May Newsletter
Leadership News
May 2009.
Forthcoming Events
For one month only,
new date.
Kata class, Sunday 17th
10 – 11.30am
Sparring Seminar- Saturday 16th 1pm points tournament practice.
Saturday 4th April Master Vince’s boxing match
I would like to express my thanks to everyone who supported me in my boxing match at the beginning of April. It was a great experience to get back in the ring and to feel all the excitement and expectation again. I hope that my performance was up to scratch and worth the investment. We generated just under £900 for the Self Esteem Team and this money will be used to fund children (new students) who cannot afford to pay for their Martial Arts tuition.
Demo Team
Meets every Monday evening at 7-30pm. We have 2 demos booked at present.
Black Belt Grading
On Saturday 27th June 2009 we have the next Dan Grading which will be held at Bull Close. Anyone who like to be assessed for a Dan grade on that day needs to have filled in an application form and paid the fee before the first prep class which is on Saturday 16th May at 7am. Just avoid any future confusion we have put in place the following criteria regarding when applications can be made and log sheets awarded.
· Junior BB candidates who wish to be assessed at the end of March, may apply as soon as we return from the Xmas/New Year break (usually around the 4th Jan)
· Adults who wish to be assessed at the end of June may apply immediately after the JBB grading (end of March).
· Junior BB candidates who wish to be assessed in September may apply immediately after the Dan grading at the end on June.
· Adults who wish to be assessed at Christmas may apply immediately after the JBB grading at the end of September.
You may, of course, wait until the first prep class to apply for the grading BUT this means you will have fewer weeks of training to get your 50 signatures.
I hope that makes everything clear. www.blackbelt4sure.com
Brand New Kickboxing BEGINNER’S Class.
On Friday 5th June 2009 at 7pm we are starting a ‘beginners only’ Kickboxing class. The idea of this separate class is to ease new kickboxing students into training. Because the existing kickboxing classes tend to be quite high intensity and probably a bit daunting for some new students, we will have a special class to get them started. Once they are no longer beginners, they can move into the Tuesday and Thursday classes. It will be a bit like ‘Basic’ membership and ‘Leadership’ for the Taekwondo students.
If you know of anyone who would like to try kickboxing, please tell them about this new class.
Martial Arts Shoes.
Martial Arts shoes (MAT shoes) are designed to make training on hard, rough or dirty floors a little more comfortable.
We shouldn’t really need them at all when we train on matted areas. However some people like to wear them even on mats. Could I ask for EVERYONE’S cooperation on this please?
IF you wear your mat shoes out doors, PLEASE don’t wear them on our mats. We sit, lie, grapple and stand on our mats and most of have our skin touching them at some point. I really would prefer not to have debris from the street on my face, hands and feet.
Thinking Part.
Last month I used the thoughts of Earl Nightingale, this month I don’t know the author of this handbook but it was sent to me in an email. I thought how nice it was, maybe you will find it useful too?
HANDBOOK 2009
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to think.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do it. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful..
34. Time heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to think.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do it. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful..
34. Time heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
Happy To Help????
You probably noticed in our last newsletter, that we were asking for help in recruiting new members. The Easter Egg Hunt, The Movie Afternoon and the April STAR award for the juniors. We have had two mothers question us on this. They have both suggested that we have a cheek to ask our students to help us recruit new members, they suggested that it is our responsibility to advertise and recruit.
I do agree that it is our job to advertise & promote the Academy and we spend an awful lot of time (and money) doing it. One of our methods of promotion however, is word of mouth. Word of mouth is the MOST effective method because not only do you tell your friends how much you enjoy yourselves at the Academy, you probably tell them about some of the protocol (so they’ve had a little training), you may have shown them a technique or two, you’ve mentioned when the classes are, where the Academy is situated and you’ve probably told them the price.
Half of the work is done so, if they call us or pop in, we know that they are likely to become members.
I would NEVER expect you to promote something that you didn’t believe in so, presumably, those of you that do promote us, believe in what we do? I thank you very much for doing this. I wouldn’t expect you to promote us if you didn’t believe in what we do but, could I ask something different from anyone who has doubts about whether they believe in what we do?
Please, speak to us about it, we hate the thought of having an dissatisfied customer.
As the slogan says;
‘If you like what we do, tell your friends. If you don’t, please tell us.’
Every business is a direct reflection of its level of success, when we have lots of new students joining we are able to put on classes and events that don’t need huge attendance. When things are less abundant however, non profitable classes are cut and events are charged for.
I would love to be in a position where we had so many people wanting to join our Academy that we could; run satellite classes at a small loss, have children’s parties with entertainers, have free outings to theme parks etc.
NO business however, can operate for very long at a loss and I will ensure that the Academy does not operate this way. All I ask is please;
If you think we do a good job, tell your friends and encourage them to join.
A Party For Grown Ups?
I have been thinking about holding an evening’s entertainment for our adult students and parents of our junior students. The kids seem to be having all of the fun and I think its time we had some too.
Mr Fitch and I would like to hold a 70’s and 80’s theme night on Saturday 20th June at Bull Close.
Of course dressing in clothes from the era would be essential, we could hold a karaoke competition and a ‘lipsinque/lookalike’ (where you look/dress/act like an artist whilst miming to their track) type section too.
Anyone who wanted an alcoholic drink could bring their own, we could each bring some food to share on a buffet table AND I could ask each person to donate £5 to our ‘Self Esteem Team’ charity.
If you would like to come along, let your instructor know so that we can get planning. If there is not much response then we won’t go ahead, we need to know your thoughts.
No comment = not interested.
T Shirts
Remember we can now wear T shirts to train in until the end of September. We have our ‘classic’ design with our logo AND a new design with a slogan.
Joke;
Postman: Is this letter for you? The name is smudged.
Man: No, it can't be for me, my name is Smith.
Man: No, it can't be for me, my name is Smith.
