DanStryker.com

2012-01-18T13:46:00.001-08:00

Great Martial Arts. Great People. That is what Stryker Martial Arts is all about.

Many people attempt to determine how much we charge "per class". This is a mistake. We don't sell martial arts classes. No. We sell much more than that.

Many people attempt to compare our program with others. This is another mistake. Our program is unique and why we have one of the longest standing martial arts schools is Fairfield - over 16 years.

What do we sell?

We sell a Superior Martial Arts EXPERIENCE. I don't know anyone who couldn't benefit from this experience. Do you? Now is a great time to invite the people you know to experience our program for themselves. You will be glad you did... and so will they.

Year End and some updates...

2011-12-21T14:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Students and Families,

I hope that you are enjoying this holiday season!

We are ready for an outstanding 2012 where Stryker Martial Arts will be making a bigger impact, teaching more students, and bringing the benefits of martial arts training to more families!

As we close out this year, I just wanted to remind you that there are no classes tomorrow as we have testing. (Remember, as usual, there are no unsupervised kids during the adult test)

Starting Friday, we will begin our winter break and will be closed until the new year (January 2nd, 2012).

It has been an interesting and challenging 2011 both personally and professionally for me and for SMA. I feel that both the students and the school have met these challenges and exceeded any "normal" expectation. I am extremely proud of all of us!

I am confident that SMA has stepped up the program and increased both the value and the benefits for its members. Our kids' program is strong and while my teaching style seemed a bit abrupt at first, many parents have expressed positive outcomes both on the mat and off. Ultimately, parents are noticing a difference in the behavior of their kids outside the karate school... not just the "fun" they are having on the mat. After all, this has always been the goal of professional martial arts instruction.

I want to thank all the parents for the positive feedback that we have received. It means a lot to us. Yet we are starting to receive an even bigger compliment. Many parents have begun referring their friends and family to the school. This is the biggest vote of confidence we can receive and I thank you for the trust you instill in us by having your friends and family try our program. We will do the best we can to meet their needs.

I am very excited for our Thai Kickboxing program heading into the new year. I have made some slight modifications over the last few months and I truly believe that these simple improvements are going to have a dramatic effect on the students' physical transformation. Not only that, but our renewed stand against violence towards women is what will propel this program beyond anything its seen before. Stryker Martial Arts is determined to teach women how to fight back.
Imagine a program where you can have the physical transformation you want PLUS the opportunity to be safer and more confident. Its the best of both worlds and no one is bringing this to you except Stryker Martial Arts.

Our goals for 2012 is to bring more families into our school and training together. I am not quite sure how this will look but it is something that I am very interested in. The parents who participate in the Thai Kickboxing and even the parents who have participated in our family class have a much different perspective regarding their kids’ participation in our program as well as the program itself. Therefore, I would like to see more families on the mat together.

Thank you to all the students and families for your support in 2011 and I look forward to an outstanding 2012!

Sincerely,

Dan Stryker
President
Stryker Martial Arts Inc.

Announcements

2011-10-18T12:37:00.001-07:00

A quick reminder that there are no classes this saturday. (October 22nd) I am in Boston at a seminar.

Testing is next Thursday (October 27). If you or your child are testing, be sure to check with Master Dan that you are on the list.

Remember that there are no classes on test day and as usual, there are no unsupervised kids during the
adult test.

Finally, October 31st - Halloween - there are no classes in the afternoon and evening. I am going to be
"trick-or-treating" with my son and I imagine you will be doing the same with your children.

Thanks to one of our students to passing this on!

2011-09-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; ... - Life isn't always fair; - And maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies, don't spend more than you can earn and adults, not children, are in charge. His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife Discretion, his daughter Responsibility, and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, do nothing...( taken from a friend of a friend)..

Another Great Day

2011-09-13T18:10:00.000-07:00

We had some awesome classes today! The Thai Kickboxers worked up a sweat while polishing a useful self-defense technique. The Black Belt Club Kids were amazing! They showed incredible focus and discipline. Many of them learned how to do a jumping roundhouse kick for the first time! (Watch out for those lamps!)

The 4 to 9 year olds did excellent. We had one of the Black Belt Kids working along side them and they stepped their game up and increased their intensity. We finished up with some flying sidekicks that ROCKED!

Great Job today! Keep it up!

Contest Continues...

2011-09-10T05:19:00.000-07:00

The Eskrima Contest continues! The SECRET PASSWORD for today is Crane Stance! Whisper that to Master Dan to get your FREE Eskrima stick!

Time Flies When You're Having FUN!

2011-09-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

What an amazing day at SMA! Intense Thai Kickboxing classes all around... The 4 to 9 year old Karate Kids are developing Black Belt Balance and a packed house with close to 40 kids for Black Belt Club. All focused and dedicated martial artists looking to take it to the next level. Absolutely Awesome.

Plus we gave away over 20 Eskrima Sticks for FREE! Keep those handy cause we are going to be using them in Black Belt Club soon!

You guys ROCK!

Quote of the Day:

2011-09-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." -Winston Churchill

The Contest Continues...

2011-09-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

This is what Eskrima can look like! Check it out...

The SECRET PASSWORD for today is Dragon! Remember to whisper it to Master Dan to get your Free Eskrima stick!

An Adult Conversation for Play...

2011-09-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Researchers are making great strides in the study of play. Its much more important than you would think! Take a look...

Contest for our Black Belt Club Kids

2011-09-07T06:14:00.000-07:00

Eskrima training is going to be our next rotation for our padded weapons training in Black Belt Club. We came up with a fun little contest for the kids as a way for them to get an eskrima stick free. We will be running this contest for the next two weeks.

All they have to do is whisper to Master Dan the secret password for the day and they will receive one.

This contest is only for the kids on Black Belt Club... but don't worry, we have more contests to come!

The SECRET PASSWORD for today is TIGER.

Quote of the Day:

2011-09-05T08:10:00.001-07:00

"It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others and to forget his own." ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

Quote of the Day:

2011-09-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do. ~ Benjamin Franklin

New Schedule

2011-09-02T10:58:00.001-07:00

Quick reminder that the new schedule starts THIS TUESDAY! Get it here...

http://strykermartialarts.com/schedule.htm

Quote of the Day:

2011-09-02T05:45:00.001-07:00

“When you respond to life, that's positive; when you react to life, that's negative.” ~ Zig Ziglar

Female Action Stars Have Gotten Too Skinny to Throw a Believable Punch

2011-09-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

Check this interesting article out. It is interesting some of the stuff we are being fed.

Female Action Stars Have Gotten Too Skinny to Throw a Believable Punch

Quote of the Day:

2011-09-01T08:40:00.001-07:00

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without having to accept it." -Aristotle

Training Hard...

2011-08-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

Training with Shihan Manny and Guro Dong Cuesta down in Jersey City today. Practicing Doce Pares. Check out Guro Dong Cuesta with a stick. Amazing!

Quote of the Century:

2011-08-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Thomas Edison

Inspiration...

2011-08-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

It is difficult when you make something look easy. Most people don't realize the hard work that goes into your skill and talent. And then most people believe that you don't deserve the rewards.

Consider you might be wrong...

The Power of Registration!

2011-08-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I have a commitment to what Tony Robbins calls the CAN-I principle which refers to Constant And Neverending Improvement. I believe the real joy in life occurs in growth and development - both your own and others. It is part of the reason I love doing what I do. There is no doubt that at Stryker Martial Arts we create a possibility for personal growth and development on a daily basis.

Yet, I was reminded of something VERY cool yesterday. You see, I signed up for a 6 month course. It is a course dedicated to creating an adult conversation around fun and play.

The funny thing is, I have taken this course twice already. Strange, right?

I was talking to my wife last night and she was even asking me, "Why would you take that course AGAIN?"

Well, the last time I took it was about three years ago. Am I the same person I was three years ago?

Am I the same person I was two years ago? One? A week ago?

I promise you the answer is No. I have a sincere commitment to working on my growth and development and to work on it daily.

So in the last 3 years, I have learned some new things and "figured some things out" about myself.

Now a "New and Improved" Dan Stryker will be walking into that room to discuss some very cool topics.

Then...

I was talking with my wife and we have been debating going on vacation together just her and I. We have met some personal challenges over the last 3 years and if anyone has earned a week off on a beach it is her and I.

Great News! She booked our vacation yesterday!

So in one day, I signed up for an incredibly powerful experience through this course I registered for and my wife booked (registered) for our vacation! What a day!

Here is why yesterday was so exciting. When I registered for the course... when I signed up... I put my money down and said "YES! I'm in!" my life changed. I am now in the course. I am looking forward to it. I am talking about it with people I know. I am excited about it. The fact of the matter is that the course started the moment I put my money down.

The same is true for the vacation. We have already started talking about it and making plans both of logistics and enjoyment. "What are we going to do?" "I bet the beach is beautiful." "I heard the food is excellent." And so on. In essence we are on vacation, we just aren't at the location yet.

So what happened? I/We registered. Registration happens the moment you commit both verbally and financially.

Registration allowed me to create a NEW future for myself that wasn't already there. I will come out of this course with new understandings that will positively impact the lives of the people around me. I will be renewed and refreshed after spending a week on the beach and ready to come back and serve the school and my family with greater energy and vitality.

Where would I have been if I was still debating about taking a course? Talking about going on vacation?

That is the difference that registration makes. And what a cool difference!

So this is a powerful reminder that your REGISTRATION in our martial arts program is really a commitment to your personal growth and development which created a future that was never going to happen. It is an acknowledgement of the risk you took, the leap of faith... and ultimately, the decision you made to play full out in the game of your life.

You Rock!

Quote of the Day:

2011-08-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw

Nutrition: Huh?!

2011-08-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

I was at a martial arts seminar last Friday. It was incredibly motivational and inspirational. I got to hang out with some of the top professionals in my field who are also personal friends of mine. It was great to recharge and refresh!

While there, a gentleman who I had never met, did a presentation on nutrition attempting to sell his services. He boasted about having a Masters Degree in exercise physiology, 30+ years of martial arts experience and working with professional athletes and "knowing" nutrition "inside and out".

Wonderful.

Then he argued, "If you were coming out of the concentration camps in Germany, you wouldn't be fat."

Granted, this is a bit out of context (which I will fix in a sec) but what really struck me was that this was the SECOND time I had heard this argument. The first was shocking enough because it came from an MD. Yes a full fledged doctor. The second time was last Friday.

This picture is from the Truman library of two men in a concentration camp. Apparently, both the nutritional guys were correct. You wouldn't be fat... that is for sure.

And what a conversation for prosperity right?

Really?

These guys to the left not only look thrilled but they also look to be in top physical shape and ready to run a mile, deadlift 225lbs, or do a 45 minute Thai Kickboxing class, no?

Are these guys spouting nutritional advice really serious?

Now here was the context that the man on Friday was speaking in. He was referring to the genetic argument. Many people believe there is a "fat gene" and that they are built to store bodyfat.

Then he argued that no one in the camps was fat.

It was not only offensive but more than quite a stretch.

I do believe that some people are more prone to store bodyfat than others. I also believe that this tendency increases with age.

Yet, studies have shown that obesity is more environmental than genetic or a combination of both. The largest determinant of obesity right now is income level. Why? Because the poor are more likely to eat fast food and cheaper, less nutritious food since they can't afford higher quality food.

That and some families simply make poor decisions and have a lot of "junky" food around. These also include any type of frozen or highly processed meals, chips, pretzels, and so on.

There is another problem... we talked a few weeks ago about how there really isn't an accurate form of measure right now to determine if you are overweight or obese. So how do you know where you stand?

Therefore, the fat argument falls in on itself.

Here is what I think most people are interested in... Performance.

Most people want their body to perform at a high level. (And yes most also want it to look FANTASTIC!) But when you break it down, most people want to have a high level of energy, feel good (pain free), be comfortable with how they look all in order to go through their daily activities without energy crashes and lethargy.

So here is a very bad model... but it works (for me).

Over the last month, I have had to do a lot of manual labor. Fixing things, moving VERY heavy things, squatting to pick things up, and so on...

So heading into my day, I knew a couple of things. First, I wouldn't have my next meal for a long time and there was going to be A LOT of physical expenditure. So, I needed a high calorie meal that also contained a high amount of fat so I stayed satiated until late in the afternoon.

What was my meal?

Cheddar Omelet, Potatoes, Three Pancakes with butter and syrup, a large fruit smoothie, and hot tea. Then I added a ton of caffeine to avoid the inevitable energy drop from all the sugar.

Now this formula works for me. I have had similar situations where I have used pizza for the same outcome.

At the same time, it is an AWFUL long term option. I ONLY do this when I am doing a lot of physical labor (usually about 8 hours at a time with little or no break) and I know I won't be eating again for a long time.

By the way, 8 hours of physical labor does not equal a 45 or 90 minute workout. I DO NOT eat this way normally.

Why am I telling you this then?

Because I know my body and what works for it. I know when I am abusing it (like in the example above) and when I am taking care of it.

You want to know YOUR body. The fact of the matter is that right now, where the science of nutrition is concerned, the more they learn, the more they are exposed to what they don't know. Meaning, when they figure out the answer to 1 question, 20 new questions pop up.

Stop listening to idiots who say, "If you were in the concentration camps, you wouldn't be fat." and start learning about your own body and your own experience. You are always your best teacher in that way.

Train Hard!

Quote of the Day:

2011-08-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

"A legacy is planting a tree whose shade will be
for someone else." -Unknown

Can you fight your way out of a paper bag?

2011-08-18T10:56:00.000-07:00

Gyms and personal training studios (and even some martial arts schools unfortunately) are filled with people who LOOK LIKE they are throwing punches and kicks. They aren't. Looking like it and doing it are two completely different things. It is not enough to throw something that "looks" like a punch or kick.

To operate in this way is a complete waste of time and energy while also being potentially dangerous because you might start thinking that you can actually punch and kick.

Here is the main problem. In order to throw a strong and fast punch or kick, you need to recruit the right muscles and have them fire in the appropriate sequence to really develop any sort of real speed and power.

This is why "self defense" seminars, cardio-kickboxing programs, and foolish personal trainers don't work. The only thing that develops the appropriate recruitment of muscle chains is constant repetition over an extended period of time. All of these methods can recruit muscle fibers. But only educated training will get your body to fire these muscles in the appropriate sequence.

That is to say that the way you train has a severe impact on the outcome of your performance.

If, for some reason, you never attempt to throw a punch or kick with full power... your body will not know what its like to recruit that chain. As a matter of fact, it will not even know that it is POSSIBLE to throw a stronger punch or kick than you are currently attempting.

The ultimate problem is that if you don't throw that motion over and over again with full power, you will not have developed the habit of recruiting the chain of muscles required... and therefore you lack power.

The same can be said for speed. As they know, muscles are made up of different fibers which fire at different rates. One creates speed. The other power.

If you don't throw punches and kicks which are meant to be as fast as you can, those fibers will not be recruited and your body will not know that "faster" is even possible.

Finally, given these two realities... if you are not training both speed AND power, you will not develop the "holy grail" of martial arts which is to be able to achive BOTH at the same time.

Here is the up side: The major benefit that you receive from training in this way is NOT to be able to kick someone's butt. Obviously, we would like you to be able to do that but the reality is that you are most likely never going to be in a fist fight or have to defend yourself.

The real benefit to you is the increased level of confidence. When you hit the bag and you see the result of a fast, strong punch or kick, you smile inside and say "Yeah... that's it." That level of confidence is highly contagious and seeps into every facet of your life. You walk differently, carry yourself differently, apply yourself in stressful situations differently... everything changes when you ultimately become confident in what your body can do. This is the real benefit... Confidence!

This is why we constantly state that it is YOUR class and that you want to have a plan heading into your class. We obviously have an outline and you wouldn't want to go counter to that outline (sometimes we are working specifically on speed or power)... yet most of these ideas can be applied to 99% of our classes.

As you approach your classes over the next few weeks, figure out what it is that you want to develop. Remember that true martial arts skill is developed over years and not months. (The same can be said for true physical transformation.) You don't need to accomplish EVERYTHING now. You need to accomplish SOMETHING. Pick what it is before you bow in and then throw your heart into it.

See you in class!