SWKA 1 Year Old

Wow; that's really the best word that I can come up with for how today makes me feel. Just wow! Today marks the 1 year anniversary/birthday of Scholar and Warrior Kenpo Academy. And it feels SO darn good. So much growth has happened this year for Gene and I.

This time last year we were shaking in our gis! We plunged head first into this adventure and it was sink or swim! I'm so pleased to see that we swam. :) Sure we had bumps, what new business doesn't. But we have beaten the odds so far; statistics say that most new martial arts studios fold within the first 6 months-a year of opening. Not us we're going strong! And it's thanks to our students and their families.

We have met the most amazing people so far, people that have made their way not only into our lives but in our hearts. A family has been created, and it's so beautiful. I look forward to seeing everyone at every class! I'm so excited to see what year 2 has in store for us! :)

Below is a link to a Shutterfly album I created. It's nearly 60 pages of photos from our first year! Enjoy!


http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/projectdetail.sfly?fid=72679a6b9714f860c7e45aad1e0cdff4&sid=2UYuXLhk2dL&key=2UYuXLhk2dL&shareProjectTitle=Photo+Book&pid=SFLY&cid=SHARE3PSJXX

Be sure and click on "Full Screen" for a better viewing experience!

4 Years Old And I'm Finally Starting To Get It

This is kinda late considering my 4th Kenpo Birthday was about a month and a half ago; but I still wanted to blog about it. :)

Being a Brown Belt, especially at first is a phenomenal feeling! There's just something so cool about being classified as an "advanced rank." When I first earned my 3rd Brown boy did I feel cool. That was all I felt really, I was so impressed with the rank. Now that I've had some time to settle into it the wow factor isn't as prominent. I've matured quite a bit on my martial arts path this past year.

This last year has been by far my best and my favorite so far in my personal Journey. To an outsider it would probably appear as my worst since I've been a 3rd Brown for nearly a year and a half. But there's so very much more than meets the eye.

I'm not pursuing rank, I'm pursuing knowledge. When I earned my 3rd Brown I didn't even know what principles were exactly, or how to apply them. I hadn't had much exposure to them at all. A week after my promotion to 3rd I was in Edmond, Oklahoma at a seminar camp with Mr. Brian Duffy and Mr. Rich Hale. That weekend is when principles really started to make an appearance in my training.
Principles fascinate me, I've always been a very bookish person and I LOVE being able to read new things about Kenpo.

When Gene and I opened our own school in September of 2011 we knew we wanted the curriculum to be based on principles. In my personal training he started me with Delayed Sword, and over the past 12 months he has been reteaching me the entire system with an emphasis on principles. It's truly been my best year in Kenpo. I'm learning things I never knew before about techniques I've been practicing for years.

I feel much more deserving of my 3rd Brown Belt than I did last year. I'm really starting to see and understand what Kenpo is all about and I'm so excited.

It's one hell of a feeling the day you realize that you'd rather be under ranked and over educated than the opposite.

Ohana Means Family

Most everyone has seen the Disney movie; Lilo and Stitch. It's one of my absolute favorites, I can mimic Stitch's voice insanely well. :) My favorite part of the film is the line; "Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind, or forgotten." Nothing is more true. Gene and I joined Mr. Rich Hale's Ohana Kenpo Karate Association in February of 2011. The first thing I thought of when I saw what the name of the association was, was that line from Lilo and Stitch.

In August of 2011 when Gene and I decided to open our own school we knew we were going to stay with the Ohana and Mr. Hale. We loved the family theme, and we knew that was exactly how we wanted to run our school. 

Skip ahead to today, September 1, 2012. SWKA's very first annual Break-A-Thon. (Are you allowed to call it an annual event even if it's just the first time? lol) Anyways, this was the third event we had done as a school, and it was our largest and most successful I believe. The first event we walked in the Apple Blossom parade and the second event we had a bbq in the park. 

I could hardly sleep last night, I was so excited for this morning. We had twenty kids (TWENTY!!) breaking boards today! :) And it was fantastic! Ages ranged from 4 to 15! :) When they walked out onto that floor and I looked around I couldn't believe how many people were there. Parents, grandparents, friends and family; there were so many people there! So many people supporting the students. It was wonderful, beautiful. Every person broke a board. Ms. Ashlyn George, 10 years old, did something awesome that took a lot of guts, she attempted to break an unscored board. I don't care that she didn't break through the board; what I care about is that she had the guts to get out there and try. As long as she keeps trying and pushing herself that's all we ask. :) 

I don't even know where to begin on thank yous, we had so many parents bring in food, and help us organize, and stay late to clean up the place. It was overwhelming. So wonderfully overwhelming. 

I do want to say thank you to Carlos Gomez, my wonderful friend who not only shot and edited a documentary for us a few weeks ago. He came back in and shot the break-a-thon again for us today. He is a fantastic friend and Gene and I are so grateful! 

I want to say a huge thank you to Clinton George and his family, Clinton cut and scored every single board on Thursday night. He took 5 hours out of his day to come help me, and all I can say is thank you! 

Today was the last day for one of our students who has been with us for a long time. Mr. Gracien Hall and his mom Hollie are moving to Ohio, onto bigger and greater things, and we couldn't be happier for them. But I won't lie, my heart broke a little bit when I had to say goodbye to the two of them today. Hollie's words; "You guys are really wonderful instructors and it makes me not want to leave, we love you so much." Just set me over the edge, (that happened a lot today lol) That is a perfect example of us achieving exactly what we wanted to; Ohana. We have another family, the Krauskopfs, that are moving at the end of this month, and Hannah texted me a few days ago and said; "karate is the hardest part about moving." 

I knew when we opened this school that we were going to love it, Gene and I have such a passion for the Art and for sharing it with others, to FINALLY be able to run our own school; it's not an exaggeration when I say that it's a dream come true for the both of us. And the best part for me is the atmosphere; the fact that we're all a family. The part that I didn't expect was how much everyone else was going to love it. I feel like my heart is going to burst every time I hear, "I love you Ms. Elliot." or "I want to do karate forever and someday have a school like you and Mr.  Braden." and my favorite; "Kenpo for life!!"

I want to say thank you again to all of the parents, the students and the people who sponsored our kiddos who broke today. We ended up raising more than what we anticipated which is phenomenal. It is because of you guys that we get to spend time with Mr. Rich Hale in a couple weeks, and that is a wonderful opportunity and I'm so glad we get that chance. 

Tons of supportive families!

Our little butt kickers!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Clinton George. :)

Look what we did!!

Have to have a grrr face! 

Hahahahaha Chris is awesome!

Have to have a grrr face! 

Such a great group of kids!

We're so blessed!

:)

Scholar and Warrior Kenpo Academy's Inaugural 2012 Break-A-Thon! 

We really have something special going on at Scholar and Warrior; and it's only going to get better I think; we're a growing family, and it's a phenomenal thing to be a part of. This is the most rewarding thing that I think I'll ever do with my life; and I just want to thank every student and parent that we have; because without you this wouldn't be possible.