Martial Arts Life

Kiyup May 28, 2019 What is a Kiyup?  A Kiyup is a short yell that is normally used when we are kick, punching, or while doing forms. The word Kiyup means yell so that is why we kiyup right? Well, it probably wouldn't hurt to understand where the Kiyup came from and some reasons why we do it.  Where did the kiyup come from? The Kiyup came from folklore and it is said that, in the early days, a village would have one warrior who would proclaim himself as the master warrior. When a competitor would confront the warrior, he would issue a challenge to fight by using a yell which the warrior would answer with his own yell. When the winner emerged, he would again issue a yell. The winner would now be the master warrior of the village. Another part of where the Kiyup came from is that it is instinctive for humans to emit some type of grunt or growl when exerting a lot of physical force, such as when lifting a heavy object. Warriors throughout the centuries have refined this in...

It's hard to believe it's June already. Let's see how things are going :). First thing I noticed on my goals list is I am missing goals 4, 6 and 7???!! Where did they go? I'm not sure so I will get back to you on what they will be :). My list of goals for this year were... 1)  Develop and grow a Kickboxing class with KJM Jeremy. My goal of developing and growing a Kickboxing program is off to a start but I have to give the credit to KJM. This has been one of the hardest things for me as I love to follow and find it hard to lead as I don't have the most confidence in myself. KJM is giving me the tools and the jump start I just need to push back the fear and lack of confidence and move it forward. I have spent a lot of time watching informational boxing videos and teaching techniques but what is in my way is my head. This goal is still a work in progress! 2)  Cry - During the time it takes to achieve your goal you carry around emotional an...

2019 DMA Black Belt Test – June Check-in SBN Samantha Update Summary: This is the most difficult test I’ve had so far, which would make sense, but not in the ways that I would normally imagine.   I’ve gone through 3 black belt tests, but I’ve never done it while being responsible for the well-being of one child, let alone two of them.   Juggling their needs with my training, both on and off the mat, has been extremely difficult.   I have to admit, I will always put their needs over the things I have to do or want to do; however, I do need to figure out how to fit things in around the things I do for them, or I’m not going to be successful in this test.   In addition, since February, our household has gone through 3 colds…that last for 2 weeks…weeks and weeks of one or both of the kids being sick, followed by me being sick…it’s been exhausting, and distracting.   I was updating my numbers the other day and realized I hadn’t entered anything since ...