I will file this under the, "It sounded like a good idea at the time" or maybe even in the, "No good deed goes unpunished" file.  When I came up with the idea of recognizing our most senior members with an honorable mention in the "Founder's Society", I never expected that it would generate so much drama, controversy, and problems (but then again... human nature being what it is, maybe I should have anticipated the fall-out).  Our office has been inundated with phone calls and emails concerning the eligibility, the criteria, and the worthiness of individuals for, or against, inclusion.  This has resulted in a gigantic headache and an enormous waste of time for me and the HQ staff.  Here is a sample of the questions/comments we have received:

• Why did you pick the arbitrary date of 2000 for cut-off?  I joined a few months later and I am being penalized.
• I joined as a Charter in 2002 but I had been an Individual member for three years before that.  It should count.
• I joined in 1998 but then I moved and had to drop out for 5 years.  I re-joined in 2003.  I should qualify.
• I qualify for the Founder's Society but I should not be forced to pay to be in the "Who's Who in Combat Hapkido" section if I don't care to be included.
• I have a student who is a 4th Dan and has been in Combat Hapkido with me since 1999.  He should be included.
• I know that Master "X" has been around for 15 years but he is a jerk, he is not supportive of the Federation and does not deserve to be there.
• I had to close my school last year but I had been a loyal Charter since 1997.  Even if I am no longer an active member, I should be included.

I am sure that now you see the complexity of the problem.  In view of that, I have made the executive decision of scrapping the whole idea of the Founder's Society.  Sorry, but my staff and I cannot deal with the egos, complaints, bickering, stupid questions, and assorted annoyances this idea has generated, together with the potential of offending and alienating some of our members.  Problem solved!

All the newsletters and the forms for induction in the "Who's Who in Combat Hapkido" Lineage Book have been mailed.  If you need more forms you can:
1) Make copies of the ones you received
2) Download them here
3) Get them emailed to you from HQ (send us an email requesting them)
4) Call HQ and we will mail you more

We need everything back by June 30, 2012 to allow enough time for the printer to produce and ship the books in time for our November 11, 2012, 20th Anniversary Event.  So you have four months to complete the package and send it back to HQ.  PLEASE do not procrastinate and wait until the last minute.  Unforeseen delays may cause you to miss the insertion.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call HQ.

Click here for the FORMS

Several incidents, complaints, and misunderstandings involving students in our Charter schools in the past few months require that we re-state our policies concerning membership and certifications.

These policies concern students and Instructors of Charter schools of the ITA & ICHF and have not changed for the past 20 YEARS!!!

*  Every student of an ITA or ICHF Charter school MUST be an Individual Member of the ITA or ICHF.  If you are not a Member you cannot receive Rank Certificates.

*  Every student MUST receive a TaeKwonDo or Combat Hapkido Certificate issued by the ITA or ICHF HQ EVERY time he/she is promoted to a higher belt.  If a student does not receive a certificate or the certificate was not issued by the ITA or ICHF HQ, his/her promotion is neither legitimate nor valid, and thereby not recognized by our Governing Bodies.  Application for Black Belt Certification will be denied unless HQ has a record of every color belt certificate having been issued to that student.

*  The ITA & ICHF do not impose heavy or unreasonable mandates on their Charter schools.  There are basically only two strict administrative rules: every student must be a Member and every student must receive HQ issued Belt Certificates.  If those two rules are not followed, the Charter school is in violation of our policies and therefore both, the organization (ITA and/or ICHF) and the student, are being cheated.  We cannot make this issue any clearer and there are no exceptions to these rules!!

We urge all of our members to be ethical and do the right thing!

Every month the DSI Store will feature a special promotion of a particular item, offering a discount or a gift or other incentive.
The month of January we give you a gift when you purchase one of our new Hooded Sweatshirts (great to keep you warm in the winter!)  They come in Black, Chocolate Brown and Navy Blue. Sizes: M - L - XL - XXL and (Black only) XXXL.  The gift: You'll receive an autographed copy of the 2002 issue of TaeKwonDo Times magazine featuring Grandmaster Pellegrini on the cover.
Limited quantities.  Offer ends on 02-15-2012.
Visit the DSI on-Line Store at www.combathapkido.com to get yours today! 

Grandmaster  Pellegrini has received an honorary appointment to the Kukkiwon Advisory Board.  Kang Won-Sik, President of TaeKwonDo World Headquarters sent Grandmaster Pellegrini a beautiful certificate in recognition of his contribution to the art over the past 40 years.

Congratulations to Instructor Dan Tesmer for a job well done!   Headquarters has received a letter of commendation from the Civil Air Patrol in Highland Hills, Ohio, praising Mr. Tesmer for the Combat Hapkido training he provided to the cadets and officers of Squadron 004.  Thank you Dan, you make us proud!!

GM Pellegrini and Master Rivas recently conducted a 12-day seminar tour of Europe to promote Combat Hapkido.  The tour featured:

Two  "Double Impact" seminars in Tampere, Finland and adult and children's seminars in Helsinki, Finland.  Additionally, a Military Combatives seminar for the German Airforce at the base, and two "Double Impact" seminars in Munich, Germany.

In between the two locales, GM Pellegrini and Master Rivas spent an R&R day in Austria. They received a nice commendation letter from the Luftwaffe (German Airforce) and GM Pellegrini received a beautiful  plaque from the U.S. Military in Stuttgart (Germany) presented by Instructor Chris Blackwell.

We want to thank the hosts: Master Ari Laine and Timo Rakkolainen in Finland and Master Gregor Huss in Germany for their great hospitality.

On March 19 & 20, 2011, GM Pellegrini attended the World Ki-Do Federation/Hanminjok Hapkido Association World Summit in Fremont, CA.  The Ki-Do has produced an excellent, professional DVD of the event featuring GM In Sun Seo and his sons, Masters Steve & Scott Seo, teaching the two-day seminar.  It is an exciting and informative piece of Martial Arts history that we highly recommend.

Because of our special relationship with the Ki-Do, we are able to offer it at the discounted price of $40 (instead of $45 as advertised) + $5 shipping, for the next 60 days.

If you are interested in owning this unique DVD, you must act quickly.  This offer is good until October 30, 2011 and will not be repeated. 

Take advantage of the following special deals we are offering for a limited time only!

"The Warrior's Guide to Combative Pressure Points" book
by Master Mark Gridley
    Reg. $45  -  Now Only $25

DVD's by Grandmaster Pellegrini:
Trapping DVD
    Reg. $39  -  Now Only $25
Balance Disruption/Foot Trapping DVD
    Reg.  $19  -  Now Only $15
Cane DVD
    Reg. $29  -  Now Only $20
Weapon's Disarming DVD's
    Reg. $39  - Now Only $25 each
Legacy Series (Set of 4 DVD's)
    Reg. $129  -  Now Only $99 set

DVD's by Master Rivas and Master Gridley:
Ground Survival and Pressure Points DVD's
    Reg. $39  -  Now Only $25 each
MMA DVD
    Reg. $25  -  Now Only $15

Offer extended until August 31, 2011!

On May 14, 2011, TaeKwonDo Times magazine celebrated its 30th year of publication with a gala banquet in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They limited the attendance to 100 Martial Arts personalities and their guests. GM Pellegrini was one of the invited VIPs and he attended the event accompanied by Masters Mark Gridley, Eric Deveau and Donald Moore. Other famous names in Korean Martial Arts in attendance were: GM Dr. He Young Kimm, GM Tae Yun Kim, GM Woo Jing Jung (the current publisher) and GM Jae C. Shin.

GM Pellegrini's relationship with the magazine started in 1989 when he began advertising "Hapkido Seminars". He has since been on the cover four times in addition to dozens of inside articles.

We wish TaeKwonDo Times many more years of successful publication and continued contribution to Korean Martial Arts.