The New Mats!

The new mats of TMAFC January 2, 2016

Dojang is a term used in Korean martial arts, such as Taekwondo, Kuk Sool Won, and hapkido, that refers to a formal training hall. It is typically considered the formal gathering place for students of a martial art to conduct training, examinations and other related encounters.

The dojang is the term used in Korean arts for the training area, normally matted. When I trained under my first master, our dojang was hard floor with carpet. I remember the rug burns I used to get LOL. It wasn't until I think 2004 that we got mats for our floors. Especially when Taekwondo grew to international popularity becoming an official Olympic sport in 2000, many schools became sport only and used mats on their dojang floor.

MOST people use the more commonly term "dojo" which is a Japanese term. But traditional martial arts recognizes the training grounds for martial arts MORE than just a place to train. Before we walk onto the dojang mats, we bow. Before we leave the dojang mats we bow. In Chinese martial arts we bow to the shrine, Japanese arts we are bowing to the ancestry lineage lined up on the wall, Korean arts to the flags. But it's purpose is much deeper.

The training grounds were known to be sacred ground. Out of respect for the floor itself, you bow before and after walking upon those grounds. It is the dojang/dojo floor where we are faced with not only training our bodies but of course our minds and spirits. It is the place we push ourselves on every level to better ourselves. To face our fears, to challenge ourselves, to transform our perspectives and abilities, to be able to learn life skills such as focus, discipline, and self-confidence. We are in competition with no one but our own selves. It is a powerful place and a safe place to be able to go through this transformation. I think people lose sight of that.

Now truth be told, wherever a good teacher is, that is where the teaching can be done. Not all martial arts masters need a school to pass down these unbelievable lesson to be transmuted into life. But its the symbol of that sacred ground that holds great value. For 16 months in 2009 into 2010, I taught students privately in backyards, basements, garages, and in parks. I created a dojang wherever I could, and to this day I still have an eye for finding or creating "space" to train since I did it for so long. But when I opened my school in 2010, the biggest thrill was when the mats were being put down. THAT is when I felt a school had been created. The dojang of TMAFC was officially born.

I put down my mats when I opened TMAFC in 2010.

I bought my first set of mats the week I planned on opening the doors of TMAFC in Rochelle Park, New Jersey. I chose red and black mats for the colors, which happen to be my favorite colors and because no one else I knew used those colors, it is usually blue and red. I put the mats down alone one night in 2010 by myself. I guess a little symbolic for what those early years would be like for me at the school. SO many people had been on those mats. Students of mine who are no longer with me, best friends, mentors, old teachers, my parents, I had several black belts tests and 2nd degree black belt tests, my own 6 day 4th degree test, Master DeJesus has taught on those mats, Master Balon has taught on those mats, Master Canzoneiri taught on those mats, Charlene has taught on those mats, Sifu has been on those mats, I even had an amish farmer and his family on those mats! The first thing I ever did on those mats was a Black Belt test as well, very Trento-esque.

We moved those mats from Rochelle Park to Saddle Brook. I placed them down in my new school. For last couple of years I kept saying I wanted to get new mats. The old ones were fine, but they've taken a beating and were of lesser quality than the new ones I had in mind. Entering 2016 I new I wanted to get the new mats. I had already the healing room built, the light fixtures changed, new office built, got my mirrors up finally, rearranged the inside, it was TIME. I didn't care what needed to be done. 2015 was great and 2016 was fresh again and I knew I wanted to start with true NEW. So I bit the bullet and did it and ordered brand new mats for my school.

My best friend Jessie went to Philadelphia with me, God bless her driving this HUGE cargo van, bigger than I needed. We had a wonderful time driving down, laughing and telling stories, and then played in the martial arts store, got the new mats, packed up the truck/van, got cheesesteaks, and then drove back up. My students Nicole and Thomas came to help as well as my brother Thomas and his beautiful girlfriend Jamie. I already knew the new mats going down symbolized a greater future because of the amount of enthusiasm, support, and help I got laying down these new mats.

The brand new mats

Out with the old! In with the new!

I still have the old mats, just in case they're needed (and they will be in June when Mike Lee comes!). I placed down the first mat myself and then as a team we all placed down the brand new mats. We laughed, we had fun, we helped each other, Jessie ran around collecting garbage because she is a neat freak LOL, and we placed the mats down together. A brand new era of new was being born the new dojang of TMAFC.

Some people say I read too much into things, but I believe people don't read into things enough! SO many things have meaning and I believe people need to find those things. Our higher self is always showing us things and we need to be aware of it, appreciate it, and hold onto it. Yes, something as simple as mats mean a great deal to me. They are the place I do the very best "me". I teach on them, what I was meant to do on this planet. I train on them, pushing myself to become better at being ME. A place I invite people onto them. The first thing I ever did on them was an Official's Clinic for New Jersey, with my mentor Master Balon being on them! I had a week later my mentor Master DeJesus helping with my school's FIRST HaganaH FIGHT test on them. I had my mentor Master Bardatsos train me on them. My mentor Charlene is currently teaching on them. My students learn and train on them. TMAFC's dojang is a very special place and meaningful place. And I intend to keep it that way. (BOWS)

Thomas squared putting down the border mats.

Thomas, Jessie, Thomas, and Jamie placing the new mats down.

The whole crew helping: Thomas, Jamie, Jessie, Thomas, and Nicole.

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

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