Youth Tournament

Congratulations to Eleni, Christianna and William who represented the Lafayette Karate Kids at the All South Youth Tournament in Ponchatoula on October 23. This was the first tournament the Club has had youth competitors. Even though they may have been nervous, they all held their composure, remembered their katas, and sparred very well!

Eleni Lemoine: 2nd Place Kata, 1st Place Kumite (sparring) 12, 13, 14 year old Beginners
Christianna Lemoine: 1st Place Kata, 9, 10, 11 year old Beginners
William Lemoine: competed in the 9, 10, 11 year old Beginner division as well. He won his first sparring match!

Thanks to the entire Kids class who helped train for tournament competition!

Registration

I've been getting a lot of phone calls about starting new students. Thanks to our current families and students who spread the word! The next group of beginners will start on Monday, December 6. This will allow us to focus on the upcoming National Tournament and the next belt test for the current students.

Simply come to the Comeaux Rec Center at about 5:10 on that Monday. We'll get the registration form completed and size a Gi (uniform).

Dues information and registration fees can be found in the side bar to the right!

Back to the Comeaux Dojo

In case you didn't see the latest newsletter and email, we will back in the Comeaux Rec Center on Wednesday of this coming week, 9/8. Thank you all so much for you patience while classes were being held at Girard Park. We thank the staff at the Girard center for all of their help, but we will certainly be happy to be back at Comeaux!

Tournament Competition

I would be remiss if I didn't include updates about tournament participation and results as part of our news. The kids class hasn't yet had any body compete, but the Youth Tournament is coming up in October, so maybe we'll have some news from the kids class at that time. We do, however, have several members of our JKA affiliated sister clubs who are regular faces at tournaments. Here are some results from the last couple of tournaments:

March 2010 - 46th Annual All South Tournament/New Orleans

• Holly Damico - 2nd Place in Women’s Black Belt Kumite
• Kenneth Cross - 1st Place in Men’s Color Belt Kata
• Justin Swaty - 1st Place in Men’s White-Orange Belt Kata
  1st Place in Men’s White-Orange Belt Kumite
• Andy Oguma - 3rd Place in Men’s White-Orange Belt Kata
  3rd Place in Men’s White-Orange Belt Kumite

November 2009 - 1st JKA - American Federation National Championship

• Lane Nevils - 2nd Men's Black Belt Kata, 2nd Mens' Black Belt Kumite
• Soon Yeoh - 3rd Mens' Black Belt Kumite
• Holly Damico - 3rd Black Belt Adult Women’s Kumite
• Kenneth Cross - 1st Men’s Collegiate Color Belt Kata
  3rd Men’s Collegiate Color Belt Kumite
• Gilbert Moore - 2nd Men’s Collegiate Color Belt Kumite
• Michael Buquet - 2nd Men’s Collegiate Brown/Black Belt Kata
  1st Men’s Collegiate Brown/Black Belt Kumite

The highlight video from this tournament:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0Fi-c2EnCo

Recent Belt Test

We just completed another successful belt test with Sensei Mikami. This test was in conjunction with the Lafayette Karate Club adults, UL Lafayette Karate Club, and the New Iberia Karate Institute (whom we thank for hosting us, as always).

Everybody who was able to attend had a successful result and we now have 4 students at the rank of 7th kyu (orange belt). Preparing for a belt test always means more focus on those protocols, so now that it's complete we can focus on learning new katas, new basics, new combinations and refining our basic techniques. What could be more fun?

Thanksgiving Week

Class will be held on both Monday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week; those planning to test should especially plan to attend class this week if you can! Payton, Jack, Eleni, Christianna, William, Jake and Hayden....

UPCOMING BELT TEST

The first belt test is coming up on Saturday, December 5. This is an opportunity for students, age 7 and older, to test in front of the Chief Instructor for the Southern Region, Sensei Mikami (see Sensei's bio in the sidebar and check out the links) for possible advancement to the next rank, or kyu level. Belt tests are held at our sister club, The New Iberia Karate Institute (NIKI), located at 224 Center Street, New Iberia. Our students combine with students from NIKI for the belt tests. Students younger than 7 years of age may be eligible to test at our dojo in front of our highest ranking members (Sensei Lane, Sensei Soon and Sensei Rose from the adult classes). Before age 7, students attain a Junior Rank with a successful belt test.

Belt tests are scheduled approximately every 4 months. All of our students are white belts, so they will be testing for their yellow belts. The belt color signifies the student's current rank, also known as kyu level. Students begin karate training as white belts and have no real ranking until they pass their first belt test. Subsequently, kyu levels begin with yellow and count down to 1 (8-yellow, 7-orange, 6-green, 5-purple, 4-purple, 3-brown, 2-brown, 1-brown). Then the black belt testing and ranks begin and the rank counts up starting with 1st black (Shodan, or 1st Dan). Hopefully, most of our current students will still be training with us through their black belt exams.

Though we do not put a huge emphasis on rank and belt testing, the experience serves as a particular right of passage for the karate student and provides valuable personal learning and growth opportunities. Belt tests provide a goal for students to work towards. Advancing to the next belt can provide a sense of accomplishment after several months of consistent training. Some students may have 'test anxiety' leading up to the examination. Coping with such anxieties is another aspect of karate training. Learning to overcome anxiety while staying focused on the task at hand is a valuable life skill for all of us. Being well prepared is one way to deal with this type of anxiety.

There are costs associated with belt tests. These fees include a JKA AF membership card which documents the students current rank and date of advacement to the next rank. This card is valid for 1 year or 4 belt tests. The testing fee itself covers Sensei Mikami's expenses and time. The clinic fee is the cost of the additional 1 hour training with Sensei Mikami before the belt test. The fees are as follows:

JKA Card $30 (Card is good for 1 year/4 test)

Test $40
Clinic $10

All fees are paid to the Lafayette Karate Club during the week before the belt test.

You will most likely hear your karate student talking about the upcoming belt test. Not all students will be ready for this test, however, and may not be recommended to test at this time. Our newest students will certainly need more time to prepare before their first testing opportunity.