Monday 27 August 2012

Free 'Over 50's Karate Class'


Haxby Shotokan Karate Club is getting involved with Just 30’s campaign to get people to do 30 minutes exercise a day. The Club is holding a special free class for the over 50’s as part of the Eng-AGE 50+ games.  The special free ‘Over 50’s class’ which is designed to show that karate can be learnt by anyone, whatever their age or fitness level is being held on Monday 1st October from 7pm-9pm at Wigginton Recreation Hall, The Village, Haxby, York, YO32 2PL. 

For more details or to book a place on the free session email info@haxbykarate.co.uk or phone 0758 324 9115. More information on Haxby Shotokan Karate Club can be found on their website www.haxbykarate.co.uk. More details on Just 30 can be found at www.justafewminutesmore.com




visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to receive a free training session. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Family Fun Success


What a great day! Over 75 people came along to Wigginton Recreation Hall on Sunday for our first Family Fun Day. Everyone had a fantastic time as you can see by these photographs.


The day started with a free taster session for under-eight year olds. The class followed a similar format to the taster session we had run on Friday. Lorraine assisted by Jim, took the class through some games as warm-ups, but which also developed important concepts like always paying attention and being ready to react instantly, in a fun and engaging way.



Jim then took over the instructing for the second half of the class and lead the children through some of the basics of the karate – punching, blocking and having a firm stance. I’m not sure what the children enjoyed more – trying to scare their parents with their KIAI, or trying to push Jim over when he was demonstrating the importance of a long, low, stable stance!


Meanwhile, fun was being had in the main hall where an inflatable assault course and computer martial arts game were on offer. The assault course in particular proved very popular, it felt like there were always at least a dozen children on it!

Outside Adam was preparing the Barbeque, whilst laughing at our attempts to stay on the surf simulator. Some of us were obviously more talented at this than others – Kian in particular seemed to be a natural!

 
The weather was on our side and it stayed fine for the barbeque which was greatly enjoyed by all. A big thank you to Adam who stepped in to effortlessly cook the entire thing himself. This was complemented by a legion of cakes, flapjack, muffins and ‘ninja ginger bread men’ that had been cooked by club members.




After Lunch it was time for ‘Soak a Shodan’, which (not very surprisingly) proved to be very popular. Club members in particular took great delight in trying to soak Jim, who had (been) volunteered to be soaked. Jack took the prize to the best shot of the day and overall accuracy. Our friends from the Selby club managed to get themselves wetter than they did Jim – perhaps Sensei Paul needs to work on their accuracy with a thrown sponge!





Just after this Ice Cream Van that Brenda had arranged (by chasing it down the street no less!) paid us a visit. This brought a short pause to the fun and games, but once the ice creams had been digested Sensei Mike lead the club members and anyone else who wanted a free taster session through a fun karate class, focusing on kumite applications and sparring games.

All in all it was a brilliant, and very fun day. Everyone who came along appeared to have a great time. Special mention must go to all the children who attended as they were brilliantly behaved, very polite and well mannered throughout the day.

Big thanks to Lorraine, Brenda and Catherine for all their hard work organising the day, and to Adam for manning the barbeque all day.

Plans are already in place for our Christmas party…





visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to receive a free training session. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk

Saturday 18 August 2012

Free Kids Class



Free Kids Class


Twenty four children visited the dojo on Friday 17th August for a free introductory karate lesson. The first session which catered for ages 5-8 was full to capacity. Lorraine, ably assisted by Holly, Bethany and Jemimah, took the class through some games as a warm up that incorporated important concepts like always keeping your eye on the opponent across in a fun and engaging way.

Jim then took over the class for the second half and instructed them through some of the basics – punching and blocking, and how important it is that you have a firm stance so you don’t fall over!  The children were very impressed by the kata and kumite demonstrations, but the thing they enjoyed most was scaring their parents with their KIAI!

The second class for 9 – 15 years was smaller, but this allowed for a more informal atmosphere.  Jim took the class through a condensed training session, with warm-up followed by basics and then some kumite related exercises at the end.

Although the KIAIS were not quite as loud as the first class the children really enjoyed trying to push Jim over when he was explaining the importance of having a strong stance and a good centre of gravity! They also loved hitting the punch bags at the end of the session and were really able to develop some powerful punches and strikes!

We were very impressed with the number of children who came to say thank you at the end of the classes, and hopefully we will see some of you down at the dojo again soon – don’t forget mums and dads can train too!



visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to receive a free training session. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Article in The Press

An article about Haxby Shotokan Karate Club's Free Family Fun Day on Sunday 19th August appeared in The Press on 15th August. http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/other/indoor/boxing/9874292.Family_fun_dat_at_Haxby_Shotokan_Karate_Club/


With kind permission of The Press www.yorkpress.co.uk


visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to receive a free training session. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk

Tuesday 14 August 2012

Happy Birthday Brenda!


We managed to surprise Brenda at training last night with a cake and an enthusiastic (if not tuneful!) rendition of 'Happy Birthday to you' to celebrate her 60th Birthday. As well as being the Club Welfare Officer Brenda  is the one who has always made sure that everyone is OK and feels welcome at the club. For those of you who don't know her, below is her story from the first edition of the new club magazine!

I had wanted to learn karate for a long time, I was the mum who ferried her daughters to karate class but never quite plucked up the courage to join in. I have been practising Tai Chi for about seven years and wondered if the flowing moves of Tai Chi and karate would complement each other.

Then two and half years ago I passed Wigginton Recreation Hall and saw Haxby Karate Club training. I had a bit of an argument with myself but finally thought what have I got to lose, went in and asked “Would you consider teaching me Karate”  The man I now know as Sensei Mike smiled and said “ If you want to learn we will teach you”.

And that’s exactly what’s happened. The help and encouragement everyone receives really enables members of all ages and abilities to enjoy and progress. I have achieved my 5th Kyu (purple and white belt) further than I ever imagined, and am keen to progress further. I am a bit older (well quite a lot older actually) but I believe that with determination and training I can go further.

The concentration I have learnt from Tai Chi has helped me in my Karate. I have had bruises, of which oddly enough I am quite proud, a few even made Facebook, I ache, but in a good way, I achieve the simplest move which has eluded me for weeks and I am elated.  A well done from any of my instructors and I feel like I have won a gold medal.

Thank you Haxby Karate Club for continuing to support me in my Karate journey.




visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to receive a free training session. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk

Friday 3 August 2012

Dojo's Friends




It is with great delight, that I can announce, that Dojo's friend for the month of July is Conrad. Conrad has used his listening and remembering skills to impress Dojo with his knowledge and understanding of terms and phrases used within the karate environment. His certificate was awarded be Sensei Mike who has also been impressed by all the Karate kids hard work. Well done Conrad!


visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to receive a free training session. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk