ABOUT US
Benefits of Our Children's Program
While parents bring their children in for a variety of reasons, the tow main reasons are:
1. Self-discipline
2. Self confidence
This fits well with the goal of our children's program, which is to increase a child's confidence through self-discipline and self-defense.
SELF-DISCIPLINE / NON-QUITTING SPIRIT
A. We develop it in a 3-step process
- Understanding it - end of class discussions and stories teach kids the meaning and benefit of having self-discipline and a non-quitting spirit.
- Using it - during classes when a situation or obstacle comes up the instructor helps them through it until they start to use it themselves and begin to achieve.
- Applying it - once they successfully develop a non quitting spirit in the school they begin to use in outside the school in everything they do!
B. Self-discipline is the key to success - without it you cannot succeed.
SELF-DEFENSE
A. We teach a realistic self-defense (hybrid style) where kids learn to defend themselves in virtually any situation, whether they are standing up and someone attempts to punc or kick them or if they end up on thte ground, they will learn how to protect themselves.
B. Studies have shown that kids who learn self-defense become more assertive and less aggressive.
C. It empowers kids and gives them the courage to stand up for what they believe in and say no to peer pressure.
D. Statistics have shown that people who know how to defend themselves usually don't have to since they carry themselves in a more confident manner.
SELF-CONFIDENCE - BELIEVING IN YOURSELF
A, Confidence is built by combining self-discipline with self-defense.
- With self-discipline you have non-quitting spirit necessary to achieve your goals.
- Knowing you can defend yourself; you'll have the courage to stand up for what you believe in.
B. This self-confidence will become part of them and everything they do; sports, social situations, trying new things (taking risks), school, camp, etc.
In additional to the main benefits above, all of the other benefits of our program are woven into every class. These include; attention span, physical conditioning, concentration and relieving tension.
Close Range Defense
Why do we practice choreographed close range defense moves?
We practice choreographed moves over and over so that defensive moves become second nature. Statistics and experience have established the most common ways we might be attacked, such as a punch, a choke, or a headlock. With practice and time, students will be able to defend themselves instinctively against virtually any attack or hold they might encounter on the street.
When these defensive moves become instinctive, reaction time is minimized to the point that the student does not have to think in order to protect him or herself. In ancient times, samurai called this instinctive state of mind "mushin no mushin", or mind of no mind. Only pure reaction, resulting from hours of training, would protect the samurai in battle.
How do we practice in order to perfect technique?
Technique is perfected through a specific way of practicing:
- Students should first practice with an invisible partner in mirror.
- Students can then practice with a partner without resistance.
- Finally, students practice with a partner with resistance. Over time, as they become more comfortable with the move, students increase the amount of resistance until it is as close to a real situation as possible. This prepares them for what a real situation would feel like.
Why Discipline
One of the first things students notice about their classes and the school is the disciplined atmosphere. A disciplined atmosphere is a mark of a traditional martial arts school. New students unaccustomed to such an atmosphere sometimes wonder why discipline is a necessary part of training. At Tiger Schulmann's Karate, there are three primary reasons for discipline.
Students accomplish more
In the amount of time they have with sensei than they could have in twice the amount of time on their own. In a disciplined atmosphere, rules are clear, distractions are minimized, and the mental focus required is more easily achieved. Less time is wasted on intermediate steps, and more time can be devoted to the essentials of the student's training. For example, students do not walk at a leisurely pace in class. When sensei asks his students to get to their spots, they run there as fast as they can. That way, no time is wasted going from one exercise to another, and more time can be spent on training self.
Students train their weakness as well as their strengths.
It's human nature for people to train in the areas in which they excel and avoid the areas that need the most work, which brings us to the second reason for discipline. The disciplined atmosphere and organized curriculum ensure that students train both their weaknesses and their strengths. Soon weaknesses feels strong. For example, a student who comes to Tiger Schulmann's Karate with limited flexibility would probably rather avoid stretching altogether, given the choice. However, the curriculum requires that all students work on their flexibility. Gradually, overtime, the student's flexibility will improve. One benefit of improved flexibility is the addition of power to a technique by increasing range of motion and leverage. So not only will flexibility become one of his strengths, but his strong techniques will become even more powerful.
Discipline precedes self-discipline
At first, discipline comes from sensei - an external source. While at attention, in meditation, or in other stances, sensei may direct students to ignore physical discomfort, resist the urge to scratch an itch, refrain from wiping away sweat, or not give in to fatigue. Through following sensei's direction, students begin to understand how to discipline themselves to focus their minds. What begins as an external form of discipline develops into an internal form of discipline - or self-discipline.
Students at Tiger Schulmann's Karate find that it is this element of their training that has had the biggest effect on their everyday life. They often find that the discipline they have learned at Tiger Schulmann's Karate helps them to focus more at work, at school, or wherever they want to put out their best efforts.
Overview of Danbury Academy / Mixed Martial Arts Benefits
SELF-DEFENSE
A. TSK is a mixed martial arts system or hybrid style that incorporates the techniques and concepts of karate, kickboxing, and submission grappling.
1. Karate - traditional strikes, blocks and kicks as well as the discipline and traditional values of the martial arts.
2. Kickboxing - modern applications of strikes, blocks and kicks. Enabling even better standup defense.
3. Submission Grappling - Incorporates releases from grabs and holds as well as ground defense.
4. Complete streetwise self-defense system gives students ability to defend themselves regardless of how they might be attacked.
B. Facilities
1. Special High-density foam matted workout area allows realistic and fun practice of techniques and ground self-defense in a safe environment.
C. Statistics
1. Statistics have shown that people who know how to defend themselves usually don't have to since they carry themselves in a more confident manner.
2. When students are not physically intimidated by others, they become more self-confident.
PHYSICAL CONDITIONING
A. Includes all three aspects of physical conditioning; muscular development, cardiovascular conditioning, and flexibility.
1. Muscular Development - increases strength and improves appearance.
2. Cardiovascular Conditioning - boosts stamina and increases daily energy level
3. Flexibility - reduces chance of injury and keeps you feeling youthful.
B. Consistency is the key to results! TSK's 3-dimensional workout makes it much easier to stick with because unlike other workouts you get:
1. Results - our program gives you a total body workout.
2. Enjoyment - if something is fun and intriguing it is much easier to stick with. You'll look forward to it instead of dreading it!
3. Life Skill - you learn self-defense, an important skill that will be with you for the rest of your life.
SELF-DISCIPLINE/NON-QUITTING SPIRIT
A. We develop it in a 3-step process
1. Understanding it - end of class discussions and stories teach kids the meaning and benefit of having self-discipline and a non-quitting spirit.
2. Using it - during classes when a situation or obstacle comes up the instructor helps them through it until they start to use it themselves ad begin to achieve.
CONCENTRATION/ATTENTION SPAN
A. These are essential tools necessary to learn rapidly.
B. Students learn to focus on one thing ( concentration ) for increasingly longer periods of time (attention span).
C. Minimize distractions through disciplined atmosphere.
WEIGHT CONTROL
A. Workout burns off more calories than virtually any other activity, also increases lean muscle mass.
B. 3-dimensional workout drastically improves consistency.
C. Students learn the self-discipline it takes to take off weight and keep it off.
SELF-CONFIDENCE
A. We teach a realistic self-defense (hybrid style) where kids learn to defend themselves in virtually any situation, whether they are standing up and someone attempts to punch or kick them or if they end up on the ground, they will learn how to protect themselves.
B. Studies have shown that kids who learn self-defense become more assertive and less aggressive.
C. It empowers kids and gives them the courage to stand up for what they believe in and say no to peer pressure.
STRESS RELIEF / RELIEVE TENSION
A. Workout burns off excess energy, built-up tension, promotes sense of calm.
B. Meditative aspects give mind a mini-vacation. Leave class feeling relaxed, rejuvenated.
Concentrate on Technique First?
The law of physics says that the force generated by an object equals the mass times acceleration (F=MA). That would suggest that, for example, the force of a punch equals the weight of a fist times how fast it is going. Because the weight of a human fist does not vary much from one person to the next, and because the human body can throw a punch only just so fast, you might think that a punch can deliver only just so much force.
If that is true, why is it that a 100-pound trained person can punch as powerfully as a 200-pound novice?
The answer, of course, is technique. The trained person, through learning the proper technique and then throwing that punch a thousand times has learned how to put his or her body weight behind that punch. A trained person has learned that the knockout power in his punch comes from his legs and hips as much as from any other part of his body. He has learned that it is not just the weight that his fist has, times the speed he can deliver it - it's a matter of the total force his entire body can generate, times the speed he can throw the punch.
This is why we concentrate first on learning technique. Imagine if we just throw punches as hard and as fast as we could before we first learned proper technique. Not only would this result in sloppy punches. which although they might be thrown with a lot of force, would lack accuracy and the proper connection of all of your arms bones and muscles, but additionally, we could even injure ourselves. Imagine a race car owner putting someone into the front seat of a high performance race car and saying "Drive!" before the driver had learned anything about shifting gears to get the most acceleration, taking corners the right you can execute strong, fast techniques without first taking your time to learn the correct technique.
Learning correct technique does take time. We learn the correct way to throw punch slowly at first, concentrating on getting our technique perfect. Then overtime, we gradually add speed, trying to keep our technique the same throughout. In this way, we teach our muscles the correct path to travel in order to deliver a maximum force punch no matter how fast we throw it.
After learning correct technique and then adding speed, we can finally work on developing power for its own sake. For example, we can develop more power in our punches by hitting the heavy bag. By patiently following the order of putting technique first, speed second, and power third in our training, we know we will end up with techniques that are effective, strong, and explosive.
Sparring / Kumite
Why do we practice Sparring?
First of all, students must realize that fear of sparring is a very normal and natural reaction, and that they are not alone in being afraid of it. Everyone experiences fear in sparring. You must also reassure them that they will be taught how to spar in a safe and controlled environment. Your goal for students nervous of sparring is that they lose their inner fear.
To improve technique, we practice blocks, strikes, and kicks in the air on X-ray paper. To improve speed and reaction time, we use focus pads. To train for power, we use the heavy bag or kicking pad. Technique, speed, and power are the three elements in our learning philosophy. However, one element is missing if we are to maximize our ability to defend ourselves. That element is timing, and sparring is how we learn it.
WHY IS SPARRING THE ULTIMATE WAY TO LEARN HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF?
Overall, karate is all about learning self-defense - and sparring is the ultimate way to learn self-defense. Everything we have learned in karate can be found in sparring. Just as it would be in a real situation, we don't know what techniques our sparring partner might throw. Sparring is the closest we can get to a real situation. Thus, sparring is the most realistic way we can practice.
Structure of a Sparring Class
LEVEL 1
Students start off slowly, learning to block and counter pre-determined techniques in Level One. Knowing exactly what technique your partner is going to throw helps students get over their natural fear of sparring. Student drill:
- Straight techniques to the head (thrown to the top of the chest, since students are novices and proper equipment for head punching is not worn)
- Straight techniques to the body
- Hook punches to the head and body, and
- round kicks to the head and body.
A proper defensive stand and distance should be stressed at all times. Also, countering should be limited to our basic hand combination at this level.
LEVEL 2
Once they are proficient at this level, a student can move to Level Two, where they will learn to block random, unknown techniques. Another name for level two is One Step Sparring. Again, it is important to emphasize a proper defensive stance at all times and keeping a proper distance, giving a student more time to react. Attacks should be limited to what they learned in Level One, one technique being thrown at a time. Counters should be limited to our basic hand combination to teach students a strong foundation before adding more complicated techniques. It's a good idea to tell students just entering Level Two to work at half speed until they are comfortable working full speed.
It is not until a student is proficient at Levels One and Two that they will move to Level
