AKS Quarterly Newsletter

"The Punchline Editorial"
June 2017

It's Summer! . . . At Last . . .
For some, it's been a hot one already.  And it's only a week or so old.  But for those of us here in Michigan, at least along the shoreline, we savor any day that dares to approach 80 degrees.  Dare I "whisper" that the days are getting shorter already (sniff) as I boldly take my morning walks at temperatures hovering in the 50's.  One of my goals for summer is to walk 2 miles a day.  And another is to ride my recumbent bike as often as I can.  I also want to connect with relatives and friends, and thoroughly enjoy my most favorite season of the year.

What about you?  Do you make specific plans for summer (or any other favorite season)?  Does it all go by so fast that it makes you wonder where it all went?  It just seems like the more we anticipate an event or happening, the faster it goes by when it finally arrives.  And we're left wondering why we didn't get more accomplished.

Here are a few things you may like to do this summer.  

• Make a pot of sun tea
• Take your morning coffee to the beach and listen to ~ ~ ~ ~
• Contact an old friend - invite him/her to lunch
• Attend your 50th class reunion . . . I am
• Read a great book
• Take a picnic lunch to your favorite park
• Start a jig-saw puzzle to work on during rainy days
• Try to go a WHOLE day without texting . . .
• Dial-up phone-a-friend instead
• Make a plan to exercise more often
• Go bike riding with family/friends
• Make bird feeders by covering pine cones with peanut butter and rolling in birdseed (this sounds super interesting)
• Go canoeing or kayaking
• Take the scenic route
• Go horseback riding . . . did this a couple years ago.  Walking wasn't so easy for a couple hours afterwards, but it was definitely great fun!
• Plant a "rememberance" tree
• Catch a sunrise/sunset
• Go to the Farmers Market
• Have a "Camp-Out" in your back yard
• Fly a kite
• Attend a parade or art festival
• Go to a free music concert in your local town
• Dangle your feet off a dock
• GO TO AKS SUMMER CAMP!
• And above all . . . Eat lots of ice cream, and use sun screen!

2017 Spring Seminar

The AKS Spring Seminar was held in Clarksburg, West Virginia on May 5th & 6th, 2017.  This year we were honored to have as our special Guest Clinician Sensei Frank Carmichael from Luneburg, Germany.  Sensei Carmichael holds a 5th degree Black belt in Waldo Ryu, 1st degree Black Belt in Aikido and a 1st degree Black Belt in Kyusho.

Four Candidates were tested on Friday evening and all passed with flying colors.  From Muskegon, Michigan, Kristyn Reinecke tested and was awarded her 3rd Dan.  JB Bryant and Sameer "Sam" Abed from Toledo, Ohio tested and were awarded their 1st Degree Black Belts, and Ethan David Galicic, II from Clarksburg, West Virginia tested and received his 1st Degree Black Belt.  Ethan, at age 13, is the youngest person to earn a Black Belt in AKS history.  Ethan has set an example of what younger students can achieve with hard work and dedication to the martial arts.

Kristyn Reinecke 3rd Dan	JB Bryant 1st Dan	Sameer "Sam" Abed 1st Dan	Ethan David Galicic II 1st Dan

The seminar on Saturday began with a welcome from Fred Reinecke, official presentation of belts to the successful candidates from the previous night's testing, and the awarding of the West Virginia Student-of-the-Year award.  Miss Jasalyn (Jazzy) Arnett was the recipient of this year's award.  Jazzy is a member of the Mountaineer Karate Club and has only missed one class in three years.

The morning sessions consisted of Frank Carmichael working with the young students on basics, Andy Eckhart teaching ground techniques, Fred Reinecke teaching Yaka Soku Complex, and Tom Twining teaching self-defense with a HanBo and sparring techniques.

Frank Carmichael was the instructor for the afternoon session.  Frank taught various Wado Ryu techniques we which could incorporate into our own karate.  The highlight of the afternoon was learning new pressure points and how to use them effectively.  This was of great interest to everyone and all were delighted with what they learned (except maybe his uke   ).

One of the biggest surprises was Kristyn Reinecke's class.  We thought that many of the young students would leave after lunch, since this would be a long day for them.  However, they all stayed while Kristyn dedicated her afternoon to teaching them techniques through exercises and games.  She was assisted by several of the MKS students.   The kids had one of the best times I have seen students have at a seminar.  Not only did they learn, but they had a lot fun doing so.  Thank you, Kristyn, not only for teaching the kids but for giving us ideas on how to make learning fun for younger students.

A big Thank You goes out to all the instructors and students that made the AKS Spring Seminar such a great success!

Here are a few more photos of the 2017 Spring Seminar.

Student of the Year

This year's 2017 West Virginia Student-of-the-Year award was presented to Jasalyn (Jazzy) Arnett, from Mountaineer Karate Club in Lumberport, West Virginia.  Jazzy is a 4th Grade Green belt and will be in the 7th grade starting in the fall.  Although she enjoys playing basketball and playing drums in the band, Jazzy loves karate.  So much so that when her teachers asked her to play soccer, she told them, "Not if it interferes with karate!"

Jazzy is one of the most respectful, hardest-working, and dedicated students in our class, and is continually improving because of it.  From the beginning of her karate training with MKC in the Fall of 2014, she has only missed one class!

Her dedication and hard work extends outside of the dojo, as well.  Jazzy loves animals and always seems to be acquiring new ones.  At present, she has 5 dogs, 5 cats, 6 chickens, 2 goats, and a horse.  When Sensei Gore told her that he bet her dad, Gene, probably has to take care of all the animals, we all looked to Gene and he said, "No, she takes care of every one of them."

Jazzy enjoys competing in local karate tournaments.  At her last competition, competing in the Advanced Division, she was awarded 1st Place in Kata with Bassai Dai, 2nd Place in Sparring, 2nd Place in Weapons, and 4th Place in 1-Point Sparring.

On behalf of Mountaineer Karate Club and AKS West Virginia, we want to congratulate Jazzy on a job well done!

Do You Have Member News ?

Please send news (weddings, births, graduations, etc.) so that we may share with our members and friends.  Accompanying pictures are most welcome!

We look forward to hearing from you !

PROMOTIONS!!

Tasai Dojo A.K.S. Weyhe, Germany Rudolf Schwalda - 2nd Dan - Head Instructor www.aks-karate-weyhe.de   Fynn Dinis 1st Grade Brown Shotokan 6/11/2017 Pia Wentzlaff 2nd Grade Brown AKS 6/11/2017 Annika Hinz 3rd Grade Brown AKS 6/11/2017 Julia von der Heide 3rd Grade Brown Shotokan 6/11/2017 Adelina Gashi 5th Grade Blue AKS 6/11/2017

A special "CONGRATS" to our newest black belts! And congratulations to all students who have been promoted this past quarter, and to those we've missed in prior newsletters.  Also, congratulations to our friends/fellow karateka from Tasai Dojo in Weyhe, Germany

Best wishes in your continued training!

WINNERS and LOSERS

A.K.S. News . . .

2017 Summer Camp

Here is the schedule for this year's summer camp.

Cost:

• AKS Members:
      Individual $35.00
      Family $50.00 - Family consist of 2 or more people
  (Immediate family only)


• Members of other styles: Saturday Afternoon Only
      Individual $25.00
      Family $45.00 - Family consist of 2 or more people
  (Immediate family only)

Saturday Evening Northside Pub - 6:30p, $11.00 Pizza & Salad Bar, Drinks a la carte.

Friday, July 21st
• 2:00 to 5:00 PM Black Belt Testing Fred Reinecke's Studio
• 7:00 to 9:00 PM Black Belt Meeting Fred Reinecke's Home

Saturday, July 22nd
• 10:00 AM Registration N. Muskegon Elementary, behind the N. Muskegon Library on Ruddiman
• 10:30 AM Open training sessions

Top AKS instructors will work on and answer questions pertaining to requirements and all AKS Forms.  There will also be a chance to learn another style form.


• 12:00 Noon Lunch, Group Photo taken at 1:00 PM

Afternoon sessions will be 50 minutes with 10 minute break.
• 1:00 PM Striking Hand Drills, Jim & Deb Roy 5th Dan AKS
    training gloves & striking hand pads needed
• 2:00 PM Iaido sets, Jude Gore, 6th Dan AKS
    wooden Bokken or Samurai Sword needed
• 3:00 PM Sparring drills, Heinrich Reimer 8th Dan AKS Germany
    sparring gear needed
• 4:00 PM Self Defense sets, Fred Reinecke 8th Dan AKS
    sparring gear, fake weapons: guns, knives, clubs
• 5:00 PM End Training
• 6:30 PM Northside Pub, Pizza & Salad Bar
    Location: 2353 Holton Rd (M 120), Muskegon, MI 49445

Sunday, July 23rd
• 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Open Training
    This will be held at Pere Marquette Park; weather permitting.   Includes, Kobudo, Self Defense, Sparring.  Anything you want to review from Saturday.  Also bring action flex gear and protection if you like.

Brian C. Wolffis SFR 4th Dan AKS 4th Dan AKA 702-743-4171 C 702-946-1198 F Website agent.selfdefense@gmail.com

Agent Self-Defense This is how the Title and Home Warranty Companies are promoting Agent Safety here in Las Vegas.  FYI, the WORKSHOPS are strictly AKS techniques. More later. Best Personal Regards, Brian




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Tournament News

Congratulations to all who have competed this past quarter.  Keep up the great work!




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Please take a moment to view our website and visit the A.K.S. Recognitions page.   We are proud of all of our A.K.S. members who have been honored and recognized for their accomplishments and dedication to the American Karate System.  It is only fitting that we honor them and thank them for their dedication and service to our organization.   Ernie would be proud!




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2017 Black Belt Membership Dues

All membership dues for 2017 should be current.  Please contact your instructor for the forms when you register.  Or you may fill out the appropriate forms found at the bottom of the Calendar of Events page.

If you are having a problem downloading the forms, please let me know and I will email them to you.

Request for forms:  here




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PLEASE VISIT US ON EITHER OF OUR   A.K.S. FACEBOOK PAGES  AT


AKS Facebook Fan Page

AKS Facebook Group




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Looking for that last-minute gift from our AKS apparel shop?  

We have jackets, fleece, wind breakers, vests, shirts, sweatshirts, caps and more.  There is also an embroidery service to have the AKS Logo embroidered on your item.  The perfect solution for that special 'karateka' on your Christmas list.

We would like to thank all those who have purchased AKS apparel through our on-line store.   The AKS receives a portion of the purchase price on every item sold.  Thank you for your continued support.


Please visit our A.K.S. Online Store

AKS STORE - CLICK HERE!





We are happy to announce we have upgraded the software to include FedEx online shipping rate calculation for International Sales.  This makes it possible for us to take orders and ship to International customers.

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Hey Everyone!

We want to know your favorite thing(s) about SUMMER CAMP this year!

What was your favorite class? Did you make new friends? Is this your first camp? How many Summer Camps have you attended? Tell us what camp means to your training. And any other fact you'd LOVE to share with us. Send your responses to AKS Webmaster to be included in September's Punchline.  Or write it down and give to your instructor to forward to me.  (Thank you instructors!) Thanks to all and have a wonderful and safe SUMMER, and a SUPER AWESOME SUMMER CAMP!

You can reach us here . . . 



A.K.S. Web Address(es)

Our "Official" web address is:  www.aks-usa.com

We also own:   www.aks-usa.org  and  www.aks-usa.net  which will direct you to our website as well.

You can also type in    www.aks-usa.info   and you will be taken directly to our "About Us" web page.  Please check us out!!



AKS Webmaster



The Punchline is published on a quarterly basis in March, June, September and December. All rights reserved by the  American Karate System℠