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Black Belt Spotlight
Bob Frasier is a 2nd degree Black Belt soon to test for 3rd degree. He is also a Kyo Sa (Certified Instructor) who has taught both Adults and Children.
What got you interested in Martial Arts?
Movies, my Uncle, and friends.
How long have you been studying the Martial Arts?
Ten years of active training – I actually started 23 years ago.
How has your training affected your life?
I am in better shape, I don't need to take insulin pills for Diabetes, and I am more aware of things around me.
What other life paths are you following (career, school, family, hobbies, etc)?
I have been collecting swords since I was 10 and have over 50 of them – The Samurai are my favorites. I have been a cook for 14 years.
Favorite book, movie or both and why?
So many books and movies – the one movie that stands out is The Last Dragon, which made me want to try Martial Arts.
Personal motto or favorite quote
I have always liked Stan Lees quote: “With great power comes a greater responsibility”.
Black Belt Spotlight - Andrew Cunningham Andrew is a fourth degree (Master Level) Black Belt. He has taught both children’s and adult classes in addition to his own training. His is our first in a series of interviews for the Black Belt Spotlight.
I was bullied constantly as a kid and always wanted to learn Martial
Arts for confidence. Since we had no money and moved all the time,
attending a Martial Arts school was not an option, so my brother and I
tried learning from a book we found at a yard sale. I still remember
some of the things I learned from that book! As an adult I realized that
it was still a lifelong desire that was itching to be fulfilled. What I
didn't know was just how much it would impact my life.
*How long have you been studying the Martial Arts?*
When my oldest son was 7 (he's now 20 and in the Marines!) I signed him
up for classes. A few months later I signed up my other son and decided
to take the plunge myself. So it's been almost 13 years. I still
remember that first day in class and how awkward I felt. But I also
remember the tremendous support from Sa Bom Nim and all the other students.
*How has your training affected your life?*
Wow, how hasn't it affected my life? Peace, focus, discipline,
confidence, physical health, mental health, emotional health…the list
could go on and on. Karate is a way of life for me and I can't imagine
it not being a part of my life.
*What other life paths are you following (career, school, family,
hobbies, etc)?*
I remarried a year ago, and my life hasn't been the same since! My wife
Charlotte has reminded me that life is an adventure and to make the most
of every moment! I love traveling and am doing a lot more of it. Writing
is a major part of my life, both as a career and as a hobby. Trying to
make time for the hobby part of it can be tough, but I see that
happening more and more. But most important, trying to appreciate what I
have in my life and all that surrounds me is a path I never want to
stray from.
*Favorite book, movie or both and why?*
Movies: I have many favorite movies, but I keep a stack of what I
consider "uplifting" movies ("Field of Dreams" being an example) that I
put on when in need of some inspiration. Needless to say, I've seen them
a lot!
Books: I read constantly, so that's hard to say, but the most inspiring
books for me are those by Wayne Dyer, Neale Donald Walsch
("Conversations with God"), Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle, and other
similar authors. There is always something more I can learn about myself
and the world around me. Okay, confession time: my all-time favorite
book is a novel called "The Furies", about giant wasps that take over
the world. Hey, what can I say?
*Personal motto or favorite quote *
"/Every action taken by human beings is based in love or fear/" (Neale
Donald Walsch). It's amazing how many decisions we make out of fear. I
hope to always make my decisions on the former.
Announcements
Calendar: November 09
Wed., Thurs. Friday, Nov. 25, 26 & 27 - Closed for Thanksgiving
Wed. December 16th - Little Dragon’s Belt Promotion
Congratulations to our New Black Belts!
The following students were promoted to their next rank of Black Belt:
Bob Frasier - 3rd Degree Black Belt
Duane Taft - 1st Degree Black Belt
Sintra Reves - Sohn - Junior Black Belt
John Anderson - Junior Black Belt
There was a process of three months of pretesting along with from 4 - 13 years of training (depending on the student and rank tested for), and of course the Black Belt test itself. The theme of the test was the idea that we will all encounter obstacles in life, but it’s possible to transform obstacles into instruments of personal growth. If we can learn to do that we will continue to grow and learn and thrive no matter what life throws at us. We were inspired by the indomitable spirit of our new Black Belts!
We Are Sad To Say - that we have been asked by the landlord to keep children from climbing the trees out front. They were sad to ask as well but explained these safety issues: one of the lights under the trees had been damaged either from a child stepping, jumping or falling on it. That alone could cause an injury but it caused the light to malfunction and begin smoking and some of the dry leaves around it began to catch fire before the landlord spotted it. We’re sorry to have to deliver this news but we know you can appreciate the importance of the safety factors. Thank you for your cooperation.
Tai Chi Class -
Tai Chi class is offered here on Mondays at 7:30 pm and Wednesdays at 1:00 pm. Tai Chi is a system of enhancing overall health. It’s health benefits are widely recognized and are attributed to the way it creates balance in the individual both mentally and physically. Tai Chi is done in slow motion with great attention given to posture and structural alignment, balance, breathing, and moving with relaxation and ease. This induces a relaxed mental state where we experience an awareness not usually felt in our hectic sped-up lifestyle; an enhanced awareness of the internal and external self and world. Tai Chi has been called moving meditation. It is ideal for those looking for a mindful, less jarring form of movement. Come in and try a free introductory class.
Funakoshi, known as the father of modern karate said that the perfection of a student’s character, not the excellence of his technique defines the true value of Karate.
Our Annual Tournament was an exciting event with all participants demonstrating a “Yes I Can” attitude and excellent sportsmanship. I am always inspired by the courage and all out effort shown by the contestants. We are particularly proud of the positive aura that surrounds this event and the support and camaraderie shown by all the participants. I’d like to thank the judges as well as the timekeepers and scorekeepers. Without them there could be no tournament. So congratulate yourself for a job well done, then get back to work - the next one will be here before you know it!
Oct.17th is almost here and we are looking forward to our tournament! Please feel free to bring cameras and if you get some good shots we’d love to post them in the waiting area.
We want to make sure the tournament is a positive learning experience for all the children and although every child who puts forth their best effort will receive a trophy, only some will get those 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies. You can help your child enjoy this event more regardless of the outcome by re-inforcing some ideas we are going over in class.
First of all anyone who has the courage to try, and who learns from the outcome is a winner! Also good sportsmanship and what kind of a person you are is really more important than who wins. Judges are human too, but will be trying their hardest for a fair outcome. And since we can’t control what others will do, say or think about us (the judges), but we CAN control our own interpretation of that, it makes sense to decide for ourselves whether or not we did our best that day and whether we are therefore a winner even if the prize was more information for improvement! If the kids grasp this one idea from participating in the tournament think how far ahead they will be in a lesson that truly will help them throughout life.
It’s nice to see all the excitement and positive energy as we prepare for this fun event!
Buddy Pizza Party -
Friday Sept. 18 we will have a Bring A Buddy Pizza Party for kids instead of make up classes. Fun Karate games and Pizza! Cost will be $5.00 per person. Watch for a sign up sheet the week before. 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm.
Tai Chi classes are held on Mondays at 7:30 pm . Wednesday 1:00 pm classes will begin on October 7th.
Tournament Oct. 17th!
The event we all look forward to is almost here! We will hold our annual Tournament with Master Kelley’s school at the Gus Canty Rec. Center on Oct.. 17th. There will be a trophy for each participant and those 1st and 2nd place trophies will give everyone a reason to try their best! Good sportsmanship and having fun are stressed. Registration forms will soon be available so be sure and mark your calendar.
Fall Schedule
The fall schedule begins Tuesday September 8th. If you did not receive notification of a time change then your or your child's class time will remain the same.
Friday Make Up Class
After Labor Day the Friday make up class times will change to: Juniors – 5:00 pm,
Adults – 5:45 pm
Three phases of training
There are three phases everyone goes through in training for their black belt or a new degree of black belt. They are the Novelty, Perseverance and the Reward phases.
Novelty – Everything you are learning is so new and exciting! This is an easy stage to stay motivated.
Perseverance – During this stage the repetition needed for building higher level skills may not be quite as exciting as the Novelty phase. And the black belt goal may still seem far off. You are learning the value of perseverance.
Reward - “Wow! Look how close I am to black belt!” (or your next degree of black belt). And more importantly you realize how the training is impacting your life in so many positive ways; fitness, focus, self defense, energy level, confidence, peace of mind, positive attitude, etc..
This can be an excellent lesson – although the results of practice don't come as instant gratification the best things in life seldom do. By sticking it out when the going gets tough we can learn to succeed in reaching all our life goals.
Form Training
(From “Advanced Martial Applications” by Dr. Yang Jwing Ming)
A Martial sequence is a combination of many techniques, constructed in the imagination of the creator to resemble a real fight. The creator of a form must be an expert in the style, and experienced enough to see the advantages and disadvantages of each technique or even just a step or stance. Within a form are hidden the secret techniques of a specific style. Chinese forms contain two or three levels of fighting techniques. The first level is the obvious applications of the movements, and contains the fundamentals of the style. The second level is deeper and is usually not obvious in the movements of the form. For example a form might contain a back stance at a particular spot.This stance allows the practitioner to kick easily when necessary, but this kick may not actually be done in the form. Experienced martial artists can usually see through to this second level of applications. The third level is the hardest to see in a form but it usually contains the most effective techniques of the style. These third level techniques often require more movement or steps than are actually shown in the form. Therefore you can see that a form has several purposes: 1). A form is used to preserve the essence of a style and it’s techniques. It is just like a textbook which is the foundation of your knowledge of a style. 2).Forms are used to train a practitioner in the particular techniques of a style. When a student practices a form regularly he can master the techniques and build a good foundation in his style.3). Forms are used to train a student’s patience, endurance,and strength as well as stances, movements and power. 4).Forms are used to build a sense of enemy. From routinely visualizing an opponent you can make the techniques alive and effective in a real fight.
It's finally feeling like summer! Be sure to pre-hydrate before each class by drinking plenty of fluids throughtout the day.
T- shirts are in!
During the hot months we break from tradition a bit and allow school t-shirts as part of the uniform. But remember - belt promotions are formal events - full uniform required!
Safety - Please remind children that they must wait inside for their ride.
Commitment
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definetely commits oneself, then povidence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never ohterwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no one could have dreamed would come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.
Goethe
Calendar: March 09 News April 4th - Black Belt testing April 10th - Closed Friday April 20th - Closed - Patriots Day April 22 and 24 -Closed (School Vacation ) April 20th - 24th - See Vacation week schedule below May 1st - Belt Promotion June 5th - Photo day! Check out the Poster on the Door at the Dojang April School Vacation Week Schedule We know that many people will be away and others will just want a break from their schedules so classes are optional during school vacation week, and times will be a little different that usual. However these will be “Bring A Buddy” classes! You don’t have to bring a buddy but you can if you want to. Vacation Week Children’s schedule (April 20th - 24th): Classes are optional during vacation week but for those children who would like to come classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday at 4:30 for Little Dragons and 5:15 for all Juniors. Adults should come at 6:30. Please note that there will not be class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of vacation week. Enjoy the week! Black Belt Test April 4th at 11:00am. This is open to the public and is very motivating and exciting to see. We recommend that you try to attend. It will be held here at our school. How does Form practice benefit brain function? Thinking and learning are not all in our head. On the contrary the body plays an integral part in all our intellectual processes from earliest infancy right through to old age. Physical movement throughout our lives, plays a crucial roll in the creation of nerve cell networks which are actually the essence of learning. From shortly after conception and throughout a lifetime, the nervous system is a dynamically changing, self-organizing system. It follows no single master plan and is never static. We develop our neural wiring in direct response to our life experiences. As we grow, as we move, as we learn, the cells of our nervous systems connect in highly complex patterns of neural pathways. These patterns are organized and reorganized throughout life allowing us greater ability to receive outside stimuli and perform the myriad jobs of a human life. All this neural organization takes place in response to stimulation and activity, i. e., use of the neural pathways. Movement and practice establish and elaborate these pathways. Patterned movement in particular (like forms) produces increased neural growth and a greater number of connections among neurons. It is no wonder that martial arts training has long been heralded as a way for both children and adults to improve their focus and concentration as well as their coordination, balance and overall mental and physical fitness.
Calendar: January - February 2009 January - Free month for family members coming in as new students - register by end of Jan. Feb. 6 - Test for Adults and Juniors Feb 16th - 20th - School Vacation Week - See below School Vacation Week schedule (Feb. 16th –20th): Classes are optional during vacation week but for those who would like to come classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday at 4:30 for Little Dragons and 5:15 for all Juniors, and 6:30 for adults. Please note that there will not be class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of vacation week. Enjoy the week! Vacation Week classes will be “Bring a Buddy” Classes! Tai Chi classes have begun on Wednesdays at 1:00, and we are still taking registrations for a possible Monday 7:30 class. Sign up soon if you are interested. Black Belt Spotlight - Andrew Cunningham Be sure to check out the "Black Belt Spotlight" blog category to read Andrew's interview.
As we move into the new year the student creed holds some excellent ideas to focus on. “I intend to develop myself in a positive manner and avoid anything that would reduce my mental growth or my physical health.” This could mean dropping bad habits (smoking, too much junk food, too much TV etc.), and not falling into the trap of new bad habits - it could even mean taking a look at the attitudes of the people you surround yourself with. Or as Master Yang would say it means "conquering yourself". “I intend to develop self discipline in order to bring out the best in myself and others”. This includes committing to getting enough exercise, rest and making healthy food choices, reading more, learning something new - as well as service and contribution to others. It is amazing how much our “luck” and level of satisfaction with Life is determined by the choices we make. You are the Master of the moments in your life!
Calendar: December 2008 Fri. December 12th - Adults and Juniors Test Wed. December 17th - Little Dragon’s Belt Promotion Wed. Dec. 24th - Sun. Jan. 4th - Closed for the Holiday Wed. Jan 7th - Tai Chi classes begin - Wednesdays at 1:00 Closed for the Holidays We will be closed for the Holidays from December 24th through January 4th. Happy Holidays to all!
After training for from 5 to 10 years we had one student achieve Junior Black Belt, two achieved 2nd degree Black Belt and one achieved 3rd degree Black Belt. It was a process that involved three months of pretesting in addition to the years of training and of course the Black Belt test itself. The theme of the test was the idea that we will all encounter obstacles in life, but it's possible to transform obstacles into instruments of personal growth. If we can learn to do that we will continue to grow and learn and thrive no matter what life throws at us. We were inspired by the "Indomitable Spirit" of our new Black Belts!
November is a busy month! We have a color belt promotion on Friday, Nov. 14 th at 5:30, and a Black Belt Testing on Sat. Nov. 22 at 11:00 am. Again we encourage you to attend the Black Belt testing if possible for the great motivation the event offers. If you can't stay for the four or so hours, try to come at about 11:30 after the warm up and stay for whatever portion of the test that you can. You're sure to leave inspired!
Please note that we will be closed on Tues. Nov.11th for Veterans Day, and on Nov. 26th, 27th and 28th (Wed., Thurs. and Fri.) for Thanksgiving.
Wishing you Pyong Ahn (peaceful confidence).