Choson Taekwondo
Teaching 'lessons for life'
By Kate Daly Assistant Editor

Jay Ferguson of Choson Taekwondo in Northborough PHOTO/KATE DALY

Northborough - When Jay Ferguson talks about his work with young people, he doesn't talk about kicks, punches and fighting. He talks about focus, discipline, respect and skills that stay with a child forever.

"We're really focused on teaching taekwondo not only as a martial art but also as a way to build character, to help our students be better people," he said. "We really believe in our slogan, 'lessons for life.'"

Prominent on the wall of the school, a cavernous, mat-lined room, are the five tenets of taekwondo: courtesy, self control, integrity, perseverance and indomitable spirit.

These tenets are taken as seriously as any kick or punch in the teaching of taekwondo at Choson.

For example, students are asked to keep a log of the times they are courteous outside of the dojong, or school, while they are working on one part of their yellow belt, Ferguson said. Later, they are asked to keep a log of the results of having been courteous. These two exercises teach the young students something very important, he said.

"Not only are these things you should practice all the time, but these are things that have results," he said. "We make these kinds of connections."

Ferguson is troubled by the impression many people have that taekwondo and other martial arts are simply about fighting. They are actually the opposite.

"The biggest thing we teach kids is that the meaning of martial arts is to stop fights," Ferguson said. "It takes aggressive kids and gives them discipline and courtesy and takes timid or passive kids and give them confidence."

He spoke of students with attention and behavior issues who, through the practice of taekwondo, learned to focus and modify their behavior, much to the astonishment of teachers and relief of parents. The structure of the program helps, he explained.

"Everything from the moment they walk through the door is structured to reinforce the lessons," Ferguson said. "They know what's right, what we expect. That creates an environment for learning. I've never had a better environment to teach things."

Ferguson came to taekwondo later in life than many of the young students he reaches now, although Choson students range in age from 4 to adult.

"I was 35 when I started taekwondo. I had taken a lot of martial arts starting in my 20s, never getting past white [first] belt," he said. "I just decided I wasn't going to let anything get in my way. I was lucky I found taekwondo."

Ferguson and his wife, Diane Houston, both studied at a dojong in Texas. Both computer consultants, they relocated to Massachusetts after visiting a friend in Boston. They settled on Northborough to open their own dojong, and they live in the community, because they wanted to be a part of the town where they teach.

Houston still works as a computer consultant, and Ferguson has developed computer programs for running and scoring taekwondo tournaments. He also judges them.

They both teach at Choson, and, Ferguson said, all the teachers have been their students. All the staff are paid and trained in first aid.

An important part of taekwondo is community service, and Choson gets involved by off ering scholarships, raising money for causes, and working with the Northborough Police Department's Civilian Youth Academy.

Choson invites prospective students to take a free introductory lesson, and offers a variety of classes, including one for families.

Choson Taekwondo is located at 265 Main St., Northborough, or on the Web at www.chosontkd. com. The phone number is 508-393-6900.

Editor's Note: the preceding is not an endorsement and is presented for informational purposes only.