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Welcome to our news and archives.  Please note that all test results are posted for the current year, but may not appear in the archives.  Full records are kept at our main office.  In addition, photographs and news releases prior to 1997 are kept in our school library at our main location dating back to the 1960s.

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Funshop 2024 - Annual Midwinter Break Indoor Martial Arts Program

ABOUT THE FUNSHOP

It’s mid-winter break and school is out, but the learning continues for Central New York Students at the American Martial Arts Institute’s Indoor Martial Arts Program.  On February 19 and 20, 18 local students, ages 6-12, attended an all-day martial arts program taught by Grandmaster Crandall and Headmaster Stalloch with assistance from our school's staff.


The Funshop is a fun and educational experience that can help students succeed in the martial arts.  It is a structured atmosphere

that allows greater time to be spent with students as individuals.  Students receive one-on-one, lengthy attention to improve their techniques, kata, and knowledge in the martial arts, which can accelerate their skill level.  They learn about a variety of topics that are not covered in regular classes such as chess, extension tools, specialized self-defense, through fun, engaging, educational activities that improve their teamwork and collaboration skills, listening skills, and leadership potential.  This is all done with the overall aim of improving their confidence and self-esteem through friendly competition events focused on fun.  One of the greatest assets for personal safety and self defense is confidence. When students are having fun, students are learning, and this makes them feel better about themselves and their place in the world.


SPECIAL PROMOTION AND TESTING OPPORTUNITIES ANNOUNCED!


Congratulations to Casen, who was promoted and presented with his Orange Belt on Tuesday moring at the FunShop by Grandmaster Crandall. The FunShop is a unique opportunity for Grandmaster Crandall and Headmaster Stalloch to see the students demonstrate their martial arts attitude, knowledge, and skills over two full days (8:30 am to 5 pm).


And, it is a chance for those same students to grow in their own skills and knowledge, as the instructors work with them in classes on special topics in small groups and one-on-one. Sometimes it results a student being ready to test for their next rank sooner than if they only attended regular classes.


This was the case for 10 students at the FunShop this year who were put up to test on March 12th as a result of what Grandmaster Crandall and Headmaster Stalloch saw them demonstrate at the FunShop. These students were given testing paperwork with a special green AMAI sticker, and they will test on March 12.


Occassionally, Grandmaster Crandall sees a student who he believes should be promoted based on their attitude and skills, and he will present them with their new rank without testing formally before a judging panel. This was the case for Casen. This type of promotion typically happens very infrequently. Congratulations to Casen and the students who will soon be testing.



Here is just some of the fun and excitement from this year's Funshop:


MONDAY


Team Formation. The day began with thestudents will being put into their FunShop teams, which were chosen by randomly drawing names by rank so that each team would have a range of ranks. The students took time learn each other’s names and choose Team Name.


Following stretching the students were divided into groups by rank for a class on Basic Forms. Our style has 36 required basic forms, and the students worked on improving their overall skills or learning new ones.


Chess Class. Students will learned the rules of chess, demonstrated with large chess set by Headmaster Stalloch. Competition rules were reviewed, including rules for castling. Time was also taken discuss how chess is similar like life. For example, each decision can affect the next and that our choices have consequences.


Chess Competition. 1st ROUND. The students played a round of chess to earn points for their team. After playing their first competition round, they played additional students and team members for casual rounds.



Lunch After the mornings excitement, the students sat together for lunch at tables in observation area of the training hall.


Punches. An energetic session with ¼ and ½ turns, hops, high-middle-low punches, cross punches, jumps with turns!


Mats, Belts, Bags, and More!  Student teams wored together to complete different tasks expected as skills to test for brown and black belts.  This includes how to assemble mat patterns, belt tying, setting up bags for workouts, class section commands, and more.  These was done in a competition style series of challenges, and time will be spent to discuss these areas and how to improve on them.  Focus on collaboration skills and discipline development. This was the first competion where students earned points for their teams.


Floor Skills Class:  Students learned and practiced the shoulder roll and “Meet Mr. Floor”, which are required during testings in our school.  Some students also practiced cartwheel, round-off, and backwards roll based on proficiency with shoulder roll and Meet Mr. Floor.  These skills are rarely taught in public school phys. ed. class, and are testing requirements for color belt ranks and higher.


10 Fundamental Self Defense Techniques: Students learned and practiced our style’s 10 fundamental self-defense techniques which are required to test for green belt and above.  On Tuesday, these techniques were be applied in an activity called "The Guantlet!"