Blue Mountain Taekwon-Do & Fitness

Congratulations to the newest US-ITF Master - Master Gordon Jue, who was promoted to 7th Degree Black Belt, February 18, 2006 in Pleasanton, CA.

Surrounded by students, US-ITF Directors, family and friends from around the United States, Mr. Jue demonstrated his proficiency in Patterns, Ho Sin Sul and Breaking.  The panel consisted of ITF President Grand Master Choi Jung Hwa, US-ITF President and Chairman of the ITF Disciplinary Committee Master Robert Wheatley, US-ITF VP Legal Affairs Mr. Terence Geoghegan, ITF Treasurer and Technical Committee Member Mr. Parm Rai, and running the floor, Armed Forces Director Mr. Michael Munyon.

Best wishes to Master Jue for his continued hard work and successful leadership as the Vice President of Promotion with the US-ITF. 

 Pictured from left to right, Ms. Hailey Rambo, Mrs. Diana McCauley, Master Robert Wheatley, Mr. Mason McCauley and Mr. Willy Whipple

Blue Mountain Taekwon-Do and Fitness congratulates Ms. Hailey Rambo and Mrs. Diana McCauley on successfully passing the requirements for 2nd Degree Black Belt.  Master Robert Wheatley VIII Dan, President of the US-ITF presided over the testing.

Mr. Willy Whipple, who has been a domestic 2nd Dan Black Belt for five years, demonstrated his talents as well as his integrity by participating in the testing as well.  Mr. Whipple has been approved to receive his ITF 2nd Dan Certificate.  We congratulate him on his ITF status and commend him for his willingness to put himself through the rigors of testing even though it was not required.

The testing candidates are all students of Mr. Mason McCauley III Dan, who showed perseverance by calling the test and participating in the Ho-Sin-Sul routines despite a foot injury he received the night before.  We would also like to extend a special thank you to Mr. Mathew McCauley I Dan, who teamed up with Mr. Mason McCauley to assist the candidates with their routines. 

Saturday, November 19, 2005, Blue Mountain Taekwon-Do hosted a seminar with Master Robert Wheatley VIII Dan.  Approximately 31 students ranging from 10th Gup up to 5th Dan, from Washington, Oregon, and Utah took the opportunity to learn from one of the top Master Instructors of the world.

Master Wheatley covered a wide range of topics including skills in dodging, proper terminology, incorporating mass power and kicking.  The seminar lasted four hours where the participants were put through a fast- paced work out which included independent work as well as partner drills.

We are fortunate to have Master Wheatley come all the way to Walla Walla to conduct a quality seminar and testing. We also want to thank him for taking the time out of his busy schedule to support us, his students and members of the US-ITF.  We look forward to hosting another event with Master Wheatley in the future.

We would like to welcome Mr. Willy Whipple II Dan, to Blue Mountain Taekwon-Do and Fitness and the US-ITF.  Mr. Whipple, 16, is an up and coming talented martial artist with over 11 years experience and has an outstanding tournament record for both state and national competitions.  Mr. Whipple has teamed up with instructor, Mr. Mason McCauley III Dan, and is currently training for the Jr. World Qualifiers, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 2006, with the hope of making the USA Jr. World Team to compete in Australia, September 2006.

"Mr. Whipple is a dedicated student that is willing to train hard to achieve his goals.  He has tremendous speed and power and responds well to coaching.  I know that with his natural talent he is going to continue to go far in Taekwon-Do." said Mr. McCauley.

An accomplished musician, Mr. Whipple enjoys playing the drums, as well as excelling in both soccer and wrestling.  He lives in Dayton, WA with his parents Russ Whipple and Kitsy Casseday. 

On October 2, 2005,  Mr. McCauley took two of his students to the 2005 Oregon Cup Open Martial Arts Tournament at the Portland Convention Center.

Mr. Morgan Tucker, 4th Gup, earned a Gold Medal in Breaking, and 2 Bronze Medals in Patterns and Sparring. Mr. Garrett O’Shaughnessy, 7th Gup, earned a Silver Medal in Sparring.

Mr. McCauley encourages his students to attend open tournaments so that they may obtain valuable experience in competing, and prepare them for ITF competition.  "Anytime you can compete in an open tournament, with a different discipline and take their medals, is a reflection on the quality and dedication of the competitor.  There were 372 competitors from throughout the Pacific Northwest, and two of them were ITF, I am proud of the impressive job that they did, and continue to do each and every week".