JANUARY 2012

WE HOPE YOU HAD A FANTASTIC CHRISTIMAS AND GOT EVERYTHING YOU WANTED.  WELCOME TO OUR 2012 NEWSLETTER GIVING YOU THIS YEARS INFORMATION.

FIRSTLY A SPECIAL THANKS TO TINA FOR THE GENIUS IDEA OF THE 'NINJABREAD MEN' FOR THE YOUNGER STUDENTS.  THESE WERE WELL RECEIVED.

Review of 2011

We have seen consistent growth since 2006 and 2011 has been a busy year with more students than ever approaching their Black Belt goal.  Our Instructor team have proved that 2nd Degree Black Belt is an achievable goal and as their Instructor that kind of dedication and effort inspires me to push myself further.

In 2010 we acted on feedback from the Parents of the Students and toughened our procedures and expectations of our Students.  We are striving to make them work harder more regularly to set them up for their Dan tests.  The Introduction of the Orange Dan Test has worked to reduce Students whose 'heart' isn't in Choi Kwang Do, and we have seen better performance and focus from those Students who have undertaken this test compared to those who haven't.

This year we have seen the Senior Class on Friday night take off; giving the Students the chance to work their syllabus from White Belt to Sam Dan.  Being open to Purple Belt and above has made this a class of 'hard knocks' but a worthwhile lesson in pushing the Students toward Black Belt.

Also in 2011, Mark Fisher, Rob Elliott and Joy Elliott founded the Southern Academy of Choi Kwang Do over near Tangmere.  They are doing well recruiting new members and working toward building a network of Schools in the Chichester area.

2012 Onwards...

We are constantly striving to improve the service we deliver to our Students and I believe that we have spent five years getting the recipe right.  We are now setting our Students up for Success!  For those that know me and gave trained with me, my goal is to prepare Students for the unexpected confrontation i.e. on the street.  Training in Martial Arts does not make you invincible, but can prepare you better for times of bad luck or other people's impatience.

Gradings

There are two major changes to Gradings happening in 2012.  With so many Students only attending once a week we are bringing in the International recommended grading eligibility requirements.  This is based on class attendances.  In 2011 we adjusted our protocols to a 'readiness' whereby the Students have to prove they were ready to grade.  This will continue; however Students will be invited to grade when they have completed the minimum number of classes and have shown they are capable of grading.  The International minimum recommended classes are as follows;

* Training classes are those classes specifically devoted to training and does not include teaching classes for Instructors or Students training to be Instructors.

Students that have not completed the required amount of classes before testing will have to wait until the next available grading date to test.

We have decided to move where possible to Bi-monthly Gradings for the first half of 2012; so the grading dates for 2012 are as follows;

Please note there are No coloured Belt / Dan Tag gradings scheduled for February, April, June or August.  We will continue to perform testings in 'quiet' classes as a special dispensation.  2nd Degree and above testings are not included in the above as these have to fit into the Ellis Academy of Choi Kwang Do schedule for testing.  EACKD 'Dan Test' twice a year in March and September for any eligible and ready levels.

2011 Year Stats

About 40% of my time is actually spent Teaching.  There is a lot that goes on around classes; from submitting records to International, liaising with NAKMAS (the Schools Insurer), consulting with other School Owners, continuing my own training and fitness and studying and researching material.  On top of this I'm interviewing new Students (around 60% of telephone enquiries aren't suitable students) answering emails, preparing classes, debriefing from classes with Senior Instructors, reviewing Student progression, processing Gradings and renewals in order to keep the teaching side running as smoothly as possible.

We are a very different organisation from the one we were in 2006.  For example at the end of...

On average we are handling 2.5 times as many Students, who combined are putting in 3 times as many hours and working 135% harder than Students in 2007.  This quite a feat and for those that remember the King's Suite at Angmering Village Hall; they can cast a wry smile!

'Parents' Open Day 

I have pencilled in Sunday April 22nd for an Open Morning as we want to host a 'meet and chat' with Parents and Carers.  This is a perfect opportunity to discuss your child's progression and to find out a little of what we are trying to do and achieve, in the long term, with the younger Students.  We will show you a few things, for example; how to hold a shield correctly, what stretches and exercises Students can do safely at home, and ways to help their Choi develop.

We would love to give Parents and Carers the chance to have a taster class to further their understanding, followed with Coffee and Biscuits of course!

Patch Exercise

As you may be aware I do a lot of training, seminars and course attendances where I am expected to wear my formal full uniform.  We normally state that if any Students are to train 'away from home' that they have their Choi Flags on the sleeves of their uniforms.  If anyone is interested in Flags we can provide them, the cost is currently £5.00 for the United Kingdom and Korean flag patches.

2012 International Seminar

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the launch of Choi Kwang Do worldwide.  It also coincides with Grandmaster Choi's 75th Birthday.  There is an International Seminar in Atlanta, Georgia between 26th March and 2nd April 2012 to celebrate these occassions and includes International Demo Team competitions, all levels of Dan Testing, a huge Seminar with a meal out afterwards.  If anyone is interested; tickets, itinery and contact information is available through the International website.

Congratulations to those Students who achieved Dan Rankings in 2011!

Student(s) of the Year!

We haven't previously dedicated a Student of the Year before, however we noted that a number of Students have made outstanding personal growth in the year.  There are three Students this year that have particularly stood out in terms of attitude, focus and character and all three win the coveted 'Bag O' Cadbury Rocks' Award:

Please congratulate:-

Finally...

We are having our website re-jigged and need to arrange a time when the Instructors can get together for some individual and group photographs.  I have seen the drafts of the new website and its with pleasure that we will actually be grabbing the wsckd.com hostname....Result!

Looking forward to getting into 2012

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the number above or via email at wsckd@fsmail.net 

Adrian Hughes ~ West Sussex Choi Kwang Do [WSCKD]