"Sisters Kicking High"

A new year is upon us with new challenges. Our annual Wado tournament is March 20th at Columbia State College. Promotion exams will be in January. Regardless if you are participant, I encourage everyone to prepare for these events. Let's start the year off with a Kick like no other. Let this be your year to "Kick High" by aiming for higher goals.

Promote our school to your friends and family. Karate is a family oriented activity that produces positive results.

A Taste of Giles County

Well another demonstration is behind us and what a day it was. Pushing 100 degrees everyone demonstrating Wado Ryu karate put on a fantastic performance of skill and self control. Spectators had no idea the control that these people were exhibiting or the pain they were enduring. The mat and concrete were almost too hot to touch, and these karate-ka endured it with bare feet without complaint. That is a great characteristic of true karate people.

Hopefully, we attracted some new interest in karate and gave people a greater understanding into the true nature of karate.

Feel free to comment or submit suggestions on what you would like to see in our next demonstration.

"A Taste of Giles County" - Demonstration

Come see us June 20th on the Pulaski Square. Starting at 12:00 noon students will demonstrate Wado karate and self-defense techniques that has made our style one of the major martial art organizations in the world.

Techniques will include blocks, punches, and kicks. No move in karate is wasted. Each move is devised to be extremely effective without unnecessary motion. For example, the technique in making a simple middle block, (called Soto Uke), not only block once, which is visibly evident, but not so evident is another block and a striking technique.

We will demonstrate sparring for self-defense and for sport competition. Katas, prearranged fighting techniques, that increase in difficulty as the student progresses. Katas teach balance, coordination, and defensive techniques that the student can continue learning at home.

Also, we will show skits or scenarios in "what-if" situations. In other words, what if a stranger grabs your arm… or what if someone tries to force you in a car unwillingly… or what if you are attacked by someone larger and stronger than yourself …

Hopefully, this year will not be a repeat of last year and the rain will hold off until after we finish. Although, rain does help keep us cool during a workout.

Come see the booths, enjoy the food and music while at the Taste of Giles County with us, See you there!

Jerry Hughey

Getting Started

Welcome! We are getting started with a different means of communication. Our school and students just finished a fund raising event for St Jude Children's Hospital. Although, we publicized it throughout the county, in the paper, with banners, on public internet sites and the local radio, we had fewer people than I would have hoped. Regardless, we made over $1300 for St Jude and that is a real accomplishment for our first year. Everyone that has pledge envelops should get them in as soon as possible. Thanks to everyone for making this event a success.

The event was almost without incident. Matthew chipped a bone in his hand while trying to break an unbreakable board. A good rule of thumb for everyone to remember..."if it doesn't break the first time, don't try the same thing again." We can always be reassured that boards will never attack us.

I will try to post something each week. It may be something special about our students, our style, a kata, or general information about our center. Keep visiting our site http://www.pulaskikaratecenter.com/ for pictures and postings. Let us know your thoughts on this years event and your recommendations to attract more people next year.

Invite your friends and their friends to our demonstration on the Pulaski square, "A Taste of Giles County" Saturday June 20th.

Jerry Hughey
Sensei, 5th Dan