Saturday, December 14, 2013

How Judo Saved My Life


By Kaily: the following post describes one experience and how martial arts training affected my response. Due to the potentially controversial nature of the topic, I will avoid any discourse on whether what I did would work for everyone.


            I said, “No.”

I said it three times. If not for the verbal warnings, I was also pushing his hands from me.

            On a fall night, my junior year of college, a peer of mine attempted to sexually assault me.  He was a collegiate hockey player with an over 90 pound advantage to my 110-pound frame and at least a foot taller.

            When we met up, he kept touching my shoulders and arms, which didn’t bother me. Throughout the night, he became continually aggressive, until I told him that I didn’t want him to touch me. “Isn’t this what you want?” he asked.

            “I really f*cking don’t. Stop.”

            He shrugged it off and laughed. That should have been a red flag bigger than Belgium’s waving around in my face.

            Later on that night, he picked me up and threw me down. He got into a mount position and pinned my wrists to the floor with one hand, fumbling to undo his pants with the other. It was all happening very quickly, but my mind slowed down to assess the situation, something I had been trained to do during grappling or randori sessions.

            I stretched my arms away from his body and my head, until he was forced to let go. I clenched one arm around his neck and the other around his upper arm, wrenching my shins against his pelvis with the newly created space. He tried putting a hand against my throat to get out of my clench. I locked his thumb, shoved off again, and gained some back control, which let me dig my heels hooks into his thighs. I had his arm wrenched behind his back.

“Do that again, and I’ll kick your nuts back into kingdom come,” I spat. I felt a couple of pops in his finger before I ran out. He didn’t bother to chase me.

            The next day, he texted, “I was drunk. What happened last night?”

            I have yet to respond and never will, but I’ll say this: Judo happened that night. Judo saved my life. 

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Happy Holidays!

The Japanese Martial Arts Center is closed on December 22-25 and December 29-January 1.

Make sure to come in the other days of the week for your training!

Monday, December 9, 2013

Amazing Transformation!

My 7 year old daughter and I have been JMAC family members for over year, and within this period I have witnessed an amazing transformation in my daughter.

Although she has always been an exceptional and wonderful child, as anyone would attest to, she has mild ADHD and focus and concentration have always been a challenge for her.  When we started at JMAC, I had hopes that it would help her with these problems, but it would be a gross understatement to say that it met my expectations! 

JMAC is truly a place of holistic self enhancement. All the instructors here are dedicated and professional martial artists. The children’s program is truly phenomenal.  Since my daughter has been at JMAC, her focus has quadrupled.  Her teachers at school have noticed a huge difference in her ability to concentrate, and stemming from that, her reading and math skills have gone from average to an entire grade level above. Every morning she says her affirmations that are taught in class in order to remind herself to “try my best!” 

They spend circle time every class session to discuss issues vital for today’s youth such as strangers, respect, community involvement, and bullying.  The children have a wonderful time, and it is amazing to watch the level of skill they develop in a short amount of time.  Due to the untimely death of my husband, my daughter has lacked a male role model and Sensei Suino has been a Godsend for us.  My daughter adores him and looks up to him; she takes his words very seriously and even at her tender age applies them in her life.  I cannot recommend this place enough.  Thanks JMAC!!

-Tiffanie Alexander

*We can't promise that every child will do as well as Tiffanie's daughter, but we do have a lot of success stories. Stop in or call us at JMAC - we'd love to chat about how we might be able to be a force for good in your child's life!

Martial Arts Ann Arbor - Kids Karate - Japanese Martial Arts Center

(734) 645-6441

info@japanesemartialartscenter.com

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Iaido Camp 


Special 3-Hour Event for JMAC Members and Select Members of the Public

Saturday, January 18, 2014 - 11am-2pm

"Structure in Japanese Swordsmanship"

How to align your skeleton to get the best balance, strength, and effectiveness in iaido.