7 Ballpark Way, Old Orchard Beach, Maine 04064, United States
Traditional Taekwon-Do Coupled With Practical Self Defense
Why Choose Us?
About Our School
Training is done in a family-friendly atmosphere, where you are encouraged to progress at your own pace. You're guaranteed learn something every night!
Bonneau's School of Taekwon-Do was founded in late 1997. The Head Instructor, David H Bonneau, is a 6th Degree Black Belt who had been training since 1981. He is a retired Police Officer who spent over 30 years in Law Enforcement, many of those years teaching Defensive Tactics at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. He was also the primary instructor in the southern Maine area for the pre-service program, where Summer Reserve Officers received their initial training before working the streets in several of the tourist communities in southern Maine.
Classes are held at The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach. Easy to get to and plenty of convenient parking right outside our door.
2024 Yearly and Monthly Themes
This year our theme is Practical Fighting Skills. The goal this year will be to get everyone a little better at being ready to defend themselves in a street encounter, the whole time hoping it doesn't happen. Not fluff or wasted movements, just a no-nonsense approach to defending yourself.
Our APRIL theme is BLOCKING/TRAPPING. Blocking (aka stopping someone from hitting you) is a natural reflex. We will work on increasing that instinct so it's second nature and natural. Trapping is a way to temporarily immobilize an opponent's appendage, keeping it from hitting you and also keeping it from stopping your counterattack.
Our CHATS will deal with PROPER BREATHING. An often-overlooked aspect of training, you really need to control your breathing to make sure your body stays fueled with oxygen. We will not only discuss this, but we will put it into practice.
Classes
We train in an active style, working on an assortment of different drills and activities every night. Guaranteed you'll get a great workout, with the added benefit of learning some techniques to help you protect yourself if necessary.
Training incorporates various drills designed to improve skill, coordination and timing. Every Tuesday night we work on our core requirements, working on our basics and our ITF curriculum. Thursday nights are our Specialty Nights where we practice patterns, sparring, grappling, pad work and stick fighting.
Students are encouraged to work hard every class, with the goal being to improve their techniques to the point of them being automatic responses.
The History of Taekwon-Do
Taekwon-Do, as it is known today, is a relatively new martial art. The basis for the art can be traced back over 1,200 years ago, but over time the art evolved into what we practice today.
Initially called “Taekkyon”, it was known as a foot-fighting art. However, the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945) changed how the art was practiced. It was forbidden to be practiced, though that didn’t stop everyone. Some left the country to train, others trained in secret.
After the occupation ended, the martial arts leaders got together to discuss the future of their art. Since it had evolved during the occupation, the leaders were looking for a way to embrace this change. In 1955, General Choi Hong Hi offered up Taekwon-Do as the new name of their countries martial art. The name kept the spirit of the previous art alive, as well as being very descriptive of what the new art represented. Translated, Tae means to kick and smash with the feet; Kwon means to punch with the fists; and Do means art. Therefore, Taekwon-Do is the art of kicking and punching!
We follow the teachings of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) and practice the Chang-Hon pattern set, which consist of 24 tuls (pre-arranged patterns). Each tul builds upon the students ever-increasing skills and presents new challenges. While tuls don’t directly relate to fighting drills, they are a great way for students to get some vigorous exercise while also being able to practice their basic movements and techniques.
New Students
New Student Enrollment
New Students Special
New Student Special - New students in 2024 can sign up for the introductory price of $40 for their first month of training and receive a FREE uniform and t-shirt!
Family Plan
Single Membership - $60
Family Membership:
1st Member - $60
2nd Member - $40
3rd Member - $30
All Others - FREE!
Military/Public Safety Discounts
Public Safety personnel, as well as members of the Armed Services, receive additional discounts for enrollment. This is a way to show my appreciation for the services they provide to their community and their country!
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