- Tien Lung Taekwon-Do Canada

Marisa Baretta (42) 3rd Dan Black Belt (Edmonton North) “Imagine dropping an unhealthy habit after 20 years, strengthening your mental, physical and spiritual well being, including losing 60 pounds. Taekwon-Do has become a way of life for me and my family, the training, the instructors, the students & families combined, clearly proves what a positive & affirmative decision I made 13 years ago.”

Darlene Lefebvre (46) 2nd Dan Black Belt (Edmonton North) “I initially joined Taekwon-Do after watching my 10 year old son train for 4 months thinking that it looked like a lot of fun. I never dreamed I’d still be here 9 years later having reached the rank of 2nd degree black belt. Taekwon-Do has given me increased confidence, the courage and determination to try new things, increased flexibility and strength, and the push I needed to lose 17 pounds. It has also strengthened the relationship I have with my son who is now 19, since we have something in common that we both love. Another major benefit is the peace of mind I have knowing that I am able to defend myself should the need ever arise.”

Jason Conant (46) Blue Belt (Edmonton South) "My daughter and I sort of stumbled upon Tien Lung. The family oriented approach provides the opportunity for my daughter and I to attend classes, seminars and social functions together. The Tien Lung instructors are outstanding. They take the time to understand my abilities and give me that little extra push when I need it. I have developed a more positive outlook on life, I feel confident and my level of fitness has improved. I enjoy being involved in such a fun and positive activity such as Tien Lung Taekwon-Do. All this and a black belt too!"

Krista Rabidoux (30) 1st Dan Black Belt (Edmonton North) “Taekwon-Do has provided me with the courage to walk down a street with my head held high and the confidence to confront any situation. It has provided my family with an opportunity to participate in an activity together as a family and not worrying about becoming superstars. It has also provided the guidance to lose 40 pounds and become physically fit and attain more energy to keep up with my kids.”

Connie Westgate (36) 1st Dan Black Belt (Edmonton North) “It took months for me to make the decision to join Tien Lung. After starting in October of 2003, I have been ‘off and running’ so to speak. I have lost 40 lbs and several inches all over my body and am a smaller size now than before I had my two kids. The benefits of joining Tien Lung go beyond losing weight, Tien Lung has also allowed me to form a very special bond with my sons, Christian and TJ and my husband Lance, and has given me peace in knowing we are in this together as a team.”

Crystal Wall (29), Blue Belt (Edmonton South) “Initially, I was looking for an after school activity for my two sons (now aged 10 & 7, both Green Belts). When we booked the introductory lesson, Mr. Gaudet asked if I wanted to try it as well. I had always wanted to learn a martial art, so this was a great opportunity for me. I have found many unexpected benefits from being active in Tien Lung. In the last two years, my confidence and self awareness have increased along with flexibility and strength. I was tired of sitting on the sidelines, watching my kids during other sporting lessons, now we have an activity that benefits the whole family.”

Darren Popowich (38) 1st Dan Black Belt (Edmonton North) “While it's true I lost 44 pounds, Taekwon-Do means much more to me than a weight loss program. Taekwon-Do has worked on my body, but more importantly it has worked on my mind and spirit. When I am at the Dojang everything else just fades away for 45 minutes two to four times a week. To me it has been my growth as a person that I value the most while at Tien Lung, but I also enjoy being able to get to the seventh floor without an elevator.”

Cindy Phelan (48) Black Stripe (Edmonton North) “Since joining Tien Lung Taekwon-Do in September 2001 I have not only learned how to defend myself, but have also been able to lose weight and went from wearing a size 16 pant to wearing a size 14. As a result of my training I have also become more confident and gained more energy that help me in other aspects of my life as well.”

Sharon Van der Korput (39) Blue Belt (Edmonton South) “Fitness and confidence were the two main reasons I signed up for Taekwon-Do, but the fun and the family atmosphere is what will keep me at Tien Lung. As I am progressing through the belts, both my fitness level and my confidence level continue to increase (I have lost 25 lbs already). Originally, I signed up with one of my sons, and now my husband is also a student and one of our other boys is interested, too. Other benefits we've gotten out of Taekwon-Do that I hadn't expected initially are things like goal setting, overcoming fear, and character building both in and outside of the dojang. Taekwon-Do is a great way for our family to do a healthy activity together that is not only fun but allows us to work towards a common goal - our Tien Lung Black Belts.”

Lonny Whiteman (36) Red Belt (Edmonton North) “When I sit down to look at how Taekwon-Do at Tien Lung has benefited me as a person in my mid 30’s, there are three things that come to mind, family, fitness and the ability to deal with others. The bond I have with my son has grown since we both joined Taekwon-Do. In the last 2 years I have dropped 35 pounds, reshaped my body and am now able to kick above my head. Taekwon-Do has also taught me in how to defend myself in a non-physical way as it teaches self-confidence in communicating and benefited me in my business, as I am able to deal with people and situations in a constructive manner.”

Kimberly Bell (35) Blue Stripe (Edmonton North) “Initially, learning how to defend myself was important to me. It still is, but along the way I discovered myself dropping pounds (over 25 so far), getting into better shape, and achieving goals that I never thought possible. To become a Tien Lung black belt is one of my goals - this is one goal that I have no intentions of giving up on! The environment at Tien Lung is that of family and friends. It's not impersonal; I've never felt like I'm just a number. Attending classes at Tien Lung is not an effort; it's something that I look forward to doing! Other "work outs" that I've done in the past have been so boring that they were a grind to finish. That's probably the reason that I never continued with them for any length of time. The classes at Tien Lung are interesting, challenging, and extremely informative! Helping myself, and others along the way is a superb group of instructors! They are extremely knowledgeable, supporting, always willing to help, and answer questions. Would I recommend Tien Lung? Without hesitation!”

Adele Kostura (42), Blue Belt (Edmonton South) “I initially joined Taekwon-Do to support my son. I have continued to participate for the many other benefits. Not having to try to squeeze in time for my own physical activity that is in addition to my son's schedule is a bonus that any working mother of 3 active children will appreciate! I am repeatedly amazed that one activity can be adapted to such a variety of ages and abilities - a credit to the skill, knowledge and patience of the Tien Lung instructors. My physical fitness has certainly improved since joining Tien Lung less than 2 years ago and Taekwon-Do has given my son and I point of contact and connection that extends beyond the dojang. And... it's fun!”

Tim Sawlor (27), Blue Belt, (Halifax) "When I originally started Taekwon-Do, I had some pretty modest goals. I was looking for something that would get me some exercise, but I had never enjoyed activities like going to a gym; I had thought that maybe taking part in a class would keep me more motivated, and I also thought maybe I could learn something useful at the same time. It has far surpassed my wildest expectations. It met those modest goals immediately and has become something that is very important to me. I am constantly amazed at how many benefits there are to Taekwon-Do. When I look back to when I started, it is a great feeling because I am amazed at the things I have been able to accomplish so far, things I never thought I'd be able to do; I have lost weight (approx. 16 pounds - I am now within my ideal weight range) and I am in much better shape than I was when I started; I take comfort in knowing that I am developing skills that might help protect myself or someone else some day; it has been a tremendous boost to my self-confidence overall, something I've always been lacking; it is a great stress relief (especially breaking boards); it has given me the feeling of being a part of something bigger, i.e. the richness, culture, history of Taekwon-Do and the martial arts; in the school, I am surrounded by some of the best people I've ever met; and it's a lot of fun at the same time. It really is something that gives you back everything you put into it, many times over.

But talking about the activity only shows half the picture. The real key to all of this is the instructors at Tien Lung. I had tried other martial arts like Karate and Jiu-jitsu before, but never stuck with them because I found the instructors impersonal and difficult to relate to. At Tien Lung, I greatly admire and respect the instructors and enjoy learning from them. They are easily among the most dedicated, talented and sincere people I have had the pleasure of meeting, and it is they who make it what it is."

Adrienne Junek, 21, Red Belt, (Halifax) Six years ago, a Taekwon-Do club came to my Jr. High school and performed a demonstration. I became interested in doing martial arts, so I signed up for classes at that club. Although I remained with them for almost a year, what we did at that dojang just didn’t live up to my expectations of what a martial art was about – all we really did was a lot of sparring and fighting, even in my very first class. So I quit. Years later when I became a busy university student, I knew I would need some kind of activity that would keep me fit, so I turned once again to martial arts. When I started taking classes with Tien Lung Taekwon-Do, I wasn’t really sure how similar this club would be to the one I had gone to before, but I wanted to give it another try. I realized very quickly that even though both clubs taught something called Taekwon-Do, what we did at Tien Lung was very different from what I had done before. We still spar at Tien Lung since sparring is a component of almost every marital art, but we also do patterns, self-defense, step-sparring, board-breaking, fundamental movements, and learn about etiquette. I liked Tien Lung so much more than the other club because it was well rounded and much more structured. With so much more variety in what we did, Tien Lung Taekwon-Do seemed like a prime example of a real martial art, not just an ordinary combat sport that I might have learned at the previous school.

"Tien Lung Taekwon-Do soon became almost everything I could ask for in an extracurricular activity: It’s something you can learn and enjoy throughout your whole life, it’s a great way to meet people and help out in your community, there are opportunities to travel and compete, it helps keep you fit by developing strength, flexibility, and endurance, and it includes mental as well as physical development in the form of etiquette and discipline. Some of the things that I have learned here, like perseverance, self-control, etiquette, confidence and self-defense will not only help me get my black belt, but will help me out in whatever I do with the rest of my life as well. I must say, there aren’t to many activities out there that could offer all of this as Tien Lung has offered me.

"Being a university student is not always easy, it’s a lot of hard and stressful work and you can sometimes lose yourself trying to figure out what you want to do with your life. But no matter how upset or frustrating school or work may be, I can escape all that when I go to the dojang. Training there even for just an hour in the evening can help me relax and clear my head enough so I’m not as stressed about the perils of the day anymore. I may not be sure about what to do with my life, but there is at least one thing I know I can work towards – the next belt level. My career may change many times throughout my life, but once I get my black belt I will be one forever."

Margaret & Peter Brown, Parents, (Halifax) "We had been considering putting our son Alex in Martial Arts for some time. While he had never really been bullied himself, alarming incidents had happened at his school, as seem to happen at all schools, and in all neighbourhoods. We felt it was our duty as parents to equip him as best we could for any situation he might find himself in. However, we found some clubs taught aggressive behaviour, and some were prohibitively expensive. We remained uneasily at a standstill, until we heard about a free introductory program being offered for the summer at Tien Lung. We had nothing to lose, and Alex was interested.

"Alex enjoyed the training from the beginning and we were delighted by the context in which every move was learned. Situations were realistic, with an emphasis on how to avoid a conflict without loss of self-respect, and how to use minimal force when confrontation was unavoidable. When the time came to sign up, Alex was eager to continue, but we had some concern that he might lose interest, as kids often do in their activities. In our hectic lives, we did not want to end up fighting with him to go to classes, and so we decided to sign him up for one year. The rate was so reasonable, and the philosophy and discipline so in tune with our principles, that we felt that if we ended up having to force him to go, it would still be worthwhile. As it turned out, we had nothing to worry about. The warm, supportive atmosphere, the joy in learning and plain old fun have kept Alex coming back.

"In the year that Alex has has been involved with Tien Lung Taekwon-Do, we have observed an appreciable increase in his dedication to other activities, ranging from organized sports to school. He takes more pride in his achievements and is less discouraged when his efforts do not immediately result in desired outcomes. We've seen his self-discipline, self-confidence, and even his posture improve. We find this directly proportional to the encouragement and support he receives not only from the instructors, but also from other students of differing age groups and belt levels in his Taekwon-Do class. In view of the foregoing, when Alex expressed interest in a three year committment to the Black Belt Club, we had no reservations about signing him up. We recommend Tien Lung to all of our friends, as does Alex."

Janet Adams, Parent, (Edmonton) "I wanted to send you a note to let you know how pleased we are regarding Bevan's involvement with Tien Lung Taekwon-Do. Bevan has been diagnosed with ADHD and learning disabilities, particularly in language and reading. His disability has resulted in difficulties in school, including behavior problems in the classroom, due to his frustration with school.

Bevan is very capable physically, and has always had good physical coordination. However, it has been difficult to find sports that work well for him. Although he can kick and throw a ball very well, his attention problems and lack of ability to figure out where he should be in a free flowing, unstructured situation, he has difficulty with team sports.

Bevan has expressed interest in martial arts for several years. About two years ago, when we lived in Medicine Hat, he expressed an interest in karate. He attended for about a year, and was reasonably competent. However, his performance from day to day was very inconsistent, and he would participate with enthusiasm one day and then sit in the corner the next day. Because of this, when he expressed interest in Taekwon-Do, I was uncertain whether he would be able to participate effectively. Bevan became interested in Tien Lung Taekwon-Do when he observed the demonstration team at his school. He came home with the card and said definitively that this is what he wanted to do. We went to the introduction session, and there was no question that he wanted to try it out.

From the very beginning, Bevan has participated enthusiastically and consistently in class. Watching him, I do not observe loss of attention or lack of cooperation as I have seen in previous situations. I think the aspects of the program that really work for him include the fact that expectations and rules of conduct are very clear and consistent, instructors voices are easily heard and instructions clear, and rewards and recognition come quickly and frequently. Classes are upbeat and the interest of the instructors in the children as individuals is very evident. All of these things help overcome Bevan's tendancy to lose focus and to become discouraged.

As his parents, we believe that Bevan's participation in Taekwon-Do will benefit him in many ways, including improving his attention and his self confidence. Thanks to all of the very dedicated people there who have contributed to his success in the program to date. Hopefully he will hang in for long term beneficial results!

Christopher Pettipas, 34, Yellow Belt, (Halifax) I had been in WTF for approximately 15 years and for many reasons needed a change. I wanted to stay in Taekwon-Do and looked for schools in my area. I was reading the news paper one day and noticed a student from Tien Lung was going to the Canadian Nationals (Ms. Adrienne Junek). I had not heard of Tien Lung before but it peaked my curiosity enough to check them out. As I sat and observed the instructor, I was immediately impressed with her adamant instruction for detail and remarkable patience. She was very particular about proper technique and body mechanics. Her instruction was individualized as she went around the class to make sure everyone understood the technique she was teaching. I was equally impressed with the black belts. Their technique was phenomenal and I was overwhelmed by their eagerness to help the students. I have never witnessed such a family atmosphere at a Taekwon-Do school.

Mr. Cull's technique and teaching ability has surpassed most masters that I have trained under. He is also dedicated to minute details when it comes to applying Traditional Taekwon-Do techniques and etiquette. In closing I would like to say how proud I am in belonging to the Tien Lung family. When I receive my black belt , I will owe it to all to the black belts at Tien Lung and the Tien Lung system of Taekwon-Do.

Patricia McDonald, Yellow Stripe (Edmonton South). As a parent of an Autistic child, I wanted to enroll my son in a martial arts program, as I had heard that it would help with his concentration and be good for the whole family. Since joining Tien Lung at the beginning of summer my husband has lost ten pounds and I have lost five, plus we have more stamina and better co-ordination. My son is enjoying the classes and has picked up several self defense moves he is also showing signs of better listening skills and seems to have improved his co-ordination and little by little his concentration. Our thanks to the instructors at Tien Lung Martial Arts school.