 President of the ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) Grandmaster Choi Jung Hwa conducted a Master Seminar in Harleysville, PA, USA.  This event was held at the Indian Valley Middle School and hosted by Mark Cashatt’s TaeKwon-Do School, Inc. of Souderton, PA and the UTF (United Taekwon-Do Federation).  Students of Taekwon-Do attended traveling from as far away as California, Nevada, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, North Carolina and a few from Venezuela along with our local members of the UTF.

 

During the weekend, Grandmaster Choi enjoyed a Korean buffet Friday night with 27 students who were 3rd DAN and above.  Saturday, at the seminar, Grandmaster Choi and his assistant, Master Parm Rai inspired and corrected over 130 participants.  The focus was on putting power into each move and using the students mass while moving in to the technique.  The seminar covered Korean terminology and how to get more power out our kicks and strikes. 

 

All participants were treated to a healthy lunch of sandwiches, spinach, fruit and pasta salads and refreshments.  The host dojang put on a short demo and then the seminar continued. 

 

The afternoon was a mix of pattern work and drills to reinforce the power of our techniques.  The intensity grew as Master Rai led us through a series of his classic kick/lunge drills and jumping push-ups across the gym floor.  The excitement built as all of the students cheered each other on to help push us all through this great workout.

 

Not only was the seminar informative about the techniques and theory of Taekwon-Do, but Grandmaster Choi Jung Hwa also talked about the “Do” of Taekwon-Do asking us to reflect every evening on how we can improve our manners and dealings the following day as to see progress in mind as well as body.  Grandmaster Choi also commented on the importance of how to be a good leader by enlisting positive along with constructive comments from our juniors and to always be humble.

 

Saturday night an International Taekwon-Do Federation honorary banquet was held for Grandmaster Choi at the Towamencin Best Western in Kulpsville, PA.  After a fine buffet and a few speeches, Grandmaster Choi went around to each table greeting and taking pictures with all of the guests.

 

We were all very lucky to have spent this time with the son of the founder of Taekwon-Do, the founder being the late General Choi Hong Hi.  Grandmaster Choi had grown up with Taekwon-Do and has such a wealth of knowledge handed down from his father.  We all wished him great health and a long life with much success as he travels around the world changing countless lives in a positive way, spreading “the real thing”, the original Taekwon-Do as created by General Choi Hong Hi.