A Change in Progress, and Looking to the Future —

What we had at the old school was a premier school that no other school offers. Few other martial arts schools have the space and amenities such as showers or lockers rooms like what we had at the Rice Street facility. The one we have now is still an excellent facility depending on what you want to get out of your practice.

What is important especially for the children is really how they come out of that class at the end of the day. Allowing them to work through their frustrations is one of the greatest freedoms you can give a child, especially in martial arts. Often parents want their child to achieve greater than what they want for themselves. It is not always about quick progressions in belts to measure one’s success, but it is one’s greater understanding of oneself and how one carries oneself in time of need. We would rather hear a student say, “I do not understand this particular technique” and ask for help, than to hear them say “I know what I am doing” and still do it wrong.

Martial art is the practice of self discipline in the art of hand to hand combat and through that practice, is the practice of overcoming one's expectation of what is the perfect environment, to truly be one with whatever environment they are in. A martial artist should be able to practice and become better in whatever condition they are thrown into.

We would like to have lockers rooms and showers for everyone, but it was not our primary goal. Our goal was to find a suitable site to continue our teachings. This is a rare school in that we have a 4th Dan or higher teaching in virtually every adult class. Our second goal was to start a new way of conducting business where it did not involve much of our free time to track down monthly dues from students who enjoyed the amenities of the previous location but were not willing to pay on time forcing us into this move in the first place.

Lastly, significantly reducing our expenses is a pretty great deal so far. We are making strides to get those luxuries we've enjoyed so much in the past, and in three months we’ve seen many positive changes already.

Minnesota TKD Center Instructors (1st row, l-r): Mr. Reed Rediske, Ms. Katie Young, Mr. John Soebbing, Mr. Mark Brudzinski, Mr. Chris Blixrud. (2nd row, l-r): Master Al Fix, Master Chris Espin, Master Punnarin Koy, Dr. John Haaland, Master Mike Steenson, Master Tony Guidote. (3rd row, l-r): Mr. Greg Evans, Mr. Edgar Young.

Make Martial Arts a Declaration of Your Independence —

by Joseph Galea

For older kids, Independence Day is not the fourth of July, but rather the day they turn 18 years old! But the fact is that children start their drive toward independence at a much earlier age. Parents are sometimes reluctant to support that quest for interdependence because their nurturing instincts are to provide for all their children’s needs. However, allowing children to develop independence leads them into situations where they can take on responsibility, which ultimately teaches them that they are accountable for their actions. In other words, when children make their own decisions, they control the end result. When they understand and respect that their actions have consequences, children's experiences will prepare them for life when they inevitably become independent from you. The more “experiences” they have, theoretically, the better prepared they will be to become independent.

In a perfect world, we let kids be independent as much as possible, give them responsibility, monitor their results, and hold them accountable… good or bad. In reality parental influence is just one variable in a child’s life. Your children are given the opportunity to make independent decisions, many times without your supervision or guidance. So how can we ensure that their learning experiences are positive?

Unfortunately we can’t; there is no fool-proof strategy. However, as parents and martial arts instructors, we can provide children with tools to give them the best chance for success. We believe there is no better tool than martial arts training.

Martial art training builds self confidence, which is the ultimate internal support system for children. Confident children make decisions unaffected by peer pressure. Their decisions are based on the values instilled in them, and the life lessons they have learned. In addition, confidence allows children to welcome independence rather than be fearful of it.

As instructors, we hold students accountable in various areas, such as arriving at class on time, looking neat and clean, practicing at home, and showing respect to fellow students and teachers. While some of these areas, such as transportation to class, may not be totally in the students’ control, holding them accountable teaches them the importance of each area and that they are still responsible.

Parents of older children agree that it seems like “yesterday” that their kids were young and totally dependent. Time does move fast. It’s important to cherish that time when children are young, but we also need to stay one step ahead of their natural tendency towards independence. We want you to know that as martial arts instructors we recognize our importance in your child’s life. And together, we can pledge allegiance to the goal of helping your children prepare for the independent years ahead.

HealthKick: Fast Food Dining in 2004 —

by Jennifer G. Galea, MS, RD

As a martial artist, you may have decided to adopt the popular “low carbohydrate” diet in an effort to lose weight or improve performance. So now you can go into any fast food restaurant of your choice and order whatever you would like, as long as you don’t eat the bun and the fries, right?  Not quite. Many chains offer “low carb” options. But beware: low carb doesn’t mean the same as healthy.

But fast food chains are making huge strides toward “healthying up” their menus. The first step in enjoying a meal from a fast food chain without destroying your otherwise healthy diet is through education. Know what choices are available where you are going. You can find a wealth of information online, via toll-free numbers, and even by reading in store “brochures.” The more you know the more appropriate choices you can make. You’ll want to minimize your fat intake, especially saturated fat. And make sure the carbs you do eat count: focus on whole grain breads, fruits and vegetables.

With this in mind, here are a number of suggestions for fast food dining. Remember, you want to fuel your body to promote optimal performance, both in class and in your daily life. This requires the right energy balance from carbohydrates, protein and fat, as well as adequate vitamins and minerals. You must make wise food choices to obtain adequate “micronutrients” (vitamins, minerals and other nutrients), without putting your energy consumption out of balance.

Personal Profile

by Brett Orren, Age 11

Brett Orren is a student at Burns’ Tae Kwon Do owned by Dave Burns Martial arts training has helped me in many ways. One way is my concentration in school. Because of this I am one of the best students in my grade. I also have a better attitude than most students in my class because of martial arts. Some friends of mine say that they want to kick and punch people when they get mad and upset, but because of martial arts classes, I know that's not the right thing to do.

The martial arts also keeps me out of trouble. It teaches me how to defend myself. It also keeps me in shape. With all the kicks and punches we do it turns out to be a very good exercise.

Another incredible thing about martial arts is that it improves your memory. I am in fifth grade and I have a lot of notes that I have to remember for tests, and doing martial arts forms helps to improve your memory a lot. I also play other sports too. One is basketball. For basketball I have to remember different plays. Again martial arts training improves my memory, so I can remember those different plays.

Welcome to Kids Korner... If you score: 9 or more = Grandmaster 7 or 8 = a Master 6 = Advanced Student 5 = Intermediate Student 4 = Beginner Student 3 = do 10 sit-ups 2 = do 10 push-ups 1 = do 10 sit-ups and 10 push-ups Guess the Bonus and add +1 to your score. Good luck!!!

Quote Match

Theme: American History (Match these famous men with their quote)

George Washington
Patrick Henry
Jesse Jackson
Abraham Lincoln
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Ronald Reagan
Gen. George S. Patton
John Adams
Harry S. Truman
Booker T. Washington
Benjamin Franklin

Answers 1. John Adams, 2. Patrick Henry, 3. Abraham Lincoln, 4. Benjamin Franklin, 5. Booker T. Washington, 6. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 7. Franklin D. Roosevelt, 8. General George S. Patton, 9. George Washington, 10. Jesse Jackson, Bonus 1. Ronald Reagan, Bonus 2. John Fitzgerald Kennedy