Black Dragon Martial Arts members recently attended the Harris Silver Cup Martial Arts Championships held at the Tundra Lodge Convention Center, Green Bay Wisconsin. Participating in a competition can provide a good source of positive self-esteem. Competitors had the opportunity to test their abilities against a skilled opponents in their divisions and had a great chance to see and experience other Martial Arts. (Front L-R) Kyle Casagranda- 1st open forms, breaking and sparring, 2nd weapon forms (Grand championship finalist- open forms); Seth Quayle- 2nd weapon forms and board breaking, 4th open forms; Jackson Holdwick- 3rd weapon forms, 4th board breaking; Maddie Ryan- 1st board breaking, 2nd open forms, 3rd weapon forms. (Back L-R) Logan Ryan- 2nd weapon forms, 3rd board breaking, 4th open forms; Tina Fuller- 4th weapon forms; Adam Ryan- 1st board breaking, open forms and sparring, 3rd weapon forms (Grand championship finalist- open forms); Keenan Stiefel- 2nd board breaking and sparring; Bee Kovach- 1st weapon forms and sparring, 3rd open forms, 4th board breaking (Grand championship finalist- weapon forms); Anneli Hedmark- 2nd open forms, 3rd weapon forms; (not pictured) Thomas Headlund- 2nd board breaking, 4th weapon forms and sparring.
Take a look at our other pages for MORE martial art information and LINKS to other websites!!
Since 2002 we have offered training of the highest standard 6 days a week for martial art competition, ITF/ WTF TKD, traditional weaponry, Judo, Eskrima.
Instructor 3rd Dan ITF/WTF TKD Tina Fuller
Instructor 2nd Dan ITF/WTF TKD Abigail Thiery
Junior Instructor ITF/WTF TKD Tavaree Kovach
Black Dragon Tae Kwon Do- Kingsford
Since 2004 Mr Murray has offered quality training Monday and Wednesday in ITF TKD, Judo, Eskrima.
Instructor 2nd Dan ITF TKD Mark Murray
Goodman Black Dragon Martial Arts
Congratulations to our new member school located at the Goodman Elementary School, Goodman WI as of March 30, 2009.
2nd Dan ITF TKD Fraser Kranz
2nd Dan ITF TKD Ashlee Kranz
1st Dan ITF TKD Anneli Hedmark
Our Active Black Belts The Journey Never Ends
1st Dan Aikido Mark Valenti
Competition Sparring Coach 1st Dan ITF TKD Nicole Supa
Competition Sparring Coach 2nd Dan ITF TKD Keenan Stiefel
Blackbelts
1st Dan ITF TKD Rachel Bray
1st Dan WTF TKD Seamus Collins
Training Locations:
Donna's School of Dance Complex 1075 Pyle Drive Kingsford, MI 49802 Phone: 906-774-4868
The Gwinn Club House 165 N Maple Gwinn, MI 49841 906-346-4523
Goodman Elementary School Gym Corner of Main and Mill Streets Goodman, WI 715-587-2410
Sands Township Community Center 987 Hwy M-533 (Cross Roads) Marquette, MI 906-346-4523
See our training and fee page for monthly training calendars
Black Dragon Martial Arts Club Inc is also on Facebook
Dedicated to Training Youth and Adults in the Martial Arts
ITF/WTF Style Tae Kwon Do
USJA Style Judo
Inayan Style Eskrima
Lit'l Dragon Pre-school Training
Ms Tina's Words to Live By
There is no substitute for hard work and training to achieve your goals as a martial art practitioner - whether it be to place in the top 3 at a competition or just to earn the next belt rank. Nobody is great without work. It's nice to believe that if you find a sport where you're naturally gifted, you'll be great from day one, but it doesn't happen. There's no evidence of high-level performance without experience or practice.
The best people in any sport are those who devote the most hours in practice. This is defined as "activity that's explicitly intended to improve performance, that reaches for objectives just beyond one's level of competence, provides feedback on results and involves high levels of repetition. Elite performers practice, roughly the same amount every day, including weekends."
In most cases the practitioner's goal and practice is geared toward earning a new rank level or the coveted Black Belt. Achieving this goal is not a race to the top or who will get there first, it is a lot of hard work and practice - I would advise any student never take the easy road even if it is offered. An easy road usually ends up to be the roughest one in the end.
The critical reality is that we are not hostage to accepting something if we feel in our hearts we did not fully earn the right to be there or needed a little more practice. There is not one of us with a naturally granted level of talent. We can make ourselves into what we chose to be, but we have to put in the effort and training. Strangely, that idea is not popular. There are a lot of people who would much rather take the easy path with the notion they will catch up later. Or tell themselves "Why should I work and train so hard when no one else has to in order to get the same rank."
I have heard that last statement so many times and the view is tragic, because many martial artist with great potential quit training when they hit life's inevitable bumps in the road, they concluded that they just weren't gifted and give up. They soon found the easy path that may have been provided to them acually was the longest path especially when they reached the higher ranks and found out they were not prepared or maybe did not compare well with other martial artist.
We can't expect people to achieve greatness expecially when we cave into pressure or the mentality that we only have to do what everyone else is doing nothing more. We ourselves allow expectations to be lowered because the required training may seem to be just too demanding or the final goal may take too long to reach. I believe once a goal has been reached the "bar" needs to be raised. This keeps a purpose to the training and a goal to keep working toward.
But the striking, liberating truth is that greatness isn't reserved for a preordained few. It is available to you and to everyone if you really want it. Those martial artist who worked hard and trained long to achieve their goals should be expecially proud. Their determination and refusal to accept the easy route will be greatly respected now and in the future. Their work/ training ethic will be greatly prized as a competitor, instructor and student. The lifestyle and ethics they have built over years of training, sweat and tears helped form a solid foundation and a determination that will stay with them throughout their martial art training and will be great influence in how they conduct their personal lives.
Stay happy and true to your goals and we will see you in training.
PSN Tina
Determine Your Training Goals
Determining Your Training Goals The first thing to do when considering taking a martial arts class is to determine what you hope to gain from martial arts training. Everyone has a reason for their interest in the martial arts, and it's important to know your options and goals so that you can really get the most out of your training and have a postive experience. Below are some common reasons for studying the martial arts and some examples of styles that fit those reasons.
Fitness/Fun Related Interests The most common reason for training that I hear is that people want to have fun and get in better physical condition, whether that is losing weight, getting stronger or just getting more active. Martial arts is a great way to get in shape and can be really fun to learn. It will improve endurance, strength, flexibility, speed, coordination, balance and helps with overall stress levels.
Which Martial Art is the Best?
You should decide what you are looking to get out of the Martial Arts, and do not be afraid to ask the instructor about those points. There are Sport Arts (Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Tournament Karate), Striking Arts (Karate, Chinese Boxing, Tae Kwon Do), Grappling Arts (Aikido, Jujutsu, Ch'in Na) and Weapon Arts (Kyudo, Kendo, Escrima). Arts have different philosophies and goals, you need to pry a little to learn what those are. You should decide which one interests you, and then look into the schools that teach that style, in your area.
Cultures effect the arts, so we look at "Style" and origin of an art to see what its influences and philosophies are likely to be. Many arts are effected by the culture they are taught in, and the beleifs of the instructors. So if you get an American Instructor there is a good chance that he will teach a more Americanized version than an instructor from somewhere else. This can be good or bad depending on what you are trying to get out of the Art. It is easier for people to understand people of their own cultures -- but if you are trying to get the other culture out of the art, then you should make sure that the instructor knows that culture well.
Karate Kids: Children and Martial Arts
Sports participation, regardless of the sport, is one way children can learn valuable lessons with life-long benefits. Karate, as a sport, teaches self-discipline, builds self-esteem and a level of commitment, which may otherwise not be there. Karate, more than any other sport, is a life-long process. When kids click with this sport, it will follow them into adulthood. It can become a way of life, as these kids continually challenge themselves. The confidence instilled in them by their training. The values of good sportsmanship, and of trying your best. We realize you can get these from other activities, but those are good life skills, not just martial arts skills.
Do the research. Visit the dojo, observe how the instructors interact with the students. Ask questions. See if the school has a trial period. How competitive is the school? What is the attitude/atmosphere of the school? Also, there should be more to Martial Arts training that the belt. To paraphrase from Karate Kid, belts are to hold up pants.
Lit'l Dragon Pre-school Training
Lit'l Dragon Pre-school Training
Our Little Dragons preschool program combines tumbling and karate to help your child develop coordination, focus, confidence, and discipline, focusing on developmentally appropriate skills like balance, memory and coordination. This program features:
Separate classes and activities for ages 3 - 5. A gymnastics and martial arts curriculum. Instructors who are trained to care for your preschooler's interest and abilities.
Safe and fun classes in a professional environment where parents can watch and / or participate!
Karate, Tumbling, Fitness and FUN, FUN, FUN Improve Discipline Build Confidence Develop Coordination Learn Focus
Our instructors emphasize fun in every area of teaching, doing their best to ensure that your child has a great time as they learn.
Preschool classes run for 8 week sessions during the year with students attending class once a week.
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Inayan Style Eskrima
