Newsletter JanFebMar09
PunchLine Dojo Newsletter – First Quarter 2009
A NOTE FROM SENSEI MIKO
Finding True North
“I know that greatness begins n the minds of the great. I know that what I believe about myself is what I will become – so I believe in the best for myself.” Now to me that’s inspiring. When I teach that is the kind of stuff I want to teach, that is what I want my students to learn. I was reading and watching Guy Kawasaki, one of the geniuses that were in the Apple/Macintosh inner circle and that were responsible for the great ingenuity and success of apple products and the Apple concept and following. He now works as a venture capitalist and he is a terrific speaker. In his talks he makes the point that whenever we begin something (he talks about start ups but it applies to EVERYTHING) the thing to have in mind is NOT the money. It is how what we do will make this better an will provide meaning. I thought that was pretty cool and it something I have always believed myself. If we create something special that we truly believe is good than we win and so does everyone else.
So today I am sitting in the office, its Saturday and the last class just ended and I am reading one of the books upon which our leadership curriculum is based:
West Point Leadership Lessons by Scott Snair. I really like this book, in fact it is one of my favorite books on leadership and you can find it on the dojo website if you go to the leadership section and order it. He talks about advancing career decisions and the conclusion he reaches is that the best thing is to do what we love and what will be of benefit to others and then our career will move ahead. In this context he also talks about taking responsibility and owning our good and bad choices as steps that advance us towards our goals.
I always thought that these were universal principals and indeed these are also the deepest, most important ideals of martial arts. What counts is not the color of the belt but the heart that beats inside. I have seen great black belts that chose to wear white belts (we have one now in the dojo – he just returned from a rather long absence) and I have seen white belts that wore black belts. But when I look at a class I can tell who are the real black belts truly not by the color of their belts but by their level of their commitment, by their outstanding attitude and enthusiasm. Most of my students know that the true black belt is within their heart, not tied around their waists.
January
12 Black Belt Six Week Countdown
27 New Student Orientation 7 pm
29 Kids Safety Class 4:00 & 5:15 (regular classes)
February
6 & 7 Brown & Black Belt “Hell Weekend”
(No Saturday Classes)
12 Valentine’s Day Parties (in class)
16 President’s Day(dojo open, classes as usual)
24 New Student Orientation7 pm
28 Black Belt Grading10:00 am(No Saturday Classes)
March
17 St. Patrick’s Day Parties(In Class)
23,25,26 Color Belt Promotions/BB Evaluations (In class)
31 New Student Orientation7 pm
Coming up…. April Fools Parties April1;Spring BreakApril 6 – 13 (Holiday Schedule)
Kid’s Safety Class
January 29th
Bring a Friend Enter to Win a “Rock Band” Set !!
4:00Pre K – 6 Yr. Peewees 5:15 6 up Juniors
Top
Junior & Adult News
New Leadership Members
- Sage White
- Shawn Mason
- Cristina Perez
- Joe Walsh
- Gage Childs
Elite Leadership
- Mark Hubal
New Black Belt Course Member
- Buddy Ehnow
December 2008 Junior & Adult Kyu Gradings
1st Kyu – Jay Matzko, Alex Agonoy, Josh Reyes,
Morgan Willis, Carley & Chance Warlick, Jaime Caballero
2nd Kyu – Bert Potwin, Dean Matzko, Braden Armstrong, Archer Dugger
3rd Kyu – Terri Matzko, Ben Damasco, Jose Carlo Kruer, Sam Ruth
4th Kyu - Michael Apostol, Brandon Davis, Mitchell Shuffett, Alex Sprague, Diego Rodriguez, Nat Baldwin
5th Kyu – Corey Earl, Nicole Apostol, Timmy Ferrar, Cianne Rodriguez, Arjavon Talebzadeh
6th Kyu - Aurora Roberts, Kenneth Tielemans, Erik Carver, Henry Warner, Jane Matzko, Declan Homan, Dylan Doan, Dane Rasmussen, Jonathan Mehki
7th Kyu – Joe Walsh, Max Gilberg, Aydan Scott, Andres Rodriguez, Mark Moser, Caroline Mehki, Carly Medved
8th Kyu – Kirstin Green, Lacey Brauer, Kennis Grace Mrotek, Carlos Morales
9th Kyu – Buddy Ehnow, David Roberts, Shawn Mason, Connor Coglianese, Tim Spooner
10th Kyu – Emily Potwin, Aram Lacher, Sage White, Holly Reina, Ryan Sauter, Tim Fucella, Andrea & Jeanett Quintana, Mateo & Luisa Valles, Corey
Nissen, Samantha Little, Selena Gomez
Next Black Belt Grading
February 28, 2009
Next Kyu Gradings: March 2009
Peewees ~ 3/26
Juniors ~ 3/23
Adults/Teens ~ 3/25
Peewee News
New Peewee Black Belt Course Members
Josh Brito Jesse Wassar Jose Juan Pintado
Peewees Moving to Juniors
Gage Childs
Peewee Grading December 2008
10th Kyu - Gage Childs
Jade Dragon - Adam Agonoy, Abi Whittemore, Tali Peled
Shark - Gigi & Livi Blair
Lions
Lion: Aaron Headrick, Michael Gibbs
Tigers
Tiger I : Ethan Hickey, Nicholas Fenton, Beigheon Talebzadeh
Tiger: Anthony Mezzacappa, Michael Frese
Cobras
Cobra 1: Kristof Middleton
Cobra: Ethan Baldwin
Eagles
Eagle 1: Jesse Wassar
Eagle: Gavin O’Dea, Josh Brito, Garrett Sauter
Black Belt Grading
November 1, 2009
Shodan Lynn Mishky Miguel Reyes
Kakyu 3 Austin O’Brien Bridget Winn
Kakyu 1 Mark Hubal
Kakyu Andrew Pettit
Birthdays ~ January February March
January
Alvaro Corral, Nick Armstrong, Ethan Baldwin, Kyle Mishky, Shane O’Brien, Alex Agonoy,
Aaron Pelky, Bert Potwin, Eitan Peled, Alex Sprague,Jose Carlo Kruer, Lisa Economou
February
Holly Reina, Zachary Cook, Mark Hubal, Connor Little, Dane Rasmussen, Celeste Crawford,
Merri Beth Cully, Zara Perez, Ryan Sauter ,JohnPhilip Lahman, Diego Rodriguez, Kyle Phin,
Olena Krawciw, Chuck Edgin, Tracie Okada, Jose Gallegos, Emily Potwin, David Roberts,
Corey Nissen, Thaddeus Faull
March
Timmy Ferrar, Henry Warner, Erik Carver, Graeson Cully ,Matthew Burks, Geroge Esteban
Thomas Mezzacappa, Joshua Reyes, Peter Busch, Sean Samuelsz, Tim Fucella ,Nicole Apostol
New Students * October November December ’08
Peewees ~ Charlie Spoor, Joseph Gibbs, Ryan Brophy
Juniors ~ Judith Otero, Kyle Phin, Kyle Cook
Adults/Teens ~ Tina Little, Loren Phin, Shelley Arthur
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
