November - December 2019
- Details
- Published: 20 November 2019 20 November 2019
- Last Updated: 21 November 2019 21 November 2019
Hope to see everyone at the 6th Annual All Alberta Karate Invitational Tournament this weekend (November 23) at Crescent Heights High School!
When: Saturday, November 23. Set-up begins at 8:00 am. Competition begins at 9:30 am.
Where: Crescent Heights High School: 1019 1st Street NW, Calgary, AB
More information and a tournament package can be found here.
This competition – which we co-host with Sensei Adam Wackershauser – has grown significantly over the past few years and we expect this one to be the biggest ever with more than 200 entries across a range of recreational and competitive divisions. I hope everyone competing has a great tournament! Thank you in advance for all of the volunteers helping with set-up, registration, marshalling, scoring, refereeing and the million other tasks that have to get done to run a successful event. We couldn’t do it without you!
Speaking of the tournament, I know everyone has been preparing their katas and working hard on kumite to be ready for the competition. As we work on kumite techniques, I often have athletes ask me which technique is going to work the best. Everyone is looking to have a secret weapon that will allow them to surprise their opponents. Is it a head kick, a sweep or a flurry of punches? Well, as we’ve discovered over the past few weeks, it might be any of those techniques, but it’s not you who decides. It’s your opponent. Even if you feel that your head kick is excellent, if your opponent has a very strong guard protecting his or her head, why would you throw a technique that won’t score? Instead, a strong guard protecting their head means they likely aren’t thinking about a sweep. Or a body kick. So, while you might be itching to throw the head kick you have been practising, the smart karateka will see what opportunities are available and use techniques to capitalize on them.
Announcements
- Please check your records to see that you are up to date in paying your training fees! Note that the three-month fee payment is due before the training session occurs.
"Nobody who gave their best ever regretted it." George Halas
Enjoy Your Training!
Gary Sabean
Head Instructor
Classes Friday, November 8th
- Details
- Published: 06 November 2019 06 November 2019
- Last Updated: 06 November 2019 06 November 2019
Just a quick reminder that there will be classes as usual on Friday, November 8th. See you there.
Extra Make Up Classes Friday, October 11th
- Details
- Published: 08 October 2019 08 October 2019
- Last Updated: 08 October 2019 08 October 2019
Since the school is using the gym on Friday October 18th we will hold extra kids and kumite classes this Friday, October 11th instead. See you then.
How to be a Good Karate Parent
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- Published: 08 March 2014 08 March 2014
- Last Updated: 26 June 2016 26 June 2016
From Karate by Jesse http://www.karatebyjesse.com
Note: I came across the following article and thought our dojo parents might enjoy it. I know I did!
Gary Sabean
Imagine the horror:
- You’ve been driving your kids to Karate class, tournaments and camps for years.
- You’ve spent boatloads of money on uniforms, belts, gradings and equipment.
- You’ve invested hundreds of hours to relentlessly push your kids to the limit.
Then one day…
BANG! They quit. Just like that. You’re heartbroken. Flabbergasted. Why?! You try to talk to them. You try to convince them to continue. You tell them they’ve come too far to quit now – give it another shot, kiddo! But nothing works. When a child makes her mind up, there’s not much you can do really.