Graduation, Workshops, Banquet - 9 Year Anniversary

Hey Everyone,

March 2nd is our next graduation and 9 year celebration of the school.  Some of you have been here from the beginning and we should celebrate that as well.  This year we're changing up the format so we make things easier for families wanting to see their kids/spouses/significant others graduate.

Schedule of Events for March 2, 2013 (details below):

9:30 - 10:30 am - Praying Mantis Saber for Kids (sign up early so we can order a sword in time)
10:30 - 11:30 am - GRADUATION/Group Photo - Kids Kung Fu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
1:00 - 3:00 pm - Way of the Mantis Workshop
3:00 - 4:00 pm - GRADUATION/Group Photo - Adult Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
6:30 - ?:?? pm - BANQUET/CELEBRATION

DETAILS

Praying Mantis Saber for Kids 

The Saber is considered the Tiger of Kung Fu weapons. It’s ferocious and vicious attack methods are why it became one of the more popular weapons in China and used across all styles of Kung Fu. Learn to wield this mighty weapon, becoming a whirling dervish with this blade in your hand. Saber must be purchased separately.  SIGN UP TODAY

Graduation/Belt Ceremony - (Kids Kung Fu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu)

It''s graduation time again! Time to celebrate your hard work and dedication to training. Friends, family, significant others are all invited. Graduation will be opened with the always entertaining Lion Dance, followed by kids Kung Fu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu demonstrations.  

Way of the Mantis Workshop

The Praying Mantis, a fierce predator in the insect kingdom that hooks, grabs, and topples it's opponent; then shreds them apart on the ground. 350 years ago, Wong Long studied the way of the Mantis and indoctrinated it's superior fighting methods into his Kung Fu. 

Enter the world of the Mantis, and become the bug.  In this rich and historic workshop, Master Brown will lead you on a journey into the 'Way of the Mantis'. Learn some of the Mantis Kung Fu fighting techniques, holds, counters, and more, in this action packed workshop. All skill levels welcome.

Kids may attend if they are Orange Sash or above.  1:00 to 3:00 pm before Belt Ceremony  SIGN UP TODAY

Graduation/Belt Ceremony - (Adult Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu)

It's graduation time again! Time to celebrate your hard work and dedication to training. Friends, family, significant others are all invited.

Banquet and Celebration

Join us in celebrating 9 years of Plum Blossom Fitness Martial Arts by sharing a meal with friends/family.  We had a great time last year and Bamboo provided us with excellent food and service.  We look forward to going there again.  Dinner will be in the banquet hall at Bamboo Restaurant in Westford, MA at 6:30 pm following the Adult Belt Ceremony (with time to go get cleaned up).  Dress nice.  Sign ups needed in advance.

The 4 P's - P.P.P.P.

When I was in flight school in the U.S. Army, I was sitting in a pilots briefing before our night flights listening to one of the Instructor Pilots giving us a lecture on planning. He was claiming the #1 reason for mission failure was "The 4 P's, or P.P.P.P.". He successfully captured our curiosity as we stared at him in anticipation for the meaning.  After a brief pause, he had us all laughing uncontrollably with his definition - P%$$ Poor Prior Planning.

That acronym stuck with me over the years and I have recalled it in just about every job I've held in life.  How is it relevant to me now? Because I see the same applies to our eating, sleeping, and workouts/training.  The key difference between a successful student making progress in their training, and someone that doesn't, is usually lack of planning.  A person that loses weight versus one who doesn't - dietary planning.  Someone that gains more energy or strength versus one who doesn't, feeling better with their eating habits versus losing steam and motivation, and someone functioning normally in their day versus those that don't?  The P.P.P.P's.  

If you want to succeed at getting better in martial arts, fitness goals, eating habits etc., then you need to have a plan.  Lack of a plan is why most that fail, fail.  Here are a few suggestions to hopefully help you out:

1. TRAINING - Set a schedule of specific days and times you are going to train.  Stick to this at all costs if possible.  Meaning - it is a sacred time on your calender.  Most of you don't cancel Doctor appointments, or your dentist trips, so don't cancel your training times either.
   
   Somehow we feel guilty that we're going to train.  We feel like it's not as important as other things in life and that we can change that time if needed.  Nope.  Training is what makes you stronger, healthier, manage stress in your life, keeps your energy up, and adds years to your life - pretty important if you ask me.
   
   Sometimes we personally let ourselves down by not setting a routine for our training. We set a 'tentative schedule'. Meaning we start the day saying "I might go to class tonight", or "I might go to the gym tonight". Right there you set in your mind that it is now an optional and flexible choice rather than a commitment to a plan.
   
   Training time has to be sacred time.
2. EATING - Planning can help your eating habits as well.  First you need to learn from an expert what you should be eating, complete with suggested menus and shopping lists. This helps cut out the time you need to spend trying to develop your own uneducated plan. If you don't know how to cook, that should actually be step one; learn from someone or take a few classes.
   
   Once you have menus in place, establish a meal plan so you know what you are having for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack #2, & dinner every day of the week. This cuts down on the 'unknown factor' of meals day to day, which makes it difficult to buy groceries, not waste food (and time) on trying to figure out what you are going to make for dinner every night. Not to mention the money wasted eating out because it is easier to go to a restaurant than figure out what you are going to eat that meal.
   
   Another factor in not having a meal plan, and specific times that you eat?  The hunger idiot comes to visit.  Who's the 'Hunger Idiot'? It's us when we wait too long to eat. Have you ever tried to take the car keys away from someone that had too much to drink? How did that work out for you?
   
   The same holds true with food. When we wait too long to eat, the Hunger Idiot comes to visit our brains and we throw out all rational thinking of what we are going to eat.  We also lose motivation to spend the necessary time preparing our meal.  Invariably, we reach for the fastest, and if we can, tastiest thing we can think of at that moment (something usually full of salt, sugar, and bad fats). Nine times out of ten, it's unhealthy and very bad for you.
   
   To avoid this, have your meals planned out, and make sure you start to prepare your next meal before you are too hungry and turn into the Hunger Idiot.  I also keep food handy in case I miss that time.
   
   Speaking of 'time'
   Sometimes I hear - "I don't have time to make a good breakfast, etc."  You can make a very healthy breakfast (oatmeal with healthy fixings, or eggs, spinach, and toast, or a meal shake) in under 15 minutes.
   
   The ever declining meal time...
   I'd like to bring a little perspective into the picture.  30 years ago, we were all sitting down for meals (aside from lunch during the work day), and spending time preparing our dinners.  As the processed food and fast food nation arose, we started to allocate less and less time toward preparing meals and eating. We pack more into our daily routines and somehow eating has become a backseat priority, especially the preparation and planning part.
   
   Try to keep this in mind as you look at your eating habits. I work till 10pm or later at night and eat dinner when I get home. Trust me, I DO NOT want to spend an hour preparing my dinner. But I will tell you first hand, there are plenty of ways to eat good food, enjoy eating good, and not spending a ton of time doing so. But it has to be more time than pouring a bowl of cereal! Yes, that is bad.
   
3. SLEEP - Lastly, sleep schedules.  At least 7 hours of sleep is recommended to function properly through the day.  Try to set your schedule so you consistently get the right amount of sleep for you.  It is very difficult to get motivated to train or eat properly, when we have exhausted ourselves from poor sleeping habits.  

Planning can make the difference between success and failure.  Start with a plan, make it a habit, and then you no longer need to spend time planning.  Don't plan and you may find yourself in the land of P.P.P.P.  Good luck!

"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan next week." - General George Patton

Kids Nutrition - FREE Workshop

Free Workshop - February 2nd

Do you know what to feed your kids?  Do you know what helps them get through a day of school or training, and what actually hurts them or makes life more difficult?  We're bringing in a local nutritionist to help you with answer these questions.

Eric Reardon of Crossroads to Health in Groton is going to be talking about what kids should eat to maximize their day, when and how frequently to eat, portion sizes, foods that cause behavioral problems, and...what snacks are best before coming to class.  After the presentation he'll be answering any questions you may have on the topic.

FREE workshop. Parents and kids are welcome. You do not have to be a member of Plum Blossom Fitness Martial Arts to attend.

Date: Saturday, February 2, 2013     Time: 1:30 to 2:30pm
Price: FREE

Sign Up Today

Return of the Tai Chi Tiger Workshop

With Master Randy Brown

Become the Tiger of Tai Chi - graceful, and elegant, yet fierce and powerful. The Tiger is one of many animals incorporated into the Tai Chi form. In this part of the series on the 'Tai Chi Animals', Master Brown will lead you on a voyage into the essence of the 'Tiger' in Yang style Tai Chi.

You will learn how the Tiger moves, the Tiger's strategy, the philosophy of this elusive hunter, and an in-depth breakdown of each of the Tiger movements in your Tai Chi form.  As a bonus, Master Brown will also give a demonstration on the martial application of these moves.

Date: Feb 02, 2013    Time: 03:00 PM to 05:00 PM Day(s): Sat

All Skill Levels Welcome.

Cost: $50

Don't Miss Out.  

Sign Up Today

Parent/Child Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Day

A perfect opportunity to have fun learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and rolling with your sons or daughters! Come join us for this great event - Parent/Child BJJ Day.

Date: Saturday, January 26th. From: 2:30 to 4:00 PM

Cost: $50 (covers both Parent and one Child). Additional children may be signed up for 1/2 price.

New - Kung Fu Forms Class on Friday Nights!

 Starting this Friday (January 18th) from 6:30 to 7:30pm, we'll be introducing Friday Night Forms Class to the schedule.  This class will allow everyone dedicated time to work on their Praying Mantis Kung Fu Forms.

Students will work on Ba Shi (8 Stances), Gong Li Quan (Power Building Boxing), Tang Lang Gun (Praying Mantis Staff), Qi Shou (7 Hands), Beng Bu (Crushing Step), and Tang Lang Dao (Saber).

Come in a join the group while everyone learns the ancient mantis forms that have been passed down from generation to generation.  Class is open to students age 13 and up unless otherwise granted permission by your instructor.

INSTRUCTOR:
Forms Training will be taught by Xi Shiong Don Maurer.  Don will be assisting Laoshi Cyr and Master Brown by guiding all of you through the myriad of Kung Fu forms in our curriculum.  Don has been training off and on in various martial arts for years, but predominantly Kung Fu.

He has worked extensively on Kung Fu forms and weapons in his early years of training, and will be sharing his knowledge and expertise with those interested in learning and improving their forms.  He is a dedicated practitioner and has a strong desire to share his knowledge and help others learn the arts.

Don has studied with Master Brown for 8.5 years.  He currently holds the rank of Brown Belt in Praying Mantis Kung Fu under Master Brown and works with him in private training on a weekly basis.  Please address him as Xi Shiong (elder brother), or Sir when attending his classes.