Classes Cancelled Friday May 3rd
- Details
- Published: 26 April 2019 26 April 2019
- Last Updated: 26 April 2019 26 April 2019
Classes on Friday May 3rd are cancelled as all our instructors will be attending the Junior Nationals in Edmonton. We will be running additional classes in June to make up for the ones we have been missing. Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime please check the schedule for alternate class times.
April - May 2019
- Details
- Published: 12 April 2019 12 April 2019
- Last Updated: 12 April 2019 12 April 2019
Sometimes you might wonder why we focus on the things that we do in class. Killer abdominal workouts, lunges, plyometrics, line-work, technical drills with a variety of partners, you name it. When you are focused on the next competition or grading, you might wonder: why don’t we simply work on kumite or kata? Surely, by this point in the year our fitness is solid and we can curtail the crunches and push-ups? But the thing to remember is that our training builds a complete tool box. And you never know when you might need the whole tool box. For example, in a kumite competition, you might feel overwhelmed by your next opponent. Maybe they are bigger than you. Faster. More experienced. Or maybe this is your fifth match and you’re tired. If your entire training regime has been focused on a few kumite techniques and they are working, congratulations. But if they are not, then what do you do? This is when you get something else out of your tool box – you draw on all the things you learned doing those line drills, lunges or ab work-outs. Yes, we strengthened our muscles. But we also strengthened our personal discipline, just in getting them done. We pushed our partners to work harder, or we drew on their energy so we could work harder. And, even when the drill seemed overly complex, we learned to listen to our Senseis/coaches not only to learn the techniques, but also to learn to follow instructions – very important when you’re on your fifth kumite match and you’re not sure how to proceed.
So, in the end, it’s not one specific technique that’s going to help you succeed – it’s the entire toolbox, including the strength and discipline you gain from all aspects of our training.
Announcements
- Congratulations to everyone involved in the recent Bogu kumite competition with the Calgary Chito Ryu Karate club. Well-done to the competitors and thank-you to all the volunteers who ensured everything ran smoothly.
- Best of luck to our members on the Junior Provincial Karate team as they finalize their preparations for the Canadian Junior National Karate Championships to be held in Edmonton from May 2 – 5. Team members from our dojo include Brooklyn Buckie, Ethan Baker, Diego Ruiz-Silva, Darshleen Singh, Hafid Ben Mahmud and Muhimen Ben Mahmud.
- Registration is now open for the Soke Cup – to be held in Penticton, BC On July 26 – 28, 2019. See the Soke Cup web page for more information.
- Note that classes are cancelled on April 16, 19, 23 and May 17.
- Please check the Events section regularly for updates on class schedules, tournaments and cancellations.
“Grit is not just a simple elbow-grease term for rugged persistence. It is an often-invisible display of endurance that lets you stay in an uncomfortable place, work hard to improve… and do it again and again.” Sarah Lewis
Enjoy Your Training!
Gary Sabean
Head Instructor
March 2019
- Details
- Published: 22 March 2019 22 March 2019
- Last Updated: 23 March 2019 23 March 2019
Announcements
- Reminder that we will be off for Spring break the week of March 25th. First class after the break will be on April 2nd.
- Registration is now open for Soke Cup (July 25th to 29th, 2019). More details can be found at the Soke Cup Website.
January - February 2019
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- Published: 31 January 2019 31 January 2019
- Last Updated: 31 January 2019 31 January 2019
Congratulations to Sensei Mariah Blunt for her strong results at the recent Canadian National Karate Championships held in Gatineau, Quebec on January 19 and 20. Blunt Sensei finished second overall in a very challenging kumite division. Congratulations also go out to Sempai Brooklyn Buckie for her strong showing – she finished 5th in the same tough kumite division in her first senior National Championships. Well done to both! As well, special thanks to Rose Buckie for her dedication and hard work as manager of the senior national team!
We are well into the New Year – our holiday break already seems like a long time ago – but now it’s time to get back to work! Every January we are inundated with messages about tidying up, organizing or simplifying. And while those are most often talking about your personal space, they can also be applied to what we do every day in karate. If, when we are practicing techniques, we take a moment to tidy up a stance by removing extra movements, the results are much better. During training, if we take the time to organize or categorize movements, the results can be surprising. For example, last week we worked on head kicks – but we started the training with sweeps. While they are two different techniques and create two different reactions, we use the same movement to perform both of them. Mastering the one movement enables us to have two more tools in our kumite arsenal. Finally, the idea of simplifying is very useful when fatigue sets in. When you remove extra movements, tighten your muscles and take a second to reset your form, you’ll be able to draw that little bit of extra energy you used on wasted movement. So – now if someone asks, you can absolutely say you did some January tidying!
Announcements
- CLASS CANCELLATIONS: February 15, 2019 for the Family Day long weekend
Mastering techniques takes hard work, developing tactics takes knowledge.
Enjoy Your Training!
Gary Sabean
Head Instructor
How to be a Good Karate Parent
- Details
- 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.