exercise (40)
Our kids are working so hard in our camps. Not only do they do 3-4 formal martial arts classes per day, but they are also making daily trips to one of our amazing parks on Mercer Island. They are playing active games, sports, and moving around most of the day. This kind of activity burns a ton of calories-- plus kids grow so much during the summer, it's sometimes hard to keep up with their caloric needs. As, parents you want to keep your kids healthy, so I found this link via Cooking Light f
We have had a lot of questions regarding our training for future camp counselors --- our Counselor In Training Program -- so thought we would pass on the info here. If you are interested in finding out more, or to see if your "tween" or teen, is appropriate for the program please feel free to contact us.
Each member of the Counselor In Training Program is selected on the basis of his/her potential to be an excellent counselor, instructor, and role model. Junior Counselors are leaders in cam
"To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." Nelson Mandela 1918-2013
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For the upcoming Halloween party, I made this short video will show you most of the things you want to know about the party.
We could use some help with the food drive. Would you be able to take a collection box, like the one in the picture to your work, school, community activity? Would you invite kids to the awesome party (there are invitations at the school) -- for a fun day of bouncy house, costumes, demonstrations, cotton candy, and candy, and did I mention candy?? It is the 26th --- entry "fee" is a donation to the food bank.
If you would host, as it were, a donation box let us know and it will be d
We are holding try out for the 2013-2014 Demonstration Team on Thursday Sept 19th at 5:30pm.
Try out to have the opportunity to be part of a small group of dedicated, like minded, motivated students.
Demo teams build high levels of confidence because students are taught how to perform in public. There’s an awesome rush that comes from performing for your community and getting accolades!
Team members will have the opportunity to further your training faster while developing leadership skills even
With back to school coming up quickly, I believe it is a great time to refresh or address safety tips and plans with the kids. So, I am going to post about several of the things I try to cover with the kids I teach each year.
"In 2010, one-fifth (19%) of all children 5-9 who were killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians." Source: Traffic safety facts: Pedestrians, NHTSA 2012
Here are some ideas, and ... Click here for the original post I wrote on Mercer Island Patch
By Tom Callos for Mercer Island Martial Arts
You didn’t start your study of the martial arts to “go through the motions” of it all, did you? Of course you didn’t, but look around you in your next class and I’ll bet you spot a number of your classmates doing that very thing, going through the motions. It’s human nature to get distracted, to multi-task, and wander off course.
To deepen and strengthen your practice so that you stay on the mark and make reasonable progress, I offer you these 10 tim
These five points have helped hundreds of people JUST LIKE YOU Discover issues with starting a After School that they NEVER would have considered – issues to be Excited about, WARY about, and everything in between!
1) Safety
The number one MOST important thing that should be stressed in an After School Program is safety. From the drills that are done in class, to the way the warm-up is presented, Safety has to be paramount through and through.
You would think that because it’s “Martial Art
What I have learned from practicing Tae Kwon Do and will be able to bring into my life and continue to use is perseverance, leadership and respect. I have been taking Martial arts for over nine years, and have kept going despite many challenges. At multiple points, I have had to change schools, and restart at the beginning. From this, I have persevered and continued practicing, and am now prepared to test for my Black Belt. I have also learned about how to teach others, and better communicate wi
Before I start, I use the term "nerd" in a very endearing way :). I like to think of myself as a nerd at heart. I love talking about computers, video games or pretty much anything technology related.
A few years back during my fall quarter at UW I got pretty sick, I don't know all the technicalities behind what happened, but my doctor pretty much said my immune system was on overdrive. It got to the point that I had to drop most of my classes except for the one that I really needed to take. Trave
(I know the title of this post is a bit cryptic, but I promise, I will explain it!) During my senior year of my undergrad at UW, I had to find a place to do an internship. I found a place called the "Unemployment Law Project", which is located at Downtown Seattle. It was a non-profit law firm that would take cases where a person thought their unemployment benefits were wrongfully taken away from them.
I met and talked with a lot of people there, but one of them stood out to me the most. I honestl
(Slight disclaimer before I start; I tend to side with the prosecutorial side of issues when it comes to the justice system, this entry is just respecting someone I admire and not regarding any type of politics.)
Anyways, as a few of you know, I currently work for the King County District Court system. I have worked with many Judges over the past five years there and I have gotten to know them very well. Out of all the ones that I have worked with, I have the deepest respect and admiration for Ju
Myth: Violence in relationships does not affect many people.
Fact: Studies estimate that one in three teens are in an abusive relationship.
Myth: Battering is only a momentary loss of temper. One incident doesn't constitute abuse.
Fact: Battering involves the establishment of fear and control in a relationship through violence and other forms of abuse used to manipulate one’s partner. Its manifestation through violence is a physical example of abuse that has already been occurring.
Myth: Domest
You can play a role in changing the underlying norms and
culture that allows sexual violence.
Traditional gender roles, power imbalances, and
victim-blaming all contribute to sexual violence. Some ways you
can help:
• Model respectful behavior to those around you.
• Talk with your children about healthy sexual
development and personal boundaries.
• Intervene and speak up when you see inappropriate behavior. To better equip
yourself in these situations, practice what you might say or do
