5 Myths about the Gasshuku

1. I am going to get promoted just for showing up. This is perhaps,

the biggest myth of the Karate Gasshuku. Some people think that just

because they come to the gasshuku they will get promoted. This is not

the case. Although some people have been promoted at the gasshuku,
this is not a guarantee. If you come to the gasshuku and work hard,
there may be an opportunity for you to earn stripes and/or possibly
get promoted...but you have to EARN IT! If you want to get
promoted....earn it.

2. I am not going to learn anything new. Only if you choose not to. If
you have an open mind you will always learn something new. I guarantee
that I can show you the same thing ten times and you can learn ten
different things...but will you? We have a saying, "Open Mind, Joyful
Training". Look for new...it will appear.

3. I am too young for the gasshuku. That depends! If you are in one of

the regular karate classes, then you are not too young. I think the

youngest participant we've ever had was 6 years old, but they were in
our regular karate program. If you are a Knee-High Samurai, then yes,
perhaps you need to wait till next year.

4. I am too old for the gasshuku. You may be. Our oldest participant
was Mr. Arturo Domingo (may he rest in peace). He was in his

seventies, as was Mrs. Domingo, as they came year after year. You are

only as old as you feel. So let me ask you...are you too old?

5. I'll never get to practice what I learned at the gasshuku. That's
up to you. Once you learn something, you can practice it as much as
you want. You can go back to your dojo and practice with all the
people that attended the gasshuku. This will keep your skills sharp

and at their highest level.

Get details here: http://www.unitedstateskarateacademy.com/Gasshuku.html

Outstanding Attendance Award

Outstanding Attendance Award Congratulations to Sydney Tate for her outstanding attendance in 2012.  Sydney (Galley Dojo) had the most overall attendances of all United States Karate Academy students from all locations.

Sydney not only excelled in her attendances, she also participated in every seminar, gasshuku, competitions and events. 

Sydney was awarded an Outstanding Attendance Certificate, a heavyweight uniform and a $100 Visa Gift Card. 

Congratulations Sydney!  Lead the way!

Top Ten Reasons to Attend Karate Gasshuku 2013

Here are the Top Ten Reasons to Attend the Gasshuku:

1. You will learn a lot
2. More Bunkai than brain or brawn           
3. Up to 3 months of training
4. Up to 6 months of knowledge
5. Learn new, cool techniques
6. Train with like-minded people
7. Only happens once a year
8. More stuff than you will remember
9. Special surprise
10. Can you say, "too cool"?

I know I can come up with more....can you?  If so,

send them to me. I may put them on the list or on a future 

gasshuku T-shirt.

But hurry, spots will fill up soon.  You can register at: http://www.unitedstateskarateacademy.com/Gasshuku.html

For more information about our Colorado Springs Martial Arts program or our Kids Karate classes in Colorado Springs and in Monument, please visit our website at http://www.unitedstateskarateacademy.com  

Don't forget to check out our Kickboxing classes in Colorado Springs and Monument.

Beat Your Plateau in 5 Steps

It happens to all of us at some point.

Your workouts are dialed in, and your body is rapidly becoming leaner and more attractive. Friends and family notice and you feel fantastic.

And then it stops.

You are doing everything exactly the same as before except your body no longer responds.

You, my friend, have hit a plateau. It's a frustrating place to be parked, so read the following 5 steps to get your body back into results mode.

Step #1: Reduce Sugar. A very effective way to restart your results is to reel in your sugar intake. Inspect all of your food for added sugars and eliminate items that contain high calorie sweeteners. This means no sugar, corn syrup, honey or maple syrup.

If you've already eliminated processed sugars from your diet, and have still hit a plateau, then it's time to dig a little deeper by eliminating some of the natural sugars from your diet. Limit your intake of sweet fruits and eliminate dried fruits.

Step #2: Get More Sleep. We are supposed to get an average of eight hours of sleep each night. If you're not getting adequate amounts of rest, you're more likely to be hungry, overeat, and gain weight.

When you're tired, you don't feel like cooking a healthy meal, and you're more likely to opt for fast (fattening) food. Then your lack of energy causes you to skip your workouts. And to make matter worse, sleep deprivation causes your metabolism to slow down, slowing or reversing your results. To beat your plateau, make sleep a priority.

Step #3: Drink Only Water. To restart your results you'll need to make some changes. Sorry, but some of the changes aren't going to be fun. If you're one of the millions hooked on soda, alcohol, or other sweetened beverages, then your plateau will stay locked in place until you replace these drinks with water.

Keep in mind that your brain often confuses thirst with hunger. So at the first sign of hunger, don't grab a snack or calorie-filled drinks. Instead, grab a glass of water.

Step #4: Eat Healthy Breakfast. But not just any breakfast. Your plateau-breaking breakfast should be low in carbs and high in protein. Try eggs, lean breakfast meats, a protein shake, or a mini-muffin made with almond flour.

Fitting breakfast into your busy morning may take some work, but research shows that the habit of eating a healthy breakfast is key to losing weight and keeping pounds off. Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier to give yourself time to eat breakfast

Step #5: Increase Exercise Intensity. It's time to start taking your workouts more seriously. No more going through the motions, it's all-out for you. If you want to get back on track with your body transformation, and to keep the fat melting away, then increase the amount and intensity of your exercise routine.

For most people, this is the most difficult lifestyle change of all, but the benefits are enormous. Try to get 30 to 60 minutes of intense exercise on most days of the week. When exercise is a normal part of your everyday routine, you're more likely to stick with it, and your body will become slimmer and more toned.

The quickest and most permanent way to beat that plateau is through a combination of healthy eating and consistent, challenging workouts.

I'm here to help you meet your fitness and weight loss goals.

You deserve that fit and attractive body—I can help you get it.

Call or email today and together we will overcome your fitness plateau.