Martial Arts/Taekwondo in Centerville & Kettering

The 2012/13 school year is well underway for children in the Dayton area.  Schedules are falling into place.  What better time to begin Taekwondo training than now?!  At the Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School, we change lives through martial arts with a professional and friendly staff in a clean and modern environment.  The Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School stands out from typical martial arts schools.  Our classes are taught with positive reinforcement.  Our goal is to create the “complete martial artist,” a student who succeeds at home, at school, and in class.

Call today to set up your free two-week trial program at either of our locations. I will be happy to set up a convenient time for you to visit our school and participate in class.

Debbie Spiegel, Enrollment Director

Always Learning, Always Evolving

This week, several AAC staff members have embarked on a year-long journey together.  Matt (our Executive
Director), Kellen and Alex (our Lead Instructors from each school), and Debbie and I (representing the Enrollment Department) are beginning the John C. Maxwell Leadership Program.  I think it will better enable us, as individuals, to find our strengths and therefore work better as a team.  We all have shared
goals for these schools and are working diligently to see them to fruition.

There is a daily reader that we’re all going to be working on throughout this process.  From Day
One, I was inspired.  The last line of the page says simply, “Don’t try to conquer the world until you’ve taken care of things in your own backyard.”.  Now THOSE are words to live by.

Angel Perkins

Enrollment Specialist

Centerville Martial Arts

Centerville’s Best Martial Arts Classes are held at the Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School at 661 Lyons Rd, Centerville, Ohio 45459. Call for children or adult programs 395-0333

New beginnings

2012 has already been an interesting year for me. This year marks the longest time I’ve been away from home, the first year that I have worked full time, and of course the first time that I have my own school. A new school is a new beginning for me, and a new beginning is what I feel like I needed the most out of life.  Beginnings are exciting because it has so much potential to invent, test and excel in. Your first day in high school you got to meet so many new people and make new friends.  Your first day in college is the same and now, as I start this new career, I get to create my life and establish my role in the world.  That being said, excitement always has a degree of fear in it.  For example, during the first couple of weeks, literally no one came to the school.  There were days of frustration but luckily I had everyone at the Asian Arts Center to help push me back up and get the wheels turning at the new school. Since then, in the past two weeks, people have been coming in and out of the new school and trial program after trial program has been signed.   The retention has been high and even students who have really appreciated me have joined in Centerville.  Finally the ball is rolling, and I swear that no one will stop it.

Alex Tienda 3rd Dan at the Asian Arts Center

Taekwondo Cross Training by Dennis Schaefer

Now that I have retired from competitive sparring I have started running to supplement my training. Cross training can enhance skills related to Taekwondo as well as develop other skills and areas of strength that will supplement those developed in the dojang.

Practicing Taekwondo, especially sparring, involves short explosive expenditures of energy. Sports like basketball, soccer and tennis require the same sort of energy. Including some short sprints in your long, slow runs will duplicate that expenditure. Interval training on the running track or in the swimming pool will also accomplish the same purpose.

Cross training can also be accomplished in non-competitive activities like Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates. Yoga will increase flexibility and balance as well as addressing the meditative and psychological aspects of martial arts. Tai Chi involves many of the same movements as traditional Taekwondo forms, albeit at a slower pace, and will also enhance balance, flexibility and strength. Pilates shares many of the effects of Yoga but also emphasizes increasing “core” strength, essential to Taekwondo.

For me, cross training also injects some variety into my efforts to stay healthy. When my enthusiasm for one activity wanes, other types of training can offer a “break” without sacrificing over-all conditioning.  As mentioned earlier, some cross training will directly improve my Taekwondo performance as well as enhancing my life-long study as a Martial Artist.

The Olympic Spirit by Dennis Schaefer

I remember watching the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games on television when I was 16 and thinking, “I would like to work hard and compete some day in the Olympics.” At the time I was a competitive swimmer and trained throughout the year. I loved to compete and would swim age group meets in the summer, high school swimming team in the winter and YMCA league in the spring. Throughout my life I have had a great deal of difficulty being a spectator; I wanted to participate. When I was 32 years old I was a spectator at a Golden Gloves boxing tournament, and the next year found me in the ring. That’s the way it has always been.
This year I am watching the Summer Olympics once again. Now, at age 61, I realize that my chances of being an Olympic athlete are pretty slim. But I still feel the Olympic Spirit and continue to seek it in everything that I do.
“What,” you might ask, “is this Olympic Spirit you speak of?” Well, I can only speak for myself, but here’s what it means to me.
1. Seek something bigger than yourself. Look beyond the boundaries of your ego, your abilities and your own self-interest.
2. Enjoy the journey, even if you don’t reach the destination. All of my preparation is a lesson.
3. Celebrate your efforts as well as your successes
4. Be generous in your competition; you get back what you give
5. As I was once told, “Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all small stuff.”

Here’s the Secret by Dennis Schaefer

Those of you who follow my entries know that I lost about 25 pounds over the course of the past 6 months, leading up to 2012 USAT National Taekwondo Tournament. I guess it must show in my face because I lost count of the number of people who have asked, “Did you lose weight?” and then the follow-up question, “What’s your secret?” I am now going to reveal the secret.
Actually there are a number of steps to the secret process.
Step one: Have a clear goal date in mind with a compelling goal. In my case I had to be less than 175 pounds by July 2nd or I would have to fight Man Mountain Dean. Your goal and goal date can be anything and any time but it has to be compelling.
Step two: Keep a food diary to discover how, when, where and what you eat. I found that a number of curios questioners echoed my observation, “But I don’t really eat that much.” At least that was my original observation, until I kept a food diary. Its not only how much you eat but what you eat.
Step three: Change times and amounts of exercise and food intake to avoid plateaus. Your metabolism will always try to maintain stasis so you have to trick it. In other words, make things interesting for your metabolism.
Step four: Always remember that the equation is simple- you have to burn more calories that you take in. I never was much good at math but reading labels helps as does some research into nutrition and weight loss science
Step five: You need to have a support system. Sometimes you have to remind that support system to not bring cookies, candy or any empty calories into the house unless it is then well hidden.
Step six: Learn to take one bite, and then stop. That way you don’t have to deprive yourself. A tremendous amount of self-discipline is required.
Step seven: A tremendous amount of self-discipline is required.
Step eight: A tremendous amount of self-discipline is required. (Not a misprint)
Step nine: Don’t weigh yourself more than twice a day.
Step ten: Good luck.

Dennis Schaefer is an Instructor at the Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School in Dayton, Ohio. www.aacdayton.com

Martial Arts In Centerville Ohio Contacting Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School

Find us at www.aacdayton.com

661 Lyons Rd., Centerville, Ohio, 45459

Call (937)395-0333

email us at asian_arts@hotmail.com

Centerville’s Best Martial Arts Program

The Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School has opened a new school to serve the communities of Centerville, Miamisburg, Spring Valley, and Springboro. Located at 661 Lyons Road, Centerville, Ohio 45459, the newest Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School is close to the Dayton Mall, Yankee Trace Golf Club, Cox Arboretum, and many other South Dayton landmarks. You can learn more about the Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School, and more about martial arts and the Karate for Kids program at www.aacdayton.com, or by calling 937-395-0333 or email asian_arts@hotmail.com