The American Martial Arts Institute recently held its annual adult seminar day on Saturday, January 23rd.   This all-day event was held at the main training hall in New Hartford, New York, and offered its adult students a unique opportunity for personal growth and traditional martial arts training.  The seminar was taught by Grandmaster Crandall who was assisted by black belt instructors from across New York State.

As a traditional martial arts school, one of the American Martial Arts Institute's greatest asset is it's many adult, black belt instructors. These instructors are, in effect, advanced students who have been given the privelege of assisting the Grandmaster in the teaching of the style, passing it on to the next generation and helping students improve their personal lives through training. While the martial arts has many benefits for children and teenagers, it was originally formulated for adults, men and women with lives full of responsibilities and personal challenges. Each year the Adult Seminar Day offers adult students of the American Eagle Style the opportunity to learn more about their school, its rich history, and areas not normally covered in class. It builds camaraderie among the students and strengthen's their understanding of the art they are studying.

Some of this year's seminar topics included a class on the school's lineage (the roots of American Eagle Style including Grandmaster Crandall's instructors and the styles they taught him), philosophy of the martial arts as a way of life and agent of social change, advanced open hand techniques such as waving technique and boulder block, Old Koryo (for all ranks), seated self-defense, seated self-defense with the use of a cane, kendo, head control techniques, Batto-do demonstration, and more.

It was an exciting day for the school as the students and instructors became stronger and more involved in American Eagle Style. Many who participate in the Adult Seminars are the same students who go on to one day become instructors in the style. Next years adult seminar day will be held in January 2011.

Back Row (left to right): Mr. Freleigh, Miss Peterson, Dr. Chuff, Eric Dratler, Dick Pellegrino, Peter Hotvedt,
Chief Instructor Eric Stalloch, Grandmaster Crandall, Pat Onate, Al Salinero, Robert Peterson, Mrs. G. Stalloch,
Mr. Santiago, Senior Instructor Cheryl Freleigh.
Front Row (left to right): Mr. T. Stalloch, David Tomisman, Jill Craw, Brandy Manolakos, Karina Ross, Chitsana Sheaffer,
Clifford Soults, Ms. Austin