Paths of Transformation

December 31, 2009

Shugyo

We held Shugyo today. Hard training followed by meditation. What a great way to welcome 2010! Happy New Year everyone!!

December 12, 2009

Belt Testing

We held a test today for children and adults. The test went very well with students showing awesome effort and skill. Great job everyone!

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November 21, 2009

Children’s Belt Test

We held a small test today for children. Everybody showed great effort during the test. Great job everyone!

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October 24, 2009

Belt Testing

We held a test today for children and adults. The test went very well with students showing awesome effort and skill. Great job everyone!

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October 18, 2009

TMAA Students Go Farming

Adult student Ariel von Raven invited students to his ranch to learn about organic farming and sustainable land-use practices. Students had the chance to learn about how food is grown, interact with some of the animals on the ranch and even participated in a project helping to build a garden.

October 15, 2009

Eric’s Going Away Party

Dojang apprentice Eric Polley is leaving to pursue other adventures. To celebrate his role in our Dojang family and to wish him luck in his new endeavors, we threw him a suprise party today, his last day of teaching classes. Many students and their familes, including former students we haven’t seen in a long time, came out to see him off and express gratitude for everything he has done for and with us. Good luck, Eric!

August 28, 2009

Belt Testing

We held a small make up test for students who were out of town for our last one. These guys did an amazing job!

August 17, 2009

A New Apprentice: Congratulation Nate!

Nate Tingley was accepted into the apprenticeship program today and was presented with his first apprenticeship belt (the black stripe down the center symbolizes his commitment to becoming a teacher). Nate is starting a difficult, but extremely rewarding journey, and you can expect to see him helping out with kids’ classes a lot.

August 17, 2009

Happy Birthday, Sa Bum Nim Espy!

Mr. Espy turned 39 today, and we celebrated in our traditional TMAA fashion–throwing him once for every year he’s been alive. Happy Birthday!

August 8, 2009

Trip to Sea World

This Saturday, several students went to Sea World. We rode rides, swam, took in some shows and baked in the summer heat!

August 1, 2009

Belt Test

We held belt testing for adults and children this Saturday. What an awesome group of students. Great job guys!

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July 25-26, 2009

Mr. Espy in El Paso

Mr. Espy spent the weekend in El Paso visiting and training with fellow students of his late teacher Sigung Hasting Albo.

May 30, 2009

Active Life Tour

We were invited to participate in the Austin leg of the Active Life Tour. The event, which focused on how kids can be healthier and more active, gave us the opportunity to teach a class and put on a short demo for the crowd. We also had the chance to meet a lot of new people and make some new friends!

May 29, 2009

Monkey Boxing Class

We are running a four-week Monkey Boxing seminar for children and adults. Students are learning some of the training methods of the this rare art, as well as some of it’s self defense techniques and the Frightened Monkey long form.

May 16, 2009

Spring Open House ’09

After a one-month delay due to rain, we held our annual Open House… and it rained! Despite the downpour, we had over thirty students attend, along with their families and guests. We put on a demo to give the students a chance to strut their stuff and so that newer members could get a glimpse of what is in their future. Afterwards, we shared a potluck lunch while listening to the wonderful music of visiting Black Belt, Mark Alan. Though the weather conditions made for some difficult moments, everyone came together as a family and showed what an amazing community we are building in our school!

May 2, 2009

Rank Test

We held testing for children and adults this weekend. Great job everyone!

March 28, 2009

Children’s Testing

We held testing for a handful of our kids this weekend. Great job everyone!

March 8, 2009

Neighborhood Cleanup

We joined forces with the South Lamar Neighborhood Association to clean up the area around the old Unity Church. We filled several garbage bags and enjoyed the opportunity to take care of the Earth, get to know each other a little better and meet some of our neighbors.

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February 21, 2009

Belt Test

We held a belt test for children and adults today. Great job everyone!

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February 14, 2009

Valentine’s Day Parents’ Night Out

Parents got a night to themselves for Valentine’s Day and their children got a fun class, slices of Austin’s Pizza, organic sodas, and fun games. Everyone really enjoyed the evening, so look for us to do it again soon!

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February 3, 2009

Zilker Elementary Movement Class

This week, TMAA starts a 10-week program at Zilker Elementary. All of the children in Kindergarten through 2nd will get a 20-minute class each week that will introduce them to some of the movement and ideas of our Pyon Moo Do Kids program.

January 30, 2009

TMAA Goes to Smith Elementary

All this week, Mr. Espy and Eric Polley taught PE at Smith Elementary in Del Valle. They both had a wonderful time and were made to feel very welcome by the staff and all of the awesome kids!

January 29, 2009

Wee Warriors Rank Test

Our Thursday 4-5 year olds took their first today. They each earned their Yellow belts and did a great job!

January 20, 2009

Wee Warriors Rank Test

Two Wee Warriors tested for their Orange belts today. Antonio and Jake both did a great job!

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December 31, 2008

Shugyo

We held Shugyo today! We had just over an hour of hard style training (including 400 Kwan Bup!), then an hour of meditation and Qigong. Happy New Year!

December 13, 2008

Rank Test

We held our last belt test for the year. Great job, everyone!!

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December 7, 2008

Neighborhood Cleanup

Today we joined the South Lamar Neighborhood Association for their area clean-up. Several of our students and their families came out to clean trash from streets and creek beds. Afterwards, we got to meet our neighbors over hotdogs, chili and various tasty treats!

November 22, 2008

Rank Test

Today we had a children’s test. Everybody did a fantastic job. Additionally, we had two special guest judges: Erik McKenney (a Shaolin-Do black belt) and Sean Peachey (a Hwa Rang Do black belt). Great job everyone!

October 18, 2008

Rank Test

This morning we held a children’s test. Everyone put outstanding effort into a difficult test. The kids were followed by apprentice Eric Polley testing for his Junior Black Belt. Fellow students and their families witnessed an extrodinary performance that was inspiring for everyone there.

October 14, 2008

Wee Warriors Rank Test

Today we held our first ever Wee Warriors rank test. Congratulations Jake and Antonio for doing such a great job!

October 13, 2008

Teaching at Barton Hills Elementary

This week and into the next, Mr. Espy and Eric Polley are going into Barton Hills Elementary and introducing Pyon Moo Do to the students there during their PE classes. It is a wonderful opportunity to share our art with others and to spend time with a bunch of great kids!

August 25, 2008

Rank Tests

We held rank tests on the past two Saturdays. Most of those testing were children and everyone did a fantastic job. Congratulations everyone!!

August 10, 2008

Visit to Monte Siesta

Several students and their families went to Monte Vista nursing home to visit with the residents. We shared snacks and a pair of very friendly dogs as we got to know the people who live there. Thank you Amy for setting up such a great opportunity to spend time with other members of our community.

June 8, 2008

Rank Test

We held a small belt test for children this Friday. Everyone showed outstanding effort. Congratulations kids!

May 09, 2008

Track and Field Day at Barton Hills Elementary

TMAA was invited to Barton Hills Elementary yesterday to show the students there the art of Pyon Moo Do during their Track and Field Day. We did four demos and were well recieved by the children and parents in the audience. Thank you Eric Polley, Benjamin, Katherine, Sam and David for doing such a great job of introducing our school to the students of Barton Hills.

Dojang Closed for Memorial Day

The Dojang will be closed in observance of Memorial Day May 24-26. Have a great three-day weekend!

April 26, 2008

Rank Test

We had a fantastic belt test this Saturday! Several different belt levels were tested for higher rank include our most senior adult student (Eric) and our most senior kids. Excellent job, everyone!

April 21, 2008

Upcoming Rank Test

This coming Saturday (April 26), we are holding a belt test. Fellow students, families and friends are encouraged to come watch and support the students who are testing. Children begin at 9:00 am, adults begin at 11:30 pm. Good luck everyone!

April 19, 2008

Spring Open House

We had our first Spring Open House and it was a success! Students got to show off their stuff to their familes and friends when we put on an in-house demonstration (Eric and Jana brought down the house with their self-defense demo!) and the kids got to play fun new games. Several people recieved acupuncture from Kevin Laux and there were a lot of winners in the raffle drawing. We finished with a potluck lunch. What a wonderful community we are building!

March 2, 2008

Children’s Testing

This past Friday, five children tested for their yellow belts. They all did very well, showing focus and excellent effort. Here are some pictures from the test – click on them to see larger copies.

February 26, 2008

Passing of a Warrior

On Valentine’s Day one of my teachers, Hasting Albo, was killed in a crash while driving to teach at his school. As many of you know me by my title of Sa Bum Nim, his students knew him by his title, Sigung. He was both my teacher and my friend. Sigung was one of the most giving people that I have ever met. I learned much about generosity and sacrifice from him. Whatever he had, he gave unhesitatingly to others.

I think one of the most important things that I learned from him was the role of humor in the Dojang. When he and I met, I had just earned my first black belt. My training up to that point had been very serious. Training was always approached with a sense of importance and we often placed ourselves on lofty pedestals as a result. Sigung approached martial arts in a very different way. Somehow he was able to contain complete irreverence and profound respect in the same vessel. He merged these seeming opposites through humor. His sense of humor ranged from mischievous to bawdy, but always came from a place of deep love and the impulse to live passionately. So when you see me smile or try to make a student laugh, remember that humor in the Dojang was a lesson that I learned from Sigung.

Sigung leaves behind as his legacy a wealth of martial arts knowledge. He also leaves his school in El Paso, full of students. Sigung chose to keep his school in a lower income area so that he could reach the lives that he felt needed it most. Many of his students were on scholarship, much of their tuition being covered by Sigung’s generosity.

It saddens me that more of you did not have the opportunity to meet Sigung. He was an amazing person in many ways.

Sa Bum Nim

January 19, 2008

Dog Safety Seminar for Kids

We held a seminar to help children learn how to safely approach friendly dogs, and avoid dangerous ones. Adult student Rachel Herold, an experienced dog trainer and rescuer, gave a well-prepared, highly-interactive presentation for the children in attendance. She was assisted by her canine companions Keegan and Nate. Great job!

December 31, 2007

Shugyo

Shugyo was a lot of fun this year! We had an hour of hard style training, then an hour of meditation and Qigong. Plus, we saw the return of Maya and a visit from Maureen. They’ve both been missed since moving from Austin and it was a treat to see them again. Everyone have a wonderful New Year!

November 10, 2007

Rank Test

Testing went very well. Students demonstrated excellent skill and effort. Here are some pictures from the event. Click one to see a larger image.

October 31, 2007

TMAA in the Park

Starting in November Eric Polley will be organizing a Dojang community gathering once every month. The first of the events will be a pot-luck picnic at Zilker Park on Sunday the 11th from 11 am-2 pm (the day after testing). Adults, children and parents are all welcome to come. Directions will be posted in the Dojang. Please ask Eric if you have any questions about the event.

Holiday Hours

TMAA will be closed for the following holidays:

Thanksgiving – Nov 21-24

Christmas and New Year – Dec 22-Jan 1

(Shugyo will be held for adults on Dec 31, time TBA. Classes resume Jan 2.)

Upcoming Seminars

We have two upcoming seminars for children. One will focus on dog safety and will be taught by adult student Rachel Herold. Rachel has extensive experience as a dog trainer and has worked with animal rescue programs. This seminar will teach children how to safely approach unfamiliar dogs as well as how to treat service animals. In addition, it will provide important guidelines for interacting with friendly dogs that they know.

The other seminar will be family-oriented and teach parents how to help their children train at home. Adults and kids will both be on the floor as we review the basics of stances and forms, as well as how to work with your child on the basics of kicking and punching drills. This seminar will include a target pad that you will be able to keep and use at home.

Fees and times will be announced in the coming weeks.

October 25, 2007

New Classes

Starting next week, we will be holding a conditioning class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Eric Polley will be running theses classes, so be ready to sweat! Check the schedule for specific times.

October 15, 2007

Adult Flexibility and Joint Health

Mr. Espy will be leading mini-seminars with an ongoing focus on flexibility and joint health for adult students. These classes will introduce students to active isolated stretching every Monday evening. The twenty-minute classes will begin promptly at 6:30. Each session will cover a specific region of the body. Students are encouraged to bring their notebooks.

October 10, 2007

Rank testing will be held November 10

It’s that time again, and it looks like this will be a larger test than we’ve had in the past. There are several children and adults who will be eligible for testing. Over the next month, we will be doing quite a bit of review and preparation, and Mr. Espy will be letting students know if they have permission to test. All children must have their school and home stripes before they can receive permission.

If you are not testing, please be sure to come and watch. Testing provides a great opportunity for students to see what they will be doing in the future. It is also an opportunity for students to come and support their friends as they push themselves in whole new ways.

July 25, 2007

Our new website is up and running. Enjoy!

June 16, 2007

We held testing for children and adults. Everyone did a great job and showed their best effort. Congratulations to all!

May 22, 2007

Over the past week, Mr. Espy and Eric Polley have been teaching martial arts to the PE classes at Barton Hills Elementary. The entire third and fourth grade was given the opportunity learn drills and basic techniques! A very big thank you to Benjamin Taulli and his mom Pamela for helping to set things up with PE teacher Sharon Heath.

April 11, 2007

We held a children’s test. Congratulations Leo and Nate for showing fantastic effort and spirit!

March 5, 2007

Saturday classes begin this week.

January 29, 2007

We will be holding make-up classes on Saturday the third. Level I and II kids classes will be combined for a single class from Noon-12:50. Adult class will run from 1:00-1:50.

January 17, 2007

The Dojang will again be closed today due to inclimate weather. Keep warm and be sure to train at home!

January 16, 2007

The Dojang will again be closed today due to inclimate weather. There is a good chance that the weather is going to stay like this for the next day or so. We are going to follow AISD’s lead and close on the days that they do. For a good source of weather info, check out the NOAA site.

January 15, 2007

The Dojang will be closed today due to inclimate weather. Conditions are expected to worsen and it is just too risky for students and families to be on the roads. Enjoy the three-day weekend and don’t forget to train at home!

January 1, 2007

Shugyo was a lot of fun this year. We had intense training followed by extended meditation. Happy New Year!

December 19, 2006

We will be holding adult Shugyo to bring in the New Year from noon to 2:00 pm on December 31st. Drink lots of water and be ready for training!

December 19, 2006

The Dojang will be closed December 22 – January 2. Have a great holiday!

December 6, 2006

Congratulations to the students who tested for new rank. You showed excellent spirit (and endurance!).

	Adam demonstrates Kwan Bup			Eric demonstrates kicking technique on plum flower posts
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November 3, 2006

The Dojang will be closed November 22 – 26. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

October 17, 2006

Congratulations to the students who recently tested for new rank. All of you showed fantastic effort and spirit!

October 16, 2006

Eric and Steven were officially accepted into the apprenticeship program. Congratulations to both of them!