All American Martial Arts Overview

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Looking for a Path to Personal Growth & Achievement? Try the Martial Arts!

“The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can become.” – Harold Taylor

One of the most important aspects of the martial arts is their ability to create a path for personal improvement.  Often, especially with young children, the martial arts are seen solely as a physical activity.  However, the real value in the martial arts is their impact on the mind and heart of the individual.

The mind is sharpened through training that creates focus, self-discipline, and enhances self-confidence.  The heart is shaped through the teaching of respect, integrity, and compassion.  The result is an individual prepared to accomplish their goals and dreams and to make a positive impact on those around them.

In today’s society, the martial arts are predominately viewed as a youth activity – similar to football, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, and soccer.  However, there is real value in practicing the martial arts as an adult.  As an adult, you can more fully appreciate the positive impact your martial arts training can have on your personal and professional life.  Adults are more capable of taking their training and incorporating it into their daily lives.

The martial arts are more than just a great way to get exercise.  They are a great way to improve your life.  Regardless of age, income, or status, the martial arts can have a dramatically positive impact on your life.  We encourage you to try out a class today!

We also want to encourage you to attend the self-confidence and goal-setting seminar conducted by James Davenport on May 3rd at All American Martial Arts.  You can find out more and register online by clicking here.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Don't Be One of THOSE Parents

At All American Martial Arts we encourage parents to be involved with their child's martial arts training.  We know parental involvement will make a child's training that much more meaningful and will result in better performance, greater commitment, and more satisfaction from the child.  This is why we encourage parents to stay during their child's training session, to practice with their child at home, and to provide the child with growth opportunities through tournaments and special events.

However, there's a difference in being an involved parent and being a sideline coach.  Trying to coach your son or daugther during class is a bad idea for several reasons.  First, it can impact your child's safety.  If you're trying to coach your child during a sparring match and they turn to look or listen to you, they could end up getting hurt.  This is not good for them or you.

Second, it is a big distraction to the students, parents, and instructors.  When you're on the side trying to talk to your son or daughter, the students around them naturally try to listen as well.  In addition, other parents who are trying to watch their children are impacted.  And it interrupts the instructors who are trying to lead the class.  In short, it reduces the effectiveness of that training session.

Third, it is VERY disrespectful to the instructors on the floor.  It tells them you don't think they are doing a sufficient job teaching your child.  Imagine how a teacher would react if you came to your child's classroom and started "coaching" them during the math lesson.  Well, that's the same reaction we have when you are trying to give your child instructions during their training session. 

All of our instructors are black belts.  In addition, they have all attended our Certified Instructor Training Program.  They also receive ongoing training.  In short, they know what they are doing.  Let them do their job.

Finally, sideline coaching causes confusion for your child and other students in the classroom.  They can't listen to you and the instructor at the same time.  So while they are busy listening to you, they will miss what their instructor is saying - and so will the children around them.  This means their progress will actually be delayed rather than aided by your "help."

We know you want your child to succeed.  So do we.  However, in order for that to happen, you have to allow the instructors to do their job, and not interfere.  If you believe your child needs additional help, or is not understanding something in class, visit with the instructor after class.  You also may want to consider enrolling them in some private lessons to help address your concerns.

In order for our training sessions to be effective, our students' attention must be focused on their instructors.  Help them accomplish that by refraining from interfering during class time.  This will not only make the training session more productive for your child and our other students, it will ensure their safety, minimize distractions, and show the proper respect for our instructors.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

The Benefits of Forms

Forms are often one of the most challenging aspects of learning the Martial Arts.  For new students forms can be very intimidating.  Forms (also known as katas) are a specific series of movements including strikes, kicks, and blocks students must learn.  In our school, each time a student progresses to a new belt they are required to learn a new form.

There are several benefits from learning forms.  They include:
  • Increased Mental Focus
  • Improved Self-Discipline
  • Improved Technique
  • Physical Fitness
  • The key to successfully learning forms is practice.  Repetition will help the student learn the proper series of movements.  Students should make time to practice forms at home.  Then when in class, instructors can help refine and perfect the form.



The qualities of a good form include:
  • Proper Technique
  • Power
  • Gracefuleness/Coordination
  • Confidence
  • Timing (new students have a tendency to rush through their forms)
If you are struggling with forms, you might want to consider a private lesson.  We have several instructors who are very good in forms and can assist in helping you improve your performance in this important area of your Martial Arts training.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Spring Break Camp is Coming!

All American Martial Arts will host its Spring Break Camp the week of March 14th.  This camp will be a fun time for youth ages 5 - 13 to enjoy a variety of martial arts training and games.  The camp will provide lunch as well as a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack.  Our hours of availability will be from 6am to 6pm.  You can drop your son or daughter off and pick them up anytime between those hours.  Cost for the week long camp is a true bargain at $90 per child.

If your child has never participated in the martial arts, this will be a great way to introduce them to all of the benefits and life-skills they can receive from the martial arts.  If your child is already enrolled in a martial arts camp, they'll have the opportunity to learn new skills, hone their current skills, and have a great time participating in activities they don't normally get to do in their regular classes.

For parents of school-age children who need their child in a program for the week of spring break, there's not a better alternative than our Martial Arts Spring Break Camp.  They will stay active, learn self-defense, and and also learn valuable life-skills.

Even if your child doesn't need care during spring break, this camp will be an experience they won't forget.  They'll have fun, make new friends, and receive the absolute best in youth martial arts instruction.

If you haven't signed up yet, there is still time.  Contact us at (405) 601-0639 or by e-mail at aama2010@usa.com to reserve your child's spot.  The camp is filling up, and space is limited, so call TODAY to give your child a spring break they won't forget!

Friday, March 4, 2011

The Most Important Thing Your Child Learns This Year Won't be in School

You've not only seen the statistics, you've seen the news reports.  Many of your children have experienced it first hand.  Bullying continues to be a problem facing our young people.  Let's be honest.  If you son or daughter is worrying that they may be the next victim of the school bully, they are not able to get the most from their academic instruction.

But there is no reason for your son or daughter not to feel safe at school.  The "Bullying Stops Here!" seminar can give the the knowledge and skills to stay safe.  This seminar will focus on important elements that will help your child effectively deal with this important issue.
  • They will discover the power of self-confidence.  Children who display self-confidence are less likely to be attacked by a bully.
  • They will appreciate the advantages of physical fitness.  Overweight children are more likely to be the targets of bullying than their healthier classmates.
  • They will gain important danger recognition skills.  Recognizing a potential problem before it exists will empower your child to prevent it.
  • They will receive the absolute best in youth self-defense instruction.  Like you, we don't want our children fighting.  However, we also don't want them unprepared should an attacker choose them as the next victim.  We'll teach them how to escape, evade, or subdue an attacker quickly and efficiently.
When you send your child to school, you make sure they have the tools necessary to learn.  Books, paper, pens, a positive attitude, all go into their backpacks.  Unfortunately, all this preparation for learning can be undermined by a school bully.  But now, you can give your child the tools to prepare for this issue as well.  It could very well be the most important thing your child learns this year.

Sign-up today for the "Bullying Stops Here!" seminar.  Go to All American Martial Arts to find out more.  We hope to see you Saturday, March 5th, at 11am for this action-packed, informative seminar.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Official AAMA Tournment Results

Here are the results from each of our competitors in the U.S. Central TKD Invitational Tournament:

Forms
Kristoffer P:  1st Place - 10 year old Black Belt division
Zena S:  2nd Place - 14 year old Black Belt division
Kyle M:  2nd Place - 9 year old Red Belt division
Esther D:  2nd Place - 7 year old Blue Belt division

Breaking
Jamie D:  3rd Place - 12 year old Black Belt division
Matthew K:  1st Place - 15 year old Yellow Belt division
Esther D:  2nd Place - 7 year old Blue Belt division
Brent:  1st Place - 16 year old Green Belt division
Ethan H:  3rd place - 8 year old Orange Belt division

Self-Defense
Brent:  1st Place - 16 year old Green Belt division

Weapons
Rebekah D:  1st Place - 18 years and older Black Belt division

Sparring
Zena S:  1st Place - 14 year old Black Belt division
Kyle M:  1st Place - 9 year old Red Belt division
Rebekah D:  2nd Place - 18 years and older Black Belt division
Jamie D:  2nd Place - 12 year old Black Belt division
Esther D:  2nd Place - 7 year old Blue Belt division
Ethan H:  2nd Place - 8 year old Orange Belt division
Matthew K:  2nd Place - 15 year old Yellow Belt division

Congratulations to everyone for a great job!  We hope to see you all at the next tournament.