Happy Holidays!

Hey all, hope everyone has great plans for the holidays, here is an update for what is going on at the dojo:

First, we are thinking of doing a holiday camp THIS Saturday, December 19th. The cost is 60 dollars and is only one day.There will be extended training, games and a movie. Come into the dojo for more information.

Second, Sensei Jordan is considering doing something special for the 3 days we are open between Christmas and New Years (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday). His idea is to change the schedule so that we will be holding all 4 classes each day. This means the Pee Wees will have class on all 3 days. Kids will have classes on all three days. Juniors will have classes on all three days. However, we will only be changing ot this if people respond and are interested. You can tell us you are interested through email, the facebook event, a comment here or some other median where we can check it. In addition, these will not be regular run-of-the-mill classes. Sensei will be teaching something different, and also something that will take all three classes to learn. What he is thinking is either a weapons form or an open hand form that no one has. So, by all means, please come! [There will not be an additional cost] If you have prior engagements and/or family plans, we understand and we hope you have fun.

The Dojo will be closed Dec. 24th- 27th, open again on Dec. 28th-30th, and closed through New Years.

Updates on past events:
The Tournament: Everyone, I believe, can agree that the tournament was fun, as they usually are. The Master's Seminar was amazing, as planned, and very informative. Can't wait for the next one, Only 5 or 6 months away!

Best of the Bay: We still need votes on Best of the Bay! Everyone keep voting, and even if you have already, check to see if they will let you vote again! The voting is almost over so make sure you get as much as you can! http://bestofthebaytv.com/


Still want to get more connected? The dojo has many sites you can get connected through!
Main Website
Facebook
Twitter
Cloud Profile
LinkedIn

Thanks for reading!

Big Scizzors cutting the red tape on our Grand Re-Openening in the new space!

Best of the Bay Commercial

You may have read about this "commercial" going around, here's the deal; all 12 dojos in the Bay Area pulled our resources together to advertise on KRON4's "Best of the Bay" contest. We rallied our kids, adults and teens to make a strong showing at the humungous Foster City Dojo. There we met a filming crew and showed off on camera. They took that footage and made a very pretty video of us that IS NOW SHOWING on KRON4's "Best of the Bay" website. What we need everyone and their brother to do is VOTE, VOTE, VOTE. At the moment, we are in 3rd place with over 2100 votes. The second place business, a dance school, is barely ahead of us approaching 2500 votes. However, the first place business, Gold Medal Martial Arts, is creeping up on 4000 votes. Having only had our commercial up for 10 days, when they have had their's for more than a couple months, we aren't doing too badly. We have until the end of the year to vote, but please don't wait! If we can get ahead now, we can always just maintain our spot later.

Now that we have you amped up, you may be asking yourself, "Well! How do I vote?"

1. Click the link above (blue and underlined).
2. Find "United Studios of..." That is us.3rd one, all the way to right. Top Row. Can't miss it.
3. Click VOTE!
4. Pat yourself on the back.

*If you have a rotating IP address, you can see if your computer will allow you to vote AGAIN*

5. Spread the word, tell your friends, email everyone!

Sensei Dan taking on the Turtle-Dragon

Columbus Day - And We're Open!

*UPDATE: The Best of the Bay airing will NOT be on the 24th, it will be on the 26th at 1:30 PM*

Hey all, (which we are still making an effort for it to be a resounding "all," no longer "few" :) support!) Avalon here and I have news! Those of you that are in the know, the commercial is making progress and will air at 5:00 on Oct. 24th. We have a rough draft segment available to us, and though there are some errors and we made some edits, it is still ridiculously awesome and we are EXCITED! Those of you that have access to the dojo, come on in and ask to see it! Next up, we have Halloween! The dojo will be "closed" because we are having a Halloween Party. Come on the 30th (not the 31st, take note) at the dojo from 4-7 (Potluck, so bring food!). If any of you would like to support the dojo, we have cards that come with 2 free weeks of training that can handed out with candy (or instead of, if you are cheap).

Phew. So that's this month. Kinda busy? Now, NEXT month we have the tournament. Nov. 22nd is our NorCal tournament, and this year our Master's Seminar includes a very special guest. One those of you who are considiring NOT going (for SHAME!) you should definitley reconsider. We have the President of USSD and a 9th degree black belt - Shihan Paul Taylor! This is HUGE. Lessons with Shihan Taylor can be EXPENSIVE ($$$) and this is only $75 (or 100 if you are not participating in other events). He hasn't come up here from SoCal since our chief instructor, Jordan Penman, was a blue/green belt. That is a long time ago.

So, more news than last blog, we are making progress! Thanks and keep reading!

Sensei Jordan with the monks in China. (China trip with USSD)

First Post of the Dojo

*UPDATE: The Best of the Bay airing will NOT be on the 24th, it will be on the 26th at 1:30 PM*

Hey all out there, pretty sure no one is reading this yet, but that doesn't mean the first blog is not important! So, we are a school involved with the largest Martial Arts organization in the United States, United Studios of Self Defense, usually referred to as USSD. We are located in San Rafael, hence the "USSD San Rafael," and this is our blog! For the most part (I think) [notice the uncertainty] I will be narrating the blogs. My name is Avalon and I am a student and an instructor. Those of you following this may also meet Jordan, our chief instructor, Anthony or Ryan, our senior instructors, Dan or Armenak, our assistant instructors, or Irina, a student instructor like myself. (Like that hierarchy there?).

So, first blog, first blog...  let's start with what's going on right now. I am sitting at the desk and Sensei Dan is teaching a purple belt named Micheal who is one of our middle school kids. My legs are still slightly sore from the Dipsea Hike we did on Saturday. We have a Vegas tournament coming up (though I believe no one from our dojo is going) and we are starting to plan a Halloween Party at the dojo. I'll keep anybody following us in touch with upcoming events as much as possible. Keep reading!

Avalon