Kidz ‘N Power Bullying Prevention Program

Creating a HAPPIER Community
Bullying Prevention thru Olweus and Songahm Taekwondo

Bullying is one of the most difficult issues that students, parents and educators might encounter in or out of school. Discipline, order and respect are mainstays of Songahm Taekwondo, but many instructors offer additional support with presentations from the The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, the most researched and best-known bullying prevention program available.

Learn more about bullying, how to prevent or resolve it, and more about the Olweus program

Protect your children with bullying prevention skills and strategies by calling ATA Martial Arts of Branchburg to inquire about our upcoming seminar based on the Olweus program.

Event: Kidz ‘N Power Bullying Prevention Program
Date: Friday, July 30th
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Cost: FREE!! Bring a Friend!!

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

Karate Kid Bully Defense Workshop

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

Martial Arts for Older Students

The Wall Street Journal published an article in their Retirement Planning section on May 15, 2010 about the benefit of martial arts and mature students. This piece provides many interviews from students aged 50-plus and the benefits they receive from taking Taekwondo. The article is very positive with many health and physical benefits and how it’s becoming more popular among that target audience. A video is also provided which features Master Candidate Mr. Fernando Navarrete and his students.

By ROBERT JOHNSON

Lining up at least twice a week beside fellow students young enough to be his grandchildren, 63-year-old Ron Roe stretches, kicks and punches his way through classes in the Korean martial art of tae kwon do.

“Personally, I never thought I could achieve a black belt because I’m getting kind of old,” says Mr. Roe, a semiretired home-health-care worker in Aurora, Colo.

Earning a black belt, the traditional symbol of self-defense proficiency, took Mr. Roe nine years after his first class at age 50. Since then he has advanced in rank to third-degree black belt, a rise accomplished by less than one of every thousand martial-arts students of any age, according to veteran instructors.

It’s a far cry from tai chi, the Chinese system of slow, graceful noncontact movements long associated with older adults. But so-called hard martial arts—tae kwon do, karate, kung fu, judo and aikido—are attracting more students age 50-plus. Mr. Roe, who credits his rough and tumble workouts with increasing his flexibility and balance, says, “Anyone my age can do it if they have the desire.”

Of course, the kicks of older combatants may not be Bruce Lee-style head shots, and they don’t have to be. Instructors at many of the roughly 30,000 commercial martial-arts schools in the U.S. increasingly are tailoring programs to older students, in whom they see the potential for an expanded clientele. AARP, the Washington-based advocacy group, says martial-arts are becoming more common at community recreation centers, YMCAs and wellness facilities.

5-year-old gives last dime for Haiti relief

Nimai Kini, a 5-year-old pupil at Raritan Valley Montessori Academy in Bridgewater, discovered the power that one person can have.

When the elementary students announced that they were collecting money to send to Haiti, Nimai went home and told his mom that he wanted to donate all of the money in his piggybank. She agreed and helped him empty the contents. They put more than $80 into a plastic bag that he proudly delivered to his teachers. “My mom said she was so proud of me that she gave me $2 to put back into my piggy bank,” he said with a smile.

When asked if he had second thoughts about donating every last penny, he said, “No way. They need our help. They need clothes and food and water.” He knew when he heard the call for money that he could make a difference.

The entire school chipped in, along with sister school, the Cherry Blossom Montessori School in Hillsborough. Some students sold their toys to make extra money while others asked family members to contribute. A total of $1,045.27 was given to the American Red Cross earmarked for Haitian relief.

Summer Spectacular

IRON MAN Training Class & Pizza Party

Don’t miss out!! In honor of Iron Man ATA Martial Arts is hosting a Special Iron Man XMA Training Class and Pizza Party. FREE for all ATA students who bring a buddy. Bring a friend and go Xtreme. This Summer: Heroes Aren’t Born, They’re Built. Build up your Confidence, Discipline, Fitness, and Performance Levels. Our Iron Man XMA Training Class is taking flight Saturday, May 8th and all Month long!

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