January, 2012

   Newsletter – January, 2012


Happy New Year! – What an outstanding 2011!  We embrace the New Year with enthusiasm and optimism.  It’s going to be an amazing year and we are grateful & humbled to be able to share our passion and our time with each of you.  We wish you all a fun, safe, happy, healthy and prosperous 2012. 

Birthdays – Happy Birthday to:  Destiny Rice – 6th, Ryan Livingston – 9th, Maria Frampton – 19th, Colter Upton – 21st, Yvonne Tarr – 23rd, Ashton Barton – 24th and Jake Anderson – 30th.  We hope you all have a fabulous birthday! 

F.Y.I. - **Congratulations to Ada Brooks, she was the winner of the raffle for the Signature Theater gift card.  **The December belt test was fantastic!  Everyone did an amazing job.  The Red Star winner was Heather Feist.  **Thank you everyone for supporting your school during the holidays. We were able to purchase a new table and chair set and a new chalk board with the proceeds from your orders.  **The January Lil’ Dragon Warrior Camp is full and the next camp will be in March.  Thanks everyone for referring your friends and family.  **A well deserved Congratulations to Jenny Lovering.  Mrs. Lovering is a Social Studies and English Teacher at Columbia Falls High School.  She recently achieved the teachers National Board Certification.  We are proud to have teachers like her in our local school systems.  **Don’t forget, you can get an extra class or two in to make up for the week that we were closed.  **The next formal belt test will be on Saturday, March 3rd at 10:00 a.m.  If you have hopes of being on this test, now is the time to get after it!! 

Free Class – Over the last couple of months we have had many parents of current students express an interest in training in the martial arts.  We would like to offer everyone an opportunity to come in, bring a friend with you if you like and participate in a 1 ½ hour class on Thursday, February 2nd.  This class will be for 18 years and older who have very little or no prior martial arts experience who  want to give it a try to see if it is an activity that they would enjoy doing.  It will be a fun & comfortable laid back class covering basic techniques.  There will be no pressure to join, however if you do decide that you would like to give it a go, A.K.A. will throw in your uniform and patches at no cost if you sign up by the end of February.  We will be hanging flyers up around town as well for those who are not familiar with A.K.A.  Please help us to spread the word as this is a perfect opportunity to try the martial arts with no obligation or pressure.  A registration form will be hanging on the info board.  Hope to see a lot of you sign up, and don’t forget, invite a friend or two along with you.

Christmas Gifts – We want to thank all of you who brought gifts to us for Christmas.  We received so many wonderful things and we are grateful for your thoughtfulness & kindness.  You’ve succeeded in making us feel special.

Attendance Champs – Well, it was a valiant effort!  We knew it would be difficult for a lot of you to get your 8 classes in for the month of December since the school was going to be closed for the holidays.  We are proud to say that there were quite a few who came close with 6 & 7 classes.  Six students did make the Attendance Champs list and have earned their Ninja Warrior for the month.  Don’t forget to pick yours up.  Check the list hanging on the info board to see if you made it.

Parking Lot Safety – Want to remind everyone to please be extra careful in the parking lot.  Talk to your kid’s about not running out between cars and to be sure to look carefully when entering and exiting the school.  We have been told of a close call out there recently and we want everyone to be safe.  With the weather sometimes not so pleasant and people running late because of weather conditions, it is easy to get in a hurry and let your guard down, so please take extra caution.

Words of Wisdom - **I’ve failed over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.  Michael Jordan - NBA ** “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. David Brinkley – Newscaster   ** “Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence that will enable you to attain the success you seek." Mario Andretti - race car driver

Mat Chats – During the month of January we will be talking about the steps to success.  These include the 4 D’s of Success:  Desire, Determination, Dedication and Discipline.

Private Lesson Sale - Need a little extra help preparing for the upcoming test?  Just want to get ahead of the game and focus on one area of your training that you feel you need help with?  Then be sure to sign up and take advantage of the private lesson sale.    The sale will be on Saturday, February 4th.  We will have ten ½ hour time slots available, so you will want to secure your spot soon.  Payment is due at the time of sign-up.  A sign up sheet is hanging on the info board.

Catalog Orders – The next order will be on Friday, January 20th. Please let us know by the 19th if you need anything.  Students who have been here for 3 months will need to get their sparring gear ordered.  All male students must wear a cup and supporter to every class and all students must wear mouth guards during sparring.  We do keep some cup/supporters and mouth guards in stock.  Profits from purchases made at A.K.A. come back to your school in the way of equipment, training tools and improvements. We thank you for your support.

Kudos – ** If someone has stood out, caught your attention, inspired you, did something worthy of mention at home, school or anywhere for that matter, let us know by putting a note in the red Asian container on the counter.  You do not need to sign it, however don’t forget to write who it is you are giving the kudos too.  Everyone loves a little positive public recognition, so let’s give out the kudos!

Expectations of Advancement – In your curriculum books, there are two pages titled “Expectations of Advancement” We thought it would be a good idea to include some of these into the newsletter for a while as helpful reminders for the students and their parents as to what the instructors look for with each martial arts skill taught.   If you have questions on any of them, please don’t hesitate to ask, we would love to explain for you. 

Kicks - Students will be graded on and continue to work at perfecting all previous kicks as well as learning new techniques.  We are looking for good clean technique with an emphasis on:  chambers and recoils, striking with the correct part of the foot, power, focus, target specific techniques, balance, flexibility, maintains guard through out kick, body control, pivot of base foot and kihap.  

Forms – Student will be graded on all previous forms.  We are looking for clean technique with an emphasis on:  hips, stance, focus, breath control, reaction force, balance, posture, body control, lock-out, confidence, relaxation (flow & fluidity), realism/intention, excitement and target specific kicks, punches and blocks, correct technique of kicks, works highs/lows and kihap.

Weather Conditions - It is very rare for A.K.A. to be closed due to bad weather conditions, we make every effort to be here.  We have students that come from all over the valley and as far away as West Glacier and St. Ignatius, not everyone experiences the same weather conditions and we would not want you to make the drive only to find your school closed.  At the same time, many students live so close to the school that the weather is not normally an issue for them.   If anything, and again, very rare, we might be a little late, so hang on, someone will show up shortly.

With winter here, we understand that we need to be a little more flexible with students arriving late for class.  If possible please allow yourself an extra 10 minutes or so to get here as close to start time as possible.  Do not risk an accident trying to rush to karate class.  

 

 Wishing you all a healthy, happy and safe 2012