Leejon Taekwondo, San Jose

Ms. Taehee and Arman ran a summer camp last week. Kids had a great time,as noticed in the pictures. I am not sure but I think they are all royalty?

I wasn’t going to post anything because I still am processing the loss. So here I go.
Yesterday was the last session Oscar Attar participated in at Leejon. Oscar came to us at 4.5 years old and he will be turning 25 here real soon. Oscar and his entire family have been with me for ever. They rarely miss always there always supportive. Loss is tough for me. It’s not just turning pages for me it’s real tough words don’t explain what I am feeling. Oscar will be heading to NY after finishing his Masters degree here. I have contacted Grand Master Kaffatte in New Jersey ( who is head of Grand Master Richard Chun rip) moo duk Kwan association.
I hope Oscar does well, I asked him to make change in the world because it’s at your beckon call! You will be dearly missed😞

Happy Fathers Day. Thank you for your support. Have a great Day!!!!

Greetings:
I am very proud to announce a donation of over $5,000.00) to the Korea Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan Association today. This was a direct result of the poomsae Challenge Dojang sports org sponsored event this past May 30th. This was made possible by of a cooperative effort by all the staff and volunteers that made this event one of the special events for 2026.
I personally would like to acknowledge a thank you to Garr Taekwondo (Master Garr) , Koryo Taekwondo Pleasanton ( Grand Master Sim), Exceed Taekwondo Master (Art Jackson), Hawks Family Fitness Seattle Washington ( Master Aaron Hawks). Leejon, Garr TKD Staff the Seattle Staff (You guys were awesome) the event worked like clockwork with very few to no issues at all.
Cheers!!

Master”O”

I saw this post from a friend of mine Sensei Mr Matt Gober.
Yes Sir good timing!! Thanx Matt

These are a few pictures of our annual 2026 Poomsae Challenge May 30 2026. This event was right after our annual Black Belt testing. I wish I had more patients to take more pictures and I apologize to those who worked so hard and didn't get their picture taken. A shout out to our sister school in Seattle WA. They worked so hard staging competitors and made everything run like clockwork. We had attendees from Koryo in Pleasanton, Seattle, North Valley and Master Art Jackson and his team from San Jose and of Course our other sister school Master Garr team. A great event!!!!
Winners of the cash give away
Luke Nguyễn Leejon
Amber Reed Seattle
Alex Yang Leejon (One of these days he is going to comb his hair)
Kyoni Roberts Seattle

** As a final note I was asked to create a KKW photo for master Hawks well here it is!!!!*****

Today is Memorial Day. It’s not about BBQ’s, parties , laughing and swimming. It’s about honoring those who gave their lives for our freedoms. To all service members both past and present THANK YOU.

Happy Mother’s Day to all !!!!!! You do so much for us who tend to get lost and distracted. Have a wonderful day!!

Recently I discovered the post below from another Martial artist that .. well it rang a familiar bell with me. So I have edited a bit while retaining its true story I see and hear so often. However its what exists today and its so familiar…
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A few days ago I was in Walmart grabbing water for the my Martial Arts school. A parent stopped me mid-aisle and proudly told me their 12-year-old had just earned a 3rd degree black belt which happens often since we have a McDojo school in the same city.

I looked at them, smiled, and said, “Nice.”
Because let’s be honest, there’s nothing “3rd degree” about a 12-year-old. That’s not opinion. That’s not “my style versus your style.” That’s reality.

But here’s the part people don’t like to hear: it’s not the child’s fault.

The child showed up. The child listened. The child did exactly what they were told to do. The parent paid the bills and trusted the school. From their perspective, everything is working exactly the way it’s supposed to. It isn't about building real ability in the student...it is about cashing on making them happy.

That’s the problem!
There are schools out there that have turned rank into a product. Show up, pay your fees, pass the next test. Repeat. Belt after belt, title after title, no real standard, no real pressure, no real depth. Just progression on a schedule to rake in the money.

I’ve been teaching for 35 years. I’ve seen it over and over again.

I’ve had prospective students from area schools walk into my dojang wearing black belts, some even multiple degrees, who couldn’t demonstrate basic structure, timing, or control. Not because they were lazy, but because no one ever demanded more from them. No one ever taught them, they just kept ranking them up regardless how good they truly were.

And when you show them where they actually stand? Most of them leave.

Not because they can’t improve, but because starting over means giving up the illusion. And most people would rather live the lie than truly earn it.

That’s the truth.

Every school can run how it wants. Every style has its own method. But there is a line between teaching martial arts and selling rank, and a lot of places crossed it a long time ago.

A belt is supposed to represent time, pressure, failure, refinement, sacrifice, hard work and growth. It’s supposed to mean you’ve been tested...not processed.

When I walked out of that store, I didn’t feel impressed. I didn’t feel angry either.

I felt bad for the kid because, one day they’re going to find out what that rank actually means when it’s put under real pressure.

And I felt worse for the parent because they probably spent thousands of dollars thinking they were investing in something that held real ability, skill and value.

All you can do is make sure that inside your own dojang, rank isn’t something you buy.

It’s something you earn.