New School Slide Show #2

Here’s the second in a series of slide shows documenting the progress of our New Scornavacco Martial Arts Academy at 1830 Boston Avenue in Longmont:

Mission Accomplished

I’m flabbergasted.

My 4 Peak Performer students (Clarke Whitehead, Nathan Hyde, Zack Kierstein and Jordan Trout) and I challenged our Academy to raise $2,500–working with Habitat for Humanity– to help build a permanent home in Haiti following the recent earthquake.

You rose to that challenge.

At our Board Break-a-Thon Saturday, Ms. Michelle announced that everyone (so far) have collected…

$2,811

…with some pledges still outstanding.  So, if you are thinking, “oops, I missed it,” you have this week to get your donations in.  Let’s break $3,000 before we send a final total to Habitat for Humanity.

The Silent Auction run by Ms. Michelle is what put us over the top.  This was our first silent auction at the Academy and the timing couldn’t have been better.  Thank you to everyone for the generous donations to the auction.

I’m so proud, not only of the Peak Performers for leading a successful fundraiser, but for everyone who participated, helped and donated.  We know our recent recession is only temporary, but most Haitians live in daily poverty and raising money to build a home for people we will never meet has been the high point of 2010, so far.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for contributing to our Academy Mission–To Change Lives.

Keep your eyes open for pictures of the event which I will post was soon as I get them from un-official school photographer Tatum McKenzie who took some super shots of the break-a-thon.

Halloween Party Fun

First, thank you for your support concerning Buttercup.  The outpouring of emotions for her has been unexpected and overwhelming–in a good way.  Buttercup’s happy to be home and doesn’t seem to be getting worse, although she doesn’t seem to be improving either.  We will know more tomorrow when we take her to the vet.  Cross your fingers.

WELL…there are supposed to be pictures below…they may or may not show up.

The Halloween Party was a HUGE HIT and we made it without delivering a baby in the middle of it.  So many people pitched in to make it run like clockwork.  Thank you so much.

We had contests!

Winner of the Pumpkin-Carving Contest was Jordan Trout for her “3 Pumpkin-High” Skeleton.

2nd Place went to the giant Jack Skellington (who did this?)

3rd Place went to Erin Jensen for her female vampire.

Winner of the Costume Contest was Rebecca Hyde for her Eskimo.

2nd Place went to Clarke Whitehead for his fighter pilot.

3rd Place went to the Roberts Family for their Matrix costumes.

Winner of the Chili Cook-Off was #10, Laura Kierstein with just the right blend of spice, heat and flavor.

2nd Place went to #5, Annette Smith for her green chili (yum!)

3rd Place was a tie between deliciously hot #3 and  Folsom Prison Red #4.

It was a pleasure to judge ALL of the 12 entrants.

Recipes?

We’re waiting….

Chicago Seminar Recap

Chicago Seminar Recap

Whew! I just returned from teaching a whirlwind weekend martial arts seminar in Chicago with long-time friends, mentors and fellow instructors Martin Wheeler and Al McLuckie.  We taught a large group of Cops, Joliet Prison Guards, MMA Fighters as well as the Civilian Self-Defense Students.

The venue was Too Cool.  The workshops were held at a place called Showtime, a nightclub that also holds Fight Nights.  The lighting was DIM and was actually much better than fighting with all the lights on.  It made it that much harder to notice weapon work.  (I need Dimmer Switches at our school).

Here are just a few highlights:

I started the weekend off with an eye toward teaching Systema Principles that the students would then apply to everything they would do for the rest of the weekend.  I taught “Structure and De-Structure”(yeah, I know it’s not a word) and working in teams to take people down.  All from movement.

Al fed off that to working some crazy knife-use.  The nightclub people almost kicked us out because Al started using the benches and walls for some confined space work.  THAT was funny!  Al also worked how to effectively use distractions to set up knife attacks and counter-attacks.

Al warned students to “attack realistically with knives” so I took that idea and went on to teach how to deal with a knife attack as the attacker uses Both hands, not just a solitary knife thrust.  Mainly, I showed how to avoid the knife and work against the other arm to control the attacker.  Al then finished the day with some striking work.

Martin took over on Sunday, again teaching knife defense in ways that few others can.  He stressed moving and using your limbs as you move, instead of first as most people are inclined to, keeping your tension down while using the attacker’s tension, how to deal with your tension as it rises in your body, among other things.

He ended the day with some Superlative ground fighting demonstrations against both one and multiple attackers–bridging “traditional grappling” to Systema.  Just brilliant work!

One student, in the end circle, commented that of the 4 Main Principles (breathe, relax, form and movement) the whole weekend was about MOVEMENT.  Good observation.

Paul Trout said it would be cool to see Martin, Al and me all teach the same topic to see our unique perspectives, how it all looks different but is really the same.  Well Paul, we did it, it was enlightening for me too…and…you missed it.

It’s too soon for video, but keep your eyes open, I’ll post some highlights soon–mostly of Martin probably because I was manning the camera during his sessions. Who knows what other footage came out…until I sort through it.

Jeff Waldrom, host and owner of Academy of Self-Defense on the South Side, somehow squeezed in a night of MMA fights on Saturday.  The ASD Team went a Stellar 4 wins, 0 loses, including Winning the Women’s Title Fight. If you are anywhere near Chicago at least Stop By Jeff’s School.  They have a great group of students and teachers there.  I highly recommend them.

Thanks guys for putting it all together.  See you in April for Part 2.