Cedar Ridge Shotokan at the Utah State Championships

IMA Dan Testing

My dad (Rob) and I traveled out to Louisville, Colorado to train and test with Hanshi Cyrus Madani and the International Martialarts organization. Well, I went to test and my dad went with me to support me on a daddy-daughter weekend. Once we got there and spent time training with Hanshi (it's his title, not his name--in karate, it's like calling someone an honored teacher or father and also conveys his rank of 8th Dan), Rob decided he likes Hanshi and the IMA organization and committed to testing also.

I'll spare you the details of traveling other than to say that I didn't fare so well on the drive there, but once we arrived in Louisville on Friday we trained with Hanshi, working on some katas, and then trained with some of his other black belts once they arrived. We also had a quick dinner in between training times with Hanshi and Ernesto and Sarah from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Ernesto and Sarah are a couple of Hanshi's students who traveled out to Colorado this weekend to support those testing for a dan degree. It is the dedication and support of such students who weren't even testing themselves that really shows what the IMA organization is about--a karate family. On Saturday, Ernesto and Sarah's support consisted of training with us during the basics endurance (which was tough), filling in as sparring partners, and then putting us through an intense endurance workout AFTER we had finished our individual test. The endurance part for me started with 250 jumping jacks and then went from there. It took me a little while, but I did it all.

I have to admit that I cried a bit when my dad went up to perform his katas. He hasn't had an exam since 1971 (well, that's his best guess, or actually Pam's best guess) and I am very proud of my old man :). This was a very special weekend for me in many, many ways. It is something I will never forget doing with my dad, and we came back very inspired and energized by our time with Hanshi. We have an amazing opportunity with our dojo at Cedar Ridge and with our new association with IMA.

I am now an IMA Shodan (1st degree black belt) and Rob earned his Sandan (3rd degree black belt).

I also spent time with my sensei from Salt Lake City, Amadou Niang. Amadou is a very special mentor to me and I really love taking the karate team out to train with him. We will be going out again soon and the kids are excited. Amadou earned his Sandan, which is 3rd degree black belt, and I was proud to watch him.

Others who were in Louisville whom I felt especially supported by were Sensei Rick McGavin and his wife Jennifer. Sensei McGavin came up with Hanshi in December to help with our workshop, and he has a way of putting me at ease. Jennifer is cool to talk to. For the evening extravaganza she performed a weapons kata with weapons that I don't know the name of, but she put lights on them and it was all VERY COOL. I hope she'll perform for us next time we have a chance to talk her into it :).

To celebrate, karate people break boards. At IMA, they break boards of pine almost an inch thick. I brought back the two halves of my board mostly because the students get all excited over that stuff and I love to see them excited.

I feel very fulfilled and sore and excited. By the time I test for my nidan, I will have calves of steel and a six-pack.

Stay posted for karate tournament details. I will have a fairly complete schedule for the rest of the year posted this week.

Osss!!!!!

Cedar Ridge Academy Karate Class

Last week in karate we had a team kata competition. On Thursday, I broke the students up into smaller groups with a higher level belt teaching the newer students. On Friday, I had the higher belt students choose a 'team' to train and compete with a kata as a team. They stayed focused and I think the newest students learned the most that day, partly because it was a competition and partly because they were mentored by the students whom they admired in karate.

USANKF Qualifier Tournament in Park City

Hello my Karate Family,
The final information is available on the Utah Karate Championships in Park City, Utah on March 6, 2010. The competition is at the Park City Racquet Club and begins at 9 a.m. I will email you the details of the cost once I have figured it all. For the best details, go to www.jeppersonkaratedojos.com. I will probably be going out to Park City on Friday night to attend a referee seminar and then driving out with the Karate Team early Saturday morning.

I am traveling to Louisville,Colorado to test for my dan rank with International Martialarts, a world level organization that provides excellent support and training for senseis. I am invested in continuing my own training and learning so that I continue to grow as a sensei and so that I can forge connections for a karate support system for the students when they go home. Hanshi Madani came to Cedar Ridge in December to conduct a workshop for the students, and he offers a deep level of training and connections. I will keep you posted!
Christine

Alexander the Great plunders the Persians

What to say? The trip to Salt Lake was totally awesome. We got the crap kicked out of us by Amadou with a tough sparring combination practice. Then we got to SPAR!!! Which is in fact my very favorite part of karate. Sensei did chew me out for hitting Sweet Pea way too hard. I felt pretty bad about that cuz Sweet Pea's my boy. I had been kinda showing off for the cute jr. black belt. Then we went to an awesome Jazz game, the first NBA game I have ever been to. It was awesome hanging out with all of my friends. I had some pretty good talks with Christine and Sean, too. Over all the trip was awsome and I can't wait to do it again.

- Alexander the Great

Cedar Ridge Shotokan Karate Team

I tried to get a really good picture, but the glare from the sun made it a little grainy. I'll try again soon, but here this is for now.

You can download the GIF files of these and a few more team pictures at www.peopleplacesphotography.com. DO NOT PAY FOR THE PHOTOS! You should be able to right click and download the file. I already gave prints of these pictures to the students who are in them. The password for any Cedar Ridge Academy picture is cedarridge, one word, two r's. Thanks!
Sensei Christine

Lunchbox goes to Salt Lake City

On Saturday the Karate team went down to Salt Lake City to train with Sensei Amadou. We trained for two painful, exhausting,and eventful hours. After the training we got ready to go to the Chinese Buffet, then off to the Jazz game. Once we got to the Jazz game it was hard not to people watch with normal people we don't regularly see. I felt like a normal teenager going out with friends to see a game and just hanging out. At half time at the Jazz game it was Bear's birthday which is their mascot. They invited other mascots from the other teams to celebrate his birthday by bringing gifts. My favorite was a dragon who once he lifted up his shirt green streamer flew out of his nose. For the rest of half time they did dunking competions by doing tricks off trampolines. At the end the Jazz won against the Bucks. We got in the car and started the long three hour journey back home.
--Lunchbox