Blue Dragon Tae Kwon Do
About the Program:
Founded in July of 2008 by instructor Marshall Hale, Blue Dragon Tae Kwon Do has since been a flagship program at Medwest Health & Fitness Center. The program originally began with only one class, for youth, once per week. It has evolved into what is now an ongoing child, youth, and adult curriculum, with classes for all three offered two nights per week. Philosophically, Blue Dragon Tae Kwon Do follows the guidelines of the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. The color belt ranking system begins at white, then passes through yellow, green, blue, red, and eventually to first-degree black belt status. Belt testings reflect a practitioner’s ability to master the requisite form, or kata, for a given belt status, along with requirements for sparring, demonstration of specialty kicks, and object breaking. In November of 2011, Blue Dragon Tae Kwon Do honored its first group to reach black belt status. This group, composed of ten participants from both, the youth and adult classes, marked the first Blue Dragons to complete the primary journey.
Tae Kwon Do As a Discipline:
The martial art of Tae Kwon Do is Korean in origin, with roots stemming back over a thousand years. Tae Kwon Do gained great prominence over the past century, as weaponless self-defense became a staple of survival for the Korean people during periods of foreign occupation. In present times, Tae Kwon Do has risen to become the most popular martial art in the world by number of practitioners. It is especially popular and well-founded in America. The teachings and character development of Tae Kwon Do go far beyond flashy kicks and board-shattering. Tae Kwon Do seeks to instill into its students the virtues of self-discipline, calmness, control, and respect for self and fellow man. True Tae Kwon Do emphasizes fighting only as a means of self-preservation, when all other efforts toward peace have broken down.
Martial Arts for Exercise:
A secondary, yet still very attractive reason for engaging in martial arts training is the powerful effect it can have on the body. Tae Kwon Do in particular, with its use of explosive movements, and lots of them, improves upon aerobic capacity, anaerobic strength and endurance, and dynamic flexibility. Studies have shown that intense martial arts training can burn as many as 720 calories per hour for a person of average size.
About Blue Dragon Instructor & Founder, Marshall Hale:
Tae Kwon Do Instructor Marshall Hale was born and raised in Miami, Fla. He began his journey in the art of Tae Kwon Do under the tutelage of renown Tae Kwon Do champion and instructor, Grand Master Young Soo Do in 1981. At the Young Soo Do School of Tae Kwon Do, he achieved his first-degree black belt in 1983. He continued his pursuit throughout the 1980’s and competed with the Young Taekwondo fighting team, obtaining numerous first-place trophies for fighting, breaking, and forms competitions. He has since risen in rank to fourth-degree black belt. Hale’s instructional background spans over two decades, throughout which he has taught in numerous settings, including child and adult self-defense courses. Hale founded the Blue Dragon School of Tae Kwon Do in the summer of 2008, in association with the Medwest Health & Fitness Center. It has since grown to include over one hundred students, and has produced ten black belts.
Class Schedule:
Tiny Tigers:
• Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm
• Ages 3 to 6 years
• Cost: Free to MH&FC members/ Available to non-members at $20 for a five-visit punch card
MH&FC’s most popular class for youngsters ages 3 to 6, Tiny Tigers puts the endless energy of our youngest participants to good use! Tiny Tigers students learn elementary TKD techniques, along with high-octane fun and games, and even safety and wellness tips for better every-day living.
Youth Tae Kwon Do:
• Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
• Ages 7 to 13 years
• Cost: Members: $20/5 punch card, Non-Members: $35/5 punch card
Members: $35/10 punch card, Non-Members: $60/10 punch card
(Try it out! First class may be attended free of charge!)
Participants of Youth TKD officially enter into the belt system, thus beginning their journey toward the venerated status of black belt. Along the way, your child will be taught respect for self and others, discipline through a goal-oriented system, and valuable self-defense techniques and maneuvers. With the blend of forms (kata) training, sparring, specialty kicks, and breaking, youth participants will come to know Tae Kwon Do as both a sport, and as an art.
Adult Tae Kwon Do:
• Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:45 pm – 8:00 pm
• Ages 14 year and Up
• Cost: Members: $20/5 punch card, Non-Members: $35/5 punch card
Members: $35/10 punch card, Non-Members: $60/10 punch card
(Try it out! First class may be attended free of charge!)
Adults too can enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from practicing Tae Kwon Do. Having a goal to pursue that challenges you both mentally and physically reinvigorates everyday life. The confidence and sense of security produced by mastering defensive techniques will even change the way you carry yourself. Blue Dragon’s Adult TKD classes offer learning through camaraderie in a comfortable and relaxed setting.
Women’s Self Defense Seminars:
Women are the segment of society most victimized by violent crime. A major focus for Instructor Hale and Blue Dragon Tae Kwon Do is addressing this threat. Hale uses his extensive background in martial arts instruction and emergency service work to provide seminars for Women’s Self Defense to the surrounding community. Hale presents a clear and practical approach to vital aspects of public and personal safety for women in today’s society. Each seminar has two main points of emphasis: the first, AVOIDING victimization with common-sense awareness and preventative measures, and second, RESPONDING to an act of violence with defensive force and escape maneuvers. Participants can expect to learn: HOW and WHERE potential attackers choose their victims, and what situations can be most conducive to violent crime and how to avoid them. Participants will also come away with knowledge of how and where to strike a would-be attacker for maximum effectiveness, along with escape and defensive techniques from standing and lying positions. Women’s Self Defense seminars are offered approximately once every two months at Medwest Health & Fitness Center. To check for an upcoming seminar please refer to our “What’s New” link on the fitness center home page. Admission is $10 for all.