Dojo Blog - Rochester Phoenix Martial Arts

Master level instruction for all students. Call or text Leigh at (585) 354-8946 to get started.

We're Under Constructon!

1/30/2017

We're sorry about all the dust!

Our front area is currently under construction. Right when you first walk into our building there is a shared storage space. We are currently working on fixing that up to make it more inviting and to add to your overall experience at the dojo.

We're adding a wall, cleaning it up, and are going to be painting very soon.

We're sorry for the mess, but very soon that area will be much more pleasant for everyone!

Training When You Have Kids

1/19/2017

Parents in particular have a hard time making class sometimes. As a new parent, I understand now why making it to class can be difficult when you have little ones. I own a dojo and I've had to miss training because Asher needed me! But, I think I've got some strategies for making it to class when you've got kiddos.

Bring Em!

We are very kid friendly. There are things at the dojo that most kids can't resist, like foam swords, punching bags, a pull up bar, and kick shields. I've seen kids entertain themselves for an entire adult class - and still not want to leave - by playing with those objects alone. Our dojo is one big open space, so you can keep an eye on them while training. Water breaks, class breaks, and partner rotations all give you a chance to check in as well. We also have a desk where kids can work on homework or read while you're training.

Get them Involved

We have a family class that is free for members to attend every Saturday. Kids can practice with their parents and get an idea of what martial arts are all about. We have later kids classes that happen right before adult classes start up. One of our instructors brings his son to the kids class and then stays for the adult one while he watches. It's a great way for the whole family to get involved.

Timing is Everything

There's only so much you can do to time out naps and other activities for little ones. If Asher happens to tire himself out around five thirty, I know I'll make the Basic Jiu-Jitsu class. Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't. But I do everything I can to get the timing. It isn't a science, but getting him to sleep, or planning other kid activities to allow yourself time to train is possible. We have another student who drops his daughter off at her guitar lessons while he trains.

Managing kiddos and training isn't always easy. We've tried to make it easier with our scheduling and relaxed, kid friendly environment!

Not All Martial Arts are for Beasts - Aikido

1/18/2017

Turn on UFC and what do you see? People in all out Beast Mode cracking open faces and breaking bones. Whoa. No thanks. To quote many of my friends and family over the years: "Why pay someone to beat you up every week?" Well, because martial arts aren't all like that!

Okay, full contact karate and BJJ can have their moments. But if you're interested in martial arts without all the GRRRR, there are options!

Allow me to introduce: AIKIDO

Aikido is known as "the gentle art." The class has more of a Yoga feel than a competitive one. Aikido focuses on joint manipulation and off balancing. In training, you learn how to feel the momentum of your attacker and then use it against him/her. Students practice on training partners, but in a non-competitive way.

Instead of competitions or tournaments, Aikido has seminars. Sometimes guest instructors will come in and give lessons. Other times the class will travel to another school. Joint training sessions with other area schools are also common.

When people are nervous about taking a martial art and fear injury, I usually guide them to Aikido.

That being said, you often get out of training what you put in. BJJ and Full Contact Karate (Ashihara) can be done gently and without injury. Just like it is possible to get injure someone if you land an Aikido technique full force. But if you're looking for a martial art that is gentle, non-competitive, but still can be used for self defense and personal development, Aikido might be a perfect fit. We have Aikido for Kids and Adults.

Battling Bigger Opponents

1/17/2017

Finally, the fun part of class is here: Battle Time! The chance to practice all those sweet moves on a resisting and unsuspecting opponent! You picture yourself landing those triangles, throwing on armbars, wiping the sweat from your brow triumphantly while your opponent shakes off their defeat- Oh, except you get partnered up with the 300 pound ex football lineman. The dude with the neck that is literally stronger than your right leg.

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Battling bigger people can suck. But it can also be a great learning experience. More on that later. This post is about why you shouldn't get discouraged about the suck.

One thing that helps keep things in perspective for me is the Boyd Belt System. This means that for every twenty pounds someone has on you, it equals a belt rank. So if you're rolling with someone who outweighs you by forty pounds, it is the same as fighting someone two belt ranks higher than you. So don't get discouraged if you're not tapping people out who are bigger than you- even if you are the same rank. This doesn't mean you'll never manage to win your matches. As you get more experience things will start to level out.

We had a student in Aikido who was tiny, we had to order a child size uniform for her. Yet she always went with the biggest guy in class. I really appreciated that mentality. You can learn a lot from trying - AND - failing against bigger people.

Personally, I'm okay embracing the suck and learning what I can from having my techniques fail on bigger opponents. Someday those techniques won't fail, and that will be a gloriously awesome day.

BJJ Uniforms - Why Are they Important?

1/16/2017

The world of uniforms can be pretty confusing to new martial artists. Open up Amazon and you'll see martial arts uniforms on there for thirty bucks, so why are we asking you to buy one that's twice as much? No, we aren't evil money hungry jerks looking to cheat you. The uniform is actually pretty important- especially for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

If you or your child are taking BJJ, you need to get the right uniform. ASAP. Why?

Protection

In Jiu-Jitsu people are grabbing that uniform by the collar and sleeves as hard and fast as they can. Grips play a huge role in this sport. A BJJ uniform is made to handle that, and the quilted material is pretty forgiving on the skin. Those cheap standard student uniforms are NOT the same. If someone grabs those super hard and fast they can cut into the skin, leaving what looks like rug burn on the neck, upper arms, and wrists. A proper BJJ gi will eliminate a lot of those types of injuries.

Longevity

A BJJ uniform is thick, quilted, and designed to withstand the rigors of training. Again, people are grabbing at the uniform pretty aggressively. You can buy a cheap $30 uniform, and it will maybe last a few months. They tend to rip along the sides and under the armpits. In Jiu-Jitsu, you are also fighting on the ground. The knees on a BJJ uniform are reinforced, so they tend to last for a long time. My oldest one is over two years old and it's just starting to wear out- and I train all the time. On a cheap standard uniform the knees are usually the first thing to go, I've seen it happen after only a couple hours of training.

The Right Cut

Again, grip fighting is a major part of BJJ. If you have a standard student uniform, chances are that the sleeves and overall cut of the gi will be on the larger side. This is because those uniforms are not specifically made for Jiu-Jitsu. I've gone up against people with giant sleeves, and even my little hands can grab onto those suckers and wrap the material around the wrist- resulting in a death grip that is nearly impossible to break. BJJ uniforms have a slimmer cut to make it harder for opponents to catch the sleeves and collars. If you're a woman, I recommend getting a uniform specifically made for females. The sizing and cut will be different, and you'll be much happier with the fit.

You wouldn't wear hockey gear to play baseball, right? We need to think about uniforms in the martial arts the same way. Plus, if you're looking to compete you'll absolutely need the right uniform. Many major tournaments regulate them and won't let you participate if the uniform isn't right.

Birthday Parties!!!

1/13/2017

There was a time when I felt that "karate birthday parties" cheapened the martial arts and were just wrong. BUT, I have since learned how important and awesome having martial arts incorporated into a birthday party can be. I don't care how people experience the martial arts, it's the exposure that counts. If a child goes to a birthday party and discovers martial arts THAT IS AWESOME!! Their life has just been changed in such a positive way!

Plus, the fact that kids want to share the martial arts with their friends makes me feel so honored and happy. Recently we put on a birthday party for one of our students. Seeing how proud he was to demonstrate and show his friends his skills, it was awesome. That truly made my day.

We are now offering free birthday parties included with our kids memberships. I hope more kids get exposure to the martial arts and learn these amazing life skills. For more information, contact Brennan or myself. We'll be more than happy to help put together a memorable day for your kiddos!

Finding a School - Openess

1/12/2017

I know finding a martial arts school can be very difficult. While I'm partial to Rochester Phoenix Martial Arts, I realize we aren't right for everyone. Still, I wanted to do some posts on things to look for. I've been training in the martial arts for a LONG time, and I can usually spot good schools pretty quick. This post is on openness. It's a quality I think is important and that separates good schools from bad ones.

Real modern martial arts training should not be clouded in mystery. We don't meet for secret magic training sessions with secret magic scrolls to enhance our secret magic skills. Sorry if I ruined the martial arts for anyone just now.

Can You Watch Classes?

We encourage potential students to watch classes. We encourage parents to watch their kids in classes. We encourage significant others to come watch their loved one in classes. There are no secret magic skills an instructor is teaching to your eight year old that you can't be allowed to see. If a school discourages viewing... RED FLAG! As a parent myself, I'd run from a school that wouldn't allow me to watch the class.

What Are the Parent Organizations?

That weirdo in the Wal-Mart parking lot can go ahead and open up a martial arts school in his basement if he was so inclined. There are no regulations for operating a dojo. Unfortunately, there are frauds out there. One way to avoid fraudulent instructors is to look into the parent organizations associated with the school. These keep up quality control, provide ranking guidelines, and instructors normally need to be certified through them. If there are no parent organizations, at least question and research the instructor's credentials.

How Easy is it to Contact the Owners?

Brennan and I live in an apartment. We have cell phones. We don't live on some mountain top fortress in the middle of nowhere. When students or parents want to talk to us, we're there! I always try to respond to texts, emails, and phone calls right away. We also try to check in with students and parents on a regular basis. If the head instructor/school owner is never at the dojo and doesn't respond when you try contacting him/her, probably a bad sign.

Finding a good school isn't easy. There are still a lot of outdated notions about martial arts and training. Hopefully this series of posts will help clear some of that up. Even if you aren't from the Rochester NY area, the same points apply.

Training Beyond Your Own Dojo

1/11/2017

Should your training begin and end with your own school? For many people, coming to class and training in their own school is enough. However, extra training can be extremely beneficial for so many reasons.

Additional training can take many forms. Seminars, open rolls, and tournaments are just a few examples. Why are these events so important to your training?

They Keep Things Fresh

As you train and start working with others, you start figuring things out about your training partners. We all have habits, and the more you work with familiar people, the more you can anticipate just how he or she will react. By training with new people, you can better tell if your techniques are working properly. A technique will work differently on someone who has no idea it's coming.

They Put Things Into Perspective

Maybe you're the biggest guy in class. Maybe you're the smallest. Maybe you're the oldest. Maybe you're the youngest. By traveling to another school, you can seek out others with similar or different body types than you're used to. I'm used to working with people a lot bigger than me in our classes. At first I was getting a little discouraged because it seemed like everyone was better-- Until I went to another school that had several women my size. I held my own! Suddenly I didn't seem to be doing nearly as badly as I had been thinking I was.

They Prevent "Martial Inbreeding"

This is a term I use for when people substitute anticipation/expectations for technique. In other words, is something working because it's legit? Or because Sensei says it will work and it's working for everyone else? Other instructors and high ranking individuals may have new ways of looking at things or interpreting techniques. By going out and experiencing new ideas - even if you don't agree with them - you keep adding tidbits of understanding and knowledge to your belt. This keeps your martial world growing, expanding, and evolving.

There are so many more reasons to venture outside your school walls. I'll tackle more in another post.

A Brief Uniform Guide

1/10/2017

One of the fun things about martial arts - for kids and some adults - is the cool uniform you get to wear!

We have uniforms for a few reasons. One is because it's traditional, and the martial arts celebrate tradition and history within the classes.

However, the uniform also has a very practical use as well. In arts like BJJ and Judo, the uniform is designed to withstand the rigors of training. It won't rip when grabbed and yanked. It also helps keep things fair in competition. If one person has a loose fitting uniform, it will make it far easier for their opponent to grab it and complete their throw or sweep.

In Karate, a thick uniform acts as a training tool. Listening to the SNAP sound that a uniform makes when you throw a technique helps indicate how sharp and strong the punch or kick was.

Aikido has a unique uniform as well. Since it doesn't need to be as strong as a Karate or Judo uniform, these are a lot lighter. The sleeves are short enough to not get in the way during weapon work. The knees on the pants are reinforced for some of the kneeling work.

The uniforms might seem odd and confusing at first, but they are important! We can help get you the perfect uniform for whatever training you decide to take on.

New Years Resolutions and Training

1/9/2017

Many people take advantage of the New Year to set goals for themselves. When it comes to training, this can initially be pretty easy. Set a goal to train a certain amount of time each week.

But there is a reason why New Year Resolutions tend to, well, not work so good. Setting out to make a change is one thing, but until that new thing becomes part of your lifestyle these changes may not last.

With martial arts, it's best to adapt a lifestyle that compliments your training. There is so much crossover into daily life, no matter what kind of martial art you're taking.

Weight loss and getting in shape are always popular resolutions. Here's a secret: I run because I don't want to be dead on the mat after two rounds. Here's another secret: I eat decently so I feel light and energetic during training. These things do lead to weight loss and fitness, but they also link directly to martial arts training. It works because it's part of the overall lifestyle.

Aside from the physical stuff, there's the mental aspect too. Staying calm when someone is trying to punch you or choke you out-- Under those circumstances, staying calm when work gets stressful seems easy, right?

Work your New Year Resolutions into your martial arts lifestyle!!

Get in touch immediately to schedule an appointment or get more information by calling or texting Leigh at (585) 354-8946

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