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!

Stryker Dojo Newsletter; Issue 13

Quote of the Week

"Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted."

-David Bly

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SMA  Welcomes Our Newest Black Belt Club Members! 

Making the Commitment to their Health and Well-being

Congratulations to Val S. and John S. who have made the commitment to Black Belt! 

We're excited to continue onto the next level of your training, and help you achieve all your martial arts and fitness goals!

Do you have any successes that you'd like to share with the SMA community?  Have you run your first 5k, lost weight, or has your child made the honor roll?  Let us know!  We'd love to help celebrate this achievement.

Click Here to get your child on the fast track to success!

"My kids have developed a sense of physical and mental confidence from their karate classes.  I have seen them gain a sense of grace and sharpness to their movements.  I also see a sense of accomplishment on their faces - they are learning to have pride in hard work they do both in Karate and in life.  I know that they will carry their training from the Stryker Karate program into their futures." 

Increased confidence is one of the many benefits of training in the martial arts.  Click Here and send us an email for more information and let us team up to bring out your child's confidence and self-discipline. 

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We Didn't Hit the Powerball, But We Still Have Winners!

Students earn their newest rank during our November test!

We enjoyed a GREAT test last night!  Congratulations to everyone who earned their newest rank.  

This time of year is often riddled with excuses and competing events.  The fact that you placed an emphasis on your training is commendable.  Celebrate your success - you've certainly earned it!

Karate Test

Alexis M. - Yellow Belt
Justin C. - Green Stripe Belt
Mehul J. - Brown I Belt
Allyson C. - Brown I Belt

Kickboxing Test

Alicia P. - Yellow Belt
Val S. - Yellow Belt

Maya T. - Yellow Belt
Jaime C. - Orange Belt
Ally K. - Orange Belt

Diane P. - Orange Belt
Kathryn P. - Orange Belt
Mark A. - Blue Belt
Sheila C.- Brown III Belt
Amy F. - Brown III Belt

Kickboxing Bo- Black Stripes

Erin F.
Darcy F.
Eric N.
Ria R.
Claire W.
Max M.
Lynn M.

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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Parents: Holiday Shopping Opportunity - December 8th

Drop the Kids off for Pizza, Karate, and a Movie, While You Shop, Gift-Wrap, or Relax!

Time is running out!  Have you completed your holiday shopping and gift wrapping?  How about a nice quiet dinner?  Imagine what you can accomplish with 3 full hours to yourself!

Don't miss out on this fun event!  

We are hosting a Movie Night for kids, in order to provide parents with an opportunity to make some progress with their holiday shopping (or simply an opportunity for parents to have a few hours sans children)!


We will be showing Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

When: Saturday December 8th from 4pm-7pm

Cost: $20 for three hours!  (It's cheaper than a baby-sitter!)

Movie Night will Include:

• Mini Karate lesson
• Arts and Crafts
• Pizza and Water
• Movie

SMA Movie Nights have been extremely popular in the past, and we recommend getting on the list early in order to guarantee a spot.  This event is open to students and non-students.  Your child is welcome to bring a friend or sibling who doesn't train at SMA, provided that there is enough space.

We are limiting participation to 20 kids!  Email Kailen to get on the list, or See Ms. Kristin or Ms. Sarah in the school!  Your space is reserved with your payment.

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Are you ready to Gain Confidence, Lose Weight, or Want to Help Your Child Develop the Skills to Live Life Bully-Free?

Then You're Ready to Join the Community!

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!

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Stryker Dojo Newsletter; Issue 12

Quote of the Week

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

-Frederick Keonig

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SMA Around Town: Trunk or Treat Event

Providing the kids in Fairfield with a Sweet Treat

Our Karate Bats were a huge hit with the kids!

The Halloween celebration was postponed twice in Fairfield this year, and the cancellation of the highly anticipated "Trick or Treat on Safety Street" left many kids wondering whether or not they would get to wear their costumes at all.

Thankfully, the Fairfield Police and Fire Department organized a last minute 'Trunk or Treat' event last Saturday, which drew thousands of joyous kids and thankful parents.  

Ms. Kristin and a helper pass out treats

Stryker Martial Arts was armed with treats, and ready to reward the kids for their patience!       

SMA had the opportunity to pass out over 400 individual goodie-bags at this event, as well as chat a bit with many of our current students (who clearly had the best costumes!).  

We were glad to have the chance to help 'salvage' this fun and festive holiday for the kids, and look forward to doing it again next year!

Check out a video of the event, and see if you can find Ms. Kristin, and Ms. Kailen!

Click Here to get your child on the fast track to success!

"My kids have developed a sense of physical and mental confidence from their karate classes.  I have seen them gain a sense of grace and sharpness to their movements.  I also see a sense of accomplishment on their faces - they are learning to have pride in hard work they do both in Karate and in life.  I know that they will carry their training from the Stryker Karate program into their futures." 

Increased confidence is one of the many benefits of training in the martial arts.  Click Here and send us an email for more information and let us team up to bring out your child's confidence and self-discipline. 

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Our Stryker Community in the News!

Showing the Greater Community of Fairfield What it Means to be a Martial Artist,

SMA recently teamed up with a local grass-roots effort to clean up homes within the Fairfield Beach that were affected by Hurricane Sandy.  What you may or may not know, is that we received not only generous supply donations, but the donation of time and energy from many within our community at Stryker Martial Arts!

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the cleanup this past Sunday - for not only helping to reconstruct the homes and yards that were devastated - but for showing the community of Fairfield what it means to be a martial artist, and demonstrating a Black Belt Attitude!  We are humbled by the turnout we received, and very proud of the work that was done!

Special thanks go out to:

 

Mary-Ellen B.  

Meredith B.

Nikki C.

Joe D.

Senja F.

Karina G.

Bill H.

Dan G.

Julian K

Karin K.

Naia K.

Kelley M.

Chris M.

Jon M

Allison M.

Eric N.

Aiden N.

Dawn P.

Kailen P.

Romy P.

Dan S.

Luke S.

Lori-Ann S.

Marcus S.

Nina S.

Sarah T.

Brian T.

Kristin V.

Claire W

Are you looking to join a group which takes a leadership role in the community?  Are you ready to live your life like a martial artist?

"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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School Closings: November 22nd-November 25th 

We will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday Thursday November 22nd, through Sunday November 25th 

- Re-opening on Monday November 26th.

We wish all of our students a SAFE and HAPPY holiday!

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Parents: Holiday Shopping Opportunity - December 8th
Drop the Kids off for Pizza, Karate, and a Movie, While You Shop, Gift-Wrap, or Relax!

This time of year is hectic - Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK, and we're willing to bet that many of you haven't started shopping for those special holiday items. This, (naturally), is much easier to do when your kids aren't demanding your attention every 10 minutes.  

This is where we can help!  

We are hosting a Movie Night for kids, in order to provide parents with an opportunity to make some progress with their holiday shopping (or simply an opportunity for parents to have a few hours sans children)!

When: Saturday December 8th from 4pm-7pm

Cost: $20 for three hours!  (It's cheaper than a baby-sitter!)

Movie Night will Include:

• Mini Karate lesson
• Arts and Crafts
• Pizza and Water
• Movie

SMA Movie Nights have been extremely popular in the past, and we recommend getting on the list early in order to guarantee a spot.  This event is open to students and non-students.  Your child is welcome to bring a friend or sibling who doesn't train at SMA, provided that there is enough space.

We are limiting participation to 20 kids!  Email Kailen to get on the list, or See Ms. Kristin or Ms. Sarah in the school!  Your space is reserved with your payment.

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Are you ready to Gain Confidence, Lose Weight, or Want to Help Your Child Develop the Skills to Live Life Bully-Free?

Then You're Ready to Join the Community!

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!

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Stryker Dojo Newsletter; Issue 11

Quote of the Week

"You are never too old to set another goal, or to dream a new dream."

-C.S. Lewis

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Karate News
The Goals We Set are the Goals We Get!

Goal setting is a highly valuable skill, that not only benefits adults, but kids as well.

As we enter the third week of the month, students are beginning to count their stripes a little more earnestly at the end of each class. The instructors wrap their belt with a new stripe and they once again ask, "How many more do I need?" "Am I going to test this month?" The eagerness to test is understandable; testing, after all, is an achievement and the indication of progress. Every student wants this. As instructors we want this for our students too.

Do you know the 3 parts of a goal that is imperative for achieving it?  Our students do!

Earning a next rank is invaluable practice at goal setting. It gives students the opportunity to experience the various elements of a well-defined goal. For example, a good goal is specific. The overall goal may be Black Belt, but the short-term specific goal is the next rank. A good goal has a timeframe and steps to take within that timeframe. The action step is "come to the required number of classes, participate and practice." We clearly provide the timeframe within which to do this. Finally, a good goal is measurable. Students can figure out how close they are to achieving it by counting their stripes, plus there is a very measurable indicator of whether or not they reached their goal—they are either standing there at the end of testing wearing their new belt or they're not.

It's the little things we do every day that help us to achieve our goals - even though they may seem insignificant at the time.

Regardless of where students are within the testing process (just tested, getting ready to test, or in the interim working on accumulating classes), they can take the guesswork out of achieving their next rank. Parents have the ability to help make this possible. We invite students and their parents to clearly map out the path to a student's next rank. Count classes, make up one's missed, and stay on track. That feeling of accomplishment students get at the end when they're standing next to all the other people testing, getting their new belt tied around their waist, is worth it.

-Ms. Kristin and Ms. Sarah

Click Here to get your child on the fast track to success!

"My kids have developed a sense of physical and mental confidence from their karate classes.  I have seen them gain a sense of grace and sharpness to their movements.  I also see a sense of accomplishment on their faces - they are learning to have pride in hard work they do both in Karate and in life.  I know that they will carry their training from the Stryker Karate program into their futures." 

Increased confidence is one of the many benefits of training in the martial arts.  Click Here and send us an email for more information and let us team up to bring out your child's confidence and self-discipline. 

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Kickboxing News
Ode to the Moms: Making Time for "Me" Time

I used to spend most waking hours involved in doing things for everyone, but myself.

I found time to be a mom, wife, daughter, friend, and employee/co-worker, but rarely did I find time to do things for Karina.  As I turned Forty, I was feeling it – both physically and emotionally.  Enough!!

Are you feeling it too? For instance, you really don't feel well for several days, and yet you continually say 'if I'm not feeling better by Monday; if I'm not better for Wednesday, if I'm not better by Friday, I'll go to the doctor.' You just "deal with it. There's no time to be at the doctor. I gotta to this, that, and the other thing. Right? We ALL do it!

The same can be said for physical fitness. I'll start next month. I'm going to start really working out HARD right after this event, that event, for this event, that event, this holiday... you get the picture.

I recently saw something that said:  “I don’t find time to work out, I make time.”  
That’s me.  I came to the point, several years ago, where I realized that I wanted to make the effort to make time to better myself. Most every time I work out, I am fully committed to my workout.  For forty-five minutes, I can only think about the task at hand – my workout.

Kickboxing isn't just about the physical activity (although, that part rocks!); it’s also about the mental activity.  

When I'm in class, I don't think about errands, money, family, that ever-growing shopping list, or my lack of time; I only think about the combination that we are working on.  

Both my focus and multi-tasking skills have been taken to a new level.  Now not only can I do things that I could only imagine doing years ago, I have made a commitment to myself, and I don’t spend a whole lot of time making excuses – I save that time and energy for something more worth my brain space.

-Ms. Karina

Click  Here to give yourself 45 minutes of ME time!

"Attending the kickboxing class always feels like an adventure and I am constantly presented with a new challenge.  I feel strong, healthy, and with energy!"

 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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October Special: Parents Train for Free

Parents agree, kickboxing is the best investment they've ever made in themselves

Benefits Parents Have Seen:

:

• Increase Energy
• Lose Weight
• Increase Confidence
• Relieve Stress, and
• Learn to Kick Butt (Should you need to!)

During the month of October, we are inviting the parents of our current students to train for free!  

Join the community of your peers in our kickboxing program, and experience the benefits that keep our members returning week after week.

This opportunity represents over $200 in savings; TIME IS RUNNING OUT!  

See Ms. Kristin at your child's next class, or email Kailen today!  We look forward to seeing you on the mat and helping you achieve your fitness goals!

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Newsflash: Skinny Jeans are STILL In Style!  

If This Headline Makes You a Bit Nervous, Then Hit Up Our Bootcamp!

We get it - You're nervous to try it out.  You "have a thing" on Sunday and can't make it.  You have a great relationship with the couch and the separation anxiety is crippling... yeah yeah yeah, we've heard ALL of these excuses over the past 9 months, but VERY FEW compelling reasons to miss this great workout.

Let's set the record straight!

• Our attendees burn up to 800 calories in the bootcamp (some even burn more, according to their body sensors!).  
• You do NOT need to be a world-class athlete to join us! 
• You do NOT need any martial arts experience
• We foster a supportive environment for you to get a great workout and see what you're made of!
• We do NOT bite (we promise!)
• We'll help you get into those Skinny Jeans!

So the question is, why haven't you joined us yet?!

Mark your calendars: Our next Stryker Bootcamp will be on Sunday November 4th at noon.  

Email me NOW to get on the list!

The cost for participation is $20.  Space is limited to 20 participants, so be sure to get your name on the list by emailing Kailen, or seeing a staff member the next time you're in the school.

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Are you ready to Gain Confidence, Lose Weight, or Want to Help Your Child Develop the Skills to Live Life Bully-Free?

Then You're Ready to Join the Community!

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!

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