School Events and News

For information about belt tests and events throughout the 2008 year visit the Class Schedule.

2008 Won Park TKD Summer Tournament

Now is the time to train for this year's school tournament! All branch school and main school students are eligible to compete for trophies in forms and sparring on June 21, 2008. Check with your instructors for details as the event approaches.

WPTKD 2007 Christmas Party

Our annual event was filled with good food, awards recognizing our students, and good fellowship for friends and family. Thank you all.

2007 Won Park TKD Summer Tournament

This year's event was exciting for all and a joy to watch. Grandmaster Park expressed heartfelt gratitude for the competitors, judges and especially family and friends who attended. The tournament began with a spectacular demonstration following the opening ceremonies and was followed by the poomse and sparring competitions. The gryoroogi competition was particularly exciting with many close matches. Congratulations to all competitors!

The following group photograph shows the competitors with their trophies after the event, along with Grandmaster Park, trophy presenters and tournament judges. Please click on the image for a larger image which opens in a new window.

Also please view the Photo Gallery for this event, which contains both still shots and some exciting sparring video clips.

Welcome Master Jeon!

Won Park Institute of Taekwondo is pleased to welcome to the United States, the Fort Worth community, and especially the Won Park Institute Family our new 5th Dan Master Instructor Jeong Ho Jeon. Master Jeon comes to us from Korea where he has been practicing and teaching Taekwondo for several years. Students are encouraged to welcome our new instructor and enjoy his highly motivational, energy-filled class in the evenings and on Saturdays. Pictured at right is Master Jeon, Jokyonim Phu Nguyen, and sparring class students.

October 2006 Black Belt Test Highlights

Large Turnout for Historic Test

This autumn's Won Park Institute black belt test was quite memorable. Not only were there twelve total candidates, but three of them were trying to achieve the high rank of 6th Dan Taekwondo Master. In the words of Grandmaster Won Chik Park:

"This is a Won Park Institute historical black belt test. Since I opened up in Ft. Worth in 1979 until today - approximately 27 years - these are the highest ranking and longest training candidates."

Those candidates were Master Dan James, Master Betty James and Master Greg Gafford. All the candidates gave it their best effort and offered family and friends a fantastic Taekwondo experience that will be remembered for years to come.

Preliminary Techniques

Lower ranking black belts are required to successfully complete a written examination of Taekwondo knowledge as part of their testing procedure. As Grandmaster Won Chik Park instructed the candidates, "Do your best; don't make a different story, tell a true story." After the written portion, sole 1st Dan candidate Lisa Jones began the extensive kicking portion of the test. This was followed by all 2nd Dan candidates kicking, which included slow versions of various Taekwondo kicks. Grandmaster Park says that this type of training strengthens the muscles and allows for better, more powerful kicks at regular speed. It is a feat that takes tremendous skill, as you can see in the group slow snap kick photo. Poomse demonstrations were next, and everyone performed very well.

Defensive Maneuvers - All in the Family

The husband and wife team of Masters Dan and Betty James, shown at right, may have given onlookers the impression that they don't have the most loving of relationships. For they did not hesitate to demonstrate the controlled power necessary to attack or defend; using their bodies either to attack - with or without weapons - or to defend such attacks. It is important to note that martial artists must learn how to fall properly in the takedowns that they perform, which Master Betty James expertly demonstrates.

Just as entertaining was watching Master Greg Gafford and his son, Jordan. The younger Gafford assisted his father in the defensive techniques, which at this high rank are developed by the masters themselves. Again and again the boy was thrown down like a sack of potatoes by his very strong father. The proficiency with which they worked was evident in their timing. And the younger Gafford, a black belt Taekwondo practitioner himself, was just fine after the demonstration.

To watch the higher ranking candidates perform was a real testament to the power of Taekwondo to change lives for the better. The skill and precision exhibited was impressive for all to see. These martial artists - grandparents some of them - show a true Taekwondo Spirit. Masters Dan and Betty James, Master Greg Gafford and Master Sid Nelson in particular have achieved so much in the art of Taekwondo. And they still learn from their senior, Grandmaster Won Chik Park.

Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman!

Charlene Logan is an inspiration to women martial artists everywhere. She was a 3rd Dan candidate, shown with the stick, defending against the attack of her assistant, who happens to be a police officer in real life. She adroitly took away his baton and is shown after she controlled a swing to his neck, poised to use it at will if needed. Her confidence shone through every technique that was required of her, from the two on one fighting to the breaking of concrete slabs with an axe kick. Also stunning was the performance of Melinda Kaitcer, who is shown after successfully defending against an attack by Master Terry Avery. Master Avery looks stunned by the takedown she executed. The look on his face seems to say, "What happened?" Way to go gals!

The Break Bash

And the boards were flying all over the dojang that very special day. The ways in which candidates chose to break was unique and exciting. Speed breaks, head breaks, flying kicks, special combinations and a few concrete bashes rounded out the day as an absolutely smashing event. Shown first below is the final break of Aaron Eller, a flying side kick. This second photograph shows Joseph Benz breaking with the help of special holder Sabamnim James Skipworth. If you look up left in the portait of Kwanchangnim Park, you will see the board that flew up to mark the ceiling with evidence of the test eventually; edge on, pointing about 20 degrees west of north. Master Sid Nelson demonstrates absolute intensity in the expert bisection of concrete slabs in the third picture. He spent many weeks at the Dojang preparing for this moment of mastery, and his efforts in all test areas sure paid off.

Words of Wisdom

In closing, Grandmaster Park offered his wisdom to all present, which comes from the knowledge and experience of over half a century of Taekwondo training and teaching. To paraphrase Grandmaster Park's remarks on making mistakes:

'Testing is never perfect, especially breaking boards. Sometimes there is a pushing of the boards. There must a good balance one hundred percent and then smack [the board breaks]. Some hit at a different angle and miss, or people holding will move. So I understood if people made mistakes. Mistakes are for learning. Why did you make mistakes? I already explained why. It is better to make a mistake and then be corrected then it is to be correct the first time. If the second time you are correct, then you never forget it.'

Finally, Kwanchangnim spoke of continuing on with Taekwondo. He offered congratulations to everyone, especially those highest ranking members, for desiring to stick with Taekwondo. It is because of this desire that they are where they are today - 6th Dan Masters. "This is a very valuable moment, and it will be valuable for your entire life."

The candidates now promoted are 1st Dan Lisa Jones, 2nd Dan Austin Baugus, 2nd Dan Melinda Kaitcer, 2nd Dan Joseph Benz, 2nd Dan Adam Eller, 2nd Dan Aaron Eller, 3rd Dan Erik Farfan, 3rd Dan Charlene Logan, 5th Dan Sidney Nelson, 6th Dan Greg Gafford, 6th Dan Betty James, and 6th Dan Daniel James. Shown left is Grandmaster Park talking with candidate Austin Baugus and his family after the test.

Head on over to the Photo Galleries page for photos and video clips of the test.

Won Park Institute's Summer Taekwondo Tournament

It sure was a fun-filled day of exciting Taekwondo action. Thank you all for making it such a successful event.

April 2006 Black Belt Test Highlights

This spring's Black Belt Test, held at the main school of the Won Park Institute, was memorable for the effort displayed by the candidates, as well as the fact that three gentlemen students of the school were testing for high rank. Three younger students from West Texas also tested for 1st Dan. Grandmaster Park summed it up in his opening remarks on test day:

"This test is very special. One of our highest seniority Black Belts is testing for 5th Dan Black Belt, which is Taekwondo Master. In many schools, 4th Dan is Master, but for Kukkiwon, 5th Dan is actually Master."

Mr. Winfred Harvey, a Won Park Institute student since 1980, tested for 5th Dan. Mr. Terry Avery, who has been at the school since 1984 also was testing for 5th Dan. Mr. James Skipworth, a long time veteran of Won Park Institute of Taekwondo, was trying for 4th Dan promotion. What a performance of power and skill they all displayed in poomse (forms), gyoroogi (sparring), self-defense techniques and board and brick breaking. Mr. Terry Avery was a partner for both others in the self-defense maneuvers and was taken down dozens of times it seemed. The day was a complete success for them all.

Grandmaster Park thanked all of the honored family members, stressing the importance of their support to the Taekwondo students. Without this support, the students could not achieve these impressive milestones.

In closing, Master Dan James, the highest ranking Instructor under Grandmaster Park, provided these inspirational words to the audience:

"Some people we've been here with for 26 years. Winfred Harvey, Mr. Skipworth. We started when my son was 6 years old. The day we started, Mr. Skipworth was here and we'd practice and practice. It really means something. It is truly an honor when people stick together and stay together. Just as a reminder, I'd like you to think about who we are and what we are. We are Ji Do Kwans here. Without pride, we don't have anything. Without discipline, we can't do anything. And without loyalty, we aren't anything. For those people who have been loyal and stayed with this, it will really mean something in life. It will always mean something. Those people who don't have self-discipline, self-respect or loyalty, they just drift around in the world. So I am proud of everyone who stayed here. Thank you."

Finally, Master Greg Gafford, the next highest ranking Instructor, mentioned the special abilities that these Taekwondo practitioners - all of whom are over 40 years old - possess:

"What an encouragement it is to me to get to see Mr. Skipworth, Mr. Avery, and Mr. Harvey in particular. Even though the body fades a little bit, the effort and intensity is even greater now than it ever has been. That is a tremendous encouragement to me, and I know it is to everyone else. Thank you guys."

Pictured from left to right are: Senior instructor John Klein, Master Dan James, Master Greg Gafford, Chief Instructor James Skipworth, Master Winfred Harvey, Grandmaster Won Chik Park, Master Terry Avery, Master Riad Nusrallah, Chief Instructor Dennis (DJ) Hunt, Master Betty James.

Visit the Photo Galleries page for photos and video clips of the test.