Can’t get enough TMAP action? Can’t remember which kick aims where during cover-cover? Or are you keen to see what happens at competition? Well we’re here to help you 
We now have a selection of video clips available to view on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/tmaplondon#g/u), we’ll gradually be adding more clips as we get them, but for now why not have a look and see what our competition squad have been getting up to or see Sensei Marco and Sensei Phil demonstrate cover-cover.
Yes, you read that correctly! The Martial Arts Place now
has new lessons in a brand new location during the
week. Our new lessons are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays
at Expressions Dance Studio in Highgate Road and are
aimed at 5-7 year olds, to book into these
lessons please speak to your Sensei or contact us.
For details of an incredible offer on these new lessons call us at our Swiss Cottage Dojo on 020 7586 1222
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It’s coming towards the end of term already
(where has the time gone?), so we’d like to
remind you that the Dojo will close over Easter
for scheduled childrens lessons; however,
we are offering Little Monkeys ‘drop in’ lessons
at our new Kentish Town venue for £10
each lesson (Tuesdays and Thursdays 4pm). Places are limited.
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Our Swiss Cottage Dojo will be running drop in lessons on Wednesdays as follows;
For more information on any of these classes then please call us on 020 7586 1222 or speak to your Sensei.
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May bank holidays
Our Dojo always closes over bank holiday weekends, for the coming term and holiday season these dates are:
Friday 29th April – Monday 2nd May (inclusive) and
Friday 27th May – Monday 30th May (inclusive).
Where a childs class falls during a weekend that we are closed, there is the opportunity for them to make up their class during the week. As classes on weekdays are very popular please speak to your Sensei to book your childs place.
We open again on Monday 9th May with our FULL timetable.
Are you potty about Sensei Phil, do you marvel at Sensei Marco, are you weak at the sight of Sensei Will or do you rave for Sensei Russell? If your answer is yes then keep reading!
This April TMAP’s own Penny Sekkides will be running the London marathon to raise money for some very special causes. By buying a raffle ticket (£5 each) you’re money will go towards raising funds for The Robin Hood Project a charity set up and run by one of our students which helps educate under-priviledged children in Peru. Money raised will also go towards the Japan Emergancy Appeal and the clubhouse fund for the Chesterfield and District Athletic club.
Your £5 will enter you into a prize draw whereby you could win a private lesson with one of the Sensei’s. There are four first prizes – so buy your tickets today!!!
We know that you appreciate your mum, so why not show her how much you love her by indulging her love of all things TMAP?
We’re offering a private class for the price of only £25 (usually £50), call us on 020 7586 1222 to book now and take advantage of this offer!! ♥♥
Registration for term 3 is now open at TMAP, enrolement takes place on a first come
first served basis and as usual our existing students will get first refusal for booking
the same training day as they’ve had for term 2. After 4th April any vacant places for
each lesson will be offered to students on our waiting list and to new students.
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Term 3 changes to our TMAP timetable.
TMAP Little Monkeys have 2 new classes in our Kentish Town Dojo, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4pm. If you’d like to book for the remainder of this term then please contact us for details of a very special offer on these classes.
Focused class for Little Monkeys and Juniors.
Due to a fantastic amount of interest in these classes we’re pleased to be able to offer new focused classes for term 3.
Little Monkeys Focused (5-7 years old), Tuesdays at 4pm (Swiss Cottage Dojo)
Juniors Focused (8-10 years), Thursdays at 4pm (Swiss Cottage Dojo).
These classes offer a more focused Little Monkeys and Juniors class with the addition of grappling and weapons training. The class concentrates on more advanced punching and kicking techniques as well as allowing children to practice the new techniques in sparring and ground drills. All children will need to have full protective equipment. If you are interested in your child trying one of our focused classes then please speak to your Sensei.
This week our ‘Sensei on the spot’ becomes ‘Senpai on the spot’ and features very own Senpai Jack.
A ‘Senpai’ is an experienced student who assists a Sensei during a lesson. In our Dojo, a Senpai can be recognised by their red belt with a black centre.
Jack’s our youngest instructor at TMAP, who, when not writing essays for his college
work can be found teaching our Little Monkey and junior classes.
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For you, what is the most enjoyable aspect of teaching?
“The rewarding feeling when you see an improvement and know you are the cause.”
What is your favourite film?
“Pulp Fiction, I’m a Tarantino fanatic.”
How do you spend your free time?
“When I’m not writing a million and one essays for college,
I’m usually out seeing friends or playing x-box.”
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What is the toughest challenge you’ve faced?
“GCSE’s weren’t much fun, but the 10 week holiday more than made up for it.”
What’s your favourite snack?
“Nandos have their own crisps – they are the best
thing in the world!”
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What song guarantees you’ll get on the dancefloor?
“Anything by Swedish House Mafia.”
What are your ambitions for the future?
“Succeed in my A-levels and gain my blue belt. I’d like to do
a few tournaments in the future too.”
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What’s your advice for a beginner at TMAP?
“Keep your fitness up, the lessons can be punishing if you aren’t in shape!”
What’s your favourite possession?
“My trainers, I’m also seriously addicted to my
blackberry!”
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What scares you?
“The energy of some of the five year olds I teach, oh, and Sensei Marco’s
head-kick!”
What super power would you have?
“Being able to fly! It would definitely give me the upper
hand in sparring.”
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Do you have any secrets?
“I’m very competitive!”
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Seb and Bella remove their shoes upon entering the training area, known as the dojo. They are instructed to kneel down in front of their Sensei, which is Japanese for teacher, and the lesson begins.
As a child, I attended karate classes in a draughty Cornish village hall, and loved it. With two children of my own, 11-year-old Seb and Bella, 8, I was interested to see what has changed in the world of children’s martial arts in the past 30 years.
Characters such as Kung Fu Panda and the Karate Kid (in my day it was Hong Kong Phooey) are inspiring children to try the growing number of martial arts courses available for ages three upwards. It’s not about fighting. Well-taught classes can instill more serious values in an easily distracted generation.
Jay Savery teaches a discipline known as yoshinkan aikido. It’s here that I decide to take my own children for a beginner’s session.
“Aikido is non-aggressive,” Jay explains, “because it focuses on redirecting an attacker’s force rather than opposing it, making it perfect for anyone of any size.”
For the next hour he cajoles and encourages my children into having a good time while teaching them something completely new. He’s a natural coach with an excellent manner and I’ve not seen my two move this much in ages! At the end of the lesson they can both execute a perfectly controlled forward roll.
“Every aspect of the training is designed to teach the students, whatever their age, that they are responsible for their own actions. It’s about understanding principles such as honour, integrity, honesty, respect and recognising the difference between right and wrong,” says Jay.
Children are starting younger than ever. Nicky Cox teaches Wado Ryu Karate to four to six-year-olds at a club in Nottingham. It’s a lively class that fizzes with energy, with all the little ninjas dashing about the place with a cartoon dragon emblazoned on the back of their little suits.
“Different children react in different ways to the teaching,” she says. “The naturally confident and energetic ones buzz around, while the less self-assured children gain in confidence as they progress through the training.”
The parents in attendance confirm that the combination of learning a physical activity in a structured environment has done wonders for their children’s general demeanour, and say it’s a high point of their week.
Julie Kitchen, 12-times World Muay Thai Boxing champion, agrees. With husband Nathan she runs popular classes for all ages at Toughgloves in Penzance. Their 12-year-old twin daughters, Amber and Allaya, have been kick-boxing since they were three and are junior champions. “It has definitely given them a sense ofunderstanding that if you work hard at something then you’ll reap the rewards,” says Julie.
Article reproduced from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/active/8366077/Martial-arts-Karate-kids.html
This weeks Sensei is TMAP’s own blonde bombshell
and keeper of the desk….. Sensei Lina.
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For you, what is the most enjoyable aspect of teaching?
“The interaction with students.”
What is your favourite film?
“It’s a tough choice – I don’t really have a favourite – but a good one is
Rocky 3″
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How do you spend your free time?
“I love watching films andgoing to the cinema and
munching!”
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What’s the toughest thing you’ve overcome?
“My first blue belt grading and competition.”
What’s your favourite snack?
“Revels”
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What are your dreams for the future?
“To gain my black belt in kickboxing.”
What song guarentees you’ll get on the dancefloor?
“Alex Gaudino ‘I’m in love’”
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What advice would you give to a beginner at TMAP?
“Don’t give up and have fun!”
Do you have a favourite possession?
“Nacho – my chihuahua ”
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What scares you?
“Stairs with gaps in and narrow staircases – weird I know!”
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If you could have a superpower what would it be?
“Every power – I want them all!”
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Do you have any secret (or not so secret) skills?
“I can eat lots – really!”
Next time we’re featuring our first Senpai interview with Senpai Jack, come back to find out all about Jack
March 26th sees our first self defence course for our older junior group (11-14 years). The aim of the first part of the course covers verbal and non-verbal strategies for dealing with bullying situations: positive posture, confidence and how to diffuse difficult situations.
In January and February we hosted our first round of self defence classes for our Little Monkeys and our younger juniors. Led by Sensei Phil and Sensei Marco, children were taught how to assert themselves using verbal commands and body language. Completion of the course was rewarded with a self defence patch (that can be worn on uniform trousers) and extra reward stars and a special gift of a reflective Martial Arts Place slap band!
The courses proved a huge success, with many parents booking their children onto the second part of the course. Each session costs £10 and are booking up quickly, to book a place for your child call us or speak to your Sensei.
Congratulations to all students that graded during February, here’s our gallery of students who successfully graded this month.
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Congratulations to Mark, Ravi, Natanya, Roxanna, who all graded
to yellow 1 and yellow 2 this month. Congratulations also to Joyce and
Alistair who both graded to orange 2 this month and finally
congratulations to Freddie who graded to his brown t-shirt.
Well done and keep up the good work!
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