Congratulations new rokkyu!

Posted on September 3, 2007

Congratulations!The Florida Jukido Jujitsu Academy now has seven new blue belts. Make sure you congratulate these students as they advance towards black belt and beyond. Great job Kaine Lynch, Chris Calderon, Daniel Calderon, Carly Esposito, Elena Esposito, Shanna Merceron, and Samantha Gemelli.We are so proud of you! Keep up the good work!

OSSU!

Ellen ScherrFJJA Probationary Shodan

Filed Under General Discussions | 4 Comments

Summer Training

Posted on June 29, 2007

Tired of being bored during the summer with nothing to do? Want to know how to learn new techniques and get better at the ones you already know? Improve your chances of being tested and to learn from watching others be tested? Have a chance of getting a private lesson with any of the dojo dans, a samurai sword set (3 swords and stand), or a heavyweight gi? Is the answer yes? Of course it is! It’s easy—just come to Jukido during the summer! Not only can you come just as much as you usually do, you can come more. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday! And if you go to the International Kokondo Seminar, that’s even more Jukido time!

Whatever you do, make sure you don’t miss Saturday. There are two classes on Saturday, which means you get two points for the Summer Contest (more on that later). Plus, we usually do extra fun stuff on Saturday. Like learning cool techniques that we rarely do, or learning a new nage waza. Sometimes we do fun drills, too, like Thunder Pads—yes, Parin, your favorite. Or King of the Mat, osae-komi-waza version, which is my favorite drill. Of course, with me in it, it’s usually Queen of the Mat (Just kidding!). Another neat thing about Saturday is how small the second class usually is. It’s great to have so much extra attention from the dans!

My own personal favorite thing about the summer is the International Kokondo Seminar. This year it’s in Massachusetts, next year it will be in Washington. Maybe you’ve heard some of the higher ranks talking about it. It’s something for those of you who aren’t going this year to look forward to—three days of practically non-stop Jukido training. We only stop to eat and sleep (I usually dream about Jukido anyway). What more could we ask? It’s also a great opportunity to meet members of our Kokondo ‘family’ from all over the world. And where else are you going to see and have the opportunity to work with Shihan Paul Arel, Master Howard, Master Robert, and many other masters and higher ranking sensei?

As if you don’t have enough reasons to come to Jukido during the summer, there’s the Summer Contest to think about. It’s a pretty easy contest: Just come to Jukido as much as you can. If you win, which means you’ve come to more classes than anyone else, you’ll have the choice of samurai swords, a private lesson, or a heavyweight gi. Just don’t forget- the cool prizes aren’t the reason you’re coming to class, they’re just motivation. The real prize is getting to come to class everyday and do Jukido.

Testing is another great thing about summer. It seems like everyone is a different rank by the time it’s over. The best approach to testing is just to come everyday and do your best. The summer is a great time for that because of how much time you get in the dojo. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be tested. Even if you aren’t, you’ll have opportunities to watch other kids’ tests. Watch carefully and try to learn from other people’s mistakes so you don’t make them too. Try to think about what you would have done differently, or what you would like to do the same. And don’t think that just because the person being tested is a lower rank than you you shouldn’t watch. We learn things from lower ranks all the time. And if they are being tested they are obviously doing something right. If you are tested, just do your best. Don’t think about your techniques too much, and especially not about any mistakes you might make. Just go for it. Don’t make a silly mistake just because you’re nervous! If you weren’t ready to be tested, Sensei wouldn’t have tested you.

Summer at the Florida Jukido Jujitsu Academy is an exciting time. And we want you to be a part of it! So if you’re ready for some serious Jukido learning and fun, don’t forget about the summer. It’s a fun Jukido time!

See you in the dojo!

Ellen Scherr

FJJA Ikkyu

Don’t know what everything meant? Here’s a bit of help:

Dans are blackbelts

Gi are the uniforms we wear

Nage Waza are throwing techniques–Osoto Gari, Ippon, Ogoshi…

Osae-komi-waza are holding or pinning techniques

Shihan literally means “master of masters” or “teacher of teachers”. We use it as the title of Paul Arel, Kokondo’s founder.

Dojo means training hall.

Not too hard, right?

Filed Under General Discussions | 6 Comments

Congratulations new rokkyu!

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