THE TIME FOR CHANGE IS HERE!
OUR DOJANG IS MOVING!
Dear students, parents and friends,
We moved in to our present location in July of 2007, 12 years ago when our student population was over 200 students. We had two dojangs, one in Souderton and one in Harleysville. The students and the flooring came from both. This big 4800 square foot facility was a dream come true…except for the fact that we did not own the building. The present dojang’s lease was tough but more cost efficient compared to what we were paying for two locations. This big dojang would be perfect for big classes, seminars, tournaments and all kinds of events! One problem was it was located back in the country with no foot traffic and not much car traffic! Another problem I realized over the years is the big room seemed to scare away many possible students. Through those 12 years our student population dwindled down to around 100 at this time. We can no longer afford our dojang palace.
Four years ago when our lease renewal came up we decided we would try to find another location by the end of the renewed lease. And here we are four years later. Our dojang lease ends June 30, 2019. This is a good change. We have a strong student base with a fantastic group of Black Belt instructors and helpers. A dojang move is always a bit difficult. Our Harleysville Dojang moved 3 times and our Souderton Dojang just once and we’re bound to lose some students but for those with a true passion and strong goal perseverance, this should be a very positive and exciting change.
Starting July 1, 2019 we will have classes temporarily at Encore Experiences (Harleysville Senior Center), 312 Alumni Avenue in Harleysville. The facility is heated and air conditioned. It has a beautiful lobby and two restrooms and a workout floor measuring 40′ x 50′ which could expand to 70′ if needed. We also have two smaller rooms for TIGERS and going over requirement sheets. We will have classes Monday 6-7 pm for kids and parents, 7-8 pm for adults and Green Belt and age 12 and above and all Black Belts. We would like to encourage Green Belt and above, age 12 and up to try to come to the 7-8 pm class to equal out class sizes. But if it doesn’t work, 6-7 pm would be fine. Tuesday we’ll have our TIGERS class for ages 4-6 from 6-6:30 pm. Also on Tuesday 6-7 pm for kids and parents, 7-8 Black Belts and Black Stripes (replacing our Wednesday 7-8 pm Black Belt class we have now). No classes Wednesday night. Thursdays 6-7 pm for kids and parents White Belt through Green Stripe, 7-8 pm Green Belt and above (same as we have now). No classes Fridays. Saturday we will have one class for Adults and Black Stripes and above with Mr. Carpenter, but the location is floating. We will be able to use Encore if need be but we’d like to have outdoor classes during the warmer weather and we are looking for another location indoors for Saturday class. The tuition will stay the same. Limiting the choices for Taekwon-Do classes will help us to commit to certain days and classes could run more efficient. We may not have as much floor space as we do now but we can make due and still have awesome classes of learning and growing. It’s a new beginning and it is a very positive move for our dojang.
The lease at Encore Experience is only for 6 months. If Encore works out for us, we could stay a good while but we have that option and I’d like to continue to look for a space of our own. Please help me with any ideas you might have- your church, a business that has an extra room, etc.
It seems as I grow older, I find I’m wanting to “get rid of stuff.” I strive to keep things simple. Personally I don’t hold on to things- I am not a hoarder and I like to travel as light and basic as possible. Our dojang is just full of memorabilia showing our history. We have trophies and plaques, pictures, kicking bags and equipment and furniture that all has to go for this move. I want to get our dojang down to the bare necessities for training.
We’ve been busy upgrading our website to list all our history and to be the tool for students to know what’s going on. You will see things slowly disappear at the dojang.
Starting in May we will have a “silent auction” to see if anyone wants some of our equipment. We rented a storage space to hold on to the stuff we’ll need when we find a place exclusively for TKD.
Don’t give up! Students stop training usually for more than one reason. Let this move and change motivate you to train more. Not having classes Wednesday and Friday means there is time for those other things we want to do. It also encourages us to set up an area at home to practice. If everyone would do what I ask and practice at home, everyone would realize how valuable that alone time can be. You become a scientist of your own art. You aren’t able to follow the person beside you and the flow of the other students of the class won’t rock your boat. Practice at home and perform in class!!
We are having a meeting Wednesday, May 1 from 7:45-8:30 pm to answer questions and discuss the timeline for breaking down the dojang to the bare necessities. Please try to attend and look for sign-up sheets with special times we need help! If you could put June 28 and/or June 29th on your schedule- June 28 we’ll remove all the screws from the floor and begin to take the floor apart to finish on Saturday. It will be a group effort with free food and refreshments and the fellowship of closing our wonderful facility together and moving on together in to the next exciting phase of our dojang.
WE’RE MARCHING IN THE PARADE!!
Memorial Day weekend we get to march in the Harleysville Fair Days Parade on Saturday, May 25. We meet at Indian Valley Middle School at 10:30 am for a parade that starts at 11 am. The route is about a mile long and returns to the Indian Valley Middle School by 12:30 pm.
We have a sign-up sheet at the dojang and if you know for sure you can make it and you want to be part of our demo team, let Master Cashatt know! We have demo team marching practice Monday, May 13 and 20 from 7-7:30 pm outside! We need all the white uniforms we can get (with you in one).
OUTSTANDING STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Every month Master Cashatt chooses a youth gup (color belt) who has shown outstanding characteristics in class. Every student has a chance to be named once in their gup life. In April every year Master Cashatt names the dojang’s youth “OUTSTANDING STUDENT OF THE YEAR” from the youth roster of the dojang. This promotes a constant reminder for the kids to do their best! This month Master Cashatt has chosen:
THEODORE VANDERMARK
Teddy has been training at our dojang for just over one year and has earned the rank of Yellow Belt. Teddy earned this award by showing good focus on his technique and because of his positive attitude of perseverance. Congratulation Teddy and the Vandermark family.
2019 SPIRIT OF TKD SUMMER CAMP AT THE END OF THIS MONTH!!
For the 25th year, Mark Cashatt’s TaeKwon-Do School, Inc. will be hosting a weekend TaeKwon-Do summer camp!! This year’s weekend camp will be held at Camp Innabah in Spring City, PA, just south of Pottstown.
This event will be held May 31, June 1 & 2, 2019. The camp is for all students White Belt through Black Belt, ages 7 and up through adults. Students age 7 must have special permission from their instructor to attend.
The weekend starts Friday, May 31 with a workout starting at 7 PM. Participants can arrive any time after 5 PM. The Friday night workout lasts until about 9:30 PM. We then get settled into our lodges. We will be in relative comfort with carpeting and air conditioned rooms that sleep 4-10 people. Participants can request to be in a room with their friends or fellow students from the dojang. The meals at Camp Innabah are amazing also. Each meal has many choices and we can eat as much as we please!
Saturday’s activities will always be a little different than other years as we always try new ideas and adventures. We have acres of open fields and we have a modern gymnasium. This camp also has a pool and a place to canoe for our free time late Saturday afternoon.
Our Saturday supper is a “Dress-Up Supper” where campers dress wacky, and/or strange, in Halloween type costumes or something creative to be judged for awards. After supper, we have some kind of trivia scavenger hunt followed by some kind of talent/no-talent show. Lights out for the kids is 11 PM.
Sunday morning we have our “Friendship Breakfast” celebrating all our new found friends from this camp. We have a morning workout with a great group send-off. Then, our “Spring Board Lunch” which gives us a big jump in our TaeKwon-Do training for the summer to come!
This summer camp weekend is another brilliant opportunity to enjoy the art and the passion of TaeKwon-Do. From the moment the student arrives Friday until Sunday’s dismissal, there will be nothing for that student to worry about, or be responsible for, other than doing TaeKwon-Do, making new friends, spending time with old friends, and having a great time. We named the camp “Spirit of TaeKwon-Do” because that’s exactly what the student will be getting. We will all be observing the five tenets in a very positive, family oriented environment that is uncommon for anywhere else. Come and feel the spirit and keep the memories with you throughout the years as you grow in TaeKwon-Do!
The camp costs $240 for the first family member and $225 for each additional family member.
There is a chance of going to summer camp weekend for free! The William Clarke Memorial Fund sends up to four students to summer camp by way of a 500 word essay. A special panel reads all the entries and names the winners. Pick up more information at the dojang or contact Master Cashatt at cashattTKD@gmail.com.
DOJANG ADVENTURE- IRON PIGS BASEBALL!
Every year for well over a decade our Dojang dear friends, the Erskines, have been setting up our Dojang adventure to see the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. This year we have 100 tickets for Saturday, June 15. That is Father’s Day weekend so we thought it might be appropriate to see a ball game with dad! We have the 100 tickets until May 15, one month before the game, so we can give back the tickets we don’t need. We need to know by May 15 if you and your family would like to join us.
It starts at 6:35 and features the Columbus Clippers against our Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs!
The tickets cost $11 each and attached to each ticket is a $2 coupon for food at the game. It is such a great deal and a fun time. Families can invite friends too.
Please sign up on the special Iron Pigs display at the dojang or contact the dojang at 215-721-1839 or cashattTKD@gmail.com.
SAVE THE DATES
MAY 1…DOJANG MEETING AT 7:45 pm
MAY 4…SPECIAL CLEAN-UP TIME at the dojang 10:45-1 pm. (taking things off the walls)
MAY 13..PARADE PRACTICE 7-7:30 pm
MAY 18…BLACK BELT TEST 11 AM
MAY 20…PARADE PRACTICE 7-7:30 PM
MAY 23…Thursday, SPECIAL DEMO at Dock Community- all students invited to participate. 6:30 pm
MAY 25…HARLEYSVILLE FAIR DAYS PARADE we meet at Indian Valley MS 10:30 am
MAY 30…GUP TEST starts at 6 pm.
MAY 31, JUNE 1 & 2…2019 SPIRIT OF TKD SUMMER CAMP at Camp Innabah
JUNE 15…DOJANG ADVENTURE- IRON PIGS BASEBALL
JUNE 28…BREAK DOWN THE DOJANG
JUNE 29…TAKING OUT THE FLOOR
JULY 1…Monday, the first class at our new location. More information to follow.