STRIPE TEST ADVANCEMENTS: Bucky Jones, Makenzie Reed, Alexander Robinson, Shawn Bohne, Malachi & Aragon Garro, Abby Wincott, Laykin & Taylynn Williamson, Brenna & Shelby Surratt, Kaitlyn & Bryceson Chauncey, Colby Rosier, Savannah Finley, DeShaun & Ajerrica White, Marielle & Lafaye Floyd, Tylan Sampson, Connor & Martin Harm, Daniel & Michael Woodard, Alexia Parz, Daniel Reyero, Caitlin Lopez, Grant Pitchford, Carson Whitaker, Alex Myers, Dalton Davis, Robert, Pierce & Robert Anthony Thomas, Ernesto Andino & Cami Gaskins. RANK PROMOTIONS: Jorg Mattern, Emelia Hammond (brown belt with black stripe), Abby Marler (3rd level red belt), Sheena Mattern, Ana Chavez (red belt with white stripe), Sarah Zorn (6th level green belt), Ben Worthy (3rd level green belt with white stripe), Nathaniel Willey, (3rd level orange belt with white stripe), Anthony Lister (purple belt with white stripe), Kirk Pitts (orange belt with white stripe), Makenna Jones (orange belt), Franklin Croft, Ethan Lomio (yellow belt), Hailee Lethco (gold belt), Jacob & William Croft (blue stripe white belt), Bruno Ingalls (gold stripe white belt). PRE-BLACK BELT & BLACK BELT TESTS: Brandon Buchanan passed his Pre-Black Belt tests and is scheduled to test for 3 Black Belts in Karate, Weapons & Chito Ryu on Feb. 27. Austin Fiorelli is scheduled to take his Pre-Black Belt test in Karate on Mar. 13, with a possible Black Belt test in May.

TOURNAMENT WINNERS: WEAPONS; Ben Worthy, Ethan Lomio, Nathaniel Willey, Ana Chavez, Sarah Zorn, Brandon Buchanan: TRADITIONAL KATA; Ana Chavez, Brandon Buchanan: FORMS; Trent Peters, Pierce Thomas, Ben Worthy, Carson Whitaker, Nathaniel Willey, Ana Chavez, Sarah Zorn, Brandon Buchanan, Caitlin Lopez: SPARRING; Jacob Croft, Caitlin Lopez, Pierce Thomas, Carson Whitaker, Abby Marler, Daniel Woodard, Nathaniel Willey, Emelia Hammond, Ana Chavez, Brandon Buchanan, Ernesto Andino: ADVANCED DIVISIONS; John Sammons (Padded Weapons), Bucky Jones (katana), Justin Gragg (Sai Jutsu), Brandon Buchanan (Masters Class): BLACK BELT DIVISIONS/MASTERS CLASS; Victoria Dinning: WEAPONS; K. J. Sellers, Victoria Dinning, Justin Gragg: KATA; Allyson Worthy, John Sammons, Justin Gragg: SPARRING; Jackson Fiorelli, Andrew Stemo, John Sammons, Victoria Dinning.

NEXT TOURNAMENT: The next tournament will be on Sunday, Mar. 28. It will be the 32nd Annual Spring Dragon Fire Tournament & will be held at the Ridge Manor Community Center. A sample of the tournament T- shirt should be ready by Feb. 28, when the entry forms will be available. This event will have trophies for all divisions except Masters Class. Black Belt divisions will be for trophies also, so there will be an entry fee for Black Belts... This will be the March Black Belt Club assignment. The entry fee will be $25 if submitted by Mar. 18. After that, the entry fee will be $30.

TOURNAMENT ATTENDANCE CREDITS: All tournament participates receive 3 attendance credits for each division that you participate in. In addition, Black Belts receive 6 credits for a full day of judging or 3 credits for a half day of judging. All participates are responsible for writing down your tournament participation credits on the attendance chart.

POINT STANDINGS: The initial point standings, after the Jan. tournament will be posted shortly.

AIKIDO SEMINAR: The Aikido seminar will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 4 to 6 PM. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about a martial art that you know nothing about. All knowledge is good! Aikido is the same art that Steven Segal uses in his movies and TV program. You will walk away from the seminar a much better martial artist. Learn how to take someone down or control them with very little effort. Learn arm bars, joint locks, take downs & how to use the attackers power against them. This is great for women’s self defense. Attendance will count for 6 credits. Cost is $25 (pre-registered) or $30 at the door. Don’t miss this opportunity! Black Belt Club members will earn a self defense patch for attending this event.

All attending students should wear your full uniform. There will be a 5-10 minute break around 5 PM.

MARCH TESTS: All test schedules (Black Belt Club, rank/stripe karate, all Black Belts and Sai Jutsu) should be posted shortly. Attendance requirements for all (except stripe test and Sai Jutsu test) started on Dec. 1 and will run through Feb. So, pay close attention to your requirements listed on the test schedule. Classes attended in March do NOT count toward the March test requirements (only December through Feb.). Some Black Belt test requirements will go back even more into 2009. The dates for the March testing are; Black Belt Club (weapons & Chito Ryu) Thursday, Mar. 4; karate stripe/rank on Saturday, Mar. 6; Black Belt advancement tests on Saturday, Mar. 13; Sai Jutsu on Monday, Mar. 15. All Black Belt Club members must wear their weapons & Chito Ryu belts on the Black Belt Club tests, changing for the appropriate test.  
 
 
 

BLACK BELT CERTIFICATION: All Black Belts must pay their annual Black Belt Certification renewal fee before they take any tests in March. If a Black Belt is not scheduled to test in March, they must pay the annual certification renewal fee by the test day. If your payment is late, the additional late fee is $20. Don’t just wear the belt, be the belt!

GROUND FIGHTING: The next Grappling Self Defense course will be Ground Fighting. It will begin on Monday, March 1. See the Martial Arts courses flyer on the flyer table for more info. A Judo uniform is required for all Grappling Self Defense courses. Ground Fighting also counts toward the Combat Self Defense Black Belt. Attendance requirements will be used for all rank advancement.

GUN SELF DEFENSE: A 3 class long course in Self Defense Against Guns will be held on Saturdays, Mar. 13, 20 & 27. The times will be after the Mar. Black Belt test have finished on Mar. 13, after the seminar on March 20 (probably 1:45) & the March 27 time will be determined shortly. The cost will be $39 to pre-register or $49 at the door. This will also count toward the Combat Self Defense Black Belt.

NEW TAI CHI: The Tai Chi classes have been altered to include Tai Chi Weapons and some Push-Hands techniques. Rank can also be achieved, up to a Black Sash. For more info, see Ms. Linda.

NEXT PADDED WEAPON: The next class in the Sport Warrior Padded Weapons course will begin on Monday, June 7 at 5:45. The weapon will be the padded knife. How to use a knife in self defense, and knife versus knife fighting, will be taught. Also, at lease one knife form will be taught.

DEMO: There will be a demo at the Pasco Elementary School on Saturday, March 27. The demo will begin at 2 PM. We need to know who all can participate in the demo, so we can determine what can be demonstrated and who will do it, and have plenty of time to practice it. Please see Ms. Linda to sign up.

HOSPICE BENEFIT: The Dade City Moose Lodge will have a benefit for Hospice on Sunday, March 7. We can help this very worthy cause by simply contributing anything, in reasonable good condition, that can be auctioned off in the auction. You can also come out and bid on the items in the auction. Also available will be chicken & pork dinners, 50/50 drawings, and drawings for a lever action rifle and a large gas grill. There will be plenty of music, fun and things to do. All money collected will go the Hospice. See you there.

FOOD/DRINKS: Absolutely no food or drinks are allowed inside the school. This does include coffee and sodas. Any feeding of small children must be done outside. Please help keep our school clean.

MARCH BIRTHDAYS: Birthdays in March are; Brandon Buchanan (3/31), Anthony Lister (3/18), Alexander Robinson (3/13) & Logan Roberts (3/3). If anyone has been left off this list, please tell Ms. Linda.

NEW STUDENTS: New students joining us are Colby Rosier, Hunter Gulvin & Christian Sandoval in the Karate Kids class and Zane Howard  & Naviathan Herpich in the Lil’ Dragons. Daniel Sammons has enrolled in the Beginner Tai Chi class on Saturday mornings.

STUDENT OF THE MONTH: The February Student of the Month is Ernesto Andino. Ernesto, from the teen/adult class, has greatly improved his skills with his effort, attendance, and dedication. Congratulations Ernesto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GEAR SPECIALS: Sparring safety gear is on sale in February. All students must have their sparring gear purchased before their 1st rank test. The first rank tests are 3rd level white (in the 8-up karate classes), gold belt (in the Karate Kids class), and gold stripe white belt (in the Lil’ Dragons class). Uniforms and other items are on the Feb. sale list that is posted on the corner bulleting board.

NOISE: While all classes are in progress, any conversations must be in a whispered tone of voice. If you can be heard by Mr. Spivey, you are too loud. Also, no inappropriate conversations will be allowed or tolerated.