Archive for October, 2009
Halloween Health Kick
The per capita consumption of candy in America is over 23 pounds annually. With Halloween right around the corner we are constantly being “offered” candy, so how do you make the best choices?
-Choose hard or sour candy – often they are fat free.
-Read the labels! Compare fat percentage and look for candies that have some nutritional value such as chocolate covered raisins.
-Need something to satisfy a sweet tooth? Try dried fruit (without added sugar) or high fiber cookies.
-Moderation is key. Try fun sized candy and never use candy as a snack.
-Protect your teeth by avoiding sticky candy. It stays on your teeth longer. If you can’t brush right after eat something high in protein like cheese or jerky, which makes it harder for bacteria to survive.
-Eat a good meal before trick or treating. You’ll be less tempted to snack on candy while you walk.
-Let your kids choose no more than five pieces of candy a day. The candy will last longer and they won’t overindulge.
-
Halloween Safety Tips
With Halloween right around the corner, share these safety tips with your kids and their friends so they can have a happy and safe Halloween!
The Road to Instructor…
Begins with little steps! Make it a point to learn the white belt one-steps over the next two weeks and by the time testing rolls around you’ll be ready to go!
1. Step into Left front stance, Left High Block, Right reverse punch middle, step Left foot back, Right front kick
2. Step into Right Back stance, Right inner forearm block, Right backfist high, right #1 side kick
3. Left crescent kick block, Right side kick, step into Right back stance, Right knife hand strike high
4. Right front kick, step to Right, Left side kick, land in Left Back stance, Left hammerfist strike (sideways) high, shift to Left front stance, Right reverse punch middle
5. Left crescent kick block, Right front/side kick combination, land in Right back stance, Right backfist strike high, shift to Right front stance, Left reverse punch middle
Louder Than Words
Everyone has heard that a picture is worth 1,000 words. Well, an action is worth 1,000 pictures. Now that you’ve set a goal for your martial arts training, how do you reach it?
1) Attend class! You can’t become a black belt unless you go to class and train.
2) Be a role model to your fellow students. Instructors always notice the loudest kid in class, who moves the fastest, and who is the most focused and excited to be there. That enthusiasm rubs off and other students notice it as well.
3) Become a martial arts mentor. Take the time to help your fellow students with a difficult technique or remembering an old form.
4) Practice! It really does make perfect and help you master techniques.
5) Support all school functions. Tournaments, testings, special clinics, and camps are all great times to diversify your training. Make sure you take advantage of them.
6) Walk the talk. Memorize the Tenets and Student Oath and live them every day.
7) Be an ambassador for the martial arts. You’re probably getting all kinds of hidden and obvious benefits from your taekwondo training. Share those benefits with others and tell them where they can get them for themselves.
Learn the history of your school and taekwondo. Gaining a deeper understanding will help you in your training.
Taekwondo Helps Kick Breast Cancer
One of the first lessons your martial arts instructor will teach you is that taekwondo training mainly teaches you to prevent fighting. If, however, a negative situation is unavoidable your training will help you defend yourself. We teach that in the long run prevention is always a smarter option. Well, this same philosophy applies to other areas of your life too. In fact, research suggestions there may be a link between martial arts training and breast cancer prevention.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, a disease which touches a large number of people either through having the disease itself or watching friends and family members fight the disease. Well, according to Cornell University’s (CU) Medical College martial arts training helps aid in the prevention of breast cancer due to its holistic (mind and body) focus.
An article published by CU’s Weill Medical College indicates that yoga, meditation, tai chi, and other martial arts help reduce stress which suppresses the immune system. Research is actually showing that stress may increase your susceptibility to breast cancer. Yet another benefit to martial arts training – stress reduction and potentially preventing breast cancer. In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month give these health benefits to someone you love and bring a friend to class!