NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
WEBSITE HAS NEW LOOK
If you have not been to our main website you will find that it has a new look. Visit us and let us know what you think. I want to thank AKMS Black Belt, Cristine Warring for creating the new look. If you own an business and need a new website or a change give Cristine a call.
WOMEN’S SELF DEFENSE
Women’s Self Defense was few in number this year but serious in practitioners. The ladies had a great time working on skills and tools. We look forward to more karate moms, friends and family come April. We will be doing another workshop in support of Crime Victims Month. I want to thank all the Instructor-Coaches that assisted last month including a guest appearance by HCF’s Defensive Tactics Instructor, Jeri Fraipont.
SPECIAL GUEST
Maryland based karate instructor and AKMS associate instructor, H. James Young will be in town to visit and train this month. The adult classes will be combined the week of November 11th through the 15th. Keep in mind that Monday the 11th is a State holiday and AKMS will not be open.
Monday November 11th, NO CLASSES
Tuesday November 12th 6:30-8:00 All Adults
Wednesday November 13th 7:30-8:30 All Adults
Thursday November 14th 6:30-8:00 All Adults
HOLIDAY SPECIALS
We have several Holiday Specials now through the New Year. One special is for new enrollments. We will be offering an introductory enrollment of six weeks for $45.00 for an Individual Plan and $99.00 for a Family Plan when you sign up on a six or twelve month plan.
The other specials are in the Holiday Gift Guide by Century Martial Arts. There are many new items for the holidays and a special sparring gear bundle for those that need to purchase sparring gear. Keep in mind that all of your martial arts needs can be purchased at the school and we also have gift certificates. If you are ordering gifts for Christmas please place your order by December 10th to ensure that your item is in stock or arrives in plenty of time. See Mr. or Mrs. Williams to place your orders.
FIVE STATES OF MIND
There are many benefits to participating in the martial arts: physical fitness, strength training, confidence building, discipline, developing a stronger work ethic, and more. When thinking about the mental health reasons for investing time in the martial arts, one must also consider these identified five (5) states of mind.*
1. Consciousness: Knowing what and how I’m thinking about what I am doing in this moment and being willing to be aware of my actions and their effects.
2. Craftsmanship: Knowing that I can continually perfect my craft and being willing to work toward excellence and pursue ongoing learning.
3. Efficacy: Knowing that I have the capacity to make a difference through my work and being willing to take the responsibility to do so.
4. Flexibility: Knowing that I have and can develop options to consider about my work and being willing to acknowledge and demonstrate respect and empathy for diverse perspectives.
5. Interdependence: Knowing that we will benefit from our participation in, contribution to and receipt of professional relationships, and being willing to create and change relationships to benefit our work.
Five verbs that compliment these states of mind are:
1. knowing (consciousness)
2. striving (craftsmanship)
3. initiating (efficacy)
4. adjusting (flexibility)
5. participating (interdependence)
How are you seeing these states of mind reflected in your martial arts experience?
*from Center for Cognitive Coaching, www.cognitivecoaching.com
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Gaeddert, Black Belt 5th Dan
TRAINING SESSION FILMING/VIDEO TAPING
A practical part of training can be an enhancement for review for corrections, publications, and distribution is by filming or videotaping the session(s).
There are benefits to this type of mechanics, because, it can give the trainee a visual of how their performance looks.
When I was training in Europe, we always filmed our training, as well as, our performances in martial art tournaments. It was a great help in analyzing our performances. However, before we got to the serious part, we laughed at some of the things we saw on the film happening to our brother or sister in the kata’s or kumite. We would ask, Daryl didn’t you see the kick up side your head coming? Or, Daryl why were you on the floor or something like that. Putting all joking aside, we got down to the analyzing of the film to help in improving our performances. Plus, the karateka could see themselve’s in the film explaining about a good technique or no technique at all. Filming does serve some beneficial attributes in your martial arts training and completion.
Putting aside all of the benefits for filming or videotaping, one must prepare for this type action for training purposes. The list of actions to take in preparing to film or tape numerous, and my list is not all inclusive, but a portion of the actions, I took to film my training.
The action to film, one must select a location, i.e. inside of a building space or outside. Also, you must determine what type of background you want, i.e. ocean, concrete/wood/sand floorings, blue/green sheet, tropical, junky/debris area, etc. If, you are filming on the beach in all that sand or in the water, keep in mind, the movement of your hand and feet techniques will cause you to adjust your speed and balance. Why, an adjustment for the hands, which are not in the sand or water? Think about it? The power you are exerting in your hand techniques will torque you. And, your feet in the sand and water must be grounded well your stance to maintain your balance and absorb your speed while executing techniques in these surface spaces.
When you do selection a filming location think about your background.
You want your background in the filming to be conducive to what you are doing, because it will either, add or detract from what your performance desires to project.
You should select a time of the day; especially should the training take place outside. Inside should not present an issue, as long as, the lighting is good in order for the viewer to see the hand and foot techniques clearly. On the contrary, for outside filming, the sun will be an aid or problem. So, select a good time of time to film and use the sun to help you.
When you take advantage of the sun, always have the position of this natural stage to your back and the filming equipment. Position your subject/trainee to reduce shadows falling in the forefront. Use different angles, of course, maintaining the sun to your back.
In the event you are filming outside at night, the lighting is crucial, and it must be adequate, however, not overwhelming to provide excellent viewing of the techniques clearly.
If, you are filming alone, i.e. without an assistant, then preposition your equipment to capture the training with all of the parameters listed thus far to have a good shot with the trainee captured from head to foot throughout the training space. Always, do tests run to adjust for height and angle for the filmed training. Of course, you will have to adjust your start points for different kata’s to get all of it in the frames when you filming alone. Use markings on the floor surface to adjust ensuring you capture all of the karateka and weapon in the filming frame. These marking should be invisible to the camera, and only you know what they mean and can see them, unless it is a close up, and it’s seen. If, this should happen, then you have an assistant working with you. All of the filming in this conversation is filming alone.
One thing you should remember, as well, is to have several gi’s available for the filming to give the fresh pressed look. Also, wear the bright or lighter colored tops for dark complexion subjects in order to see the hand techniques, and not as bright of a top for subjects with lighter complexions.
You want to ensure you determine the speed of the execution of the techniques, perhaps, somewhere between half speeds, but not so slow you become lethargic in performing the technique. You know what I mean… Right.??
Well, if you have read this far, I hope you have grasped some of the actions to consider in filming or videotaping training. As always, your comments are requested, if any at www.youngsankarate.com. Click on the feedback tab and provide your input. In My Opinion, Think About It!
H. James Young, Chief Instructor, Young San Karate.
IS YOUR JOURNEY TRULY YOUR OWN?
As martial arts instructors we help students learn the skills and tools they need to learn and excel to the best of their ability. As a martial arts instructor we demonstrate techniques, explain the principles behind them while breaking techniques down into simple moves when working with beginners. We observe and assess students, and give them feedback on their progress taking responsibility for their health and safety while teaching safe training methods.
The martial arts instructor sets their students on a path to develop self-confidence, self-discipline, character building and a higher level of fitness. What we are not, are seekers of minions or mini-me’s devoted to serve his/her master/mistress relentlessly. Don’t get me wrong! There are periods of your journey where like a toddler you will learn by mimicking the instructor’s movements. The key to training and study is to train and work your craft until it becomes second nature and your own.
During your journey you may find many paths. One path to better health and fitness, another path to self defense, another path to sport and competition and yet another path to a lifelong study of the arts. The beauty of the martial arts is that you may journey through any one or all of these trails before your journey is complete. The best part of it all is that you decide when your journey is complete…not the instructor! So….ask yourself. Is your journey truly your own?
Thomas Williams, Chief Instructor
