Why Your Child Should Compete in a Karate Tournament

Why Your Child Should Compete in a Karate Tournament

If your child has never competed in a karate tournament before, you may have some misconceptions of what’s involved. In fact, there are many great benefits that your child will derive from participating in a karate tournament and here are five of them.

1. Put your skills to the test

In karate, as in most other sports, you spend a lot of time and energy going through trainings and drills to improve your skills and get better at karate. The field of play in karate is not the local stadium but the karate tournament. Why should your child spend so much time in karate class working on kicks, punches, flexibility and learn all those sparring combinations and strategies if they never get the opportunity to test their skills? That’s like studying so hard for a test they’ll never take!

2. Up your game by sparring new opponents

When you’ve trained with a particular group of individuals, over time it becomes easy for you to tell their strengths as well as their weaknesses. So you know that Cindi’s sidekick is powerful but she drops her hands or that Jeff has a great blitz and all you have to do to avoid him is to change your angle. When you know all these, you stop learning and you stop getting better. That is one of the best things about karate tournaments. It forces you to compete with people you don’t know, making you up your game.

3. See the world beyond your karate school

You know how when you travel for the first time, or read a book about another culture, you realize that the world is way bigger than your hometown? Well that’s what a karate tournament does for your child. Your child (and you) gets to see displays by some of the best martial artists in the area. It opens their eyes, and mind, to see that the world is way bigger than their karate school. Plus you get to meet a lot of cool people who may become famous actors tomorrow. For example, did you know that Twilight star Taylor Lautner toured the karate tournament circuit before becoming a movie heartthrob?

4. Bond with your classmates

Karate is not technically a team sport, but when you’re taking classe in a place like Urban Martial Arts, you build a kind of team spirit with every one of your classmates. And when you go to a karate tournament, the camaraderie is boosted even more. When one person is sparring, the whole group comes out to cheer and if one person loses or gets hurt the whole group consoles the person. Plus there is a ton of fun involved in karate tournaments which is a great opportunity for bonding.

5. Strengthen your character

The ultimate aim of most martial arts is to build the character of the participants. Karate is not different. Of course going into the tournament, you should have winning as your goal. However, participants should realize that no matter the outcome, they will learn a great deal from the experience. Karate tournaments are a character building exercise, helping some achieve humility and others gain confidence.

Whatever your child’s experience level or skill, karate tournaments are just the thing for them. They’ll learn a lot, meet a lot of new people and have new adventures while having fun.

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Why Kickboxing Class Burns So Many Calories

Why Kickboxing Class Burns So Many Calories

Kickboxing is a fun way to lose weight and keep fit. Not only do you learn skills that may come in handy one day, you also burn a lot of calories.

You can burn anywhere from 600 to 800 calories in just one kickboxing class! Here’s why:

1. You work out your entire body

When you are kickboxing, you are basically working on every major muscle group in your body. This means that there is a lot more of your body involved in the exercise. When you punch, you work on your upper body and when you kick, you are working on your lower body. This is part of what makes kickboxing such an intense workout session: you are working out muscles from all the major muscle groups at the same time. Also, when you are rotating and pivoting, you strengthen your core muscles.

2. You blast fat through built-in interval training

Research has proven that shorter, high-intensity cardio sessions lead to greater fat loss over a period of time than longer, low-intensity sessions. The rhythm of a kickboxing class naturally incorporates interval training, giving you time to catch your breath between high intensity cardio sessions. When you work through a combination of kicks and pauses, you pause then do the combination again.

3. You get resistance from the heavy bag

If you take a cardio kickboxing class at a gym, you’re just punching in the air. But if you take a real kickboxing class at Urban Martial Arts, you’ll use a Wavemaster (or heavy bag). The bag gives you a lot of resistance, which means that you will use more energy and strength to hit the bag, all leading to you burning more calories.

4. You amp it up through plyometric training

Plyometrics is a term used to describe superfast explosive movements. Kickboxing classes at Urban Martial Arts are full of plyometric exercises like burpees and jump squats. Plyometrics help your weight loss process because it makes your muscles more elastic and supple, allowing you to handle workouts of increasing intensity a lot more efficiently. This is one of the big reasons why kickboxing classes are great for weight loss. Even after class is over, you’ll still feel the effects.

5. The class pushes through your imagined limits

When you work out on your own, there is not really a lot of motivation to really push yourself to the max. In fact when you work out on your own, it can be difficult to complete any regimented workout schedule. But in a group class atmosphere like the one provided at Urban Martial Arts, you’re not only motivated by the instructor, but by the sense of community you have from other members. This mean that you are far more likely to push through whatever limits you think are constraining you and burn even more calories.

Kickboxing is quite possibly the best work out that there is today. It is high intensity, burns a lot of calories and leaves you feeling good even while your metabolism remains high after the class. It really is a win-win.

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.

Classes Cancelled Today, Thursday Feb 13 Due to Weather

Please note that there will be no karate or kickboxing classes today, Thursday February 13th due to the extreme weather.

We will still be picking up children as part of our after-school program and running that program until the usual time.

As for tomorrow’s schedule, we will wait to see what the Department of Education decides. If public schools are closed tomorrow, then we will cancel classes as well.

Five Ways to Avoid Injury in Kickboxing Class

Stay Injury-Free in Kickboxing Blog

Every sport carries with it the risk of injury and kickboxing is no exception. So it’s important to keep safety in mind. We’ve come up with a few tips that will help you avoid injury in your kickboxing class.

1. Don’t stretch cold muscles

Contrary to popular belief, pre-workout stretching (or static stretching) isn’t good for you. In fact, studies show it can actually make you slower and weaker. If you arrive for your class early, you’d be better off warming up your muscles than stretching them out. So jog around a little or do some jumping jacks to get those muscles warm and ready for the class. Stretching should be done in the middle or at the end of a workout, not at the beginning, to avoid all forms of injury.

2. Don’t kick with your toes

Round kicks are an essential part of kickboxing. As our safety-conscious instructors at Urban Martial Arts will tell you, it should always be your instep that hits the heavy bag, never your toes. (The instep is the top, flat part of your foot.) If you hit the heavy bag with your toes, you risk breaking your toes and causing serious damage. When kicking, be sure to point your toes so they won’t be perpendicular to the bag.

3. Pivot your foot during round kicks

One of the most common moves in kickboxing is the round kick. The instructors at Urban Martial Arts will correct your technique in class, but keep in mind when doing a round kick that the foot that is not kicking should always pivot. If you do not pivot, you leave one half of your body immobile, which can be dangerous and cause injury. It also gives your kick less power.

4. Don’t lift your elbow when you punch

Kickboxing combines two major components, kicking and punching. When starting a punch, remember to place your elbow as close to the body as possible. Try not to lift your elbow up to the right or left of your body at the start of a punch. If you do, it’ll place too much strain on your shoulder, causing injuries to the muscles and tendons of the shoulder region.

5. Don’t drop your hands

Whenever you’re finished throwing a punch, you should go right back to fighting stance, where your hands are up. If you drop your hands, you are likely to forget proper form and punch from your hip, which could lead to injury. Not to mention, of course, if you were to drop your hands in a real fight, you’d leave your face wide open for your opponent to punch. So keep those hands up!

Kickboxing is a fun and high intensity workout that can help you burn up to 800 calories per class. Not only that, kickboxing keeps your metabolism rate up even after your workout. But it is important that you take steps to guarantee your safety while working out. If you follow the tips in this article, you’ll be in good shape.

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 Ways to Save on Summer Camp Costs

5 Ways to Save on Summer Camp Costs

It might be months before summer is here, but it’s never too early to start preparing for the financial demands that summer camp will make on your budget. But don’t worry – it is possible to create memories your child will cherish forever without dipping into their college fund! Here are some ways to do it.

1. Register early in the year to pay the least amount

If you are really looking to maximise your savings on summer camp, the best way by far is to begin the process very early. Here’s the thing: Camps love parents who register as early as possible and reward them with huge discounts. In many cases, you can even pre-register your children for next year’s camp WHILE this year’s camp is going on! So, know the deadlines and jump on for great early bird rates.

2. Ask if they offer payment plans

You may not have to pay for summer camp in one huge lump sum. Many camps will let you work out a flexible payment plan. If you spread out the payment over the year, it’s a whole lot easier for your bank account to absorb than releasing a huge amount of cash in one go.

3. Sign up for fewer weeks

Your child does need to be in camp for the whole summer to have a wonderful experience. If you cannot afford to send your child to camp for the whole summer, sign up for a few weeks instead. Summer camps will often allow you sign up for 3 to 5 weeks rather than the whole summer. It’ll cost you less too.

4. Know what costs are not included

You need to know exactly what you are paying for. Some camps make you buy equipment or pay for field trips. Others charge late fees if you pick your child up late, or no-call fees if your child is absent and you do not inform them. So, find out exactly what is and is not included in your tuition and plan accordingly.

5. See if you qualify for a tax break

The child and dependent care credit provides a tax break for many parents who are responsible for the cost of childcare. So if you paid a day care center, baby sitter or summer camp, you may qualify for a tax break. Talk to your accountant to see if you can take advantage of this tax break, and it may add a few bucks to your tax refund.

Summer camps are great fun for children, and offer experiences that lead to long-lasting memories. There are a lot of avenues open to you to ensure that you give your child the best available without hurting your bank account too much, so take advantage of these opportunities and give your child that dream summer camp adventure!

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How To Do Push Ups Correctly

Push-ups have been a staple of exercise forever for one very simple reason: they work.

When done properly, push-ups help develop strength not only in the forearms, shoulders, chest, but they also help you build a strong core.

That’s why we always incorporate push-ups into our fitness kickboxing classes.

But how do you do push-ups correctly? Check out this video tutorial for some tips:

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.

How to Survive Your First Kickboxing Class

How to Survive Your First Kickboxing Class

Kickboxing can seem intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Here are some tips that will help you feel confident walking into that class for the first time.

Kickboxing is a great way to lose weight and get fit. But it could seem intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Here are some tips that will help you feel confident walking into that class for the first time.

1. Don’t Work Out On An Empty Stomach

Researchers have discovered that working out on an empty stomach actually causes you to lose muscle instead of developing muscle. That’s no good because the less muscle you have, the lower your metabolism will be, which makes it harder to lose weight. You also want to make sure you eat something because you’ll need fuel to burn during the class. Without enough energy to turn up the intensity, you’ll burn fewer calories, which defeats the purpose of working out in the first place!

To ensure you have enough fuel to burn, have a small snack 30 to 60 minutes before kickboxing class. Try one slice of bread with peanut butter, an apple, or a protein bar. Any of these choices will give you enough energy to power through your workout. Make sure you don’t have a full meal just before working out because that could leave you feeling bloated and nauseous. Your last large meal should be at least 2 hours before class so that you give the food time to digest.

2. Stay Hydrated During Class

Kickboxing is a very intense and physical activity. That means even in a quality studio like Urban Martial Arts, where all the care is taken to guarantee your comfort while exercising, you will sweat – a lot. So you need to replenish those fluids. Don’t drink a whole bottle of water before class because doing so will only leave you feeling nauseous and barely capable of working out. What you should do instead is take small sips throughout the class, just enough to keep you hydrated. Plain water, Vitamin Water, or even sports drinks like Gatorade work well, but avoid juice or protein shakes. Those are better AFTER you’re done working out.

3. Don’t Be A Hero – Go At Your Own Pace

When it comes to working out, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Not everyone can do extremely intense physical workouts, so you need to ignore everyone else and go at your own pace. It’s not a competition. You don’t want to hurt yourself because you’re trying to keep up with your buddy. Please stay safe and go at the pace you feel comfortable with.

4. Ask For Help If You’re Feeling Unsure

If you’re in a quality studio like Urban Martial Arts, the instructors will check on you frequently, especially if it’s your first class. But even with all the attention, it’s still fine to ask the instructors questions if you’re not clear about something. Remember: there is no such thing as a stupid question. In fact, if you need to ask a question, chances are, others are confused as well but don’t want to ask. If for some reason you don’t want to ask the instructor, you can ask seasoned students (not your fellow newbie).

5. Believe In Yourself – You Got This!

This may well be the hardest thing you have done physically but you can do it. And you will have fun while doing it. It doesn’t matter if you flunked gym class in high school or if you’ve gained a few pounds. You will walk into that class, sweat, have fun and have the best time of your life!

You can burn up to 800 calories per class in kickboxing class, and have a ton of fun. Keep these five tips in mind when you start kickboxing and have a great time!

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.

How To Do A Superman Punch

The “Superman punch” is a devastating MMA strike in which a fighter lunges off the lead leg and strikes an opponent with a flying punch from the trailing, strong hand.

It’s also a lot of fun to do in kickboxing class.

If you’ve never tried it before, check out this video tutorial we put together:

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.

CLASSES CANCELLED today due to severe weather

Please note that there will be no karate or kickboxing classes today, Monday February 3rd due to the extreme weather.

We will still be picking up children as part of our after-school program and running that program until the usual time.

As for tomorrow’s schedule, we will wait to see what the Department of Education decides. If public schools are closed tomorrow, then we will cancel classes as well.

Thanks for your attention!

Five Things Summer Camps Wish All Parents Knew

5 Things Summer Camps Wish All Parents Knew

For many families, summer camp is a godsend. The kids love it, it’s easy on the parents; a win-win situation for all parties involved.

But maybe your experience has been different. Maybe you’ve tried camps that your kids hated. Or you didn’t think they provided a quality program.

If you want to avoid a negative summer camp experience, keep in mind these five things that summer camp directors wish all parents knew before they signed up their kids.

1. Follow your child’s interests

Imagine if Taylor Swift got sent to a military camp as a kid instead of a musical camp. How bored and unfulfilled would she have been? When deciding what summer camp your child should attend, follow your child’s interests. If they love to paint but hate computers, don’t send them to a computer programming camp. If they love to write but hate physical activity, don’t send them to a karate sports summer camp. Yes, you want to open your child’s horizons, but you can’t force them to like something that goes against their essential self. Your child will end up miserable and hating every second of it.

2. You get what you pay for

If someone offered you a nice Ferrari for 100 dollars, you would be suspicious, right? Of course. The principle remains the same for summer camps. If a camp is free or extremely cheap, it’s likely the camp has limited resources or a less-than-stellar facility. If you want your child to have a quality experience, look for a camp that is priced appropriately.

3. Tell the camp about special needs or circumstances

Quality summer camps are run by people who are passionate about providing kids with the best possible experience. And the way they do that is by tailoring activities and communication to each child. So please don’t blindside the summer camp. Inform the staff about ALL your child’s special needs or circumstances so they can understand where your child is coming from. Whatever it is, be it dietary needs, learning delays or even that your child needs a couple extra minutes in the bathroom, inform the camp staff beforehand. If there’s something going on at home that might cause stress in a child, like a death in the family or an impending divorce, that’s useful background information for the staff as well.

4. Send enough food and drink

While there are summer camps that don’t require much physical activity, there are others like the Urban Martial Arts summer camp that are very physical. This means that your child will be more active than usual and so will need to take in more food. If you’re planning on joining a more physical camp, be sure to pack a nutritious lunch and two substantial snacks a day. It’s also important that your child always brings a water bottle so they can stay hydrated all day long.

5. If your child is tired, keep them home

Children don’t process stress the same way adults do. You might still manage to have fun or get the job done when you’re tired, but kids are not wired that way. A tired child is not a happy child. No matter what activity is organized, a tired child will NOT have fun at camp or make new friends or do any of the many things they should be doing in camp. Not only will they be miserable, but they are likely to negatively impact the other children’s experience too. There is only one cure for a tired child: keep them home so they can get some rest!

Keep these five tips in mind as you research summer camp options for your child. They will help you give your child a fun-filled summer they’ll never forget!

Get Summer Camp Prices & Details

Just enter your email address below to view pricing and details for our karate sports summer camp.