The 1st Shoshinkan Invitational Tournament + Life Lessons from Karatedo.

Still on a high from last week's belt promotion, the kids of Demuraha Shito-Ryu Genbukai Laguna (aka our kids) took on another challenge - their first invitational karatedo tournament.

Demuraha Shito-Ryu Genbukai Laguna, represent! 

Hosted by Shoshinkan International Philippines, this event is also a first for the Quezon-based organization. The inaugural tournament was held last Saturday (June 1), at the Sentrong Pangkabuhayan in Pagbilao, Quezon.

The 1st Shoshinkan International Philippines Invitational Karatedo Tournament.

More or less 100 karatekas, mostly from Calabarzon, participated in the event. Most of the karatekas were Shoshinkan practitioners, while some were Shotokan practitioners. Our kids were the only ones who practiced Shito-Ryu, and the smallest delegation at that.

The Voltes V of Demuraha Shito-Ryu Genbukai Laguna. :)

Participants listening to the rules and regulations of the tournament.

They say you should 'keep your circle full of quality rather than quantity' - well, these kids proved just that. They may be few, but all of them won medals in the Kata competition. All those grueling hours, days, and weeks of fine-tuning their moves and stances and practicing their kata definitely paid off!

Sensei Louie giving the kids a pep talk before they hit the mat. 

Yue preparing for his turn.

Winners, Kata Intermediate Division, 9-11 years old.
Yue won bronze, while his teammate Kal-el won silver.

Lance, the oldest in their team, also won a silver medal in Kumite (sparring), Intermediate Division.

Medalists, together with Senpai Jolan, Sensei Danny, Sensei Louie,
and Teacher Digbay of Kaleidoscope Kids Learning Center.
L-R: Daniel won silver in Kata Novice Division, 9-11 years old;
Kal-el won silver in Kata Intermediate Division, 9-11 years old;
Mark won gold in Kata Novice Division, 9-11 years old;
Lance won silver in both Kata and Kumite Intermediate Division, 12- 14 years old.
Yue won bronze in Kata Intermediate Division, 9-11 years old.

It was a very proud moment for all of us, especially the coaches, who devoted their time and effort in training these kids.

With Sensei Ramil Abragon, head of Shoshinkan International Philippines.

But what makes me even prouder is how Yue has completely embraced the karate lifestyle. There came a point in time when he wanted to quit karate because the training was 'tiring him out', but now, he never misses out on training, even if it meant going to the dojo thrice a week for the past two months.

Yue's achievements this summer - his Green Belt in Shito-Ryu Genbukai,
and his Bronze Medal from the 1st Shoshinkan Int'l Philippines Invitational Tournament.

Karate has also instilled in him these valuable lessons, which has become his guiding force throughout the years and hopefully, for the rest of his life:

1. Never stop learning.
When you practice karate - or any other form of martial arts - you will come to realize that learning is a lifelong process. Learning all the different katas, for instance, will take years; all the more if you're a Shito-Ryu practitioner, which has 90+ katas in the syllabus.

2. Patience is a virtue.
The road from a white belt to a black belt is long and arduous. The kids' latest belt promotion took almost two years to happen, but they patiently learned all the kihons and katas and practiced their kumite skills until they were finally able to prove to their senseis that they are ready to be promoted and are worthy of their new belts.

Yue during his kumite competition.

3. Confidence is key.
By learning their strengths and working through weaknesses, these young karatekas were able to build their self-confidence. As they gain mastery over their skills, they have a deeper understanding of their capabilities, and can assimilate things beyond it. They become empowered, which gives them the confidence to overcome not only their opponents on the mat, but also the toughest situations in life.

4. Hard work brings great rewards.
For the past two months, the kids have been training really hard for their belt promotion test and this tournament. At times, they would even extend their training by an hour or so just so they could nail their katas to a T. 'You reap what you sow' so goes the old adage, and these kids finally reaped the fruits of their labor with their new belts and medals.

5. Discipline is everything.
Some people think that karate is all about kicks, punches, power, and technique, but one of the first and the greatest thing that kids from learn from it is discipline, which is critical for success in any field. Whether you want to be a black belt karateka, a pastry chef, a professional gamer, or even a make-up artist, you must invest a serious amount of time and effort to do so. It’s not always easy, but being disciplined will allow you to weather the storms and keep you focused to achieve your goals.

That being said, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Yue's senseis and senpais for inspiring these kids to work hard and train harder and for helping them to achieve their goals.Thank you Sensei Danny, Sensei Kenneth, Senpai Louie, and Senpai Jolan! Our kids are so lucky to have teachers like you!

Yue is a proud member of the Demuraha Shitoryu Genbukai Laguna, training under Sensei Danny Bualan, Senpai Louie Gelizon, and Senpai Jolan Asia. Classes are held every Saturday at Kaleidoscope Kids Learning Center. Come train with us and join our dojo! :)

Summer 2019 | Workshops and Classes for Kids and Teens.

Now that my son's Recognition Day is over and done with, I can finally say that we are officially on school break! Yay! No more waking up at the crack of dawn, no quizzes, exams, and projects to worry about, no lectures to rewrite and reviewers to type - for the next eight weeks, at least.

But just because we're on a break from school activities doesn't mean we'll be lazing around at home. In fact, Yue will be hustling even harder with his karate training as he prepares for his next tournament and his upcoming belt test. And now that he's an incoming sixth grader, he needs to prepare for high school entrance exams as soon as possible since some schools hold their exams by early October. We're laying the groundwork by signing up for a review class and doing a writing workshop at home.

That being said, here's a list of workshops and activities that Yue and his friends will be preoccupied with all summer long. If you're from San Pablo City or from neighboring towns here in Laguna, you might want to check these out:

MATH-Inic
MATH-Inic is a series of special Math courses that aims to transform children - turning Math haters into Math lovers, and Math lovers to Math masters. It introduces fun, fast and easy ways of computing Math problems and enriches traditional Math classroom lessons through new solving techniques.

Math-Inic San Pablo City.

Not only does MATH-Inic enhance brainpower through Mental Math exercises, it also guarantees results such as improved grades in Math and increased chance of passing scholarship and entrance exams in prestigious schools (think UP and Philippine Science High School).

Yue took a diagnostic exam before we registered to determine which module will be suitable for him.

MATH-Inic's summer classes will run from April 10 to May 9, 2019. Classes will be held thrice a week, two hours per session. Registration is still ongoing.

Pencils Up 

Pencils Up invites kids and teens to its summer art classes - Drawing and Painting (for beginners and advanced levels), Arts and Crafts, and Creative Play (for younger kids). They also offer Creative Writing Classes for aspiring artists and budding writers.

Pencils Up Summer Art Class.

Their Summer Art Class starts on April 3, and will be offered until July 2019. Registration fee is inclusive of art materials.

B.E.S.T Center Basketball Clinic

The official organizer of Milo Philippines' basketball program, the B.E.S.T Center is perhaps the most popular and longest running basketball clinic in the country, having been established in 1978. This program has helped train champions on the fundamentals of basketball with a scientific and modern approach, and has produced notable graduates such as Benjie Paras, Chris Tiu, Kiefer Ravena, Thirdy Ravena, and brothers Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano.

B.E.S.T. Champions.

B.E.S.T Basketball Clinics will be offered in various locations all throughout summer. For San Pablo City, training will be held at the San Gabriel Sports Complex from May 20 to May 25.

Lake City Swimming Club Learn to Swim Program
Swimming is not just fun and play, but also an excellent activity for a child's overall health and well being. It's a life skill, and something that your kid will retain for the rest of his or her life. These were exactly the reasons why I enrolled Yue in this swimming class in the summer of 2014, and the year after that.

Learn to Swim with the Royal Dolphins.

The Learn to Swim Program offers personalized training for beginners and competitive swimmers. The second batch of swimming lessons will start on April 8, with three more batches after that. 

Ballet Regina Summer Dance Workshop

Founded in 1986, Ballet Regina Academy of Dance and Performing Arts offers a continuous program for classical ballet using the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD London) curriculum.

Ballet Regina Summer Dance Workshop.

They offer weekend classes during the school year and intensive training program every summer. This year's Summer Dance Workshop will be held from April 27 to June 2, with a free trial class on April 6. Modern dance and hip hop dance classes are also offered in their summer program.

Young Chefs' Kitchen
Young Chefs’ Kitchen offers hands-on training courses in different areas such as Culinary Arts, Baking / Pastry Arts, and other Food and Beverage training. These courses are designed to provide basic skills and training for women and youth for employment and business enterprise development purposes; and ultimately to enhance their socio-economic condition, to acquire desirable values and attitude, and to develop environmental awareness.

Young Chef's Kitchen Kiddie/Teens Workshop.

This summer, the kitchen will be open to kids age 6 and up. This special workshop will teach kids the basics of cooking and baking, plus lessons on proper food selection, dining etiquette, and mise en place (set up).

Karate-do and Taekwon-do at Kaleidoscope Kids Learning Center
Yue's karate journey began at Kaleidoscope Kids Learning Center (K2LC) four years ago. Back then, K2LC had only two classrooms, offered just a few summer programs, and had a small number of enrollees. Fast forward to 2019, K2LC is now a Dep Ed-recognized private school which offers pre-school and elementary education programs.

Kaleidoscope Kids Learning Center - home of martial arts champions!

Over-all karate champions at the 2019 In-School Youth Martial Arts Games!

For this summer. K2LC will offer various music, arts, and enrichment programs, including karate-do and taekwon-do. Summer classes will start on April 22. Come train with us! :)

Ready to make this summer a productive and memorable one for your kids? I know I am. :)

ISYMAG 2019, and the Importance of Tournament Competition in Martial Arts.

When I signed my son up for karate lessons four summers ago, I only had one objective in mind - self-defense, so my son can fight against bullies. Back then, Yue was a meek five year-old, who's been on the receiving end of several bullying incidents in his class. He could not fight back, mostly because he did not know how to, and would just end up crying.

But now, look at how far Yue has come!
Not only is he preparing for his next belt test (he's looking forward to becoming a 5th kyu green belt in Shito Ryu Karate), he also has a tournament experience to his name. Together with his teammates from Demuraha Shito Ryu Genbukai Laguna, Yue participated in his first-ever national karate tournament - the In-School Youth Martial Arts Games (ISYMAG), held last Sunday (March 31) at the Bonifacio Javier National High School in Mandaluyong City.

Demuraha Shito Ryu Genbukai Laguna, represent!

The kids trained long and hard for this event, which is already an achievement in itself considering that these kids had to juggle sports and academics, and excel in both. While some kids (and their parents) are often hesitant to enter tournaments, perhaps worried about the danger that it entails, these kids were quite eager to join ISYMAG and were more than willing to extend their training hours to prepare for the competition.

Together with karatekas from other teams.

And that's a good thing, because tournament competition in karate, or any other martial arts, for that matter, has a number of benefits that can not be understated. Here are some of them:

1.The learning experience.
For young karatekas, tournaments can provide great insight into their own strengths and weaknesses, both in terms of karate skills and their ability to perform under pressure in a competitive environment. They will be acquainted with karate practitioners from other teams/clubs, and in the process, they will be able to understand and assess their own strengths and weaknesses.

2. A test of skills.
All those months or years of training will be put to a test once you enter a tournament competition. Your physical fitness, technique, stamina, timing, and mental strength will all be tested in a way that regular karate training can not. Just like in belt grading, tournaments provide an opportunity to show  your skill set, and how it has improved over time.

A solemn moment before the competition kicks-off.

3. A step out of the comfort zone.
Training in the same dojo with the same people and sparring against the same senpai/kohei week in and week out makes you comfortable. However, it can also make you complacent.

Competing in a tournament – be it patterns (kata) or sparring (kumite) – puts you in unfamiliar territory, where you're forced to perform under the scrutiny of people you don't know. It's this aspect of stepping out of your comfort zone that will push you to work harder and do better.

4. A way to overcome fear.
Staying calm amidst stressful situations is an ability that any karateka must learn. And what better way to test this ability than to compete in a tournament - a nerve-wracking situation, especially if you're doing it for the first time. Learning to relax and stay focused in order to be able to perform at the highest level is a skill that is only developed over many opportunities to try it in practice.

Gearing up for battle!

5. Develop self-confidence.
Competing in a tournament is a great way to develop self-confidence, especially among young karatekas. Tournaments give them the opportunity to display their skills and knowledge and show everyone the results of their training and hard work. For some students, having their name shouted in encouragement during a noisy tournament, and understanding that there is a whole team of people eager to witness their success can be a turning point in building self-confidence.

6. Build team spirit.
Tournaments give you a chance to grow closer to your peers. When a team travels together, competes together, spends a couple of days in close contact with one another, cheers and encourages one another during the competition, the result is a more cohesive team spirit. We all want to 'belong' to something, and that sense of belonging is fostered by tournament competitions - you get to bond with people who share the same love for karate and/or martial arts.

Team huddle, with Sensei Danny looking on.

7. Build character.

Winning and losing is part and parcel of any competition; and healthy competition is good. Not only does it help build mental strength and determination, it also offers a chance to learn about humility. In tournaments like ISYMAG, you will come across different kinds of competitors - some even stronger and more skilled than you are. This gives you the opportunity to test and hone your skills, recognize your weaknesses, and congratulate others for their successes regardless of how you fare in the competition.

8. Set goals.
Contests of any kind provide valuable motivation for you to work hard and achieve your goal. By entering a karate tournament, karatekas find additional motivation to hone their craft and be better in what they do. They get that 'extra drive' to train harder, become stronger, and be more resourceful as the tournament draws near. It is often in the weeks or days leading up to a tournament that karate students make enormous progress in their training.

Flexing... at 6 in the morning. :)

9. Be inspired.

For karatekas like my son who are still moving up through the belt ranks, watching top level black belt competitors and meeting shihans from across the country can be very inspiring. It motivates you to continue with your training, and take it up a notch to be at par with the black belters and grand masters that you admire.

10. Show your skills... and shine.
Entering a competition for the first time can be quite daunting, but at the same time, it can be very rewarding. You get the chance to display your skills, and show how hard you've worked and how much you have improved. Being able to show the world what you can do and what you're good at is already a rewarding experience, even more so when you get recognition for it.

Receiving his bronze medal for kumite from Ms. Teresita Biscaro,
President of Jendo Philippines Association.

Receiving his bronze medal for kata competition
from Grand Master Jonathan Abaya, founder and originator of Jendo,
and the Founding Chairman of the National Martial Arts Games Committee (NMGC).

Two bronze medals for his first national karate tournament - not bad! :)

The In-School Youth Martial Arts Games is an annual sports event organized by the National Martial Arts Games Committee (NMGC).

NMGC Philippines is a private, non-profit martial arts sports organization dedicated to the promotion and advance of Arnis, Jendo, Karate, Kuntaw, Sikaran, and Taekwondo under the umbrella of the International Martial Arts Games Committee (IMGC).

Yue is a member of the Demuraha Shitoryu Genbukai Laguna, training under Sensei Danny Bualan, Senpai Louie Gelizon, and Senpai Jolan Asia. Classes are held every Saturday at Kaleidoscope Kids Learning Center. Enrollment is ongoing for their summer martial arts classes, which includes karate and taekwondo.

Martial Arts 101.

Martial arts is a popular type of self defense that emphasizes discipline and focus. Today, it's taught primarily as a tool for physical fitness, sports, confidence and mental discipline, but it originated as a method of self defense that was taught to soldiers and used in combat.

Bruce Lee.

What is Martial Arts?
The term “martial arts” includes various types of fighting techniques that are used primarily for self defense. Martial arts originated thousands of years ago within the cultures of China, Japan and India. China is home to one of the oldest types of martial arts, called Oigong, thought to have been practiced as long as 5,000 years ago. Qigong, which means "energy cultivation," is a martial arts technique that was developed to increase the flow of energy in the body. According to Chinese philosophy, a person's life energy is responsible for strength and health throughout their lifetime.

What are the Types of Martial Arts?
Some types of martial arts are practiced without self defense weapons, while others include weapons like swords, knives and daggers. Whether armed or unarmed, the desired result of all types of martial arts is to achieve physical power over an opponent. The different types of martial arts fall into categories that include striking arts, joint lock arts and throwing arts.

Lyoto Machida, Shotokan Karate black belter.

Striking Arts
The striking arts method of martial arts is one of the oldest techniques. Striking arts techniques focus on striking the opponent in vulnerable body parts in order to defeat him. Striking arts include Karate, Tae Kwon Do and boxing. While Karate and Tae Kwon Do employ various punches and kicks to the body, boxing focuses on hitting the opponent in the upper torso using boxing gloves.

Photo credit: Aikido Auckland.

Joint Lock Arts
In joint lock arts, you must learn how to push and manipulate your opponent's joints past their normal comfort zone. This self defense technique is especially helpful when a small person is pitted against a larger person. Aikido, a disciplined type of martial arts, uses joint lock techniques, but these techniques require years of study and are extremely hard to master.

Roger Gracie, grandson of Carlos Gracie - creator of Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

Throwing Arts
Throwing arts, practiced in Judo and wrestling, focus on knocking your opponent off their feet. Hapkido and Braazilian Jiu-Jitsu use a combination of striking, joint lock and throwing arts performed with fluid movements that are meant to take an opponent quickly to the ground.