Parks & Rec. Students
There will be no kids class on Thursday, September 11th, 2025. However, the adult class will still be held that night, led by Master Jim (and possibly Master Nathan as well). Thank you, gentlemen!
Note: this schedule change is due to a special event I’ll be attending.
Testing
Testing will take place during the week of September 22nd.
The first part of testing will happen during our regular class times.
The second part of testing will be on Saturday, September 27th:
**EDIT: I’ve changed the this to Kids at 10am and Adults at 12pm.**
Adults: 10:00am to 11:00/11:30am
Kids: 12:00pm to 1:00/1:30pm
**EDIT: I’ve changed the this to Kids at 10am and Adults at 12pm.**
This time, our weapons class will also be doing a short demo between the adult and kids testing sessions! We’ve been working hard on the weapons curriculum, and this demo will serve as a kind of “mock test” for the students in that program.
More details on testing will be shared as we get closer.
Ego vs. Wisdom
After a recent adult class at Parks & Rec., I had a quick discussion with some students that I thought was worth sharing. This is mostly directed at adults and teens, but kids can learn from it too.
The topic was: How should we handle pain and injuries during training?
To clarify, I don’t mean the normal soreness or fatigue that comes from a tough workout. That’s where the saying “No pain, no gain” applies. Instead, I’m talking about real injuries or physical limitations where pushing through can make things worse and potentially prevent you from training altogether.
I’ve been dealing with this myself: about a month ago, I pulled my right hamstring and glute and am still in the PT/healing phase. Mandy of our adult students also train with injuries or long-term physical challenges.
Here’s the key point:
Ego says: “Push through the pain. Don’t quit.”
Wisdom says: “Adjust. Train smart. Protect your body so you can keep training tomorrow.”
If something hurts because of an injury, don’t force it. Slow down, modify the drill, or switch to something different. You’re still training, even if it looks different than what others are doing. Remember: “The only bad workout is the one you didn’t do.”
Sometimes people confuse being “tough” with pushing recklessly through injuries, but real toughness is making the smart choice to protect your body and keep training long-term. If you truly need rest, take it. A short break is better than being sidelined for months.
Many students at Parks & Rec., including Master Jim, Bill, Roland, and Sarah, are great examples of this. They’ve all adjusted their training due to injuries, yet they continue to show up, work hard, and make wise choices.
So if you ever need to slow down or modify your training, do it. You don’t need to wait for me or another instructor to tell you. You are responsible for your own training, so be honest with yourself, care about the quality of your practice, and make smart decisions.
That said, it’s always a good idea to let me or another instructor or master know about any new or ongoing injuries or limitations so we can support you.
Looking Ahead
If you liked this little piece of knowledge, I can start including more of these insights in future newsletters, and maybe even in blog posts. In fact, I might be able to get some of our more experienced students, black belts, and masters to share their own experiences and lessons as well.
