Spring in Michigan

Wishing it was Spring here in Michigan! The robins are hopping and flying about, I even saw a nest of baby robins tucked underneath our swimming pool deck. The weather, on the other hand, is certianly not cooperating. It seems like the lilac bushes have already bloomed and are now ready for a long summer without flowers..... but they have been tricked! The weather is now only in the low 40's making the spring blooms seem like they were here years ago.

Springtime in Michigan is a great time to begin a new sport or activity. Lots of families are looking for an activity that will appeal to their children. Well, how about an activity that the whole family can participate in? I'm talking about martial arts. This is one of the only fitness/physical activities that the entire family can do together. Martial arts classes are based on skill level, not age level. So, the "playing field" becomes open for everyone in the family. One of the greatest joys that I have experienced has been watching a father and daughter get promoted to black belt together.

Whether you're five, fifteen, or fifty, there is something in martial arts for all of you. The five year old may enjoy recreating the moves from his favorite cartoon character, while unknowingly learning about self-discipline. The fifteen year old will certianly enjoy the thrill of participating in tournaments, but also learn about perseverance. At fifty years old, a martial artist will be amazed at his own endurance, while making new relationships with firends of all ages, and most importantly his own family members.

If you're a Michigander and live near the Redford Karate School, stop in and say hello. Watch a few classes and take a look at the faces on our families of martial artists. They are faces full of fun, laughter, respect, and new found abilities. You may just find a new activity that you will want to introduce to your family. After all, it is springtime here in Michigan.

Turkey Trot

Just returned from a mile walk here in Redford, to raise money for our Turkey Brigade. Every year around this time the students from Redford Karate School set out to feed more than 75 needy families right here in our southeastern Michigan community.

Last year we exceeded our goal and were proud to help so many less fortunate than us. The most important lesson we learn and get to experience is the sense of giving and helping others. Our young students get to see first hand that everyone does not have a full cupboard, nor do they have a large TV and gaming station in their living room.

Because our young students are encouraged to go with the adults to deliver the dinners to neighbor's doorsteps, the idea of commuunity service is nurtured in their hearts. Many of the students have reported how good it made them feel to give somehing to someone else.

This year the dinners will be delivered the week of November 23rd. We have room for lots of volunteers and, of course, any contributions are welcome and will be put to good use.

Thanks to all of those wonderful martial artists and their families for coming out today to walk with us. Redford Karate School families rock!!

Tang Soo!

Social Media Seminar

This afternoon the professionals from World Link Communications stopped by the karate school and gave all of us a great seminar on Social Media. Jay Johnson and his partners at World Link have a great handle on how to use social media to take your business to the next level.

Social networking sites have a clearer, new meaning to us as business owners. Not only can you keep in touch with "friends" on communication sites such as Faceboook, Linkedin, or Twitter, but you can promote your business and learn a lot about your customers.

I can't give the topic justice, but the three partners at World Link Communications can certainly take you under their wing and point you in the right direction. You can check them out at www.worldlinkcomm.com

Belt Challenge

Yesterday and today were very exciting days for our students at Redford Karate. It was testing day, and the mark of a new accomplishment.

Testing days are always proud days for the head instructor and owner of a martial arts school. Not only do these days commemorate a lot of hard work and training for the students, but it also means that the instructors have a feeling of accomplishment, too.

As a martial arts school owner, it is very fulfilling to see the students you have trained that are now assistant instructors, teaching newer students. Passing on the knowledge to other generations has always been one of the foundations of martial arts. It is an honor to see those that you have trained, standing tall and now training others.

Our style of martial arts, Tang Soo Do, has come a long way from ancient eastern Asia, and modern South Korea. We are very proud to be members of the International Tang Soo Do Federation. No matter what country we may train in, our ITF rank will be accepted at any ITF school.

With the legendary leadership of Grand Master C. S. Kim, Dan #915, Redford Karate students are learning the most traditional Korean martial art there is, from the world's most revered living martial artist.

Our students are some of the best martial artists in the United States. This past May, our students traveled to Pittsburgh, PA to compete in the National All Martial Arts Championship. Many trophies and medals were brought home to Michigan from this famous tournament.

On this weekend of testing, Redford Karate would like to congratulate all of our students that tested for their next belt rank. You are all awesome martial artists!

Being Your Own Boss

Owning and running our own Tang Soo Do school has been a dream come true for myself and my family. It's been a great adventure, and the best part is the fact that we are our own boss.

Being your own boss is not easy! You must always motivate yourself, and make yourself go to work - but it's nice when you get to work because you are the boss that greets you when you get there.

Because we own our own business, we do get to spend a lot of time with our family members. My husband and I cringe when we think back to when we had traditional jobs. Rude coworkers, mean bosses, and inadequate owners. It was so hard for both of us to justify spending more time with these other people than with our own children. We both knew we couldn't survive working for someone else for very long.

Spending time with our family is the most important priority in our lives. When we began to consider starting our own karate school, I remember saying to each other, "This is going to work out somehow!" We just knew that this was the path that God had was leading us toward. We just had to put our faith in Him as always, and trust God to bless us with what we needed.

Everything has worked out on a positive note, and we are happier than ever. We never miss the rat race, or the mean people we used to work for.

Always follow your dream. If you can dream the possibility, you can achieve the possibility.

Martial Arts on ESPN2 this Sunday, 7/19/09 at 1:30 EDT!

ESPN2 will air the 2009 US Open in high def in a special 60 minute time block. Featured will be ISKA World Championship Forms, Weapons, Synchronized Forms, Demo Teams, Breaking, and Self-Defense from the Daytime Breaking Venue and the Spectacular Night of Champions.

With the addition of the NAGA Grappling and ISJA Ju-Jitsu Championships, the US Open ISKA World martial Arts Championships topped 3,000 total competitors for the first time. Spectators for the two-day eliminations and finals were estimated at nearly 5,000. Teams from 41 countries attended, and 40 of the 50 United States were represented.

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