Begin your day with Beginner's Mind

Self Defense Seminar for women

"You didn't just teach me how to protect myself, you gave me permission to protect myself."

-Marylin

On Saturday, September 26th, Mrs. Conley will be presenting Self Defense for Women at the Beginner's Mind Dojo at 10am.

This two and a half hour course will cover a solid range of defense from easy to apply techniques to verbal development skills and most importantly, victim prevention. Through the course of this seminar women of any age or body type will develop protective physical skills, confidence building mental skills, and new friendships!

Take the time to get to know the friendly and light-hearted instructors and get assistance with finding our school at the Beginner's Mind Dojo website: www.beginnersmindschool.com

We look forward to meeting you and want you to know that, at the Beginner's Mind, you don't only learn self-defense, you develop confidence!

IFYCA Mountain Retreat in review

The International Fook Yueng Chuan / Shoshin Ryu Karate-Jitsu Association hosts a couple mountain retreats a year in which martial artists from the United States of America, Canada, and Europe have come to train in martial arts. Many different aspects of the arts are implemented in these retreats and training with weapons is not uncommon. This past retreat, hosted on the first weekend in June of 2009, saw the surprise visit of Jesse Glover, Bruce Lee's first student and teacher of Non-Classical Gung-Fu...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Friday morning, the drive was pleasant and the weather was warm. Nearly every student of the Beginner's Mind School was in attendance with the majority of them arriving very early. The event began with a large round of introductions in order to help familiarize every one for ease of training (with a large number of attendees hailing from Yuen's Family Martial Arts Centre) and the instruction was under way, courtesy of Master Instructor Steve Smith.
Moods were elevated and training was fluid as many theories and drills were practiced through the evening and well into the night, with but a break for dinner, including an exclusive knife training segment by guest teacher, Chris. By the end of the session, people were making their way to their tents, cabins, or trailers filled with new information and enhanced muscle memory.
Saturday saw much of the same as training began early and ran through the day as Master Smith and Jesse Glover traded of portions of the day, taking the attendees from Yueng Chuan to Gung-Fu and back again. On this day, the training was showing its measure in the shoulders and elbows of every person there. The evening brought rain but that didn't stop the course as the group moved indoors to the pavillion and continued the experience, only to stop late in the night where some of the remaining individuals sat around and talked with Jesse, or rather, listened to him talk about martial arts, history, and truth in teaching.

The rain died some time in the night which gave way to a misty Sunday morning within the pine trees of the campsite and there were still hours of training to be had before this retreat was finished. The camp got right to business and worked solidly up to noon where the goodbyes began.

This weekend brought a great many experiences, some of the most important being new studies of ancient arts, expanded muscle memory and art exploration, the privilege of being accepted and training with our three main teachers at this retreat, and the friendships that have budded or continued from past retreats that will continue to prosper into the future. Additionally, on a more personal view, the untiy with the Beginner's Mind dojo, which was already strong, has solidified even moreso bringing student and instructor alike closer than a team, cementing the relationships just as those of a family

IFYCA Mountain Retreat this Friday!

Well, there are less than 5 days until the International Fook Yueng Chuan Association mountain retreat and the anticipation within the Beginner's Mind camp is high!

• With special guest, Jesse Glover, attending this retreat, the preparation is in full gear with a great number of straight-punches, big-punches, sticking hands and other exercises being practiced.
• Bags are being packed and the camo is coming out.
  
• Camping equipment is getting dragged out and tested.
• The natural food sections of the grocery store are seeing more activity.

If attending, be sure to bring:

• Pair of Escrima Sticks
• Safe training knife (one must be rubber)
• Comfortable Outdoor training cloths.
• A tent and all sleeping bags etc.

Beginner's Mind is eager to visit with Yuen's School of Martial Arts and The Little Dojo students and teachers again along with the many other regular attendees!

International Fook Yueng Chuan- June Mountain Retreat

Jesse Glover, Bruce Lee’s First Student and Assistant Instructor will be a guest at The Little Dojo / International Fook Yueng Chuan Association Mountain Retreat the Weekend of June 5, 6, & 7.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to meet Jesse Glover and Master Steve Smith long with other fantastic instructors from the United States and Canada as well as the chance to train with not just these supremely talented individuals, but to also meet new people and make some great, long-lasting friendships! The total hour amount of training is also incredible as it can add up to the equivalent of three months of knowledge just based on minute by minute timing! The true value of knowledge is far more extensive than three meager months, however as a single mountain retreat can load, possibly years of information into your karate cranium! Mr. and Mrs. Conley will be attending this event as will the majority of the adult class from the Beginner's Mind Dojo. Many more individuals from the United States, Canada and other parts of the world will be in attendance and, to work with others from other areas offers insight on aspects of the arts that might be overlooked locally!

Jesse Glover is one of the worlds leading experts on Bruce Lee’s fighting methods. Jesse Glover teaches privately at his school in Seattle and does select seminars around the world. Jesse is a consummate coach who is able to see instantly how to get the most out of an individual while helping that person maintain their unique way of moving. This is a rare opportunity to train with on of the worlds finest teachers.

As the history of such an event is one not to be passed up, if you feel as though you would like to attend, please contact Master Smith at SteveSmith@thelittledojo.com to reserve your spot today!

Belt Testing

Congratulations go out to the following students of Beginner's Mind for their excellence in skill and technique as well as their perseverance and dedication through their belt test in the fields of katas, self defense, kickboxing, and other areas:

John Humble, graduating to Green Belt!
Kevin Kmineck, graduating to Yellow Belt!
Paul Partida, graduating to Green Belt!
Rose Sarmiento, graduating to Green Belt!

Honorable mention goes to Jesse for his first test and great aptitude!

Happy Easter!

Congratulations!
You found the Easter Egg that is The Beginner's Mind Dojo!
As a reward for your hunt across the internet for a martial arts school that is warm and welcoming, we would like to give you free classes, just in time for Easter!

When you come to our classes, just mention this message to receive your special Easter present- we will waive your fee for the entire month of April! As if that wasn't enough incentive, we also offer to you a positive learning environment and great experiences with a whole building full of new friends! But act fast, this offer is only good up to Easter Day!!!
We don't just give you Karate at the Beginner's Mind, we work very hard to give you real, positive, life enhancement!

You won't have a hard time finding us if you follow this link!

Mrs. Conley's feelings on PBL's Self Protection Seminar

Today, Mr. Conley and I were lucky to find ourselves hosting The Beginner's Mind Dojo’s first ever Women's Self Protection Seminar for Walla Walla Community College and the Phi Beta Lambda club. All the women that attended, were just looking for some self confidence and the skills to keep themselves SAFE!

Before teaching, I had a moment of panic at the realization of this being our debut seminar. People were still arriving as I fidgeted with informational handouts and my nerves were still a twitter. I then remembered the counseling that our sensei offered to and his confidence within us and was beginning to feel empowered but was still reminded that these women were still going to be influenced by my teachings today. After a small amount of speed talking in the beginning (which I slowed directly afterward), the class got underway and the ladies in attendance were excited and eager to get underway and before we knew it, the day zoomed by. Those attending were attentive and thrived on the knowledge we shared with them, everyone participated in all drills and after each one walked away with coments like "wow i can do this", "wait, that was so simple", and my favorite "I can't believe I have that much power just from that!". At the end of our day together, each one thanked Mr. Conley and I for a great day and for about another 30 minutes, slowly one by one took their leave. I feel grateful and honored to have had this opportunity and thanks to my wonderful Husband (punching bag) together made it in my eyes an awesome day.

What I feel all of them left with was an empowering knowledge that everyone can protect themselves and that if they trust in their instincts as well as the individual strengths we worked today they are more protected. What I walked away with was a strong feeling of satisfaction and confidence! Satisfaction that every attendee had a fantastic time and confidence that there were that many more women in the world that have taken the power of protection into their hands!

Women's Self Defense at WWCC

Beginner's Mind Martial Arts Dojo and Phi Beta Lambda have teamed up to present female students of Walla Walla Community College with a three hour class that helps develop skills and understanding which may be called upon in times of need!

This self defense course, which is held at the WWCC campus in the Water building 2023 on Saturday, February 28th from 1pm to 4pm, will cover physical aspects of self defense by covering basic striking tailored for female effectiveness as well as basic grabbing and holding escapes.

Additionally; Stacy, Beginner's Mind's female instructor, will discuss the psychological aspects of self defense and the body's natural response in high stress situations, the key element in self defense.

There will be plenty of opportunities to practice what you've learned and great fun to be had by all! This class is open to female college students enrolled at WWCC and their loved ones at a very special PBL ticket price of $15.00 per person. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Phi Beta Lambda and the many great causes they fight for with their brains instead of their fists!

For sign up or additional information contact Phi Beta Lambda Vice President, Jennifer Christensen
or E-mail Mrs. Conley
.

Sign up is limited so sign up NOW!