Saturday, April 6th will be our annual photo day at American Karate. Wheeler Photography will be at the school from 9:30am to 10:30am to do a group photo and individual photos. If you wish you can take photos with your trophies or weapons if you are training in weapons.
WOMEN'S SELF DEFENSE
Crime Victims Awareness Month
Our Women's Self Defense Workshop is scheduled from Saturday, April 27th. This is a FREE workshop for ladies ages 13 and over. This event will be from 9:30am until 3:00pm.
PROMOTIONS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Lori Francis-Green Belt
Jeff Geesling-Brown Belt
Jordan Julian-Black Belt
Acknowledgment of Time and Skill
Renshi-Skillful Technician
Jean Gaeddert-Renshi
Marcia Dillon-Renshi
H. James Young-Renshi
TOURNAMENTS
WICHITA OPEN KARATE TOURNEY RESULTS
Saturday March 23rd
Cristine Warring
1st Place Women's Black Belt Kata
1st Place Black Belt Weapons Kata
1st Place Women's Black Belt Sparring
SEIBUKAN KARATE INVITATIONAL RESULTS
Saturday March 23, 2013
Dakota Douglas
1st Place Int. Kata
1st Place Int. Kumite
Aaron Armbrust
2nd Place Int. Kumite
MID AMERICA KARATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Saturday March 30th, 2013
Elijah Mendoza
2nd Place 6-7 Novice Kata
3rd Place 6-7 Novice Kumite
Dakota Douglas
1st Place 8-9 Int. Kata
3rd Place 8-9 Int. Kumite
Cristine Warring
3rd Place Executive Black Belt Kata
LEADERSHIP-Lesson 2
How Kids Get Self-Esteem
As children get older, they can have a bigger role in developing their self-esteem. Achievements like getting a good grade on a test or making the All-Star soccer team — are things children can be proud of. So are having a good sense of humor or being a good friend. A child’s family and other people in his or her life like coaches, teammates, and classmates also can boost his or her self-esteem. They can help a child figure out how to do things or notice his or her good qualities. They can believe in the child and encourage him or her to try again when something doesn't go right the first time. It's all part of a child’s learning to see themselves in a positive way, to feel proud of what they've done, and to be confident that there's a lot more they can do.
Boosting Your Self-Esteem
Of course it's OK to have ups and downs in your feelings, but having low self-esteem isn't OK. Feeling like you're not important can make you sad and can keep you from trying new things. It can keep you from making friends or hurt how you do at school. Having strong self-esteem is also a very big part of growing up. As you get older and face tough decisions — especially under peer pressure — the more self-esteem you have, the better. It's important to know you're worth a lot. If you think you might have low self-esteem, try talking to an adult you trust about it. He or she may be able to help you come up with some good ideas for building your self-esteem. In the meantime, here are a few things that you can try to increase your self-esteem:
- Make a list of the stuff you're good at. It can be anything from drawing or singing to playing a sport or telling a good joke. If you're having trouble with your list, ask your mom or dad to help you with it. Then add a few things to the list that you'd like to be good at. Your mom or dad can help you plan a way to work on those skills or talents.
- Give yourself three compliments every day. Don't just say, "I'm so great." Be specific about something good about yourself, like, "I was a good friend to Jill today" or "I did better on that test than I thought I would." While you're at it, before you go to bed every night, list three things in your day that really made you happy.
- Remember that your body is your own, no matter what shape, size, or color it is. If you are worried about your weight or size, you can check with your doctor to make sure that things are OK. Remind yourself of things about your body that are cool, like, "My legs are strong and I can skate really well."
- Remember that there are things about yourself you can't change. You should accept and love these things — such as skin color and shoe size — because they are part of you. · When you hear negative comments in your head, tell yourself to stop. When you do this, you take the power away from the voice inside that discourages you.
WHY PRACTICE GOOD STANCES?
Why practice good stances? Would it be to establish fulcrum or balance. Could it be to agree with the laws of gravity, and the physics associated with it. Or could it be to build a foundation or good base?
You decide what a good stance means, and how it effects you in your martial arts training and daily applications wherever you may walk or stand. Good stance. Good posture.
If, a person does not have feet he/she can’t stand properly, even if, the person have two pegs as feet their balance for standing and support will require some appendage in the form of feet or platform to hold them up. Look at a cane or crutch for use, it does provide some support, but the person will have a better foundation with feet. With this being said, a good stance supported by your feet, proper weight distribution, provides you with stability. Your balance is in place, and weight is equally distributed depending upon the type stance. With your fulcrum properly centered you are able to perform your techniques, whether by hand or foot. Improper stances can cause ineffective hand, and feet techniques. As long as, we are on this earth, gravity and the laws of physics remain. Therefore, a good stance in order to execute good, and effective techniques must be in agreement. The bottom line is practice good stances to enhance your techniques. In the event you have any questions about this article, please contact me at www.youngsankarate.com. And, remember, "the knowledge you obtain in your journey is like an endless circle."
H. James Young
THE OBI
The "OBI" (帯) is a BELT for traditional Japanese dress, keikogi worn for Japanese martial arts, and part of kimono outfits. It has been said that life is truly a circle. The same can be said for a student's journey on the path of BUDO. Starting out wearing a white belt made of cotton, the student rises up through the ten kyu (color belt) ranks until they find themselves on the threshold of their Sho-Dan (1st degree black belt) grading. Finally upon passing their grading they are a "black belt" at last. They will now wear this color of belt for the remainder of their martial arts life, and when the years have passed and their belt has been tied and untied countless times, the student will look down one day late in life and see that all the black coloring has ultimately worn off.
THE BELT IS WHITE AGAIN!
The beginner has now become the master, who after many years of training now understands what has ALWAYS BEEN TRUE, that they have in fact always been just a white belt, the color itself was always an illusion, something to feed the ego until, when after many years of physical growth, mental training and spiritual development, the time has come when ego is as important as it was in the beginning.
For in the arts of BUDO it is not the color of the belt around our waist that makes us better, what does makes us BETTER TEACHERS, however, is how well and how often we pass on the knowledge that we proudly possess on to those who follow us on the path of BUDO. When we truly come to understand this concept only then will the knot on the OBI (belt) become permanently TIGHT!Starting out wearing a white belt made of cotton, the student rises up through the ten kyu (color belt) ranks until they find themselves on the threshold of their Sho-Dan (1st degree black belt) grading. Finally upon passing their grading they are a "black belt" at last. They will now wear this color of belt for the remainder of their martial arts life, and when the years have passed and their belt has been tied and untied countless times, the student will look down one day late in life and see that all the black coloring has ultimately worn off. Starting out wearing a white belt made of cotton, the student rises up through the ten kyu (color belt) ranks until they find themselves on the threshold of their Sho-Dan (1st degree black belt) grading. Finally upon passing their grading they are a "black belt" at last. They will now wear this color of belt for the remainder of their martial arts life, and when the years have passed and their belt has been tied and untied countless times, the student will look down one day late in life and see that all the black coloring has ultimately worn off.
If you or your employer would like to make a donation to the school to help purchase equipment or help a disadvantaged youth take martial arts lessons please fill out this form or pick one up at the school.
