The hardest belt is the first one

We made a mistake.  I am so excited about my classes and trying to make our leaders and instructors as good as they can be, I forgot to mention something.  Something really big about when students begin classes and then when they start to feel discouraged.

When a student starts, they have to understand that it's not just karate, a sport similar to football or baseball.  We have a specific set of challenges and rewards.  Students that begin in classes, I imagine them "floating around" and eating up the experience.  But in the beginning, that's what students and/or their parents think it is.  Just an activity where they come and take class and go home, just for fun.. but it's that plus more!

They try their best and, maybe accidentally, earn a stripe on their first belt (white belt).  Then they earn 2 and then they get another.  After three stripes, they come to this thing we host every couple of months called "Belt Promotions."  Some parents are confused by it because there's nothing like it in any other activity.  They have to perform, try their best, and only SOME kids are invited to it.  Then at the end, they get rewarded.

The beginner student gets a new belt to wear to class.  This time it colorful, an orange belt. They think, "Cool."  This instant gratification is like a bolt of lightning!  The students become focused - better yet - obsessed on getting good enough to complete the challenges and earn their belts.  This provides a foundation for incredible influence of their physical abilities and to develop their character.

Many families try martial arts for a short time (trial membership) and then stop coming because that's what you do.  When you play soccer, the kids run around and learn some stuff then it's over.  You get better each year as you get faster and bigger and stronger.  You decide to play again or you don't.

But Martial Arts is different.  As you earn a belt, the challenges and rewards get even greater until you earn your First Degree Black Belt.  Then, it completely changes.  You are in a whole new arena.  At Superdojo, that's when students learn how to perform, spar, and defend themselves with martial arts weapons in a safe and respectful way (with their friends).  They truly learn to understand the weapons.

So don't let your child quit until you've really given it your all.  Not just them taking class, help them practice at home and let them perform in front of their instructors so they can be rewarded for a really good job, then move up to the next belt once the time is right.

Alpha First Degree Black Belt Clarification

I'm so excited about this whole Alpha Black Belt Program!  It's a higher achievement of the black belt that everyone can earn. It's made for the students that really want  a challenge - some type of crazy challenge that I could create to try and throw off all the students that think moving up in belts is 'to easy' or simple for them. It's for the ones that see it as just the time it takes to earn their black belt, not the ability levels. It's made for the students that are really goal-getters.  To get the basic details, follow THIS LINK.

OK, so no let me get to the "How" you earn your Alpha Black Belt.  Speaking about only color belts, we teach in a giant 2-year cycle.  Starting in odd-number years (2015, 2017), we teach in this block order:

1. Form A
2. Self-Defense and Sparring Set A
3. Form B
4. Self-Defense and Sparring Set B
5. Form C
6. Self-Defense and Sparring Set C
7. Form D
8. Self-Defense and Sparring Set D
9. Form E
10. Self-Defense and Sparring Set E
11. Form F
12. Self-Defense and Sparring Set F

No matter where you start, you will do all 12 blocks. It's a cycle, so even if you start in the middle, as the whole school is working through the big cycle and we all get to #12, we will restart back to #1. That way people can start training at any time and still be able to learn all the curriculum in the blocks to earn their black belt.

To be an Alpha Black Belt, as you learn all the curriculum in each block, you have to RETAIN that knowledge and be able to perform everything from all 12 blocks really well.  The "Really Well" is up to the judgement of the instructor.

2014 is a weird year because we are going to be doing it a little out of order. Here's what we'll be working on this year:

• July and August of 2014: Self-Defense and Sparring Set E
• September and October of 2014: Form D
• November and December of 2014: Self-Defense and Sparring Set D
• January of 2015, we begin the order that is listed out above (Form A, etc.)

Here's "What" you have to do:

If you are a color belt that has been training for one year or less, ask us about starting the sparring program, don't buy anything or do anything until after you talk to us.  We'll get you set up in the "Part 1" of the Alpha Black Belt journey right away. We give you the sparring gear and everything when you start it up.  

If you are a color belt that has been training for a year or more or already have sparring gear that you bought, then talk to us about the "Part 2" of the journey.  There's not enough time before you complete 12 testings to earn your first degree and be able to become an Alpha Black Belt.  So get with us immediately to make sure we catch you up on all the curriculum.

If you are already a black belt, no matter what degree, and you want to become an Alpha Black Belt (First, Second, Third, or Fourth), talk to us ASAP! Every Alpha Black Belt builds on the last, so an Alpha Second Degree has to have already completed all the challenges for Alpha First Degree First.  So you need to know all the open-hand forms, sparring sets, and most importantly, the self-defense sets.  So speak with us right away and let's come up with a plan to start from the beginning.  That doesn't mean that you are going to stop wearing your second degree black belt, it just means you are going to complete all the requirements.

Again, because this is important, if you are a second, third, or fourth degree black belt and you start working on the material for Alpha First Degree, once you earn it, you don't wear that belt.  You've already accomplished the rank you are wearing, you are just completing a "checklist" in order to turn your basic black belt (whatever the degree), into the Alpha Version by completing challenges.

So, start "collecting" the different curriculum sets and work on making them really good.  If you want to become an Alpha Black Belt, talk to ME RIGHT AWAY!!  

Keep Training and Stay Strong!

Superdojo Memberships... how do they work?

Auto-renewal, you must cancel or your credit card will be charged, early termination fee, overdraft protection, recycle fee, account maintenance fee, down payment, initial investment, blah, blah, blah, blah. I get so tired of hearing that sleazy sales person talking about paying more by using some fancy words that make it feel like they deserve that extra couple dollars.  

It made me nervous to sign up for "Free Trials," or "Call us for a free gift." Why can't people be straight-up about what it is they are selling?  Jeesh, it never ends with the verbal do-si-do.

That's what it was like before, I was trying to sell a program that I DIDN'T BELIEVE IN and I was teaching stuff that I didn't like.

So I learned new stuff and it was more fun and it was more practical.  If you know what it's like to be saying things because it's your job to say it and then you don't really believe it deep down... then you know how heart wrenching it is. 

I was living in a stereotype with our old system that I didn't need to.  One Mom came in and yelled at us SO HARD one time when our former program director dropped some knowledge in the verbal do-si-do fancy language at her.  Her husband was the owner of 6 restaurant franchises what are VERY well known in our area so she took NOTHIN' from NO ONE.  Anyway, after the program director "handled her objection" in the way we were taught, she grabbed her daughter, took a deep breath and said (in the lobby, in front of everyone), 

"I don't know if everyone else believes the garbage that's coming out of your mouth or not but I won't be DRINKING THIS #%$ KOOL-AID LIKE THEM!!"

*Don't know what "drink the kool-aid refers to? Follow this link.

I remember that encounter and think about it all the time.  With Superdojo, I don't want any of those situations, I want enrolling easy, no hidden stupid fees, just pay tuition and we'll take care of everything else.  Of course, we are a business, so we like to do Birthday Parties and special cool seminars and we have tshirts to sell to make a few more dollars, but none of that stuff is "mandatory." We make every event something that will make our students better people or better martial artists.  

To finish up this long story, here's how our memberships work:

• All of them include as many classes as you would like to take per week, but the classes are divided up by theme/ subject matter and age group.  There's also a black belt class.  That being said, there's only about 3 times you can train per week, which is just enough. Spend the other 4 days with your family!
• We don't charge for Belt Promotions, that's silly.
• If a student wants to do more stuff, they can, as long as they are working hard in their regular class, so we created a bunch of special classes for kids that want to really specialize in one or two different things like sparring or flipping and doing extreme martial arts (Sport Karate) 
• Bring a friend to class because you want to share something fun with them, not because we guilt you into it or make you in order to earn a patch or something. Earn a patch for bringing a friend, WHAT!?

Thanks for Reading!

What “Type” or “Style” of Martial Arts do you teach at Superdojo?

What a huge question! 

What “Type” or “Style” of Martial Arts do you teach at Superdojo?

When people call martial arts schools to get information, we are always apprehensive to directly answer that question.  People that were not satisfied with a certain “style” DO NOT want to train there again and people that did like the style they used to practice MUST find another school that way.  The truth is, if I taught people how to fight bad guys with hamburger buns and I made it efficient, fun, and people got really good at defending themselves with hamburger buns, you would think that style was the best. 

It's all about the instructor and the teaching team! To make a long story short, we used to teach the world’s most common martial art, Taekwondo, and some of our classes are based around what our foundation was. 

As we learned more and experienced different styles, the Superdojo curriculum became a modern mix of practical martial arts. We include a little bit of everything: Learning “Forms” (or Katas, Poom-sae, etc.), Practical Self-Defense, and Sparring. That’s why we just say “Martial Arts.” We do a little of everything.

Visit www.Superdojo.org to learn more and 

check out some of our videos at Youtube.com/MrHayhurst

Alpha Fourth Degree

The Alpha Fourth Degree is our highest accomplishment so far (As of June 2014). Our system is designed to cultivate innovation and constantly improve. Here is what is required for Basic Fourth Degree Black Belt:

• Instructor training program completion
• Personally responsible for a group of students to achieve their next belt (Teach that class for a complete cycle)
• Have a rating of 9 or better with an after-cycle student survey

To become an Alpha Fourth Degree, the basic challenges increase in difficulty and time required.  Here is the additional accomplishments required:

• Completing all previous Alpha Black Belt (First through Third Degree) challenges.
• Teaching a group of students to black belt, beginning with white belts. The student working towards achieving Alpha Fourth Degree takes the responsibility of mentoring a new student all the way to first degree black belt

The Alpha Fourth Degree is the ultimate leader at Superdojo. They've accomplished a ton of challenges, is a positive role model for other students, and is an instructor.

Alpha Third Degree

The Alpha Third Degree Black Belt is a whole new ladder of success in itself. The challenges are super challenging and the students that achieve this will really be awesome martial artists.  There is no time-requirement, only accomplishment of the goals.

Here's what they have to do:

• Have complete understanding of all curriculum of to their rank
• Amazing performance and ongoing community activism
• Accomplishing 104 sparring challenges, 52 "Master," and 52 "Ultimate" Challenges
• Accomplishing 104 weapons sparring challenges, 52 "Master," and 52 "Ultimate" Challenge

Students earning their Alpha Third Degree will also receive their Basic Third Degree.  But of course, they'll wear their Alpha Third Degree Belt.

Alpha Second Degree

The Alpha Second Degree Program is the next level of incredible challenges! For a student to test for their Alpha Seonc Degree, they really have to be an overachiever and try as hard as they can.  They have to:

• Have already completed all of the Alpha First Degree Requirements
• Memorize and be able to perform all 6 Black Belt Weapons Forms (Bo Staff, Nunchucks, Double Nunchucks, Escrima, double Escrima, and Sword)
• Memorize and be able to perform all 6 Sparring & Self-Defense Sets (Focused on 6 different weapons)
• Participate in Superdojo's community events and seminars, etc.  They really need to be a part of our school, not a hobby martial artist but someone truly living the lifestyle.
• Complete 156 Weapons Sparring Challenges; 52 "Core," 52 "Power," and 52 "Prestige" Challenges
• Perform a Spectacular Demonstration at Belt Promotions to "Seal the Deal" and actually receive their Alpha Second Degree Belt

The completion of everything consists of 2 parts.

The first part simply involves starting to spar with weapons. Students can start sparring after completing one of the Weapons Self-Defense and Sparring Belt Promotions Cycle (As opposed to a Forms Belt Promotions Cycle). We use a brand of weapons called "Action Flex" and they are super strong padded weapons that are rigid enough to feel like a real weapon but not injure your opponent. 

The second part involves the mastery of all the curriculum.  The student will do 6 private lessons that are also pre-tests with their instructor. Here's what the lessons will focus on:

1. Bo Staff Form, Self-Defense & Sparring
2. Nunchuck Form, Self-Defense & Sparring
3. Double Nunchuck Form, Self-Defense & Sparring
4. Single Escrima Form, Self-Defense & Sparring
5. Double Escrima Form, Self-Defense & Sparring
6. Sword Form, Self-Defense & Sparring and Spectacular Demonstration

The student should also have already completed the 156 weapons sparring challenges by the end of private lesson #6 but if they haven't, they can test for their Alpha Second Degree Black Belt (by doing the spectacular demonstration at Belt Promotions) as soon as all the other requirements are met.

Students earning their Alpha Second Degree will also receive their Basic Second Degree.  But of course, they'll wear their Alpha Second Degree Belt.