Learn Traditional Karate at Maroochydore's only fully equipped, permanent Karate dojo

This month we are proud to share another fantastic ‘Raising Real Winners’ interview  to share with you.  You will meet and learn from Tom Patire.  He is one of the most recognized authorities on child safety, personal safety and security and family safety in this entire world.

He’s known as America’s leading safety expert and he’s the most publicized bodyguard in the world and he’s mainly a concerned parent as well and that’s why we brought him on and–you know Tom’s appeared on numerous television programs and networks, Fox, Rachel Ray, Montel, Colbert Report. Geraldo at Large, Good Morning America, The Morning Show, CNN and the list just goes on and on.

And one of his programs on child safety received an Emmy award nomination for educational programs.

To learn more about this months ‘Raising Real Winners’ Interview with Tom Patire on Family Safety please visit the following website to subscribe to our free monthly audio magazine compliments the team at Sunshine Coast Karate.

Subscribe to our Successful Parenting Audio Magazine Today > >

Be sure to also join us on Facebook so you can keep up to date with the latest news, events, articles and information being shared.   Sunshine Coast Karate On Facebook > >

We do trust that you are all enjoying the beginnings of a fantastic festive season.  Here is a little something that may get your kids even more excited in the lead up to Christmas.

If you visit our Sunshine Coast Karate Fan Page on Facebook you will find some photos of a christmas display in Tanawha at the home of Joan Campbell.    Not only is the light show in the evening amazing you can also wonder around their home to view loads of other christmas toys.   We visit Joan’s home every year and highly recommend you visit too.  Over a hundred people went through last night and you will also see them on Channel 7 this evening.  Address:  143-163 Tanawha Rd Tanawha.

Please let Joan know that we sent you.  Merry Christmas everyone and we can’t wait to catch up with you all in 2010.

Firstly thank you to everyone who came along to the Christmast Picnic & Trianing Day yesterday.  It was great fun from all accounts everyone had a good time.  If you haven’t already done so be sure to check out some of the photos on facebook - you don’t need a face book account to see the photos.

We’ve also put a few videos up that you might enjoy too.  Santa throwing water bombs at the “naughty” kids.  And a few snippets from the archives of past Soke Cup performances, showing some great bogu kumite points and some kata highlights from a few good performances.  Videos on facebook.

We thought that the Soke Cup highlights might be appropriate now that team nominations have now closed for next year’s  Soke Cup in Japan.  And I have to say that it’s looking like a very strong team!

Now, for a few more exciting things before classes finshed for the year at the end of this week.

In the dojo – frozen treat week, all week, for all kids classes.  That’s all I can tell you about this one for now, you’ll have to get into the dojo if you want to know more.

The final Success Focus Mastermind will be this Wed.  Although this is not exactly a Karate event, it certainly keeps with the theme of the dojo being a centre for success in our local Sunshine Coast community.  The final mastermind meeting for the year will be based on the theme of raising your ” Financial IQ”.

Guest presenter will be Michael Ansell (financial planner) speaking about budgeting for success.  And we’ll be playing Robert Kiyosaki’s famous “Cashflow” board game.  If you’ve never played before, you don’t want to miss out.  It’s great fun and also great learning at the same time.

Everyone is welcome to come along, but RSVP would be appreicated, either via facebook, or contact Sensei Martin.

Success Focus Mastermind – More info & RSVP on facebook.

Wrapping up for the year.  The last class for the year will be Friday 18 December.  And this will also be the last classes for Senpai Rhys to teach at Sunshine Coast Karate.  As many members may already know, Senpai Rhys will be leaving us early in the new year to do some time with the Army, at this stage the plan is just for one year, but you never know where things go.  We wish Senpai Rhys all the best and would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the great work he has done as part of the teaching team and wish him all the best.

Then it’s Christmas & New Year Holiday time at the dojo until Monday 4 January 2010.  Classes will be back on then with almost the same training schedule, except for a few minor adjustments for adults in the evening classes.  Get a copy of the 2010 Training schedule.

I’m sure we’ll see you in the dojo this week.  But just in case we don’t see you, have a great Christmas and we’ll see you in the New Year.

Every 3 years, Chito-Ryu Karate enthusiasts from all over the world come together to test their skills and to continue to strengthen friendships.   It just so happens that the next Chito-ryu Karate World Championships takes place next year in August and there is already a large amount of energy and excitement building within Australian Dojos.

At Sunshine Coast Karate we are all especially excited about this event as not only will we get to be in the company of the Australian Chito-Ryu family we will also be heading to Japan where the international Chito-Ryu Headquarters is located.

We welcome you to visit our Sunshine Coast Karate Fan Page on Facebook to view a couple of short video clips which look at some of the highlights we have managed to capture on film.

Sunshine Coast Karate now boasts 11 Australian Team Nominees to travel to Japan in August 2010 for the Soke Cup.  For more information about the 2010 Soke Cup please contact Sunshine Coast Karate instructors.

Sunday 13th December 2009:  Sunshine Coast Karate Members and Families Xmas Picnic and Annual Presentations.

You can visit our Sunshine Coast Karate fan page to check out some of the photos taken today.  Sunshine Coast Karate Fan Page on Facebook.

Great people, great day, great food, great FUN!!!  Even Santa Claus got involved in the water bomb action on the day.

Special thanks to the 2009 Committee who created a spectacular event for all to enjoy.  And congratulations to all members on a great year in the dojo.  Inspirational!!!

Students receiving special awards in 2009.
Lachlan Gilmour
Zoe Grima
Harvey McCormack
Alex Butner-Johnson
Rob Muellner
Haiden Stahlhut
David Strazzari
George Britchford

Be great and we’ll see you in the dojo for one more final week of training for 2009.

Dojo Closed Saturday 19th December – Sunday 3rd January.  Classes resume in 2010 on Monday 4th January.

Hi Everyone,

This is just a short note to make sure that everyone is up to speed with our Christmas Break at Sunshine Coast Karate.

Final Classes for 2009:   Friday 18th December 2009
Resume in 2010:  Monday 4th January 2010.  Refer to training schedule

We wish all members and families a fantastic festive season and can’t wait to catch up with you all again in 2010 for an even more successful year.

Our annual Xmas picnic is on this Sunday 13th December and it is shaping up to be the largest Xmas Picnic we have ever seen at Sunshine Coast Karate.  Loaded with training, games, water fun, food and a visit from the man in red.  If you are planning on coming please add your name to the noticeboard at the dojo or note your attendance via the Sunshine Coast Karate Fan Page.

Thank you to everyone for your support in 2009.

Dedicated to your success,

Martin & Sandra Phillips

PS – As we may not get to see you all for 2 whole weeks and others longer, we have  pulled together a short list of things that may ensure you have a great day every day.   If you have anything you want to add to this that you feel will help others please forward your ideas through.

1. Wake up early everyday and say “YES” today is a great day!

2. Be the first to offer a positive and polite greeting

3. Look for the good in yourself and others

4. Praise and compliment your team mates

5. Think of what you DO want, not what you DON’T want

6. Always be happy with what you DO have

7. Never be unhappy with what you DON’T have

8. Remind yourself of the quote…Happy but Never Satisfied!

Here is an excerpt of an article I thought that many of you would enjoy.

Read the entire article at fightingmaster.com By Richard Hackworth, Ph.D., Lac.

Positive Body Changes

After about three weeks of true martial arts training, a wide range of physiological changes take place. Practitioners will exhibit improvements in blood sugar, blood pressures, blood lipids, brain neurotransmitter balance, blood supply to muscles, and capacity of somatic muscles and the liver to store carbohydrate in the form of glycogen, calcium metabolism and other basic parameters. The changes are not mutually exclusive; interactions among systems and their functions are the rule.

These changes translate into better functioning of the body and brain, and overall risk reduction for such diseases as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, osteoporosis, obesity, anxiety states, mild to moderate mental depression, chronic fatigue, and breast and colon cancers. An increase in breathing exercises and forms training helped me recover from type 2 diabetes and I am no longer insulin dependent because of it.

The Brain and Nervous System

Martial arts training brings about remarkable changes in brain chemistry. The concentrations of various neurotransmitters that are responsible for facilitation or inhibition of nerve impulse transmission in the central nervous system — acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), glutamic acid, endorphins and others — are changed so that a new balance is attained. The clinical signs and symptoms that ensue are easier to record than the actual neurotransmitter levels, and many studies are in agreement on the emotional, behavioral and physiological changes that accompany martial arts training. A few recent investigations, however, have pinned down the neurochemical changes, as well. Eighty-nine year old Grand Master Yong Woo Lee, founder of JungDoKwan Taekwondo credits his years of martial arts training for his good health and mental sharpness at his age.

Among the early changes seen when individuals engage in a martial arts training program are mood elevation, heightened energy levels, enhanced self-confidence and self-esteem, lower anxiety levels, resistance to depression and improved coping ability. Changes in blood pressure and heart rate, which are, to a large extent, mediated by the central nervous system, occur soon afterward. Heart rate is slowed, and hypertensive blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) is reduced toward normal. Hapkido Grand Master Gary Pointer says: “Martial arts training keeps me going strong with a smile on my face! It is the ultimate mental and physical health program.”

These physiological changes are a function of the rebalancing of the sympathetic (fight and flight) and parasympathetic (rest and repair) halves of the autonomic nervous system. Studies by the Inchon Sports College of Korea have found increased parasympathetic tone in martial arts trained subjects, and ascribe the slowing of heart rate and reduction in blood pressure to this increased tone. Others have recorded lower plasma catecholamine levels associated with lower blood pressure following martial arts training. Resting heart rate is largely controlled by the parasympathetic fibers of the tenth cranial nerve (vagus) to the heart’s pacemaker (SA node). But blood pressure is much more complex, and more body chemistry, especially hormonal chemistry, is involved. The bottom line is that martial arts training reduces hypertensive blood pressure, and that the response is distance/intensity-graded.

Returning to the neurotransmitter connections with training, higher levels of serotonin and dopamine have been recorded following intense martial arts training. These would account for the mood elevation and antidepressant effects equal to those of regular aerobic exercise. Keep in mind that changes in GABA, endorphins and other neurotransmitters may well contribute to these psychological effects. There have been improvements in the physical capabilities of Parkinson’s disease patients following six to eight weeks of martial arts training. (Dopamine levels are commonly low in people with Parkinson’s disease.) In one patient, a 69-year-old Korean female, Soo Yong Kim of Shi-Hung City, anti-Parkinson medication was discontinued after martial arts training greatly improved her aerobic capacity while training at the JaeIl JaeYook Kwan school owned by ChungDoKwan Grand Master Jong Song Kim.

Also related to dopamine changes, some cigarette smokers can quit with few, if any, signs and symptoms of withdrawal. Ordinarily, nicotine addiction is difficult to break because high dopamine levels drop precipitously upon smoking cessation. Rigorous martial arts training can greatly elevate dopamine levels, and cases of smokers who quit easily may be taken as initial evidence that optimal levels of martial arts training can prevent a drop in dopamine with smoking cessation.

Continuing in the realm of psychological effects, a number of cognitive improvements have been documented in older adults who train rigorously. These include quicker mental reaction time and improved fluid intelligence quotients. Incredibly, Jae Son Myung (101 years old) of Inchon, Korea credits his sharp mental focus and quick reaction ability to his 90 years of classical Yudo training. It has been proposed that such changes may be the result of improved acetylcholine levels. Acetylcholine is a universal nerve transmission chemical in both the brain and somatic nerves. If acetylcholine is responsible, martial arts exercise should also benefit Alzheimer’s disease, which exhibits chronic acetylcholine depletion.

At the base of the brain is the small pineal gland, which releases melatonin, a hormone that influences such widely diverse functions as sleep/wake cycles and immune system integrity. The production of melatonin, related chemically to serotonin, is upset when people travel across several time zones. A marked reduction in jet lag can be achieved when a martial artist’s training schedule is optimal for frequency, distance and intensity.

Read the entire article at fightingmaster.com By Richard Hackworth, Ph.D., Lac.