ELITE MARTIAL ARTS AWARD DAY OCTOBER 2008

MIGHTY MITES LIMITED DIVISION PUNCH-BLOCK-KICK OCTOBER 2008
1ST DREW BUCKHOLDT
2ND KAYLEB KUCHENBECKER
3rd ETHAN STORCK
4th SARAH BERRY
MIGHTY MITES UNLIMITED DIVISION PUNCH-BLOCK-KICK OCTOBER 2008
1ST DANIEL KACSUR
2ND IAN MacDONALD
3rd SEAN JENSEN
4th SACHEEN TIPNIS

BEGINNERS LIMITED DIVISION PUNCH-BLOCK-KICK OCTOBER 2008
1ST FRANK SMOGOLESKI
2ND ALICE WANG
3RD MATTHEW SZEWS
3RD ABBY GUENTHER


BEGINNERS UNLIMITED DIVISION PUNCH-BLOCK-KICK OCTOBER 2008
1st MICHELLE MILLER
2nd COLTEN McDONELL
3RD SAM ASPINWALL
4TH DREW KACSUR


INTERMEDIATE LIMITED DIVISION PUNCH-BLOCK-KICK OCTOBER 2008
1ST CAMERON CERA
1ST CADEN RYDER
3RD PIERCE BOLDIN
3RD TRENT BOLDIN

INTERMEDIATE UNLIMITED DIVISION PUNCH-BLOCK-KICK OCTOBER 2008
1ST DAWID KRYNICKI
2ND EVAN LI
3RD DOMINKA KRYNICKI
4TH RYAN LAPPE
4TH CONNOR CAPONI


ADVANCED LIMITED DIVISION PUNCH-BLOCK-KICK OCTOBER 2008
1ST NICHOLAS RILLING
2ND BRADY PERKINS


ADVANCED UNLIMITED DIVISION PUNCH-BLOCK-KICK OCTOBER 2008
1st WILL OCHOWICZ
2nd VICTORIA WALLACE
2ND ADAMS VANRENS
4TH LUCAS TREPTOW
4TH BENJAMIN CABALLERO

ADULT LIMITED DIVISION PUNCH-BLOCK-KICK OCTOBER 2008
1ST JESSE WALCZAK
1ST DAN BOLDA
3RD DAVID VONRUEDEN


ADULT UNLIMITED DIVISION PUNCH-BLOCK-KICK OCTOBER 2008
1ST MEGAN KUHN
2ND TONY MICELI
3RD JOE FEIERSTEIN
4th RYAN SHANKS

MIGHTY MITES LIMITED DIVISION BEST DISCIPLINE OCTOBER 2008
1st SARAH BERRY
1ST WILL STAVISKI

MIGHTY MITES WARRIOR SPIRIT OCT. 2008
NEHA KURPAD
AKSHEY SALUJA
HENRY SMOGOLESKI
ABBY SCHLAFER

BEGINNERS LIMITED DIVISION BEST DISCIPLINE OCTOBER 2008
1ST AILEEN KUNG
1ST MICHAEL POKER
1ST ALICE WANG


BEGINNERS UNLIMITED DIVISION BEST DISCIPLINE OCTOBER 2008
1ST JOSEPHINE MAYHEW
1ST COLIN MAYHEW
1ST MICHELLE MILLER
1ST CHANDLER SCHLAFER
1ST RUNNER UP MATTHEW MILLER


INTERMEDIATE LIMITED DIVISION BEST DISCIPLINE OCTOBER 2008
1ST RICHARD BAUER
1ST ALEXIS CERA
1ST CONNOR CERA
INTERMEDIATE UNLIMITED DIVISION BEST DISCIPLINE OCTOBER 2008
1ST ZACHARY BREIDER
1ST CLAYTON HARLAN
1ST JACON KRYNICKI
1ST JAMES STEINHAFEL

INTERMEDIATE WARRIOR SPIRIT OCTOBER 2008
ADAM ABUHAJIR
TRAVIS GURLIK
MAX RYDER
ANAND SALUJA
ADVANCED UNLIMITED DIVISION BEST DISCIPLINE OCTOBER 2008
1st ELIZABETH ZIECH
1ST ADAMS VANRENS

ADVANCED WARRIOR SPIRIT OCTOBER 2008
CHRISTOPHER CAPONI
FRANCESCA PESSARELLI


ADULT LIMITED DIVISION BEST EFFORT OCTOBER 2008
1ST DAVID CROSBY
1ST JIM LARSON
1ST WYATT UNDERHILL

ADULT UNLIMITED DIVISION BEST EFFORT OCTOBER 2008
1ST JOE FEIERSTEIN
1ST MEGAN KUHN

UNDERHILL WORK ETHIC AWARD OCTOBER 2008
JOSEPH OCHOWICZ

TOUGH GUY AWARD OCTOBER 2008
SEAN JENSEN
ZAC ARNDT
BRENNAN SISTER PEACE AWARD OCTOBER 2008
KYLIE BRENNAN
CHASE BEIHOFF

PROTOCOL AWARD OCTOBER 2008
WILL BUEBENDORF

BECHTHOLD/BAUER HONOR AWARD OCT. 2008
CHRISTIAN RICHTER

CHALLENGE MATCHES

Mr. Richard Bauer’s father shared this story with me. Richard competed in the Challenge Matches.

On his way to the Challenge Matches, Richard’s father said to him, “Fight hard Richard so you win that trophy. Young Mr. Bauer replied, “Dad, karate is not about winning a trophy it is about bringing peace to the world”. Richard Bauer is an eight year old Jr. Blue Belt. His statement is a representation of our Martial Arts community. I could not be more proud.

We had a small but most spirited representation for the Challenge Matches. All the fights were close. And all could have gone either way.

CHALLENGE MATCH WINNERS
Richard Bauer Frank Smogoleski Megan Lappe Megan Kuhn


Richard Bauer (Blue Belt 8) vs. Colton McDonnell (Purple Belt 9)
This match went into overtime. Mr. Bauer was a bit bigger than Mr. McDonnell. In the over time Mr. McDonnell should have moved more, but being the warrior he is, he squared of toe to toe with Mr. Bauer and traded punches.

Frank Smogoleske (Orange Belt 8) vs. Ryan Lappe (Green Belt 8)
Great fight. Mr. Smogoleski started the match by closing. Mr. Lappe countered with a hard right cross to the head. Mr. Smogoleski came right back with his own right counter. The prompted the referee, Sensei Paquette, to give them a warning about controlled technique to the head. Frank had a three point handicap, because of Ryan’s rank, but it still was a close fight, and a very competitive one.

The match got so spirited that we had to incorporate a new rule in sparring class. “No head contact below Purple Belt.” Orange Belts can make controlled body contact but only focus to the head. We call it the “Frank Smogoleski Rule”

Joe Ochowicz (Blue Belt 10) vs. Sam Aspenwall (Orange Belt 10)
The best technical fight of the night. It reminded me of the classic Frazer and Ali fights. Mr. Aspenwall was on his toes moving and using the ring. Mr. Ochowicz kept moving forward, closing. Sam would throw techniques from his moving stance, and Joe would block and counter punch. Excellent ring generalship on both parts.

Megan Lappe (Green Belt 10) vs. Kylie Brennan (Blue Belt 8)
The closest fight of the night. It went all three rounds, and overtime. Two warrior princesses giving it all they had. Ms. Brennan took the match on short notice, and did a heck of a job against a very spirited and intense Ms. Lappe.

Megan Kuhn (Brown 13 ) vs. C.J. Caponi (Brown 13)
Very clean technique on both fighter’s part. Ms. Kuhn’s first opponent had to cancel because of a pulled hamstring muscle, so CJ took the fight with one day’s notice. What Warrior Spirit. He didn’t win the match, but his spirit speaks for itself.

I want to give the students plenty of notice for the next Challenge Matches so they can plan their schedules. The next Sparring Challenge Matches will be Friday, February 13th, 2009. The next Jui Jitsu Challenge Matches will be Friday, March 27th. Challenge Matches are very helpful to a student’s develop as a Martial Artist. Plus all the proceeds go to our non-profit program, “Operation Kick-Start” which grants scholarship to deserving students who, otherwise, could not afford our program.

Joe Ochowicz with Sensei Reshel

Joe Ochowicz was the winner of the Underhill Work Ethic Award for his never say quit attitude.

Great sportsmanship after a hard fought match

New Students & Belt Graduates

New Students:
Jackson Richter
Jack Bodart
Ricardol Kane
Genna Parer
Mike Bullock
Ryan Schlink

Graduates:
Mighty Mite Purple
Sarah Berry
Abby Schlafer

Mighty Mite Blue
Akshay Saluja
Ethan Storck
Henry Smogoleski
Will Staviski

Mighty Mite Green
Christian Richter
Sacheen Tipnis

Orange Belts
Matthew Szews Part 1
Alice Wang Part 2
Sara Smith Part 2
Ian Smith Part 2
Aileen Kung Part 2
Andrew Koehn Part 2

Purple Belts
Josephine Mayhew Part 1 & 2
Colten McDonell Part 1 & 2

Blue Belts
Ryan Mills Part 1
Cameron Cera Part 2

Brown Belts
Alexis Cera Part 2
Brown Belt Level 2
AJ Paquette Part 1

Adult Orange Belt
Genna Parer Part 1

Adult Purple Belt
Tony Miceli Part 1 & 2

Adult Green Belt
Jim Larson Part 2

PUNCH – BLOCK – KICK - CONTEST Starts November 15th

The new Punch – Block – Kick & Best Discipline Contest will start November 15th and end April 1st. The Discipline competitions are always the hardest to judge. Almost every student in this Dojo is deserving of a Discipline Award, so this contest attendance will be more closely monitored, and protocol. For all beginning students, you can fill our and bring in a monthly workout sheet. This will give you three bonus stars in discipline stars. Of course, being on time is a must, unless you have a proper excuse. If you have any questions about the contest or the workout sheets please ask an instructor. They will be available to pick-up in the Dojo.

ACADEMIC FITNESS PATCHES

All Samurai put the highest value on their formal education. Students may bring their reports cards in at the end of each semester. If they qualify they will receive an Academic Fitness Patch. Each time after they will receive a chevron to put on their gi.

Closed Thursday November 27th for Thanksgiving

We will be closed Thursday November 27th for Thanksgiving. We will have classes Wednesday the 26th and Saturday the 29th.

STUDENTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Faith – Dissolution & Passing the Torch

"Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it onto future generations." -
-- George Bernard Shaw

I had what one would call a martial arts spiritual experience after I returned from my summer get-a-way. I did some bike riding and visited two dear friends of mine who have some fairly serious health issues. As soon as I returned from vacation, my neighbor had told me a friend, who I was best man for his wedding, had passed on at 47. When I returned to teaching I was in a rather, melancholy, reflective mood. Then I took an enthusiastic intermediate class outside. Shortly after we started class a rainbow formed above them. Call it a coincidence, but it greatly lifted my spirits. It made me realize the circle of life. This new generation of young Martial Artist, to whom I am passing the torch of leadership. We all share one common destiny. We all will face our time of dissolution, but for now I have a lot go get accomplished as I slowly pass the torch of leadership to the new generation of Martial Artist.

From the Desk of Sensei Reshel

Dear parents Students and Friends
The October cover letter is written by my colleague and dear friend Sensei Andre Harwell. Please read it for his words of wisdom.

Respectfully
Sensei Reshel



Hello Parents, Students and Friends:

What was it that brought you to be with those you love? Was it fate, friends or family? For many of us it was probably a combination of the three, however, I have been brought close to what, and those, I love through the martial arts. Specifically, what I speak of is the relationship I have come to enjoy with my family at Elite Martial Arts.

It has been the martial arts that brought two completely different lives together, and now the combination can't be separated. Two things that come together to produce something wonderful is an occurrence that has probably been experienced by most people. For example: salt and pepper, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, peanut butter and jelly, two different colors to make one, chocolate and peanut butter (Reese's), Batman and Robin, Tom and Jerry (laugh). These are just a few of the many combinations of things that go well together.















The combination I would like to speak of is myself and Sensei Rick Reshel. We were raised in two totally opposite backgrounds. Him a white male from a remote rural area of Wisconsin, and me, a black male from the inner city of MIlwaukee. Through the arts we have found that diversity has enabled us to bring to the families of Elite Martial Arts a teaching that reaches beyond the walls of the Dojo, and into the hearts and minds of every person associated with our school. The hearts and souls of the students here at The Elite Dojo have, and continue to develop into very caring and productive citizens of our society. Certainly this could have been accomplished without the aid of myself or Sensei Reshel, however, it is our belief that we have contributed to making it stronger.

Seems simple huh? It is...as humans, if we can find value in our diversity. For in the martial arts, we can find value in our diversity for life.

So, the message is, look to others as an object of strength and not as an object of negative difference. With an open mind we can all work to live together and live to work together towards a common goal. That goal is peace throughout... I believe that "kindness should not be a practice, it should be a given." It shouldn't be taught, it should be felt.

With love, peace, and respect... yours truly in the martial arts.

Instructor Andre Harwell

Black Belt: Kelsey Kasmerchak

On May 3rd 2008, I finally reached the point of culmination of 6 years of effort, practice, and perseverance. I don’t want to over-dramatize this event, but I do wish to reflect on what the title of “Black Belt” means to me. It is so much more than knowing how to execute a 360 degree round kick or throw a hard right hook.

It is about the person I was, the person I have grown to be, and all the winding roads in between. It is about what I have learned and what I have been able to teach others. For me, being a black belt means making the right decisions. It means choosing loving over hating, swimming over sinking, and giving over taking. A black belt is a person who is so accustomed to pushing and persevering that the thought of quitting does not even occur to him or her. A black belt is not merely a measure of performance, but a quality of character.

I was expecting this to change me; however, I have come to realize that becoming a black belt is not a hop or jump, but a gradual change. Honestly, I do not feel differently because over the years I have grown into this new role. I know all of the areas I still need to improve: my hands need to be faster and my kicks harder. My growth and learning do not stop here.

I never truly thought about the words we say every time before beginning class. I have become fond of them after so many years of repetition and have used them as advice on how to live my life.
Peace. Don’t cause unnecessary drama and don’t get caught up in it. Forgive and forget.
Unity. Reach out to others. Be there for your friends.
Respect. Accept others as they are. Do what makes you happy.

My black belt has not been “achieved,” but rather I have grown into the person it requires me to be. It will continue to evolve with me as I strive to find purpose and meaning within my life, wherever that may take me.

So thank you to those who have given me instruction and inspiration. I will carry your “warrior spirits” with me always.

Sincerely,
Kelsey Kasmerchak

CONGRATULATIONS BELT GRADUATES

Mighty Mite Yellow
Daniel Kacsur

Mighty Mite Purple
Drew Buckholdt
Sean Jensen
Neha Kurpad

Mighty Mite Blue
Ian MacDonald
Kayleb Kuchenbecker

Yellow Belts
Drew Kacsur

Orange Belts
Abby Guenther - Part 2
Cameron McDonald - Part 2
Madison McDonald - Part 2
Colin Mayhew - Part 2
Will Buebendorf - Part 2
Frank Smogoleski - Part 2

Purple Belts
Michelle Miller - Part 1 & 2
Matthew Miller - Part 1 & 2
Michael Poker - Part 2

Blue Belts
Travis Gurlik - Part 2
Joseph Ochowicz - Part 2
Connor Caponi - Part 2

Green Belt
Zachary Breider - Part 2

Brown Belts
Alexis Cera - Part 1
Connor Cera - Part 1
Brady Perkins - Part 2

Adult Yellow Belt
Genna Parrer

Adult Orange Belt
Tony Miceli - Part 1

Adult Green Belt
David Crosby - Part 1 & 2

Student of the Month: Will Buebendorf

I’m going to call Will Buebendorf Mr. Protocol. He is early to class, focused, disciplined, and has a great work ethic. His energy flows in harmony with our instructional format. I make a correction, and he pursues it as long as I ask. His energy is so balanced sometime I don’t even notice him in class. However, I always notice him on sparring days. He methodically puts on ever piece of equipment and has it all on in time for the start of class. This is not usually accomplished by most students. Will is a transfer from another Martial Arts school, and I am glad he chose this one. He is a joy to have in class. He makes each student around him follow our protocol more efficiently. Congratulations on being named the student of the month Mr. Buebendorf, the best is yet to come.

Brown Belts – Moving on Up

We have a large enrollment of dedicated advanced students. They have patiently honed their martial arts skills and are ready to move up in rank. We want all the brown belts to start thinking about their black belts. In October we want to get several brown belts tested for Part 1 of their next level of brown. The first or second Friday of November we want to get them tested for their Part 2.

Awards Day

Thursday October 23rd 6:45pm
(This day is subject to change depending on the remodeling of the club.)
All are invited to attend awards day. See the elite demo team perform. Winners will be notified in advance by phone, if you have won an award. If you did not win an award in this contest keep trying. As your Sensei, I don’t care if you would ever win an award, as long as you were trying your best. Effort is what we are looking for in the student body.

School House Rocks Demo

We like to keep the beginning and intermediate students inspired. We want them to know the skill level they can acquire. The Elite demo team is an excellent example of this, and they will be doing a short demonstration between classes, Saturday October 11th 9:45am, Monday October 13th 5:45pm, and Tuesday October 14th and 5:45pm. Beginners class stay and watch the demo team. Intermediate class will start a few minutes later than normal.

Extra Sparring Classes

There will be extra sparring classes this month in preparation for Challenge Matches.

September Announcements

Punch - block - Kick Contest ends October 1st.
The Punch-Block-Kick Contest will end October 1st. We will be having more contest in the month of September. Most all the students are back from vacations so everyone should get an even chance at earning stars. Good luck to all.

Demo Team Practice Times
We have tried to come up with the best time for the Demonstration Team practice. We have come to the conclusion that the most appropriate time for the students on the demo team would be the last half of the Black Belt Club. Black Belt club will run from 5:45p.m. to 7:30pm on Thursday evening. The first 45 minutes will be devoted to fundamentals and instruction. The last hour will be for preparing for demonstrations.(BBC members, try and stretch out on your own as much as possible before class, because we want to spend more time on instruction.) Black Belt Club members, who are not on the Demo Team should try and stay. We will have enough instructors available to help you improve in areas necessary to your development.

We may need to schedule special practice dates on Friday evenings periodically if it becomes necessary. Also, on the one week a month we do not have Advanced Sparring we may run Demo Team practice longer. We will keep demo team members informed.

Challenge Matches
We will be having the Fall Sparring Challenges Matches on Friday evening October 17th. The Punch - Block - Kick Contest will have been completed, and students will be able to focus on this competition. We will also be able to schedule more sparring classes in early October to prepare students for them. The Fall Jiu Jitsu Challenges will follow one month later on Friday November 21st. We will give you more information as that event approaches.

Elite Competition Team
Sensei Panicucci is forming a competition team to compete outside the Dojo. There are many different venues of competition. Lets try some different ones. Rules vary from tournament to tournament. The most important thing is if you become a better martial artist from your experience. Winning is nice, but that should be secondary. Improving as a Martial Artist, and following our Code of Ethics, should be our first priority. Anytime you work with different systems you become a better Martial artist. Any questions, you can email Sensei Panicucci.

Start taking notes
Sensei Panicucci would like to see students bringing notebooks to class. Some techniques you learn are complex and the steps should be written down and studied. This will help you advance further as a martial artist and enable instructors to teach higher skilled techniques.

A Word from Sensei Reshel

Dear Parents, Students & friends;
This will be a brief newsletter. The complete Kicker will follow later this month. I will be out of town for a week doing some bike riding. Work hard for the instructors.

Click here for the September calendar and here for the announcements.

August 2008 Calendar