We welcomed a new adult student into the AMW family. Laurie W. joined us and has been enjoying class ever since. Welcome Laurie! It’s great to have you training with us.

April’s belt promotion was an incredible sight! Eleven students earned new rank. Congratulations go out to Ted G., Hayden G., Domingo P., Jackson H., Carson P., Addison M., Dan O., Caleb C., Sam H., Sam D., and Holden P. The supporting crowd was especially wowed by Dan O’s flying jump kick over two students to break his board. Way to go Dan O.

The Powerful Word for the month of April was Legacy (Legacy means: A gift, lesson, or reputation handed down from one person or group to another.) AMW students learned what it means to leave a “good” or a “bad” legacy as they go through life.

Thanks for a taking a moment to reflect back on last month’s events and the legacy that we are all leaving on the minds of each other.

See you in the studio!

Sabumnim

This month Jack M. joined us as one of our newest Taekwondo students. Welcome Jack! It’s nice to have you with us.

The month started with a BANG as several students from the Academy and Mr. Macks and his students from Williams Taekwondo made their way to Albuquerque, NM for a Taekwondo tournament. New friendships were made between the two schools and existing friendships were strengthened! A big bow of respect goes out to the following competitors who stepped on the mat in Albuquerque: Sam H., Jackson H., Monty G., Chloe D., Lee D., Gibson L., Madi L., and Jen L. A big thanks also goes out to all the parents, Black Belts, and family supporters who came along to help out and provide cheers of encouragement and coaching for the students!

The week after the tournament it was time to host AMW’s quarterly FREE Women’s Self-Defense Seminar. As a community service, women are invited to the Academy to receive a free two hour seminar designed to help improve their ability to stay safe in the world we life in. Several women took advantage of this seminar and it was a life changing event for many of them.

The next morning it was time for more community service as we held the first meeting of the ECO-WARRIORS for 2012. Twenty warriors came out to give of themselves in order to help make their community a little better place to live. My sincerest thanks and offer of respect go out to: Doug K., Kathleen K., Victoria B., Django B., Lee D., Luba S., Cody P., Zak P., Katy H-M., Scott G., Tyler G., Ben L., Jon L., Robin L., Ben L., Jason K., Monty G., Anthonoy M., Holden P., and Mechelle F.

March’s belt promotion was a grand event. This month nine people showed us that they were ready to take that next step on their journey towards Black Belt and beyond. Congratulations go out to: Jason K., Sheyenne L., Zachariah B., Jonathan D., Andrew D., Orian S., Wyatt K., Elijah R., and Chloe D. Good job everyone! A big Kahm sa hamnida (Thank You) also goes out to AMW Black Belts: Chris H., Mechelle F., Alethea K., and Dana P. for spending the morning on the Black Belt board.

Our Powerful Words character development topic for the month was COURTESY. Dr. Robyn helped us define courtesy as: The willingness to face fears and challenges with determination. It was great to have a whole month to explore not only a great character trait but also one of the five tenants of Taekwondo!

Thanks to all the AMW students and parents of students for your dedication and loyalty. I hope you enjoyed this look back at what went on last month and leaves you eager to see what lies ahead.

I’ll see you in the studio!

TBTN 2012

AMW students come together to give of their time and effort to make community a nicer place to live. Thanks for taking your training out of the studio and into the world!

February’s belt promotion was a sight to be seen. This month seven people showed us that they were ready to take that next step on their journey towards Black Belt and beyond. Congratulations go out to: McCaila W., Jake F., Tyler G., Patricia M., Zachary H., Max B., and Madison L. Good job everyone!

The first Saturday of the month had Shihan Ewing of Midnight Sun Martial Arts return to AMW for another GREAT Ninjutsu seminar. This one was all about Kenjutsu (the art of the sword). This well attended seminar gave us all a lot to learn and work on! It was doubly special for me because D’Antonoli Sensei came up from Mesa with a couple of his Budo Shingikan students to meet Ewing Sensei and participate as well. D’Antoloni will be coming back in July to instruct an Aikido seminar for us!

Our Powerful Words character development word for the month was LOYALTY. We discussed Loyalty as: Faithful and committed to a person, place, group or cause. Thanks to our younger students for working on their Responsibility, faithfulness, dependability and trust this month!

Our 40 Developmental Assets PAWS Mountain Lion also continued to take shape. Students and artist Jana Aukon worked almost every Saturday to transfer concept into painted design. The lion even took a trip out to Sundara Café here in Flagstaff to be shown off during Flagstaff’s recognition as one of the 100 Best Communities for Youth in America.

Thanks to all the AMW students and parents of students for your dedication and loyalty. You make this studio what it is!

I’ll see you in the studio!

Thanks to Shihan Ewing and Midnight Sun Martial Arts!!

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 21

January had a wonderful belt promotion. Thirteen people worked hard to prove that the holiday breaks had not slowed down their journey. Congratulations go out to: Rob A., Teresa A., Luba S., Monty G., Sam D., Sam S., Kadyn S., Tytus R., Lee D., Jamie M., Diego A., Gibson L., and Jen L. Good job everyone!

A seven person Introductory Program was held at the end of the month to screen potential new students. All seven of them turned out to be well suited to be students and have joined the AMW family. Welcome to Jon L, Ben L., Autumn R., Jeremy J., Jesse H., Natalia d.R.F., and Kaylee T.

Our character development word for the month was HEALTH. A great concept to work on right after the holidays when we all tend to eat, drink, and recreate a little less healthily. Thanks to our younger students for working on their Strength, Endurance, and Flexibility this month!

Our 40 Developmental Assets PAWS Mountain Lion began to go from “naked” to amazing as artist Jana Aukon and AMW students teamed up together to prep and base coat our lion. The lion, representing asset #40 (Youth has a positive view of their personal future) has taken on some color and sketches representing Asset #40 are beginning to appear. Look for additional picture on Facebook and the website in the months to come as the lion roars into life.

Thanks to all the AMW students for their dedication. I’ll see you in the studio!

Take a look at what the students of the Academy have been up to lately! Under the expert guidance of artist Jana Aukon and the mentoring of Peggy Sheldon-Scurlock, AMW students have begun to transform their “naked” lion into the artistic embodiment of developmental asset #40 “Positive View of One’s Personal Future”.
From raising the money to coming up with the ideas and sketches of how the lion should appear, young and old, boys and girls, are all working together to achieve a common goal. Stay tuned for future pictures of AMW’s Mountain Lion as it roars into life!

Our Lion is getting some Color!

to break a board; to break a pile; to dive into sunsets; to forgive;

to forget; to love where you’re going; to embrace where

you’ve been; to take a deep breath, close your eyes…

and begin. POSITIVELY POSITIVE. Happy 2012

There was a color belt promotion on the 17th that was full of great energy, support, and effort on the part of everyone in attendance. Congratulations go out this month to Daniel S., William S., Spencer R., Addision M., Ben P., Chloe D., Rob S., and Alana S.

Following the belt promotion was a HanaKwanzMas party and white elephant gift exchange. What an amazing time! Parents and kids, students and instructors, young and old(er) all coming together to share smiles, laughs, and build some wonderful memories. A super big thanks go out to Ms. Felsted for coordinating the event!

As I am writing this month’s review, the Academy is on recess for the week in order to spend time with family, rest, re-energize, and begin to look forward to 2012 and what we may want to accomplish with our lives in the year to come. I am fired up about 2012 and look forward to sharing great times with all of you. I know it’s going to be a GREAT year! I’ll see you there….in the studio.