Classes Start September 9
02/09/15 09:04 Filed in: Student Participation | Club News
We hope everyone had a wonderful summer.
Classes start Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Also, this year we are going to train twice per week, Wednesday and Fridays from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
We will no longer be operating a Sunday class.
See you next week!
Classes start Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Also, this year we are going to train twice per week, Wednesday and Fridays from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
We will no longer be operating a Sunday class.
See you next week!
Oshawa Tournament a Lot of Fun!
Thanks to everyone who participated as a competitor and judge at the Oshawa juniors tournament this weekend.
Dylan, Aeron, Eric, Riley, Rachel and Jessica represented us well.
Dylan, Aeron, Eric, Riley, Rachel and Jessica represented us well.
Oshawa Tournament Registrations Required!
01/12/14 08:52 Filed in: Tournaments | Student Participation
The tournament will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the YWCA Centre, 1 McGrigor Street, Oshawa, ON.
For the second year, Oshawa is using an online registration that you can go to by clicking here.
All participants must complete the online form, print a copy and bring it with you to the tournament. Waivers must be signed by a parent or guardian.
The tournament will only accept pre-registered participants. If you’re interested in attending, the deadline is December 1, 2014, but if you have not yet submitted your registration, please do so as soon as possible. Ensure that a copy of the registration is printed, signed by a parent or guardian, and brought to the registration desk at the tournament on December 13, 2014.
We are once again offering a super duper Raffle table. The monies garnered by the raffle get put back into the Oshawa Whitby club to help offset costs that arise from time to time. This includes registration fees and the cost of purchasing a gi for any students who require this particular assistance.
Hot dogs, soft drinks and water will be available to purchase at the tournament.
In support of the YWCA, we will accept a non-perishable food item or new toy.
If you have any questions, please ask Sensei Eric or Sensei Julie at class, or call us at 416-410-3273.
Sensei Julie Gets the Third Degree!
At the monthly black belt class in November, Sensei Julie was awarded her 3rd dan (third-degree black belt).
Just to make things interesting, I cancelled class that evening and took a bunch of our students to Markham so we could watch the ceremony.
We tried to be quiet when the black belts were bowing in, but they heard us and Sensei Julie turned around to see what the commotion was. The look on her face was priceless!
Her first expression communicated: “Why aren’t you teaching our class?”
The second one was even more interesting when it dawned on her why we were there. When he awarded her certificate, Sensei Manara said: “Eric, I think you might be in a bit of trouble over this one.”
It’s trouble that I’ll gladly put up with.
So congratulations Sensei Julie—love of my life and heart of our club!
Just to make things interesting, I cancelled class that evening and took a bunch of our students to Markham so we could watch the ceremony.
We tried to be quiet when the black belts were bowing in, but they heard us and Sensei Julie turned around to see what the commotion was. The look on her face was priceless!
The second one was even more interesting when it dawned on her why we were there. When he awarded her certificate, Sensei Manara said: “Eric, I think you might be in a bit of trouble over this one.”
It’s trouble that I’ll gladly put up with.
So congratulations Sensei Julie—love of my life and heart of our club!
Thanks to Everyone Who Competed!
27/10/14 19:23 Filed in: Tournaments | Student Participation
So thank you Eric, Riley, Kymara, Kieran, Kimberley and Margaret (pictured here with her first-place trophy for kata).
The next tournament is the Oshawa junior tournament (which will be held in a few weeks).
After that, the next tournament is in Thornhill at the end of February.
Focus Newsletter Now Available
22/10/14 08:40 Filed in: Newsletters | Toronto Wado-Kai
Focus is edited by Sensei Robb Dods (my original sensei) and published a couple of times per year.
This edition provides club news from around our organization, has a feature on Sensei Carlos Garcia from Oshawa, and provides insights into how to manage butterflies and anxiety when you are competing at a tournament.
To get the full newsletter, click here.
No Class Friday, October 31, 2014
22/10/14 08:34 Filed in: Canceled Classes
Tournament Saturday, October 25
22/10/14 08:17 Filed in: Tournaments | Special Events
Even if you don’t plan to compete, this is still worthwhile attending. The tournament starts at 10:00 a.m. If you’re planning to compete, please arrive at 9:30 to warm up.
Coloured belts compete in kata first, then the room is cleared to make way for the black belts. After that, coloured belts compete in sparring. The tournament is usually done by 12:30 p.m.
Sensei Julie and I hope to see you there!
No Class Thanksgiving Sunday
05/10/14 15:41 Filed in: Canceled Classes
There will be no karate on Sunday, October 12. Everyone enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner!
A Full Effort
Why is a full effort important?
After all, we’ll do thousands of punches and kicks this year. We’ll practice kihon kata #1 hundreds of times.
What difference does it make if someone “coasts” through a workout?
Well, it makes all the difference.
I’ll be the first to admit that it’s impossible to put in 100% for every punch, kick and kata at every class. But it does make a difference if you try.
First, you’ll get out of karate what you put into it. If you try harder and work harder, you’ll simply get better. And you’ll enjoy it more.
Second, you’ll generally advance more quickly, especially at green belt and beyond. We will advance someone through orange belt without a full effort. After green belt, a half effort will likely double the time it takes you to get to your next belt.
And, as some of our students will tell you, if you don’t put in a full effort at shodan-ho, you will never be sent for your black belt ranking.
So put in a full effort. It’s only 1-1/2 hours three times a week. You’ll have more fun. We’ll have more fun teaching you. And everyone around you will also benefit.
Believe it or not, both laziness and hard work are contagious.
After all, we’ll do thousands of punches and kicks this year. We’ll practice kihon kata #1 hundreds of times.
What difference does it make if someone “coasts” through a workout?
Well, it makes all the difference.
I’ll be the first to admit that it’s impossible to put in 100% for every punch, kick and kata at every class. But it does make a difference if you try.
First, you’ll get out of karate what you put into it. If you try harder and work harder, you’ll simply get better. And you’ll enjoy it more.
Second, you’ll generally advance more quickly, especially at green belt and beyond. We will advance someone through orange belt without a full effort. After green belt, a half effort will likely double the time it takes you to get to your next belt.
And, as some of our students will tell you, if you don’t put in a full effort at shodan-ho, you will never be sent for your black belt ranking.
So put in a full effort. It’s only 1-1/2 hours three times a week. You’ll have more fun. We’ll have more fun teaching you. And everyone around you will also benefit.
Believe it or not, both laziness and hard work are contagious.