The fun begins on Friday, March 9, with a Shaolin Olympics Prep and Board Breaking party.  Friends and siblings are invited to participate, while students who will perform in the Shaolin Olympics the next day put the finishing touches on their performance.  See your local studio for details.

Then on Saturday, March 10, we will host our own Shaolin Olympics.  This event will highlight the best and brightest of our students doing defensive techniques, forms, weapons, and sparring.  Siblings will be invited to break a board at the event itself.

Participation in the Shaolin Olympics Regional is open to students currently enrolled in SDSS, and ...]]> On Saturday, March 10, SDSS of Ridgefield will host our Regional Shaolin Olympics.  Remember, you need to participate and rank in the top four in your regional event in order to compete at the state and national events.

The fun begins on Friday, March 9, with a Shaolin Olympics Prep and Board Breaking party.  Friends and siblings are invited to participate, while students who will perform in the Shaolin Olympics the next day put the finishing touches on their performance.  See your local studio for details.

Then on Saturday, March 10, we will host our own Shaolin Olympics.  This event will highlight the best and brightest of our students doing defensive techniques, forms, weapons, and sparring.  Siblings will be invited to break a board at the event itself.

Participation in the Shaolin Olympics Regional is open to students currently enrolled in SDSS, and the Board Breaking and Olympics Prep event is open to students who have enrolled in the Shaolin Olympics regional.

See your instructor for details.

The fun begins on Friday, March 30, with a Shaolin Olympics Prep and Board Breaking party.  Friends and siblings are invited to participate, while students who will perform in the Shaolin Olympics the next day put the finishing touches on their performance.  See your local studio for details.

Then on Saturday, March 31, we will host our  Shaolin Olympics.  This event will highlight the best and brightest of our students doing defensive techniques, forms, weapons, and sparring.  Siblings will be invited to break a board at the event itself.

Participation in the Shaolin Olympics Regional is open to students currently enrolled in SDSS, and ...]]> On Saturday, March 31, SDSS studios in Connecticut will host their Regional Shaolin Olympics.  Remember, you need to participate and rank in the top four in your regional event in order to compete at the state and national events.

The fun begins on Friday, March 30, with a Shaolin Olympics Prep and Board Breaking party.  Friends and siblings are invited to participate, while students who will perform in the Shaolin Olympics the next day put the finishing touches on their performance.  See your local studio for details.

Then on Saturday, March 31, we will host our  Shaolin Olympics.  This event will highlight the best and brightest of our students doing defensive techniques, forms, weapons, and sparring.  Siblings will be invited to break a board at the event itself.

Participation in the Shaolin Olympics Regional is open to students currently enrolled in SDSS, and the Board Breaking and Olympics Prep event is open to students who have enrolled in the Shaolin Olympics regional.

See your instructor for details.

Although this should have been shocking to me, sadly enough, it was not.  Times are very different now, I see much behavior like this demonstrated by our youth. Many are arrogant, rude, and show little RESPECT to their parents, adults, and their peers. They are angry children, and they don’t even ...]]>

The other day I was driving with my family when we saw two boys riding in the street on their scooters (they were about 9 or 10). When they saw we were coming, one of the boys went to one side of the street, the other to the opposite side. As we approached slowly to where they were, one of the boys got on his scooter, and pulled right in front of our car. That wasn’t bad enough. He then stared us down, with a very strong look of defiance.

Although this should have been shocking to me, sadly enough, it was not.  Times are very different now, I see much behavior like this demonstrated by our youth. Many are arrogant, rude, and show little RESPECT to their parents, adults, and their peers. They are angry children, and they don’t even know why they are angry.

Having lectured in over 100 schools and school districts, from East to West, it is sad to say that this type of behavior is everywhere.

Around 2003, in our little state of Connecticut, 1500 kindergarten children were expelled for violent acts of hitting and biting, to teachers and other students. Of course, that never hit the news. Most of the incidents were motivated when the teachers said no to a request or when they couldn’t have the toy that another child was playing with.

I only tell you this so that you understand this behavior is not new.

Over 30 years ago when I had the responsibility of overseeing many martial art studios, I said that if I ever have the good fortune of owning my own martial arts organization, that it would be very different. We would not just teach martial arts to children and adults, we would be a life learning center for our youth, and a serious Kung Fu center, with a strong philosophy, emphasizing strength and honor.

Master Meyer and I work endlessly to make sure all SDSS Instructors are qualified and continuously trained in all these areas.

We all understand that children mimic the behavior of what their parents, teachers, coaches, and peers demonstrate. They don’t learn their behavior traits and how to deal with their environment by themselves.

Therefore it is so important that the parents of our students continue to communicate with their instructors to inform them of any concerns that you as parents might have with our SDSS Kung Fu kids, in and out of our studios.

We have, and always will be, there to assist you in any way we can.

For Life,

Steve DeMasco, Grandmaster

The top four performers in each event qualify to compete in the New Hampshire All-State Tournament (Portsmouth, Concord, and Keene) scheduled for September, and held in Concord.  The top four competitors in the All-State event will qualify to compete in the Grand Championship Olympics held later in the year in Connecticut. The Grand Championship event includes students from all of the SDSS locations.

The Portsmouth qualifying round is a fun way to test your skills in a smaller setting. It provides just enough competition nerves to help students develop ...]]> Portsmouth’s qualifying round for the 2012 Olympics is Saturday, May 19th right here at the studio.  Events include Defensive Techniques, Forms, Sparring, and Weapons. The events will be arranged based on age and belt ranks, and students may enter any and all events within the appropriate age/rank categories. More details will be coming soon.

The top four performers in each event qualify to compete in the New Hampshire All-State Tournament (Portsmouth, Concord, and Keene) scheduled for September, and held in Concord.  The top four competitors in the All-State event will qualify to compete in the Grand Championship Olympics held later in the year in Connecticut. The Grand Championship event includes students from all of the SDSS locations.

The Portsmouth qualifying round is a fun way to test your skills in a smaller setting. It provides just enough competition nerves to help students develop the mental toughness they need (which is also an excellent “life lesson”), but not so much as to be overwhelming. And while all students are strongly encouraged to follow the journey through to the Grand Championship event, there is no obligation to do so. Not sure of your schedule
later in the year? Don’t let that keep you from participation now. Competing in the Portsmouth event may well provide that extra bit of excitement you’ve been looking for in your training.  Start planning (and practicing) now. May 19th will be here before you know it!

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