For Reston Tae Robics, click here

Reston

Tae Kwon Do

We're Back!!!!!

Last year, We Had to Make a Few Adjustments, But Now...

We're Back At Home!

As you know, due to the implementation of several construction projects, the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods was closed for more than six months.  The primary project was the replacement of the existing Heating, Ventalation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system that had been in use since the opening of the Center nearly 30 years ago.

Now, all that's done and we are returning home to the Center floor of the Hunters Woods location, with much more space than before and also...MORE PARTICIPANTS!!!

The enrollment for the Beginner class has been increased to 35 participants and will be held from 11:00 until 12:00 noon, and the Advanced class has been increased to 30 participants and will be held from the new time of 10:00 untill 11:00 a.m.

The Tae Robics class has also been increased to almost 50 participants and will be held from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m..  

I strongly suggest that all of the current students register for the classes before that fill up.  Once the classes are full, there will be no addition participants allowed.

Two Reston Members Are Honored at the International Hall of Champions Banquet!

Two senior members of the Reston location receive the coveted award!

The two most senior members of the Reston location, Black Belt Andrew Butts and Black Belt Candidate, Alan Thomas, were recognized at the Black Tie, International Hall of Honor Awards Banquet last year at the BWI Marriott Hotel in Linthicom, Maryland.

This is the second time that each of them have been recognized for their

outstanding acheivements.

Black Belt Candidate, Alan Thomas,                    

IMF Student, Ketil Hviding and Black Belt,  Andy Butts  

pose for a picture at the banquet dinner table.     

The two received beautiful awards for their outstanding achievements and contributions to martial arts before a packed house of martial artists from several countries, including the United States, Jamaica, Columbia, Puerto Rico, Ghana, Canada, China, and the Phillippines.

Next year, we are looking forward to presenting Mr. Thomas with his new Cho Dan Black Belt and Mr. Butts with his 2nd Dan Black Belt.

Black Belt Candidate, Alan Thomas towers

over Master Wyatt as he receives his award

Senior Black Belt Instructor, Andy Butts poses with his wife, Mindy

  Master Wyatt converses with WTKDC

  Black Belts Darryl Maye from Temple

  Hills and Andy Butts of Reston and

  Kung Fu Grandmaster Arturo Gabriel

  at the Friday evening Black Belt

  Session of the International Hall of 

  Honor Awards.

On This Day,

History Was Made...

And Sabum Andy Butts Was A Part of It!

Reston Sabum, Andy Butts Poses Just before the Historic, Lincoln Memorial

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, history was made when Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.  Hundreds of thousands from all across the world came to our Nation's Capitol to witness this monumental event, including our own, Andy and Mindy Butts.

Dressed in their warm outdoor gear, they both walked across the bridge and stood with the multitudes to witness this historical chapter in American History.

Many people decided that the cold and the crowds was too much for them, but read what Andy had to say about his experience...

What a fantastic and memorable day!  To experience the inauguration of President Obama was one of our life's highlights.  We couldn't have had a better time.  We left our home in Reston at 0700 and travelled back roads to the Navy Annex between the Pentagon and Marine Post Henderson Hall.  We parked at the foot of the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, VA.  It was pretty cold, about 20 deg F with a 10 deg F chill-factor, so we wore layered clothing and brought some hot-pocket hand warmers just in case. 

We walked past the Pentagon and got across the Potomac River on the Memorial Bridge.  As we got closer to the Lincoln Memorial, the whole adventure started to set in.

After visiting the Lincoln, World War II and Washington Monument memorials, we walked along the mall to find "our" spot.  In the news pictures taken from the Capital building, you'll see the Washington Monument.  About a third of the way, you'll see the white pebble-stoned path cutting across the mall to the Smithsonian Castle.  That's where "our" spot was.
 
The people were ecstatic and very friendly.  People were handing out flags, buttons, and welcoming you to DC.  After waiting for about two hours standing in the same place, the ceremony was welcomed and inspirational.  Leaving was a bit crowded and took a little time to leave, but all the people were cooperative and in high spirits.  The really cool thing is that we'll be able to tell our Grandchildren (one of these days) that we were there when the American people swore in their first African American US President!                  

                                                              Sabum Andy Butts and his wife, Mindy,braved the

                                                           cold weather to be a part of a very historical event!

The event also featured THE (notice that the "THE" is capitalized) Ohio State Buckeye Marching Band, which is Andy's Alma Mater.

WE NEED PICTURES!

I know that several of you have taken plenty of pictures of the class over the years and I am asking you to share them with us for the WTKDC website.

If you have any good quality pictures of our students please allow us to use them on the site.  We can also use pictures of some of our students at other activities such as Scouting events, recitals, honor ceremonies, etc.

Please email your pix to me at WTKDC1@aol.com

We've got new White Belts!

During the last session, several of our new students took their test for the rank of 10th Gup White Belts and passed with flying colors!  At first, they were a bit nervous, but as they got into the simsa, they performed as if they had been doing this for years! 

We now have three beautiful young ladies, 6 year old Morgan Ryan, and a set of six year old twins, Isabella and Ava Lambert, a family of handsome men which includes three brothers, Benjamin, Nathaniel and Johnathan Bochtler, along with their dad Edwin Bochtler, and Satwick Sai Tadikamalla and Johnathan Canales.

We are looking forward to a long future with each of them in the new year.

Reston To Host The

Annual Fall Simsa

The Fall Simsa

The Annual Fall Simsa will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2009, at the Hunters' Woods facility of the Reston Community Center, in Reston, Virginia.  The simsa will begin at 9:00 a.m., with the advance belts and will end at around 2:00 p.m. with the White Belts and No Belts.

Qualifying students from all of the locations are invited to participate in this simsa, however, you MUST turn in your Testing Permission Sheet and your testing fees to Kwanjang Wyatt by the appropriate date.  The Testing Permission Sheets will be distributed to all students On the 1st of October.

If you qualify and you intend to paticipate in this simsa, please be sure to get a testing package from Master Wyatt when they become available.

As the host location, it is your responsibility to help Kwanjang Wyatt set up for the simsa, clean up after the simsa and to meet and greet our guest students from the other locations and make them feel welcome.  If you have any questions about anything, please speak with Kwanjang Wyatt or Sabum Andy Butts.

Also, don't forget that we will hold the fall outdoor training workshop on October 18, 2009, at the Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, Virginia.

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Mark These Dates on Your Calendar

We want to make sure that you don't schedule anything else on these dates so that you can be sure to join us as these are VERY IMPORTANT times and events.

October 4, 2009                       CPR/AED Training and Certification

October 18, 2009                     The Outdoor Training Session @ Lake Fairfax

November 1, 2009                    The JW Kids Classics Martial Tournament

November 8, 2009                    The Annual FALL Simsa

No, You're Not Seeing Double!

It's two of our new White Belt Students Ava and Isabella (or is it Isabella and Ava).  The two of them are on track to being two of our sharpest competitors in their age group.  We are looking forward to them doing great things at the upcoming months.

The First Reston Outdoor Workshop was a BIG Success!

And we're getting ready for the next one!

Kwanjang Wyatt lectures his group on safety techniques

Thanks to the support of several of the parents and the students, the 1st annual Reston Fall Outdoor Workshop was a complete success.  More than 45 youth and adults joined us for our fall workout where we worked on kicks, forms, and of course, self defense.

Lots of parents joined in and several students brought their friends.  After the three hour workout (which went by very quickly), we enjoyed some delicious ethnic foods that were provided by the parents.  Everyone is looking forward to the Fall Outdoor Workshop, which will be held on Sunday, October 18, 2009. Check out some of the workshop pictures by clicking on this link.

Sabum Andy Butts is definitely In Charge!!

Ever since Andrew Butts retired from the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel he has been the driving force for the Reston location of the WTKDC.  "Sabum"  (which means Instructor in Korean) is the First student from our Reston location to become a WTKDC Black and he has been running it as if he had been doing it for years. For almost eight years, Andy has been a role model to several youth and young adults in Reston.  His quiet demeanor and calm voice has made him a big success with our younger kids at the center.  Andy was the first student from the Reston location to compete in a martial arts tournament, winning 2nd place at the Future Leaders of America Tournament, Hosted by Juan Davis.

Andy will also be elligible to test for his 2nd Degree this November, 2009, and is in training to take that exam now.

A dedicated husband and a true family man, Andy is a leader to all of our students and a true necessity to the students at the Reston location.  He makes sure that everything and everyone is well organized and that all matters are kept in order. 

Now that he has retired, he has begun to grow his beard and has let his hair become just a slight bit longer, giving us a different look when he come to Tae Kwon Do class.  He recently a 3,000 mile "Road Trip" on his new Harley Davidson Touring motorcycle riding from Virginia to Ohio and then from Ohio to Florida and back to Virginia.

New WTKDC Black Belt, Andy Butts stands with Kwanjang Wyatt and some of the top martial artists in the country at his International Hall of Honor induction ceremony, in Hanover, Maryland.

Above: Andy displays his new Harley Touring bike that he rode more than 3,000 miles, from Virginia to Ohio and then from Ohio to Florida and back to Virginia on.

Right: Black Belt Candidate, Andy Butts, stands with his youngest son, Ryan, his wife "Mindy" and his oldest son Andrew at this Retirement ceremony at the Pentagon.

Andy sports his new "Biker Look", as he rides his Harley.  It's a bit different from the staunch, Air Force officer look, isn't?

For More Photos of Andy's Black Belt Presentation, Click Here

History in the Making at the Reston location!

It's been a long time since we started our Tae Kwon Do program at the Reston Community Center 10 years ago in 1999.  As a matter of fact, we have been there longer than any other group exercise in the program.

Take a look at just of few of our highlights from some of our students in their earlier years.

Yummy, yummy, for my tummy!

Kwanjang Wyatt was treated to some delicious "Birthday" brownies that were baked by Mrs. Thomas, wife of Blue Belt, Alan Thomas in honor of Master Wyatt's birthday.  Alan and his wife delivered the treats to Kwanjang just before Alan won two 1st place trophies in the Adult Forms and Fighting divisions at the JW Spring Classics Martial Arts Tournament in Springdale, Maryland!

Our Oldest Student Achieves His White Belt

At 72 years old, Min Tok Kim shows everyone that it is never too late to achieve a long time desire.

Mr. Kim was just one of the students who passed their requirements for their next belt level.  He was also joined by 8th Gup Gold Belt, Whitney Walesewicz, 7th Gup Gold Belt, Gregory Fischer, 5th Gup Green Belts, Ewan Kay, Alexander Seto, Stephanie Seto and Alan Thomas, and 1st Gup Brown, Andrew Butts, who will be testing for his Black Belt in the Fall.  Congratulations goes out to all of them.

In her first time out... White Belt, Rebecca Jiang places in the top four of a National Martial Arts Event!

At age 10, the soft spoken Rebecca is on track for becoming one of the shining stars at our Reston location.  In her first time out to a martial arts tournament, Rebecca placed 3rd behind two national rated competitors (including one of our own students, Trey Thorne) at the World Series of Martial Arts National Martial Arts Tournament.  No other female youth student at the WTKDC has accomplished this since 7th Gup Green Belt, Stephanie Seto did it two years ago.

Rebecca started her Tae Kwon Do training last year, when she saw our class training after her Young Actors’ Theater class on Saturday mornings, and wanted to take the class so that she could learn to defend herself.  Master Wyatt says that she has a lot of natural talent and discipline, and the mechanics of Tae Kwon Do seem to come rather easy for her.  She trains ard in class and in addition to classroom training, she works out in her spare time with her TKD classmate, Valentina Golac.

Also in her spare time, Rebecca takes gymnastics, plays the viola, and likes to make beaded jewelry, and is an Honor Roll Student.

Rebecca says that her parents and Master Wyatt are her role models.  In her quote, she says “Don’t wait for something to happen. Everyone else is waiting for you.”

Be sure to look for her being one of our Champion Student representatives.

Our Tallest Students Show Their Stuff at the

National World Series of Martial Arts Tournament

Two of our Tallest Students

Five feet, 11 inch Ewan Kay, the tallest WTKDC Youth Student and 6 feet 6 inch, Alan Thomas, the tallest Adult Student, show off their winnings from Charlie Lee's World Series of Martial Arts Tournament,  in Reston, Virginia.

Ewan won 3rd Place in Forms and 4th Place in Weapons (only behind two other WTKDC Students) and Alan Thomas won 1st Place in Fighting and 2nd Place in Forms at the National Martial Arts Tournament, which was held in Reston, Virginia.

Ewan and Alan are two of the 10 students from the WTKDC who competed and won in their respective divisions.  Once again showing that their hard work, dedication, and commitment to training pays off.

The Washington Tae Kwon Do Spirit REALLY Shows in Reston!

Six Feet 6 inch, Gold Belt, Alan Thomas proudly shows the Washington Tae Kwon Do Spirit by sporting his personalized Virginia License plate that displays the school's initials...WTKDC.

Alan says he got them because he is proud to be a member of our organization and they were available.  Alan, who is now at the rank of 2nd Gup Brown, will be tesing for the rank of 1st Gup Brown Belt this Spring.

Gold belt Alan Thomas stands along side of his car that proudly sports the tags bearing the school's initials...WTKDC

The Reston Class is getting bigger, stronger and ready to perform!

The Reston location of the WTKDC is getting larger and also getting a lot more recognition.    As a result of our hard work, and the dedication of the students and their parents, the school is now considered to be one of the premier Tae Kwon Do schools in the Fairfax County area.

Several of the students have performed in demonstrations and also have won 1st place honors at several major martial arts tournaments in the region including Charlie Lee's World Series of Martial Arts Tournament and Dennis Brown's, U.S. Capitol Classics.  In addition, ALL of the youth students are Honor Roll Students in their regular academic school.

The Reston Students are also involved in all types of activities outside of dojang like music, art, sports and so much more.  Sixteen year old Lisa Fisher (pictured above with Master Wyatt) is a tremenous vocalist.  Her choir has performed at a number of exclusive locations including the Kennedy Center.  They also produced a beautiful Christmas CD.

The leadership is assisted by Brown Belt Adult, Andrew Butts and Green Belt, Alan Thomas.  These two lead the class and carry on activities when Master Wyatt is otherwise occupied. 

Master Wyatt instructs two of his sharpest female youth white belt students, Marsha (left) and Valentina (right) on perfecting the fighting skills

 

They both have competed in several martial arts tournaments and demonstrations.  In addition, they both put a lot of intensity and determination into each and every technique, and have represented Reston WTKDC with the utmost honor and sportsmanship.

The work is extremely hard at the Reston facility, but the students have never failed to meet the challenge.

 White Belt, Stephanie Seto

  wins the YOUTH FORMS

 GRANDCHAMPIONSHIP

  at her first "National"

  Tournament!

Recently, history was once again made for the Washington Tae Kwon Do Club; but this time the history making students came from the Reston location.  Gold Belt, Stephanie Seto ran away the the Youth GrandChampionship at Alopo Ladra's Maryland Open National Martial Arts Tournament, in Essex, Maryland, winning not only the GrandChampion Trophy, but also a $500.00 Savings Bond.

Her brother, Alex Seto also participated and was a finalist in the 15 to 17 year old sparring division and in the top 4 in the Forms division.

Twelve year old, Ewan Kay took 2nd place in Beginner Sparring and was 3rd in the Forms division.

Each of them said that they were nervous in the beginning, but that soon went away once the competition began.  Also, each of them are straight "A" honor students at their academic school.

Their parents and Master Wyatt are very proud to have these future leaders as part of our winning team in Reston.  Our next tournament will by Master Wyatt's own tournament event...The JW Spring Classics, in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

Stephanie Seto gives an outstanding performance on her Form "Dan Gun" to

win the GrandChampion honors at Apolo Ladra's Maryland Open National Tournament in Essex, Maryland.