Newsletter - March 2006

We’re getting MORE space

Master Sim is excited to announce—the academy is moving next door or as some old-timers might say, “We are moving back.”

The move will give the academy more floor space — approximately 2,200 sq. feet of space to work out, practice forms, spar with your favorite partner, and throw each other around.

Master Sim needs your help.  We need more mats.  We need better mats.  That’s a concrete floor under us and it’s really hard on the body. Master Sim is giving all students, friends, and family the opportunity to sponsor a 42” square puzzle mat for $25 each.  It is “state-of-the-art” protection for our students.  For each student, friend, or family member that sponsor a square, their name will be displayed in the new work-out space.

Master Sim will honor last month’s fundraiser of purchasing patches for all your uniforms.

Cost:

• 1 patch      -    $10
• 3 patches   -    $25
• 5 patches   -    $40

Additional fundraiser’s will be held in the coming months, for example in April you will have the opportunity to sell Restaurant Cards and the academy will receive 20% of all proceeds from the sales.

Please see Master Sim if you have any questions regarding these unique opportunities to raise funds for the new mats and other equipment.

Calendar of Events

Open House - March 29 and 30 - (during regular class time)

"Free Fighting" - Clinic with Master Wright - April 1, 9:00 am. See Master Sim to sign up!

Chamber of Commerce - Ribbon Cutting, April 28, 11:30 a.m.

New Schedule

Annual TKD Championship - May 13 at Sioux Falls Convention Center. Events:  Forms, Free Fighting, Board Breaking, and Weapons.

*SPONSORS NEEDED*

What is Flexibility?

Flexibility is the ability to move your muscles and joints through their full range of motion.  When it comes to martial arts, the range of motion required for advanced movements often calls for greater than average flexibility.  One of the first things you learn as a martial artist is how to stretch your muscles to increase your flexibility.  While some people find that their flexibility progresses on track with their advancement in the arts, others find flexibility an ongoing source of frustration.

How flexible you are depends on a number of factors.  Some you can change and others you cannot change.  The good news is that the average person can make substantial gains in flexibility through a regular stretching program.

Research has shown that flexibility is not a general characteristic that someone possesses but is specific to each area of the body.  For example, you might have great upper body flexibility but be tight in the legs or vice versa.  In fact, many martial artists even find that their right hip is more flexible than the left allowing them to naturally kick higher on one side than the other.  Ironically, once you begin to favor one leg over the other, the more flexible leg will continue to become yet more flexible and the other side may start to lag farther behind.

Perhaps one of the reasons that flexibility is not an inherent physical trait relates to the way it is gained and lost.  The only way to increase your flexibility is through targeted physical activity that lengthens the muscles.  Conversely, inactivity of those same muscles causes a steady loss of flexibility.  Stretching is not something you can do for six months and then forget about.  It needs to be done at every workout for a long as you pursue your martial arts training and, ideally, for the rest of your life, in some form or another. (Sang H. Kim, “Ultimate Flexibility”)

FACTORS YOU CAN CHANGE:

• Frequency of stretching
• Intensity of stretching
• Choosing the right exercises
• Correctly executing exercises
• Building strength
• Overall conditioning

FACTORS YOU CANNOT CHANGE

• Genetics
• Body Structure
• Age
  
• Injury or Disability
  
• Gender

First Aid

Groin Pull - an injury to the muscle of the inner thigh.

Symptoms:

• Grade I - mild discomfort, usually does not limit activity
• Grade II - moderate discomfort, and can limit your ability to perform activities such as running and jumping, also may have moderate swelling and bruising
• Grade III - pain when walking, may experience muscle spasms, swelling and significant bruising
  

Treatment

• Rest - allow the pain to guide your level of activity
• Stretching - gentle stretching is helpful, but should be stopped if it causes pain
• Ice - apply ice for the first 48 hours after the injury and after your activity until the injury has healed
• Heat - apply heat before your activity

Prevention

• Do exercises and stretching that will help control movement of the hips and pelvis