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September Announcements from Sensei Toni
We have some really exciting news this month that is going to fire up your martial arts desire! Keep reading!
First, I’d like to thank everyone who has, again, been patient while I’m healing up with the gastritis/ulcer stuff. Everything is on its way and you can look forward to me being a regular in the dojo again! Because my schedule has radically shifted, I expect to make most classes, including Saturdays. At last!
5th Annual Halloween Festival
Second, the 5th Annual Halloween Festival is scheduled for Friday, October 24th, beginning at 6:30! Cake walk, Haunted House, Sack Races, Costume Contests, and Halloween Auction/Store and Piñatas: these are some of the things you can look forward to! Save your Dojo Bucks for purchases at the Store/Auction, it is guaranteed that you will see some unique things you won’t be able to live without! Volunteers (help with Haunted House, Cake Walk, Decorations, etc) are asked to send me an email or sign up at the dojo. This year’s theme is A Character from Your Favorite Book. Remember that it is a family affair and make sure your costume fits that guideline (no really gory or revealing costumes). We are asking that, if it doesn’t hurt you financially, you purchase a copy of your book and bring it along. (Check McKay’s for good, clean copies if you don’t want to buy it new.) It will be donated to a literacy foundation here in Knoxville! Fun and community service, what else can you ask for?
We are also asking that all students pitch in with a $10.00 donation towards the Haunted House. Tent rental was $400.00 last year (a personal donation paid for it), and we can’t pick that up out of pocket this year. So please help out! $10.00 per student isn’t a lot on the individual end, but it really adds up and makes it possible in the whole picture! Also plan on bringing a dish to share (half of the fun is in the eating) and a baked good for the cake walk! Start planning now!
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Training Now Available!
Third, MMA is coming to the dojo! Two very fine ethical, and competent instructors will be starting classes on Wednesday, September 17th at 6:00. Friday and weekend times will be announced shortly. Cost for the MMA program is $100.00 per month (this is an independent program, sharing space with AOS). If you want to train, if you are interested in competing, please ask at the dojo for more information!
RELOCATION PLANS!
And last, but not least, the BIG SURPRISE! In January, we will have RELOCATED! Yes, AOS is moving, and don’t be dismayed, it is not even 5 minutes away from our present location! You will love what is happening with our dojo!
It is your Shihan’s decision to regain our grassroots and return to a traditional setting. We will return to being the only private martial arts dojo in Knoxville, and future students will be allowed in by application only. It is my desire to keep our student body pretty much at its present level and ensure that all students get plenty of individual attention. The Judo Club and the MMA program will be moving with us, and they are as excited as I am about the traditional setting. You will have a great indoor space (same floor as our present one), with an outdoor classroom area (puzzle-mat over concrete), and a grass enclosure (catching arrows and learning to throw knives!) as well as a mini-bamboo forest and meditation garden. There are things we will be able to do there that we cannot do in the present location (such as hanging heavy bags). This is the space we originally came from, with many new improvements. Present student tuition will not go up, but new students after January will have a higher tuition rate for the premium space.
I have valued our last 5 years in the commercial space, chiefly because it allowed me to meet most of you and welcome you into our dojo family. But I honestly believe that we trained harder, competed harder, developed more fully, and were happier when we were not in the commercial space. It also means that I will return full-time, and I was personally much happier with that. So I know you will all be excited by this!
Wow, that is a lot of news in one set of announcements! I welcome your feedback and thoughts (senseitoni@yahoo.com). As we go into the Fall, our dojo is heading for the best times ever!
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