Recently Graded
There is a special opportunity to travel to Okinawa for a 50th anniversary "karate" event this October 2006. Unfortunately, unless I get a new job and/or more pay/vacation, I cannot go. Probably in 2008 I will go again. However, right now I'm aiming for going to India (karate trip) in December 2007!

In February 2006, MMKD (Markham Meibukai Karate Dojo) had our second annual fundraising event Kagame Baraki (Japanese dinner and karate demonstration) to celebrate Japanese new year and new beginnings. A good time was had by all and we raised the same as we did last year ($4000). We will be getting new mats for the dojo, as well as putting money towards paint for the Hombu dojo in Okinawa.

In March, MMKD hosted a "Gasshukku" (special karate training/social get-together) over the first weekend. I started to learn kata bunkai (application techniques) there.

In April, 5 of us competed in a Seiwa-Kai tournament in Niagara Falls and brought back 8 awards including Andrew who won Grand Champion for kyu belts. MMKD also hosted the Goju Games were I got creamed by 2 young male black belts.

In June, I was graded for my Nidan (second degree) black belt and passed. I have a separate blog on the details of what I had to do.

In July I'll be busy being step-mom and covering some classes while Sensei is away.

As requirements for "Nidan" I took 2 "coaching" courses this spring called Introduction to Competition A and B:

"A" entails Ethical Coaching, Planning a Practice & Nutritional Advice.
"B" entails Sport Program Design, Teaching/Learning & Mental Preparation.

I also took First Aid and CPR again (as I did 2 years ago for "Shodan"). Feel much more comfortable with it now.

I'd like to take a nutritional course this year. It's $750 and this module is one quarter of getting a Natural Nutrition Program (diploma) through the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. Module One includes the most practical portion of the entire program, which is the Symptomatology course. It contains enough information that I will know if I want to take the remaining 3 modules and get certification. "Students who successfully complete the program qualify for the professional designation R.H.N. (Registered Holistic Nutritionist/Registered Holistic Nutritional Consultant)."

So, something to look forward to! Life changes in 2006!