Wednesday, February 1, 2017

February 2017 Newsletter

Excellence is the result of high intension, sincere effort and intelligent execution.
YOUTH NOVICE CLASSES
On January 9th American Karate started an addition to the Youth Novice Class. Mondays will only be for new enrollments and novice students with up to two (2) stripes on their belt. We hope to get some sound basics instilled in order for them to make a smoother transition into the intermediate classes. This group of students may still attend class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

KATA SEMINAR
On Saturday, February 11th Darci York will be at American Karate to do a workshop on Classical Kata. This workshop is open to all AKMS Black Belts. Darci is from Joplin, Missouri and her home school is Kellison Academy of Martial Arts. Darci is a local, state, national and international champion. She is a member of the Amerikick National Karate Team and recently competed in Italy where she brought back 7 gold and 1 bronze medals.

TRY MARTIAL ARTS…GIVE YOURSELF AN EDGE
The martial arts are not a cure all for everything that could possibly happen to you. But children are being bullied, home grown and planted terrorist are terrorizing our homeland and we as Americans are being killed and still subject to harm when we travel abroad. One thing the martial arts can do is give you an edge. That edge could be something as simple as knowing and understanding your environment, knowing when and where to exit your personal and work environment or knowing when or where to hide or barricade yourself. This thought process could also work in our schools. These are all primary to the physical aspects of martial arts training. The physical side of the martial arts gives you tools to protect yourself or others. The world is changing and as it continues to change negatively we continue to travel across the nation or abroad with the thought process that, “Things always happen to someone else but they can never happen to me”. Bad things happen to good people. Those that we look to for protection can’t always be where we need them to be so why not give yourself an edge? Try martial arts.
Mr. Williams, Chief Instructor American Karate & Martial Science

DAMSEL IN DEFENSE
American Karate is a distributor of Damsel in Defense personal protection products. Our mission is to equip, empower and educate women to protect themselves and their families. We are not only arming others but also offering empowerment and healing to those affected by assault. We offer personal protection products to keep women safe! Our Security “On The Go” products allow you to leave home with peace of mind. Our best selling Stun Guns and Pepper Sprays arm you with protection against any physical threat. We also offer concealment purses and Identity Theft and Credit protection services. Check out our products catalog at the Dojo or see what is on display in our Pro Shop. Visit our website at http://www.mydamselpro.net/PRO15430/. our Daphne Concealed Collection allows you to carry your protection with confidence!

  • Digital protection from unseen dangers with Digital Defense - a single, simple to use protection plan.
  • Lastly, our Daphne Concealed Collection allows you to carry your protection with confidence!
  • Digital protection from unseen dangers with Digital Defense - a single, simple to use protection plan.

MEMBER SOLUTIONS
Member Solutions is the full-service billing and account management center used by American Karate & Martial Science. Through the Customer Account Center, customers can make payments securely online, view account history, and modify contact information. Member Solutions allows me to teach classes and not worry about how and when I am getting paid. When you enroll at our school you also enter into a short financial contract with Member Solutions. If you ever have a problem with your account, contact them. If you have fulfilled your contract your account goes month to month instead of another six month or year. If you ever have to discontinue classes you need to contact them and let them know you want to do a 30 day notice to discontinue your account. You can contact Member Solutions or Customer Account Services at (888) 277-4408 or customerservice@membersolutions.com, including payment information. 

TOURNAMENTS AND PROMOTIONS
MICKEY GOMEZ’S WICHITA OPEN (TBA)
Wichita, Kansas
CONTACT: Mickey Gomez at 316-838-8210 or 316-838-4478 

KC CHALLENGE
Saturday, February 18th, 2017
Rockhurst High School
9301 Stateline Road
Kansas City, MO.
CONTACT: Jarrett Leiker at 913-432-2787

AMERICAN SPORT KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Trailridge Middle School
7500 Quivira
Lenexa, Kansas
CONTACT: David Clifton at 913-441-9999

St. JUDE BENEFIT TOURNAMENT
Saturday, April 1st, 2017
Christ the King Church
25th and Wanamaker
Topeka, Kansas
CONTACT: Pam Johansen at 785-844-0050

GREEN VALLEY KARATE OPEN
Saturday, April 22nd, 2017
Stony Point Elementary School
1001 Ryan Road
Grain Valley, Missouri
CONTACT: Mark Long at 816-257-6933

SAM PRICE SUMMER KICK OFF (TBA)
Hutchinson, Kansas
CONTACT: Sam or Jessica Price 620-669-9051

KANSAS SUNFLOWER STATE GAMES
Saturday, July 15th, 2017
Kansas Expocenter 1 Expocenter Drive
Topeka, Kansas
CONTACT: Tony Mielenz 785-554-4220 anthonymielenz@yahoo.com

OZARK MOUNTAIN NATIONALS CLAIM THE MOUNTAIN
Saturday, July 29, 2017
Ramada Oasis Inn
2546 N. Glenstone
Springfield, Missouri
CONTACT: Richard Osborne Jr. 417-496-5038

WHO’S WHO AT AKMS
Name: Lisa Johnson
Nick Name: N/A
Rank: First degree Black Belt
When did you start martial arts? I started November of 2008.
What inspired you to start martial arts training? My daughter Shayla was in Little Dragons and I saw the fliers for women’s self defense and my husband Roy has always wanted me to learn self defense so he talked me into going. The rest is pretty much history, I made a quick connection to the ladies that were already in martial arts class and they told me to just show up and I did. I haven’t turned back!
What were you looking for in an instructor? I honestly wasn’t really looking at the instructor to be honest...since Shayla was already taking Little Dragon classes with Mr. Williams I already knew how he was, disciplined.
Have you studied other styles of martial arts? What was the martial art? NO
When did you achieve your black belt? August 17th, 2013
What was training like when you started? My training is real similar to how it is now except that we discuss things more in depth. Mr. Williams allows more questions so that we understand why we are doing something the way we do it.
What is your main focus of training, Self Defense, Competition or both? More so self defense, I don’t compete a lot.
What are your current martial arts goals? My goals really have never changed, I am always trying to get better at my katas, and more importantly myself defense. One thing I am trying harder at is to hit my targets more accurately on each individual I work with.
What would you tell anyone looking to get into the martial arts? It is a lot of fun, it is hard work, you will be sore but learning how to protect yourself is so important!!!! Being in Martial Arts is your journey, you aren’t competing with anyone else but yourself!

Get to know the Black Belts and certified instructors at American Karate. When any of our black belts, Third Degree (Dan) and over, enter the Dojo call the class to attention so that they may be acknowledged.
Mr. Williams, Chief Instructor

Sunday, January 1, 2017

January 2017 Newsletter

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Well another year has come and gone. So as you reflect on the year past, did you accomplish any goals or resolutions that you set out to accomplish? If you fell short do you have plans to revisit them this year? Last year I was diagnosed with a deteriorated hip and had a total hip replacement. I had been in pain for a long time but was trying to medicate my problem with exercises from a previous problem I had. My goal this year is to get strength back in my legs and work on my flexibility. I have come up with action steps on how to accomplish my goals. Prior to surgery the farthest I could get on my stretch rack was 120 degrees. Even then it felt like someone was sticking a knife on the inside of my hip joint. Over the last two weeks I started my road back to recovery. I am at 130 degrees with only the pain of tight muscles. My short term goal is a comfortable 160 degrees by June and a long term goal of 180 degrees by the end of this year. I challenge you to set short term and long term goals with action steps for this year. Jump start your martial arts journey this year!
--Mr. Williams, Chief Instructor

NEW YEAR SPECIALS FOR JANUARY
This month through January 31st all new enrollments for Individual and Family Plans will be 15% off for the first three months. Then they will be adjusted to the current rates. Tell your friends and family about this great special order!

YOUTH NOVICE CLASSES
On Monday, January 9th we will start an addition to the Youth Novice Class. Mondays will only be for new enrollments and novice students with up to two (2) stripes on their belt. We hope to get some sound basics instilled in order for them to make a smoother transition into the intermediate classes. This group of students may still attend class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

TOURNAMENTS AND PROMOTIONS
WELLS BRIDGES KARATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Joshua Busue 1st Place Novice Sparring

MARK LONG’S WINTER KICK OUT RESULTS
Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
Aaron Whittington 1st Place Black Belt Kata, 1st Place Black Belt Sparring, Grand Champion Kata
Chance Barr 2nd Place Intermediate Kata
Sean Johnson 1st Place Novice Kata, 1st Place Novice Sparring

KC CHALLENGE
Saturday, February 18th, 2017
Rockhurst High School 9301 Stateline Road Kansas City, MO.
CONTACT: Jarrett Leiker at 913-432-2787

PROMOTIONS
Dominic Rivera Green Belt
Brandon Kiatoukaysy Green Belt
Kayla Rose Jr. Green Belt
Lilly Finch Gold Belt
Adam Kiatoulaysy Gold Belt
Andrew Kiatoukaysy Gold Belt
Gabriel Cruz Gold Belt

KATA SEMINAR 
On Saturday, February 11th Darci York will be at American Karate to do a workshop on Classical Kata. This workshop is open to all AKMS Black Belts. Darci is from Joplin, Missouri and her home school is Kellison Academy of Martial Arts. Darci is a local, state, national and international champion. She is a member of the Amerikick National Karate Team and recently competed in Italy where she brought back 7 gold and 1 bronze medals. If you are interested in participating in this workshop let Mr. Williams know as soon as you can. 

WHO’S WHO AT AKMS

Name: Jean Gaeddert
Nick Name: ?
Rank: 6th Degree/Rokudan
When did you start martial arts? January 22, 1996
What inspired you to start martial arts training? As a young girl, I was captivated by the beauty of the martial arts. However, that was not really an option for young girls growing up in Inman, Kansas. When I noticed a coupon in the Hutchinson News for 2 free sessions at Thomas Williams' school (back in 1996), I took advantage!
What were you looking for in an instructor? At the time, I never thought about what kind of expectations I had in an instructor. I just wanted to participate! Now, I see how important the following qualities are:
· Patience
· Creativity
· Communication skills
· Relationship skills
· Respect (for others, for self, for the art, for other martial arts disciplines)
· Passion
· A "Growth Mindset" (willingness to change, evolve, improve, fine-tune)
Have you studied other styles of martial arts? What was the martial art? No
When did you achieve your black belt? October 2002
What was training like when you started? I was an adult in the back row with younger kids! However, that never really bothered me. I knew this was going to be a process, and was fine knowing that my rank placed me where I needed to be. Other adult females welcomed me into the "family." Time and effort were up to me: the more I invested in/out of class, the greater the gains in the art.
What is your main focus of training, Self Defense, Competition or both? Healthy mind, healthy body, balance (literally and figuratively), self-defense What are your current martial arts goals? I like to think of myself as a life-long learner, so my current goal is to simply remain committed to the journey! Hopefully, I am also a role model for younger students in the program.
What would you tell anyone looking to get into the martial arts?
· Compare/visit schools.
· Visit with instructors.
· Observe classes if possible before committing.
· Ask yourself: What do you hope to gain from this experience?

Get to know the Black Belts and certified instructors at American Karate. When any of our black belts, Third Degree (Dan) and over, enter the Dojo call the class to attention so that they may be acknowledged.
Mr. Williams, Chief Instructor