Friday, December 23, 2011

Happy Holidays from BHMA

Happy Holidays from everyone at BHMA!
Our school is now closed for the rest of the calendar year. Classes will resume Tuesday, January 3rd.


New Black Belts
Congratulations to everyone who passed the December Black Belt Test!

Passing Their Test:
Alexa Costa
Emily Easterday
Alec Everhart
Connor Gray
Cameron Kriz
Instructor Edmund (2nd Dan)
Hannah Slater
William Slater
Walter Snyder
An Tran
Long Tran


Instructors Present:
Bill Hammond
Trish Dalton
Gabrielle Terribilini
Michael Clupper
Ricky Pullin
Joe Queppet

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Upcoming Events

Country Christmas at AGIS
BHMA will be holding a demonstration at Avon Grove Intermediate School (AGIS) this Saturday, December 3rd (11:30am - 12:30pm). To find out more information on how you can participate, see an instructor.


Black Belt Test
Our next black belt test will be next Saturday, December 10th. Starting time will be 8:00am.


Kids Night Out
Our next Kids Night Our will be held Saturday, December 17th. This holiday themed event will include many of our usual Kids Night Out activities (pizza, games, movie, board breaking, etc.) as well as pictures with Santa.

Kids Night Out will be from 6:00 - 10:00pm. You do not have to be a BHMA student to attend. To sign up, see an instructor.


Winter Testing Cycle
This next testing cycle will obviously be a shorter one due to breaks and possible snow days, so we remind you to practice at home. A few other reminders...

1. We only follow the Avon Grove School District closings because of inclement weather. Closings and early dismissals result in the gym's closing.

2. We will be closed for the holidays starting December 23rd. We will reopen January 3rd, 2012.


Upcoming Events
AGIS Demo: Saturday, December 3rd -- 11:30am - 12:30pm
Black Belt Test: Saturday, December 10th -- 8:00 am
Kids Night Out: Saturday, December 17th -- 6:00 - 10:00pm
Winter Holiday Closing: Fri, December 23rd - Mon., January 2nd (Closed)

Friday, November 11, 2011

Testing Dates & Times

Testing
Below are the dates and times for our fall belt test. If testing, do not be late and come in full uniform. Board breaking and belt ceremony will follow immediately afterwards.


Thursday, November 17th
5:00 pm -- Current Purple, Blue, Red Belts & IDB (Youth)
6:15 pm -- Current Black Belts (Youth)
7:45 pm -- Advanced Adults (Current Red Belts & Higher)


Friday, November 18th
5:00 pm -- Current White & Orange Belts (Youth -- Includes Pee Wee)
6:00 pm -- Current Yellow & Green Belts (Youth)
7:30 pm -- Beginner Adults (Current Blue Belts & Below)


If you are unable to attend, please let your instructor know as soon as possible.


Kick-A-Thon Pizza Party
Just a reminder that BHMA will be holding a pizza party for all Kick-A-Thon participants on Saturday, November 12th. Party starts at noon. If you plan on attending or need more information, see an instructor.


Black Belt Test
Our next Black Belt Test will be held on December 10th, 2011 at 8:00 am. More information can be obtained from an instructor. Eligible participants should stay alert for announcements on special practices.

Upcoming Events
Kick-A-Thon Pizza Party: Sat., November 12th -- 12:00 pm
Fall Belt Testing: Thurs-Fri, November 17th-18th
Thanksgiving Closing: Thurs., November 24th - Sat., November 26th (Closed)
Black Belt Test: Saturday, December 10th -- 8:00 am
Winter Holiday Closing: Fri., December 23rd - Mon., January 2nd (Closed)

Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Today (Monday, October 31st) we will not be holding regular classes, since most of our students will be out trick or treating.

Stay safe and have fun!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Winter Weather Policy

Hard to believe the forecast is already calling for snow!

No matter how the weather plays out, it's time to remind everyone of our winter weather policy, which is dependent on Avon Grove School District (AGSD):

Bill Hammond's Martial Arts (BHMA) will be closed in the following situations
* AGSD closes prior to opening because of inclement weather
* AGSD releases students early because of inclement weather

Closings will not be reversed, regardless of possible condition improvements.

We remind everyone, this is ONLY based on inclement weather. Miscellaneous closing (such as in-service days) are not recognized.


BHMA will remain open if AGSD is only delayed because of inclement weather. However, we ask that you regularly check the gym blog, email list, and voicemail in case we make a judgement call to close.


Saturday inclement weather closings will be announced on the gym blog, email list, and voicemail.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

T-Shirt Policy & Pre-Testing Information

T-Shirt Policy
Now that we're deep into autumn, students will once again be required to wear full uniforms. Students are not allowed to use a BHMA T-shirt to substitute for the uniform top anymore. Enforcement of this rule will start Monday, October 24th.


Pre-Testing
Here's a little information for our new parents/students on how we'll run testing at Bill Hammond's Martial Arts:

Pre-testing will help us determine whether or not a student is ready to take their belt examination. Students who are ready will receive a "test paper" to fill out, which includes a new martial arts goal, as well as a home/school promise to made by youth students. A test paper is not a guarantee of rank advancement

Pre-testing will start Thursday, October 27th and end Saturday, November 5th. Students will pre-test during their regularly scheduled classes. Any student who is not eligible for the pre-test is still encouraged to attend for extra training. If you or your child cannot attend a pre-test within this time frame, let an instructor know ASAP.


New White Belts (Pre-Testing)
Only white belts who are officially signed up (past the trial period) will be eligible for pre-testing. If you or your child is officially signed up, you must have the additional uniform patches (USA & Korea) sewed onto the uniform. Seeing these patches will give instructors an idea on who may be eligible. If you need more information, see an instructor.


Testing Dates
The following are the fall test dates. Board breaking and belt ceremonies will immediately follow the examination. Exact times TBA.


Thursday, November 17th
Higher Ranking Youth Students (Current Purple Belts or Higher)

Friday, November 18th
Lower Ranking Youth Students (Current Green Belts and Below)

Date to be determined
Adult Students

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Fall Updates

A lot of updates....

Moodo Plus Testing
Congratulations to the Hsing family. Their daughters, Kate and Kendall, passed their recent belt test and have now been promoted to yellow belt. Congrats again!

Kick-A-Thon Pizza Party
In our continued thanks to everyone who participated in this year's Kick-A-Thon, BHMA will be holding a pizza party for all participants on Saturday, November 12th. Party starts at noon. If you plan on attending or need more information, see an instructor.


Kids Night Out
Our annual Halloween version of Kids Night Out will be held Saturday night (6:00 - 10:00pm), October 22nd. As usual, there will be games, pizza, board breaking, a movie, and a costume contest. $30/child. Does not have to be a BHMA student to attend. For more information, see an instructor. Space is limited, so sign up ASAP.


Jennersville Hospital Demo
A new wing at Jennersville Hospital will be holding an open house. BHMA is excited to have been asked to do a demonstration (1:00pm) at the event. If you are interested in participating, see an instructor for more information


SEMA Tournament
The Southern End Martial Arts Tournament will be held again this fall (Sunday, November 6th) in Quarryville, PA. Events include: Forms (Poomsae), Weapon, Self Defense, Breaking, and Sparring. If you are interested in competing or participating in other ways, see an instructor for more details. Registration starts at 9:00am, Event starts at 11:00am.


Terminology
For any new students needing to brush up on their terminology, here's a look back to an older post. http://billhammondsma.blogspot.com/2010/12/common-terminology.html


Additional News
Additional events and their dates can be found below. Keep your eyes and ears open for some big announcements, including the next Black Belt Test.


Upcoming Events
Kids Night Out: Sat., October 22nd -- 6:00 - 10:00pm
Jennersville Hospital Demo: Sat., November 5th -- 1:00pm
SEMA Tournament: Sun., November 6th -- 11:00am
Kick-A-Thon Pizza Party: Sat., November 12th -- 12:00pm
Fall Belt Testing: Thurs-Fri, November 17th-18th, Details TBA
Thanksgiving Closing: Thurs., November 24th - Sat., November 26th (Closed)
Winter Holiday Closing: Fri., December 23rd - Mon., January 2nd (Closed)

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Testing & bELIeve Bracelets

Just a few announcements today...


Testing Results
Congratulations to everyone on their new ranks. Testing went very well, and we're excited to start our new testing cycle. For our youth students, remember that your school work comes first. Below is a picture of Olivia Weir, demonstrating an excellent flying side kick (note the positioning of her kicking leg & foot).




bELIeve Bracelets
BHMA will be selling bracelets designed by Eli Matthews. For those of you who don't remember, Eli passed away after a courageous battle against Leukemia. Bracelets will sell for $2.00 each, with funds continuing to go towards the Eli Seth Matthews Foundation. See an instructor for more details.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Class Cancellation

Classes Cancelled
Bill Hammond's Martial Arts (BHMA) will be closed today (Monday, August 29th, 2011).

Hopefully everyone is doing well in the wake of Hurricane Irene. A number of households are still without power, while some roads are still blocked by fallen trees.

We are reminded of our first code of martial artists, "Be loyal to your nation". Our nation is made up of many communities, and we're happy to see people reach out to each other. From our volunteer emergency crews redirecting traffic, to next door neighbors helping clean out flooded basements, to even older children helping watch younger ones. Thanks to everyone for displaying wonderful examples of character!

Our gym handled the storm quite well, however we will honor our inclement weather policy. Since Avon Grove School District has cancelled their first day of classes, we will do so as well. We would prefer people not test out roads that are still possibly flooded, as well as do our small part in reducing traffic for any service vehicles to brings things back up to speed.


Upcoming Events
Instructor Class: Wednesday, August 31st -- 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Labor Day Closing: Friday, September 2nd - Monday, September 5th (Gym Closed)

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Testing Update

Testing Update
Summer belt testing will be held the week of August 22nd. Regular classes will be held the beginning of the week (Monday the 22nd & Tuesday the 23rd). No regular classes will be held during the testing dates of Thursday the 25th & Friday the 26th.

Testing, board breaking, and belt ceremonies will be held on the same night. Do not be late, and show up in FULL UNIFORM!

If you are scheduled to test but are unable to attend your time slot, you are required to let one of the instructors know as soon as possible.

Good Luck, Everyone!

Thursday, August 25th
5:00pm -- Current Purple Belts & Higher (Youth)
6:45pm -- All Adults

Friday, August 26th
5:00pm -- Current White & Orange Belts (Youth)
6:00pm -- Current Yellow & Green Belts (Youth)


Upcoming Events
Summer Belt Test: Thursday, August 25th - Friday, August 26th
Instructor Class: Wednesday, August 31st -- 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Labor Day Closing: Friday, September 2nd - Monday, September 5th (Gym Closed)

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Summer Update

Summer Belt Testing
BHMA will be holding their belt testing the week of August 22nd. Testing, board breaking, and belt presentation will be held on the same night. More information (including times) to be announced soon.

Thursday, August 25th
1st Test -- Current Purple & Blue Belts (Youth)
2nd Test -- Current Red Belts, Il Dan Bo, & Black Belts (Youth)
3rd Test -- All Adults

Friday, August 26th
1st Test -- Current White & Orange Belts (Youth)
2nd Test -- Current Yellow & Green Belts (Youth)


Instructor Class
The next class for instructors (including junior instructors) will be held Wednesday night, August 31st, from 5:30pm - 6:30pm.


Labor Day Closing
BHMA will be closed from Friday, September 2nd to Monday, September 5th in recognition of Labor Day.


Upcoming Events
Summer Belt Test: Thursday, August 25th - Friday, August 26th
Instructor Class: Wednesday, August 31st -- 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Labor Day Closing: Friday, September 2nd - Monday, September 5th (Gym Closed)

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Catfish Sprint Triathlon

Congratulations to Ellen Gray on finishing the Catfish Sprint Triathlon in Harrisburg, PA!

The event started with a 0.8 mile swim in the Susquehanna River, then a 14.5 mile bike, and concluded with a 3.1 mile run.

Ellen trained very hard and was determined to finish 5 minutes faster than her last triathlon. Instead, she shattered her record by finishing over 12 minutes faster, with a time of 1:32:46 -- earning 5th in her division!

Proceeds went to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Black Belt Ceremony

Black Belt Ceremony
BHMA will be holding their Black Belt Ceremony on Saturday, July 23rd. More details to be announced regarding location, time and participation.


Upcoming Events
July 4th Break: Saturday, July 2nd - Tuesday, July 5th (Closed)
Summer Camp (AM): Monday, July 11th - Friday, July 15th
Black Belt Ceremony: Saturday, July 23rd, more info TBA
Summer Camp (PM): Monday, July 25th - Friday, July 29th
Summer Camp (AM-Pee Wee): Monday, July 25th - Friday, July 29th
Summer Camp (X-treme): Monday, August 15th - Friday, August 19th
August Belt Test: Week of August 22nd, more info TBA

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Eli Seth Matthews 5k

Inaugural 5k
On Sunday, June 19th, BHMA was proud to participate in the inaugural Eli Seth Matthews Foundation 5k run. Proceeds went to the Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation in the continued fight against cancer.



BHMA Participants Included:
Trish Dalton
Christopher Johnson
Janet Johnson - *3rd in her division*
Paul Matthews (*Son: Austin, won 2nd in his division*)
Norma Ocampo
Ricky Pullin
JJ Ruszin
Evan Snyder - *1st in his division*

Upcoming Events
July 4th Break: Saturday, July 2nd - Tuesday, July 5th (Closed)
Summer Camp (AM): Monday, July 11th - Friday, July 15th
Summer Camp (PM): Monday, July 25th - Friday, July 29th
Summer Camp (AM-Pee Wee): Monday, July 25th - Friday, July 29th
Summer Camp (X-treme): Monday, August 15th - Friday, August 19th
August Belt Test: Week of August 22nd, more info TBA

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Kick-A-Thon Results & More

New Assistant Instructor
BHMA is proud to promote Maggie Weir from junior instructor to assistant instructor. Maggie has been a tremendous help with our lower ranks and has quickly become a staple in our gym. Over the past few months, instructors have been testing Maggie on her curriculum knowledge, which she easily passed.



Kick-A-Thon Results
Congratulations to everyone who participated in our third annual Kick-A-Thon! We're proud to announce that we've broken our previous record by raising $5,313 towards the Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation.

Individuals in each group listed alphabetically

Grand Prize Winner/Top Fundraiser
Sean Hackett - $1,400 (2,800 Kicks) -- OVER 25% of our total number!

Over $200 Collected
Alexa Costa
Trish Dalton
Alex DelleDonne
Antonio Gentile
Sean Hackett
Macayla Morrison

Up to $200 Collected
Kaleigh & Hannah Kahan
Thomas Repetz
JJ Ruszin
Maggie Weir
Eric Welch

Up to $100 Collected
Andrew Delaney
Ricky Gall
Ava Gray
Connor Gray
Frank Guzzo
Katie, Karsen & Kendall Hsing
Colin & Bridget Lange
Amelia Nur
James Nur

Up to $50 Collected
Stephen Beheler
Andre Brown
Julian Brown
Max Cunliffe
Caden Dalton
Emily Easterday
Connor Evans-Ralston
Tori Gentile
Declan Harrison
Andy Jacquet
Ellie Jacquet
Chris Johnson
Daniel Johnson
Janet Johnson
Connor Lewin
Kai McKittrick
Scott McVean
Ben Nelson
Andrew Pawlowski
Luke Richards
Padraic Richardson
Joe Snyder
Alec Thomas
Austin Weir
Olivia Weir

Upcoming Events
July 4th Break: Saturday, July 2nd - Tuesday, July 5th (Closed)
Summer Camp (AM): Monday, July 11th - Friday, July 15th
Summer Camp (PM): Monday, July 25th - Friday, July 29th
Summer Camp (AM-Pee Wee): Monday, July 25th - Friday, July 29th
Summer Camp (X-treme): Monday, August 15th - Friday, August 19th
August Belt Test: Week of August 22nd, more info TBA

May Test Results & More

May 2011 Black Belt Test
On Saturday, May 14th, BHMA was proud to welcome 16 youth students into our black belt family. The workout was tough as always, but everyone persevered and had a great test. Congratulations!



Several of our assistant instructors as well as others helped assist, including:
Gabrielle Terribilini
Ricky Pullin
Maggie Weir
Antonio Gentile
Martin Sarkissian
William Slater
Kim Everhart

New 1st Dan Black Belts
Michael Barkasy
Andre Brown
Julian Brown
Cole Caron
Renee Daemer
Patricia Dodson
Aslan Geralds
Gabrielle Gonnella
Joesph Hetrick
Yenitze Luna
Sydney McGill
Ean Norenberg
Mikayla Oatman
Race Oatman
Thomas Repetz
Eric Welch



May Belt Testing

A few weeks later, BHMA held belt testing for the rest of our students. Once again, everyone did a great job! Congratulations!






Photos provided by Tracey Weir and Jennifer Gentile

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Summer Weather Policy

T-Shirt Weather
Now that Memorial Day has gone by, Bill Hammond's Martial Arts will allow students to wear APPROVED t-shirts instead of uniform tops during regular classes this summer.

T-shirts must be a BHMA shirt. Since we've recently changed our name, we will (this summer only) allow any previously approved shirts from the past.

If you don't have a BHMA shirt, you may order one from the gym. In the meantime, you are allowed to wear a plain black or white t-shirt--assuming you will be ordering a BHMA shirt.

Students should be aware that regardless of weather, testing must be done in full uniform.


Staying Hydrated

Did you know there are three different types of dehydration?

hypotonic/hyponatremic (primarily loss of electrolytes)
hypertonic/hypernatremic (primarily loss of water)
isotonic/isonatremic (loss of electrolytes and water) -- MOST COMMMON

Working out in the gym during the hot summer months could cause mild dehydration, if precautions aren't taken. Here are a few tips for working out at BHMA during the summer...

Drink plenty of fluids during the whole day, not just when you feel thirsty. Also, feel free to bring a drink to the gym under these conditions...

1. The drink should not be brought onto the gym floor. Keep the drinks with guardians or in the changing rooms.

2. Unless an emergency, ask an instructor to get a drink. Running in and out of the gym is not allowed.

3. Do not abuse the policy with repetitive breaks. There's a line between needing the break and simply wanting the break.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Instructor Marty Workout

Although there are no regular classes for the rest of the week...

Instructor Marty will be holding a cardio workout this Friday, May 27th at 6:45 pm.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Upcoming Belt Test/Memorial Day Closing

Testing schedule has been set. All tests are immediately followed by board breaking and belt presentations:


Monday, May 23rd
5:00 -- Youth Students: Current Purple, Blue, Red, & Il Dan Bo
6:30 -- Youth Students: Current Black Belts

Tuesday, May 24th
5:00 -- Youth Students: Current White & Orange
6:00 -- Youth Students: Current Yellow & Green
7:15 -- All Adult Students


Memorial Day Closing
BHMA will be closed following the tests to give students their Memorial Day break.

Classes resume on Tuesday, May 31st

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Black Belt Test

This Saturday (May 14th), BHMA will be holding a black belt test in the morning.

Testing begins at 8:00am, meaning all regular Saturday classes will be cancelled for the day.

Good Luck to our Il Dan Bo Stripes!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Kick-A-Thon

Just a reminder: Our Kick-A-Thon is still taking donations! Money will continue to be collected until the end of next week, leading up to our official donation to the Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation on Saturday, May 14th.

Below is a recent picture of the memorial garden that Eli's family (Paul, Ruth, & Austin) has set up. As always, we're honored to help out in any way possible.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Healthy Kids Day & More

Healthy Kids Day Demo
Thanks to everyone who helped make our "Healthy Kids Day" demo a success! We had a lot of participants excited to take part in some of our martial arts, including board breaking.



Women's Self Defense
Bill Hammond's Martial Arts (BHMA) is excited to now be holding weekly self defense classes. Classes are pay as you go on Monday nights (7:45pm), with a drop in fee of $10/class. For more information, contact the gym.


Upcoming Events
Easter Break: Friday, April 22nd - Monday, April 25th (Closed)
Kick-A-Thon Week: Monday, May 2nd to Saturday, May 7th
Black Belt Test: Saturday, May 14th
Belt Testing: Week of May 23rd, more info TBA

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Upcoming Events

Just a reminder on a few events, as well as new announcements...

Instructor Class
There will be no black belt test practice this Saturday, April 9th. In place of that 8:00 am time slot will be an instructor class. New requirements will be given out to earn patches. All current and prospective instructors/junior instructors are strongly encouraged to attend.


Kick-A-Thon
Bill Hammond's Martial Arts (BHMA) is proud to hold another kick-a-thon to fight cancer. Prizes and other incentives will be given to those who raise the most! How can you help?

1. Get a donation sheet and start collecting: For every $0.50 you can raise, you will be asked to demonstrate a kicking technique during your regular class (example: raise $0.50 = kick 1 time, raise $5.00 = kick 10 times, raise $50.00 = kick 100 times). Kicks will be done during the week of May 2nd, 2011. Can't kick that week? Ask an instructor if you can do your kicks the week before or after.

CHECKS PAYABLE TO "ELI SETH MATTHEWS LEUKEMIA FOUNDATION"

Don't be intimidated by the number of kicks you'll have to do! During an average class, a student (child or adult) could find themselves kicking well over 100 times without thinking about the number! You can always split them up during multiple days.

2. Counting Volunteers: Adults will be needed to count kicks, since they'll be done during regular class time.

3. Spread The Word: Let your fellow students know about this event. See which one of your friends can raise the most!

All proceeds will go towards the "Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation" during the "Celebration of Life Benefit", which will be held May 14th, at Redman's Hall in Oxford, PA.


Non Belt Classes/Programs
Instructor Hammond is in the process of forming evening self defense classes for women. These classes will be practical exercises and techniques to make you feel confident and secure in any setting. To find out more information, including possible times, contact one of the instructors...

610-345-0888
billhammondsma@gmail.com


New Merchandise
BHMA is excited to have new products and attire to sell. Recently we've received an order of baseball caps (choice of black or camouflage) with our new logo. To learn about these and other products, see an instructor.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

World Autism Awareness Day & Belt Testing

Bill Hammond's Martial Arts (BHMA) is proud to recognize World Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd), and to have held their Moodo Plus test today (April 2nd, 2011).

As you may know, our Moodo Plus class was started by instructor Bill Hammond to concentrate on students within the Autism Spectrum. He recognized that everyone deserves the chance to become a martial artist. Everyone at BHMA is thankful for helping Moodo Plus' Kate Hsing to become a better martial artist. In turn she has helped us become better instructors.

Today we were proud to promote Kate to orange belt. Accompanying Kate was her younger sister, Kendall Hsing, who also tested for her orange belt. Kendall has come a long way herself and has many reasons to be proud.

Kate and Kendall's training has been wonderfully assisted by their family, Mary Jo & Rodney (Mother and Father). Also helping out was their sister, Karsen (a yellow belt in our youth class)

A special thanks also goes out to instructor Trish Dalton on her help, as well as junior instructors Kaleigh Kahan and Phillip Leatherbury.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Upcoming Events

A few notes on upcoming events for Bill Hammond's Martial Arts (BHMA)...

Il Dan Bo Stripe practices have begun. Saturdays at 8:00 am (except April 9th), IDBS who are preparing for the upcoming Black Belt test are expected to attend each Saturday practice. If you are unable to attend, let an instructor know.

April 9th - BHMA will be holding a Saturday 8:00 am instructor meeting. In this meeting, we will be going over curriculum for lower belts, and new requirements for instructor patches.

April 16th - BHMA is participating in The Jennersville YMCA "Healthy Kids Day" with a martial arts demonstration and booth for visitors. Come by the Y between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm in your BHMA uniform and show your support! For other ways to participate, see one of the instructors

April 22nd to April 25th - BHMA will be closed Friday, April 22nd to Monday, April 25th for the Easter holiday. Regular classes resume Tuesday, April 26th.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Congratulations!

Just a quick note from the instructors at Bill Hammond's Martial Arts:

Congratulations to everyone on passing their tests this week! Your hard work and dedication really impressed everyone!

Each level may get a little more difficult. However, with a lot of hard work and dedication, it'll be a lot of fun!



Top: Ava Gray chambering her back kick
Bottom: Purple Belts Amelia Nur & Savannah Daly w/ Green Belt Ava Gray


Great job, everyone!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Michael Clupper

A few days ago, we were fortunate enough to hear some great news about one of our gym members...

After statewide consideration, our very own assistant instructor Michael Clupper (1st Dan) has been exclusively chosen to the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PEMA) 2011 All-State Jazz Band for his extraordinary skills on the piano. Michael will be joining several other talented musicians for a concert in Hershey, PA in April. Out of the whole state, only one was chosen, and we were more than excited to hear it was Michael.

Michael Clupper has been training under Bill Hammond for nearly nine years. He has risen up the ranks of both the youth and adult classes. Time and again, he has proven his dedication and indomitable spirit, inside and outside the dojang.

Congratulations, Michael!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Testing Information -- UPDATE

Testing Dates and Times for the first week of March, 2011. Board breaking and belt ceremony will be held immediately after each test.


Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
5:00 pm -- All Youth High Belts (Current Purple Belts and Above)
6:30 pm -- All Adult Students


Friday, March 4th, 2011
5:00 pm -- Current White & Orange Belts (Youth & Pee Wee)
6:00 pm -- Current Yellow & Green Belts (Youth)


IMPORTANT NOTE:
It is a student's responsibility to make the test ON TIME. If a student cannot attend the testing date for whatever reason, they MUST let an instructor know about it ahead of time. Students must be in full uniform!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Calendar

The new calendar for Bill Hammond's Martial Arts is coming soon. To get an early start, here's some information on our upcoming summer camps:


Pee Wee Summer Camp
The Pee Wee Camp is for children ages 3-5 (potty trained only, please). Children will participate in karate based activities focusing on listening skills, hand-eye coordination, balance and confidence.

AM/PM Summer Camp
The AM/PM Camp is for children ages 6-12. Children will participate in karate based activities designed to enhance their focus and concentration.

X-treme Martial Arts Summer Camp
X-treme Martial Arts Camp is for children ages 12 and up or higher ranked belts by approval from Instructor Hammond. Children will participate in karate based activities including weapons training, knife defense, Hapkido and other special techniques.



Monday, July 11th to Friday, July 15th
Martial Arts Camp (Ages 6-12)
8:30 - 11:30am


Monday, July 25th to Friday, July 29th
Pee Wee Martial Arts Camp (Ages 3-5)
8:30 - 11:30am


Monday, July 25th to Friday, July 29th
Martial Arts Camp (Ages 6-12)
1:00 - 4:00pm


Monday, August 15th to Friday, August 19th
X-treme Martial Arts Camp (Ages 12 and up, or a high rank gym student)
8:30 - 11:30am


For more information, contact an instructor:
610-345-0888
billhammondsma@gmail.com

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Benefit Dinner

In light of brave Eli Matthews passing, we have another opportunity to help those with cancer.

New Bolton Center Alumni Hall is hosting a benefit "Beef N' Beer" dinner for valentine couples looking for a date location, while at the same time sponsoring a good cause.

Proceeds will go towards supporting Joan Pennington and her family. Joan has gone throught multiple brain surgeries and treatments relating to a diagnosis of kidney cancer which had spread to her brain. Her family has lived in West Grove for over 20 years and is in need to financially afford a nurse for Joan's care.


Benefit Beer N' Beer
For: Joan Pennington
Date: Sunday, February 13th, 2011
Time: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Where: New Bolton Center Alumni Hall
Cost: $25 per ticket


For more information and tickets, contact:

Nancy Hammonds
W. Phone: 610-925-6018
C. Phone: 610-620-4123

Or email
nmh@vet.upenn.edu

Monday, February 7, 2011

Testing Information

NEW INFORMATION ON THE UPCOMING TEST
As we do occasionally: The belt examination, board breaking and ceremony will be held on the same days.


Youth High Belt Students (Current Purple Belts and Above)
Testing and ceremony will be held Thursday, March 3rd
Times To Be Announced


Youth Beginner Students (Current Green Belts and Below)
Testing and ceremony will be held Friday, March 4th
Times To Be Announced


Adult Students
To be decided

New Beginning...

As you may have noticed, our gym name has changed to "Bill Hammond's Martial Arts"

Our contact email is now
billhammondsma@gmail.com

New website address coming soon...

What hasn't changed is our dedication to providing a well rounded curriculum for students of all ages. Our standards will be raised to bring out the best in all of our students!

Look for additional and exciting changes to come!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Kids Night Out

Bill Hammond's Martial Arts is once again hosting a "Kids Night Out" this February!

This Valentine's Day weekend, we are hosting an event with a movie showing, games, pizza, snacks, board breaking and more! Participation is NOT limited to gym students!

For more information to sign up, see our instructors or contact us:

610-345-0888
billhammondsma@gmail.com

When (Date): Saturday, February 12th, 2011
When (Time): 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Where: 314 E. Baltimore Pike, West Grove, PA
Price: $25

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Bad Weather - 1/27/11

A reminder on our snow policy:

If Avon Grove School District is closed or dismissed early due to inclement weather, then the gym will be closed.

One or two hour delays will not affect our regular afternoon/evening classes unless a judgment call is needed.

Since AGSD is closed today (Thursday, January 27th, 2011), there will be no classes held tonight

Friday, January 21, 2011

Remembering Eli Matthews -- UPDATED (DONATIONS BEING TAKEN)

Yesterday we received the sad and unfortunate news that Eli Matthews (age 10) passed away after a courageous battle with Leukemia.

Eli was a friend of the gym and the inspiration behind all of our "Kick-A-Thons" to raise money for cancer research. He was an honorary member of our gym and Instructor Bill Hammond was proud to support his part in Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Eli's life and passing reminds us how lucky we are to have our health and the people around us. It also reminds us to make the most out of our training and lives.

Our thoughts are with Eli and his family.

Eli Matthews
11/27/2000 - 1/20/2011

American Cancer Society
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

An account titled Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation has been established.

All donations can be mailed to:
National Penn Bank
2196 Baltimore Pike
Oxford, PA 19363
Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation

Or donations can be made to the Eli Matthews Cancer Fund to assist the family with remaining medical expenses, using the same address as above.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

"Big" Kid's Night Out

The gym will be holding a special kid's night out this month, aimed towards older children!

Since some of the games and activities may be somewhat challenging and/or complicated for our younger students, participants must be at least 9 years old.

If your child is not at least 9 years old, but would still like to participate they must be a higher ranking student who is approved by instructors.

Non-DG students are also welcome to attend!

There will be limited enrollment, so sign up ASAP. Forms are due by Tuesday, January 25th.


DETAILS:
Sign Up Deadline: Tuesday, January 25th
"Big" Kids Night Out: Saturday, January 29th
Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Where: 314 E. Baltimore Pike, West Grove, PA
Cost: $25/child


Costs go towards:
Games
Activities
Pizza Party
Movie
Snacks & Drinks
Board Breaking For Each Child


For more information contact one of our instructors.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

On this day honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., remember the lessons of the past to become a better person/martial artist.

In one of the meanings of Moosa (being a martial artist), we tell our students to build your knowledge about what is right and wrong. We also stress to be courageous in the fight for what is right, even if it may not be popular.

Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for civil rights in this country, even though it was more common/popular to segregate and discriminate against people of different races.

As martial artists and citizens, it's important to stay courageous in what we believe is right. For some of our adult students, this may be learning more about our communities and finding ways to volunteer for different causes.

For kids, this may be standing up to teasing and bullying. Maybe some of you feel it's okay to look the other way because "he or she is a little weird or different". However, remember to stand up for others rights and safety, since you would want others to stand up for you too. Maybe you won't be popular for doing so, but a clean conscience is better than popularity

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Saturday Class

Just a quick note to all our adult students:

Instructor Marty WILL be holding a Saturday class (Jan 15th) at 8:00am

Have fun!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Two Hour Delay

At the time of this posting, Avon Grove School District will be delayed by at least two hours.

With that said, adult morning classes will not run as scheduled.

Stay warm!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Black Belt Test Highlights

From everyone at the Dragon Gym of West Grove, Happy New Year!

Students: Remember to make new goals this year. The more specific the goal, the better. Examples might be higher kicks, stronger punches, more push ups or running, etc.

Congratulations to Phillip Leatherbury who received his black belt just before the holidays. Due to illness and a scheduling problem, Phillip was unable to attend the November test, but worked hard and completed a very difficult one-on-one test with Instructor Hammond!