All posts by masteramerson
Snow Day Fun Day, Dec. 11, 2018
Kids playing Defend the Castle.Here we are again. Wake County Public Schools are closed, but we aren’t. These kids need to have some fun and use up some energy! We’ll have another Snow Day Fun Day session today from 2PM – 4PM. We’ll be having mini Taekwondo lessons, playing some indoor games, and generally having fun on the mat. King of the Ring Nerf Duel is a distinct possibility!
Details:
- What: Open Fun Session with Martial Arts and Games!
- Where: Amerson’s Taekwondo and Fitness, 10940 Raven Ridge Rd., #120, Raleigh, NC 27614
- When: 2PM – 4PM, Tuesday, December 11, 2018
- Cost: IT’S FREE! All are invited!
Beach Ball Keep AlivePrior to participation, we will need our standard waiver filled out for any participants. It can be found online here, or we’ll have them when you arrive.
Hope to see you! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call, (919)307-KICK (5425) or email, masteramerson@gmail.com.
Parent’s Night Out – Sept. 2018
Parents Night Out
Kids! Want to join us for some fun Taekwondo, games, movies, pizza, popcorn, and more?
Parents! Want to leave the kids with us for some fun Taekwondo, games, movies, pizza, popcorn, and more …while you go have a few hours to yourself?
Amerson’s Taekwondo and Fitness is having a Parents’ Night Out on Saturday, September 15 from 5:30PM to 9PM. What’s going to happen:
- Taekwondo class for beginners and advanced.
- Pizza dinner.
- Martial arts inspired movie.
- Popcorn.
- Fun games.
It’s just $20/person to attend. For families, each additional sibling is only $15.
For more information, email Master Amerson or sign up below.
“Snow Day” Fun, Again!
Kids playing Defend the Castle.
Here we are again. Wake County Public Schools are closed (possibly until Spring), but we aren’t. Just like two weeks ago, these kids need to have some fun and use up some energy! We’ll have another Snow Day Fun Day session today from 2PM – 4PM. We’ll be having mini Taekwondo lessons, playing some indoor games, and generally having fun on the mat. King of the Ring Nerf Duel is a distinct possibility!
Details:
- What: Open Fun Session with Martial Arts and Games!
- Where: Amerson’s Taekwondo and Fitness, 10940 Raven Ridge Rd., #120, Raleigh, NC 27614
- When: 2PM – 4PM, Friday, January 19, 2018
- Cost: IT’S FREE! All are invited!
Beach Ball Keep Alive
Prior to participation, we will need our standard waiver filled out for any participants. It can be found online here, or we’ll have them when you arrive.
Hope to see you! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call, (919)307-KICK (5425) or email, masteramerson@gmail.com.
“Snow Day” Fun!
Young Girl Working on Her Hammerfist
Wake County Public Schools are closed, but we aren’t. That also means kids need to have some fun and use up some energy! Come down from 1PM – 3PM to have some fun with us. We’ll be having mini Taekwondo lessons, playing some indoor games, and generally having fun on the mat. Details:
- What: Open Fun Session with Martial Arts and Games!
- Where: Amerson’s Taekwondo and Fitness, 10940 Raven Ridge Rd., #120, Raleigh, NC 27614
- When: 1PM – 3PM, Friday, January 5, 2018
- Cost: IT’S FREE! All are invited!
Obstacle Course Fun!
Prior to participation, we will need our standard waiver filled out for any participants. It can be found online here, or we’ll have them when you arrive.
Hope to see you! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call, (919)307-KICK (5425) or email, masteramerson@gmail.com.
Top 8 Reasons to Start Taekwondo in Summer
Summer is here, and it’s a great time to start Taekwondo training. We took a few minutes to put together our top reasons.
1. A dobok, the Taekwondo uniform, is long sleeve, so you don’t need to apply sunscreen at all!
It’s also worth noting that our indoor facility protects you from the sun, but let’s not focus on that. If you go to the beach or the pool, you have to goop up with sunscreen. Taekwondo is great fun and exercise without wondering which SPF you need.
2. You can save all the boards you break from now until winter to build a toasty fire.
Some young ladies demonstrating kyukpa.
Taekwondo training includes kyukpa or power breaking. Develop your strength and prove it by breaking sections of pine board.
3. Taekwondo is a great workout. We’ll help you get that swimsuit bod.
Taekwondo class will build core strength, balance, flexibility, and stamina. Every class includes an aerobic warm-up, stretching, core calisthenics, and more exercise in the form of practicing taekwondo technique. We don’t make promises on how soon you’ll get the swimsuit shape you want. That’s up to you and how hard you work!
4. The kids are out of school and you’re tired of them screaming in the house. Good news, yelling is encouraged during Taekwondo class.
A young student shows his kihap.
Physical power in taekwondo is combined with a kihap. Kihap literally means spirit breath. All your energy and focus becomes part of a loud, forceful exhalation.
In other words, kids, I want you to yell as loud as you can when you hit this target.
5. It’s sunny now, but night comes early in the winter. Start training self-defense to protect yourself from bandits, brigands, thieves, and scoundrels!
Self-Defense
We spent a long time on thesaurus.com finding synonyms for this one. Taekwondo can also help you defend against highwaymen, desperados, footpads, crooks, and outlaws.
To illustrate the point, here’s a student defending herself against Master Amerson in full brigand regalia.
6. You know those stories where people punch a shark to save themselves? We teach you how to punch!
Please avoid sharks.
We also strongly recommend that you stay away from shark infested waters. Taekwondo is an amazing martial art that teaches you to kick and punch to defend yourself, but sharks are amazing predators at the top of the underwater food chain. Err on the side of caution.
7. Some fashion guidelines say no white before Memorial Day. We think it’s good year round, but satisfy everyone by getting your white dobok now.
Honestly, it’s not clear where this guideline came from. A white dobok works in winter too.
8. Amerson’s Takewondo has a summer special! Sign up by August 31 and get a free month!
When you sign up between now and August 31, we’ll apply a coupon at checkout making your next month free!
Contact us today to start your martial arts training and take advantage of our free month offer!
Adults and children can train together at Amerson’s Taekwondo
About Those Martial Arts Books…
I’m occasionally asked by a student or friend, “What’s the best book to learn X?” where X is some martial art or skill. There’s a real simple answer.
None of them.
There’s no way to learn a complex martial skill from a book. There’s just too much hidden knowledge, too much subtlety for it to ever boil down perfectly to some words and a series of still images.
That being said, I’ve got dozens of martial arts texts. Here’s a picture of my desk:
The books that currently live on my desk.
That image begs the question, why have them if you can’t learn technique from them? Those books are really good to remind you what you’ve already learned.
It’s really difficult to learn a new form from a book or to master a complex takedown. However, once you’ve seen it from an experienced instructor, once your body knows the motion, the book becomes valuable. Should my hand be on the sleeve or the lapel? Is that a back stance or a tiger stance there? Do I grab over or under my own cane? That’s the time that these books really pay off.
Here are a few of my favorites:
- Taekwondo: Complete WTF Forms by Marc Tedeschi – Easily, hands down, the best reference for WTF forms you will ever find. Each form is presented in tables, summary photos, and then detailed photos. The book also presents applications for some portions of forms. My only criticism is that these applications tend toward the interpretation that blocks are actually blocks and have some very questionable explanations for things like scissor block, half-mountain block,etc.
- Complete Tang Soo Do Vol. 1 by Ho Sik Pak – Not quite as comprehensive at Tedeschi’s book for WTF Taekwondo, this book is a great reference for Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan.
- Modern Arnis: The Filipino Art of Stick Fighting by Remy Presas – This slim little volume is a great reference on the basics of Arnis. It’s wonderful, particularly for early learning, on angles of attack, disarms, and basic sinawali.
- 75 Down Blocks: Refining Karate Technique by Rick Clark – Recommended to me by Master Jason Ladd, this is a great book to introduce people to the ideas of bunkai/bunseok. Rick Clark lays out 75 different ways that a low block could be interpreted. Not all are amazing, but seeing that amount of breadth in what is often the first technique taught to new students is fun.
Of course, everyone has their own list of critical texts. Use the comments to share your own.
All About Arm Locks – January 28
Amerson’s Taekwondo and Fitness is excited to announce that we will be hosting a Brazilian JiuJitsu(BJJ) seminar focused on arm locks on January 28, 2017 from 11AM to 1:30PM.
Professor Geoff Balme of Open Guard BJJ will be joining us to cover all types of arm locks from a variety of positions. We’ll be exploring the arm bar, Kimura, americana, and more from a variety of positions.
Professor Balme is a second degree black belt under Roberto Maia of Bo
ston Brazilian JiuJitsu with twenty-five years of experience. His seminars are dynamic experiences that both introduce material for newer students but dives deep into detail and variations for experienced ones.
During the seminar Professor Balme will cover various locks on the arm from a variety of positions giving attendees tools from guard, mount, and side. A question and answer session at the end of the seminar will provide time to develop tools and after-seminar training for specific scenarios.
This seminar is available to all skill levels and styles. Don’t miss this opportunity to train with one of the most experienced instructors in the area!
This seminar is open to all adult students. Students under 18 years old may be allowed with Master Amerson’s permission and a direct recommendation from their instructor. Prior to the seminar, all attendees will need to sign our liability waiver which can be reviewed here.
Contact us if you have questions, (919)307-KICK(5425) or email masteramerson@gmail.com.
Women’s Self-Defense Seminar
Woman Escapes from Bear Hug
The days get shorter. Cool weather is calling you outside. We’re losing daylight and getting ready for the hectic holiday season. You’re out in the dark shopping or going for a run. How safe do you feel?
In one seminar you can learn skills and techniques to give you an increased sense of security.
Master Dan Amerson is proud to present a women’s self-defense seminar focused on repelling and escaping common attacks. No experience is necessary as we cover how to defend against:
- Bear hugs from behind.
- Front chokes.
- Arm and wrist grabs.
- … and more!
The seminar will also cover practical self-defense techniques using everyday weapons that are already on your person, in your pocket, or in your purse. Yes, loose change or an empty water bottle can be an asset in an altercation. Time will be left at the end for questions from attendees to focus on specific attacks or other areas of concern.
Details
Location: Amerson’s Taekwondo and Fitness, 10940 Raven Ridge Rd., Suite 120, Raleigh, NC 27614
Time: Saturday, November 12, 2016 from 1:00M to 2:30PM and Monday, November 14, 2016 from 8:00PM to 9:30PM
Experience Level: Beginner. No experience necessary.
Age: Teen and up
Cost: Free. Space is limited. Contact Dan Amerson to secure your space.
Contact Info: masteramerson@gmail.com or (919)307-KICK (5425)
Please note. All attendees will be required to fill out our waiver and release of liability prior to participating in the seminar. To review this prior to the seminar, please view it here.
About Master Dan Amerson:
Master Amerson
Master Dan Amerson is a Raleigh native, husband, and father of a 4 year old daughter. Amerson’s Taekwondo was founded in 2014 to bring practical self-defense training to North Raleigh based on his twenty-five years of martial arts experience. He holds a fourth degree black belt in Taekwondo, a first degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, and over a decade of experience in Modern Arnis, a martial art from the Philippines focusing on weapon defense.
Introduction to Brazilian JiuJitsu with Professor Geoff Balme – 10/8/16
Amerson’s Taekwondo and Fitness is excited to announce that we will be hosting an Introduction to Brazilian JiuJitsu(BJJ) seminar on October 8, 2016 from 11AM to 1PM.
Professor Geoff Balme
Professor Geoff Balme of Open Guard BJJ will be joining us to teach an introduction to BJJ with specific focus for Taekwondo practitioners and other stand up fighters. Professor Balme is a second degree black belt under Roberto Maia of Boston Brazilian JiuJitsu with over twenty years of experience.
During the seminar Professor Balme will cover the basics of guard, protection on the ground, and recovery that are relevant to Taekwondo and Karate practitioners looking to improve their defense after a takedown. A question and answer session at the end of the seminar will provide time to develop tools and after-seminar training for specific scenarios.
Don’t miss this opportunity to train with one of the most experienced instructors in the area!
This seminar is open to all adult students. Students under 18 years old may be allowed with Master Amerson’s permission and a direct recommendation from their instructor.
Contact us if you have questions, (919)307-KICK(5425) or email masteramerson@gmail.com.