June 2026 Newsletter
NewsletterJune 2026•By Master Mark O’Connor
Respect • Commit • Persevere • Succeed!
The Traveling Dojo News
The Place Where Our Students & The Community Meet!
June, 2026 – Issue #5
Hi Everyone! Welcome to our latest issue of The Traveling Dojo News!
We have committed to donating a percentage of our income each year to a charitable organization that aligns with our core values. Each issue of our newsletter will start with this call to action to help us in supporting our selected organization(s). This year we are supporting The Alliance Against Seclusion & Restraint (AASR). Please consider joining us in supporting AASR!
In This Issue
- Belt Promotion Testing & Summer BBQ
- June is Pride Month
- Seniors In Action!
- More Website Updates
- Update On Our Search For Space
- Dojo In The Community
- Our Locations
Belt Promotion Testing & Summer BBQ
June 13, 2026 @ 2 PM
The Casey Community Center
801 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg
Peachtree Room (2nd floor)
(for students and their friends & family only)
Assistant Instructors must arrive at The Casey Community Center by 1:20pm to help setup. All students testing must arrive no later than 2pm. Lineups will begin at 2:05pm. All others should arrive and be settled by 2:10pm, testing will begin promptly at 2:15pm.
This is a closed event due to available seating, however all students are encouraged to attend even if you are not testing. It’s a great way to show support for your fellow students!
The examination fee for students who received an invitation to test is $50, there is no fee for anyone attending. Students must register for the exam and to let us know how many family & friends they are expecting so we can ensure enough seating. Register by clicking the button below.
Register to Attend The Belt Promotion Exam & BBQ
Summer BBQ
Immediately Following Promotion Testing
Master Mark’s Home
Gaithersburg
This invitation extends ONLY to students and
their respective families and friends.
We’ll have food and beverage options for everyone. Please let Master Mark know if you have any food restrictions so we can be sure to accommodate everyone. We’ll have corn hole, ladder ball and giant Jenga!
Use the registration button above to let us know if you are attending the BBQ. Please register no later than June 6th.
June is Pride Month
Help us celebrate Pride month with our NEW STUDENT offer:
50% off for a 3-month membership
Sign a membership agreement in June and get 3 months of martial arts or self-defense lessons for 50% off! Includes free t-shirt and karate belt. Offer can be combined with our Always Deals Group Discount.
For more information or to sign up, click the button below:
Check our our Pride Month offer
The City of Gaithersburg also has a number of programs they are offering throughout June to celebrate Pride Month. Click here for details.
Seniors In Action!
Our inaugural session of Self-Defense for Seniors at the Benjamin Gaither Senior Center is well underway! This active group is having fun and and learning the principles of self-defense and easy-to-use techniques to help keep themselves safe!
We are working out the details for a summer session and are looking forward to continuing to educate our senior community on effective ways to stay safe!
PACE yourself, and don’t be DARED!
Contact us for more information
More Website Updates
New Publications Page
We have created a new menu option on our website (Publications) that will host articles and our monthly newsletters so they are easily accessible to everyone. Our AASR article is now posted on our website and Master Mark is working on another article (Martial Arts or Martial Sciences?) that we hope to publish by Fall. We expect to get our Newsletters integrated by the end of Summer.
Student Account Activation
If you have not activated your student account, please activate it so you will have access to our full curriculum. Most of our curriculum is posted in the student portal, it’s a great way to review requirements for your belt examination 😉!
Click on Reset Password Now! to complete your account activation.
Update On Our Search For Space
We have looked at several spaces since our last update and are currently in active negotiations for a space in Damascus, just 5 minutes from our current location. There is still a lot to do before we settle on a space, but we’ll keep everyone up to date before we make a decision. Here is the address of the property we are currently looking at:
28325 Kemptown Rd, Damascus, MD 20872
Dojo In The Community
Summer registration for our classes at the Casey Community Center is now open! Check out these class offerings and register today!
Tuesdays (6/30 to 8/18)
Warriors Martial Arts (ages 13 to adult) – 5pm to 5:45pm
Practical Self Defense (Women 16+) – 6:00pm to 6:45pm
Junior Warriors Martial Arts (ages 6 to 12) – 7pm to 7:45pm
Wednesdays (7/1 to 8/19)
Warriors Martial Arts (ages 13 to adult) – 4:15pm to 5pm
Junior Warriors Martial Arts (ages 6 to 12) – 5:15pm to 6pm
Practical Self Defense (Women 16+) – 6:16pm to 7pm
Register For One of Our Community Programs
Our Locations
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We hold weekly classes in Damascus and weekly classes at the Casey Community Center in Gaithersburg. We also provide private & small group lessons in-home, at Master Mark’s home dojo or your place of work. Have a small group (10 or less) and want us to Come To You? Contact us and we will work with you to make it happen!
Already have a belt rank in Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do or Uchudo? No problem, we will accept your current rank and train you for your black belt!
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Thank you!
Ready to start your martial arts journey?