Promotions

The following martial artists have earned promotions in Shito Ryu Karate under Sensei Moe Ghanie in Ontario, Canada

Tylin Rea, white belt w/ one stripe
Jacob Sanderson, white belt w/ one stripe
Natalie MacDonald, white belt w/ one stripe
Max Almond, white belt w/ three stripes
Connar Tarr, yellow belt
Benjamin Kavcic, yellow belt
Sam MacDonald, orange belt
Paula Almond, orange belt
Colton Rea, green belt
Noah Pichl, green belt
Andy Kurtz, green belt
Angel Esperanza, blue belt
Annie Lessard, blue belt
Kerri-Lynn Houde, blue belt
Philippe Morin, blue belt
Alan Reif, blue belt

Congratulations to all for their dedication and hard work in earning their new rank.

Brand New SMAA Members

Welcome to:

Harry Breighner (charter member)
John Lawson (life member)
Maren Patterson (annual member)

Links wanted!

Please post a link to the SMAA on your website if you haven’t done so already. We ask that you use our full name (Schucker Martial Arts Association) and the initials SMAA when setting up the link. If you’d like an example, go to our links page at:
http://www.smaa-martialarts.net/links.htm  and you will see our logo and our name. Once you have posted the link, please contact us and we will in turn post a link to your site.

Donation

Dr. Mike Makoid, SMAA Yudansha Taigu and high ranking practitioner of judo, jujitsu and taiho jitsu has pledged a donation of $5000 to help fund our 2009 events. Dr. Makoid’s kindness is deeply appreciated, and the SMAA is in his debt. If you would like to make a donation to the cause, regardless of the amount, please contact us.

Pre-register for the 2009 SMAA Training Camp!

You may pre-register for the 2009 SMAA Training Camp by sending your name and contact information with fee to:

Donn Schucker
PO Box 2171
Florissant, MO 63032-2171

Fees for the Camp are:

Training Camp (all days)

• SMAA Members…$150 (includes free Awards Dinner, July 25, 2009)

• Non SMAA Members $200 (includes free Awards Dinner, July 25, 2009)

Training Camp (one day)

• SMAA Members…$50 (each day, does not include Awards Dinner)

• Non SMAA members (first day -$100, additional days - $50, does not include Awards Dinner)

There is no reduction in Camp fee (all days) if participants choose not to attend the Awards Dinner.

The 2009 training Camp will be held from 12 noon on Wednesday, July 22 through 12 noon on Saturday, July 25, 2009.

Make your plans now to attend! Don’t delay – tell your students and put together a road trip to Missouri!

We are counting on our club instructors and leaders for their support, and I ask as a personal favor that each and every one of you to get behind this event and support it with your attendance!

Full information about this event can be found on our website at:

http://www.smaa-martialarts.com/2009_smaa_training_camp.htm 

SMAA evaluation of physical skills and written testing

There will be many opportunities for both at our 2009 SMAA Training Camp in a variety of disciplines. Those who seek promotion in the martial arts may be evaluated as well as those who seek certification as an instructor or rank examiner of their style. Physical evaluation and written testing for all potential SMAA Certified Instructors and Rank Examiners (at all levels) will be conducted.

Additionally for the first time, we will offer opportunities for physical evaluation and written testing for those who seek certification as an SMAA Cardio Fitness Kick Boxing Instructor and/or SMAA Cardio Fitness Kick Boxing Instructor Trainer, SMAA Certified Acupuncturist, and SMAA Certified Personal Trainer.

Keep in mind that legitimate certification is made only after an extensive evaluation process – which usually includes physical demonstration of the skills being certified as well as written testing. We do not sell ranks or other certifications, you must earn them.

Contact Sensei Dave Lewis, SMAA Promotion Board chairman at adventureaddict@sbcglobal.net  to schedule your evaluation and/or test.

2009 SMAA Awards Dinner

Full details can be found on our website at:
http://www.smaa-martialarts.com/2009_awards_dinner.htm

Our 2008 SMAA Awards Dinner will be on Saturday evening, July 25, 2009. The Dinner will begin with a reception (cocktail hour) at 5:30, and then dinner at 7pm with the awards program commencing immediately thereafter.

The SMAA Awards Dinner is a casual dinner. Appropriate dress includes casual pants, shirt, dress, skirt, etc. No shorts or t-shirts will be permitted. Suit and tie or tuxedo, evening dress, etc. is not necessary.

Regarding awards, we will present a maximum of six awards per year at the SMAA Awards Dinner. Those nominated for one of the awards must be present or send a representative in their place or no award consideration will be possible. We will not ship awards, the recipient or their representative must be present to accept the award!

There are NO FEES for awards, they are a gift to those who have given something to the martial arts…you cannot under any circumstances BUY an award.

If you would like to nominate someone for an award, please be sure to become familiar with the six award categories and the criteria for each award. If the individual that you have in mind meets these criteria, please prepare a letter with their name, address, contact info, etc. as well as a full and detailed description of their martial arts background, rank(s), accomplishments, awards, etc. and why you feel they should receive this award. Nominations that do not include the above will not be considered.

Send in those nominations!

Nominations for the 2009 SMAA Awards Dinner

Please send your nominations (with supporting documentation - letter with their name, address, contact info, etc. as well as a full and detailed description of their martial arts background, ranks, accomplishments, awards, etc. and why you feel they should receive this award. Nominations that do not include the above will not be considered) to Sensei Tom Belt, Director of the SMAA Awards Dinner, and Chairman of the SMAA Award Selection Committee:

Sensei Tom Belt
PO Box 2171
Florissant, MO 63032-2171
tbelt@streamlinecorporation.net 

Some progress

We are making headway, but the final details of many of our programs are quite tedious and still need some attention. We have a rough draft of our grappling tournament rules which is now being edited and revised, and our cardio manual is now virtually complete. Thanks to Sensei Angela Sutton for her work in creating the text of the manual, and to my wife, Kim for her many hours editing and proofreading it. Additionally we owe a debt of gratitude to Scott Bosso and Adam Evers for the many hours spent performing for the camera took to get the photographs “just right” for this project. Without any one of these dedicated individuals, we would never have even gotten this project off the ground.

Calendar of Events

Sensei Angela Sutton, one of the stalwarts of our great association, is hosting a Karate/MMA tournament on April 25th in Lebanon, MO. This event is a bit unique in that there will be divisions for competition in sparring, forms, weapons, and grappling both with and without gi. This should be an awesome event! My wife and I are planning to be there, so join us to compete, officiate, or just meet with old friends…and make some new ones too!!! For interested parties, we have posted a flyer and registration form on the SMAA website. Please go to http://www.lebanonmokarate.com/AcademyClassic2009.pdf  for full information.

Tomas Reis of Bismarck, North Dakota will host a Jiu Jitsu seminar with Eddie “The Twister” Bravo on Saturday May 2, 2009 at Horizon Middle School, Bismarck ND. Eddie Bravo is the revolutionary inventor of the “Rubber Guard,” so this is an opportunity to train with the man who made the great Royer Gracie tap out at the 2003 Abu Dhabi Championship! For more details, please go to:
http://reismma-invitefriends.eventbrite.com 

Thank you!

Thank you for your continued support!

It’s ALWAYS an honor to be of service to you!

All the best,

Donn Schucker
SMAA Executive Director
(314) 606-7306
www.smaa-martialarts.com