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.

Labor Day Holiday

The Comeaux Rec Center will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. We will not have the Kids Class that day. Everybody practice at home!

Starting a New Group of Students

Coinciding with the beginning of the school year, I've had 5 parents contact me in the last 2 weeks for more information and to see about getting their kids started in our class. Though it doesn't make a huge difference, I'm thinking it would be helpful if all the new students started at the same time. As the end of August is approaching, I've proposed that the new students start at the beginning of September. Actually, Monday August 30 would be perfect as it would start the week and the new month at about the same time.

New students and parents should arrive at the Comeaux Rec Center at about 5:10 to sign registration forms and size uniforms for the kids (enter through the front near the far entrance where our sign is hanging). If you would like to pay two months dues up front, the registration fee is $35.00. If you'd like to begin with one month dues, the registration fee is $40.00 payable to the Lafayette Karate Club. The dues themselves are payable to the City of Lafayette. It's a bit of a hassle, but it makes bookkeeping easier for the Rec Center, so we do as they ask! So, in summary:
1 month dues = $50.00 payable to City of Lafayette, $40.00 payable to Lafayette Karate Club
2 months dues = $ 100.00 payable to City of Lafayette, $35.00 payable to Lafayette Karate Club