Congratulations to Brea!

The Master's Taekwondo School is very proud of our student, Brea! She represented our school at the State Games of North Carolina, and brought home two silver medals! Brea is a state champion in forms and sparring! Way to go Brea! Watch for pictures soon!

Blast From the Past

My mother recently visited and brought some photos from early in my Taekwondo career. Enjoy!

Training as a white belt at Young's Taekwondo Karate School in Americus, Georgia. 1989.

Watching one of my early instructors, Mr. Albert Cooper, performing a form at a tournament. Mr. Cooper was blind from a gunshot wound to the head, yet he was a great instructor. 1990 or 1991.

Win a few trophies, and you think you are the man! 1992

Training with Grandmaster Petrotta

On Saturday, March, 21, I had the pleasuring of travelling to Florence, South Carolina to train with Grandmaster George Petrotta, founder of the International Sungja Do Association, and several of his high ranking black belts. We trained in checking and passing, nerve strikes, and wrist locks. In the photo below are myself, Master Floyd Yoder, Grandmaster George Petrotta, Master Steve Rich, master Ron Manes, and Mr. Melvin Wells.

Scripture Memory Schedule

Students at the Master's Taekwondo School are required to memorize Bible verses. Below is a list of required verses for each month. Verses are memorized in the Bible version the parents prefer. As the priests of your household, you decide which Bible version your children memorize.


Orange Belts and Above

February-1 Peter 3:15
March- Colossians 3:23
April- Ephesians 4:32
May- 1 Peter 5:10
June- Joshua 1:9
July- I John 1:7
August- II Timothy 2:15
September- James 1: 22-25
October- Galatians 5:22
November- I Corinthians 15:3-4
December- Romans 5:12

White and Yellow Belts

February- 1 Peter 5:8
March- Jeremiah 29:11
April- Jeremiah 33:3
May- James 4:7
June- Ephesians 6:11
July- 1 Peter 5:8
August- I Corinthians 12:27
September- John 16:13
October- I Corinthians 3:16
November- John 3:16
December- John 1:1

About the Master's Taekwondo School

What is the Master’s Taekwondo School?

The Master’s Taekwondo School is a martial arts school unlike any other! Classes are intentionally small, to maximize contact between the students and the instructor. At The Master’s Taekwondo School, the Master is Jesus Christ, and Taekwondo is a vehicle for developing Christian character in children. The quality of the Taekwondo is high, as it should be for any serious martial arts school. But the focus on character development and discipleship is just as important. The Master’s Taekwondo School is chartered by Karate for Christ International, a Christian martial arts ministry, and by the International Sungja Do Association. It is also sanctioned by the AAU- the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States. AAU certification means that your child will participate in a top quality martial arts program, and that the rank he or she earns will be respected and recognized nationwide.

Who is the Instructor? What are his qualifications to teach my child?

The instructor of the Master’s Taekwondo School is Dr. Steve Mathews. Steve started Taekwondo in 1989, at the age of 12. His instructors all have first or second hand training from the founder of Taekwondo, General Choi Hong Hi. Steve holds a second degree black belt from the Kukkiwon, the national Taekwondo center in Seoul, Korea. Kukkiwon certification is the most recognized Taekwondo rank in the world. He was also recently promoted to the rank of third degree black belt by his instructor, Grandmaster George Petrotta, in the International Sungja Do Association. He is certified as an instructor by the International Sungja Do Association and by Karate for Christ International. He is a state champion in Taekwondo, having won a gold medal in Poomse at the 2008 State Games of North Carolina. Steve graduated from Florida Baptist Theological College, and went on to earn a master’s degree in philosophy from Trinity Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, and an M.B.A. from Liberty University.

What does it cost?

Tuition is $45 per month. Siblings enrolling together pay $40 per month (two children for $80, three for $120). Uniforms are available at discounted costs. The average setup cost is under $20, depending on the size and quality of the uniform desired. Students are required to join the Amateur Athletic Union, which costs $12 per year. Promotional tests are scheduled approximately every four months. Promotion tests cost $10, which pays for a new belt, and an AAU rank certificate. The Master’s Taekwondo School is much more affordable than many local martial arts schools. One large school charges $100 per month, with no discounts for additional children, and many schools charge $30 or more for each promotional test. When you consider the personal attention your child will receive from the instructor, the small class size, the selective clientele, and the emphasis on character development, The Master’s Taekwondo School is an excellent value!

What is taught at the Master’s Taekwondo School?

The Master’s Taekwondo School teaches discipleship and leadership, through the medium of classical Taekwondo. Students memorize Bible verses and learn life lessons about character through a constant emphasis on the Tenets of Taekwondo: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, and an Indomitable Spirit. The Taekwondo that is taught is classical Taekwondo- a strenuous martial art with a focus on mastery of technique and perfection of character. Students begin with basic techniques, and then quickly move to learn and study Poomse, or forms- pre-arranged patterns of movements which contain the essence of Taekwondo self-defense skills. As students perfect their Poomse, they gradually master the art of Taekwondo. Students also spar with pads and safety gear, and practice self-defense techniques. Class sizes will be about six students, all of the same rank range. This means that your child will receive the personal attention that is lacking at larger martial arts schools. This approach differs from the “sport karate” found at many schools. The focus of the Master’s Taekwondo School is not winning trophies, but shaping character. Even so, competition is healthy for developing martial arts skill, so students will have the opportunity to compete occasionally.

Class Schedule

Classes are currently being formed during the afternoons on Wednesday and Thursday. Your child will train in a class of about eight students, one day per week, for 90 minutes. Please call Dawn Mathews at 962-5255 to discuss class schedules, or email steve at stevehmathews@gmail.com .

Classes are held in a safe, clean, well-equipped dojang, or training hall, at the instructor’s home. Safety mats, sparring pads, headgear, and other safety equipment are provided. As your child advances and begins to spar, you will be required to purchase a protective cup (for boys), and a mouthpiece.

Taekwondo Links

Taekwondo Links:

Taekwondo Poomse Videos:
http://www.sungjado.org/poomse_videos.htm

International Sungja Do Association:

http://www.sungjado.org/

About Taekwondo:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taekwondo

AAU Taekwondo:
http://www.aautaekwondo.org/

Christianity and the Martial Arts
http://home.earthlink.net/~ronrhodes/Martial2.html

Contacting the Master's Taekwondo School

Contact us:

stevehmathews@gmail.com
828-962-5255