Friday, June 19, 2009
TKS Training Questionnaire
Please take the time to fill in this questionnaire. It is completely annonymous and the information will help me when planning out lessons etc.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?key=rVNZi3CXcanZ8DJBDRxdvpw
Many thanks,
Chris
http://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?key=rVNZi3CXcanZ8DJBDRxdvpw
Many thanks,
Chris
Monday, June 15, 2009
Summer Traning 2009
Hi Guys,
Just a quick note to let you know when where and how to train this summer. Summer training at the Scout Hall finishes on Thursday 23rd July. This will be our last lesson and the date for our final Tourney of the year.
I will be holding training sessions on Tuesday evenings at 'Deer Leap' as per last year. These sessions will start on Tuesday 18th August until Tuesday 1st September. Winter Training begins again on Thursday the 3rd September at the Scout Hall.
Our Next Grading will be on Thursday 16th July and is for all to attend. I will notify those of you who will qualify to take the grading. For the rest of you it is an excellent opportunity to catch up on syllabus training.
Best Regards and keep training,
Chris
Just a quick note to let you know when where and how to train this summer. Summer training at the Scout Hall finishes on Thursday 23rd July. This will be our last lesson and the date for our final Tourney of the year.
I will be holding training sessions on Tuesday evenings at 'Deer Leap' as per last year. These sessions will start on Tuesday 18th August until Tuesday 1st September. Winter Training begins again on Thursday the 3rd September at the Scout Hall.
Our Next Grading will be on Thursday 16th July and is for all to attend. I will notify those of you who will qualify to take the grading. For the rest of you it is an excellent opportunity to catch up on syllabus training.
Best Regards and keep training,
Chris
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Grading Success 2008
Congratulations are due to all those who attended the grading a number of weeks ago now. The standard of all who participated was pretty good.
Special congratulations should go to; Erik, Dane, Penny & Gean Hitchcock for achieving their red belts, Dan G for Orange and last but by no means least Shannon & Sam Hitchcock for Green Belt.
Those of you who merely participated, your time was not wasted, as it was a good opportunity for me to assess your level. It is good to do this at each grading, as it enables me to see each of you performing at your best.
I would have preferred to feature your pictures here, unfortunately I am having trouble uploading at this time. As soon as they are I will update this article.
Finally there will be another grading in the new year for all those who are ready.
In the meantime I look forward to seeing you in lessons.
All the very best,
Chris
Special congratulations should go to; Erik, Dane, Penny & Gean Hitchcock for achieving their red belts, Dan G for Orange and last but by no means least Shannon & Sam Hitchcock for Green Belt.
Those of you who merely participated, your time was not wasted, as it was a good opportunity for me to assess your level. It is good to do this at each grading, as it enables me to see each of you performing at your best.
I would have preferred to feature your pictures here, unfortunately I am having trouble uploading at this time. As soon as they are I will update this article.
Finally there will be another grading in the new year for all those who are ready.
In the meantime I look forward to seeing you in lessons.
All the very best,
Chris
Sunday, November 02, 2008
BNMAA World Championship Visit
Richard Stubbs, Ian (the coach) and myself drove to the Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury for the British National Martial Arts Association World Championships.The visit was to assess the suitability of their competition format and the quality of the competitors with a view to entering our own team/teams.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised; they offer sections for all age groups categorised by height and include light continuous, semi contact, kumite, Kata/forms, Judo and MMA. A little something for everyone. The rulings on contact are clear, as are the rules on scoring and referees applied these consistently. Not I hasten to add something I have always witnessed elsewhere.
There was a very good attendance with representatives from across the country.
Everyone I spoke to expressed there happiness about the competitions run by the BNMAA and everyone was friendly and helpful. In particular I spoke to Emma Elmes from Silver Dragons Freestyle World Champions (visit:www.silverdragons.biz for more info). Emma and her team teach XMA or Extreme Martial Arts and will be coming to visit us for a
training session in the new year. Also former World Champion Mark Noyce who is a blast from the past for me and someone else we will be seeing more of.
All in all it was an excellent day and those of you who are interested in trying out for our squad will be able to do so after Christmas.
Regards
Chris
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
End of Training for the Summer
Last Thursday saw the end of training for the summer holidays. after an exciting year at TKS Martial Arts.Both the Winter and Spring/Summer Tourneys were well attended with many examples of superb fighting spirit and skill. Andrew Richardson receiving the Honour of fight of the night and both Sam Hitchcock and Andrew achieving their Bronze Tourney Medals. I look forward to the next Tourney in December when I expect to see some new skills demonstrated by all.
We were joined by Sensei Richard Stubbs of Freestyle Goshin Jutsu in Hedge End. Richard, who I believe recently hit the grand old age of 40 recently, is a very experienced Martial Artist and is a welcome addition to our fold. The style itself benefits from arts as diverse as boxing, kung fu, Karate and Judo. The syllabus is no less rigorous than our own and I look forward to seeing them at our next event.
Sales on our online shop have been going well and increasing month on month. The proceeds from which have enabled the club to purchase well needed Mats and protective equipment for the members. It is planned that we purchase more at a later date once more appropriate storage can be found.
We have a waiting list for new members ready for September and this is due to our advertising/promotions campaign. We are involved in the Black Belt International/ Mac Donalds Kung Fu Panda Promotion and currently advertise in the Safeguard magazine, distributed throughout Hampshire Emergency Services, Doctors Surgeries and community centres. We have more planned including a new Club and venue for the new year.
Next year there will be a grading in October for all those who are ready, we attend The BNMAA Martial Arts World Championships in November and I am currently working with sponsors in order to form a Junior Squad to enter in the spring.
All in all a good year for us set to improve with more events open to all our members, more venues, equipment and top quality instruction.
Finally a big thanks to all of you who attended, helped out and generally gave us the benefit of your experience. Special thanks go to Paul Griffin and the BNMAA whose support and guidance have been greatly appreciated.
Winner of Power Rangers Competition Announced
Erik Hitchcock was announced as the overall winner of the TKS Martial Arts Jetex Power Rangers promotional competition. The competition run in conjunction with the BNMAA and Black Belt International required pupils to Tidy their bedrooms each morning, Help parents with washing up, go to bed on time without argument and help with general chores around the house. The winners were selected from pupils who also demonstrated a superior attitude to training i.e. good listening, good discipline, good manners and excellent skills in training.The prizes, provided by Jetex included; special edition martial arts belts, a power rangers suit, power rangers dvd of the brand new series 'Operation Overdrive', a 'Channel Your Energy For Good' certificate as well as a whole host of Power Rangers Toys and figures.
Other winners were Dane, Mitchell, Craig, and Sam all of whom received one of the Power Rangers Toys. Well done guys!!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Introducing Tony Terranova of Fighting Fit Martial Arts
Background 
Tony’s training in Shotokan Karate began in Coventry in 1983 under the direction of John Johnston. He also occasionally trained at Mick Jackson’s & Jeff Stansfield’s clubs. All these clubs were associated with the K.U.G.B (which was affiliated to the J.K.A.) It was during this time that he met and trained with his long standing friend and mentor Geoff Thompson. For reasons related to work and having to move to another area he stopped his formal training in 1992. He continued to do some bag work, weights, stretching and kata in his garage (when time and travel plans permitted); however Tony felt his training lacked the intensity and variety of formal classes (albeit he was keeping reasonably fit compared to general standards).
Pedigree
BCA level 1 instructor (graded by Geoff Thompson); BCA 3rd Dan (grade by Peter Consterdine) and 1st Dan Shotokan Karateka (graded by Sensie Enoeda), Jiu-Jitsu training (under the instruction of Sensei Ross Iannoccaro). Tony has also written articles for Martial Arts Illustrated, Shotokan Karate Magazine and several martial arts websites including; Geoff Thompson’s; Master Sken's; Iain Abernethy’s and newsletters for other websites such as Totally Fitness.com.
School of Hard Knocks
Tony says that going back to martial arts is one of the best things he has ever done. However some hard lessons were learned. Firstly after a 10-year break he found that many aspects of martial arts had changed. Many of the concepts that were ingrained in his early years "Truisms" were now considered to be today’s "Falsehoods".
Secondly, he had been mentally conditioned to train “with 100% total effort” as the training at the time he started learning Karate/martial arts was the school of hard knocks (old school!). These factors contributed to considerable problems for him in the first few months of his returning to training. In fact he was plagued with so many injuries that he nearly had to give it all up. He was a regular captain marvel “He was joints out of place man” with a resident seat at the physiotherapists and chiropractors clinics. People used to think he was the receptionist.
After researching he found that dynamic stretching is more beneficial.
Tony found that: (a) dynamic stretching prepares and programmes the nervous system for martial arts type movements; (b) specific strength exercises such as Hindu squats, Hindu push ups combined with intelligent weight training and floor exercises for developing the hip flexors all serve to prepare the body for combat training and (c) that isometric exercises should only be used to cool down (especially so the older you get).
After following a simple (daily) programme of specific dynamic stretches & a sensible weekly routine for the other exercises mentioned above he had no more injuries and was able to train in Karate, Ju-Jutsu, kick boxing and attend BCA seminars including Geoff’s level 1 instructor master class sessions.
The System
FFMA is a striking martial arts system that provides students with practical self protection, fitness development and a sense of well being. The system uses the
following to enhance the students overall capabilities and general health.
Numerous pad and bag drills, sparring and many combinations of fitness and strength based exercises
Tony’s training in Shotokan Karate began in Coventry in 1983 under the direction of John Johnston. He also occasionally trained at Mick Jackson’s & Jeff Stansfield’s clubs. All these clubs were associated with the K.U.G.B (which was affiliated to the J.K.A.) It was during this time that he met and trained with his long standing friend and mentor Geoff Thompson. For reasons related to work and having to move to another area he stopped his formal training in 1992. He continued to do some bag work, weights, stretching and kata in his garage (when time and travel plans permitted); however Tony felt his training lacked the intensity and variety of formal classes (albeit he was keeping reasonably fit compared to general standards).
Pedigree
BCA level 1 instructor (graded by Geoff Thompson); BCA 3rd Dan (grade by Peter Consterdine) and 1st Dan Shotokan Karateka (graded by Sensie Enoeda), Jiu-Jitsu training (under the instruction of Sensei Ross Iannoccaro). Tony has also written articles for Martial Arts Illustrated, Shotokan Karate Magazine and several martial arts websites including; Geoff Thompson’s; Master Sken's; Iain Abernethy’s and newsletters for other websites such as Totally Fitness.com.
School of Hard Knocks
Tony says that going back to martial arts is one of the best things he has ever done. However some hard lessons were learned. Firstly after a 10-year break he found that many aspects of martial arts had changed. Many of the concepts that were ingrained in his early years "Truisms" were now considered to be today’s "Falsehoods".
Secondly, he had been mentally conditioned to train “with 100% total effort” as the training at the time he started learning Karate/martial arts was the school of hard knocks (old school!). These factors contributed to considerable problems for him in the first few months of his returning to training. In fact he was plagued with so many injuries that he nearly had to give it all up. He was a regular captain marvel “He was joints out of place man” with a resident seat at the physiotherapists and chiropractors clinics. People used to think he was the receptionist.
After researching he found that dynamic stretching is more beneficial.
Tony found that: (a) dynamic stretching prepares and programmes the nervous system for martial arts type movements; (b) specific strength exercises such as Hindu squats, Hindu push ups combined with intelligent weight training and floor exercises for developing the hip flexors all serve to prepare the body for combat training and (c) that isometric exercises should only be used to cool down (especially so the older you get).
After following a simple (daily) programme of specific dynamic stretches & a sensible weekly routine for the other exercises mentioned above he had no more injuries and was able to train in Karate, Ju-Jutsu, kick boxing and attend BCA seminars including Geoff’s level 1 instructor master class sessions.
The System
FFMA is a striking martial arts system that provides students with practical self protection, fitness development and a sense of well being. The system uses the
following to enhance the students overall capabilities and general health.Numerous pad and bag drills, sparring and many combinations of fitness and strength based exercises
FFMA sessions are designed to gradually strengthen students in an environment that is safe, friendly and interesting. The training incorporates a variety of techniques derived from many forms of martial arts including but not limited to;
Karate
Kick Boxing
Muay Thai
Mixed Martial Arts
Boxing
And other international systems
The sessions are drawn and researched from many different martial arts and collated to form cohesive, effective and practical workouts that incorporate kinetic and cardiovascular body movements. We respect all forms of martial arts and apply the functional aspects of each of these arts to give students a system that prepares them for the stresses of everyday modern living.
To find out more about Tony's System and training sessions visit http://www.fightingfit.gb.com/
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Grading Success Well done guys
Over the last two weeks we have combined kyu grading lessons with Tourney training. Dan, Steve and Andrew pictured above took and passed their Red belt grading. Well done guys this was one of the highest standard of grade I have seen for a while.
Mason, Shannon and Sam took their Orange belt grade last week and passed with flying colours. I have to say; the standard of technique and application was superb, your hard work has paid dividends. Fantastic let's keep it up!
More gradings will follow in the summer good luck to all.
Chris
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