Saturday, July 26, 2014

PROMOTIONS

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Gage Teaney Jr. Gold Belt
Charlie Miller Gold Belt
Brandon Kiatoukaysy Gold Belt
Dylan Kiatoukaysy Gold Belt
Jake Winters Jr. Green Belt
Everette Gould Green Belt
LoXao Kiatoukaysy Green Belt
Cayden Deetz Jr. Purple Belt


Saturday, July 12, 2014

KANSAS SUNFLOWER STATE GAMES



Saturday July 12, 2014
Christ the King Church
25th and Wanamaker
Topeka, Kansas
CONTACT: Tony Mielenz, 785-554-4220, anthonymielenz@yahoo.com

Results

Jake Winters 5-8 Novice
1st Place Kata
1st Place Sparring

Charlie Miller 8-9 Novice
1st Place Kata
2nd Place Sparring

Gage Teaney 10-11 Novice
1st Place Kata
2nd Place Sparring

Yvonne Pearman-Adult Novice
2nd Place 18+ Kata
1st Place 35+ Kata
2nd Place 18+ Sparring

Everette Gould-Adult Novice
1st Place 18+ Kata
2nd Place 35+ Kata
1st Place 50+ Kata
1st Place 50+ Sparring

Chance Barr 5-8 Intermediate
1st Place Kata
1st Place Sparring

Alex Johnson 6-7 Intermediate
1st Place Kata
1st Place Sparring

Dakota Douglas 10-11 Intermediate
2nd Place Weapons
1st Place Kata
1st Place Sparring

Natalie Williams- Adult Intermediate
1st Place 18+ Kata
1st Place 18+Sparring

Lisa Johnson-Adult Black Belt
3rd Place 18+ Kata

Wendy Brown-Adult Black Belt
1st Place 35+ Sparring

Shayla Johnson 10-11 Advanced
1st Freestyle Weapons
1st Place Weapons
1st Place Kata

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

July 2014 Newsletter

SPIRIT WEEK
Spirit week was well attended this year. This is a time when all AKMS students come together to train and work hard. It is a time of calisthenics, drills and critical skills performed to the best of your ability. It is a taste of what every class was like back in the day when they were all 1-1/2 to two hours long. When I was in Taekwondo Mr. Pina awarded one student who worked consistently hard throughout the year. In 1973 Venny Fragoza was the first student to receive that award. When I started Venny was a blue belt and was Mr. Pina’s right hand. The proper etiquette at that time was that no one ever spoke directly to the instructor. You address the highest ranking student who in turn would express your concerns to the instructor. Venny achieved the rank of red belt (equal to our brown belt today) before life and employment took him out of state. He ended up in a southern state training with Jim and Jenice Miller who were students of Allen Steen. Allen Steen was one of Jhoon Rhee’s original students. Venny taught me the Heian kata which we do to this day. Venny had moved back to Kansas and was living in Wichita. Several years ago he was on his way to work early in the morning and a vehicle rear ended him. He died as a result of his injuries. From the time I started teaching on my own we continued the Outstanding Student award in my schools. To keep his memory alive we renamed the award the Venny Fragoza Award for Outstanding Martial Artists. Venny wasn’t flamboyant; he was just a good basic and hard working practitioner.

Spirit Week Awards:
Jeff Geesling-Commitment and Dedication (No photo)

Natalie Williams awarded Honorable Mention for Outstanding Student of the year.

Cristine Warring awarded Outstanding Adult Student of the year.

Roy Johnson awarded Dedication and Commitment to American Karate.

Everette Gould awarded Dedication and Commitment to American Karate.

Charlie Miller awarded Honorable Mention for Outstanding Student of the year.


Chance Barr awarded Outstanding Youth Student of the year.

Lisa Johnson awarded Honorable Mention for Outstanding Student of the year.

Kristi Potter awarded Dedication and Commitment to American Karate


TOURNAMENTS
Sam Price’s Summer Kick Off
Saturday June 21st, 2014
Jake Winters 1st Place Novice Kata, 2nd Place Novice Sparring

KANSAS SUNFLOWER STATE GAMES
Saturday July 12, 2014
Christ the King Church 25th and Wanamaker
Topeka, Kansas
CONTACT: Tony Mielenz, 785-554-4220, anthonymielenz@yahoo.com

The Sunflower State Games in Topeka is the largest amateur multi sport event in Kansas conducted annually in July. The martial arts games are scheduled the second weekend of July on the 12th. I hope as many of you can make the trip to Topeka in July. You can pre-register online. If you are going up the night before you may want to make your reservations now. We recommend the Club House Inn. If you can’t get in at the Club House there are many hotels in within several blocks. We will discuss getting together as a group later. Mr. Williams, Chief Instructor

COMING SOON!!! AMERICAN KARATE & FITNESS Is An ATTITUDE
The expansion is complete. We will use this space for class overflow, future seminars and an Aerobics program. We are still looking for an Aerobics Instructor that has experience in multiple programs including step, conventional, kettle bell, zumba and other aerobic exercise. The more versatile the skill set the better. If you know someone who is upbeat, high energy and interested in joining our team have them contact me at 620-665-3800 or email americankarate1@prodigy.net for more information. I currently have an aerobic kickboxing boot camp in the works for later this summer.
Mr. Williams, Owner/Instructor

BLACKBELT CLASS & MEETING
Saturday, July 19th 10:00 am to 12:00 noon

DISCIPLINE: HOW MARTIAL ARTS HELPS OUR KIDS
Our children face potentially life changing, if not life threatening, decisions every day. Drugs, bullies, violence, gangs, and predators wait around every corner; our children are their target. So how does a parent arm their children with the tools necessary to make the right decisions while they are not under our watchful eye? Confidence and discipline are the key, and martial arts can be the method.

So what is it about martial arts that is so influential on our kids? The main tenants of martial arts are discipline, honor, confidence, and perseverance. Each child is started in the program on a level playing field, and becoming more senior in the program ensures they respect the effort that got them to that level. Martial Arts is comprised of a set of choreographed moves called kata (forms) that progressively build to the next level of difficulty. Each set of moves rely upon knowledge of the previously learned moves for execution. The knowledge of these moves is tested by senior belt members in the organization, and recognized through a colored belt system.

Martial Arts is a proven effective method of building self-esteem, self-discipline, and goal oriented behavior. It also provides our children with the means to protect themselves when presented with a threat. Martial Arts are not the panacea to all of our children’s problems. It gives them a solid foundation to cope with the pressures each endures throughout childhood, setting the patterns and behaviors for a successful transition to adulthood.
Michael Sams, Student and free lance writer from North Austin Taekwondo, Austin Texas.