It was a super exciting day as we took to the mats, once again, to face new and familiar faces from dojo’s across Ontario; an event sanctioned by the Ontario Karate Federation.
Shiai Canada Tournament
Tis the Season
Here are the highlights from this Holiday Season so far!
Kazoku Martial Arts Centre’s 3rd Annual Potluck
Our karate family got together once again to kickoff the Holidays. Everyone brought all sorts of dishes to share, students received their well deserved belt certificates, and we even handed out our very first set of awards.
Qualities of a Great Leader
Our club’s main objective is to create active leaders within our community, but what makes a great leader? How do you build trust with the people you are looking to help? Here are just a few qualities one will need to consider when looking to be a positive influence within their community.
Integrity
When someone says you uphold your integrity, they mean you are the type of person who sticks to their principles, is open and honest. People won’t start following you if they believe you’re going to back stab them in the back.
Passion/Commitment
Have you ever met a leader who wasn’t passionate or committed to the thing they were trying to lead? Of course not, otherwise they would not have a following for very long. In order to lead well you need to be committed to your practice (whatever that practice may be) or people won’t really want to follow you.
And people will be able to tell.
“A leader leads by example, not force.” – Sun Tzu
Decision Making
Probably one of the hardest parts in leadership is making decisions. Some are easy and some are really hard to make. It’s a learned skill and takes a lot of practice, and sometimes the most skilled leaders still have a hard time deciding what the best option is.
Communication
Communicating effectively can come naturally to some people, but for others… it takes practice. I’ll admit, I am not always the greatest when it comes to telling people what I need from them. However, so long as you are open to learning and practicing this skill, you will be leading effectively in no time!
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more… you are a leader” – John Quincy Adams
Accountability
In my personal opinion I believe accountability is one of the hardest qualities to uphold as a leader. Why? Because it means taking responsibility for your actions or the actions of others (i.e. your students). Because when it all comes down to it, you are the one leading them.
Now this does not mean you have to take the blame all the time, but it also doesn’t mean you can put the blame on others when you were the one to act on it.
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Seiwa Kai Team Training
Ontario Karate Federation Recreational Division
The day starts with the sun barely up and you begin to make your long drive to the venue. When you arrive you walk through the doors to hear nothing but commotion as each competitor makes their way to compete. And even though you are tired and you know it’s going to be a long day, it is always exciting to be there.
October 22, 2017 marked the first time any of our students would compete on the mats themselves in the recreational division with the Ontario Karate Federation. A longer day for some, but exciting all the same!
First we had our 6-9 year olds compete in kata (a series of moves put into a pattern) and kumite (or sparring). And even though they were nervous, they pulled it off and showed the other competitors they meant business. Afterwards, our 10-12 year old students made it to the mats and managed to make it to the second round. They certainly moved like true athletes.
When Liam went up to compete in the 13-14 year kata, we fell silent. He didn’t just win his first round, or his second, but managed to attain a silver medal. A first for him and our club! Excited, we cheered and a proud mum and dad could be heard across the room.
And that was just a start.
Our second winner was Nick who brought home a bronze in kumite. Our girls Amie, Olivia, and Alyssa also managed to bring home a couple more bronze, silver, and even gold medals in kata and kumite! They were forces to be reckoned with.
But congratulations again to all of our competitors who came out to test their skills and who gave it their all. Thank-you to all of the parents who invested a whole Sunday to cheer on their little ones as well as Jeric and Jamie-lynn (plus Brad!) for coming out to assist Sensei James while we had multiple rings going on at once. To our fellow friends who provided us with the proper equipment when we needed it. It’s great to know everyone is there to support one another. And lastly, thank-you to the organizers/volunteers who managed to pull-off another wonderful competition.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for constant updates and some behind the scene action at Kazoku Martial Arts Centre.
OKF Tournament
Sunday, September, 24, 2017 marked the day of many firsts. We participated in the Ontario Karate Federation Elite Level Tournament associated with the World Karate Federation.
Dean, our club’s elite competitor, bravely entered the ring to compete in the Kumite (sparring) division against other young athletic individuals. His division was the 14-15 year old Cadet Boys -57kg. In his first round, Dean’s tenacity brought him up six points against his competitor. Unfortunately within the final few seconds his opponent captured three points bringing him one point above Dean.
We were given a second chance later within the match to rank-up, but after receiving a kick to the inner-thigh the match had ended with our the other competitor advancing.
However with this being Dean’s first time competing at the elite level, his confidence has made us very proud here at Kazoku Martial Arts Centre. We now know what we are up against and will continue to improve our skill level to compete more in the future.
“I was really glad that there was so much support in the crowds today while I competed. I just wanted to let everyone know that I appreciate all of their help and support. And I appreciate the time they took out of their Sunday to cheer on myself and the Dojo. Also, thank you Sensei, for believing in me.” – Dean .M
And a special thanks from us at Kazoku Martial Arts Centre to Shihan Yabunaka and Victoria Rode for guiding us through the tournament, it’s processes, and getting us mentally prepared for Dean’s competition. We would also like to say thank-you to all of the individuals who helped organize the event. Conestoga College for hosting, the organizers at the Ontario Karate Federation, the referee’s, other competitors, and of course ALL of the volunteers who took the time out of their weekend to help run things extra smoothly.
And thank-you to Peter Pakatchian for ensuring we were in the right ring at the right time. His calm focus certainly made it feel that everything was under control.
Kazoku Martial Arts & Fitness Centre
Thank-you!!
After month’s of driving from Cambridge to Hamilton, to Ingersoll, and back. Going over again and again the same moves to ensure they were correct. Testing myself and relying on my years of experience, I can finally say that I’ve passed the grading requirements and received my Sandan (3rd level blackbelt) this past weekend along with the formal teaching title of Shidoinwith Seiwa Kai Canada.
I can’t tell you all how thankful I am to have had your guidance and your support over the period of time it’s taken me to get this far. And now that I have travelled further along the path, I am really looking forward to showing you all the way towards your own true potential.
Thank-you again to Sensei (Jokyo) Paul and Shihan Yabunaka for showing me what I needed to know and of course everyone else within the Seiwai Association! Thank-you to my students and other club members at Kazoku Martial Arts and Fitness for cheering me on. My family who started me on this path when I turned 11 years old. And most importantly, Jeric for believing in me and making sure I pushed myself hard each and every day to get to where I am.
And to everyone else who’ve been apart of my journey, good and bad. It only motivates me to truly become a better version of myself each and everyday.
Supporting Our Young Athletes
We are looking for YOUR support!
Looking to take it to the next level, our students are preparing themselves for future Ontario Karate Federation and World Karate Federation tournaments .
Your donation will go towards new training gear and equipment that will help aid their development within sport karate.
You can follow their journey by clicking HERE or even HERE.
To donate, click the image below!
Club’s Sweater Weather Gear is Here!
With the Fall fast approaching, we thought it would be better to prepare ahead of time before it gets too cold. That said, we’ve finally prepared our club’s sweater weather gear! Available in men’s, women’s, and youth.
You can browse through all of our Club’s swag below.
Gym bags and custom orders are available upon request, contact Us for details.
Dojo Etiquette
Here are just some simple rules to remember when entering the dojo; whether it’s your own or when you are visiting somebody else’s.
- Entering/leaving the dojo area: whether you’re entering or leaving the dojo you should always make sure you bow. It shows that you respect the space you are about to train in.
- To the instructor or anybody else: you should always greet the instructor, coach, or fellow student with a bow. Like the dojo itself, it shows that you want to give them your respect.
- Hygiene: a clean uniform, clipped toe/fingernails, and a little bit of deodorant can go a long way. Clipped nails is also a safety thing! Nobody wants to get scratched.
- Talking: the best time to have a conversation is at the end of class. Having a conversation while your instructor’s trying to teach… not the best time.
- Equipment: remember that the equipment in the room is for everybody to use.
Throwing it around may damage the equipment, the space, or actually hurt somebody. So it’s probably best if it doesn’t go airborne. - Jewellery: watches, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and rings (especially diamond rings) should be removed before class. Keeping them in a safe place at home will prevent them from either being damaged or worse… stolen! Jewellery or any other accessory can also cause injury.
- Sick: if you’re sick, it’s probably best to rest.
- Profanity/Insults: sometimes it’s best left unsaid. Avoid swearing or saying something mean about another student. We’re all here to become better martial artists and saying inappropriate things is definitely not allowed.
- Blaming Others: take responsibility for your actions. If it’s something you sincerely didn’t do, bring the situation to your instructor. They can help mediate the situation and help avoid any further conflict. (i.e. who tagged who in the warm-up game!).
- Last but not least… Ego: leave the ego off the mats. nobody likes a know-it-all. We’re all leaders in the dojo and must lead by example.
There are plenty of other rules that can be added here but these are just the top 10. Be sure to check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
