How Taking Kickboxing Classes Will Help Make This Your Best Year Ever

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The new year has arrived and you know what that means – it’s time to renew those “new year, new me” resolutions once again. Some people may be determined to find a new job, while others may be motivated to jump back into the dating pool. The best resolutions are often very simple, such as leading a happy and healthy life. If you want to achieve these goals this year, try taking kickboxing classes and witness the benefits firsthand!

1) Have a new passion in life

When there are no changes to your daily routine, life can get boring very quickly. While leading a stable life isn’t always a bad thing, trying new things can lead to new found motivation and purpose in life. Having a new passion in life can lead to happiness, as it gives you something to look forward to after work or on weekends.

2) Feel calm and zen

What’s a better way to destress than punching and kicking vigorously? Other than getting a great full body workout, kickboxing can help you feel a sense of relief after an intense session. As exercise releases endorphins, it is an ideal way to start your day out right.

 3) Feel a sense of accomplishment

Some of us are lazy by default, but if we don’t challenge ourselves once in a while, we can easily feel bored and unmotivated in life. Kickboxing classes usually take a toll on people in the beginning, but after a few classes, your body gets used to the rigorous exercise and you can do more punches and kicks as you go on. As your endurance levels increase, this helps you feel a great sense of accomplishment.

 4) Learn new skills

Other than toning your body and building muscle, learning new skills keeps an aging mind sharp, especially for working people. In school we constantly stimulate our minds by learning new things, but after we graduate and start working, we have fewer opportunities to learn new skills. As learning new skills requires active engagement and a working memory, kickboxing will keep you feeling mentally sharp.

 5) Feel empowered

When we’re having a bad day, we may feel weak and helpless – in order to get out of this rut, kickboxing will help you feel empowered, as you gain more strength from each punch and kick. Other than physical strength, you also learn valuable self defense skills in kickboxing.

The New Year may give us motivation to improve our lives, but the key to success with New Year’s resolutions is a positive mindset and endurance. If you need motivation to go to kickboxing classes on a regular basis, get a workout buddy so you can motivate each other!

 

Get 4 kickboxing classes and FREE boxing gloves for just $49!

Just enter your email address below to view our class schedule and details.

Be sure to confirm your request by clicking the link on the confirmation email you’ll receive from us.

Any exercise is better than no exercise

any exercise

Try one fitness kickboxing class absolutely free!

Just enter your email address below to view our class schedule and details, and to request a free class.

Be sure to confirm your request by clicking the link on the confirmation email you’ll receive from us.

5 Karate Quotes Your Child Should Live By

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Many people have the misconception that karate is all about punches and kicks, but did you know that there is a philosophy behind this martial arts form? While the physical aspect of karate can increase your child’s concentration and self control, the school of thought behind karate can provide a positive guide to life for your child. Here are 5 karate quotes that will have a positive influence over your child!

1) Karate-Do is a lifetime study”. -Kenwa Mabuni

Following the wise words of Sensei Mabuni, karate consists of a ranking system which provides a series of challenges for your child. Perseverance is key to success – when your child feels the sense of excitement for passing a belt test, this will give him more motivation to continue and remind him that hard work pays off in the end.

2) “Karate begins and ends with courtesy”. -Gichin Funakoshi

Although karate involves punches and kicks, your child should remember that manners are inherently tied to karate. Before a match and after a match, you should always bow as a form of respect toward your opponent. In a karate match, there are no bad winners or sore losers. Once your child learns to respect his opponent, he will also learn to respect all sorts of people he encounters in life.

 3) “The best fighter is never angry”.– Lao Tsu

Other than learning body control through punches and kicks, your child also learns how to control his emotions in karate. Karate involves a high level of concentration and self control – if your child’s emotions are out of control, this will affect the quality and strategy of his self defense.

 4) “The ultimate fighter does not rely on his hands or feet to defeat his opponent, but rather his mind”.J. Stoddard

Similar to Lao Tsu’s quote, M.J. Stoddard reinforces the importance of using the brain in karate. Rather than punching and kicking the opponent incessantly, your child should think of ways to defend himself and strike the opponent in a way that would guarantee potential success during a match.

 5) “You have the power to fulfill your dreams!” – Tae Yun Kim

Life is not always a smooth journey – it’ll involve rocky roads and challenges that may alter your child’s motivation and mindset. However, karate will help cultivate his inner power and strength, so that when he encounters challenges in the future, it’ll remind him to maintain a positive mindset and persevere in hard times.

Just $179 for 6 Weeks of Classes!

KarateKidsKickingGet 6 weeks of karate classes, plus a free karate uniform and T-shirt ($60 value) for just $179! Enter your email address below to see schedule and details.

Nothing will work unless you do

nothing will work

Try one fitness kickboxing class absolutely free!

Just enter your email address below to view our class schedule and details, and to request a free class.

Be sure to confirm your request by clicking the link on the confirmation email you’ll receive from us.

Why Karate Makes the Best Holiday Gift For Your Child

Holiday season has arrived, and that means it’s time for parents to pick out the perfect gift for their child to have a memorable Christmas. Getting a new bike or new toy may seem like the go-to gift, but getting your child karate lessons may be the greatest gift of all. Every parent wants the best for their child – here are a few reasons why karate makes the best holiday gift for your child:

  1. Build confidence and discipline

Some parents have the misconception that martial arts encourages violence in children, but the truth is karate teaches children that violence is not the answer and that their skills should only be used as self defense. Karate actually helps to increase confidence and discipline in children, as it helps to build an aura of strength and children need to respect their Sensei and follow their instructions diligently during classes.

  1. Increase self control

Other than building confidence and discipline, karate classes also help children develop their self control abilities. As karate involves carrying out punches and kicks with precision, this helps children increase focus and control over their bodies. However, at Urban Martial Arts we recommend enrolling children who have a minimum amount of self control, otherwise they may have trouble getting through an entire class.

  1. Teach them self defense

One of the most common issues that parents worry about is bullying – as school is an environment where parents cannot fully protect their children, it is important for children to learn basic self defense skills to prepare them for an encounter with a bully. Children who enroll in karate classes tend to be more confident, which is a valuable trait to have when faced with bullies.

  1. Develop leadership skills

At Urban Martial Arts, we teach students to be leaders, not followers. As karate includes rising through a series of belt ranks, experienced students become a role model for newer students and hence learn the importance of helping others in need.

  1. Develop more respect for others

One of the core principles of karate is principle and respect – other than developing technical skills, children also learn the philosophy behind the martial arts form. As children interact with others in karate classes, they learn to respect themselves and respect each other.

One of the greatest gifts parents can give their children is valuable personality traits that will help them excel in life in the future. While material goods provide a temporary sense of happiness, the core principles children learn from karate are permanent and help provide them with a positive guide to life.

Just $179 for 6 Weeks of Classes!

KarateKidsKickingGet 6 weeks of karate classes, plus a free karate uniform and T-shirt ($60 value) for just $179! Enter your email address below to see schedule and details.

How Kickboxing Can Help You Avoid Gaining Holiday Weight

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‘Tis the season to be jolly, but you can still stay lean and fit to enjoy the holiday season. The holidays may be the perfect time to let go and eat to your heart’s content, but if you want to lose that belly fat in time for the New Year, here are a few ways how kickboxing can help you avoid gaining holiday weight:

  1. Increase metabolism

Unfortunately most of us don’t have the metabolism of a teenager anymore, so we have to watch our weight by exercising and eating right. Kickboxing is a great way to increase your metabolic rate, as it is a type of high intensity cardio workout that gets your heart rate up and burns a high number of calories. As long as you go kickboxing on a regular basis, you won’t feel as guilty eating more on those cheat days!

  1. Tone your entire body

While certain types of exercise only focus on specific body parts, kickboxing tones your entire body, as it forces you to engage all the muscle groups in your body. Many people have the misconception that kicking only works your leg muscles, but you also work your core and abdominal muscles in a high kick. Other than building arm muscles, the punching and blocking movements also work your back and shoulders.

  1. Target certain muscle groups

While a kickboxing session works your whole body, you can also focus on specific muscle groups. At Urban Martial Arts we often focus on certain muscle groups on certain days for an extra challenge – one day might be abs day where we focus on toning your abs with side planks, the alligator drag and walkout from pushup position. On another day, it might be legs day where we focus on doing squads and lunges.

  1. Improve cardio and strength training

The beauty of kickboxing is that it is a combination of aerobic and inaerobic workout – in other words, kickboxing gets you the same results as running and lifting weights at the same time. Cardio kickboxing helps to burn fat and calories, while punching helps to build upper and lower body muscles and kicking helps to strengthen hamstring muscles.

  1. Revive your passion in exercise

Exercise can be fun too! Instead of seeing it as a chore, you should view kickboxing as a way to destress and let off some steam. Since exercise increases the release of endorphins, you’ll end up feeling happy and calm after an intense session of punching and kicking. If you need motivation to go to kickboxing classes, try going with a workout buddy and treat it as a social activity.

While it is tempting to go into hibernation mode during the holidays, it is important to keep up with your exercise regime in order to maintain your weight and metabolism. With the extra number of holiday feasts with family and friends, you’ll need the magic of kickboxing to burn that stubborn belly fat!

Get 4 kickboxing classes and FREE boxing gloves for just $49!

Just enter your email address below to view our class schedule and details.

Be sure to confirm your request by clicking the link on the confirmation email you’ll receive from us.

Holiday Schedule In Effect Dec 22 – Jan 3

We will be operating on a reduced class schedule over the holiday break:

Mon, Dec 22 – OPEN for karate and kickboxing
Tue, Dec 23 – OPEN for karate and kickboxing
Wed, Dec 24 – CLOSED
Thu, Dec 25 – CLOSED
Fri, Dec 26 – CLOSED
Sat, Dec 27 – CLOSED
Sun, Dec 28 – CLOSED
Mon, Dec 29 – OPEN for karate and kickboxing, no after-school
Tue, Dec 30 – OPEN for karate and kickboxing, no after-school
Wed, Dec 31 – CLOSED
Thu, Jan 1 – CLOSED
Fri, Jan 2 – CLOSED
Sat, Jan 3 – OPEN for karate and kickboxing

On Monday, January 5th we will resume our usual class schedule. On that day our after-school program also resumes.

Thanks for your attention!

5 Things After-School Programs in Brooklyn Wish All Parents Knew

5 Things After-School Programs Wish All Parents Knew

After school programs are great, fun places for kids to make new friends and learn new skills. It is also great for parents because it creates much-needed time for you to finish up with work or even get some things done around the house.

After school programs are run by professionals who have everything it takes to ensure that your child has the best of times, but there are some things they wish you as a parent would take into consideration.

1. Make sure your child brings needed equipment

Without the right set of tools, even the most talented person cannot do anything. If your child does not have the right set of tools then he/she will find it difficult to participate in any of the activities. So if it is a karate after-school program, make sure your child come with their uniform and sparring gear. If it is a chess after-school program, ensure they bring their chess sets.

2. Keep the program informed about special needs or situations

The after-school program does its best to ensure that your child has a rich and rewarding experience that is designed specially for the individual. The program cannot do this if they do not know what your child needs. Do not blindside the program. Please inform them of EVERTHING your child needs – whether it is dietary restrictions, learning delays or even that your child needs an extra minute in the bathroom. If there is something else going on in the home, also tell the staff. It helps them provide the best possible experience for your child.

3. Pack enough food and drink

There are some after-school programs that don’t demand much in the way of physical activity. And then there are others, like the Urban Martial Arts transported karate after-school program, that are extremely physical. Because your child will be way more active than usual, they will need more food. If you’re opting for a more physical after-school program, be sure to pack a substantial snack each day. Also pack a water bottle so your child can stay hydrated all day long. Many public schools serve lunch as early as 11 am nowadays, so to go without food from 11 to 6 pm would be extremely challenging.

4. Inform the program when your child will be absent

Part of the after-school program’s duty is to pick up your child from school. So unless they hear otherwise from you, they will assume your child has to be picked up every day. If they need to spend an extra 20 minutes looking all around the school for your child because they didn’t know about the absence, that will put the entire student population behind schedule. That’s unfair because other students will miss out on time for homework or activities. So make sure you always inform the program if your child will be out that day.

5. You get what you pay for

Most people would think twice about a $100 Ferrari, and for good reason. It’s the same thing for after-school programs. If the program is free or really cheap, then it likely does not have enough resources or a great facility. If you want a quality program for your child, you have to be willing to pay a tuition rate that is appropriate.

If you keep these five things in mind, your family will be on track to have a fantastic after-school program experience this school year.

Try our karate after-school program!

After School Programs in BrooklynThe Urban Martial Arts Transported Karate After-School Program includes free school pick-up, a free karate uniform, a free T-shirt, karate classes, and plenty of time for homework and snacks.

Just enter your email address below to view prices and details, and to request a free school tour.

Be sure to confirm your request by clicking the link on the confirmation email you’ll receive from us.