UPCOMING EVENTS/LINKS

FREE Introductory Private Lesson
Saturday, July 3rd at 12pm

SCUBA Diving course begins (in-water)
July 16th
(Discounts for  RPKC students)

2-hour Jujitsu Seminar
with Mr. Christopher De Palma
Saturday, June 17th

Student Belt Exams
September 10th & 11th
See Schedule

Jun Chong Invitational
Tournament

October 10th, 2010

*NEW*
Take a look at our new
Black Belt Honor Roll



 

Testing Results 6/5/10

 

YELLOW BELTS

Devin Dela Cruz

Ilya Albert

Justin Weatherly

Sylvia Wells

Faith McDonald

Dennis Rose

Gabby Amaro

Lior Cohen

Rachel Sonski

Levi Yung

Kamryn Anders

 

 

PURPLE BELTS

Nicholas Sparkman

Robert Castillero

Miles Cohen

Anna Joya

Janice Sonski

Matthew Rivas

Alexis Rivas

 

ORANGE BELTS

Eric Browning

Myles Williams

Justin Stavin

Adam Kopell

Donna Quan

Rose Dickerson

Josh Kopell

Emmanuel Gyadu

 

BLUE BELTS

Milini Rambukwella

Brandon Torres

Jonah Green

Brandon Kaufman

 

RED BELTS

Alex Alon

Samantha Hehir

 

BROWN STRIPE (BB CANDIDATES)

Danny Torres

Michelle Lerner

 

1st DAN

Ms. Katya Agharabei

Mr. Sam Evans

Mr. Kwesi Ogunde


 

We would like to hear from you! 

 
If you have feedback about our newsletter, or would like to contribute an article about your Martial Arts experience, please
 
 
RIFKIN PROFESSIONAL KARATE CENTER
         Newsletter May - June 2010        

FREE Introductory
Private Lesson

Saturday, July 3rd at 12:00

For anyone interested in our 2 month TRIAL PROGRAM, or would like to participate in a FREE semi-private lesson at Rifkin Professional Karate, we are offering a session Saturday, July 3rd at twelve o'clock. 

If you or anyone you know would like to take advantage of this event, click: 

map to
Rifkin Professional Karate Center

3 new BB's The BEST part of What We Do
Growing up "Karate"

As we welcome our newest Black Belts, having successfully completed the latest June Belt Exams, I look back over the last ten years of Rifkin Professional Karate and I see the faces of so many long-time students; some have gone on to pursue other avenues and so many have stayed with us for the journey.

What effects me most are those faces that were children when they began and are now attending the adult classes.  Many of our students have quite literally grown up in our studio.  We have seen them through kindergarten, grade school, middle and high school.  We have taught and coached them in classes and in tournaments; we have celebrated their birthdays with them and we have seen many of them through some of the toughest times in their lives... and it has been an honor. Now I look upon these newest Black Belts and I see the faces of the children they once were.  Two of them (both 15 yrs) were only 7 years old when they began training here.  Now they have become capable, honorable, hard-working, and goal oriented young adults.  And I am proud to have played a part in their development.

From our advanced adult students all the way down to the 5 yr olds starting in the Kinder Kicks classes, the journey of a martial artist begins with one single day, the day that can, and will, change their lives.  I see it in the face of a new student coming out of their very first class and I see it in the face of an intermediate student that comes out of class after sparring for the first time.   It is that look of half "I didn't know it was that hard work", and half "that was the coolest thing I've ever done".  And in that very look, I see what they don't...and that is what is to come: how that student will progress, what they will experience, and how he or she will grow. 

Though different instructors and Martial Arts professionals may give different points of view, for me, to see the effect training in the Martial Arts has on a student is the best part of what I do.  The short term achievement of mastering a given technique, and the long term character building of a student over time only reinforces the value of what we do.  And for those students beginning their training as children, the growth is only that much more profound.

So as I look upon the ever-growing number of accomplished Martial Artists that fill our classes each and every day, I am reminded of the importance of what we do as teachers and mentors.  We change lives.  Of that I am so very proud and eternally grateful.

Welcome to 1st Degree Black Belt, Ms. Katya Agharabei, Mr. Kwesi Ogunde, and Mr. Sam Evans.

Congratulations!

View our NEW Black Belt Honor Roll




-Master JD Rifkin
Battle of LA

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*to view past month's articles, please visit the Master's Blog on our website, www.rifkinprokarate.com
3 new BB's Jujitsu Seminar Saturday, July 17th
Mr. Christopher De Palma's
2 hour training Seminar--just $10
12-2pm

If you have ever wanted try some grappling arts, this is for you. Mr. De Palma's extensive career in Japanese Jujitsu lends to an exciting and informative training seminar. 

This one-time class is available for all students and NON-STUDENTS alike.
SCUBA Course Begins July 16th
Discounts for RPKC Students

As many of you may already know, I teach SCUBA Diving as well as Martial Arts in my "off-time".  I have been a PADI Dive Instructor since 1989 and have taught and certified many divers in that time, from entry-level Open Water Diver through Divemaster. 

With the introduction of our new E-Learning system, what I used to teach at a black board in a classroom format you can now learn at your leisure in your own living room. 
The entire curriculum course you can now take online in an EXTREMELY productive format including online manuals, pictures and video (click above).  Once completed, I then take over with the pool segment of the course, and then the open water, or ocean segment. 

I am beginning the pool segment of the course on Friday, July 16th, so if you or anyone you know would like to become a certified diver and experience the amazing underwater world, please do not hesitate to call me at (818)888-0743 for prices and to reserve your spot (I am taking only the first 8 that register).  Once you register with me, I will get you started in the online course and save your spot for the pool sessions.

Don't train at the big impersonal sport stores.  Join my class and get the personal touch of a smaller class.  I spend the time to make sure you are trained the right way; you don't complete the pool skills segments until YOU are confident to continue, no matter the extra time.

Click ENROLL NOW to pay $120.00 for your online classroom session(choose Malibu Divers in the drop down menu), then pay the balance of your tuition when you start your in-water training.

-JD Rifkin
Female Self-Defense Tips
an excerpt by Francis K. Githinji

Today's world is full of insecurity and it is more dangerous for women. It is difficult for women to be perfectly careful or best-informed about self defense. Every added piece of information about how to be smart in self defense means an improvement in dealing with altercation. There are some moves you can take in order to stop potential attackers. This article will empower women to keep themselves safe and also protect others. The various female self defense mechanisms include taking classes and soliciting information from any reliable source. There are available lessons concerning personal safety. Actual techniques are practiced in a supportive and safe atmosphere. The instructors of good self defense are trained to help individuals to acquire a great deal of safety control. You can learn more by asking questions and expressing your concerns about personal safety. They help you practice what you learn from their classes. In constitution of physical techniques, a comprehensive lesson about how to approach an attacker on your feet is taught.


Another tip for female self defense is that, women should always follow their intuition to stay safe. If your gut tells you that something about a situation is wrong do not hesitate to act. Discomfort and fear are intuitive messages that might indicate that you are unsafe. Recognize the red flag for danger early enough to increase your safety. Most female victims of attacks have confessed of having ignored their intuition prior to the attack. Do not fear that you might appear as if you are overreacting or paranoid. Your safety should always come first. For instance you should yell and quickly run way from a man who walks quickly to catch up with you in an empty parking lot. Do not assume that he wants to ask the time.

Keeping guard and being ware is one of the tips to use for female self defense. Activities of the day take us to different places but wherever you are be ware. Be conscious about your surroundings. For instance while you are walking back to your vehicle alone, walk upright with your head held up high to enable you to scan your surroundings. Identify any hiding place for attackers and also any escape route incase of an attack. Always think in terms of prevention. Avoid dark, secluded areas at all costs. If you are not feeling safe, be bold to ask the security staff to escort you to your vehicle since it is their work. To remain safe in areas where you rub shoulders with the public, avoid dressing provocatively or carrying expressive jewelry.

Among the female self defense tips is always lock your house and car. Some people assume that the time spent outside the house or car is too little and locking is unnecessary. However little time you hope to spend away, ensure that you lock the car and the house. Always have your keys in your hands to stay safe to discourage attackers. Deter an attack before it begins. Most criminals target women who are talking on their cell phones since it indicates that the woman is distracted and a potential target. Do not walk around the streets with many bags and packages. Ponytail is also a hair do which is attractive to the attacker. Always carry a deterrent device or a legal weapon in your keys chain or in your hand bag.


Discipline, Honor, Respect
By Brandon Torres, age 8

Rifkin Professional Karate Center is one of my favorite places, and has taught me a lot of different lessons that I use at the karate studio, at school, and at my home.

Discipline is control over the way I behave and act by myself and with other people.  I show discipline by going to all my classes.  Sometimes I don't always want to go to class because I'm tired, have other plans, don't feel like working, or I'm being lazy.  But I show the discipline I have learned here by pushing myself through it, and going to class anyway.  I also show discipline by paying attention in both karate class, and in school.  It is easy for me to be distracted by people talking, or noises in and out of the room, but karate has given me the discipline to pay attention and focus on my teacher, instructor or parents.  Karate has also given me the discipline to concentrate and focus on my work at karate, school, and at home.  It has also taught me to follow many different instructions that are given ti me at different places.  It's now easier for me to follow different instructions that are given out at the same time.  Karate has also given me the discipline to to put effort in the work I'm doing.  I do this by always working my hardest, always trying my best, and putting all my energy in everything I do.  This has really helped me in both karate and in my school work.  It has also given me the discipline to practice with my brother and friends at home, so I can be the best I can.

Honor is a person's good reputation and the respect people have for another person.  I show honor by listening and following all the rules at karate, school, and at home.  I also show honor by doing extra work on my own.  I understand that by doing the extra work, I can always be the best that I am in whatever it is that I am doing.  I also show honor by doing what I say.  I know it's important for me to honor people around me by saying something and sticking to it, until it's done.  Another way I show honor is by working my hardest in class, at school, and at home.  I now am starting to understand that when I work my hardest it shows my instructors, teachers, and family that I care about my work, and what they are teaching me.

Respect is to admire and have a high opinion of someone.  I show respect at karate by always answering "yes, Sir" when I am spoken to.  At school I show respect by saying the teacher's name after I answer a question or problem.  I also show respect by going to all the classes that I can.  The only time I miss class is when I am sick, or when I have to catch up on my schoolwork.  Another way I show respect is by not fooling around in karate and school.  Sometimes funny things happen that make me want to laugh out loud, but I try my best to focus and stay quiet to shoe respect to my instructors, teachers, and parents.  I also show respect by helping others when I am asked.  I always try to do my best to teach others the things I know in the karate studio, classroom, and on the yard.  The last way I show respect is by never being late to class.  I always show up early so I can get my body and mind ready for the challenges ahead in both school and karate. 

Taking karate classes at the Rifkin Professional Karate Center has taught me a lot of great lessons that I am able to use at my school and home.  I can't wait to see what's ahead of me in this great journey.
PeydonGet In Shape For SUMMER
**special**

Try out training at our school and see the enormous difference our classes can make.  Our 2 MONTH TRIAL program will change the way you see yourself.  You (or your child) will feel stronger, quicker, more fit and safer than ever before. 

Call now to schedule your included Introductory Private Lesson.


(818)888-0743
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