Portsmouth Students Winners in Tournament!
Sixteen students, representing Portsmouth Shaolin Studios, attended the NH State Shaolin Olympics tournament on Saturday, September 21st. The event was held in Concord, NH, at the Holiday Inn. All sixteen students received medals in their various events — quite an accomplishment. All now qualify for the Grand Championship tournament to be held in Connecticut on Sunday, November 3, 2013. All 13 SDSS schools will be participating in the November event, so the competition promises to be fierce.
Congratulations to all our Portsmouth students, and Good Luck in the next tournament!
Reminder of Studio Closure
Just a reminder to our students…..the studio is closed Saturday, September 21st, so that we may participate in the NH State Shaolin Olympics Qualifying Tournament.
Challenge Yourself!
There are many ways to challenge yourself….most of which involve working harder! Here’s a way to challenge yourself and still have fun….. compete in a tournament. Shaolin Studios is hosting the 2013 Shaolin Olympics for students in their three NH studios on Saturday, September 21st. The event will be held at the Holiday Inn in Concord, with the first event beginning at 10am. Portsmouth SDSS will be closed that day as we’ll all be in Concord cheering on our student competitors. Go Team Portsmouth!
School is Back in Session!
Yes, September means that school starts again. For many of you, that is something to be excited about. For some, there may be a feeling of dread, and that feeling may stem from many things….fear of failure, dislike of certain class subjects, concern over how others will react to you, and more. Whatever the reason, the feelings are real. If YOU are experiencing dread at the beginning of the school year, talk to a trusted adult. They can help put things in perspective for you, and perhaps help you to find some of the excitement that others are experiencing.
Reminder-Studio Closure
Just a reminder to our students… the studio is closed Friday, August 30th through Monday September 2nd for the long Labor Day Weekend. Have a safe and fun weekend. We’ll see you on Tuesday, September 3rd.
Belt Advancements Demonstrate Achievement
Whether you study kung fu, karate, TKD, or some other form of martial arts, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your skill achievement through regularly scheduled belt advancements. Earning a new belt rank not only solidifies the skills you have been working on, it sets you up for a new level of achievement. What a great opportunity!
Front Room Face Lift
We gave our front room a make-over with new paint, more seating, and re-arranged wall-hangings. Come in and check us out! And while you’re here, if you are new to us, ask about our kung fu and martial arts programs and any unadvertised specials we may be running.
Don’t let the heat get you down
It’s easy to skip training when the heat is high and the humidity seems out of control. But pushing through the discomfort can bring its own reward. Often the heat provides an opportunity to move very slowly, and this, in turn, provides a new perspective on the intricate moves of a form or technique.
15 Students Advance to Next Rank
Fifteen students advanced in their kung fu ranking on Saturday, June 15th. The day was warm, causing the younger students to “wilt” a bit as the time went by, but 2 students successfully advanced to Yellow belt, 3 students advanced to Orange, and 7 students moved to their Purple belt rank. Blue, 1st Degree Brown, and 3rd Degree Brown rounded out the last of the advancements. The 3rd Degree ranking in Brown is the last belt before Black Belt, and thus we offer our sincerest congratulations to Steve S. who successfully completed this stage of his journey.
Market Square Day Activities
As the runners streamed by our yet-to-be-erected tent/booth, SDSS staff prepared for a busy day of activities on our annual Portsmouth Market Square Day appearance. We honestly love this opportunity to interact with our greater community. The chance to meet both local-area residents and tourists, and answer any and all questions about our kung fu programs is unparalleled.
This year turned out to be particularly interesting as many who stopped by to chat, asked questions about the physical demands of kung fu, how we worked with students with exceptionalities, what our class schedule was, and even, about our training at the Shaolin Temple in China! Many entered our drawing for a free month of group classes, and several asked to be added to our mailing list. Nearly everyone one who stopped by accepted our free sports water bottle, and we did our best to give one to all who passed by.
Several of our students stopped by to chat, some even stayed and helped. We even snuck in a quick demo of forms here and there. Add to that, the weather finally cleared (even if it was rather windy), and all in all, the day was absolutely fantastic. We’re already planning new ideas for next year!