Tang Soo Do Updates – Week 4
April 20, 2026
20 April 2026
Chestertown and Easton
Regular Class Schedules Monday through Friday
- Friday 04/24: 5:00 PM Tiny Tigers Class
- 5:30 PM Family Class
- 6:45 PM Advanced Test Prep
- Saturday 04/25: NO Classes at either school
- Black Belt Testing/Re-Certs/Pre-Tests
- Odenton, MD (Synergy Martial Arts)
- Black Belt Testing/Re-Certs/Pre-Tests
Weekly Outstanding Students
Chestertown
Leader of the Week – Audrey Pope
Student of the Week – LJ Pope
Tang Soo Spirit of the Week – Karla Galazzo
Easton
Leader of the Week – Samuel Mendiola-Toribio
Student of the Week – Madison Cover
Tang Soo Spirit of the Week – Valerie Freeman
My Goal is Not to be Better than Anyone Else, but to be Better than I used to be.
Belt Tests and Promotions – Lists are Posted
- Belt Promotions in Easton on Wednesday April 15 at 5:30 PM
- Belt Promotions in Chestertown on Friday April 17 at 5:30 PM
- Next Belt/Gup Test in Chestertown Saturday May 2nd
- 9:00 AM Special Test for 4th, 3rd and 2nd Gup
- 12:00 Noon Test for all other Gup Ranks. Tang Soo!
- Tiny Tiger Testing in Easton on Wednesday June 3 at 5:00 PM
- Tiny Tiger Testing in Chestertown on Thursday June 4 at 5:00 PM
Black Belt Testing
GREAT TEST this weekend!!!
We are so very proud of our Black Belts! Everyone came in with a Fantastic Outlook, Outstanding Tang Soo Do Chung Shin (Spirit), and an Incredible “I can achieve anything” Attitude! The Results are Very Promising! It was also wonderful to have Miss Galazzo visiting us in person from Brazil, and not on Zoom, to take a practice test (preparing for her Sa Dan/4th Degree Test).
Thank You to Masters Derek and Michael DePaolis for making the trip out to the Eastern Shore to help conduct and judge!
Next week, some of us will head over to their school and assist with their testing. Anyone from here who missed due to illness or extenuating circumstances can come with me to Odenton for a make-up test!
Tang Soo!!!
It may seem Difficult at First, but All things are Difficult First. – Miyamoto Musashi
Spring/Summer Tournament/Fun Dates
- April 18th – Talbot Interfaith Shelter Lip Sync Battle
- Thank You to Everyone who Participated, Donated and took part in some way to help promote this Fund Raising Event! They have raised over $141,000 and have sent messages of Gratitude!
- May 15 – Picture Day in Easton 3:00 – 7:00 PM
- May 16 – Picture Day in Chestertown 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- May 30 – Saturday in the Park in Chestertown 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- June 5th & 6th – CS Kim Karate National Championships
- June 14 – Annual Picnic and Belt Promotions: Tuckahoe State Park
- Sunday 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM
- July 18 – Leadership: Beach Training at Rehoboth Beach, DE
- August TBA: Hershey Park Trip
- September 12 – Mid-Atlantic All Female Tournament in Columbia MD
Registration: https://www.karate4girls.com/maafko/
Basic Tang Soo Do Etiquette
Taken from the pages or our Student Handbook
- Master C. S. Kim should be addressed as Choong Jae Nim. All Dan (Black Belt) Members should be addressed as “sir” or “ma’am”. Also Mr., Mrs., or Miss should be used in reference to any Dan Member’s name.
Exercise/Training not only Changes your Body, it Changes your Mind, your Attitude and your Mood.
Keep Training, Keep Changing, Keep Improving!
Korean Word of the Week
Word: 파이팅 (pa-i-ting) “Fighting” (Slang)
Phrase: 우리 파이팅! (u-ri pa-i-ting)! Let’s Go!
파이팅 vs. 화이팅 (pa-i-ting) vs. (hwa-i-ting) ‘Fighting’ is an English word, but Korean does not have an exact ‘F’ sound. Instead, the ㅍ (p) sound is use, giving you the word 파이팅. A lot of Koreans also use the word ‘화이팅’ (which can be seen in a lot of media), but it means the same thing! One is technically correct according to the Korean pronunciation rules, while the other is more commonly known/used.
When You Bow to Bleck Belts, you are not bowing to individuals but to the generations before them who made it Possible! – Unknown
Leader/Student/Spirit of the Day/Week/Month
Leader: The Member of our Leadership corps who has been the most helpful to the Instructors and Students and setting the right examples.
Student: the student demonstrating the most Focus and Dedication to training.
Spirit: the student exhibiting the most Enthusiasm and Positive Attitude
Confidence comes from Keeping the Promises you made to Yourself!
CS Kim Karate National Championships
June 5th and 6th in Monroeville, PA
Grandmaster Kim’s Annual Open Martial Arts Championship!
Great Experience! Great Competition! Find out how to get an Autographed magazine with Master Kim on the Cover!
The Most Advanced Thing You Can Do are the Basics Consistently. – Unknown
17 Years in Chestertown, MD
Monday May 4th 2026 is Officially our 17th Anniversary
We taught our 1st class on Monday May 4, 2009 with 15 students who pre-registered during the few months before opening.
To Celebrate, we will have an Open House/Bring-A-Buddy WEEK, beginning Monday May 4th through Saturday May 9th!
Please Share the Event and bring your Buddies!
Our main Celebration Event, however, is the Annual Picnic and Belt Promotions to be held on Sunday June 14th 2026 at Tuckahoe State Park at the Lake Pavilion. More detailed information will be provided in take-home flyers in May.
Tang Soo!!!
You can Earn a Black Belt in a specified period of time, but Being a Black Belt is a Lifetime of Learning, Training and Dedication.
5th Annual Saturday in the Park – May 30, 2026
GREAT FUN & EXCITEMENT!
We will be participating in this Local Chestertown Event!
This is both a Leadership Event (Leaders earn Service-Learning Hours) for us, as well as an ALL Do Jang Participation Event. ALL Students are welcome to participate and help. We will Perform 1 Exhibition/Demo (time TBD). We will also have a booth from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM to answer questions and provide 1-on-1 Instruction and information about Tang Soo Do!
What else is going on at this Event? A Lot!
- Open Mic/Stage for Performers of ALL Kinds – Karaoke
- Dunk Tank – Volleyball – Bocce Ball
- Wiffle Ball – Tours of Radcliffe Creek – And Much More…
More info coming soon as this event will be here fast! Thank You!!
Leaders Exemplify through Action and Uplift through Inspiration. – Master Mark Pagano
2026 Picture Day and School Poster
Friday May 15th at 3:00 – 8:00 PM in Easton
Saturday May 16th at 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM in Chestertown
Great Fun! Geart Kicks, Stances, Weapons…
A Whole Lot of Laughs!
Sign-Up Lists ARE Available.
Get Your Picture with Sa Bom Nims and Kyo Sa Nims
Get Pictures with Each Other
Confirm your Sign-Up Time
Easton Saturday Classes for the Summer
Due to the Summer traffic patterns along Rt 50, We will Suspend Saturday Classes in Easton Beginning in May and Resume them in September (after Labor Day). Tang Soo!!!
April/May/June – Clinics/Events
April 24 – Test Prep for 4th Gup and Higher at 6:45 PM
April 25 – Advanced (CDB, Dan) Testing in Odenton at 10 AM
May 01 – Weapons Clinic at 6:45 PM
May 02 – 4th Gup and Red Belts Testing in Chestertown at 9 AM
May 02 – 9th Gup through 5th Gup Testing in Chestertown at 12 Noon
May 02 – Leadership Clinic in Chestertown at 2:00 PM
May 08 – JUDO Clinics in Easton
May 09 – Demo Prep for Summer Activities
May 15 – Picture Day in Easton 3:00 – 7:00 PM
May 16 – Picture Day in Chestertown 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
May 23 to 25 – Tea Party/Memorial Day Weekend: Closed
May 29 – TBA
May 30 – Saturday In the Park: Wilmer Park 12 Noon – 4 PM
June 05/06 – CS Kim Karate All Martial Arts Championships
June 12 – JUDO Clinics in Chestertown
June 13 – Leadership Clinic in Chestertown at 1:00 PM
June 14 – Annual Picnic and Belt Promotions at 12:00 Noon
June 19 – TBA
June 20 – TBA
June 26 – TBA
June 27 – TBA
July 03-06 – Closed: Independence Day Weekend
**Tentative Schedule, check weekly updates to confirm clinics/workshops**
**Dates MAY and often DO Change. We will keep you informed
**Beyond this point, NO Guarantees on Schedule Accuracy (It can/will change)
Black Belt is a White Belt who Never Gave Up!
Just Don’t Quit!
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