Blog
How we show respect in Tae Kwon-Do
Respect is one of the most important things we teach at Master Gorino’s Tae Kwon-Do. There are many ways we show respect for each other and for this art. The three big ones are: a very specific handshake, bowing, and addressing each other in a very specific way. [...]Read more
The Power of the Tae Kwon-Do Student Oath
“But, my friends are gonna hate me,” he said. A student once pulled me aside, faced with what he believed to be a moral dilemma. Someone from his friend group at school got their hands on a copy of the answers to a test they were about to take. “If I look at the [...]Read more
What is Tae Kwon-Do?
“The Foot Fist Way.” That is literally what the phrase “Tae Kwon-Do” translates to in English. Tae = Foot. Kwon = Hand. Do = Way Tae Kwon-Do is the official martial art of Korea, and it is an extremely young martial art, by comparison to others, like Karate. In fact there [...]Read more
The Youngest Black Belt I Ever Taught: Mekhi’s Story
A “540” is a 540-degree jumping spin kick. When I ask them to, most students never even try to do one. It’s too hard, they say. But Mekhi is not most students. The first time I showed him the 540, he got right to work trying to learn it. He threw himself all over […]Read more
Training Mr. Universe: Pro Athletes and Tae Kwon-Do
What do Muhammad Ali, Phil Mickelson, and Herschel Walker have in common?
For one, they were all elite athletes at the top of their sports. Certainly in the cases of Ali and Mickelson, some would argue the greatest of all time. But, another thing that they all have in common, [...]Read more
You Don’t Need to be An Athlete to Start Tae Kwon-Do
Some of the best instructors to come up in my school were some of the worst athletes I have ever seen when they started. In fact, I can name four of my best instructors who were absolutely uncoordinated klutzes when they first started here. That’s not me being disparaging, [...]Read more