Stryker Dojo Newsletter; Issue 15

Quote of the Week

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes.  Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow.  Let reality be reality.  Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."

- Lao Tzu

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Ready for the Ultimate Dojo?!

Master Dan is busy building-out a NEW SPACE that would make any martial artist proud!

Stryker Martial Arts is moving to a TOP SECRET location (2 miles away from the current school), and Monday, February 4th is the target for our opening day!

What will this mean for you?

Simply put - you can expect an even higher level of service in a location which will better support your martial arts training!  Over the years Master Dan has found that our current location doesn't serve our best asset - our students.   The noise and distractions from the viewing area and outside parking lot tend to disrupt our students' concentration and focus in class.  Our new space was specifically designed to help diminish these distractions, and allow our students to fully concentrate on their martial arts technique.

Is your program changing?

The answer to this questions is both yes and no.  Here's what we mean... Change has always been built into our program.  As many long-term students can attest, our programs are under a constant state of evaluation.  If Master Dan isn't fully satisfied with the focus of the program, changes are made in order to ensure that our students are receiving the highest level of martial arts instruction.  We have no intention of making drastic overhauls to our current programs, however there will be small tweaks to our curriculum that are meant to enhance your experience both on and off the mat.

Where is the new school located?

Ahhh, this is TOP SECRET information for now.  While we are busy with the build-out of the new school (and all of the headaches associated with it), we are keeping the exact location under a strict 'need-to-know' basis.  We will say, that it is still located in Fairfield, and is roughly 2 miles away from our current location - in the Black Rock section of town.

There are MANY benefits to this new location.  Parents who are more inclined to drop off their kids, will find a whole host of stores in the Black Rock area of town, which aren't present near our current location.  We are also neatly tucked away, to allow for minimal distractions while classes are being conducted.  This will only enhance YOUR martial arts experience. 

Are you excited about the move?

The answer to this, is an empathic YES!  The entire staff at Stryker Martial Arts couldn't be MORE excited about what's on the horizon!  Not only will we be introducing a state of the art training facility, but with it, a whole range of activities planned throughout 2013.  

As the February 4th date approaches, we will be sharing more information on the move.  Stay tuned!

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SMA Welcomes Our Newest Student!

Be sure to introduce yourself to our newest white-belt!

We'd like to welcome Rose A. to the Stryker Martial Arts Community!  

As we always say, the hardest step is often walking through the door and beginning something new.  Thankfully we have a supportive group of students to make this process easier on the nerves.

In your next class, be sure to introduce yourself to our newest student and show her what the SMA Community is all about!

Would you like to join a community of people dedicated to their personal growth and development?

"As a woman, I think your program provides a unique opportunity to break from gender stereotypes.  When you train, it's not only about losing weight and looking great, but it's also about getting stronger and faster..."

How will our program benefit YOUR life?  

Click Here and send us an email for more information, and experience for yourself the benefits of training in the martial arts.

 

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Make 2013 the Year You ACHIEVE Your Resolutions!  

Get started on our Beginner Special 
and see what training in the Martial Arts can do for you!

Don't let everyone else have all the fun!  Take advantage of our Beginner Trial in order to see if training in the martial arts is right for you and your family!  Email Us today, in order to get started!

Stryker Dojo Newsletter; Issue 14

Quote of the Week

"When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on."

- Thomas Jefferson

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We're Gearing Up for Testing!

If it's YOUR rotation, get your stripes in and invite your supporters

Next Thursday - December 20th - marks the last monthly test of 2012!  Some quick house-keeping reminders about testing:

• Be sure to get on the list!
• Karate Test for Yellow-Brown III belt is at 6pm.
• Only kids who are testing will be allowed to participate.
• Kickboxing Test begins at 7:15pm.
• Kickboxers may take the class at 7:15pm.
• NO unsupervised kids are allowed at the kickboxing test.
• If you're unsure about whether or not you're eligible to test, be sure to look here for rank requirements.

While the staff at Stryker Martial Arts is always here to support you in your martial arts training, it's important to receive that encouragement off the mat as well. 

Who are YOU inviting to cheer you or your child on at testing?  

Let's end the year with a packed house of supporters - comprised of students, family, and friends!  You've worked hard, and you deserve the opportunity to show off a little.  

The adrenaline circle. YIKES!

Our Black Belt Test will take place on Saturday December 22nd.

Bo-Black students testing for Black Belt need to report to the school by 1pm.  Current Black Belts going for progress stripes or degrees of Black Belt need to report to the school at noon.

The Black Belt test is a LONG day of forms, techniques, and dynamic drills.  We encourage students to stop in and show their support to those testing!

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SMA Welcomes Our Newest Student!

Be sure to introduce yourself to our newest white-belt!

We'd like to welcome Jaden J. and his family to the Stryker Martial Arts Community!  As we always say, the hardest step is often simply walking through the door and beginning something new.  Thank goodness we have a supportive group of students to make this process easier on the nerves.

In your next class, be sure to introduce yourself to our newest student (and his parents) and show them what the SMA Community is all about!

Would you like to join a community of people dedicated to their personal growth and development?

"As a woman, I think your program provides a unique opportunity to break from gender stereotypes.  When you train, it's not only about losing weight and looking great, but it's also about getting stronger and faster..."

How will our program benefit YOUR life?  

Click Here and send us an email for more information, and experience for yourself the benefits of training in the martial arts.

 

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Tons of Fun at our SMA Movie Night!

Our students socialized and enjoyed a fun night with their karate friends! 

We had a packed house at our movie night last Saturday (December 8th) -- and it was a GREAT event!  

Gearing up for some karate drills at our December 8th Movie Night

The younger kids had the opportunity to socialize outside of karate lessons, while the older students further developed  leadership skills which will benefit them throughout their lives.

A little friendly competition 

Our participants engaged in fun karate drills, made a cool holiday ornament (while reflecting on things they're thankful for), ate some pizza, and relaxed to watch Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (which they thoroughly enjoyed!).

A fun holiday craft for the kids

Enjoying the movie, in the Power Position!

 

We're pleased to offer events like this, to help provide a little support for parents, as well as a safe social outlet for the kids.  It's truly a win-win situation!  

Stay tuned for information on our next movie night, and be sure to get on the list early in order to secure your child's spot.

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New Year's Resolutions are Coming (including the usual resolve to lose weight and get healthy).  

We have the PERFECT program  to make 2013 the year you ACHIEVE your resolution!

Don't let everyone else have all the fun!  Take advantage of our Beginner Trial in order to see if training in the martial arts is right for you and your family!  Email Us today, in order to get started!

Training hard and working towards their fitness goals!

Want to see what Dedication looks like?!  Check out our Bootcamp!

Advanced Technique of the Week - 21!

Test Day!

Congratulations to everyone who received their next rank today!  Keep up the good work!

Quote of the Day ...

"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it"         – Henry David Thoreau.


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Advanced Self Defense Technique

Here is a review of the Self Defense Technique we are covering in the advanced class:

Rotations...

Martial Arts training is a lifestyle...  not a fad or a quick fix.

Remember that at Stryker Martial Arts, we take a long term perspective on physical conditioning.  As far as we are concerned, you have a body and will need to be responsible for it for the rest of your life.  Therefore, we MUST take a long term perspective.

What does this mean?  It means that we need to constantly vary the stimulus we are placing on your body.  It means that we must constantly vary the intensity we have in class.  It means that we must also be responsible for recovery and injury prevention.  Therefore, the overall intensity of the rotations will vary and it MUST. 

Better Behaved Kids - The next installment...

Hopefully, you have had some time to notice and work with your kids on our first Project of "Being asked to do something one time.".  Judging from the kids' reactions in class, it seems that things are better but not where we want them to be regarding having to "nag" kids to get the simple things in life done...  Brushing their teeth...  Turning the TV off...  Getting ready for bed...  etc.

Quote of the Day...

 

 “Children are tough, though we tend to think of them as fragile. They have to be tough. Childhood is not easy. We sentimentalize children, but they know what’s real and what’s not. They understand metaphor and symbol. If children are different from us, they are more spontaneous. Grown-up lives have become overlaid with dross.”
-Maurice Sendak

Beginner Special...

Want to try the best martial arts and fitness facility around?  Contact us to take advantage of our new Special Beginner Program!

Better Behaved Kids - Part 1

Dear Parents,

If you have watched class lately, you have noticed that we have implemented a "Better Behaved Kids" portion of our class where we have begun discussing different "Projects" we want the kids working on.  These "Projects" are meant to support what you are already doing at home.  We have found that when messages from parents are reiterated by a third party, they really start to gain some traction.

Kids start saying to themselves, "Well ghee, if my mom says that I should say please and thank you, and the instructors at the karate school tell me I should say please and thank you, it must be the thing to do."

Another Great Day

We had some awesome classes today!  The Thai Kickboxers worked up a sweat while polishing a useful self-defense technique.  The Black Belt Club Kids were amazing!  They showed incredible focus and discipline.  Many of them learned how to do a jumping roundhouse kick for the first time!  (Watch out for those lamps!)

The 4 to 9 year olds did excellent.  We had one of the Black Belt Kids working along side them and they stepped their game up and increased their intensity.  We finished up with some flying sidekicks that ROCKED! 

Great Job today!  Keep it up! 

Time Flies When You're Having FUN!

What an amazing day at SMA! Intense Thai Kickboxing classes all around... The 4 to 9 year old Karate Kids are developing Black Belt Balance and a packed house with close to 40 kids for Black Belt Club. All focused and dedicated martial artists looking to take it to the next level. Absolutely Awesome.

Plus we gave away over 20 Eskrima Sticks for FREE!  Keep those handy cause we are going to be using them in Black Belt Club soon!

You guys ROCK!

The Power of Registration!

As many of you know, I have a commitment to what Tony Robbins calls the CAN-I principle which refers to Constant And Neverending Improvement.  I believe the real joy in life occurs in growth and development - both your own and others.  It is part of the reason I love doing what I do.  There is no doubt that at Stryker Martial Arts we create a possibility for personal growth and development on a daily basis. 

Yet, I was reminded of something VERY cool yesterday.  You see, I signed up for a 6 month course.  It is a course dedicated to creating an adult conversation around fun and play. 

The funny thing is, I have taken this course twice already.  Strange, right?

I was talking to my wife last night and she was even asking me, "Why would you take that course AGAIN?" 

Well, the last time I took it was about three years ago.  Am I the same person I was three years ago?

Nutrition: Huh?!

I was at a martial arts seminar last Friday.  It was incredibly motivational and inspirational.  I got to hang out with some of the top professionals in my field who are also personal friends of mine.  It was great to recharge and refresh!

While there, a gentleman who I had never met, did a presentation on nutrition attempting to sell his services.  He boasted about having a Masters Degree in exercise physiology, 30+ years of martial arts experience and working with professional athletes and "knowing" nutrition "inside and out". 

Wonderful. 

Then he argued, "If you were coming out of the concentration camps in Germany, you wouldn't be fat." 

Granted, this is a bit out of context (which I will fix in a sec) but what really struck me was that this was the SECOND time I had heard this argument.  The first was shocking enough because it came from an MD.  Yes a full fledged doctor.  The second time was last Friday. 

This picture is from the Truman library of two men in a concentration camp.  Apparently, both the nutritional guys were correct.  You wouldn't be fat...  that is for sure. 

And what a conversation for prosperity right? 

Really? 

These guys to the left not only look thrilled but they also look to be in top physical shape and ready to run a mile, deadlift 225lbs, or do a 45 minute Thai Kickboxing class, no?

Are these guys spouting nutritional advice really serious? 

Now here was the context that the man on Friday was speaking in.  He was referring to the genetic argument.  Many people believe there is a "fat gene" and that they are built to store bodyfat. 

Then he argued that no one in the camps was fat. 

It was not only offensive but more than quite a stretch. 

I do believe that some people are more prone to store bodyfat than others.  I also believe that this tendency increases with age. 

Yet, studies have shown that obesity is more environmental than genetic or a combination of both.  The largest determinant of obesity right now is income level.  Why?  Because the poor are more likely to eat fast food and cheaper, less nutritious food since they can't afford higher quality food.

That and some families simply make poor decisions and have a lot of "junky" food around.  These also include any type of frozen or highly processed meals, chips, pretzels, and so on. 

There is another problem...  we talked a few weeks ago about how there really isn't an accurate form of measure right now to determine if you are overweight or obese.  So how do you know where you stand? 

Therefore, the fat argument falls in on itself. 

Here is what I think most people are interested in...  Performance. 

Most people want their body to perform at a high level.  (And yes most also want it to look FANTASTIC!)  But when you break it down, most people want to have a high level of energy, feel good (pain free), be comfortable with how they look all in order to go through their daily activities without energy crashes and lethargy. 

So here is a very bad model...  but it works (for me).

Over the last month, I have had to do a lot of manual labor.  Fixing things, moving VERY heavy things, squatting to pick things up, and so on... 

So heading into my day, I knew a couple of things.  First, I wouldn't have my next meal for a long time and there was going to be A LOT of physical expenditure.  So, I needed a high calorie meal that also contained a high amount of fat so I stayed satiated until late in the afternoon. 

What was my meal?

Cheddar Omelet, Potatoes, Three Pancakes with butter and syrup, a large fruit smoothie, and hot tea.  Then I added a ton of caffeine to avoid the inevitable energy drop from all the sugar. 

Now this formula works for me.  I have had similar situations where I have used pizza for the same outcome. 

At the same time, it is an AWFUL long term option.  I ONLY do this when I am doing a lot of physical labor (usually about 8 hours at a time with little or no break) and I know I won't be eating again for a long time. 

By the way, 8 hours of physical labor does not equal a 45 or 90 minute workout.  I DO NOT eat this way normally.

Why am I telling you this then?

Because I know my body and what works for it.  I know when I am abusing it (like in the example above) and when I am taking care of it. 

You want to know YOUR body.  The fact of the matter is that right now, where the science of nutrition is concerned, the more they learn, the more they are exposed to what they don't know.  Meaning, when they figure out the answer to 1 question, 20 new questions pop up. 

Stop listening to idiots who say, "If you were in the concentration camps, you wouldn't be fat." and start learning about your own body and your own experience.  You are always your best teacher in that way. 

Train Hard!

Can you fight your way out of a paper bag?

Gyms and personal training studios (and even some martial arts schools unfortunately) are filled with people who LOOK LIKE they are throwing punches and kicks.  They aren't.  Looking like it and doing it are two completely different things.  It is not enough to throw something that "looks" like a punch or kick. 

To operate in this way is a complete waste of time and energy while also being potentially dangerous because you might start thinking that you can actually punch and kick. 

Here is the main problem.  In order to throw a strong and fast punch or kick, you need to recruit the right muscles and have them fire in the appropriate sequence to really develop any sort of real speed and power. 

This is why "self defense" seminars, cardio-kickboxing programs, and foolish personal trainers don't work.  The only thing that develops the appropriate recruitment of muscle chains is constant repetition over an extended period of time.  All of these methods can recruit muscle fibers.  But only educated training will get your body to fire these muscles in the appropriate sequence.

That is to say that the way you train has a severe impact on the outcome of your performance. 

If, for some reason, you never attempt to throw a punch or kick with full power...  your body will not know what its like to recruit that chain. As a matter of fact, it will not even know that it is POSSIBLE to throw a stronger punch or kick than you are currently attempting. 

The ultimate problem is that if you don't throw that motion over and over again with full power, you will not have developed the habit of recruiting the chain of muscles required... and therefore you lack power. 

The same can be said for speed.  As they know, muscles are made up of different fibers which fire at different rates.  One creates speed.  The other power. 

If you don't throw punches and kicks which are meant to be as fast as you can, those fibers will not be recruited and your body will not know that "faster" is even possible. 

Finally, given these two realities... if you are not training both speed AND power, you will not develop the "holy grail" of martial arts which is to be able to achive BOTH at the same time. 

Here is the up side:  The major benefit that you receive from training in this way is NOT to be able to kick someone's butt.  Obviously, we would like you to be able to do that but the reality is that you are most likely never going to be in a fist fight or have to defend yourself. 

The real benefit to you is the increased level of confidence.  When you hit the bag and you see the result of a fast, strong punch or kick, you smile inside and say "Yeah...  that's it."  That level of confidence is highly contagious and seeps into every facet of your life.  You walk differently, carry yourself differently, apply yourself in stressful situations differently...  everything changes when you ultimately become confident in what your body can do.  This is the real benefit...  Confidence!

This is why we constantly state that it is YOUR class and that you want to have a plan heading into your class.  We obviously have an outline and you wouldn't want to go counter to that outline (sometimes we are working specifically on speed or power)...  yet most of these ideas can be applied to 99% of our classes.  

As you approach your classes over the next few weeks, figure out what it is that you want to develop.  Remember that true martial arts skill is developed over years and not months.  (The same can be said for true physical transformation.)  You don't need to accomplish EVERYTHING now.  You need to accomplish SOMETHING.  Pick what it is before you bow in and then throw your heart into it. 

See you in class!

An Adult Conversation for Fun...

fun
– noun
1. something that provides mirth or amusement.
2. enjoyment or playfulness.
(according to Dictionary.com)

What if this definition was inadequate? 

When most people think fun, they think something like kids at a playground or at a birthday party.  In reality, what these activities look like is... Running and screaming, chaos and mayhem...  complete disorder. 

And then, that is what we are left with.  We carry this definition of fun with us into adulthood.  Is it any wonder why adults don't seem to be having much fun?


I wouldn't categorize Thai Kickboxing as "amusement".  When I think amusement, I think the circus.  The bearded lady is amusing (and disturbing). 

I don't know if I would qualify Kickboxing as "enjoyment".

While both these attributes can be a part of the process and program, standing alone they are definitely incomplete. 

Yet our program IS fun. 

Lets look a little more.

Monday Morning Inspiration...

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Critical Exercise done by clients