January 2025
Snapkick
Dojo Student Newsletter
“Keep cool; anger is not an argument.” ~ Daniel Webster
Testing
All Classes: January 29, 30, 31
PLEASE ATTEND IN FULL UNIFORM AND BELT
Cockroach theory for self-development
Speech by Sundar Pichai – An IIT-MIT Alumnus and Global Head Google Chrome
At a restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from above and landed on a lady. Startled, she started screaming out of fear.
With a panic stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach.
Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also flailed about. The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away but… it landed on another lady in the group.
Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama.
Their waiter rushed forward to the rescue. In the middle of the chaos, the cockroach was flung upon the waiter.
The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behavior of the cockroach on his shirt. When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers, walked outside and threw it away from the restaurant.
Sipping my coffee and watching the drama, the antenna of my mind picked up a few thoughts and started wondering, was the cockroach responsible for their behavior?
If so, then why was the waiter not freaked out? He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos.
t is not the cockroach, but the inability of those people to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach that disrupted the ladies.
I realized that it is not the shouting of my father or my boss or my wife that upsets me, but it’s my inability to handle the turmoil caused by their shouting that disturbs me.
It’s not the traffic jams on the road that bothers me, but my inability to handle the agitation caused by the traffic jam that disturbs me.
More than the problem, it’s my reaction to the problem that creates chaos in my life.
December 2024
Snapkick
Dojo Student Newsletter
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." ~ Aristotle
M0vie Night 12/13
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
(STUDENTS AGES 6+)
Entrance Fee of $40 (per person)
$60 for 2 people
$75 for 3 people
Theme of the Month
This month we will continue with our Jiu Jitsu curriculum. We will teach more practical self-defense tactics when on the ground. The goal for this month is to help students feel more confident when dealing with an opponent on the ground.
Testing
All Classes: December 18, 19, 20
PLEASE ATTEND IN FULL UNIFORM AND BELT
A Glass of Milk, Paid in Full
Author Unknown
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.
Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk.
He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?”
“You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.”
He said, “Then I thank you from my heart.”
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in humanity was strong as well. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Many years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.
Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room.
She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She began to read the following words:
“Paid in full with one glass of milk.
Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly.”
November 2024
Snapkick
Dojo Student Newsletter
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
Featured
Kata Competition 11/16
Veterans’ day charity event
Located at Cupertino high school, join us for a day of competition and fun, for a great cause!
This is an opportunity to compete with other students of similar rank and age with your forms! All Competitors will receive a LIMITED EDITION Veterans’ Day inspired shirt!
Theme of the Month
This month, we will be working on many different skills and techniques on how to deal with an attacker from the ground. We will be working on practical self-defense tactics when on the ground, including: escapes from chokes, headlocks, as well as defending from strikes. The goal for this month is to help students feel more confident when dealing with an opponent on the ground.
Testing
All Classes: November 20, 21, 22
PLEASE ATTEND IN FULL UNIFORM AND BELT
The Seven Wonders of the WorlD
Joy Garrison Wasson
A group of American school children were asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of The World." Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:
Chichen Itza
Taj Mahal
Great Pyramid of Giza
Machu Picchu
The Colosseum
St. Peter's Basilica
Great Wall of China
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The little girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there are so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help." The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the "Seven Wonders of The World" are:
To see
To hear
To touch
To taste
To feel
To laugh
To love
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous. A gentle reminder - that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.
October 2024
Snapkick
Dojo Student Newsletter
“Two things define you: Your patience when you have nothing. And your attitude when you have everything.” ~ George Bernard Shaw
M0vie Night 10/25
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
(STUDENTS AGES 6+)
Entrance Fee of $40 (per person)
$60 for 2 people
$75 for 3 people
Testing
All Classes: October 23, 24, 25
PLEASE ATTEND IN FULL UNIFORM AND BELT
Theme of the Month
This month, we will be working on many different skills. First, we will work on kata details to ensure that our competitors are more than ready for the upcoming kata competition. Second, we will work on building our striking skills, including the palm-heel technique. We will also work on realistic self defense scenarios.
A Lesson on Perspective
Author Unknown
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: “I am blind, please help.”
There were only a few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see what he had written.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were.
The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, “Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?”
The man said, “I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.”
What he had written was: “Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.”
Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?
Of course both signs told people the boy was blind.
But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
Moral of the Story:
Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. Invite others towards good with wisdom. Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1,000 reasons to smile.
The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling… And what is even more beautiful is knowing that you are the reason behind it!!!
September 2024
Snapkick
Dojo Student Newsletter
“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
Testing
All Classes: September 25th, 26th, 27th
PLEASE ATTEND IN FULL UNIFORM AND BELT
Theme of the Month
kicking
This month, we are focusing on various types of kicks. The goal this month is to improve everyone’s kicks on all levels; speed, accuracy, power, and all around technique. We will have many new and unique striking drills and games to keep it fun and interesting.
The Pot of Dirt
Author Unknown
Our teacher read us a story today. It was a story about Mr. Abe, a wealthy store owner who was ready to retire. He met with his workers and told them he was going to give away his thriving business to one of them. Mr. Abe explained that he would hold a special contest for the next year. The plan was really quite simple. He had each employee come to him, one at a time, to pick up a single seed. Then he said, “Plant it, water it, and bring it back for judging in one year.” Each worker went home with the treasured seed in hand and took special care to find the best soil and fertilizers. They planted their seeds with anticipation and dreamed of what they would do when they became successful business owners.
One worker named Sam did everything just right. He planted, watered the seed, and made sure it had enough sunlight. Days passed and nothing grew; weeks passed, and he started to worry. The other employees began to brag about how their plants were sprouting and growing tall and green. Sam hung his head, for all he had was a pot of dirt. He went home and reported sadly to his loving wife what everybody else was saying about their growing seeds. Day after day they bragged that their plants were growing. Sam went home each day to find only a pot of dirt on the windowsill.
A year passed, and it was time for judging. Mr. Abe asked each worker to bring in the plant they had grown. Each employee dragged in huge plants, while Sam was still embarrassed with his pot of dirt. There were snickers and comments, but what happened next was a surprise to everyone. Mr. Abe walked past each employee complimenting them on their large healthy plants.
As he approached Sam and his empty pot, he shouted, “Congratulations Sam! “ With a slap on his back he put a ring of keys into Sam's hand. “You are the new owner of this business - it’s a special gift from me!” The other workers demanded an explanation. Mr. Abe said, “A year ago I gave each of you a special seed - a boiled seed. A boiled sed is dead and can’t possibly grow. Now I know that Sam alone was honest and had the character to bring in an empty pot - so he earned my trust!”
Our teacher closed the book. The class discussed how being a person of integrity, while not always easy, is always best and always shows strength.
August 2024
Snapkick
Dojo Student Newsletter
“Two things define you: Your patience when you have nothing. And your attitude when you have everything.” ~ George Bernard Shaw
M0vie Night 8/23
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
(STUDENTS AGES 6+)
Entrance Fee of $40 (per person)
$60 for 2 people
$75 for 3 people
Summer Camps!
Theme of the Month
Striking
This month, we are focusing on various types of kicks. The goal this month is to improve everyone’s kicks on all levels; speed, accuracy, power, and all around technique. We will have many new and unique striking drills and games to keep it fun and interesting.
Testing
All Classes: August 28, 29, 30
PLEASE ATTEND IN FULL UNIFORM AND BELT
The two brothers
Author Unknown
Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labour and goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?" "Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor. In fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence - an 8-foot fence - so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down anyhow."
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you." The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.
The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge - a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work - handrails and all - and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.
"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done." The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand.
They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother. "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, " but I have many more bridges to build."
Everyday we have the choice of building fences or bridges. One leads to isolation and the other to openness.
July 2024
Snapkick
Dojo Student Newsletter
“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent” ~ Isaac Asimov
Featured
Adjusted schedule for the week of 7/29
Attention parents and students:
During the week of July 29th to August 2nd, many of our staff will be away traveling to Canada to an international martial arts camp. The camp will be hosted by the Kokusai Butoku-Kai, the organization that we are affiliated with through the Zen Bei Butoku-Kai. This camp will ultimately enrich all our students in an effort to come back with new exercises and fresh ideas to bring back to all of you!
While we are gone, classes will still be in session, as Sensei Paula and Sensei Noa will be leading classes along with the help from many others.
M0vie Night 7/26
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
(STUDENTS AGES 6+)
Entrance Fee of $40 (per person)
$60 for 2 people
$75 for 3 people
Summer Camps!
Still want to join us this summer?
It is not too late to sign up for our summer camps!
Theme of the Month
Escape from Holds + Chanbara
This month we will be focusing on escapes from grabs and holds. We will teach how to get out of headlocks, wrist grabs, chokes, bear hugs and so much more!
Alongside escapes from holds, we will also be practicing chanbara. Chanbara is padded weapons training that helps a student develop lightning fast reflexes, distancing and timing. Chanbara will also develop courage, self-control and good sportsmanship. All this without the fear of injury.
Testing
All Classes: june 26, 27, 28
PLEASE ATTEND IN FULL UNIFORM AND BELT
The four flies
Author Unknown
A Samurai was calmly eating his supper in a small inn, ignoring four flies, which kept buzzing round him. Three Ronin (masterless samurai) came in: they looked enviously at the two magnificent swords which the man had fixed in his belt, for these weapons represented a small fortune, A look of intense satisfaction came over their faces: the man seemed to be defenseless and alone against three.
Sitting at a nearby table, they began to make to make fun of him in raised voices in the hope that he would be provoked into a duel, As the man remained completely indifferent to them, they got more and more upset.
Slowly raising the chopsticks with which he had just eaten his rice, the samurai effortlessly struck each of the four flies in four quick, precise actions, after which he delicately put down the tools, and all without so much as glancing at the three boors.
A heavy silence followed. The three Ronin looking at each other realized that before them was a man of formidable mastery. Frightened, they fled.
Much later, they learnt that this man who had so shrewdly spared them was named Miyamoto Musashi.
The Moral of the Story
Sometimes a confrontation can be avoided without resorting to violence. With practice, one can develop the calmness of mind required to catch flies with chopsticks. With that degree of focus, can you imagine the skill in Martial Arts?
June 2024
Snapkick
Dojo Student Newsletter
“We don't develop courage by being happy every day. We develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.” ~ Barbara De Angelis
Featured
M0vie Night 6/21
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
(STUDENTS AGES 6+)
Entrance Fee of $40 (per person)
$60 for 2 people
$75 for 3 people
Summer Camps!
Still want to join us this summer?
It is not too late to sign up for our summer camps!
Theme of the Month
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu + Wrestling
For the month of June, we will continue teaching and practicing our Jiu-Jitsu techniques and grappling drills. This month, we will also be implementing wrestling techniques which focuses on sweeps and take downs on an opponent from a standing position. We will be teaching several wrestling exercises to build quick reflexes and mobility.
Testing
All Classes: june 26, 27, 28
PLEASE ATTEND IN FULL UNIFORM AND BELT
The Struggles of our Life
Author Unknown
Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He took the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.
Turning to her, he asked. “What do you see?” “Potatoes, eggs and coffee,” she hastily replied.
“Look closer”, he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft.
He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.
“Father, what does this mean?” she asked.
He explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity – the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently.
The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.
“Which one are you?” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?”
The Moral of the Story:
In life, things happen around us, and things happen to us. The only thing that truly matters is your choice of how you react to it and what you make of it. Learn, adapt and choose to make the best of each experience.
May 2024
Snapkick
Dojo Student Newsletter
“In the midst of movement and chaos keep stillness inside of you.” ~ Deepak Chopra
Featured
Testing
All Classes: May 22, 23, 24
PLEASE ATTEND IN FULL UNIFORM AND BELT
Theme of the Month
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
This month we will continue with our Jiu Jitsu curriculum. We will teach more advanced techniques and drills in all of our classes. Jiu Jitsu promotes the concept of a smaller, weaker person that can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique. The goal is to help students feel more confident when dealing with an opponent on the ground.
Musashi’s Disciple
Author Unknown
I will tell you the story of the Samurai who came to see the legendary master Miyamoto Musashi and asked to learn the true way of the sword.
The master agreed to accept him as a student. Having become his disciple, the Samurai spent all his time, as instructed by the master, carrying and chopping wood and fetching buckets of water from a distant spring.
He did this every day for a month, two months, one year, three years. Today, any disciple would have run away after a week or even a few hours. But the Samurai went on, and in the process he formed his body.
At the end of three years he had had enough, however, and asked his master, "What kind of training are you giving me? I have not touched a sword since I got here. I spend all my time chopping wood and carrying water. When are you going to initiate me?"
"All right, all right," the master replied. "Since you desire it, I shall teach you the true technique."
He ordered him to go to the dojo and there, every day from morning to evening, the disciple had to walk around the outside edge of the tatami, step by step around the hall without ever missing a foot.
So the disciple walked around the edge of the tatami for a year. At the end of that time he said to his master, "I am a Samurai, I have a long experience of swordsmanship and I have met other masters of Kendo. Not one ever taught me as you are doing. Now, please, teach me the true way of the sword."
"Very well," said the master. "Follow me."
He led him far into the mountains to a place where a tree trunk lay across a ravine, a dizzying, deep chasm.
"There," said the master, "walk over."
The Samurai had no idea what his master meant; when he glanced down he recoiled and couldn't bring himself to cross.
All of a sudden they heard a tap-tap-tapping behind them, the sound of a blind man's stick. The blind man, paying no attention, walked past them and tapped his way firmly over the abyss, his stick in front of him.
"Aha," thought the Samurai, "I'm beginning to understand. If the blind man can walk across like that, I ought to be able to do it too."
And his master said, "For one whole year you have walked round and round the edge of the tatami, which is much narrower than that tree trunk; so you must be able to cross."
He understood, and strode to the other side.
His training was finished: for three years he had built up the strength of his body; for one year he had developed his power of concentration in one action (walking); and at the last, facing death at the edge of the abyss, he received the final training of spirit and mind.
The Moral of the Story
Some of the most important training takes place on a very subtle level. One should look at any experience for the lesson it holds.
April 2024
Snapkick
Dojo Student Newsletter
“Emotional self-control is the result of hard work, not an inherent skill.” ~ Travis Bradberry
Featured
Movie Night 4/19
Theme of the Month
This month, we will be focusing on Jiu-Jitsu. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. Jiu Jitsu promotes the concept of a smaller, weaker person that can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique.
Testing
All Classes: April 24, 25,26
PLEASE ATTEND IN FULL UNIFORM AND BELT
The Law of the Garbage Truck
Author Unknown
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.
My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!
The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us!
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, really friendly. So I asked, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!”
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck.”
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage (frustration, anger, and disappointment, etc.). As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you.
Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so… love the people who treat you right & pray for the ones who don’t. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!
Have a wonderful, garbage-free day.
March 2024
Snapkick
Dojo Student Newsletter
“Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.” ~ Og Mandino
Featured
Chanbara Competition 3/2
Our Chanbara Competition will be held on Saturday, March 2nd of 2024 at Cupertino High School! It is by enrollment only and has a limited student availability.
Testing
All Classes: March 27, 28, 29
PLEASE ATTEND IN FULL UNIFORM AND BELT
Theme of the Month
This month, we are focusing on various types of kicks. The goal this month is to improve everyone’s kicks on all levels; speed, accuracy, power, and all around technique. We will have many new and unique kicking drills and games to keep it fun and interesting.
Cornered by an unruly gang of pine boards, Robert suddenly remembers his Karate training.
The Cookie Thief
By Valerie Cox in “A Matter of Perspective”
A woman was waiting at an airport one night, with several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shops, bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.
She was engrossed in her book but happened to see, that the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be. . .grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between, which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.
So she munched the cookies and watched the clock, as the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I would blacken his eye.”
With each cookie she took, he took one too, when only one was left, she wondered what he would do. With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh, he took the last cookie and broke it in half.
He offered her half, as he ate the other, she snatched it from him and thought… oooh, brother. This guy has some nerve and he’s also rude, why he didn’t even show any gratitude!
She had never known when she had been so galled, and sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate, refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.
She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat, then she sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise, there was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes.
If mine are here, she moaned in despair, the others were his, and he tried to share. Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, that she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.
February 2024
Snapkick
Dojo Student Newsletter
“Two things define you: Your patience when you have nothing. And your attitude when you have everything.” ~ George Bernard Shaw
Featured
Movie Night 2/16
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
(STUDENTS AGES 6+)
Entrance Fee of $35 (per person)
$50 for 2 people
2/19: Closed for Presidents Day
Testing
All Classes: February 21, 22, 23
PLEASE ATTEND IN FULL UNIFORM AND BELT
Coming soon
〰️
chanbara competiton 3/2
〰️
Coming soon 〰️ chanbara competiton 3/2 〰️
Theme of the Month
This month, we will continue to focus on kata forms. We will also be spending time on Chanbara, also commonly known as “padded weapons training” in preparation for the upcoming competition. Here at WVMA, our focus is to use chanbara as a safe and fun way for students to learn spatial awareness, strategy, and discipline through live, friendly competition.
January 2024
Featured Event
ZBBK Dues Are Due
West Valley Martial Arts and its students are a part of a non-profit organization called the Zen Bei Butoku Kai. Committed to carrying on O’Sensei Kim’s legacy, the ZBBK certifies our curriculum, our instructors, and our ranking system.
For all Pre-Karate students, the annual membership fee is $10.
For all other students, your annual membership fee is $20.
You can pay by cash or check, sorry no credit cards.
Please pay this amount by January 31st. Please make checks to ZBBK and note that donations to the ZBBK (Fed Non-Profit ID #72-1532938) qualify as a charitable donation and are tax deductible under section 501(c).
The Zen Bei Butoku Kai
In 1959 O'Sensei Richard Kim founded the Zen Bei Butoku Kai when he came from Japan to teach in the United States.The Zen Bei Butoku Kai is a martial arts organization dedicated to the preservation of the teachings of the late O’Sensei Richard Kim, 10th Dan and his legacy. That legacy has stretched to all ends of the earth over the years and has touched thousands. I was fortunate enough to train and travel with Master Kim for about 10 years until he passed away in 2001. His teachings of the traditional martial arts and, perhaps even more significant, the philosophy of the martial arts are second to none. O'Sensei Kim was referred to as “Karate's Guiding Light” by Black Belt magazine and was considered the “world’s authority” on traditional karate.
1/15: Martin Luther King Jr. day
Closed for the holiday
Theme of the Month
This month, we will be focusing on striking. We will be looking at variations of striking combos as well as focusing specifically on how to be a good bag holder. The goal of this month is to improve not only the physical technique of good striking, but how having a good bag holder can drastically enhance the training for both parties involved.
