Competition season is here! What is the big deal, and more importantly, how do you get involved?! So why would you compete anyway Competition, or Shiai in Japanese, is a great way to pressure test your skills against competitors who are unfamiliar to you and have learned different styles of Judo. For kids, it is …
When I arrived at my first martial arts class, to say I was intimidated is an understatement. I was given a pair of hand-me-down gi pants that I could not figure out, and then thrown into an open mat. Looking back, I can’t imagine throwing any of my current students into that environment and expecting …
As a parent, the choices for extra-curricular activities can be overwhelming at times. Each child has varied interests and abilities, and each family budget is going to have additional challenges and constraints. Chances are, if you have found this blog, then you are interested in martial arts in general and the benefits of martial arts …
One of the biggest determining factors when choosing a martial arts class is the “vibe” of the class. When you walk into a gym or dojo, people will often feel out the class to see if it is a right fit for them. But what are they looking for? While different people may articulate it …
We are back! After taking a break for a few years, we decided to start up the club again, so over the past year we have been running the gym for friends and family out of our garage in Springfield. Setting up the garage space and new mat was a challenge, but has been so …
