What are your holiday traditions in the martial arts?

[ShoriKid]

Do you have a dojo/training hall holiday party? Do you take time off, train extra during the holidays? Meetings, dinners or gathering of instructors?

For our tiny band it is a tradition of a few nights of "shugyo" training. Not in a typically traditional sense I suppose. We train a good bit harder for those nights. More reps of techniques, very intense cardo/drilling and more rounds of more intense sparring and grappling. These are done the last two nights before the Christmas break. I've carried that tradition forward since taking over as head instructor at our small dojo. We've had years where the build up was enough that any two of us in a room together a week before the training were giddy in anticipation. Tonight we finished up with a few dents and dings for the adults. The kids who made it to class tonight after school dismissed early got tiny stockings with a few pieces of candy and a belt tab/key chain that matched their rank.

So, what do you do this time of year? This time of celebration and reflection for many. Does it lead to something special in your training?

[Nidan Melbourne]

Our last class for the year is always an interesting one.

Our juniors we have some small competitions; best push ups, best shiko dachi, quick draw mcgraw (fastest punch), and the best one best roundhouse kick. we had one student who one 4 years straight but can't compete anymore because she is now a black belt.

after all the competitions we present 3 awards to students who were displaying excellence in the dojo. 2 awards for white belts (1 for boys and 1 for girls) and the other is called the Linnett Family CANI award (i can't remember the full name for it unfortunately) which can be presented to any junior student for being an outstanding student throughout the year. Not only in the Dojo but also out in the public. Once they are done we have some food (usually pizza, lollies and cordial). When the kids go and eat (or drink) them they go insane from all the sugar.

our adults we train like usual but not as hard, and then we get changed (and shower) so we can go out to dinner.

considering I live in Melbourne (and our weather is notorious for having 4 seasons in one day) we had 31 degree Celsius (87.8 Degrees Fahrenheit) weather so it made for a sweaty class (even more so than usual).

With that weather it was rather warm for the juniors breakup where we had close to 50-60 students in the one room. and 25 adults for class

[ShoriKid]

That sounds really cool. I like the student competitions and recognition. Our students were already crazy after the early dismissal from school yesterday. Something about them knowing they don't have to go back to school makes them nuts. That and a few parties at school with all the candy and goodies they could possibly hold...

[Lupin1]

Last night was actually our last class of the year as we close for the week and a half of school vacation. In past years we've had special relay races or a kata competition and the class before Christmas also seemed to be the traditional night for all the white belts to get promoted to their next belt (since we usually start a new group of white belts towards the end of September, they're usually ready right around now) but this year they all picked everything up ridiculously fast and got promoted a few weeks ago. We also usually give out candy canes or something as they go out the door, but no one did that this year, either. So this year it was really just a normal class.

We don't usually do anything special for the adults. Some people usually get the instructor a present. I sadly forgot that this year, as well (it just came up so fast. I don't think I even realized until half way through class that it was the last one). The kids' class instructor got me a few of the others movie passes as a thank you for helping out which was awesome and unexpected, but that's it.

I really should start pushing for more unique traditions. I think seasonal traditions are very important for kids and adults alike. They give a structure and a framework to the year and make the time cycle more tangible, which is a very human need and something that's slowly fading away.

[mal103]

I try to chuck in some fun this time of year, we've recently had a grading so most are happy to start learning their new Kata etc.

Got my last one on Monday, then a special 2 hour session on sunday 29th at Westbury, then another gap until new year.

I'm also working inbetween xmas and NY, have just found out the gym is staying open so will have an extra long lunchtime session in the studio and Kata...

[sensei8]

Great topic, and a great topic to end the year with!!

Do you have a dojo/training hall holiday party?

At both my dojo and at the Shindokan Hombu, we'll have a party to celebrate the year that's ending and a year that's beginning. So that I can be at both celebrations, my dojo will have its party tomorrow, Saturday, and at our Hombu, its party will be next Saturday.

Do you take time off, train extra during the holidays?

The week of Christmas as well as the week of New Year, I do take the two weeks off. Yes, my dojo's still open, and so is the Hombu.

I don't do any other type of special/extra training, other than my normal training, but on that, I do nothing MA wise on Christmas day and New Year day because family is more important to me than the MA will ever be.

Meetings, dinners or gathering of instructors?

Nothing official. This Sunday, I'll be taking my instructor staff to dinner, but nothing will be official. They deserve it, and it's important to all of us. I will not conduct any official meetings and the like while I'm at the Hombu, and everyone there knows that that is a big no-no with me during these holidays. Other things are more important than meetings!! Don't want them, and I don't need them, and I don't want to see them happening.

[CredoTe]

We've thought about having some sort of party or get together in the dojo for the holidays, but we don't really have the resources right now. We did have our annual "karate banquet" back in October, though.

Maybe next year we'll be able to do something special. In meantime, it'll be business-as-usual except on Christmas Day and New Year's (closed).

[Harkon72]

My Sensei, my Sempai and myself just had a Kata Party; I learnt Jorukeno Kata and Becky was taught Sepai Kata. We relaxed and had a good Laugh.

[DWx]

Last week before Christmas we always have team competitions. Depending on the size of the class we split off into 2 - 4 teams and then compete in forms, sparring, relay races, basketball and other stuff like push up challenges, who can hold a side kick the longest etc. Always have a kids party and the adults have a meal out. Then also have annual awards for different things.

[wagnerk]

For us, we have a whole association Christmas party (or you can call it Winter Celebration party if you don't celebrate Christmas) the last Saturday before Christmas day (this is for everyone), the adults have a dinner out together for when we can get reservations to whichever restaurant we decide on (the date is normally flexible). We have a break after the Christmas party and restart normal training the first Thursday of the new year