Well done to everyone who graded last month! Here is the training focus for this week’s classes
Monday: Hijiate & Dynamic
Tuesday: Shihonage & Jo
Wednesday: Nikkajo & Tanto
Thursday: Sankajo & Self Defence
Friday: Tenshinage & Sword
Saturday: Yonkajo & Ukemi
Dates & Events
Painting Party
Saturday 15th July.
Starting at 13:45, grab a brush and a roller and help us pretty up the Dojo.
Black Belt Tests
Saturday 22nd July.
Kick off is at 13:45 sharp, We have Juniors and Adults grading for their next black belt promotions, including a HIGH level Adult test.
Summer School
Saturday 29th - Sunday 30th July.
Regardless of grade this is an event not to be missed! Two solid days of training with all our teachers, plus Sensei John Russell. Throw yourself in the deep end and have a great time!
Mat Chat
Here are the topics for this month’s life skills talks.
We are closed on Monday 29th, as we normally do on bank holidays. If you would miss out on a regular class then please make sure you get your catch ups later this week.
Summer School
Saturday 29th to Sunday 30th July. We are taking names, you need to secure your name with a deposit of £40. Last year’s Summer School was a resounding success, we are aiming to make this year’s even better! There are only 30 places in total, half have already been taken, so make sure you get in before the rest are gone.
T-Shirts
Sun’s out so we’re taking orders for Shudokan T-Shirts. You can place your orders at reception, shirts are £12 and are available in sizes Small to Extra Large. The deadline for orders is 30th June.
Quote
“A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship was built for.”
Hi all, this week is week two of the month. Here is the training focus for this week’s classes.
Monday: Shihonage & Ukemi
Tuesday: Nikkajo & Dynamic
Wednesday: Hijiate & Jo
Thursday: Tenshinage & Tanto
Friday: Kotegaeshi & Self Defence
Saturday: Shomen Iriminage & Sword
Congratulations
A big congratulations to Phil Yates and Sean Anderson who both graded to their Adult Shodan and to Mckai who graded to his Cadet Shodan. All three did a sterling job and have made the school very proud!
Events
Board Break
Thursday 18th, 19:30. We are taking names for this quarter’s motivational board break class, if you have not yet completed one of our board breaks or firewalks you NEED to be here.
Quote of the Week
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”
This week is Grading week, so the daily focus will be Curriculum training. Here is the module schedule for the week.
Monday: Jo
Tuesday: Tanto
Wednesday: Self Defence
Thursday: Sword
Friday: Ukemi
Saturday: Dynamic
Kids Grading Modules
Just a reminder of the what we will be grading the kids on this month.
Juniors/Cadets
Little Dragons
Style Vs Style Pt. 2
Sport, Science or Art
Of course, the longer you study martial arts — any style of martial arts — the longer you practice, the more apparent it becomes that it is so much more than fighting. In fact, the ability to fight effectively is a mere consequence. Let’s analyse it. If the objective of martial arts was just to successfully compete in contests of skill, then wouldn’t it be called martial sport? If the objective was to hone an efficient means of fighting technique, then shouldn’t it be called martial science? Wouldn’t we be martial technicians? But no, this has always been designated and referred to as an art. What does it mean to be an artist? While mastery of technique is necessary; and desire, will and execution are expected, ultimately, artists act to express themselves, to produce or arrange sound, colour, form, movement, or other elements in a creative manner. It may not make for an exciting action movie, but martial arts is about creating something of unique aesthetic value, not about destroying your enemy.
Look at the names of several traditional styles. Judo is translated as the gentle way. Kung Fu means achievement through effort or wisdom through skill. Karate translates as empty hand, although some masters say that the original characters meant using the hand or body to empty the self. Aikido means the way of harmony. All of the great masters, from Tamo Bodidharma (founder of Kung Fu) in the 6th century on, have stressed that martial arts is a path of personal transformation that ultimately leads to self-realization.
Ego Enhancement is the Antithesis of Martial Arts
From this perspective, the question, which style is the most effective? is meaningless. What reason would two martial artists — serious martial artists who practice their art diligently and passionately — have for fighting with one another? Through practice, they develop the discipline and self-control to be able to deal with most situations without resorting to blows. The thrill of competition? If the essence of martial arts is personal transformation that ultimately leads to self-realization, then practice is designed to minimize and ultimately destroy the ego. Entertaining concepts of victory and defeat is counter-productive.
Unfortunately, today there are far too many people claiming to be martial artists who are perpetually training for the enhancement of their egos, for the pride of victory, boasting that they are the toughest or that their style is the best, ready to fight anyone that challenges them. Although these people may be great fighters, they have not yet realized that, in martial arts as in life itself, the real battle is within.
Quote
“Even the greatest was once a beginner. Don’t be afraid to take that first step.”
Happy New Year to you all! I trust you all had a wonderful break and indulged more than a little. Let’s hit the floor running and get 2016 off to an amazing start.
Training Focus
Here is the training focus for this weeks classes.
Monday: Yonkajo & Sword
Tuesday: Ikkajo & Ukemi
Wednesday: Shihonage & Dynamic
Thursday: Nikkajo & Jo
Friday: Sokkumen & Tanto
Saturday: Sankajo & Self Defence
Kids’ Grading Modules
This month the kids are being graded on Module 5 of their curriculum. Check out the videos to see what your child will be learning for their next grade.
Juniors & Cadets
Little Dragons
Kid’s Life Skills Talks
Weekly Quote
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
Given the earlier finish this month, we wanted to avoid anyone missing out on their oportunity to grade, so we have decided to run gradings in both week 3 and week 4 of this month. In keeping with that, this week will be curriculum practice instead of particular techniques. Here is the module focus for this weeks classes.
Monday: Jo
Tuesday: Tanto
Wednesday: Self Defence
Thursday: Sword
Friday: Ukemi
Saturday: Dynamic
Early Gradings
As I mentioned above, we will be starting gradings in week 3. Plan your training lesson to make sure you will have enough tags to grade before the end of the month.
Last Class of the Year
The last day of training for the year will be Wednesday 23rd December. For all ages this will be a fun packed lesson, all about finishing the year strong and having a good time!
Kids’ classes will be fancy dress, see get those Santa hats on and dust off the tinsel!
Weekly Quote
Here’s your weekly motivational thought.
“Do you value life? Then waste not time, for that is the stuff of which life is made.”
to everyone who earned their Black Belt promotions on Saturday! You all did a great job and we’re very proud of you all.
Training Focus
Here is the training focus for this weeks Adult classes.
Monday: Ikkajo & Tanto
Tuesday: Nikkajo & Self Defence
Wednesday: Sankajo & Sword
Thursday: Yonkajo & Ukemi
Friday: Shihonage & Dynamic
Saturday: Sokkumen Iriminage & Jo
Kids’ Life Skills Education
Check out the video for a brief look at what we will be talking to the kids about in the ‘Life Skills’ section of our classes.
Kid’s Testing Module
This Month our Dragons, Juniors and Cadets will be tested on Module 3 of their curriculum. Check out the videos to see exactly what your child should be practicing.
Juniors & Cadets
Little Dragons
Motivational Thought for the Day
“This thing that we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.”
