MIMA Blog

My definition of being a black belt has evolved over the years. When I was a little boy, I wanted to be a ninja and/or a Power Ranger, that’s what being a black belt meant to me back then. Now, it means being Batman, fighting crime and taking names… Kidding! When I started doing martial arts, I thought being a black belt would be to become proficient at self defense techniques and sparring. As I progressed through Mercer Island Martial Arts, I found that being a black belt was so much more.

When

Find more photos like this on Mercer Island Martial Arts
Find more photos like this on Mercer Island Martial Arts

Volunteering at a pre-school – Volunteer project                                                         6/12/2012-6/14/2012

To complete my volunteer hours for my black belt, I needed 6 more hours. So, I asked my sister’s school if I could help out for class. I was able to do this because I was out of school the week before. I spent three hours every morning for two days at the Cougar Mountain Montessori School.

What is funny is that I went to the same school when I was little, and the teachers I

At my school every year the fifth grade goes to France for a week or two. So we have to fundraise some money for the trip by selling pastries every friday from a french baker in Seattle (Le Panier) at the entrance of my school.

This year we have raised over $10,950 to help lower the cost so that every student can participate. I sold bread three times for my volunteer hours.

Alex H.

I saw what Cameron did with the origami and I thought," I did exactly the same thing last year"! Last year at Oshkosh (the clothing store) they had a a sort of fundraiser by making paper cranes. Every paper crane gave one clothing item from Oshkosh to a child in Japan after the Tsunami. So I proposed my class if they wanted to take part in this fundraiser, they accepted (we had just learned how to make paper cranes in art class). So we where making paper cranes for a whole month. We where always

In an article written by Education Week discusses the positive attributes of service learning; “Service learning can teach students and teachers a great deal. Although the final product is the culminating event that everyone works hard to achieve, service learning is also about the process from beginning to end. The whole experience can be a great learning experience, especially when students are a part of the decision making.” (DeWitt, 2012)

The article continues with discussing the viewpoints

Hinck and Brandell quoting another source suggesting that " ‘...students who engage in service may develop greater complexity in their thinking; ethical commitments regarding themselves, their lifestyles, and what they know and believe; movement toward higher levels of moral reasoning; and development and clarity about their... [personal self]’ (McEwen, 1996, p. 87). Several students have found the connections that McEwen suggests to be true.” (Hinck and Brandell, 1999)

 Hinck and Brandell’s research states that “ ‘...in a study of more than 2,000 K-12 students from 24 schools, University of Wisconsin researchers found improved student performance resulted from service learning experiences. The study found service learning had a positive effect on students' grades and attendance’ (Shumer, 1994). In addition to academic growth and increased community connection, engagement in service learning experiences has been linked with a variety of positive developmental o

Please feel free to upload your photos and videos as well!   We can add them to the record of a memorable testing.  If you don't know how please ask, we would love to see your pics/videos.  I haven't processed my photos yet (technical difficulty), so more to come for sure.   Congratulations to you all!  And don't miss CGNs Nelson and Sams as they do a make up due to the weather in February.

announcement and photo in the mercer island reporter

Also, check out this weeks MI reporte

By REPORTER STAFF
Mercer Island Reporter Staff
December 6, 2011 · 11:32 AM

Locally owned and operated Mercer Island Martial Arts collected and donated 1,000 pounds of food for Mercer Island Youth and Family Services, exceeding last year's 600 pounds.

This is the 10th year that MIMA has held the food drive with its "Homework Challenge." Kids who complete 21 days in a row of homework (or reading for the day if they don't have homework) are homework winners. The kids are then qualified to break

     Sitting around in the center of Northgate Mall, ready to wrap gifts for the Cancer Children Careline. Although people were not coming, as anticipated by the organizer, at this early season. But, our presence drawed peoples attention to our little booth. I took out an ribbon and started pulling the flaps soon making a pretty blue flower. I pulled out a cell phone and checked the time, 5:30PM,yay. Just 3 and a 1/2 hours to go! As the clock ticks away I pass the time by going on the Kindle Fir

     I watched all the family members get off the carousel, all waving and smiling. I ask many of them if they want a bag, but only a few say yes. I looked over at the donation bucket and notice that there is more gifts in there. Yay! Another ride another crowd over and over again. Each time seeing more and more happy families. I hope that treehouse will get lots of people and let foster children be that way. Ahhhhhh, Christmas

     This project is to help treehouse a foster child program. Me and my mom are supposed to wait at the carousel exit and hand people donation bags. Lots of people came and many had donations and wanted a bag, then they would head to a shop and come back for another ride and give us the things they bought. All of a sudden lights are flashing in a nearby building and a annoying beep beep beep sound came out. About 20-30 minutes later the firefighters arrived and sat there for a long time. Figuri

My friend and I walk down a beaten dirt path with my mom following behind. We drop our trees off in the right section. My friend and I don't need to talk much to know what we were thinking,tired sweaty and a tad hungry. An hour later everyone gathers in a circle to learn how to plant a tree from the woman who set this all up. It was hard work as me and my friend jump on the shovels to get them in the ground. We find a sleeping caterpillar and a fuzzy caterpillar and a bear caterpillar as well. I

Dear Master Strongheart, My community service went well and I liked this job of sorting clothing with my sister and my mom and I am doing it at Mercer Island Thrift Shop right near the train park. It made me feel like I was spending my time wisely and I feel good about what I did to help the community.

From, Cameron

Dear Master Strongheart,

                      (Cameron) did community service this Saturday (11-6-11) and I did sorting clothing and put price tags on them. I did three hours of this and I will do three more classes on Saturdays.           

Our annual homework party and food drive is a great way for children to get in the habit of doing their homework, it's ton's of fun and it's for a great cause. The Mayor of Mercer Island along with other eastside communities has made this month the "Eastside Month of Concern for the Hungry."  We will be taking food donations the day of the party, on October 29, 2011, and you are welcome to bring food in prior to the party we will have boxes ready for donation. 

http://www.eastsideforum.org/foo

Dear MeLisa,

Hello and Congratulations!

 You have been selected to represent your community as a “Hometown Hero” in the 2011 Summer Celebration Parade on July 9^th, 2011. Because of your hard work and dedication to serving your community as a great advocate for youth and violence prevention, your anti-bullying curriculum available for free to schools and other organizations on the Island, and your participation on  the CTC board, we’d like to honor you!

Because Mercer Island Martial Arts is alrea

1 My Mom and Dad
My Mom and Dad have been my biggest heroes ever. They adopted me when I needed a family and they were and are the perfect family. They are super supportive of my activities. I remember Dad asking me “What would you like to do?” and I said “karate”. He found me Mercer Island Martial Arts and my parents helped me get to where I am now. Testing for my black belt.
2 The Masters

When I first started I was a white belt of course and I was a rascally one. I have been told that I climb