My students helped me celebrate my birthday by doing 52 sprawls with me! I teach LesMills BodyCombat every Monday and Wednesday morning. This 55-minute high intensity cardio class is one reason I started training in karate in 2017. I became certified in BodyCombat in 2015. It pulls moves from various martial arts (karate, tae kwon … Continue reading “Birthday Sprawls”
Written by Gail Mader
“Finding my battle rhythm” is a phrase my client uses often. A 25-year Air Force veteran, she served half her time supporting special operations and 3 years in combat zones. It’s simply the way she thinks. Efficiency is using time wisely and being strategic includes rest to increase efficiency, according to my friend. We are … Continue reading “Finding my Battle Rhythm”
Written by Gail Mader
The last few days this Isshinryu code has come to mind. As the energy required to continue the challenge continues to grow, the balancing of finding rest among pockets of time as I continue the training feels draining. I’m grateful to have had 3 out-of-town visits in as many days. I’m grateful I am able … Continue reading “The Manner of Drinking & Spitting is Either Hard or Soft”
Written by Gail Mader
I’ve chosen my personal goal: to complete my application for my Tennessee massage license. My Delaware license did not transfer (there was no reciprocity). I did not know if I wanted to continue practicing massage when we moved here 2 years ago, so I let my license lapse. In the last 6 months, I’ve begun … Continue reading “My Personal Goal”
Written by Elinor Silack
The kata that I have chosen to do 1000 times is Chinto. I have a few reasons for picking this kata. The main reason being that I like how challenging it is because of the length and the double jump kick. I remember when I first began training, I would watch all of the older … Continue reading “1000 Reps of Kata”
Written by Avi Martens
I’ve officially finished the first week of my black belt test! Honestly, it’s kind of crazy doing this. I’ve been in karate for 7 years, and truthfully, being a black belt always felt a bit unattainable, like something that only happens in movies or to the adults that teach class. But after I moved to … Continue reading “First Week Down”
Written by Gail Mader
So I began the One Heart Challenge on June 1. When Sensei Oliver invited me to join the challenge along with Elinor and Avi, I was grateful and yet scared. I know how much of my life I focused on preparing for my shodan test. It literally took an army of people to support me … Continue reading “The Journey Begins”
Written by Olivia Ford
I just wrapped up the donations part of my community service project, and I received so many donations. I knew that I was going to get a lot, but I never imagined the sheer numbers of things that I would receive. We have a spare room in my house and it has been absolutely taken … Continue reading “Community Service Project Progress”
Written by Olivia Ford
This past weekend I competed in NorCal. NorCal is a big drill competition for all of the JROTC units in northern California. This year my school competed in unarmed drill, armed drill with rifles, and color guard. I was a part of the unarmed drill divisions and I led the JV color guard team. We … Continue reading “NorCal”
Written by Olivia Ford
One of the requirements for my black belt test is to run a community service project. For my community service project I am working with a women’s center, called Wellsprings Women Center, to make care packages for women in need. Wellsprings helps women who have lived in bad environments get back on their feet by … Continue reading “Community Service Project”
