Short Story.    The Mount Shasta Martial Arts Program is a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation serving our community by offering a unique, established martial arts-based training program since 2001. Our program enriches lives by providing a dynamic and modern curriculum for taekwondo and yongmudo in a safe, fun learning environment to the residents of Mount Shasta and surrounding communities in Siskiyou County, CA and Jackson County, OR.

What we got.    Participants learn really cool, valuable skills from the most experienced, highest ranking instructors in Siskiyou County. Even online, children excel within our supportive environment: positive attitude and respectful behavior are priorities. Adults and teens enjoy great workouts developing powerful and effective techniques and self-defense strategies.

Connecting with the community.    MSMAP works with local schools and community organizations helping to develop skills for success including Mount Shasta Elementary, Castle Rock Elementary, Sisson Middle, Golden Eagle Charter , Shady Creek Pre-School, Dunsmuir Community Center, Mount Shasta Recreation & Parks District, and Upward Bound (a national high-school program).

Learn more.    Check out the following sections for more information about MSMAP and what it offers.

Master Chuck Buhs is the head instructor and Dr. Peter Halt is the founding instructor. Both Chuck and Peter graduated from U.C. Berkeley and received their black belts in taekwondo from the University of California Martial Arts Program (1987) under the direction of Dr. Ken Min.

Chuck and Peter have decades of experience teaching children, teens, and adults. Each is committed to providing a safe, educational, and fun training environment for all participants.

MSMAP participants include children, teenagers, and adults from Mount Shasta, Dunsmuir, McCloud, Weed, . Some parents attend with their children and either participate in training or enjoying watching the training. We encourage more parents to join the training and experience the fun and rewards firsthand.

Yes. It will take years of diligent and consistent training along with fulfilling all the requirements at each rank/belt level including passing all promotion exams. Our members have promoted various degrees of black belt including 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 7th degree. The promotion authority for the Mount Shasta Martial Arts Program for both taekwondo and yongmudo is the University of California at Berkeley Martial Arts Program (UCMAP).

Good question. It’s certainly not for lack of trying on our part. Over two decades, MSMAP has continually reached out into our community through demonstrations, fundraisers and food drives for the Senior Nutrition Program, special activity programs at our local schools.
Go to: Selected MSMAP Milestones
Go to: 2018: Martial Arts Students were prepared for Open House & Holiday Food Drive (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2018: Preparation Pays Off for Teens in Awarding of Taekwondo Black Belts (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2018: Martial Artists Test Their Skills at UC Berkeley (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2018: Packed House for Martial Arts Program Holiday Event (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2017: Martial Artists Collect Mountain of Medals (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2016: MSMAP Puts Words and Training into Action (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2016: Local Participants See Benefits of Martial Arts Camp (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2016: UC Open Taekwondo & Yongmudo Championships (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2016: Visiting Martial Arts Instructor Emphasizes Lifelong Training (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2014: Martial Arts Open House Includes Senior Nutrition Food Collection (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2014: MSMAP Plans Open House and Food Drive (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2014: Martial Artists Contribute to Senior Nutrition (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2014: Mount Shasta Youth Earns Black Belt (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2014: UC Open Competition Action (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2014: Local Mother and 3 Children Take Taekwondo Exam (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2013: Martial Arts Students Showed Their Stuff (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2013: Martial Arts Celebration Benefits Senior Nutrition (MS Area Newspapers)
Go to: 2013: ‘Safe Dating’ Teaches Protective Techniques (MS Area Newspapers)

During this busy transitional year of 2022, we are offering online training and private in-person instructional training by appointment-only. Contact us by email for additional information.

No. Although our children’s program is always popular, our participants also include teens and adults.

We offer excellent training for teens and adults two evenings each week at 5 to 6:00pm (Tuesday and Thursday) in yongmudo. We especially encourage adults to join our yongmudo program as we provide an ideal means to develop a variety of skills and overall fitness geared to aging bodies.

Teenage girls and their mothers may be interested in our specialized “Self-Defense for Teens” series offered periodically.

Yongmudo

Yongmudo (Korean Self-Defense) is an ideal activity for adults to really test themselves. It offers a variety of sparring options from groundwork to standing throws to kicking/striking to “anything goes”.

Yongmudo

Martial arts training is not just about aerobic, high-impact, really athletic movements—martial arts is also about being safe, healthy, and being truly invigorated by movement and techniques. Yongmudo offers an excellent activity for adults to train, learn martial arts, and remain healthy without constantly being broken-down from over-training.

Our periodic self-defense workshops complete the third component offered by MSMAP. These workshops differ from self-defense training in our taekwondo and yongmudo program in that we address specific topics for specific groups. For example, our first workshop, held in Summer 2008 for young women 13-years and older, was geared towards “Safe Dating 101”. Since then, we've offered self-defense seminars for the general community as well as girl and boy scouts.

Yongmudo is Korean self-defense combining elements of judo, taekwondo, and submission wrestling. It’s core foundational principle is using the attacker’s strength against themselves. The focus of yongmudo is on self-defense although it does include a competitive aspect as well. And, this competitive component of training allows for a great test of skills against each other. In other words, combat sparring.

Yongmudo

The roots of yongmudo are from hapkido, a comprehensive martial art requiring a variety of skills. The literal translation of Yongmudo is “The Way of Dragon Martial Art”. The name yongmudo was decided upon in 1998 by the Martial Arts Research Institute of Yong In University in Korea reflecting the fierce techniques yet intelligent training methodology of an important self-defense discipline for the 21st Century.

Don’t be fixated on the name. Pay attention to the techniques and the type of training. If you want to learn how to stop others from hurting you, yongmudo offers a lot of ways to defend yourself.
Go to: Yongmudo Training Photo Gallery

Yongmudo

Yes. People with all levels of experience — and even no experience — are welcome to participate. Adults, teens, and children with absolutely no experience are especially encouraged to try the program and decide if martial arts is something that interests them.

The Tiny Tigers program is for young chilren to begin learning martial arts in a fun environment mixed in with a healthy dash of discipline. Since May 2009, these 45-minute workouts benefit children ages 4-years-old and up at a pace ideally geared to their attention spans and social skills. Children learn how to follow directions, display good manners, and participate within a very active and supportive group setting developing coordination and having fun.
Go to: Tiny Tigers
Go to: The 5 S’s
Go to: Children and Taekwondo
Go to: Tiny Tigers Photo Gallery (Action Photos!)

Since June 2009, MSMAP offers summer camps for children and teens. These training sessions offer a variety of activities to introduce participants to a variety of martial arts including judo and Japanese swordsmanship as well as taekwondo and yongmudo. These camps are a healthy activity in a safe environment. Since 2011, MSMAP partners with the Mount Shasta Recreation & Parks District to offer unique summer (and sometimes winter) activity programs.

Yes. Prospective members are welcome to watch and are encouraged to come train for a week before making a decision about whether they want to continue or not. Uniforms are not required during the FREE trial period; just wear clean t-shirts and sweatpants. The only cost during the trial period is time. NOTE: Everyone must complete a liability waiver prior to participating. Minors must have a parent or guardian sign. No fee is involved to try it out.

Our purpose is to build a better community by offering intelligent, comprehensive martial arts training to develop stronger minds and bodies. As a non-profit, we offer all this as a gift to the community. We ask for donations from the community to continue serving.

There is no “catch”. We ask for donations from the community to cover expenses to keep the doors open and people active. As a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation, the Mount Shasta Martial Arts Program stresses quality instruction for the entire community. We personally enjoy training and the enriching experience martial arts offers; we encourage others to try the program and learn first-hand if martial arts is something worthwhile for you.

Could be. Whether your donations are tax-deductible or not all depends on your particular tax situation. MSMAP is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and donations to MSMAP might be deducted from the donor’s income taxes for that year if your particular tax situation allows. Check with your tax advisor for details.

Only taekwonodo and yongmudo rank and uniforms are appropriate for those respective training sessions. Although the Mount Shasta Martial Arts Program does not offer “open” workouts where people show up and haphazardly practice whatever they feel like, MSMAP does provide “equivalency” exams allowing participants to put their previous training to use within the taekwondo or yongmudo system.

Each workout follows a lesson plan with the ultimate goal being learning all the requirements for the next promotion exam. With diligent, regular training, dedicated participants have the opportunity to take a rank promotion exam for taekwondo and yongmudo approximately every six months.

Yes, all members are required to have the proper uniform, or dobok for training in yongmudo and/or taekwondo. For taekwondo, the uniform is a white V-neck pullover top, pants, and belt. For yongmudo, the uniform is a green heavyweight crossover top, pants, and belt (although a heavyweight white, crossover uniform is also appropriate for yongmudo). With proper care, the uniforms will last a year or longer (depending on use).

MSMAP can help participants obtain uniforms and other equipment.

NOTE: For people trying out the workouts for a week, a uniform is not required. Prospective members should wear clean workout attire (i.e., t-shirt and sweat pants).

That’s great, but this isn’t your old school. MSMAP provides instructional workouts according to the taekwondo and yongmudo governing organizations. This means that the training follows a required curriculum and the respective protocol for both taekwondo and yongmudo which includes the proper uniform for each martial art. A uniform, or dobok, is required both for its durability as well as for good hygiene (provided it is washed on a regular basis and it is only used for martial arts workouts).

MSMAP celebrates diversity, but our training is our way:
   • well-organized;
   • progressive;
   • challenging.

In addition to the dobok (uniform; white V-neck for taekwondo and green heavyweight cross-over for yongmudo), members should have their own protective athletic cup. Members of green belt rank and above should have their own sparring gear (headgear, mouthpiece, body protector, shin/forearm pads).

MSMAP can help participants obtain uniforms and other equipment. All uniforms and equipment must conform to our specific requirements (i.e., V-neck pullover for taekwondo; heavyweight cross-over uniform for yongmudo).

Our rules are geared to ensure the safety and health of all participants. Please ask if you have questions.

General Rules.    You'll pick up most of our rules pretty quickly such as proper etiquette (bowing stepping on/off the mat; clean uniforms; etc.) and hygiene (wear slippers in the restroom - always).

Main Rules & Expectations.    These are our main rules. Expect us to enforce them.

Need more details?    Download our “Rules & Expectations” sheet. It provides much more information.

You’re not alone: learning to tie the belt is a challenge. Here’s a couple of videos to help.

Excellent! Extra practice at home makes a postive difference in the studio. The following video playlist shows videos taken from the Kukkiwon DVD Series and are the official versions of the Taekwondo forms, or poomse.

Martial arts, athletics, and play are great ways for kids to stay healthy and gain important skills in leadership and teamwork. Unfortunately, concussions can occur in all sports and activities from any contact including bumps, blows or jolts to the head or body. It is crucial for instructors and parents to recognize the signs and symptoms of concussions, understand the potential consequences and prevent further injury.

MSMAP’s Concussion FAQ is designed to offer participants, parents, and instructors direction in the event of a possible concussion and encourage involvement by medical professionals in a step-by-step protocol for treatment and observation. Our number one goal is to promote and champion the safety and health of our participants.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or health care provider. We encourage you to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.

For that matter, I don’t like fighting. Isn't martial arts all about fighting and violence?

What We Believe.    We abhor senseless violence as well. For us, training in martial arts is not about learning to spread violence. It is about learning essential physical, mental, and emotional skills in order to MANAGE and AVOID (when possible) senseless violence. It’s about effectively managing challenges, adversity, and conflict in an intelligent manner.

The Power of Choices.    Training in martial arts is much more than the physical skills; it is about choices such as choosing to respond with violence or not; to fight or not fight. With choice comes self-confidence. Through the development of self-confidence and self-respect, we encourage participants to become supportive members of our community who strive to achieve exciting, worthwhile goals.

Learn more.    This page explains in much more depth about what we're all about including the benefits that are possible through martial arts training. Check it out!