April Fools Week

It’s time for April Fools (download April's Calendar)

Did you know that April 1st was traditionally celebrated as the NEW YEAR?! Up until 1582, when the Gregorian calendar was invented, the celebrations lasted for 8 days. That’s a long party.

All Students’ Pick up your Vision Boards this week! The vision board is new project where you start to see yourself as a black belt.

Welcome to our Newest Students:
Mariana (3rd grade), Cristian (4th Grade), and Bella (6th Grade) Baca will be training in the Basic Class on Mondays and Wednesdays. The Baca Family welcome to Allen MHK! We are very glad to have you with us. Please say hi to Mariana, Cristian, and Bella and their family when you see them!

Haseeb Sheikh 4th grade will be training in our Basic Class on Mondays and Thursdays. Haseeb and Family welcome to Allen MHK! We are very glad to have you with us. Please say “HI!” to Haseeb and his parents when you see them this week.

Carter Evans 1st grade will be training in our Basic Class on Mondays and Thursdays. Carter and Family welcome to Allen MHK! We are very glad to have you with us. Please say “HI!” to Carter and his parents when you see them this week.



Upcoming Important Events, This Week/Month:

Monday- Classes as regularly scheduled. Turn in your Promoting From for the Test. Find a 2nd or 3rd degree black belt to say your Word Of the Month Positive Self Respect to earn your Stripe for Saturday’s Belt Test.
We’ll be Teaching Classes at Reed Elementary this week, so if you notice a few new students make sure you shake their hand.


Tuesday - Classes as regularly scheduled. Turn in your Promoting From for the Test. Find a 2nd or 3rd degree black belt to say your Word Of the Month Positive Self Respect to earn your Stripe for Saturday’s Belt Test.



Wednesday- Today is April Fools Day! Bring Friend to Class today and receive an extra stripe on your belt. All Classes as regularly scheduled. Turn in your Promoting From for the Test. Find a 2nd or 3rd degree black belt to say your Word Of the Month Positive Self Respect to earn your Stripe for Saturday’s Belt Test.


Thursday- Classes as regularly scheduled. Please find a First, Second or Third Degree Black Belt and say your word of the month, Positive Self Respect to earn your Stripe for Saturday’s Belt Test.

Friday - No Regularly Scheduled Classes tonight.


Saturday – 9 AM Belt Test for all Basic, Level I and II students.
Black Belt Prep students please start your run promptly at 10 AM.


And Upcoming Next Week:
Monday at 5PM will be our 1st parent coaching class for all new students White and new Yellow belts Please Make sure you can attend;
Wednesday will be a Kids and Adults Self-Defense class from 6:30 to 7:15 (during our regular class). Be sure to bring a friend.
Thursday is Leadership Tryout Day from 7:15 to 8:00. make sure you have your application ready to turn in and then have your game face on to really show our instructors will be our next Leadership Team Members!!


Have a Great Week!!!

Are you missing something?

I was reading a blog from Matt Young (Branch Manager at MHK in Colorado) and he was relaying this story:

"John Jones was in New York City. He wanted to go to Boston, so he went to the airport and bought a ticket. Having a few minutes to spare, he walked over to some scales, stepped on them, inserted a coin, and down came his fortune: "Your name is John Jones, you weigh 188 pounds, and you are going to catch the 2:20 to Boston." He was astounded because all the information was correct. So he stepped back on the scales, inserted another coin and down came his fortune: "Your name is still John Jones, you still weigh 188 pounds, you are still going to catch the 2:20 to Boston."

Now he was more puzzled than ever and sensing a trick, he decided to "fool" whoever or whatever was responsible. He went into the men's room and changed his clothes. Once again he stepped onto the scale, inserted his coin, and once again down came his fortune: "Your name is still John Jones, you still weigh 188 pounds, but you missed the 2:20 to Boston."

Are you missing the 2:20 to Boston? Or did you get off before arriving at your destination? Maybe you don't even know your "destination"? As we come to a close on yet another Summer, are you going to let another season, another month, another year pass without realizing a dream or a goal? Oliver Wendell Holmes once said," The biggest tragedy in America is not the great waste of natural resources (although this is tragic). The biggest tragedy is the waste of human resources." He also pointed out that, "The average person goes to his grave with his music still in him." Or as Thoreau said, "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation."

Sadly, most people look for success in lottery tickets and game shows. The reality is that the seeds of success are already within each of us. A philosopher once said, "You are where you are, because that's exactly where you want to be." But is this exactly where you want to be? Or did you receive the wrong road map or wrong instructions? Maybe your climbing the ladder of success only to realize that it’s leaning against the wrong wall? Regardless of where your life was taken you thus far, you have a choice where you'll end up! Make this next season on this planet your very best! It's not just a good idea, it's your responsibility to yourself!"


I know a lot of people who waste their time, money, and energy on things that give very little back in return. At Evans Elementary this week we talked about focusing on goals that are worthy of you. Not just any goal, but only th eones that are worth the time, money, and emotional energy for your to pursue. Working towards your black belt is a worthy goal. It's challenging, yes, but can easily be accomplished if you put all your energy towards it.

Dedicated to your success,
Master McGee

LOCAL KARATE SCHOOL TEACHES CHARACTER BUILDING TRAITS AT STORY ELEMENTARY

For Immediate Release- Allen, TX LOCAL KARATE SCHOOL TEACHES CHARACTER BUILDING TRAITS AT STORY ELEMENTARY

Story Elementary hosted the “Kids of Character” last week for three days during their PE classes. Mark McGee, owner of Mile High Karate, says “Story elementary has always played a major part in promoting strong character skills and many of our students come from this exemplary school.” Teaching children the values of discipline, moral strength, and ethics has long been a community project by Master McGee. He volunteers, along with his staff, over 200 hours per year to local schools teaching this one of a kind program.

“The students, teachers, and administration of Story were very supportive when we came out and the students were extremely receptive to our teaching style,” says McGee. With all the negative stereotypes seen on TV and in other media, children can take on the bad traits of speaking out of turn, talking bad about others, and being rude to adults; especially since these are the way kids and teens are portrayed on television.

Kids of Character Imparts a positive message to kids and being honest with them is the best way to show respect to them [the children]. Adults, too, need to show respect to one another and not speak poorly of others, especially in front of their children. Holding your child accountable for their actions will go a long way in improving self respect and then encourage them to have to discipline to follow through on projects.

To learn more about the "Kids of Character" program, Kicks, Inc (501 (c ) ) and how Mile High Karate can work with your students please call 972-390-7161, or leave a message at allen@milehighkarate.com. To make a donation to "Kids of Character" and to inspire more and more families, click the link at the top of the page.

Shelby Jackson 2nd Dan Candidate

Second Dan.

Shelby J.

Unlike everybody's essays where you get reasons why they should be seen to attempt fora belt, I am going to try something completely different. My reason is well, I cannot write like that. It is boring to expand something that can much more easily be summed up in a few sentences into a very boring essay. Let us quicken this pace up, make it at least a little interesting, and see what comes out.

There are reasons that are basic, like reliability and all that jazz. That is often very common to hear in an essay fora reason. Reliability means nothing if you do not see anything that could be an obstacle to this reliability. What separates me from the pack on this?

I juggle a lot on my schedule. Not as much as some, but more than others. I have school, as most others, but being a middle school student, I tend to have homework and projects that could block my time off. What most do not know is that I play computer games whenever possible. They are addicting, and it is hard to get me off them, so yes, that becomes a realistic obstacle. Fortunately, I do come to class on time, prepared, and prove the reliability that I deserve.

Conclusion, that one itty-bitty little reason might not be enough to some, but you have to think about all the meaning that tiny reason has. Reliability is useful in many modem jobs.

Another reason would be dedication. That is pretty important. Dedication means that not only you are reliable, but also you are devoted to doing whatever the task is.

Since I have been around for what, five years, I think, I would believe I am a dedicated person.
Why should I be considered for second dan? Simply because I am the kind of person who can do it. Anybody can make first dan, but only a few of those stay around long enough to try for second. You can say what you want. There are not enough reasons, or that there is nothing that makes this different from everybody else's papers, but I know the reason for both of those concerns.

Look at who wrote the essay. Does it really need to be explained, or is it just obvious she can do it? That is up to you, I suppose.

Ty Gray 2nd Dan Candidate

Pre-Test Essay

There are many reasons why I want to become a second degree black belt. Some of the reasons why I would like to become to become a second degree black belt are that I would like to continue to learn in martial arts after I get my second degree black belt, I would like to become higher so I can teach what I have learned to the lower belts, and I have come to far in martial arts to quit right before I tested for my second degree black belt. Becoming a second degree black belt is very important to me, and here's why.

One main reason that I would like to test for my second degree black belt is that I would like to learn the material that is after the first degree level. Even though I have been in martial arts for about 6 years, there is still so much more for me to learn, and I want to learn as much as I possibly can. I also don't want to forget all that I already know, so it is important that I keep learning all that I can right now.

Another main reason that I would like to test for my second degree black belt is that I would like to get to a point where I can teach the material I learned almost 6 years ago and teach it to people that are just starting. After accumulating so much knowledge in martial arts, I think it would be an amazing feeling to know that new students are doing forms and techniques that I taught them without flaw or hesitation.

The final main reason why I would like to test for my second degree black belt is that I have come to far in martial arts to just give up and go home. After the 3 long years I waited to get my first degree black belt, the last thing in my mind was to give up right before I accomplished my goal and that feeling is even stronger now that I have put forth even more effort to get where I am now. I want to persevere through the last few months to my test and continue to persevere all the way to my third degree black belt test in another 3 years.

Those are the main 3 reasons why I want to test for my third degree black belt test. There are many more reasons that I could say why I would like to test, but it would take way to long to list all of them. I hope that this essay will convince you of my worthiness of testing for my second degree black belt.

Philip Benson 2nd Degree Candidate

Why I'm Ready to Test for Second Dan

By: Philip Benson

Sure, becoming a Black Belt is a huge deal and people will respect you for going that far, but second dan is different. Becoming a second dan shows that extra leap of faith to continue on your journey for excellence. These two extra years of training have been very different, with all of the moving and schedule changes, but my fellow first dans and I have shown that no matter the changes and difficulty, we can pull through to get our belts. I'll admit that there were times when I downright didn't care and blew things off, but I'm still here and I will work hard and long to finish the goal of getting my second dan belt.

One other reason I want to accomplish my goal is for the way it changes your outlook on life. Once you have your second dan, you must feel like you've accomplished another chapter in life. It gives new meaning to your life because even if you know you will get your desired outcome eventually, it helps to have little markers on the way. It's like a book and the chapters would be little accomplishments on the way to keep you going to finish the book. In this case the book would be Black Belt excellence and getting to second dan would be finishing a chapter. It would renew my faith and make me continue my want to continue and not quit like others in the past.

Lastly, I want to be a second dan because of the way it changes others' opinions on me and on their lives. If they look at you and know that you accomplished that goal and that others have too, they could gain a sense of motivation for the world and themselves. It may inspire them to work for a black belt, too. It's kind of doing both me and those people a favor. People I know would look up to me in a new light because they would know what a second dan was like,
and becoming associated with something helps to inspire them. One example of this would be my teachers. When asking them for their signatures on the testing form, most were amazed because I was testing for second dan already. Even one, Ms. Hilburn, said aloud to the whole class that she was glad to know me because she knew I wouldn't do anything to harm her. And though it may seem a little bit self-centered, I believe I am ready to be even more of a role model for others.

So that is the three main reasons why I want to and believe I should be promoted to Black Belt second dan. I hope that this and my performance at the test make you believe I should be this distinct and important rank in Tang Soo Do.

Black Belt Cook Book

Do yo have a great recipe?

If you do, then send it to me and I'll put into our semi-annual Black Belt Cook Book.

if you have a picture of it that would be great also.

I'll have the book published in e-book and physical format for your convenience for only $10.

It should be ready to go by April 13th (about 6 weeks away).


Have a great day!

PE teachers can take a break!

February 16, 2009- Allen, TX...Mile High Karate spent four days working with the 700 students at Norton Elementary showing them different ways to be respectful to others. Mark McGee, owner of Mile High Karate's Allen, TX location and the creator of "Kids Of Character" says, "The children and teacher at Norton have always supported our program and it's a pleasure to work with these kids each sememster."

PE teachers can "take a break" from teaching and learn some secrets of Black Belt Teaching from experts in the field. The students and teachers workout together and learn how to warmup the body, stretch, lengthen and tone various muscle groups and how to show respect using the "7 Magic Words" and the "3 Rules of Concentration." McGee says, "Children today need to know that being respectful, saying yes sir and ma'am, is the best way to earn and learn respect. Many times I see children speak to their parents as if the parent is wrong or, worse, stupid. As a parent of three, I want my chilren to be respectful to adults and their peers and to expect others to be respectful to them."

Imparting a positive message to kids and being honest with them is the best way to show respect to them [the children]. Adults, too, need to show respect to one another and not speak poorly of others, especially in front of their children. Holding your child accountable for thier actions will go a long way in improving self respect and then encourge them to have to discipline to follow through on projects.

To learn more about the "Kids of Character" program and how Mile High Karate can work with your students please call 972-390-7161, or leave a message at allen@milehighkarate.com. To make a donation to "Kids of Character" and to inspire more and more families, click the link at the top of the page.