ATA On Demand

The Last Airbender Training Camp

We have another awesome event coming up in the next few weeks! We will have another chance to invite all of our friends in to take another great class themed after an up-and-coming martial arts-based movie, The Last Airbender!

Noah Ringer, the star of The Last Airbender is a 1st Degree ATA kid from Texas and he is going to be awesome in the movie! We’re going to have a special buddy camp on Saturday, July 3rd (9am to 3pm) for kids and it will be about Goal Setting and Perseverance. The characters in the movie, TV show, and books have a goal and meet many obstacles along their way and we believe that using them as an example will help teach kids to Never Give Up!

Airbender Jahng Bong/ Bo Staff Seminar!
Special Guest Instructor Mr. Lee Brings it!! We’ll do a Avatar-style Bo Staff seminar with awesome spins and strikes and maybe master the element of WIND!! Learn to use your Bo Staff like Aang the Avatar! We’ll use Bo Staff techniques and a themed weapons training class. Students will learn combinations that they can use to put into forms and make their weapons skills better!!
*Bo Staff NOT Included. Cost $35. Pre-Register Before June 30th and Save $5.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Lunch & Movie
We’ll watch as many episodes of Avatar as we can in 90 minutes. Don’t forget you can bring a friend too!! As long as they’re an Avatar fan!!

Avatar: The Last Airbender Stunt Training
Learn how to act and train just like your favorite Action Hero’s!!

Date: Saturday, July 3rd
Time: 9am – 3pm
Cost: $50 (Includes Lunch)
Friends Train FREE!!

Schedule of Events
9am – 11am – Airbender Jahng Bong/ Bo Staff Seminar! (Jahng Bong NOT Included)
11am – 1pm – Lunch & Movie
1pm – 3pm – Airbender Stunt Training Seminar

Fee: $35 per Seminar or $50 for the Whole day (Includes Lunch). Bo Staff $35.

Put an End to School Yard Bullies – Part ONE

By Shei Franco

Reading, writing, arithmetic, name calling, teasing and pushing. They all have something in common.

You might be surprised to know they all are taught in school. Perhaps only three are actually part of the curriculum, but the rest are just as prevalent. Even if a child is not the victim of harassment, chances are he has witnessed students under attack.

For some parents, the topic of bullying seems irrelevant. After all, the sweetly dressed 5–year-old at the bus stop can’t possibly be a threat. But, according to Lori Linden, an elementary school guidance counselor in Millcreek, Pa., bullying can start at any age. “As early as kindergarten, [there is] pushing in line and making demands to other children,” Linden says.

How Bullying Starts

Teachers and parents need to identify children who bully. Classroom and household sanity depends on it. While most parents concentrate on whether their child is being bullied, they should not ignore the possibility that the bully might belong to them.

“The bully usually exhibits disrespectful behavior, in general, to peers, teachers and others,” says Brien O’Callaghan, a clinical psychologist and marriage and family counselor, in Bethel, Conn. “The disrespect may be obvious or subtle. There is usually an arrogant, know–it–all, sarcastic attitude. There are also usually other signs like academic underachievement, other misbehaviors like stealing and a pattern of making excuses for misbehavior and blaming others.”

While these signs indicate an underlying character issue, O’Callaghan adds that nothing is certain. “It is important to note that it is also possible that the bully will keep a low profile and not be easily identified,” he says.

How to Tell

Most parents do not witness their child being bullied. They believe, in good faith, that a teacher or adult that cares for their child will notify them of any harassment. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.

How, then, can parents know when their child is being bullied? O’Callaghan warns that uncovering the victim is not always easy. He points out the child may feel embarrassed, threatened or may simply believe that her claims will fall on deaf ears.

In the theme of the new Karate Kid movie, students and their buddies will learn how to deal with bullies and defend themselves if anyone tries to hurt, hit, or grab them. Students and their buddies will also learn the negative effects that being a bully has on a kid. We’ll also do some of the techniques and exercises that the main characters from the Karate Kid movies used when training (catching a fly with chopsticks and other fun games).

The first 20 kids and their friends that come to the seminar will get a FREE Karate Kid poster, and other Karate Kid prizes. This seminar will be PACKED, so RSVP right away by calling us at 908.541.9800 or email Info@ATABranchburg.com.

Date: Saturday, June 26th 2010
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Location: ATA Branchburg
Street: 999B US Hwy 202N
City/Town: Branchburg, NJ 08876

How Children Can Discourage Bullying

Children can take steps to discourage bullying. A basic strategy is to hang out with friendly kids at school and to stay away from those who seem not to like them.

Bullying is also less likely to occur when children are in groups and are in areas supervised by adults. For example, children who wish to avoid being bullied can:

* Play or take breaks near adults while at school.

* Walk to school with older brothers and sisters or friends.

* Sit near the bus driver.

These strategies are only effective when schools have firm policies in place against bullying. Staff must be trained and supported in consistently enforcing these policies.

Children who bully look for an easy target. Bullies are less likely to pick on those who:

* Can quickly respond to threats in a self–assured way. Help your child practice what to say if he or she is bullied.

* Act confident and do not seem easily scared. Help your child learn to use strong body language, such as standing up straight, looking other children in the eye, and speaking firmly.

In the theme of the new Karate Kid movie, students and their buddies will learn how to deal with bullies and defend themselves if anyone tries to hurt, hit, or grab them. Students and their buddies will also learn the negative effects that being a bully has on a kid. We’ll also do some of the techniques and exercises that the main characters from the Karate Kid movies used when training (catching a fly with chopsticks and other fun games).

The first 40 kids and their friends that come to the seminar will get a FREE Karate Kid poster, and other Karate Kid prizes. This seminar will be PACKED, so RSVP right away by calling us at 908.541.9800 or email Info@ATABranchburg.com.

Date: Saturday, June 19th & Saturday, June 26th 2010
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Location: ATA Branchburg
Street: 999B US Hwy 202N
City/Town: Branchburg, NJ 08876