May Martial Arts Newsletter – 2011
Greetings!
Thanks for your patience in waiting for our newsletter this month. We updated our website and there were a few things that went wrong and they needed to be addressed ASAP.
New Website
But, now that we have a new look and feel for our website, we are hoping this will help more families learn about our programs and allow them to see what we are all about.
With that said, we have updated our Student Resources Page to make it a members only page. Parents and/or children attending The Dojo of Karate will need to create an account with us to have access to this page.
If you do not create an account, then you will not have access to the Student Resources Page, which will have, but not limited to, the following: school closures, rules and etiquette’s in the dojo, required training equipment, information about Black Belt Club and Elite Club, belt promotions and requirements, curriculum, and much more in the near future.
To create your account in our Student Resources Page, please go to:
https://thedojoofkarate.com/members-area
There you will fill out the necessary information to create an account with The Dojo of Karate.
Once approved by the administrator, you will have access to the student resource page. Please keep your username and password confidential.
Sensei Nash Wadokai Karate Seminar
Sensei Bob Nash teaching at one of his numerous clinics
Sensei Bob Nash has gracefully opened up his schedule to teach a traditional Japanese Wadokai Karate seminar at our school.
If you recall, Sensei Nash is a highly demanded Wado Instructor, traveling all over the world, from Europe to Japan, to Australia, and the United States.
Sensei Nash is my Karate instructor and he has a high demand for his students, therefore, I carry the same standards for our students at The Dojo of Karate.
With that said, the seminar will be on May 20th, 21st and 22nd.
Below are the times for each day.
- May 20th – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Orange belts and above only. All ages are eligible to attend.)
- May 21st – 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Teens & adults only, unless you have been given permission from Sensei Lozano)
- May 22nd – 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Teens & adults only, unless you have been given permission from Sensei Lozano)
The cost of the seminar is as followed:
- 3 Days (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) – $75 per participant
- 2 Days (Friday & Sunday Only) – $50 per participant
- 1 Day (Friday Only) – $35 per participant
Martial Arts Summer Camps
Every summer The Dojo of Karate hosts a martial arts summer camp for kids interested in trying out Karate for a short duration of time before making the commitment of training at our dojo full time.
This is a great opportunity to invite your friends that may be interested in the martial arts because they can attend classes either in the mornings or evenings, and the referring student can attend with them at the beginners class.
With that said, our new Summer Class Schedule has been released and is available online and soon in hard copy.
Our class schedule has not changed, we’ve just added more time slots to accommodate for overflow in the Beginners Program for the Lil’ Ninjas (4.5-6 years old and Junior Kids (7-12 years old).
Below are the new time slots we plan on offering:
- Tuesdays & Thursdays – Kids Beginners, Ages 7-12 years old: 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM
- Tuesday & Thursdays – Lil’ Ninjas Beginners, Ages 4.5-6 years old: 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM
We will have be having door hangers going out around the neighborhoods over the next few weeks to promote this Summer Camp program.
Again, if you refer a student to our school, The Dojo of Karate will award you a $25 gift card of your choice, once they have enrolled in one of our programs.
School Closures
We will be closed the following dates, so please plan accordingly.
- Friday, May 20th – Sensei Nash Seminar
- Monday, May 30th – Memorial Day
- Monday, July 4th, – Independence Day
- Monday – Friday, July 18th-22nd – Instead of taking the week of Independence Day for my personal vacation, I’ve decided to move it two weeks forward.
If you plan on going on vacation over the summer, please attend extra classes before and/or after your vacation so you stay on track with your training. This includes school closures. And, if you need to attend lower level classes to make up for days missed, please let us know in advanced, but it should be fine to make up classes that way too.
Sensei Robby Smith Wadokai Seminar
My friend David Sasaki operates a dojo in Conifer, CO and he will be hosting a Wadokai seminar with guest instructor Sensei Robby Smith from New Zealand.
The seminar will take place on Fathers Day, Sunday, June 19th.
It’s all all day training event, so if you are interested, we will meet at The Dojo of Karate and drive up as a school.
The cost will be $40 per person.
There is limited space, so please let Sensei Lozano know ahead of time before it sells out.
Morning Boot Camps
Our morning boot camps will take place indoors & outdoors on Tuesdays & Thursdays starting in June 2011
We will be hosting morning boot camps starting June 7th, 2011.
They will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 9:50 AM.
These time slots are available for current boot campers and new boot campers that decide to join our fitness program.
If you would like to learn more about our Fitness Boot Camp, check out our site below!
https://thedojoofkarate.com/fighting-fit-boot-camp
We are currently promoting a new special which includes 1 free week of training and a $25 coupon.
And, if you have a current family member enrolled in one of our programs, we are offering a 25% for the 2nd family member and a 50% for the 3rd family member.
Until Next Time!
Sensei Lozano
Chief Instructor/Owner
The Dojo Of Karate
12910 Zuni St. #200
Westminster, CO
303-920-4500
TheDojoOfKarate.com
2nd Annual – The Dojo of Karate Championships
Inner School Karate Tournament Rules
Please remember we are enforcing The Dojo of Karate Etiquette’s to all participants and spectators. If you have any questions, please refer to your copy handed out last week during classes.
The goal of this tournament is to teach our kids the importance of Sportsmanship, Determination, Integrity, Respect, and the Competitive Spirit of Sport Karate.
With that said, we want to lead by example so Karate students behave the way a true martial artist should behave – with integrity.
Competition Times
The tournament will take place on Saturday, February 5th at The Dojo of Karate.
Please arrive about 15 minutes before your start times.
Competitors that are in the Lil’ Ninjas – Beginners and Advanced programs and competitors in the Children Beginners program (White and Gold belts) will participate from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM.
Competitors that are in the Children Intermediate program and Children Advanced program (Orange to Brown belts) will participate from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
All competitors will compete in their Forms and Weapons division first, followed by the Sparring or Bunny Ears divisions.
Volunteers
To make this tournament operate smoothly, we will need approximately 12-16 volunteers to help judge competitors, keep score, and run times in the Forms, Weapons, and Sparring divisions.
Even if you do not know what to look for in a competitor’s performance or how to keep score, we will teach you. It’s very simple to follow and understand.
Volunteer training will take place on Friday, February 4th at 6:00 PM. So, if you put yourself down to volunteer, please be here no later then 6:00 PM.
We will teach you how to judge a Forms or Weapons performance and how to call points in sparring matches.
Note: If you attend your child’s Karate classes on a regular basis, then you will understand on how to be a judge.
Forms & Weapons Competition
Competitors will perform a Kata that has been taught to them in class, in front of a panel of 3 judges. Each judge will then give a score based on the competitors’ performance. The score will be added up, and the competitors with the three highest accumulated score will receive one of the following places: 1st place, 2nd place, or 3rd place. All other competitors that do not receive a placing will get a Finalist Medal.
Sparring Competition
We are operating our sparring competition like a “Spar-A-Thon”, meaning students will spar for approximately 2 hours, accumulating points throughout every match. They will have a chance to fight between 8 and 12 matches throughout the day… maybe even more.
Matches run for 1 continuous minute, while competitors score as many points as possible during each match. Points will be tallied on their index card where they will accumulate points throughout the Spar-A-Thon.
At the end of the tournament, competitors will turn in their index card to be rewarded a medal for achieving certain milestones.
To earn a medal competitors must reach the following point totals.
Gold Medal – 35 points
Silver Medal – 25 points
Bronze Medal – 15 points
Finalist Medal – 14 points or less
NOTE: The person that scores the most points in the tournament will win the Grand Champion Trophy.
This sparring competition format teaches each competitor the importance of setting goals and working towards achieving them. It will also help develop their confidence and determination.
Bunny Ears Competition
Students that are in the Lil’ Ninjas Beginners program or Children Beginners program will compete in a Bunny Ears competition.
The format is nearly the same as sparring. For each time a competitor pulls another competitors bunny ear (belt loop) they achieve a point.
Matches go on for 1 continuous minute, while points are tallied up during their entire competition. At the end of the tournament, competitors will turn in their index card and receive a medal for the amount of points scored in their competition.
Below are the following points a competitor must score to achieve a medal:
Gold Medal – 30 points
Silver Medal – 20 points
Bronze Medal – 10 points
Finalist Medal – 9 points or less
We are looking forward to all students competing in the 2nd Annual – The Dojo of Karate Championships.
Best of luck to all competitors.
Do You Know The Difference Between Fighting and Self Defense?
Martial Arts And The Fundamentals Of Self-Defense
Studies show that a struggling economy yields a higher incident rate of violent crime and general lawlessness. That means you may be more likely to find yourself in a potentially dangerous or violent circumstance. A lot of martial arts students believe their training will give them an edge during such confrontations. In truth, it does. But not in the way many students believe.
The Mental Game Of Self-Defense
Suppose an attacker is coming toward you. Your instinct is to protect yourself. If you have studied karate or similar styles, you might be tempted to respond physically. Doing so can result in injury or worse, in the event that you overreact and cause excessive harm to your attacker. This is the reason it is critical that you are mentally prepared to respond appropriately to a confrontation.
Mindset plays a key role in safety during a potentially dangerous situation. Too often your emotions can get in the way. This can cause the manner in which you process your circumstances to represent the largest potential threat to your safety.
Understanding The Danger Of Emotions
Anger and fear do more to escalate a confrontation than any other response. Emotions are the antithesis of logic. It’s worth noting that few crimes of aggression (i.e. robbery, vandalism, etc.) are done with the goal of fighting. When someone robs you, they seldom want to fight. Martial arts students, prompted by fear or pride, will often react physically to an aggressive crime, which escalates the threat. It prompts a violent response from the robber or would-be attacker.
The Difference Between Fighting And Self-Defense
People fight for many reasons, though most of them can be categorized according to two primary triggers: to attain something or protect something. This can extend to private property, self-esteem, pride, or a sense of honor. These things have nothing to do with protecting yourself from physical harm.
Self-defense represents any action you take in order to protect your person. Many martial arts schools unwittingly encourage their students to use the style they are learning to “protect themselves” from criminals. There is a fine line between defending yourself from physical harm and fighting.
A Constructive Response To A Threat Of Violence
Shed your fear and anger. A threat of violence does not actually represent violence. Reacting to the threat because you are fearful or angry can lead to injury. Don’t challenge the attacker unless it is likely that you are going to be harmed. If they are demanding your wallet, give it to them. If they want your car, provide the keys. Regardless of how accomplished you are in martial arts, it is a rare situation that justifies using your martial arts as self-defense.
Lastly, provide your attacker with an exit strategy. If they feel cornered with no way out, they will react violently.
There is a time and place for using martial arts as a tool for self-defense. However, the key to remaining safe in potentially violent circumstances is to recognize that such occasions are rare.
The Dojo of Karate is a traditional martial arts school that focus on character development for your kids. They are trained to only use their new learned skill of Karate as a form of self-defense ONLY.
Students learn how to avoid conflicts, when to make proper decisions, what to do during a confrontation, etc.
To enroll your child in our Introductory Karate Program, call us today at: 303.920.4500 or visit us at: www.BroomfieldKarate.com.
Promoting Your Child's Physical Health and Self Esteem
Experts debate about the appropriate age for children to get involved with martial arts classes. Some argue that a minimum age of 16 should be observed; others contend that 5 years of age is not only sufficient, but beneficial. In truth, the younger they are, the more easily kids can adapt themselves to the training.
As a parent, you’ll find that their interest often begins at an early age. Their exposure to television shows which showcase feats of martial arts prowess will spark their imagination. However, left on its own, that interest may subside and disappear. At The Dojo of Karate, we can explore and build upon your child’s interest while maintaining their enthusiasm.
Encourage Fitness And Exercise
In order for a young person to be open to learning karate they must first have an active lifestyle. If they spend hours in front of the television each day, their sedentary lifestyle will siphon their motivation to get involved. Often, children need their parents to spur them to action. Remember, young people emulate their parents. If you encourage them to be active by example, you’ll find it much easier to get them involved in martial arts classes.
Visit The Dojo of Karate
Once your child has become excited about enrolling in martial arts classes, let them observe one of our classes, or bring them in for a free introductory visit. Watching others practice various styles is important to building their interest, but getting them actively involved builds commitment. It gives children a chance to determine whether they truly want to learn martial arts. It also gives them the opportunity to interact with the instructor. The first session is integral to their embracing the classes.
Getting your kids involved in martial arts classes supports their physical health and self-esteem. A long-term commitment to the classes can provide several residual benefits. The instruction will have a positive influence on the way your kids interact with their peers, treat authority, and strive for personal excellence.
If you would like your child to train at a safe and exciting martial arts school that is family oriented, than contact The Dojo of Karate & Fitness at 303.920.4500 or email at [email protected]
They are located in the Safeway Shopping Center on 128th Ave and Zuni St. in Westminster / Broomfield.
Are You Looking For The Right Karate Dojo For Your Child?
Finding The Right Martial Arts Classes For Your Child
Your child just marched into the kitchen and announced his or their desire to become a master of the martial arts. Assuming this is more than a momentary wish given flight by a television program, it’s time to start looking for a suitable dojo. The task is not simple. There are many schools and each is unique in the level of instruction they offer, their approach with children, and the type of atmosphere they cultivate. Unfortunately, most parents become aware of problems after they enroll their children into classes.
Know Your Martial Arts Styles
The most popular styles taught in martial arts classes are karate, kung fu, aikido, taekwondo, hapkido, and judo. Karate focuses on striking and blocking, with little to no grappling. Kung fu includes strikes, kicks, blocks, and throws. The emphasis is on style, fluidity, and timing. Aikido shifts the focus from strikes to blocks and throws. The style emphasizes using opponents’ power and momentum against them.
What Occurs During Training?
The only way to know whether the martial arts classes at a specific studio are suitable for your son or daughter is to observe them. Most instructors won’t mind, especially if they know you’re interested in enrolling your child.
Take note regarding whether time is spent warming up and doing exercises, such as stretches, crunches, and sit-ups. Also, are weapons used? Are children forced to spar with one another? How is the safety of the students ensured? You should also note the class size and whether it spans a wide range of ages. Older students should not be training with young children. Most importantly, are the other kids in the martial arts classes having fun? If they appear stressed or anxious, that may suggest a problem with the training regimen.
If you would like your child to train at a safe and exciting martial arts school that is family oriented, than contact The Dojo of Karate & Fitness at 303.920.4500 or email at [email protected]
They are located in the Safeway Shopping Center on 128th Ave and Zuni St. in Westminster / Broomfield.
