Congratulations to Astrid Otero for earning her brown belt today!

Astrid has been training at the dojo since she was a Mini Dragon in 2007.  Way to go Astrid!


Congratulations to Abe Bluestein for earning his Green Belt!

And congratulations to all our students who have earned stripes this month!  You are one step closer to your goal!

We are proud of you and appreciate all your hard work and discipline!

Congratulations to our new Brown Belts!

Kamila Lim, Luke Marino, Mark Esteves and Riley Martin all earned their brown belts tonight.

Kamila and Mark have been training at Croton Karate since they were Mini Dragons. Luke has been training for 4 years and Riley for 3 years. 

Keep up the great work! We know you will go far!


Don't forget to congratulate them when you see them in class.

Next week is Winter Break...  Schools are closed, but Croton Karate will be Open!

Come and work out with us!  Its Bring a Friend Week!

When you bring a friend to Croton Karate...

You will get a great workout, they will get a great workout and learn about the cool stuff you do, AND you will get a FREE Croton Karate T-shirt!  (while supplies last)

Looking forward to seeing you at the dojo!

Obvious and hidden benefits... 

That is what the long-term study of the martial arts offers you. Like an onion, there are many layers of practice, of understanding, of self-exploration; many layers of benefits that only reveal themselves through consistent and regular practice. 

Obviously, training makes your body function better, look better, and feel better. Behind the obvious is the neurological and psychological benefits; your brain works better, your emotional control improves, as does your connection to people with similar motivations and interests. 

Obviously, studying the martial arts helps you sharpen the physical tools of personal protection. The person who has practiced 10,000 blocks and 10,000 counter-attacks has an edge in any physical conflict. But less than obvious is the way that the practice protects you from some of the most dangerous enemies in today's world: lethargy, negative thinking, lack of adequate exercise, apathy, indifference, anger, and stress. Better health, fitness, mental and emotional clarity,  and many, many friendships and experiences await you.


*Reprinted with the permission of Team Karate Centers* 

Have you heard?  YES! April 19-24 is the week that families and schools are using as a time to turn off recreational use of TV,  IPods,  internet,  video games, and other electronic devises, and create family time together. Now is the time to promote healthy activities and increase your family time together. 

Think of all the family members and also your friends and their families that you would love to share Karate with. NOW is the TIME. You can exercise together, learn together, and have fun together.  That’s right, you can bring friends and family for FREE for the “TURN OFF AND TUNE IN” week!

E-MAIL us and let us know who you are bringing, and when they are coming to participate with you in TURN OFF WEEK at CROTON KARATE!

ENTHUSIASM

This month we are going to be exploring how we can bring enthusiasm into our lives through the choices we make, by learning to catch the enthusiasm "bug" and that anything is possible if we work together enthusiastically!

All things are possible with enthusiasm. HOW we approach situations that present themselves to us is the most important thing. If we look at tasks as impossible without an enthusiastic attitude, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Instead, we need to look at what is possible about the situation and let our enthusiasm carry us over the rough spots. Every day we are faced with choices. What we decide can either bring contentment, or make our lives less enjoyable. If we make choices based on what we know we can become enthusiastic about, we will ultimately be happier. 

How does our enthusiasm affect others? Is it contagious? YOU BET! We find that no matter what we set out to do, if it is done to the best of our ability, with pride, then it is a job well done.

When we enthusiastically work together there is no limit to what we can accomplish!

Have a very safe and happy holiday season!

Miss Eisenstein

Now that September and the new school year is here, it is important to think about choices that you make on a daily basis. You make choices regarding all aspects of your life.

It's all about being in control of what you allow in your life, who you associate with, what you read, what you watch on television and at the movies, who your mentors are, what music you listen to, what you eat, everything. This is true for adults and children.

You literally ARE your choices!

A general definition: empowerment is a process that helps people gain control over their own lives.

Therefore, empowerment is about learning there are choices, in which you have the right to be the healthiest and happiest person you can be in this now. The past is the past, and it cannot be changed; therefore, the focus is placed upon what you can do in this very moment.

What choices can you make to empower yourself NOW? Let's take a look at a list of empowerment key words:

* Self-Mastery
* Personal Development
* Positive Thinking
* Mind Power
* Self-Improvement
* Spiritual Growth
* Enlightenment
* Responsibility
* Law of Attraction
* Self-Power
* Self-Acceptance
* Self-Reliance
* Self-Esteem
* Self-Discovery
* Self-Strength
* Self-Love
* Self-Confidence
* Self-Control
* Own Choice
* Independence
* Own Decision Making
* Being Free
* Awakening
* Capability
* Choices
* Power Into Action

This is a small list, but as you can see, it's a list that outlines qualities that cannot be found outside of ourselves because empowerment comes from within.

It's about making choices that improve the quality of your life. The beauty of empowerment is the ripple effect. You lead by example, and your children are only learning and repeating what you teach them.

Lead them into empowerment.

I invite you to start today, right NOW! E-Mail us some ways that you made the right choices and chose empowerment. We would like to hear from all present and future students and parents.

Hello to all of our Parents, Students, and Future Students:

I want to welcome all of you to my first blog. It is my goal to be able to share thoughts about the Martial Arts with you, provide motivation, history, answer questions, and in general, be a resource and inspiration. I would also like to ask all of you to check back each month, because there will be contests with prizes and other "goodies" planned.

Our belief is that Martial Arts helps people develop better habits

for life. The positive habits students develop in the dojo, always have a direct influence on life outside the dojo. The following are some simple habits that can help students achieve greatness in their Martial Arts training.

Attendance/Commitment: Consistent class attendance and the commitment to practice and improve your skills and abilities. When a student gets in the habit of 2-3 classes per week, you'll soon begin to see steady progress and growth in your journey to Black Belt Excellence.

In life, you don't get very far with a half hearted effort. Big goals are achieved 
through committed effort and a persistence to achieve greatness.

Spirit & Energy: When you develop the habit of expressing your eagerness and giving your best energy and effort, you'll soon develop a powerful Black Belt Spirit. When you develop a spirit that does not allow you to quit, it will carry over to all areas of your life.

Basics & Knowledge: Strong basics and fundamental skills are vital to developing confidence in your skills and abilities. Remember, it is always about starting with a strong foundation.


Fitness-Healthy and fit people have healthy and fit habits. Training in Martial Arts is a very well-rounded form of fitness.

Respect-Be a role model and show courtesy and politeness to everyone you meet inside and outside the dojo. 

Remember to think about some of your habits, the ones you want to change and the ones that you want to develop.

Happy Training. See you next time.