MARTIAL ARTS
AGENDA
JUNE 2019
MYMARTIAL ARTS JOURNEYS AROUND THE US
martial arts, and others participated in it themselves when they were younger. Having the chance to connect with people all around the country through martial arts, both in and out of the tournament, was one of the best parts of these road trips. After the competition, driving back home was just as exciting as the journey there. We’d swap stories, cheer each other on for our victories, and comfort each other in our losses. Sharing those experiences always made everyone feel good about
Throughout my middle and high school years, I would travel to martial arts tournaments around the United States every three months or so. I loved all the experiences I had and the people I met on the road. The tournaments offered a chance to reunite with my friends, meet new people, challenge myself, and have fun. I remember visiting some beautiful places, but it was my friends who made the trips so memorable. This was before cell phones and texting, so my friends and I had to occupy ourselves on the road with your typical road trip games. We played the ABC game, bingo, and car trivia, where we would write questions down on a piece of paper and hold them up to the windows for the other cars to see. Whenever we found ourselves at a hotel or pit stop, my friends and I would practice martial arts. Sometimes we’d be in a parking lot or a ballroom at the hotel. Our parents would ask the hotel staff first, and they were always more than happy to let us practice for a few minutes. Of course, people would ask what we were doing and give us an odd look or two, but we didn’t mind. Having people watch helped us build confidence. It doesn’t matter where we were or who was watching — we had a mission to do and needed the practice to accomplish it. Additionally, when we told people we were practicing for a martial arts competition, they would light up. Some had relatives who did
the competition because we had each other’s backs no matter what. Even though martial arts is an individual sport, we don’t practice in a vacuum; we’re all part of an encouraging and supportive community.
Traveling to those martial arts competitions was a positive
and influential part of my life. Win or lose, the moments I experienced will last me a lifetime, and I haven’t regretted one moment of it. – Amanda Olson
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ROLL THE DICE ON FUN Has Monopoly caused one too many fights? Are you tired of stockpiling resources in Settlers of Catan? Maybe it’s time to introduce your family to a new kind of game, one where you control the story and a single roll of the dice can change everything. This is the world of tabletop role-playing games (RPGs), where players embark on epic adventures under the supervision of a central Game Master. There are a lot of RPGs out there to choose from; here are a few your whole family can get into.
TURN FAMILY GAME NIGHT INTO A REAL ADVENTURE
Fly into Halcyon City where your family can take on the role of a team of young superheroes. Create your own hero and work together to make the world a better place. Fight supervillains, rescue citizens, and ultimately determine who has the best superpower. SOLVE A MYSTERY: BUBBLEGUMSHOE Did you grow up reading “Nancy Drew”? Are your kids all about BBC’s “Sherlock”? Then Bubblegumshoe is the game for you. This teen sleuth adventure is geared toward younger players, so it’s easier to start than other games on this list. Don’t worry if you’re not a mystery writer; the game comes with prewritten stories for your brilliant characters to solve. The villain might have gotten away with it if it weren’t for your meddling kids!
GO ON A QUEST: DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS The first. The biggest. The king of tabletop RPGs. Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) has been around since 1974, though shows like “Community” and “Stranger Things” have only recently helped the fantasy game gain mainstream acclaim. There are a lot of rules involved in the gameplay, so D&D can seem overwhelming to new players. But once you become familiar with the game, there are limitless options for characters and quests. How will a human fighter, an elf wizard, and a dwarf cleric save the world? Roll the dice and find out. BECOME SUPER: MASKS If your family has ever had a long conversation about who would win in a fight between the Hulk and Superman, then Masks is the RPG for you. THE HISTORY OF JIUJITSU FROM THE AGE OF THE SAMURAI TO THE 21ST CENTURY Brazilian jiujitsu is steadily becoming the most popular martial art in the world. People from all walks of life practice jiujitsu for many reasons, whether it be for fun, self-defense, stress relief, or creating close friendships. The history of jiujitsu can be traced back hundreds of years to Japan in the age of the samurai. THE ORIGINS OF JIUJITSU The samurai were Japanese warriors who typically fought on horseback with swords or spears and learned jiujitsu as a last resort. Their jiujitsu skills allowed them to effectively face enemies in hand- to-hand combat. Over the years, jiujitsu evolved as the practice became more widespread, and its purpose changed from a combat technique to a self-defense tactic. JUDO Jigoro Kano, a student of traditional jiujitsu, developed the judo we know today. He created his own practice based on what he believed were the most vital aspects of jiujitsu. Kano founded a martial arts school in 1882 called Kodokan, where his students learned the
What are you waiting for? Grab some dice and get the party started!
methods of his specialized jiujitsu practice, including joint locks, chokes, takedowns, and throws. These moves can be seen in some forms of Brazilian jiujitsu today. Nearly 30 years after judo was founded, one of Kano’s top students, Mitsuyo Maeda, traveled to Brazil where he met Gastao Gracie. Unbeknownst to them, this meeting would have a major impact on jiujitsu history and eventually make jiujitsu accessible to everyone. THE GRACIES Mitsuyo Maeda accepted Gastao’s eldest son, Carlos, as a student, and he eventually taught jiujitsu to his two brothers. Helio Gracie, the youngest, had a difficult time managing the strenuous techniques of judo due to his small stature and weak body. Instead of giving up on the art, Helio changed the techniques he learned to allow anyone, of any size or strength, to perform them. These changes made Brazilian jiujitsu what it is today. Olson’s Martial Arts Academy is proud to teach Brazilian jiujitsu to all interested students. To start training today, call our offices to speak to Master Amanda or Master Glenn about joining our academy!
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ASK MASTER MOM
IMPROVING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES MARTIAL ARTS AND GOOD GRADES Martial arts can help students improve their grades in school. No matter the age group, physical activity is proven to improve school performance. This is especially true for students who struggle to pay attention and control their energy at school. IT ALL STARTS WITH FOCUS One of the main skills martial arts students learn is how to focus. You have to pay attention to your movements and how they flow from one to the next. The area of focus varies from person to person based on their strengths and weaknesses. Some people have to focus on repetition and activity, and others have to hone in on behaviors, such as self-control. Students have to sit at their desks for hours at a time, and staying on task can be challenging. Learning how to focus through martial arts teaches children how to concentrate intently on their assignments and what their teachers are saying. EXPEND ENERGY Martial arts is a great outlet for physical energy. Children have a lot of energy they can’t always expend during school hours, but when they come to their martial arts training sessions, they get to release the energy they’ve had all day. At the academy, kids are encouraged to be loud, strong, and active through each training session in a safe and secure environment. Olson’s Martial Arts Academy offers a program called Better Focus, Better Grades. If you’re interested in learning more, call our academy. Our teachers will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have!
Kids, remember that when you and your family go on vacation, it is a vacation time for the whole family. Be gracious and share the time together by taking turns doing things each person wants to do. Play the games your siblings want to play and then you can choose something you would like. When everyone works together, vacation time can be fun for everyone! Also, don’t forget to practice you Martial Arts while on vacation to keep up your skills and get ready for the next graduation.
Thanks and have fun this summer!
MASTER MOM - AMANDA OLSON
GRILLED SKIRT STEAKWITH ASPARAGUS
Inspired by Food Network
INGREDIENTS
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Salt and pepper to taste
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1 1/2 lbs skirt steak
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Grated pecorino Romano cheese
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2 tbsp canola oil
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1 lb asparagus
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2 tsp crushed red pepper
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat grill to high. Season room-temperature steak with salt, pepper, and 1 tbsp oil. Any oil with a high smoke point, such as canola, will work. 2. Trim bottom inch of asparagus. Season with salt, pepper, and remainder of oil. 3. Cut steak into four portions and grill for 3–5 minutes per side, depending on desired doneness. Skirt steak is thin and will cook quickly. 4. Let steak rest for 10 minutes. While it’s resting, grill asparagus for 6 minutes, turning once. 5. Sprinkle cheese and crushed red pepper on asparagus. Serve alongside steak.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING: “The Olson’s program has helped to instill and reinforce character values that are important at home including discipline, dedication, sportsmanship, and goal-setting. It’s also where everyone learns to support one another and value differences. We feel very fortunate to have Olson’s influencing our children’s lives as partners in raising them to be confident, driven, and good people.”
“I love this program! It has helped our son immensely with his self-confidence!”
–Becky Taylor
–Karin & Lincoln Olsen
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INSIDE
THE ROAD TO COMPETITION
WIZARDS, SUPERHEROES, AND DETECTIVES JIUJITSU HISTORY
PUNCHING YOUR GRADES INTO SHAPE GRILLED SKIRT STEAK WITH ASPARAGUS
MAKE THE ULTIMATE SUMMER TREAT
COOL FOR THE SUMMER 7 TIPS FOR THE PERFECT POPSICLE There’s nothing like an icy treat to cool down with on a hot
• When you’re ready to eat your popsicles, carefully run the molds under warm water until they loosen. Gently wiggle the popsicle back and forth until it easily slides free. • Store uneaten popsicles in airtight freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. Ready to get started? Use the above tips to mix up the delicious guilt- free popsicle recipe below.
summer day. But ice cream and store-bought popsicles tend to be full of processed sugar and artificial flavors. Beat the heat with a homemade treat instead! Here are some tips for creating the perfect homemade popsicles. • Invest in a popsicle mold. You can make popsicles with ice cube trays or paper cups, but an inexpensive popsicle mold can completely change the aesthetic of your popsicles, making them even more fun and delicious. • Use a pastry bag or freezer bag with a corner cut off to easily fill popsicle molds without making a mess. • When filling the molds, leave a 1/4 inch of space at the top. The mixture will expand when it freezes. • If your popsicle mold comes with a snap-on lid, leave the lid unsealed. Opening the lid when the molds are frozen can crack the brittle plastic. • Turn your freezer to the coldest setting and put your molds at the back of the freezer. The quicker your popsicles freeze, the creamier they will be because fewer ice crystals will form.
HEALTHY SUMMERTIME POPSICLES Ingredients
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2 cups berries
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2 cups plain Greek yogurt
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2 tablespoons honey
Directions
1. Blend berries in a food processor or blender until nearly liquified. Feel free to use your favorite kind of berry for this recipe. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries all work great! 2. Pour berry mixture into large bowl. Stir in honey, and then gently mix in yogurt. 3. Pour mixture into molds and freeze for 4–6 hours. 4. Enjoy with your family on a hot summer day!
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