Participation is required in at least one in-house tournament per year (Spring or Fall). Why? To build confidence and overcome fear, help sharpen skills, expose students to the tournament experience and have fun! Advanced students will learn about judging and scoring. All participants earn a trophy and/or a medal.

The tournament is designed so all students, any level or ability, may participate. If you’re in Black Belt Cycle, you’re required to participate. Divisions are based on rank/age group.

Time: Times will be posted and emailed a few days before the event. Times are based on the number of participants in each division so please register early.

What: Required material will be posted and practiced in class. Participants are responsible for knowing their requirements.

Wear: FULL GI with proper patches, Karate John’s t-shirt and your belt. Purple belt and above: bring your sparring gear and weapons.

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: In person or online at karatejohns.com while space available now through April 4. No refunds or credit for missed tournament. If you didn’t pre-pay, then you are not registered.

Superheroes Called Into Action Sat., Apr. 22, 5:30–9:00pm (doors open at 5:20pm). Please join fellow heroes at the Superhero Training Academy (Karate John’s Dojo). Practice your leaping, speed and martial arts skills then use those skills to leap over tall buildings and race to save local citizens from those nasty villains. Pizza, juice box, organized games, kid movie, friends and lots of fun!

Hero costumes are encouraged! Click here to register (buddies too)

Monthly Themes

Word of the month: Confidence

Life Skill: Belief

Safety Skill: Bully-proof

Weapon Cycle: Bo Staff

S.T.O.R.M. Training Sat., Apr. 1, 1:00–3:00p If you want to help at the tournament, you’ll need to attend this training … even if you’ve helped before, There have been changes to the training.

Apr. 17-21, 9:00am–3:30pmThere are still regular classes this week. If you come to camp you’ll earn class credit so you won’t have to return in the evening. Daily lesson, cool kicks and tricks, fun skills activities and games. Age 5 and older.

Click here to register (buddies too)!

Jun 26-30 • Jul 24-28 • Aug 7-11 • Aug 14-18 Your kids will learn real self-defense skills from a certified black belt instructor. Camps include: kicks, tricks, flips, tumbling, safe weapons training, exciting games, friendship and confidence building activities, character and life lessons and much more! No martial arts background needed.

Click here to register (buddies too)!

Students may leave their gi tops home effective May 1 and replace with the Karate John’s uniform t-shirt. T-shirts are available for purchase in the Pro Shop or you may continue wearing your gi top to class. Sponge Bob, Batman and princess shirts are fun but not appropriate for karate class.

UPCOMING EVENTS

5686 Route 31, Cicero, NY 13039 315-699-1500 www.karatejohns.com April 2017, Vol. 10, Issue 4

!

We love having you/your child(ren) in class, however, please keep them home if any of the following symptoms apply:

• Fever within the last 24 hours • Severe or phlegm-producing cough • Thick colored nasal discharge • Sore throat with fever or swollen glands • Within 24 hours of beginning antibiotic

treatment • Three or more watery stools in 24 hours • Vomiting two or more times in 24 hours

• Body rash, especially with a fever • While chicken pox sores are still infected • Red eyes with yellow or green discharge • While any evidence of lice remain

Please be respectful of other’s health as they are towards your health. Class can be made up on another day.

NO KARATE, MMA, KICKBOXING CLASSES THIS DAY

REGISTRATION ENDS APRIL 4

Welcome New Member George Batakogias, Mary Cookinham, Koehler Jeroloman, Levi Jones, Bristol Monette, Angela Murphy, Nia Nieves, Jose Nieves, Alicia Riley, Regan Riley, Rylen Ruggio, Anthony Sappo, Natalie Stone.

April BirthdaysJosiah Caldwell, David Ciaramella, Jaideep Dhamoon, Liam Eveleigh, Hannah Hazen, Ryan Hill, Cody Hull-Rice, Koehler Jeroloman, Gavin Leonard, Lindsey Mattiaccio, Alex McLeod, Casey Mierek, James Montondo, Ethanael

Moody, Angela Murphy, Luke O'Connell, Caedyn Price, Tylin Reed, Sarah Salisbury, Barbra Stala, Kaelyn Timm, Natalee Todero, Maya Wentovich, Joseph Winters.

Tip Check & Belt Promo WeeksApril 10 — Lil’ Dragon Tip Check Week April 24 — Lil’ Dragon & Junior Tip Check Week

Black Belt Club / Master’s Club News

Our next weapon cycle will be the bo staff beginning April 5. We are now accepting orders for bo staffs in the Pro Shop.

Many martial arts weapons have been developed from farming tools. What is thought to be the origin of the bo? Carrying yoke. Heavy buckets, etc., can be carried by hanging one on each end of the yoke and carrying it across the back. It is still used in this function today.

For insurance purposes and team uniformity, all

training and safety gear used for class instruction must be purchased from the Karate John’s Pro Shop. Your instructors have selected styles that are acceptable for use in class. The weapons and gear we choose for each cycle are based on our experience with various brands/styles and we strive to choose the most durable and practical weapons and gear. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with Shihan John.

Kickboxing News

There will be no class on Sat., April 8 due to the karate tournament.

Join us Fri. night (April 7) instead for a class at 6:30pm.

Parking Lot Safety

Please be careful when entering/exiting from Route 31. Watch out for kids in the parking lot. We’ve all been pretty good on the parking so far … make sure you aren't taking up two spaces when you park.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Letter from Shihan

This month we are learning about confidence. It is important for your children to look, and act confident in

everything they do. Martial arts are a great extracurricular activity to help them build confidence in themselves and their skills. By going to class every day, they are constantly gaining more confidence in themselves as a person.

How Can You Help?

Be a role model. Confident children are more likely to feel compassion for others and not judge those that are different from them.

Teach good manners. Knowing how to properly address people, shake hands or set a table properly can help build their confidence.

Teach good posture when standing and sitting. Studies show people with good posture are typically perceived and more confident and in-control

Give compliments. Be honest and genuine when giving your children compliments. Tell them that you are very proud of their hard work and effort and that you love how much their skills are improving. Real compliments will help build your child’s confidence in their growing skills.

Help your children learn to trust themselves. Part of building confidence is allowing them to learn to cope in all types of situations. Let them make choices and decisions and when something goes wrong, help them review the situation and figure out what the mistake was. This can help them become confident in the choices they will continue to make. • Think about your child’s strengths and interests when assigning household chores and tasks. Give them a specific job that will let them feel useful and successful based on their talents. They’ll enjoy it more and feel better about themselves once completing the task.

— Mr. A

Want an exciting party with little effort on your

part? A Karate John’s party is for you! We’ll provide you with special invitations, pizza, juice, set up, clean up, a Black Belt instructor to lead the karate and exciting themed games. The birthday child gets to break a board in front of his/her friends. Your child and guests will have a blast! Choose from these cool

themes: All-Star Obstacle, Nuclear Dodgeball

(glow-in-the-dark), Ninja Nerf Wars (glow-in-the-

dark) or Lighted Samurai Sword Training (glow-in

-the-dark). Add the Junior Ninja Bounce House

and an extra 30 minutes to any party package

for $100!

Visit the front desk for details and to reserve your date.

Karate John’s Martial Arts Center is CLOSED when the North Syracuse

School District is closed due to bad weather/road conditions or when

after-school activities are cancelled due to bad weather/road conditions.

If we are not closed but the weather is bad where you live, please use

your best judgment as to whether or not to attend class. We will make

every attempt to send an email to the address you have provided to us

and will put a post on our Facebook page when we are

closed. If you do not have a computer and you’re unsure if

we’re closed, feel free to call the school (699-1500) and

listen for the message on our answering machine.

Weapon Cycle Begins April 5

Lil’ Dragon Parents/Guardians: This month we will cover Coordination as our Life Skill.

Our Safety Skill will be Stranger Awareness.

Teacher Maze Help the teacher find the classroom. It’s storytelling day!

1. What is the fruitiest lesson?

2. Why did the child study in the airplane?

3. What is the best hand to write with?

Answers:

1. History, because it’s full of dates!

2. He wanted a higher education!

3. Neither - it’s best to write with a pen!