Member Comments

Gina Robinson
January 21, 2008

All I can say about "Bill Cho's National TaeKwonDo" is I Love it! I Love it! I Love it! I have never felt better about myself since entering your Do Jahng. I have enjoyed every single aspect of my journey so far at Bill Cho's. That even includes being the only person over the age of 5 in a class. I have to say I am not at all into exercise but I look forward to every time I can come to a class. Most of the time it doesn't even feel like exercise (I said MOST of the time).

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Jennifer Mohr
November 14, 2007

I would like to thank you for all your support you have given to Zachary. He was struggling at school and home, with keeping his hands to himself.(playing transformers and power rangers). I truly appreciate Master Cho and also Master Kim for taking the time to talk to him. Zachary is looking forward to the board breaking on November 17th. Master Kim asked him to come. Zachary has also told his teachers he will not play transformers and power rangers anymore at school. I am grateful for everything my son learns at your school. Zachary has improved on many things in the few months that he has been in attendance. He knows to try his best ( I can't is rarely said). As a mother, to watch these changes in my son that are so positive. I ask myself why did I wait so long to sign him up?? Again I would like to say thank you to Master Cho and Master Kim for taking the time to talk with Zachary.

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A Little Tiger
By Karen T. Smith
March 12, 2007

Grand Master Cho was recently doing short sessions within the youngest class, the three to six year old Little Tigers. He first pulled out the highest belt -- green -- and ran him through the forms. They worked in the area where the parents wait. It's an overflow practice room with windows into the main Dojang, where the rest of the class was continuing with Master Kim and Master Han.

The first child did his series well. Then two orange belts came out. One belt level lower, different forms. They also completed their routines well. Then a lone yellow belt, a boy much younger than the two before him, was called out by Grand Master Cho. He was much smaller than the others. He was about 5 years old, light brown hair, his uniform pants rolled at the cuff to keep from dragging on the floor. Grand Master Cho directed him to where to stand. The boy jumped into a crisp "ready" stance -- legs wide, arms straight down in fists -- and called out, clear as a gong and quite loudly, "Yes SIR!"

You could hear the parents titter a bit. Such a confident response! The other kids hadn't been so loud. Grand Master Cho guided the boy through the 20 forms required for promotion from Yellow belt to Orange belt. Belt tests were more than a month away: this was early. At each number, the child called out, "One, SIR!" with the same strong, forceful voice. He didn't crack a smile. He was focused. His forms were tight. His mother sat nearby and waved to him. He stayed completely composed, eyes forward. "Eight, SIR!" turn, turn, turn, double knife hand, middle block, "Nine, SIR!" one step forward, outside to inside block, "Ten, SIR!"

It was like a scene from a movie. You could almost hear the music swell as he moved. He flowed from one pose to the next. Grand Master Cho made some adjustments, pointed which direction to turn on occasion. The boy didn't flinch or change his attitude. Each number, he called out strongly "Twelve, SIR!" He kept eye contact with Grand Master Cho through it all. By now, every parent in the room was watching him. His right hand punched forward with a loud "Ki-YUP!" on sixteen. He was impressive. Turn, turn, low block, "Ninteen, SIR!" step, left hand makes an outside to inside block, "Twenty, SIR!" The boy was motionless, waiting for Grand Master Cho's signal. 20 poses, 5 years old. Was there a hint of a smile on Grand Master Cho's face? The Grand Master called "Geu Mahn" and the boy returned to his tight ready stance, arms balled in fists, eyes forward.

Finished with the Yellow belt forms, they proceeded to the tenets of Tae Kwon Do. The boy spoke with his right hand up, same tone, same confidence, same volume, same SIR! each time. The tenets: Courtesy (Sir!), Integrity (Sir!), Perseverance (Sir!), Self-Control (Sir!), Indomitable Spirit (Sir!) (That last one always sounds like "Abominable Spirit" when shouted by the three to six year olds in Little Tigers.) This boy seemed to personify these tenets. That spirit! Indomitable, indeed.

Grand Master Cho dismissed him back to class. The boy gave a great big, "Thank You SIR!" followed by a deep bow, and off he went. The whole room laughed out loud as he exited. There was even a smattering of applause. Master Cho said, more to the room than the boy, "He is really good, what a smart boy!"

Just 4 months ago, this boy was a shy white belt, unsure of himself. He is different now. The tone, the stance, the memory for a complicated series of turns, hand positions, kicks and punches. The confidence! The respect in his voice, the pride in his accomplishment, the focus. This child has grown, even though his pants are still rolled at the cuff.