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