Golden Hands

🥋 BLACK BELT PROMOTION | JULY 7

A little overdue, but some moments deserve their place on the timeline.

In July, we celebrated 4 new Black Belts, 6 new 2nd Dans, and one student stepping into Kyo Sa Nim — Certified Instructor. Years of training represented in one room.

It’s always an honor to learn from my instructor, Master Ben Johnson. Some stories I’ve heard many times and somehow they still land differently. And every now and then, he surprises us with one we’ve never heard before. That’s the Moo Do Way…the longer you walk it, the deeper it gets.

Our promotees shared powerful demonstrations, then we closed the evening the Golden Hands way: community, laughter, food, and music. 🎶

To our next group preparing for the October Black Belt Test: watch closely. Your turn is coming. Keep training. 🔥

Moo Do isn’t a destination. It’s a way of life.

🏆 GOLDEN HANDS NATIONALS RECAP 🏆

What a beautiful tournament, an incredible turnout, and an unforgettable experience for our Golden Hands family!

Our students returned from the All Tang Soo Do National Championships with:

🥇 26 Gold Medals
🥈 26 Silver Medals
🥉 17 Bronze Medals

That is 69 medal finishes, along with two Grand Champions!

🏆 Ko Dan Ja Women’s Grand Champion: SBN Holly Holt
🏆 Adult Forms Grand Champion: Mr. Abhinav Kumar

Our team forms competitors also made Golden Hands history:

🥇 The Golden Three
Bhavyaranjan Sinha, KSN Sparsh Palankar, and Mr. Abhinav Kumar
Their first-place performance officially retired the Dan Team Forms National Cup after three consecutive National Championship victories!

🥇 The Wavy Greens — Green Belt Forms Team
🥇 The 4 Peaceful Warriors — Orange Belt Forms Team

🥈 The Flaming Ninjas — Red Belt Forms Team
🥈 The 3 Green Beans — Green Belt Forms Team

🥉 The Elements — Red Belt Forms Team

Every single one of our Gup team forms groups placed. Each team filled the room with confidence, unity, and some of the strongest performances we have ever seen from them!!

Medal Breakdown by Rank:

⚪🟠 White & Orange Belts
🥇 3 | 🥈 2 | 🥉 2

🟢 Green Belts
🥇 6 | 🥈 8 | 🥉 2

🔴 Red Belts
🥇 6 | 🥈 6 | 🥉 7

⚫ Black Belts
🥇 8 | 🥈 8 | 🥉 4

Beyond the medals, I am most proud of the character our students displayed. They supported one another, remained attentive, handled victories with humility, and treated difficult moments as opportunities to learn. 💪🏼

Some students competed at Nationals for the very first time. Others stepped into new divisions, performed unfamiliar forms, or faced strong opponents in the ring. Every one of them returned with more experience, greater confidence, and a clearer understanding of where the next stage of training can take them. 💛🙏🏼

Throughout the weekend, instructors, families, competitors, and senior masters continually approached us to praise our students and our school. That recognition belongs to this entire community….to the students who train, the families who support them, and the instructors who continue pouring their knowledge and hearts into the next generation.

We are incredibly proud, but the training never stops! Many students were back Monday night after Nationals!

Sometimes winning is winning. Sometimes losing is also winning, depending upon what we choose to learn from the experience.

Congratulations, Golden Hands! I’m so incredibly be proud to be your SBN. Let’s carry this energy, connection, and encouragement forward!🥋💛

(Videos to come soon!)

Full Nationals results: https://www.tsdmgk.com/2026-nationals-results

From my instructor who started it all… Tang Soo!! Can’t wait to post about this tournament.

Tang Soo !!! Does training in a traditional martial art benefit young kids ?? I'm a HUGE advocate for just that....I made it my full time job for 25 years.

Master Holt recently sent me a picture of former students (now her students). Look at this discipline...and what really matters is they are not doing it because they have to, they are doing it because they want to.

These young people will accomplish anything they set their minds to...they won't quit when it gets hard...they will help others along the way...and they will lead by example.

I could not be prouder of these young people and Master Holt.

We are excited to announce the launch of our very first Golden Hands Collective: Music Lab!

This weeklong program was created for teen musicians who want more than traditional music lessons. Music Lab is designed to help young artists grow as musicians, performers, collaborators, and confident young leaders.

Throughout the week, students will:
🎹 Play and create music together
🎸 Learn ensemble and band skills
🎤 Develop stage presence and performance confidence
🎙 Experience a professional recording studio session
🎶 Perform in a live community showcase

Students will also explore mindfulness, focus, communication, and martial arts-inspired awareness training — skills that help young people navigate both the stage and the world with confidence and integrity.

The camp is intentionally limited to 8 musicians to provide individualized mentorship and a highly collaborative experience.
📅 July 6–10, 2026
🕘 Monday–Thursday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
🕔 Friday (Studio & Showcase Day): 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
📍 Golden Hands Martial Arts:
13091 Pond Springs Road, Suite 220
Austin, TX 78729

Led by Holly Holt (B.M. Jazz Piano Performance, University of North Texas), Murphy Sasser (bassist/vocalist @ Berklee College of Music), and Abhinav Kumar (fantastic drummer/percussionist and senior on McNeil H.S. Band).

If you know a young musician who loves music, creativity, and community, we'd love to meet them.

Registration is now open at https://registration.goldenhands.love/preview/NJZMmKIYW6CtDNCD48q8

🚨 EXCITING NEWS! 🚨
Registration for our 2026-2027 After-School Program is now OPEN!

We're excited to welcome students back beginning August 19th and are thrilled to announce that we will be providing pick-up from:
🥋 Pond Springs Elementary
🥋 Live Oak Elementary
🥋 Laurel Mountain Elementary
Our After-School Program combines traditional Tang Soo Do martial arts, mindfulness, leadership development, music, movement, and plenty of opportunities for students to build confidence, discipline, and friendships.

We also have a brand-new website that is now LIVE! 🎉
The new site makes it easier than ever to learn about and register for:
✅ After-School Program
✅ Summer Camp
✅ Tang Soo Do Evening Classes
✅ Teen Music Camp
✅ Special Events

We're entering our second year of After-School and couldn't be more excited to continue making a positive impact in the lives of young people throughout our community.

Spots are limited, so don't wait too long!

https://registration.goldenhands.love/preview/D7MG89KAPfDR9x4lQvGo