FunShop 2015
The Mid-Winter Indoor Martial Arts Program, better known as the "FunShop", is an annual educational program for students of the American Martial Arts Institute of all ranks who are between the ages of 6 and 12. Students develop improve their martial arts skills, communication skills, social skills, and challenge themselves to learn new things while having fun.
This three day event is taught by Grandmaster Crandall, Master Stalloch, and Master Freleigh with assistance from the black belt instructors and "red tops" (junior rank black belt class assistants in our leadership program). This year's FunShop was filled with excitement and learning. Below are some of the details and pictures of the event. The following instructors assisted with this year's FunShop: Mr. Freleigh, Chief Instructor G. Stalloch, Senior Instructor Cumings, Mr. T. Stalloch, Miss Moller, and Mrs. Jessee. The following Red Tops assisted with this year's FunShop: Aidan Uvanni, Douglas Hotvedt, Ryan Payne, and Timothy Ha.
MONDAY
The day began as Master Stalloch bowed in the group and then covered the day’s agenda and some general information about the FunShop, including some of its rules and procedures for safety, courtesy, and learning. The students were led through a short stretching and warm-up session to prepare for the day’s activities by one of the Red Tops, supervised by the instructors. Each day started this way.
SD-1 SD-1 and SD-2 are self-defense techniques, which are documented in the third edition of the American Eagle Style Instructional Textbook and on the American Eagle Style Self-Defense, Volume 1 DVD, and they are required to test for brown belt. After stretching students were broken into smaller groups based on experience and rank, and they were taught these techniques. For SD-1, mats were used for the takedown portion of the technique. Part of this class involved learning how to fall correctly for safety.
Moving Kicks Class Kicks can be done from a variety of “stationary” stances, or while moving throughout a room. There are eight kicks that are required to test for second gyup (second rank brown belt), which are identified in the textbook. Students were divided into two groups. The group that did not know how to play chess, went to training room 2 to learn the basic rules and piece movements. Meanwhile, the other group worked on the eight fundamental moving kicks including center kick, roundhouse instep, spinning back, skips side, and flying side kick. Then the two groups rotated so that everyone learned the both the kicks and the rules to chess.
Chess Class The chess competition is a major part of the Winter FunShop every year. It builds focus, patience, and sportsmanship. Time is also taken to discuss some analogies of how chess is like life. For instance, sometimes people must make scarifies to get the things they want. As a traditional martial arts school, the American Martial Arts Institute hopes that it will have a positive impact on how its students view the world and approach the challenges of life so that they will find success in their own personal commitments to friends, family, and community. The chess competition allows the students to have fun while improving their focus and decision-making skills. The chess class ran in two groups. The first group learned the rules to chess. The second group already knew the rules; therefore, they worked on identifying some basic patterns for openings and endings. They also spent more time on discussing some of the mental aspects of the martial arts, such as patience. The students have fun practicing on the large chess set.
Extension Tool Class Master Freleigh gave a presentation, a general overview, of all the wooden (or non-bladed) extension tools used in our school. As an empty-hand martial art style, American Eagle Style uses the term “weapons” to refer to the parts of the body that can be used to defend oneself, such as hands, feet, elbows, knees, and head. Extension tools are implements that can “extend” their empty-hand skills into a tool. These include the bo (staff), kama (sickle), eku (oar), cane, sword, and many others. This topic is often asked on brown belt exams, with students expected to know the names of the extension tools, the kata that can be executed using those tools, and more. Master Freleigh also discussed the annual “Weapon’s Competition,” the history of each tool, and more.
Chess Competition:1st ROUND Following the extension tool class, students paired off for the first round of the competition. Names were drawn for each round at random. Those completed their first round were given the option to play practice matches or practice their katas in training hall room 2 under the supervision of an instructor.
Lunch Each day the students ate lunch together as a group around tables. Students had the option to order pizza, McDonalds, or to bring their own lunch. All food was delivered to the school. Students had the chance to socialize and get to know one another better. When they were done eating and had cleaned up after themselves, they had the option to play chess matches, practice kata, or read the textbook. Time for was given for a “special academic contest,” which consisted of three challenging questions about the school and style. The answers could be found by reading the textbook, reading the certificates and items on the walls, or by looking in the display cases. A special trophy was given on day the winner, Zachary Slade. Other students took advantage of the practice time to work on the bo and sai kata with Master Stalloch and Master Freleigh.
Karate-Man-Says Karate-Man-Says pushed the students to the limits of listening and following directions precisely. After stretching, the instructors led the group through this game with prizes for the winner. Only one person could win.
Basic Forms Class There are 36 basic forms listed in the school’s textbook, with different numbers of techniques required at different ranks. Students testing for blue belt must know all 36, and students testing for brown belt must be able to do all 36 on their own without them called off by an instructor. As students progress in rank, the standard for the level of quality, power, and flow also increases. Students who didn’t know all of these techniques were taught more. Students were split by rank to focus on the level of quality expected for their rank. Higher ranks played the basic forms game and practiced calling off all 36 basic forms from memory.
Anatomy Class Master Stalloch is also a certified biology teacher, and he presented an anatomy class on the bones, joints, and muscles that are affected during blocks, kicks, basic forms, kata, ippon kumites, and hanza escape techniques. Students looked at these techniques on a full-body skeleton, and looked at individual bones using a full dis-articulated skeleton. They also received a three page hand out.
Tumbling Class Students learned and practiced the five fundamental floor exercises required during testings in our school. Practice included a discussion of why the exercises are done in a specific format to maximize safety, especially to the neck.
First Written Exam The students took the first written exam, covering the day’s topics and information about the school. Each day included an exam, and the results of all three days were added together to determine first, second, and third place.
Sparring Class Master Stalloch covered the rules of sparring, before breaking up into groups by rank for practice matches. The brown belts practiced advanced skills by sparring with the Red Tops. The day ended with a game of whack-a-doo karate, a game of teamwork, coordination, and cardiovascular endurance. Prizes were awarded.
