Learn Seido Karate As A Family

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Many parents are very dedicated to taking their children to karate classes.  Most are even good at praising their children when they do well.  It’s time that parents realize that karate classes don’t have to be just for their children; it is training that’s good for both kids and their parents.

Pamfilis Karate Academy  is offering training to the parents of their students.  If a parent feels it is too expensive, they’re certain to be able to afford free trial.  A month of free karate training that will help parents better understand their child’s training, the karate experience and themselves.  This month could start them on a very special journey that results in the strengthening of their mind, body and spirit.

Seido Karate is a form of martial arts designed to help followers achieve the most advanced physical skills possible.  In addition to the physical abilities, it tries to develop unshakable moral character.  Karate is more than just physical training; it is also a way of life.

An important aspect of training in Seido Karate is learning all the benefits associated with Zen meditation.  The incorporation of meditation into the physical aspects of martial arts training is not new, but is an essential aspect of Seido Karate.  Students learn that Zen has nothing to do with any religion.  The unison and inseparability of karate and Zen is explained and understood by its students.

The only belief taught during karate training is that any obstacle can be overcome.  The ability to trust that any problem can be handled no matter if it is physical, emotional or financial is the modern equivalent of the samurai’s bushido spirit.

It is always good for parents to share experiences with their children. Pamfilis Karate Academy provides a special opportunity for parents and their kids to learn and grow together as they experience the many benefits of martial arts training.

For more information or to register, call Kyoshi Karen at 410-499-2476 or email at pamfiliskarate@gmail.com

Respect, love and obedience…and fish.

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Everything you do, all that you are, is based on acceptance and peace. To experience these things, we have to become aware of our relationships. In a simple social experiment, two test groups were made to examine a fish tank and talk about it. The first group was comprised of all Americans. The second group was from Japan. When the Americans spoke about what they saw, they described, in great detail, the fish. When the Japanese spoke, they not only described the fish, but they spoke about the relationship between the fish, the water, the tank, even the surrounding environment. They saw the entire picture.

When you look at yourself and do things only to please yourself, you’re staring at the fish. When you put your love and energy into others, you experience life on a greater scale. As people around you feel that you respect how they feel, they give you more respect than you can give yourself. The same rule applies to obedience. By taking the focus off of yourself you have served two people. You have served the other person, AND you have served yourself.

Embodying this lesson will allow you to experience relationships that are always beneficial. It will allow you to experience it at home, school, and work. It will allow your kids to experience it with family or with new kids at the play ground. The reach that love and respect have are simply uncanny. Take time to learn how to show just a little respect to those you know once a day. You’ll have a much greater impact that you could possibly think.

Our summer programs are available now!

1-week long summer day camps for children ages 6-15, full-day with a half-day option. (Enjoy arts and crafts, sports conditioning, meditation, children’s self-defense, anti-bullying information, and of course, traditional karate.)

The full-day option is ideal for working parents, and the half-day is great for parents on a budget or for younger children.

Merritt members: $300 full day, $175 half day.

Non-Merritt members: $325 full day, $200 half day.

For more information or to register, call Kyoshi Karen at 410-499-2476 or email at pamfiliskarate@gmail.com

Adult Classes – Work On Yourself While You Wait

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At Pamfilis Karate Academy we know that sometimes the toughest job in the world is being a parent. Between pick-ups, drop-offs, homework and all the extra-curricular activities, it’s hard to make time for yourself. That’s why we are currently offering a unique opportunity to parents to work on their mind, body and spirit. We invite you to enjoy 1 month of free training in our Seido karate method while you wait for your child to finish their own classes. This is your chance to not only take part in a one of a kind fitness class, but to share something special with your child.

Seido aims to help students develop strong bodies which will in turn translate to better health and well-being. That’s something everyone can benefit from, especially parents. Beyond that karate is a great way to increase your strength and flexibility. And it can also be a serious cardio workout! It’s truly one of best ways to spend an hour of your day.

On top of all these health benefits, taking Seido may help you forge a deeper bond with your youngster. As children get older parents often struggle to find ways to stay connected with them. Sharing a common interest is the perfect way to bond with your son or daughter.

Additionally our dojo offers a wide variety of adult classes to help you continue with your journey even after the month is over. So why not give it a try? We think you’ll like the results. Give us a call today to get started! FREE MONTH of training!

For more information or to register, call Kyoshi Karen at 410-499-2476 or email at pamfiliskarate@gmail.com

How To Properly Place Promotion Patches/Stripes

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Seido Patches (pictured on the left)
Gi Top with the patches properly placed 

For the Seido patches:  Both the circle and the rectangular patches get sewn on the left side of the gi top.  The circle patch should be placed below the left arm seam, with the plum blossom circle centered on the shoulder seam.  The rectangular patch goes on the left, front, chest area for you (or your child) … the patch should have the line at the bottom and should NOT be lined up with the seam of the jacket, but should be “readable” when the top is tied onto your child.

Advanced Stripe (pictured on the right)
Junior brown belt with a properly placed advanced stripe 

The advanced stripe for the belts should get sewn on as follows…

For juniors (those children with a white stripe in their belt): the black stripe should be positioned on the side with the white stripe running through the belt, with the circle symbol at the bottom of either end of the belt (doesn’t matter which end of the belt the advanced patch is sewn on).

For adults: follow the same directions, eliminating the “white stripe of the belt” directions. If you have doubts and would like to safety pin the stripe onto the belt and then get approval from one of the adult black belts that would be fine.  This patch is NOT “iron on.”  Must be sewn on or, I have heard that folks use Liquid Stitch (my experience has been that the belt becomes too stiff with that method).

Get fit and don’t quit! Parents of students get a FREE MONTH of training!

For more information or to register, call Kyoshi Karen at 410-499-2476 or email at pamfiliskarate@gmail.com

Never Too Old for Martial Arts

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Many people think that you can only start off in martial arts when you are young. Many parents see the benefits of martial arts in their children and want to get into it themselves. And why not? Martial Arts is amazing exercise for your body and your mind. It is also a fun, and rewarding hobby.

If you’re looking for a great workout, martial arts is the way to go. What makes it so great is that you are burning calories and the exercise is always new and interesting. Think about it: day after day, lifting weights and doing the same exercises over and over is boring. With martial arts, you are always being challenged to learn something different and exciting. And with various degrees of skill level, you always have something to work for.

If you are someone who has a hard time focusing on one thing, martial arts can help. Martial arts helps develop focus and discipline. Constant practice of something through repetitious movement and breathing exercises helps increase our discipline. It takes a lot of concentration to be able to focus learning one thing for a long period of time and martial arts helps strengthen our ability to concentrate.

Martial arts is also fun. Who doesn’t get a kick (pun intended) out of learning some cool, new martial arts technique? It’s a great way to meet new people and make new friends. Doing martial arts with the family is another great way to have fun and spend time with your loved ones.

So, if martial arts is starting to sound fun to you, then give us a call! At the Pamfilis Karate Academy, we are always looking for new members to join our martial arts family.

Get fit and don’t quit! Parents of students get a FREE MONTH of training! For more information or to register, call Kyoshi Karen at 410-499-2476 or email at pamfiliskarate@gmail.com

Karate Fitness

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How long have you been looking at your calendar in search of the perfect time to get fit? Well, when would NOW be a good time for you? Fitness has nothing to do with the timing; it has everything to do with the habit. It’s actually harder to get started than it is to maintain a habit that you’ve created. It’s even harder to stew around and think about getting started. Just going for it is always the best option. You don’t even have to go all out and knife hand a brick into dust. You just need to take small steps. The amount of stress you’ll lose when you get going will make you wonder what took so long.

Treating fitness just like any other habit is essential. You get up, get dressed, go to work, etc. Fitness is no different. Just put a little time aside for it. Pick the most convenient class time, walk in, and let the excitement of the crowd let you do the rest. Make it easy so that it can easily become your habit. A good habit.

Think like a kid. Try it, you’ll like it!Lot’s of kids are a little nervous about something new. But the minute they jump in, they get lit up. Now it’s a reason to keep coming. Open up to new possibilities and you’ll be pleased you did. The best part about Martial Arts as a fitness program is that you’re not just dropping a few pounds. You get to live out a new adventure and get away from the monotony of the day.

Get fit and don’t quit! Parents of students get a FREE MONTH of training!

If you’re looking to jump right in you can grab a 6 week summer program for all beginners! For ONLY 169.99 you get two classes per week, a uniform, and a promotion to your next belt! Get in shape and get an official “Hero” status in front of your kids!

For more information or to register, call Kyoshi Karen at 410-499-2476 or email at pamfiliskarate@gmail.com

3 Benefits Of Adult Martial Arts

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Do you have a child who takes Karate classes with us? If you do, we’d like to encourage you to participate in adult martial arts. Our adult Karate classes will do so much more for you than simply help you pass the time while you wait for your child’s class to be over. While there are actually hundreds of benefits you’ll experience when you take a Karate class, today we’d like to focus on just three of them.

Mental Benefits

The psychological benefits of martial arts classes are vast, and they are a major reason many of our adult students take classes. In addition to providing you with increased focus in many different areas of your life, you’ll also learn more confidence as your reality begins to reshape itself. Many students are a little bit timid at first, and they’re not completely sure about putting their hearts into the class and applying what they’re learning. However, those feelings of fear soon fade away, and the result is a more open and more calm mind.

Lessons in Discipline

Discipline is one of the cornerstones of martial arts. If we were to be honest, we’d admit that we can all use an extra dose of discipline in our lives. Karate reinforces that in the classroom, and you’ll also find that it spills out into your daily life as well. Along with discipline, respect for yourself, your instructor, and everyone around you is greatly reinforced. The fact is, discipline isn’t just for our kids. As adults, it gives us the extra focus we need in our daily lives to accomplish our goals.

Physical Fitness

It can be difficult for a parent to find time to work out. Gym memberships are often expensive, and actually getting to the gym can be a challenge. If you’re like many parents, you’ve promised yourself over and over again to begin getting some form of exercise. However, weeks go by without those promises getting fulfilled. By taking Karate, you’ll enjoy all of the benefits of a well-rounded workout. You’ll experience cardio as well as strength training and toning. You’ll also find that you grow stronger because Karate will teach you how to maximize the use of your growing strength.

Are you ready to make some positive changes in your life? If your child participates in Karate classes, we’d invite you to participate in an adult class as well. If you’re still not sure, we’re offering a one-month trial for parents, free of charge. We’re convinced that you’ll quickly see the benefits of Karate and once the month is over, you’ll be eager to continue.

Contact us today! For more information or register, call Kyoshi Karen at 410-499-2476 or email at pamfiliskarate@verizon.net

An Exciting Summer Program for Children

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Summer programs are both great for parents because of their convenience and fun for children because of their activities and other members. This year, the Pamfilis Karate Academy is offering a 1-week long summer program for children ages 6-14 that will recur three times throughout the summer. There will be many fun and educational activities in the program, as well as the physical portion of the class that will teach traditional karate.

At our summer camp, we like to keep the day moving by offering a variety of games, arts and crafts, and karate, as well as educational and artistic activities. In addition, each day there will be specific games designed to improve children’s motor skills. We understand that kids want to do a variety of things, rather than just one activity all day, so we plan a balanced scheduled for the education and entertainment of the children.

Though our summer camp offers several aspects that can be found elsewhere, our camp is unique because of our teaching of karate. During the week, the children will learn the basic techniques of Seido Karate, the traditional Japanese style of martial arts. During this portion of the day, we’ll teach the basics of karate, the art of meditation, and the history and practice of our art. Beginners are welcomed to join our summer program, as it will be a great time to learn karate and perhaps continue the course later on.

The summer program offers both a full-day and half-day option. The full day starts at 9:00 AM and ends at 3:30 PM, while the half day lasts only 3 hours and can start at either 9:00 AM or 12:30 PM. For Merritt members, the full day option is $300 and the half day option is $175, and for non-members, the full day option is $325 and the half day option is $200.

If you’re interested in sending your child to a fun, educational summer camp, or would like more information, call Kyoshi Karen at 410-499-2476 or email at pamfiliskarate@verizon.net

Seido Karate: Teach Your Kids Respect, Love, and Obedience

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Founded by Kaicho (Japanese for “Chairman”) Tadashi Nakamura in Brooklyn, New Yorkin 1976, Seido karate is a Japanese form of martial arts that promotes the principles of respect, love, and obedience.

Seido, meaning “sincere way”, was developed by Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura after he came to the United States to teach Kyokushin Karate. Kayokushin karate was exploding in the USA and its fast expansion made the instructors neglectful of the quality of karate and the principles they taught behind it. Nakamura wanted to go back to the basic disciplines and tranquility of karate and thus he developed his own “sincere” way of doing Japanese martial arts.

Seido karate aims to develop students both physically and mentally, the mental aspect lacking in what came with Kayokushin karate’s explosive popularity. Seido’s goal is to create complete and balanced individuals. This form of karate, though catered to mind-body individual growth also promotes the development of love and community between family and friends.

The 3 main principles of Seido karate are respect, love, and obedience.

1. Respect: For your elders, your parents and their wisdom and experience, and for your fellow karate ka (or, “karate colleagues”).

2. Love: Peace within yourself to love and respect yourself and an openness and love for others.

3. Obedience: To understand and follow governmental and moral law and the desire to become someone concerned with ethics and humility. Obedience does not mean subservience; kids are taught to both understand morals but also to think for themselves in a peaceful mindset.

Contact us for more information about classes, programs, and other activities we offer! We offer full-day or half-day classes, a 6-week summer program, and summer camps for kids of all ages to cater to your schedule and budget needs. We also offer an array of activities besides traditional karate training such as arts and crafts, meditation, children’s self-defense, anti-bullying information, and more!

For information on camps and programs, please contact Karen at 410-499-2476 or email at pamfiliskarate@verizon.net