What is a requirements manual?

Does your school have one?

What is new & improved on NWSMA’s newest manual?

Read on to find out the answers!

School may end for the summer, but sports don’t have to! Keep your kids active and achieving with NW School of Martial Arts’ summer programs, NOW ENROLLING!

Summer Special for new students! Sign up in June, July, or August 2014 to receive the following deal:

1. Pay 2 months’ tuition up front ($69/mo x 2 mo = $138)
2. Get a FREE 3rd month of training ($69 value)
3. No enrollment fee but a uniform WILL be included in offer ($49 value)
4. Former students who’ve been inactive for 6 months or more may take advantage of this offer as well. Does not apply to active students.
5. Offer expires August 31st, 2014.

This is an easy way to try martial arts for a short period of time to see if you or your kids like it! Make a goal together: complete 3 months of training, earn the next belt, and then decide whether or not to stay. They’ll gain self-confidence and self-defense skills, and if they want to keep aiming for black belt after 3 months, awesome!

We have:

-10 spots for 6-12 year olds. We suggest 2-3 days of training per week for beginners. Class times for beginners 6-12 are:

• 4-5 pm Mon, Wed, Fri
• 4:30-5:30 pm Thurs
• 10-11 am Sat

 

-7 spots for 13-18 (& adults!) We suggest 2-3 days of training per week for beginners. Class times available for beginners ages 13 & up are:

• 5-6 pm Mon, Wed, Fri
• 6-7 pm Mon, Fri
• 5:30-7 pm Thurs
• 7-8 pm Fri* (*special events on 1st & last Fridays of the month)
• 11 am-12 pm Sat

 

Welcome to NWSMA! We hope to hear from you soon, either by email or phone (360-629-4341).

Want more info? Check out:

• Photo Gallery
• About Us page
• Instructors
• FAQs

I’d like to share a story today. A while ago, I was hanging out between classes when a parent prompted their student to come talk to me.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“I’m going to quit Karate,” the student said.

No instructor likes hearing those words.

But, the rest of the conversation proved to me that quitting karate doesn’t have to be awkward, rude, or negative for anyone involved.

At all.

In fact, the rest of this student’s conversation with me went really well.

Click “more” to find out! 

Guess what?

I’m not inside your head.

I know this may come as news to you! 😛 The only way I can get at what you’re thinking is through your actions.

Basically, what you do in class shows me what might be going on inside your head.

So, what does that mean for you, as a martial arts student? Read on to find out! 

Please save the dates for 2014 Summer Camp! It will take place July 28-August 1.

We’re still working on planning, but here’s what we do know so far:

• Students’ friends or NWSMA students who are not currently training are welcome to join us.
• Cost is $100 for the week or $20/day–paid by July 10. Cost is $125 if paid July 11 & after. Drop-in will be $25/day. Adults will be $10/day, and team leaders can choose between a special t-shirt or $25 off your camp fee.
• We’ll be collecting school supplies to donate.
• The overarching theme will be countries! Activities will include coloring flags, sampling foods, and learning a bit about the countries our 3 styles come from. Friday, we’ll play “Country Jeopardy” with the information we learned throughout the week.
• Water balloon fight, blanket forts, belt tying contest, and more!

Here are a few more photos from last year’s camp:

Survive the Unthinkable Review

I find myself repeatedly recommending this book to people, so today I’ve tried to gather my thoughts in one place.

I can’t remember what got me to pick up this book (probably Black Belt Magazine). Our local library had a copy, and since then, I’ve purchased several copies as gifts for friends/family.

In Survive the Unthinkable: A Total Guide to Women’s Self-Protection, author Tim Larkin (who has trained SEALs, Army Special Forces, police, celebrities & their bodyguards) speaks directly to normal, everyday women.

Tim Larkin gets it. He gets what women’s concerns are, probably a result of his vast experience studying crime & listening to people’s stories.

Hit that “more” tab!

2014 Mother’s Day Weekend Women’s Self-Defense Class

Do you have the knowledge and skills to defend yourself or your loved ones? NWSMA invites YOU to take part in our upcoming Mother’s Day Weekend self-defense seminar. We’ll answer:

• What are the 5 A’s of self defense?
• What is a “self-defense mindset?”
• How can I walk in a way that will help prevent assaults?
• Does yelling make a difference? How do I use my voice to defend myself?
• What are my choices in a self-defense situation?
• How do I get out of a grab or hold?
• How can I strike effectively, if needed?

With a discount for single participants, and special pricing for friends & mother/daughter pairs, this is not an event to miss! Here’s the details:

• Saturday, May 10 at the Stanwood Masonic Center
• 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
• Taught by expert Doris Eastbury, 4^th Degree Black Belt
• $47/single person (a $97 value)
• Bring a friend & you both pay $35/person
• Mother/daughter pairs pay $20/person* (*13 years old & up, please)
• Reserve your spot by contacting us!

Let us give you the confidence & skills you need to successfully defend yourself!

“The self-defense tools I gained from attending a workshop through NWSMA helped me develop the mental and physical ability to protect myself, and look out for others. I learned to increase my awareness of surroundings, roleplay my verbal reaction if a stranger gets too close, and follow up with a physical defense, if it comes to that.” –Jana

Here are my 3 easiest tournament prep tips for the week before a tournament! Hopefully my tips will help you calm your nerves & enjoy a stress-free week before the competition begins.

Click “more” to check them out!

NWSMA supports the Camano Island Library!

Why?

Many of our students, including most of our black belts, have relied on the local libraries to succeed in high school, Running Start, and community college.

Martial arts is all about balancing mind, body, and spirit. A library fosters thought & self-improvement, and spreads knowledge throughout the community. We believe these are worthy ways to spend our time as martial artists–by bettering ourselves, we better others.

Myself, I’m in the Camano Island Library at least once a week. Sometimes I’m getting books for fun, other times I’m reading about topics like science of the body, martial arts history, nutrition, bullying, coaching/leadership–things that help me become a better instructor.

I am *always* amazed at the things our community is up to in such a tiny library. Story time for kids, tech help and classes, job searching, research, school projects, reading for pleasure–the list goes on!

If you’re a Camano Island resident, at least consider voting “yes” on April’s ballot. We think it’s a small price to pay for something that helps so many people.

Check out the Citizens for Camano Island Library website for more information on what you can do to help.