Martial Arts Studio or Family Activity Center?

When asked to describe River Valley Tang Soo Do Academy would you choose – martial arts studio or family activity center? The simple answer is: it is both.

On the surface River Valley is a martial arts studio of the highest caliber. We utilize kick and punch to transmit the knowledge of the traditional martial art called Tang Soo Do. With the transmission of this knowledge come the changes that Tang Soo Do creates in all students. The changes that alter the way we look at the world; the way we look at ourselves, and our role in the world.

At a deeper level we are a Family Activity Center. Whether you are the only member of your family who trains or one of many in your family that trains, the impact is the same. We are a Family Activity Center.

For the families that take the opportunity to train together the studio becomes an avenue of shared interest and mutual excitement. How many activities are available today that the entire family (child, parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins) can take an active part in? This is not the family watching a son or daughter compete in sporting event. This is families training side by side learning the same techniques and enjoying the benefits of training together. What better way to strengthen the bonds that make a family strong.

For the individual this is an opportunity to make new life long friends. Tang Soo Do provides the individual the opportunity to not only improve themselves mentally, physically and spiritually but to enjoy in the camaraderie that is inherent in the training. Tang Soo Do teaches the individual how to trust in their own abilities and the importance of putting your trust in others. It would be impossible to train in Tang Soo Do if you did not trust the instructors who teach you and the students with whom you will practice. The trust that you develop in those with whom you train leads you to feel that they are like family members. You take pride in their achievements, you go out of your way to be there when they need a helping hand, you feel honor in their willingness to do the same for you.

Students come to River Valley for many different reasons. Regardless of the initial reason we all go through a transformation. We continue to train because we want to learn more of this wonderful martial art, which leads us to continue training because this is the place where we feel we belong – participating in a great activity with our extended family.

Tang Soo!

Master Scott C. Homschek

Originally published on www.rvtsda.com April 2003