Strahan's Karate Center

Hello, Everyone,

Hope you all had a good holiday season and are ready for a new year of martial arts and fitness! If you haven’t yet made your “New Year’s Resolutions” yet, consider making your health a top priority for 2012. It’s the most important asset you can have, and martial arts can help you reach your fitness and health goals.

There are some changes to our 2012 class schedule. Please note effective as of January 17, 2012 the new school hours for the studio. This is for the Tuesday and Thursday class schedule. The Children’s class will be from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and the Adult class (age 13 and up) will be from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Please note that all classes must begin and end promptly on time to keep this tight schedule, so make every effort to arrive at least 15 minutes early before class to warm up and stretch.

Thanks so much and see everyone on Tuesday!
Tang SOO!

All the hard work, training and determination of our SKC students paid big dividends at this year’s Region Six Fall Dan test and Championship in Florence, AL, September 16-17, 2011. Representing the studio were seven competitors, two students testing for their advanced black belt ranks, and numerous SKC “Karate Dads and Moms” to cheer on their champions.

The Dan test began that Friday evening with a comprehensive written exam covering the history of Tang Soo Do, studio practices, terminology and general martial arts theory. Thereafter, candidates endured the three-hour physical portion of the test. Here, the black belt candidate’s stamina, knowledge of material and strength was judged and scored by a panel of Masters from the region. SKC instructors E Dan Adrienne Tucker and Cho Dan Joey Polk both successfully tested for their Sam Dan (Third Degree) and E Dan (Second Degree) Black belt ranks, respectively.

The Championship began the next day, Saturday morning, at 9 AM. After opening ceremonies, both competitors and the audience enjoyed a Master’s Demonstration by Masters Vaughn Henry, Todd Oyen and Bill Strong of North Alabama Tang Soo Do, as well as our own Master Thomas Strahan of SKC. General competition got underway shortly thereafter. Representing the children’s divisions were SKC students Noah Grey, Drew Howard, Dalton Smith and Micah Tisdale. All received medals in their performance of empty hand forms, weapons and sparring.

Black belts Brenda Askew, Samuel Bond and Lauren Pursley competed later that afternoon in the Adult divisions. E Dan Brenda Askew was awarded the Region Six Grand Champion award, Women’s Division, age 35 and up for her performance, and E Dan Lauren Pursley was honored with the Region Six Instructor of the Year award. Both women medalled in the competition. Cho Dan Bo Vicki Polk, Cho Dans Samuel Bond, Joe Polk and E Dans Brenda Askew, Lauren Pursley and Adrienne Tucker also served as judges and time keeper/score keepers during the competition.

Both competitors and families can be proud of their efforts in this year’s regional event. Next year’s Region Six Fall Championship will be held in Foley, AL (date to be announced). Stay tuned for details as they develop. Tang Soo!

Both the children’s and adult classes have been cancelled this Thursday, September 15 for a church function. If you are planning to attend the Region 6 Dan Test and Championship this weekend, please make every effort to attend class on Tuesday, September 13 for tournament information, travel arrangements and schedules. Remember to bring your sparring gear for additional training on Tuesday. Any questions, please contact Master Strahan at the studio.
Thanks!

With the Region Six annual Fall-cycle Dan test and Championship coming up next month, it is important to focus on one’s physical condition, endurance and flexibility, as well as the performance of forms, etc. This is a good time to review your diet and exercise/training plan, and stay healthy. Let’s start at the beginning– the fuel you put in your body…

Eating quality fresh foods, good, lean protein and drinking plenty of toxin-flushing water is key. Be an “ingredient reader” and check labels on your favorite foods. Are they really healthy or full of empty calories? When you cut back on sugars, empty carbs, fatty snacks and soft drinks, it’s not only a good way to lose weight and feel better, but a great way to start healthy habits to keep for a lifetime. The fuel you put in your car helps it move with efficiency and performance. The fuel you put in your body does the same. Think about it.

Physical exercise is also essential. Some experts claim if you exercise just 15 minutes a day, you can prolong your life by several years. Martial artists should always keep up a regular exercise and training routine, but during tournament time, it’s important not to over-do and risk injury. Go through your training time carefully, with power, but don’t strain yourself. Always remember to warm up first, stretch, then cool down and stretch. Don’t just jump into your exercises cold. You risk pulling a muscle that could effect your ability to perform.

Lastly, get plenty of rest. Lack of sleep can affect your mental and physical performance greatly. If you can’t get the “recommended” eight hours of sleep every night, go for at least seven. When you train, be mindful that your metabolism is ramping up and more demands are being made on your body. The sleep/rest process gives your body time to repair, rebuild and reset itself for the next day’s activities.

We wish all our competitors much success at the Region Six Tournament in Florence, AL next month. Tang Soo!

On Saturday, August 13, students of SKC and Tucker’s Tang Soo Do (Elberta, AL) participated in the annual Fall Cycle Dan Pre-test at Strahan’s Karate Center, Poplarville, MS. The Pre-test is a grueling examination of the Black belt candidate’s mental and physical endurance and preparedness for the Region Six Dan test held every Fall cycle in September. This year’s Dan test and Regional Championship will be held on September 16-17 on the campus of the University of North Alabama, Florence, AL.

Candidates were subjected to a thorough workout, performing forms, basic blocks, punches and kicks, as well as advanced techniques, rolls and falls, weapons forms and the standard calisthenics required for the rank. Those who pass the pre-test are then eligible for Dan testing at the regional event next month. Our own SKC students E Dan Adrienne Tucker and Cho Dan Joey Polk were successful, and will now be testing for their advanced ranks in just a few weeks.

Following the Pre-test, four new Cho Dan (1st degree Black Belts) were awarded their ranks in a special Black Belt ceremony held in the dojang. Our congratulations go out to SKC students Samuel Bond, Jeremy Johnston, Susan Starke and Micah Lewis on their promotions! All Black Belts in attendance renewed their own Black Belt oaths, along with the new Cho Dans, during the ceremony. The Black Belt oath is a solemn statement of ethics and loyalty one’s studio, instructor, grandmaster and the World Tang Soo Do Association, and is the core of the value system of the Black Belt.

Photographs of the event are posted in the photo album section of the website and on our Facebook page “Strahan’s Karate Center”. We wish our Dan candidates much success at the Fall test next month. Tang SOO!

The Region Six Fall Dan Test and Championship will be held on September 16-17, 2011 in Florence, AL at the University of North Alabama. Grandmaster Jae C. Shin will be attending! Several of our students are slated to test for 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree black belt ranks, and a number of students from both the children’s class and adult class will be competing during the all-day tournament on the 17th. In addition, there will be a Championship Party Saturday evening for all participants and guests, and commemorative event t-shirts will be available for purchase.

The official “Championship Hotel” will be the Emerald River Hotel in Sheffield, AL. Space is limited and rooms are booking up fast, so make your plans to attend now! For more information, hotel reservation phone number and Championship application forms, see Master Strahan at the studio. Hope to see everyone there!

Recently, four students in the children’s class successfully tested for their new ranks. Micah Askew, Aaryn Askins, Jayvan Schaubhut and Dalton Smith all did well and showed their knowledge of stances, forms and techniques, receiving their new ranks shortly thereafter. Their photo can be seen on the Photo page of the website, as well as on our Facebook page. Tang Soo!