Holiday Schedule from AMAA

Safety, Fitness & Inspiration from KarateOC.com

Director, American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia-Yorba Linda Campus)
(714) 646-9635

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Safety & Fitness Tips of the Week!

Director, American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia-Yorba Linda Campus)
(714) 646-9635

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5 Reasons Why to
Start Karate Today!

 

Improved Report Cards: Our curriculum is designed to teach children the importance of concentration. Improved concentration means that your child will learn more at school. Therefore, you can expect your child to receive better grades for both academics and attitude.   Karate Builds Healthy Kids: Karate is a great work-out. Your child will breath better, eat better and sleep better. Children who take Karate are slimmer, make better decisions about food, and in general, learn to take care of themselves. Respect: Kids in our program learn respect. You won’t find yourself repeating yourself over and over, or arguing with your child like most parents do. Kids learn to be respectful of their parents and teachers. You might even catch your child saying: Yes Ma’am or Yes Sir! Self Confidence: Kids who take Karate develop better self-confidence. They’re encouraged to take chances, to push themselves further than they thought possible. The success they experience through Karate teaches them that they can be successful at anything if they truly believe they can and are willing to work hard. Improved confidence leads to better grades, a better circle of friends, better performance in sports and extracurricular activities in general. Self-Defense: Karate teaches two forms of self-defense. One is physical, you will improve your strength, flexibility and overall health. The second form of self-defense Karate teaches is internal. Our students learn to spot danger and avoid dangerous people, places and activities. Karate can help you avoid the need for a physical confrontation.   American Martial Arts Academy prides itself on fun, structured classes taught by professionally trained instructors in a safe and positive environment. AMAA has been rated one of the top karate schools in the entire nation since 1994. Call NOW for more information on our children and adult martial arts programs! (714) 646-9635 KarateOC.com

How to talk to your kids about Paris

As we know, last Friday, our world experienced a tragic event in Paris. A common question a lot of parents have is how to address this with parents.  Attached are two articles we've found that can be excellent resources.

If you have any questions, thoughts or feedback, feel free to give us a call!

http://time.com/4112751/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-the-attacks-in-paris/ 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-stiffelman/talking-with-children-and_b_8569698.html

Director, American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia-Yorba Linda Campus)
(714) 646-9635

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Placentia & Yorba Linda Martial Arts Mission Statement

American Martial Arts Academy

'Character Development 

through the Martial Arts'

Mission Statement

1.   To provide the finest instruction in the mental, physical, and character-building aspects of the martial arts.

2.   To provide personal instruction in every class.

3.   To provide the best professional facilities in the area.

4.  To create an environment that gives each individual the opportunity to pursue and achieve a greater level of      success and freedom.

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Placentia Karate Halloween Party

Placentia Karate Halloween Safety Tips

Make sure that trick or treating this year is FUN and SAFE! 

Review the tips below with your child, even if you plan to be with your child 100% of the time.

1. Make sure your child’s costume is fire-proof, fits properly, and allows him or her to see where he or she is going.

2. It’s important that trick-or-treaters can see and be seen after dark.  Your child should wear a light-colored costume, use reflective tape, and carry a flashlight.

3. If your child’s costume includes a prop, make sure that the ends are smooth and flexible enough to prevent injuries, in case of an accidental fall.

4. If your child is going house-to-house without you, make sure to plan a route so that you’ll know where he or she is at all times and who is with him or her. 

5. Trick-or-treaters should not approach houses that have their lights turned off.

6. While at a house, children should stand several feet back from the entrance and should never go inside a stranger’s home.

7. Make sure your child knows to cross streets at corners and to look both ways for traffic.

8. Children need to be cautious around candles and jack-o-lanterns.  Standing too close could cause your child’s costume to catch on fire.

9. Pets and animals may be overly excited or afraid of people they don’t know, so remind your child to be cautious. 

10. Your child should not eat any candy until you’ve had a chance to inspect it and
ensure that no one has tampered with it.

Sincerely,

Director, American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia-Yorba Linda Campus)
(714) 646-9635

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Snippet from Fullerton Stories Article on KarateOC.com!

American Martial Arts Kicking for the Cure

October 12, 2015, 1:00pm

From Dionne Kiloh --
pink belt.jpgAmerican Martial Arts is raising money to find a cure for Breast Cancer through their students and the public.  We are opening our doors for the public to attend a fun, festive, and life changing event for those who are affected, have been affected, or may be affected by breast cancer in their lives.

The event will be on Wednesday October 14, 2015 from 6:30 to 8:30pm.  The event will be held at 1027 n Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92832.  100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  A representative will be there at 7 pm to accept a check for more than $5,500.00 and talk to us about the research, foundation and its mission.  Free kids workshops will be held from 6:30 to 7:00pm. Free Adult karate workshops will continue following until 8:30 pm.  THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME. There is no cost to attend.  Food, drinks, and music will be available to everyone.  Pink wrist bands to support the cause will be for sale in the amount of $5.00.

We the students at AMAA wanted to give back.  This campaign was put together by a group of students called “The red belt academy”.  We are hoping to test in January for our black belts.  Part of our journey is to give back to the community.  We felt the choice of supporting Breast Cancer would impact more than our own area, but help everyone affected in some way.  The academy decided to sell pink karate belts for the students and staff to wear during the month of October, showing our dedication to the cause.

American Martial Arts Academy put this in place more than 20 years ago.  Twice a year there is a test for black belt, and with each academy the choice of a community project changes.  I think this is our best one yet!  Please join us as we have raised more than $5,500.00 and the number is still rising.  Come celebrate with us, and be part of the quest for the cure.

- See more at: http://www.fullertonstories.com/people/american-martial-arts-kicking-for-the-cure#sthash.F9XFdX0O.dpuf

Karate Child Safety Day - This Saturday at American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia - Yorba Linda Campus)

Pink Belt Revolution!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  It's likely that we all know someone who's fighting this battle - it could be your mom, aunt, sister, grandma or your friend.  Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and the second-most common cancer overall.  Per the Susan G Komen For the Cure website, in 2015, an estimated 231,840 cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. alone. So no matter who you are or where you live, understanding breast cancer is important. And a very important thing to know is this:  a diagnosis is not a death sentence.  Breast cancer can be treated.

While there’s no foolproof way to prevent it, there are things you can do that may reduce your risk of getting it, primarily by maintaining healthy lifestyle choices. And it is recommended that age 40 is the usual starting age to consider getting yearly mammograms. While breast cancer risk is generally much lower among younger women, certain genetic factors can put some women at a higher risk. If breast cancer is in your family's history, it is recommended to go sooner than age 40.

Due to the use of regular mammography screening, most breast cancers in the U.S. are found at an early stage, before signs appear. And be aware that every woman can have different signs of breast cancer. However, not all breast cancers are found through mammography, so it is important to do self-checks at home.

Wearing the pink karate belts at AMAA this month of October, shows our support for the women battling this disease, along with their friends and family. It's important for them to know that they're not battling this alone, and to never give up hope! AMAA's aim is that all the pink belts will bring awareness to everyone about breast cancer. On October 14th, from 6:30-8:30pm, our entire    student body will be joining us for a special night to raise awareness - there will be special workouts with Shihan (for all ages), free food & refreshments, special guests, and fun! Please mark your calendar to join us...we are looking for 100% STUDENT PARTICIPATION!

AMAA would like to thank everyone who has donated to this worthy cause and is wearing their pink belts proudly in classes. I encourage everyone to keep donating to the Susan G Komen Foundation to help find a cure and to never give up hope!

Thank you,

Miss Jacqueline Starkman

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Join us at American Martial Arts Academy - Harbor Campus for the PINK BELT Revolution!

Director, American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia-Yorba Linda Campus)
(714) 646-9635

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What to do when we see Bullying

Director, American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia-Yorba Linda Campus)
(714) 646-9635

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Be an Upstander; Not a Bystander

As we are in Back-to-School season, this month we have been discussing with our students "Bullying." In addition to understanding what is bullying, this week we focused on what to do when we see bullying occurring.

Sadly, when most people see bullying (even as adults!), they stand by and do nothing - they become Bystanders.   By allowing it to happen, we are encouraging it to continue.

Instead, we teach the students to be UPstanders. We need to stand UP for those being bullied, and take action!

Over the next few posts, we will be talking about the three action steps to being an UPstander:

1) Get there first!
2) Step in and take charge!
3) Leave and report!


Stay tuned!

Director, American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia-Yorba Linda Campus)
(714) 646-9635

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What is Bullying? - Mat chat with kids this week!

A REAL AMAA Story!

“The American Martial Arts Academy (AMAA) has had a positive impact on both of our children (ages 5 and 11). Our son always looks forward to his next visit after every lesson. Our daughter has been a student in a couple other martial arts places; however, her experience at AMAA has been the happiest.

AMAA is not like the traditional dojo, where ‘punishment’ is used to get young students to behave like mature adults.  The caring instructors, who are always hard at work, have helped our children discover their own talents and strengths in a fun, energetic, and friendly environment. AMAA’s achievement program fosters the right attitude in our children while promoting their level of confidence, focus, leadership abilities, fitness and self-discipline among other areas. The development of these personal traits are consistent with our parental goals in equipping our children with necessary life skills to someday become responsible citizens.

When we started at AMAA, we were impressed by the staff’s display of camaraderie and by the family atmosphere. As we got to know other families there, we grew to admire how AMAA has touched their lives in a special way. It is not all about belt ranking but also recognizing and respecting each other’s qualities and potential. We feel very fortunate to have a place like AMAA in North Orange County, where our children can go to and grow in the years to come.  For these reasons, we highly recommend AMAA to friends and family who strive for personal excellence and want the best for their children. “

- Shirley F.

This letter was written 11 years ago. Today, Rafael (age 16) is an honors student at Sunny Hills and Keili (age 22) is studying at University of California: San Diego.

The Drops of Oil...

Below is a story from Paulo Coleho's The Alchemist. An excellent book I highly recommend.


A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world.

The lad wandered through the desert for forty days, and finally came upon a beautiful castle, high atop a mountain. It was there that the wise man lived.

Rather than finding a saintly man though, our hero, on entering the main room of the castle, saw a hive of activity: tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft music, and there was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of the world.

The wise man conversed with everyone, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was his turn to be given the man’s attention. The wise man listened attentively to the boy’s explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn’t time just then to explain the secret of happiness.

He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours. “Meanwhile I want to ask you do do something,” said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. ‘As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill.”

The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was. “Well,” asked the wise man, “did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?”

The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

“Then go back and observe the marvels of my world,” said the wise man.

Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the tasted with which everything had been selected. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.

“But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?” asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.

“Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you.” said the wisest of wise men. “The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon”
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

June Placentia KarateOC Newsletter

3 Keys for Developing Better Focus (for Kids)

Do you know someone who can’t sit still? What about a daydreamer always off in another land?  Maybe easily distracted sometimes? Maybe you’re one of those people, or perhaps your child or loved one.

Contrary to popular belief, focus isn’t a natural skill. It’s not something you have or you don’t. The ability to stay focus takes practice and proper training, just like riding a bike or learning martial arts.

Research has shown us that there are 3 key components to developing better focus in our children:

1) Healthy nutritious foods are KEY! 

Today’s food for kids is a lot different than they were 20-30 years ago. Sure, we all had Kool-Aid and cookies. But if you look at today’s nutrition facts compared to 20 years ago, there are more and more preservatives and sugar than ever before!

We can all guess what happens when we have kids hyped up on sugar.  Of course they’re not able to focus!  In addition to sugar, be aware of excess artificial colors and flavors.  I know one child diagnosed with ADHD who just after changing his diet (no medications or other significant changes) was a completely different kid – just after 4 weeks!

2) Build a structured lifestyle and programs

I have a lot of students who come to me saying their kids respond way differently at school and in karate class than they do anywhere else.   The key to this is developing a structured lifestyle.

At school, and in karate class, the kids have a set pattern and a set of consistent expectations.  Home is naturally not going to be as consistent, due to ever-changing variables!

The goal is to make home as consistent as possible. Have a set routine after-school, and even during the summer times!  Have clear expectations of what happens after school. Have a snack (a healthy one!). Have a little free time; start homework. Go to bed at a consistent time, even on weekends.  Wake up at the same time.  All this goes into building that structure that will help children develop long-term focus.

3) Regular, Structured Exercise

Exercise is a huge part of developing focus for children. Kids naturally are balls of energy. If we don’t give them an outlet for that energy, they’re going to explode.  That’s when we see the symptoms of inappropriate behavior.

It’s essential for the exercise to be both structured and regular to develop better focus.  If the kids are doing something constructive, which takes hard work and discipline, like swimming on martial arts, they’re not going to sharpen their focus muscles.




At American Martial Arts Academy, we have seen huge leaps and bounds in our students’ focus and self-discipline, resulting in better grades and behavior.  For more information on our programs and multiple campuses in Orange County, or if you just need some advice, give us a call at (714) 646-9635.

Director, American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia-Yorba Linda Campus)
(714) 646-9635

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A True Warrior

A few weeks after Shihan Wenneberg first opened AMAA’s doors in 1992, a gentleman named Chris Gernux rolled in with his wheelchair.  The following is an excerpt from Shihan Wennberg’s Unleash Your Inner Warrior:

“Chris was in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the chest down. He had been in an automobile accident which resulted in his permanent paralysis.  At the age of twenty-one, Chris was not ready to give up.

He asked me if I could teach him how to protect himself and to help him develop his mind, body and spirit. I had no idea what I could do for him yet I said, “Let’s get started right away.” I sought out information as to how I could best serve Chris and after a few months we were seeing progress. Chris had his challenges and without a doubt he could have used his injury as an excuse, yet he was determined to not quit.

Chris became a high ranking Brown Belt and went on to a successful career and he also plays several other sports. There were many obstacles along the way; but as a team, the mission was possible.”

As Chris was AMAA’s first handicapped student, Shihan had no experience with working with students in wheelchairs.  However, Chris had a desire to learn, and Shihan found a way. Today wheelchair curriculums are in martial arts schools across the nation.

I had the opportunity of training with Chris, and despite his challenges, he always had a positive attitude, and an attitude of a warrior, “one who serves.”  

Mr. Chris Gernux passed away last month, on March 30, 2015. Though he had not actively trained in many years, he stayed involved and supported students, showing up at promotions occasionally. Most importantly, he laid the path for AMAA to be of service to students of all challenges; from wheelchairs and walkers to autism and ADHD, AMAA has never turned away a student willing to learn.

Director, American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia-Yorba Linda Campus)
(714) 646-9635

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The Importance of Competition Tournaments

As we approach American Martial Arts Academy’s Competition Tournament, now is a perfect time to discuss the importance of competition in the martial arts.  

At AMAA, we strongly recommend competition tournaments to all of our students, regardless of level. Every student has the opportunity for success, as they are matched up with students their own age level, and rank level. In addition, we keep all of our competitions in-house, to ensure quality of the event and fairness for the students.  Each student earns a trophy or medal (depending on the tournament) for each event they participate in. Most importantly, every student walks away smiling, sweating, and having learnt something!

But why is competition tournament so important?

• Participating in competition helps accelerate your martial arts training, especially in kata and sparring. It’s estimated that every point sparring competition you participate in will take off 6-8 months of a learning curve in sparring.
• Participating in competition helps increase your training intensity. When you have a singular event that you are training towards (especially at the higher ranks when belt promotion are typically farther apart), your intensity in training will increase. Just as a swimmer preparing for a swim meet, or a runner preparing for a marathon.
• Competition Tournament helps students build confidence.  By going out there and participating, even when being nervous or unsure, you have accomplished more than those who have not tried.  Showing up is half the battle, and in my opinion, the most important part!
• Competition also teaches students how to deal with pressure.  There’s the saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”  That is so true with competition!  Even when being nervous, or challenged by other students who may be faster, stronger, etc., by competing and giving it your all, you are improving your skills!   The same pressure you face in competition, is the same pressure you’ll face before a big test, interview, or in a competitive workplace!
• Competition helps a student develop poise and overcome fear of performance.  It is said that most adults fear public speaking and performing in public even over death!   By being outside your comfort zone, this will help students in other non-karate environments as well.

We’ll close with a quote from the founder of Shotokan karate, Gichin Funakoshi:

If you have any questions about competition tournaments, feel free to reach me directly via email (SenseiJoshi@karateoc.com) or at (714) 646-9635.

Director, American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia-Yorba Linda Campus)

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How to Choose a Martial Arts School for Children (part 4 of 4)

Part 4 of 4:  Tuition, Contracts, and Scheduling

6)     How does the tuition work?

One of the other keys to finding the perfect school for you is the tuition.  Now while the investment you are making is important, the bottom-line figure is again not the most critical piece.  

In general, the rule in all commerce is you get what you pay for. For some items, that is not as critical.  But for most, especially when it comes to our children, it is essential.   However, that’s not to say that there are some excellent schools out there that charge $100/mo
, or some horrendous schools that charge $300/mo.  It is key to do your due diligence, as previously discussed.

A couple key things to be aware of:

- The average tuition nationally ranges anywhere from $150-$200 for a professional martial arts school, per the Martial Arts Industry Association.

- All schools have a contract or agreement of some sort. What matters most, like in any contract, are the terms.  The most important part is the cancellation policy.  My personal belief, and the policy of American Martial Arts Academy, is that every program can be cancelled at anytime with a 30-day notice. Some schools require a 60-90 day notice, which is acceptable as well.  However, we ask that if the challenge is motivation, we have an opportunity to figure out what could be wrong, and an opportunity to find a solution.

- Some schools (including ours) offer payment-in-full options and discounts.  Some schools also offer long-term programs as well (i.e. Black Belt Club, Leadership Programs, Masters Programs).   These can be excellent programs, however it is key that they all
have clear cancellation policies in case of a move, or motivation challenges, etc.  In a future post, we will discuss how to deal with a motivational challenge as a parent. 

7)     Is the schedule flexible enough?

What good is the best martial arts programs, instructors, and facilities if you can’t make it to the classes?  In order to truly gain the benefits of a quality martial arts program, we recommend attending classes at least 2-3 times per week. Once a week is very difficult without additional private lessons as well.

A professional school should have classes available 6 days per week, with lots of beginner classes. If the schedule is lop-sided (more advanced classes than beginner classes), that generally is not a great sign.

Other Key Questions To Ask:

• Is the school a member of the Chamber of Commerce?
• How long has the school been around?
• Has the school been continuously under the same ownership?
• Does the owner live in the area?
• Does the school offer any other activities or events?

We hope this has helped; if you have any questions, feel free to contact me below. 

Director, American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia-Yorba Linda Campus)

www.KarateOC.com 

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