Training Equipment

Body Shield - Century

15 oz. nylon reinforced vinyl cover over dense compressed foam. Two back handles, and one on each side. Available in Black. Size: 14-1/2 inches x 25 inches x 5 1/2 inches thick.

Price: $69.95
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Focus Mitt - Ringside

Unique contoured shape allows for more control and gives the coach better leverage while working the mitts. The mitts promote proper alignment of the wrists, arms, and shoulders so that the impact from the punches are naturally dispersed, not absorbed by the joints.

Price: $34.95
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Focus Mitt - Everlast Leather

Curved design allows for greater ability to absorb punches in an anatomically correct hand position for the trainer.

Price: $64.95
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Proforce Thunder Leather Muay Thai Arm Shield

Made of genuine black and red leather.

Price: $39.95
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Teaching- Games

Games are always a great activity to end a fun, cooperative kids class with. And I mean the last 5 minutes of that class, not the last 15.
If you play games at the end of your karate classes
1.) Make sure they have earned it and tell them why
2.) Make sure this game is related to our skills in karate.

Here's some games we play at our school:

Karate Baseball: Baseball doesn't have anything to do with karate. But, this game does. Throw 3 hand targets, one at a time, and have each kid make a fighting stance and try to kick or punch the target. This develops their timing, coordination, and focus.

Dodge Ball: Everyone's favorite. Explain to the kids that this helps our focus, reaction, and timing skill that we develop in karate.

Sensei Says: The Sensei will always win in this game. Tell them to make a fighting or horseriding stance, do 5 push-ups or situps, and keep their balance on one foot. But only if Sensei Says!

There's some fun activities I enjoy ending classes with.

Don't miss our October specials! Get them while they last! Al 6000 Lighted Competition Kama Makes a great show piece to add to your collection! Extremely lightweight, with color embedded in the metal for a durable finish. Die-cut blades provide an updated look. Price: $64.95 $55.21 More Info »

Book- Iron Palm Fundamentals Grandmaster Brian Gray, who founded the Shao Lin San Kung Fu Temple in 1971, is considered by most experts to be the world's leading authority on the subject of the Chinese Iron Palm. Price: $19.95 $16.96 More Info »

Dragon Tanto Knife w/case A stainless steel blade with black dragon design. 12" overall. Price: $24.95 $21.21 More Info »

Flame Muay Thai Gloves Flame Muay Thai glove adds some flash to your workout. Leather wrap around and hook and loop closure with dense padding for maximum protection. Comes in 10 or 16 oz. Price: $44.95 $38.21 More Info »

Photo Frame Belt Display Put a face with those belts! This belt display features a martial arts kanji cut out, two 3-1/2" X 5" photo openings and is available for engraving. Belts sold separately. Price: $59.95 - $69.95 $50.96 - $59.46 More Info »

Round Speedchuck with Grip Very similar to our round speed chucks, grip speedchucks feature grooves on the handles making the nunchakus easier to hold on to. Also available in a black finish. and in an 8 inch minichuck with either a black or natural finish. Ball bearing chain and swivel. Price: $12.95 $11.01 More Info »

Sprawl Competition Fight Shorts- Red/Black The new SPRAWL GripFlex is our 5th generation board short that gives fighters and grapplers the added dimension of grip to help secure finishing holds and counter the slippery effects of sweat. Price: $49.95 $42.46 More Info »

Youth Hardwood Bokken This hardwood sword is great for practicing techniques without the danger of using a "sharp" sword. Length is 29-1/2 inches. Price: $12.95 $11.01 More Info »

October is almost gone, Last chance sales!

Don't miss our October specials! Get them while they last! Al 6000 Lighted Competition Kama Makes a great show piece to add to your collection! Extremely lightweight, with color embedded in the metal for a durable finish. Die-cut blades provide an updated look. Price: $64.95 $55.21 More Info »
Book- Iron Palm Fundamentals Grandmaster Brian Gray, who founded the Shao Lin San Kung Fu Temple in 1971, is considered by most experts to be the world's leading authority on the subject of the Chinese Iron Palm. Price: $19.95 $16.96 More Info »
Dragon Tanto Knife w/case A stainless steel blade with black dragon design. 12" overall. Price: $24.95 $21.21 More Info »
Flame Muay Thai Gloves Flame Muay Thai glove adds some flash to your workout. Leather wrap around and hook and loop closure with dense padding for maximum protection. Comes in 10 or 16 oz. Price: $44.95 $38.21 More Info »
Photo Frame Belt Display Put a face with those belts! This belt display features a martial arts kanji cut out, two 3-1/2" X 5" photo openings and is available for engraving. Belts sold separately. Price: $59.95 - $69.95 $50.96 - $59.46 More Info »
Round Speedchuck with Grip Very similar to our round speed chucks, grip speedchucks feature grooves on the handles making the nunchakus easier to hold on to. Also available in a black finish. and in an 8 inch minichuck with either a black or natural finish. Ball bearing chain and swivel. Price: $12.95 $11.01 More Info »
Sprawl Competition Fight Shorts- Red/Black The new SPRAWL GripFlex is our 5th generation board short that gives fighters and grapplers the added dimension of grip to help secure finishing holds and counter the slippery effects of sweat. Price: $49.95 $42.46 More Info »

New MMA Shirts

Bad Boy Lyoto Machida T-Shirt

This tee is just like the pro's would wear. Bad Boy Lyoto Machida UFC 94 Walk-In Shirt. Mineral washed 30 single hand grinded for a soft feel. Made of 100% cotton. Jumbo print, gold foil, woven neck label.

Price: $39.95

Bad Boy Brazil T-Shirt

Bad Boy "Brazil International" T-Shirt. Super-soft, lightweight, slim-fit tee, tagless. Full color screen print on the front and back. Color: military green.

Price: $39.95

Bad Boy Walk-In T-Shirt

This tee is just like the pro's would wear. 100% cotton T-shirt featuring the Bad Boy chest and back print as well as the letter box eyes on both shoulders and sleeves.

Price: $24.95

Silver Star Rob Emerson T-Shirt- White

Rob "The Saint" Emerson's signature series fight shirt is a true reflection of his nick name.

Price: $40.00

Silverstar Cock Fight T-Shirt- White

2 Bull Roosters Engaged in the Original Blood Sport. Machine washable. 100% cotton.

Price: $36.00

Silverstar Rich Franklin T-Shirt

The Rich Franklin Official UFC 99 premium walkout tee is designed to express the essence of the man known as "The Ace".

Price: $40.00

How to be a Good Teacher

A recent blog comment has prompted me to write this post:

I believe a way to become good at something is to teach it. You need to have confidence in what you know and understand how to explain it comprehensively. As a full-time karate instructor for many years, I have watched myself develop my martial arts in different ways as I taught more and more. I began to always make sure I practiced what I preached, and corrected myself as I would an advanced student at the dojong.

I have been teaching since I was 15--Black belt since I was 11. Age doesn't matter in the dojong; As long as you can express yourself fluently, comprehensively, and be professional, your students shouldn't care how old you are. Everyone asks my age, and I never tell. As far as their concerned I am 30 in black belt years. Young or old, anyone can be a great martial arts teacher with practice, repetition, and the will to help others.

Which leads me to my next point: Any rank can be a good teacher. I have seen white belts explain to other white belts a technique perfectly. Students have helped students with their one step sparring techniques, and even though an orange or yellow belt may be considered a beginner, it sometimes takes 2 years of experience and training to become that rank. Yes, experience matters when teaching. So does confidence, a well thought out plan for a class or a drill, and a good demeanor. An adult who has 2 years of training and has obtained the rank of yellow or green belt (8th or 7th gup) may be a parent, a teacher, or has dealt with children and adults before. They know how to deal with child's "ADHD" or an adult's probing question. As long as they now their stuff, they too can be as good of a teacher as a belt belt is.

So kudos to your instructor if they allow member of your black belt club or leaders club to teach warm-ups, kicks or punching techniques, and forms or katas. This is good practice for the student and for their future. And, it's certainly a reflection of their instructors as well :-)

Tang Soo Do Hyungs

Do you do Korean Karate and need help practicing your forms at home? Here's a couple DVD's that can point you in the right direction.

DVD-Tang Soo Do Hyungs Vol. I

Learn about Tang Soo Do (Korean Karate) from an internationally known and respected authority... Master Chun Sik Kim. See him teach and instruct Tang Soo Do just as he does through his International Federation which has schools located throughout the United States, England, Panama, Puerto Rico, Belgium, Wales and, of course in his native Korea.

Price: $29.95

DVD-Tang Soo Do Hyungs Vol. II

Learn about Tang Soo Do (Korean Karate) from an internationally known and respected authority... Master Chun Sik Kim. See him teach and instruct Tang Soo Do just as he does through his International Federation which has schools located throughout the United States, England, Panama, Puerto Rico, Belgium, Wales and, of course in his native Korea.

Price: $29.95

DVD-Traditional Tang Soo Do Hyungs- Black Belt- Vol. I

The forms are performed by Grand Master Chun Sik Kim, president and founder of the International Tang Soo Do Federation, with the exception of Sip Soo, which is performed by Master Joe Goss, Vice President of the International Tang Soo Do Federation.

Price: $29.95

DVD-Tang Soo Do Hyungs- Black Belt- Vol. II

The forms are performed by Grand Master Chun Sik Kim, president and founder of the International Tang Soo Do Federation, with the exception of Sip Soo, which is performed by Master Joe Goss, Vice President of the International Tang Soo Do Federation.

Price: $29.95