DEAR GRAND MASTER YUN

My daughter has been with WMAA for one year and she is only 4! We are so delighted with all that WMAA hasto offer. From their professional instructor team to the many additional activities (summer camp,participation in community activities and special activities at WMAA), their focus is on respect forthe students and families. They are without questions the finest in the area. Lynne Zeidler

DEAR WMAA STAFF

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the changes I have seen in my daughter Elizabeth.She has always been a very athletic child. However, since her participation in your program, her athleticability has increased exponentially. The physically techniques and discipline taught in your classroom hasimproved her talents in other sports. She continues a higher level of respect at home and at school. Thank you for being a part of her education and I am looking forward to having the rest of my familyparticipate in your Taekwondo program. Sincerely, James Liska Middle School Teacher West Milwaukee Middle School

DEAR GRAND MASTER YUN

When we first enrolled our two older daughters, then ages 12 and 10, at your school, we had no idea thatTae Kwon Do would ever become such an important part of our family's life. All we were looking for backthen was some physical training and regular exercise for our kids, with a little self-defense for goodmeasure. But it didn't take long for the girls to grow so interested in the classes that it became a veryimportant part of their week. As our daughters progressed through the belt levels, they grew in confidence and skill. They enjoyedthe classes and made new friends. The tournaments and testings were great opportunities for growth due to the challenges of competing against others and performing in public. One of the biggest benefits of Tae Kwon Do is the self-defense training. While hoping our kids never need to use these skills, my husband and I are confident that if such a situation did arise, they would be able to defend themselves well. We really appreciate the values that World Martial Arts Academy teaches the students, such as the fivetenets (Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit), the poem "Just One Word,"and the Children's Home Rules. We love the emphasis on respect and the family atmosphere in theclassroom. Our oldest daghter is now a second-degree black belt and an instructor at WMAA, and heryounger sister will be testing for second-degree very soon. Our two youngest children, ages 10and 8, joined a year ago and are making progress toward their black belts. We look forward to many more years of being involved with WMAA! Sincerely, Mary-Eileen Swart

DEAR GRAND MASTER YUN

This letter is a note of thanks.....a long overdue "Thank You", mind you. Our family has been part of your Taekwondo family for nearly four years. Our journey began with Meggieas a fifth grader in a new school. Her uncle Bill, one of your first Black Belt students, invited her totry this oft-misunderstood sport. (It is, after all, not the usual stick-and-ball activity we tend to favorin this country!) Bill, as you know, battles Parkinson's Disease. He broke his brick at his Black Belt testing with you nineyears ago, within days of learning of his diagnosis at age 51. He credits his strength of body, mind andspirit with all he learned along his Taekwondo journey. Above all, he believes in the tenet of IndomitableSpirit. As the loving Godfather to Meggie, he wanted to see if Taekwondo could help her as it helped him -believing that younger is better for building a foundation of confidence and inner serenity for life.Quite a lofty goal, we thought - at first. And so Meggie wore her white belt with trepidation, insecurity and a degree of skepticism. This was new.This was different. This meant wearing what she thought looked like pajamas for a uniform! She journeyed through the first levels with success - eager for the boost she received from eachstripe earned, a kind word of encouragement from the instructors, the thrill of breaking a board attestings - though all the while I wondered if her enthusiasm would continue. And it did wane at times during those tough middle school years as things often do with adolescentkids in general. But curiously, her father and I discovered she seemed to weather the pitfalls of thistime with more grace and confidence than many of her peers who looked to misguided ways of bolsteringtheir self-images. Clearly her academic success could be tied to the focus and concentration required ofTaekwondo students. Mmmmm. How interesting, we thought. Bill simply knew the truth! And so here we are. Our other threedaughters have since joined your family, too! Katie is proud of her Red Belt and wants to try out forDemo Team. Amanda wants to be a Brown Belt to join Kick Team. And Little Rachel is one of the best-behavedfirst graders as a Green Belt. They all love you and the instructors dearly. Now - four years later - Meggie is preparing to test for her permanent Black Belt. She livesand breathes Taekwondo. We couldn't be more proud - or more thankful - to Bill, to you, and toall the instructors for your collective strength of character and encouragement. And here I am - the mom who always watched from the sidelines with her muscles and fistsclenched, analyzing every form and breaking technique and thinking, "Gee, I would love to do this!" I do. I really, really do. It's not so much what I can do physically as much as how I thinkI can.....how I believe I can. Pillsan, Sir. And Thank You. Sincerely, Gene Rosenwald