SPIRIT WEEK
June 24th-28th
Spirit week was well attended this year. Everyone braved several days of three digit weather. Thanks to the parents that supported their kids and looked out for them while they ran. On Saturday the 29th at Rice Park we held the annual karate school picnic. All AKMS students and families brought a lot of good food and had a great time. Thanks to Doug Barr and Linda Blackburn for assisting me on the grills. A huge thanks to everyone that pitched in behind the scenes.
SPIRIT WEEK RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
Jake Winters – Honorable Mention
Chance Barr – Honorable Mention
Zack Perry – Award for Excellence in the Community
Dakota Douglas – Outstanding Competitor Award
Alex Johnson – Outstanding Martial Artist Youth
Jean Gaeddert – Outstanding Martial Artist Adult
TOURNAMENTS
SAM’S SUMMER KICK OFF
Saturday, June 15th Results:
Team Kata
JoLea Wheeler/Elijah Bruch 1st Place
6-7 Novice
Alex Johnson 1st Kata, 1st Kumite
8-9 Novice
Elijah Bruch 2nd Kata, 2nd Kumite
10-11 Intermediate
Dakata Douglas 1st Kata, 2nd Kumite
JoLea Wheeler 1st Musical, 2nd Kata, 3rd Kumite
GREAT PLAINS KARATE CHALLENGE
Saturday, June 22nd Results:
Alex Johnson, Novice 6 & under
1st in Sword Fighting
1st Kata
1st Sparring
Damian Hurt, Novice 6 & under
2nd in Kata
3rd in Sparring
3rd in sword fighting
Chance Barr, Novice 7-9
4th in Kata
4th in Sparring
Dakota Douglas, Int. 10-13
1st Kata
1st Sparring
Cayden Deetz, Int 10-13
3rd Sparring
Dawson Deetz, Int 10-13
2nd Sparring
3rd Kata
Cristine Warring
1st in 18 + black belt weapons
1st in 18 + black belt open hand kata
KANSAS STATE GAMES
Saturday, July 13th, 2013
Christ the King Church
25th and Wanamaker
Topeka, Kansas
CONTACT: Tony Mielenz 785-554-4220
PROMOTIONS
Wendy Brown-Yondan (4th Degree Black Belt)
NEW CLASSES FORMING SOON
Starting in September there will be two new classes. On Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 there will be a class for those interested in competing in Team Kata at tournaments and Musical Kata. This class is open to all ages and ranks. This class is for the serious competitors. You must be willing to work hard and stay on top of your basics.
Also in September on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 we will start a formal weapons class. This class is for purple belts and over. This is also an “Add On””program which will be an upgrade to your current monthly tuition. It will cost an additional $10.00 per month. Being the appropriate rank is not enough! You must have sound basics!!! A weapon is an extension of your hands. If you struggle maintaining your basics within your empty hand kata, this class is not for you. These two classes replace the Lil’ Dragon programs.
Mr. Williams, Instructor
ADVANCED STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
At American karate advanced belts (Brown Belts) are considered student-instructors. It is at this level where you learn how to assist the instructor with class instruction. You are learning to develop leadership skills. In the business world brown belts would be considered line supervisors or lead workers (Kohei). Shodan and nidan black belts would be shift type supervisors (Sempei) and sandan and above would be management with the Chief Instructor holding the position of President or CEO. Brown belt level is where you experiment with your leadership skills under the direct supervision of one of the instructors. This is a lot of responsibility! But as some point as a high ranking brown belt or black belt you may be called to cover a class for the Instructor. As in the business world there are those that have no desire to be the boss, those that think they should be the boss, and those that have the unction or calling to be the boss. Regardless of where you are at right now, develop those skill sets and traits. Don’t wait until you get that big promotion just to ask yourself…What do I do now?!!!
T. L. Williams, Chief Instructor
DOJO KUN
Dojo Kun? What Is A Dojo Kun? Dojo Kun is defined as Japanese martial arts term literally meaning (training hall) rules. They are generally posted at the entrance to the dojo or at the "front" of the dojo (shomen) or where the Chief Instructor desires them to be posted for the school. These rules/orders outline behavior expected and disallowed. In some styles of martial arts they are recited at the end of a class.
There are various Interpretations of what the Dojo Kun says from the various styles, i.e. Goju Ryu, Bushido, Ryu-te, Budokan, Shotokan, etc. Here are twelve rules/orders for my school/dojo/training hall, which are: I am somebody, I am a karateka, I am humble and polite, I am training considering my physical strength, I am practicing earnestly and creatively, I am calm and swift, I am taking care of my health, I am living a plain life, I am not too proud or modest, I am continuing my training with patience, I am a good citizen, and I am neat, clean, disciplined, and organized.
You will find the Dojo Kun’s in most of the schools have much similarity. Look at the one above and look at yours to see those common elements. Even though, they may differ in some ways, your actions are to follow them, know them, share them with new students, remind old students, and make it part of you, i.e. your team, family, school.
The Dojo Kun was derived from Gichin Funakoshi’s “The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate”, and many schools have their variation of a Dojo Kun. These translations and interpretations vary in their existence. The translations may differ in the terms used, and the interpretations will vary regarding the philosophical depth, their meanings, and their intentions.
Why would you have One? Mainly, as it indicates in the definition, to have rules and order in the dojo. I am sure you can think of other reasons to have the Dojo Kun.
Why Not have one? What do you think? Albeit, it does not indicate the dojo or training hall would not have order and/or rules, but it should be a good thing to have this set of rules to maintain a common behavior, and thought process in the team/family environment of the school. Don’t you think?
Ask yourself, what do I get from my Dojo Kun? Do I take pride in those rules/orders of behavior for my school? Or are they just words with no meaning to myself. All dojo kun’s should provide the idea of what a student is striving to be, become, is. Your feedback is appreciated. Use the feedback form at www.youngsankarate.com.
H. James Young, Chief Instructor, Young San Karate.
Training on My Own – Top Ten ala David Letterman
Training on your own is not for the faint of heart, trust me. I most likely would not have begun training the way I’m trying to now, if I hadn’t been forced into it with moving away from Hutchinson. It is all too easy to go to class for an hour or two a few times a week and think that’s all that is needed to train in the martial arts. But, training is as much spiritual as physical, if not more so. Gichin Funakoshi repeatedly taught that the first purpose in pursuing the martial arts is the nurturing of a sublime spirit, a spirit of humility. For me, this occurs while training alone.
So, here are two top ten lists – one of successes and one of failures that I have experienced while training on my own over the last four years. They are simply an inventory with no value attached; each item is what it is in the overall journey I am on. I share this with you in hopes that if you too are training on your own, you can share in fellowship, laughter, and tears with me.
Cristine Warring, AKMS Black Belt