World Class Tae Kwon Do of Tae Park Tae Kwon Do October 2012 Congratulations to Grandmaster Richard Warren Grandmaster Uhm Presenting Plate of TKD Excellence to GM Rick Warren August 20, 2012 Important Dates: November 10, 2012 World Class Taekwondo of Tae Park Taekwondo Tournament Grandmaster Warren would be one of eight to ten 8th Dan G r a n d m a s t e r s i n t h e world and in the United States even less according to Grandmaster Park when Junior Grandmaster James Rodgers spoke with him recently in Korea. Great Grandmaster Uhm, Grandmaster Park, and the other judges were very impressed with Grandmaster W a r r e n ' s t e c h n i q u e. Grandmaster Warren is currently sixty two years of age and still has great stopping power and very good technique. He was also endorsed by Great Grandmaster Uhm as be a student of traditional taekwondo and understanding the meaning of what is taekwondo. June 21-23, 2013 Meijer State Games of Michigan World Class TKD Tournament This was Tae Park Taekwondo history made with Grandmaster Warren being Grandmaster Park's very first 8th dan Grandmaster Instructor. July 30 August 4, 2013 National Congress of State Games State Games of America
Making History Grandmaster Richard Warren Grand Master Tae Zee Park arrived from Korea and began teaching Taekwondo in Jackson MI in 1974, where he founded Tae Park Institute of Taekwondo. Rick Warren was one of his original students. On August 20, 2012, Mr. Warren traveled to Seoul Korea to the world Taekwondo headquarters, Kukkiwon, to test for 8th degree black belt. He passed! Grand Master Warren is the first from Tae Park Institute and one of only a few in the country to reach this level of achievement. The Kukkiwon upholds rigorous standards for black belt promotion testing. Grandmaster Warren was required to submit a formal application listing all prior dates of black belt degree promotions, write a minimum ten page paper to advance the future of Taekwondo, perform a physical test to demonstrate his techniques, and withstand an oral interview before a panel of three 9th degree black belt judges. The Kukkiwon has minimum time requirements for each level of black belt. The cumulative minimum time to reach 8th degree is 36 years. The highest level is 9th degree, which takes a minimum of 45 years. When asked why he stuck with Taekwondo for all these years Grand Master Warren said, "I started because I immediately recognized something very special in Grandmaster Park and wanted to seize the opportunity. I continued because I learned respect, goal-setting, discipline, self-confidence and leadership skills. Over the years my fellow students became like a second family to me. I love helping others grow and develop. I owe this success to my instructor." For the last decade or so Grandmaster Warren has helped coach the 61 other Taekwondo Masters (4th degree black belt and up) in Tae Park Institute. He is also President of World Class Tae Kwon Do, Inc. a Michigan nonprofit that funds scholarships and the development of Taekwondo leadership. For the last three years WCTKD has been the sponsor of the Taekwondo events at the State Games of Michigan. Taekwondo is a martial art that uses 70% kicking and 30% punching techniques for self defense. Literally translated "tae" means foot, "kwon" means fist and "do" means art or way. After 38 years Grandmaster Warren has proven he knows the way of feet and fists... and he's learned a lot about life in the process.
GM Rick Warren & his instructor GM Park, Tae Zee (2nd from left); immediately after testing with judges (L to R) 9th dans: GM Chong, Man Soon; GM Choi, Joo Yeol ; GM Kim, Byung Tae Grandmaster Uhm, Woon Kyu Presenting ChungDoKwan 8th Dan to GM Rick Warren August 20, 2012
Hotel Information for World Class Championship November 2012 Here are the current hotels for the 2012 World Class Championships. Time is drawing near and we wanted people to be able to make their reservations! Ramada Plaza of Grand Rapids (616) 949-9222 ( By October 15, 2012) Space available rate applies after 10-15-12 ramadaplazagr.com for description $82.00/night + tax includes breakfast buffet for 4 per room/4 water slides passes per room Country Inn & Suites (space blocked under Tae Kwon Do) This is the hotel that is at the intersection of I96-East Beltline where we host for the State Games. 3251 Deposit Drive Northeast, Grand Rapids, MI (616) 942-7000 countryinns.com for description $99.00/night + tax, includes breakfast buffet Mariott Courtyard Downtown 11 Monoe Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-242-6000 marriott.com $139.00/night double +tax and parking Please, book soon as the space will be removed from the group pricing soon. Come find us online to interact with your Tae Kwon Do community and get the latest updates on the Tae Kwon Do world! You can join our group on Facebook by searching WORLD CLASS TAE KWON DO, Inc. of Tae Park Tae Kwon Do and request to join the group. We re Online!
Sponsorship An immense thank you goes out to the sponsors of the 2012 Meijer State Games of Michigan World Class Taekwondo Tournament. Your generous contributions were a crucial part of making this tournament such a success in fact, the biggest tournament thus far! We have you to thank for that. You are appreciated by all of the State Games TKD participants and the TKD community. Our 2012 Sponsors are: Pam Osborn of Pinnacle Insurance Gold Sponsor Tae Zee Park of Parkhill Apartments Silver Sponsor Jim Heglund of REALICO, Inc. & Heglund Sova Realty, Inc., Bronze Sponsor Thank you for your Continued Support!
Master Attire Reminder Please remember that the WCTKD Board of Directors has determined a new master attire for all testings, tournaments, and other events. October 1 March 31: Gray Pants/Slacks April 1 September 30: Khaki Pants/Slacks The approved blue blazer, white shirt, and approved tie or scarf are still required. The Tenets of Taekwondo Courtesy (Ye Ui). To be thoughtful and considerate of others. Taekwondo practitioners (both students and instructors) should be polite, and show consideration for others. Integrity (Yom Chi). Integrity describes how you should interact with others. To be honest and good, earn respect and trust. Perseverance (In Nae). This basically stands for your internal drive. Challenges allow us to improve ourselves and should therefore not be avoided. Self control (Guk Ki). To have control of your body and mind. A Taekwondo student should practice controlling his actions and reactions. Indomitable spirit (Baekjool Boolgool). To have courage in the face of adversity. A Taekwondo student should never be dominated by, or have his spirit broken by another.
WCTKD Board of Directors Officers Ex Officio Tae Zee Park Richard Warren President jgm.warren@comcast.net Dennis Lewis Vice-President dennis_lewis@charter.net James Heglund Secretary jimh@realico.com/ tkwondo4d@aol.com Lynn Bernard Treasurer lynn@wyoming.com Directors Robert Klingbeil Susan Lofquist Valerie Lucas James Rodgers John Sanderson Randy Wrona Special Advisor to Mr. Park...Mark Good Special Advisor to Mr. Park... Robert Barrs Special Advisor to Mr. Warren.Constance Ensing bobtkd@hotmail.com lofquistsabum@gmail.com vvalerierl@aol.com sipjin319@gmail.com jsanderson@grid4.com rwrona@msn.com markgood@goodtkd.com rwbarss@aol.com ensgc@att.net