Arrowhead Martial Arts Studio Blog

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Every year during the holidays, I take time to reflect back on all we have accomplished and all the things left to accomplish. It’s been a fantastic year and definitely one that I am very proud of.

We’ve come along way after six years and have experienced many great things. Each year gets better and better and I’m fortunate to have such a great group of people at my studio - instructors and students alike.

We also have new people coming after the first of the year for the trial program and will have some new people transferring in from other AKKI studios. We will welcome these new friends as we say goodbye to others.

The atmosphere at the studio isn’t like what I’ve experienced anywhere else. It’s one of humility, focus, and respect while at the same time fun, entertaining and inspiring. I treasure each class we have together and always look forward to the next. I know that won’t change in the coming year.

2008 is going to be another hallmark year with so many students close to black belt. These students are working hard to become the best they can be and to get ready to go in front of Mr. Mills and the board of examiners in Las Vegas. I know they will represent the studio well and look forward to awarding them their much deserved rank.

I also have so many ideas to teach that we weren’t able to get to in 2007. We’ll be making the time in 2008 and working on some very unique reflexive response training, street freestyle, ground, and mass attack situations and more that will definitely get your attention. Not to mention what’s in store for the website this year.

Be sure to be there on January 8th to start the year out right. With so much in store, I’d hate to have you miss any of it.

In fact, I can’t wait to get back into class, share these new ideas, and push things further in 2008!

Happy holidays and we’ll see you in class after the New Year!

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It’s pounding snow up here by the mountains and studio so for the first time EVER, I’m canceling class. I’ve had over a dozen people call, text, and email to tell me they can’t make due to the weather so class is canceled tonight. I barely made it home myself to get ready for class. Watching the news, they’re saying it’s not going to get any better so we’ll have to pack it in until the New Year.

What’s weird is there was thunder and lightning and I actually saw one car had slid and actually ran itself up some telephone wires coming out of the ground and almost flipped. It’s not pretty out there!

Sorry everyone!

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We will be closed December 24th through January 7th. Classes will resume on Tuesday January 8, 2008 at the usual time.

I’m going to be spending most of my holiday break in Montana with my wife’s family.

So what are your plans over the holidays? Simply click on the “comments” link below and let me know!

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If these regular, info rich blog posts just aren’t enough for you, be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter. Once you subscribe, you’ll start to receive email only exclusives you can’t find our on our website including articles, announcements, video content, trial program updates, and offers right to your inbox.

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December 18th, UPDATE: Share you ideas on how to improve the newsletter. Simply click on the “comments” link below and let me know what you think!

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I’m a big fan of “controlling the opponent” and making sure I can use every conceivable weapon I have while trying to minimize their ability to retaliate. One thing you can do to better maximize control is to check to if you can use a rear knee strike or thrusting sweep kick to your opponents key targets without getting in your own way. If you CAN do this, you’re one step closer to dominating your opponent. If you CAN’T hit them easily with any low line strikes, you’re out of alignment and subsequently are not positioned for performance.

Try getting out of your own way. It works.

Agree or disagree? Simply click on the “comments” link below and let me know what you think!

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Years ago, I used compete in forms divisions every chance I got, including Mr. Parkers Internationals before it shut down. I was always looking for better ways to get better at forms. However, there was one idea that stood above all others (besides more practice) and transformed the way I executed forms.

The idea? Video yourself.

As they say, you are your own worst critic. Many things I THOUGHT I was doing I WASN’T. It showed me where I strong and where I needed help. In some cases… where I needed some SERIOUS help! You can examine everything from your transitions, to eye contact to your expression. Whatever. It helped me get smooth out a lot rough patches in my forms and helped me to consistently place in the top three nearly every time I competed.

Try it. It works.

So who’s tried it? What other ideas do you have to improve your forms? Let me know by clicking the “comment” link below and leaving your ideas in the form of a comment!

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