February News
We are in the month of many memorial occasions. We have Valentines Day, Shrove Tuesday and the 5th Birthday of the SESMA Studio.
Here’s a quick history of each.
Valentines Day 14th Feb (google)
There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.
Shrove Tuesday 16th Feb (wikipedia)
Among Anglicans, Lutherans and some other Protestant denominations, including ethnic British communities in Canada, this day is also known as Pancake Tuesday, as it is customary to eat pancakes.
Pancakes and doughnuts are associated with the day preceding Lent because they were a way to use up rich foodstuffs such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent. The liturgical fasting emphasized eating plainer food and refraining from food that would give pleasure: In many cultures, this means no meat, dairy, or eggs.
SESMA Studio Saturday 20th Feb
The birthday of the SESMA Studio changes slightly in February to coincide with a Saturday for an Open day to celebrate.
The Studio was originally an empty warehouse, and SESMA leased the unit the 1st week in January 2005 and opened 6 weeks later, through which period with help from friends and parents, Master Wayne installed the mezzanine floor, changing room, upstairs office, viewing room, corridor to the kitchen and toilets. Mirrors were installed, the specially designed bag frame, was made and delivered and the upstairs viewing rail was made on site. All cupboards and walls were painted and pictures hung. Once all that was done the 144 mats were laid and cut to fit. There is available to view a photo history of the making of the studio. Please ask at reception for the photo album.
Come along and have a look round at our great facilities, watch a Little Dragons class (9-9:30am) or our All Grades karate class (9:30-10:30am).
Why not even join in a free intro class. Intro classes are very ½ hour from 10:30am.
Why not bring a friend to have a look round or train with you in a free class on the Open Day
New Kung-Fu class Saturday 6th March
Sifu Colin Browne will be starting a Kung-Fu class on Saturdays 10:30am-12pm. The class is for age 12+ or Junior Black belts under the age of 12.
1st intro class is free, and then next 3 intro classes are paid as a mini course at £15.
If you would like to continue after your 4 intro classes, then you will be required to become a member of SESMA.
To promote the Kung fu a ½ price membership offer of £45
Membership includes:
Black Kung-fu suit, embroidered with your name.
Grading record and Licence Book
3rd Party Insurance/Licence
The class costs £20 per month by Direct Debit once you are a member.
If you are already a SESMA member and would like to add Kung fu to your training costs then please see reception or Master Wayne about upgrading.
Heating @ Houldsworth Valley Scout Centre
I have spoken to the Scout committee concerning the lack of heating. They have had a meeting and have assured me that it has been agreed to install new Infrared heaters. I have not been given an installation date but I have been told that the ball is in motion.
Students of the Month
Newmarket: Aaron Bettoney
Norwich: Tyler Anderson and Corran Batch
Happy Birthday
Kyran Reid, Matthew Bartle, Sam Vignaux, Ariella Watson, Oliver Thomas, Bethany Macro, Alex Illing, Louise Clegg, Alfie-Jay Chapman, Kurt Vinten, Ethan Eagling, Kieran Rayner, Thomas Wilson.
Joke of the Month
Q. What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?
A. Frostbite
Dates For Your Diary
Multi Sport Days 15th to 19th Feb (Limited places left)
SESMA will be running their Multi Sport Days at the SESMA Studio during February half term (15th - 19th Feb)
The days will consist of team games (dodgeball, basketball, rounders, shooting gallery, beat the goalie, Volley Ball table football, Wii Sport and many more), plus team building tasks.
Aimed at 4yrs+ and costs £7 per day or £25 for the week.
To book your place please either phone 260751 or send an email to multisport@sesma.co.uk
Anti-bullying Workshop Tuesday 16th February 12:30-2pm (aimed at 6-11yrs olds)
Cost of the workshop is £10 per child or £16 for 2 + children in a family attending.
SESMA has provided many schools in the Norfolk and Suffolk area with anti-bullying workshops as part of the National Anti-bullying Week, and these schools have found the workshops very useful and the children have found them helpful and fun.
SESMA strongly believes that if lessons are fun, children will learn.
So SESMA makes their workshops fun with lots of interactive play and scenario based learning.
Course content:
1. What is bullying and give examples.
2. How to identify a bully or bullying.
3. Can we stop ourselves from being bullied?
4. Look confident with our body language and eye contact.
5. Confidence using the sound of our voice.
6. Name calling
7. Be positive not negative.
8. Controlling and coping with our emotions
9. How to protect ourselves.
As you can see from the course content, the workshop is very informative on how to identify, prevent and cope with bullying.
At the end of the workshop, to help reinforce the material we have discussed during the workshop, fun work sheets will be given to the children to take home.
If you feel that this workshop would be beneficial to you then please either book at reception, phone 260751 or send an email to no2bullying@sesma.co.uk
Cost of the workshop is £10 per child or £16 for 2 + children in a family attending.
A percentage of the course cost will be donated to Norwich Red Balloon Learning Centre.
SESMA Open Day 20th February 9-12noon
Kickboxing Show at The Talk Sunday March 28th
Master Richard Vince will be coming out of a 15-year retirement to step back into the kickboxing ring.
Tickets will be on sale in Feb from SESMA Studio
Grading Dates
Newmarket: April 11th 10am (all grades) July 18th 10am (all grades) Dec 12th 10am All grades)
Kickboxers will be graded April 9th 8pm, July 16th 8pm, Dec 10th 8pm.
Any 2nd Brown that wishing to take to be assessed on their progress towards Black Belt, please attend 10am grading time.
Norwich: April 10th, July 17th, Dec 11th
Times: 10am white, red, yellow & orange 12pm green, 2nd green & blue belts 2.30pm 2nd blue & above 5pm kickboxers
Those grading for Choshos please speak to Master Wayne for your Grade time.
Any 2nd Brown that wishing to take to be assessed on their progress towards Black Belt, please attend the 2nd blue & above grading time.
GRADING ASSESSMENTS
Please remember that the higher you get up the grades the harder it becomes. You will at some point during your Martial Arts training miss a grading. This is
common and if you asked the senior senseis if they ever missed a grading the answer would be YES. To be good at something takes time, it is not a race to black belt but an enjoyable journey.
Students will be assessed during normal class times the 2 weeks leading up to the grading. Please try to attend as many classes as possible during the assessment weeks.
Little Dragons will be awarded their belts during classes times the week after the karate gradings.
April 12th-16th, July 19th-23rd, Dec 13th-17th.
Black Belt Grading Dates
Junior Black Belt grading 17th April 2pm BBA Bull Close Norwich
Kickboxing Black Belt grading 17th April 4pm BBA Bull Close Norwich
Senior Black Belt grading 26th June 2pm BBA Bill Close Norwich
Junior Black Belt grading 25th Sept 2pm SESMA Studio Norwich
Kickboxing Black Belt grading 25th Sept 4pm SESMA Studio Norwich
Senior Black Belt grading 18th Dec 2pm SESMA Studio Norwich
Inter Club & Invited Clubs Competition Saturday 8th May
SESMA & BBA will be holding a Karate & Light Kickboxing competition at the SESMA Studio.
Booking in for the Karate will be 1:30pm and the Kickboxing at 5pm.
Master Wayne & Master Vince will only invite a few clubs to attend as they wish it to be only a small competition to encourage students to take part that have never competed before.
Karate catagories will be split into grade and height to make it fair as possible.
Kickboxing catagories will be split into weight and if enough competitor will also be split into grades.