Resolve today: hit the "re-boot button"

February is racing by. Are your resolutions long forgotten, left in the dust? Or are you going strong?

Today is the day to re-evaluate, whether you are enjoying great success, partial success, or not much success. Of the seven goals I set for myself this year, I'm right on target for three of them, having met my daily, weekly, and monthly goals without fail. I can't begin to tell you how great that makes me feel, and how much making those new habits has improved my life.

For the other four goals...well, life has happened and has gotten in the way of my best-laid plans.

But, all is not lost. I'm reworking those four goals, making them a bit more realistic given my current circumstances, and I'm starting over. Resolutions can, after all, be made and kept every day. We don't have to give up and wait until 2010.

Today, I'm hitting the re-boot button on those four resolutions I've been struggling with. I'm not giving up.

Looking for a last-minute Christmas gift?

...or just a great value for martial arts & fitness classes?

Start out the New Year right! For only $50, you can choose one of the following:

• Our Karate Beginner Course. This includes intro classes PLUS one month of regular classes. We have classes for ages 5 - adult. 
• One month of fitness classes. Choose from Combat Fitness (ages 16 - adult; meets Mondays & Wednesdays at 7:00 pm) or Women's Fitness (ages 14 - adult; meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 am) or Family Fitness (ages 12 - adult; meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 am)
• Our Fitness Pack. This includes what you'll need for all of our fitness classes and for our Friday Fight Class. Deluxe bag gloves, elastic hand wraps, and an adjustable jump rope all come in a tote bag. This is a $60 value.

For an even better value: Your first month of fitness classes PLUS the Fitness Pack is only $80!

How to get started: 

1. Call 805-931-0683 and schedule your first class. If you are interested in karate classes, your free intro class will be held outside of the regular classes, and will cover the basics and what you need to know to participate successfully in our regular classes.
2. Attend our FREE workout on Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 9:00 am --- and kickstart your New Year's Resolutions. This workout will include what is usually covered in our karate intro classes, as well as giving you a good flavor of what our fitness program is all about. It should be a fun and exciting workout, and a great way to start 2009. Call now to reserve your space.

It's fun, exciting --- and FREE!!!

Start the New Year out right by joining us for a great workout on Saturday, January 3 at 9:00 a.m. to noon. This will be like our Fight Class, Family Fitness, Combat Fitness, basic training, intro course, and regular classes all rolled into one exciting morning!

Our New Year's Workout is for:

1. Current students at Shinjin Karate. Get back into the swing of things after the holiday break, and get a jumpstart into getting into the best shape of your life this year.

2. Former students thinking of returning to class. Polish up on your karate skills and review the basics, plus find out what some of our new bonus classes are all about.

3. New students. If you are starting your Beginner Course in January or February, this would be a great introduction to our basic techniques.

4. Friends and family of current students. Why not join them out on the mat for just one day? Who knows, you may discover you've been missing out on more fun than you thought!

5. Anyone interested in our martial arts and/or fitness classes. This is a great FREE way to discover what we're all about.

What to wear: workout clothes or gi. If you wear a gi, you will probably want to bring a t-shirt to wear for part of the workout.

What to bring: water, healthy snack, bag gloves, hand wraps, jump rope. [Call today to order your "Kickboxing Fitness Pack" for a special reduced fee of only $45! Contains elastic hand wraps, boxing/bag gloves, adjustable jump rope and a tote bag]

CALL 805-931-0683 TO REGISTER FOR THIS FREE WORKOUT

SEE YOU THERE!

Calling all homeschoolers!

Recently a homeschooling mom shared her dilemma with me. It all started after the birth of her youngest, when she gained more than she intended...and those extra pounds refused to budge, even years later. Then her husband began putting on weight. They turned from a healthy, trim family into what she described as "couch potatoes who only got up to go look for more potatoes to eat".

They tried bicycling as a family, but it was hard to get into any sort of routine. Plus, they seemed plagued by flat tires, lost helmets, loose chains, outgrown bikes, poor weather and other problems that, while not insurmountable, made bicycling into more of a bother than they had anticipated.

Then they decided team sports were the way to go, so they headed down to the local Recreation Department. Next thing they knew, they were spending weekends shuttling back and forth between two or three different sports fields and juggling a schedule that kept them running during the week.

And Mom and Dad? They were so busy driving their children to sports activities, that they had no time for exercise.

One evening, after yet frantic afternoon, the father asked, "Didn't we homeschool so we could do stuff together as a family? How is having our children in all these separate activities and on all these different teams really helping us bond better? Besides, I don't think the kids are in all that much better shape, especially since we eat so much fast food while we're rushing from one thing to another." Then he sighed and said, "Wouldn't it be great if we could all join a gym together or play some sport that we could all do as a family?"

And they both laughed over the silliness of his idea...until the mom shared her story with me. By the time we finished our conversation, she was convinced I had the correct solution to her dilemma, and she was ready to sign up. The only reason she's not at Shinjin Karate is because she lives out of the area. But, last I heard, she's looking for karate schools in her area that allow parents and children to take classes together.

If her story resonates with you, I'd like to encourage you to call me today at 805-931-0683. For January 2009, I am putting together a special "Homeschooling Fitness Package" that will be tailor-made for your particular family and your schedule. To get started, all you need to do is call to set up your first FREE introductory session, during which we'll get to know each other. I'll briefly assess your family's level of fitness; we'll talk about your goals; we'll go over schedules; I'll guide you through a sample workout (either fitness activities, martial arts, or both, depending on your interest) and I'll help you set up the best program for your family.

We have morning and evening fitness classes, and afternoon and evening karate classes. I'm sure we can put together a Fitness Package that will help your family become stronger, not just physically, but relationally --- and mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well.

And if you're not a homeschooling family? Ask about our "New Year's Resolution Success Program". Both programs offer reduced class prices for new students who begin in January 2009.

How to succeed at keeping your resolutions in 2009

Many of us make them. But do we keep them? Not as many, at least according to the online articles I've been reading.

New Year's Resolutions...how often have you made them with all the best intentions in the world, only to abandon them before January was even over? Don't you want 2009 to be different?

As I've discovered via some quick online research, these are some of the most popular resolutions:

1. Lose weight
2. Start exercising
3. Quit smoking
4. Enjoy life more
   
5. Spend money more wisely

I think those are great resolutions. In fact, I am so excited about them, that I want to be your personal success coach for keeping them in 2009. And I have desgined a program that will address those five resolutions and even more.

Here are a few keys to your general success:

1. Begin early. Don't just make your resolution on December 31st.
2. Prepare for success with a realistic plan.
3. Find someone to encourage you, hold you accountable, and coach you through the tough times.
   
4. Make measurable short-term goals, mid-range goals, and long-term goals.
5. Don't just rely on will-power; make the process of reaching your goals an enjoyable one

What about specifics, the nitty-gritty how-to of succeeding at keeping those New Year's resolutions?

I believe strongly that our martial arts and/or fitness programs at Shinjin Karate are designed for success in all five of those popular resolutions. In fact, I would like to tell you in person --- and even show you --- how our individually tailored fitness classes and our Keichu Ryu karate program (or even a combination of the two) can put you on the road to success.

Call me at 805-931-0683 and ask about our special "New Year's Resolution Success Program". Let me introduce you to our fun and effective programs that will increase your energy level, reduce your stress, boost your confidence and self-discipline, help you be more focused, empower you for success...and more. Plus, all of this will be available for you --- and your family --- at a great value.

Make 2009 your year for success. Get started now. Call today.

In 2009: Resolve to be strong

No matter what New Year's resolutions you come up with over the next month or so, it will take discipline to achieve them, right? Discipline, determination, self-control, will power --- in short, it will take a certain amount of strength.

Maybe weight loss will be on your short list of resolutions. Or maybe it's to become more fit, or to break a bad habit or two. I'm convinced that, even if your resolution is something like "Be nicer to my spouse", a good fitness program will help you keep it. Why? Because, as you get stronger, improve your energy level, and handle stress better, you will be more capable of actually keeping that set of resolutions this year.

Ready to succeed? We have three fitness programs that will help you get a handle on stress, make you stronger, and improve your level of fitness, whether you are a couch potato or a seasoned athlete...or somewhere in between.

Call 805-931-0683 to find out which fitness classes are right for you. Here is the rundown:

Combat Fitness: Train like a fighter, whether you are a martial artist or not. This high energy workout is taught by "Mr. Isaac", and will definitely get your heart pounding, your muscles working, and the sweat flowing. Classes are currently in session and meet Mondays & Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. New students may start at any time. For ages 16+. (Younger students may enroll at instructor's discretion.)

Women's Fitness: This is the class to get you started in the morning. All levels of fitness are welcome, because we will tailor this fun, stress-busting workout to meet your needs and your personal goals. Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 a.m. and will begin again on January 6, 2009. New students may start at any time. For ages 14+.

Family Fitness: If 6:00 a.m. is just a bit too early for you, or if you and your spouse would like to exercise together before work, or if you are looking for a physical fitness class for your homeschool family, this one is for you! Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 a.m. and will begin on January 6, 2009, provided we have enough interested students. For ages 12+.

No uniforms are required for any of our classes, just workout clothes.

Our "blog special" will end on March 1, 2009.

Shinjin Karate Blog Special!!!
Mention this blog post and receive...
First month of fitness class AND Kickboxing Fitness Pack for only $80
Kickboxing Fitness Pack contains the equipment you'll need for our fitness classes:
Boxing/bag gloves, hand wraps, adjustable jump rope, and tote bag (a $60 value)
If you already own gloves and hand wraps, first month of class is only $50

Current Shinjin Karate students: ask about your discount price!

Are you ready to make 2009 your best and most successful year ever? Let us help you! Call 805-931-0683 to begin your fitness program.

Give yourself the gift of fitness

Our next 6 week women's fitness course will start Tuesday, January 6, 2008. Here is some info:

If you are a woman or teenage girl (age 14+) and you want a fun, exciting workout - Do we have a class for you! We are offering six week women's martial arts fitness classes, meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 am. It's a great way to lose fat, gain muscle, become more flexible, and all that good stuff --- and it's a terrific stress-busting workout that will leave you energized for the rest of the day. Our next session starts on January 6 and runs through February 12. No uniforms required; just wear workout clothes. Our fitness classes are open to Shinjin Karate students and non-students alike. The cost is only $100 for the entire six weeks [ask about coupons, specials and reduced rates for current students] and includes, as a bonus, our Friday Fight Classes at no extra charge! (To enroll, call 805-931-0683)

If you are a current Shinjin Karate student looking to ramp up your workout - You can enroll in either our Combat Fitness or Women's Fitness classes at a reduced rate OR you can attend our Fight Class OR you can become involved in as many of our fitness classes as possible!

It all starts here

COMBAT FITNESS!

It all starts here.

This is more than a workout. Much more.

Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:00 pm

Ages 16 through adult.

Be there.

Shinjin Karate
720 S. Frontage Rd. #106
Nipomo, CA 93444

Coming soon to Shinjin Karate: Combat Fitness!

Combat Fitness, which will meet Monday & Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm, is the latest addition to our small but growing number of fitness classes. This is not your run of the mill, boring, same old same old fitness workout. This class, designed for ages 16 and up, and is best suited for you if:

• You are looking for a challenging, hardcore workout
• You are looking for a way to get fit quickly
• You've never trained in any sort of fighting style, but you have always been interested
• You are training in the martial arts, but want to add an additional, more rigorous workout
• You once took a cardio kickboxing class and thought it was kinda wimpy
• You think our Fight Class is just for kids
• You prefer taking fitness classes from a young, tough, extremely fit instructor

For more details, and to enroll in this exciting new class, call 805-931-0683

In addition to our new Combat Fitness class, we also offer the following:

If you are a woman or teenage girl (age 14+) and you want to be more fit - Do we have a class for you! We are offering six week women's fitness classes, meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 am. It's a great way to lose fat, gain muscle, become more flexible, and all that good stuff --- and it's a terrific stress-busting workout that will leave you energized for the rest of the day. Our next session starts on September 9 and runs through October 16. No uniforms required; just wear workout clothes. Our fitness classes are open to students and non-students alike. The cost is only $100 for the entire six weeks and includes, as a bonus, our Friday Fight Classes at no extra charge! (To enroll, call 805-931-0683)

If you are a current Shinjin Karate student looking to ramp up your workout - You can enroll in either our Combat Fitness or Women's Fitness classes at a reduced rate OR you can attend our Fight Class OR you can become involved in as many of our fitness classes as possible!

More questions about Fight Class

Frequently when I recommend Fight Class to students, they raise the following questions:

1. Should I come to Fight Class if I'm a white belt? Yes. There are often other white belts there. In fact, we even have had some of our women's fitness class members there. This class is truly for all levels, from just beginning to advanced.

2. What if I'm not very fit? Again, Fight Class is for all fitness levels. Every exercise we do can be modified. If you're not very fit, you really need this class!

3. I'm in great shape, and I'm worried that Fight Class will be too easy. Should I bother coming? Definitely. Each exercise, drill, and activity we do can be "ramped up" to make it more challenging.

4. Why should I come if there is no one there for me to spar or grapple? At least half the class involves no contact. As far as the other half, if there is no one there for you to partner with, we have alternative activities. For example, we keep our women's fitness students and white belts busy the entire hour even though they do not do any contact.

5. Don't you think I'm too young or too old for Fight Class? If you are in our Keichu Ryu Karate program or in our women's fitness program, you are just the right age.

6. Is there anyone who shouldn't come to Fight Class? Yes. This class is really not designed for our Kid-Karate students. However, everyone else in our dojo would greatly benefit.

7. What is the difference between Fight Class and Fighting Friday? There are several differences:

1. Fight Class is a fitness workout, based on the same sort of training that many MMA fighters receive. It also includes sparring and grappling, with instruction, for those students who are ready for contact training.
2. Fighting Friday is a competitive event. We always have grappling and point sparring. Sometimes we may include chanbara, continuous sparring, ippon kumite, or some other event. We try to match students as fairly as possible. Winners in each division receive a medal.
   
3. Fight Class is designed for all Keichu Ryu students and women's fitness program members.
4. Fighting Friday is open to Kid-Karate students and Keichu Ryu students.
   
5. Fight Class is held two to three times per month, on Fridays, usually at 7:00 pm
6. Fighting Friday is held every two to three months.
   

8. What does Fight Class cost? Fight Class is FREE for BasicPlus and BlackBelt Track members. It is also included in the cost for our women's fitness classes. For Basic members, it is only $10 per class. If you want to attend regularly (e.g., more than twice per month) it will really be a savings to upgrade to BasicPlus.

9. What else do I need to know about Fight Class? Read:

• What to bring to Fight Class
• Are you getting stronger?
• Preparing for an upcoming belt test
• Class schedule and info

What to bring to Fight Class

If you haven't read "Are you getting stronger?" please do so now. It will give some necessary info on Fight Class.

Now, on to the nitty-gritty practical stuff. Here's what to bring to Fight Class:

1. Your gi, belt, gear and everything you bring to a regular class.

2. Water or a dojo water bottle for free refills (We still have dojo water bottles available.)

3. A t-shirt or workout top. For the first half of the workout, this may be much cooler and more comfortable than your gi top. (Women's fitness class members --- just wear your regular workout clothes.)

4. A judo top if you enjoy the idea of dressing the part of a real judo/jiujitsu person. Trust me, you'll only want to wear this during the ground fighting portion of class.

5. Hand wraps and/or bag gloves. This is not mandatory, but it's highly recommended, especially if you want to be training hard on the heavy bags and improving the power of your punches. I used to think this was kind of wimpy and not a karate-like thing to do, but several things have changed my mind (e.g, my sensei, my bouts with carpel tunnel syndrome, watching other people train, etc.). What finally convinced me was working out with wraps. Now I won't go back. We have some wraps and glove available and can order more. If you need help wrapping your hands, be sure to come early.

6. A light, healthy, high energy snack for afterwards.

Make sure you've eaten a light meal sometime before class, so that you have plenty of energy!

Are you getting stronger?

At the end of class, I've been doing a series of "Sensei talks" about self-defense. On Monday and Tuesday of this week, I talked about the importance of training hard in order to be prepared physically, emotionally, and spiritually to defend oneself.

To follow up, I'd like to offer two suggestions:

Suggestion 1. The Push-Up Challenge.

As many of you know, my biceps tendinitis and related shoulder issues have prevented me from being serious about doing push-ups for quite some time, but I've decided to see how well I can handle the challenge. As of today, I'm on Week 3. If you are interested, click on the above graphic to go the website for more info.

Suggestion 2. Fight Class.

I know, I know --- you're all probably tired of hearing about how important Fight Class is! But that's only because it's the truth. Fight Class is that important! You'll get a terrific workout and you'll learn some things you can include in your home training sessions. You'll learn far more grappling and sparring techniques than we can teach in our regular classes. You'll gain strength, endurance, and confidence. You'll be better able to defend yourself.

But, wait a moment, someone may ask, what does that have to do with self-defense? Isn't Keichu Ryu designed for smaller people to be able to defend themselves against larger and stronger attackers?

Good questions. And you're right; Keichu Ryu was designed just that way. But it was also designed to be more than just an assortment of self-defense techniques.

If you had three months to prepare yourself for being attacked, how would you prepare? Would you sit on the couch eating junk food and watching TV, hoping that you'd be able to pull off the front choke defense you rarely practice? Would you attend the fewest classes you could, and expend the least amount of effort in those classes?

Or would you train hard and train smart, making sure you were in peak physical condition? Would you dedicate yourself to your training, and to living out our core values?

We have no idea when we may face that "moment of truth". Real martial artists train for years and years for something that they hope will never happen.

Training hard and training smart will make you stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually. It will prepare you for the hard times in life.

Are you getting stronger? Are you as strong as you could be?

If you have to fight, are you ready?

Let me know how you're doing with the push-up challenge. And I'll see you at Fight Class!

Edited to add:

Sometimes students wonder if they are "ready" for Fight Class, or if it would be appropriate for them. As long as you are in our Keichu Ryu karate program, or our women's fitness program, you would benefit greatly from attending Fight Class. Our women's fitness class members, and our students who are not yet sparring and grappling, will not be required to do any drills involving contact. However, if you are already grappling and/or sparring, you will also be learning and practicing techniques that will help you improve.

What about fitness level? No matter how fit, or un-fit, you may be, Fight Class will provide an excellent workout. All of the exercises can be modified to meet the needs of each student.

Fight Class is included free of charge in your BasicPlus membership. If you have not yet upgraded to BasicPlus, now would be an excellent time.

NEW! Fight Class!

UPDATE: Fight Class is now included FREE in our BasicPlus membership! It also offers an even better workout. If you have not attended Fight Class recently, be sure to attend the next one!

We are excited to announce a new bonus class that we will be offering once or twice a month. Here is the info:

• $10 for Intro, Basic, and BasicPlus; FREE for BlackBelt Track.
• Class lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes.
  
• This class provides an excellent workout while improving sparring and grappling skills. Open to all ranks, including white belts. No previous sparring or grappling experience required!
  
• IMPORTANT NOTE: Students planning to test for orange belt or above should attend as many Fight Classes prior to testing as possible, in order to be ready and in shape for the sparring/grappling portion of their test.
• Class may cover sparring, grappling, or both. Drills, bag work, technique training, partner work, and free sparring, grappling, and "scrappling" will be part of the ongoing curriculum.
• Bring a t-shirt to wear for grappling.
• Students without gear may participate in all sparring drills that do not involve contact.
• Class meets once or twice monthly on scheduled Mondays and/or Fridays.

If you can only make it to a few select bonus classes per month, make sure that Fight Class is at the top of your list. It should definitely be a must for anyone who is planning on competing or testing for orange belt and above within the next four to six months. If you want to be a lean, mean, fighting machine --- or you want to be fit enough for your upcoming belt test --- or you want to win at tournaments --- this is one bonus class you will not want to miss!