Bettencourt's Taekwon-Do America

Traditional Taekwon-Do training at Bettencourt's Taekwon-Do America focuses on the individual needs of each student. More one on one instruction and mentorship is available due to the unique approach of learning by teaching. Intermediate and advanced students begin supervised teaching duties after about one year of training. This enables the students to more thoroughly learn his art and gives the new student the opportunity to ask questions, test is own ideas and to continue to develop his training plan on a more private level.

The Pyong Hwa Musado training method of Traditional Taekwon-Do, developed by Grand Master Bettencourt captures the spirit of warriorhood. We are all "warriors" at Bettencourt's Taekwon-Do America and our reputation stretches throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Traditional Taekwon-Do also focuses on spiritual development by offering a strict system of martial virtues, tenets, and by supporting the individual's spiritual practice or religion of choice. Taekwon-Do does not subscribe to any particular religion, but rather emphasizes the spiritual discipline and practices, respected by all major religious.

Learn About The History of Taekwon-Do

The children's programs begin at ages 4-7 for the Tiny Tigers, ages 8-12 for the youth program, ages 13-17 for the Teen/Adolescent program and age 18 to adults. It is our experience that children as Young as 7-8 years old make excellent teachers. Peer support is a long used method for instant compatibility in many fields, and teaching Traditional Taekwon-Do is no exception.

Learn More About Our Children's Program Learn More About Our Youth Program

Traditional Taekwon-Do is the Korean art of self-defense and offers a system of discipline for the unification of the body, mind and spirit. Its roots have been traced to the period between 3 A.D. and 427 A.D. As with other martial arts, the attainment of warrior status is measured by the earning of the coveted "Black-Belt". There are nine levels of Black-Belt which take a lifetime of dedication to master. The Master level is at 6th and 7th Degree and the Grand Master levels are 8th and 9th degrees. The 1st Degree Black Belt (1st Dan) is seen as the beginning level of learning the "way". It is at this point that much of the basic tools are developed and honed to the sharpness needed to ascend to the higher levels of training. These higher levels include:

• Strengthening the body, perfecting technical, skill and timing and achieving the ability to perform a major portion of these skills as "second nature".
• Strengthening the mind by forging a training regime of discipline, maintaining a regular schedule, teaching Taekwon-Do to others, and continued goal setting. This stage also emphasizes resisting the common weakness of the mind, which create unbalance. These may include overeating, the consumption of alcohol, drugs, smoking, inappropriate and or uncontrolled emotions and actions unbecoming of a Black-Belt representative of the "Dojang" or Taekwon-Do School. If the mind is strong the body will follow.

Those who train hard may even become a Black-Belt if the following elements are present:

• Expert guidance from qualified instructors
• Commit yourself to your training with utmost seriousnes
• Be free from distractions
• Develop a balance of body, mind and spirit
• Follow the tenets of Taekwon-Do: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-control, and Indomitable spirit

Learn More About Our Black Belt Club

The traditional art of boardbreaking is an exercise in dispelling inner, self-imposed barriers. Mental barriers manifest themselves in our physical reality when we succumb to doubt and fear. The art of boardbreaking focuses not only on power, speed and accuracy, but on perfect technique. The mind and body must work together in perfect harmony and strength of spirit. The combination of commitment and confidence overcomes these barriers, instilling the warrior spirit of Pyong Hwa Musado.

Boardbreaking is an important element in training to achieve the confidence that Taekwon-Do training develop effective self-defense skills, and is taught under careful professional guidance. Grand Master Bettencourt conducts a special seminar on an annual basis entitled "The Psychology of Breaking", which he combines his 44 years of martial arts experience with his 31 years of professional psychology / mental health experience. Non Martial artists are welcome to attend.