S.T.O.R.M. CLUB PAGE

S.T.O.R.M. CLUB PAGE

STORM member Riley recently submitted a paper for one of her school assignments and agreed to allow Sensei to post it on the dojo's website! It is wonderful to see how Kempo is such a part of Riley's life that she thought it worthy enough to write about! Thanks Riley!

My First Karate Tournament
One April day I was in karate class. I thought we were going to talk about a tournament. This is my first karate tournament.

I take karate in the Chatham Community Center. Today in our karate class we are learning our karate materials for our first inhouse tournament.

It's almost time for the tournament to start. I'm very excited to start. My Sensei brought a bucket with numbers in it for us to take one and that tells us if we are first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or six. I'm first.

Now the tournament starts, Thank you all for coming! said my Sensei. The first category is forms. I'm doing one kata.

I did all my kicks and punches and ended the form with a strong keiy. Everyone has gone, I got 3rd place. The next category is weapons. I do the cane. I'd call it the most unique weapon. Other people do nunchucks and swords. I was first again. I went into the square. I bowed and then I start. I twisted and twerled my cane. When I am done I take my seat. I placed fourth.

Then there was an intermission and the next cadogory was self dense. I did all my grabs, punches, and take downs. I had taken down all my opponents. Finally I got 1st place. Now it was time for kumata. Kumate is fighting. There are two diviitions one for young kids and one for older kids but I did not compete. So I watched it. In the end of the tournament I was proud of myself for geting 3rd, 4th, 1st.

I can't wait for the next tournament!

Our last meet until the fall, was LETTERBOXING at the Orleans Watershed!
Letterboxing is an intriguing mix of treasure hunting, art, navigation, and exploring interesting, scenic, and sometimes remote places. It takes the ancient custom of placing a rock on a cairn upon reaching the summit of a mountain to an artform. It started when a gentleman simply left his calling card in a bottle by a remote pool on the moors of Dartmoor, in England.
Here's the basic idea: Someone hides a waterproof box somewhere (in a beautiful, interesting, or remote location) containing at least a logbook and a carved rubber stamp, and perhaps other goodies. The hider then usually writes directions to the box (called "clues" or "the map"), which can be straightforward, cryptic, or any degree in between. Often the clues involve map coordinates or compass bearings from landmarks, but they don't have to. Selecting a location and writing the clues is one aspect of the art.

Once the clues are written, hunters in possession of the clues attempt to find the box. In addition to the clue and any maps or tools needed to solve it, the hunter should carry at least a pencil, his personal rubber stamp, an inkpad, and his personal logbook. When the hunter successfully deciphers the clue and finds the box, he stamps the logbook in the box with his personal stamp, and stamps his personal logbook with the box's stamp. The box's logbook keeps a record of all its visitors, and the hunters keep a record of all the boxes they have found, in their personal logbooks.

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Havin' some fun at STORM club meet!!

STORM TEAM MEMBER RILEY SENT OUT AN INVITE TO A DOJO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF BOSTON, ASKING IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE OUR DOJO E-MAIL PALS! CHECK OUT THE VIDEO INVITE RILEY AND SENSEI PUT TOGETHER FOR THEM!

MARCH'S NEWS:

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STORM TEAM IS LEARNING THE CUTS AND BLOCKS OF THE WEAPON, BOKKEN. RYAN IS PRACTICING HARD SO THAT HE MAY PERFORM THE KATA IN OUR UPCOMING TOURNAMENT!

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S.T.O.R.M. members were focused on preparing for their role in the dojo's first KICK-A-THON which was held on Feb 24th. Team STORM performed the opening ceremonies for the event with reciting the dojo creed, performing a creative combo, and finishing with a board breaking display!

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FEBRUARY CHALLENGE:

Team STORM realizes a leader and a martial artist needs to be alert and ready for whatever may come their way, so they took the challenge of exercising their mind and body in a recent meeting!

First task was to work the brain by solving riddles! Second was to have some fun playing "MOJO DOJO" a dance revolution type game with a martial arts theme! Players performed various katas on the floor pad to vy for the "Black Belt" ranking!! It was a definite hit and a sure return activity!

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A LEADER GIVES 110% EFFORT...

S.T.O.R.M. TEAM CLIMBING THE WALLS!!

Team members Riley, Christian, and Ryan recently tested their courage, perserverance, and effort at Willy's Gym in Eastham! Along

with Sensei Nancy who captured it all on camera and Team Mentor, Dennis, the team never gave up in reaching for the sky (or the ceiling in this case!) Members took turns in climbing, each time they climbed higher than their last try, until the clang of the cow bell was heard!! Then it was off to try another route, each alittle harder than the last! Relaxing over pizza and soda later in the evening, all agreed the day was exciting, rewarding, and a lot of fun worth repeating!!! So...we'll be back in the spring!!

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A LEADER HAS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE...
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The members were given a couple of fun challenges at one of January's meetings...

Challenge #1 was turning a negative experience into a positive one!! The members had fun coming up with different answers to negatives such as .."it's raining and I can't go outside"...and "I have to move 100 cement blocks!!??!!"... This challenge was to give the members insight on how a positive attitude can turn a negative situation around!

Challenge #2 was to lead another member blindfolded through an obstacle course using patience and positive encouragement.

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MARTIAL ARTS SKILLS!!

Members of S.T.O.R.M. team have begun training in the art of the sword! We utilize the padded weapons for safety as they learn sword blocking and striking combinations in partner drills! Look for upcoming pictures of the team in action soon!!