It's about that time again!  Belt testing will be held on Friday, September 28th @ 5:30 for KIDS AND TEENS ONLY!! LI'l Dragons will belt test IN CLASS the week of September 24th, then attend the graduation ceremony, which will begin as soon as the Kids and Teens testing ends on Friday (which should be around 7:00pm or so).  

The Notice of Intent to Test will be handed out in class the first week of September.  They are due back to BOOM! by Friday, September 21st.  These forms need to be filled out by your parents AND teachers (hey, first impressions are important!) and turned in to Mr Moench with the $10 belt fee by the due date...

Classes at the Bellingham location are now up and going!  Students may attend classes at either location, and I want to give a sincere thanks to all of you guys who came out to check out and support the new location yesterday!  

Last up, the official Grand Opening for the Bellingham location will be Saturday, October 6th @ 11am, so BOOM! will be closed for regular classes that day.  During the day, we will be holding seminars and classes for the community.  Current students are more than welcome to attend, stop by and train their own stuff, open-mat style, bring their friends, whatever!!

Between now and the Grand Opening, BOOM! will be running some pre-Grand Opening specials for all new students at BOTH LOCATIONS during the month of September, so now's the perfect time for your friends to come check us out and feel the BOOM!

Mr Moench

Well, now it's official!! Got the place, wrote the checks, got the keys, and the mats and gear (and mirrors!) are on their way!  Bellingham, here comes the BOOM!  Check out the schedule for the class times.  To all current BOOM! students in Sudden Valley:  yes, the schedule will change.  And, no, nobody likes that.  If I could only clone myself...the thought is...terrifying. 

Classes for the Bellingham location will start up on Tuesday, September 4th.  I know, it's not that far off....  Our official grand opening for the Bellingham location won't be until early October, so get in on the pre-Grand Opening Specials NOW!!  

So, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, classes will meet in Sudden Valley, in the Adult Center.  Please note the addition of regular Friday classes, in addition to the schedule change on Wednesday.  Monday classes will stay the same.  All Friday classes will meet in the Adult Center, as indicated on the schedule.  Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, it's Bellingham's turn.  

The schedule will still operate on the A-day, B-day structure, with Monday & Tuesday being A days, Wednesday and Thursday are B days.  Fridays and Saturdays can be used for either A days or B days, depending on what you need to work on/make up. The curriculum will remain the same (more or less...), as will the requirements for each belt level.

Now, here's something we hope you'll all enjoy:  any student can train at either school at any time.  Valley-ites (?), that means that if you find yourself in town on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, feel free to drop in for class!  'Hamsters, feeling adventurous?  Wanna make that drive down Lake Whatcom to Sudden Valley  (It's really only 6 miles from town) on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday?  Come on in to BOOM! in Sudden Valley's Adult Center for those classes!  Questions?  Please call Mr Moench (360) 303-3334 anytime!!  

See you at BOOM! 

Mr Moench

BOOM

In the interest of not using the Sudden Valley facilities longer than we're supposed to, we're gonna make a few changes for belt testing this time around.  Thank you in advance for your understanding.  All students will receive a handout in class today with this information, so here we go:

All belt testing for Kids and Teens will be held Friday, June 29th @ 5:30 in the Dance Barn.  This will be followed immediately by graduation at 7:15.  Belt testing for Li'l Dragons will be done IN CLASS that week  (however, Li'l Dragons classes will be 60 minutes, instead of 40, that week).  

ALL STUDENTS WHO PASS THEIR BELT TESTS CAN ATTEND GRADUATION ON FRIDAY, JUNE 29TH @ 7:30 IN THE DANCE BARN

Last thing:  on Monday, June 25 the Kids class will end @ 5:00, instead of 5:20.  Li'l Dragons will start at 5:00 on that day, to allow more time for testing.

If you or anyone you know has any questions about this or anything else, please contact BOOM ! at 303-3334, or talk to Mr Moench in class.  Again, thanks for everyone's understanding, and get ready for an awesome belt test!  Train hard, give your best, and ALWAYS get better!

Mr Moench

Well, I guess mid-60's is warm for Sudden Valley.  So, BOOM!'s coming to Bellingham soon, and we'll be seen in town a bit more-don't worry, Sudden Valley, we'll still be here for you....

Buuuuuuut, join at the Junior Ski 2 Sea Parade on May 18th @ 6:00pm!  Check here for the official Junior Ski 2 Sea Parade page.  Basically, we'll get together at the parade route, then march down it together!  It should be a blast!  Come on down, wear your uniform or your BOOMShirt and get in on some of this parade!  Awesome!  Any BOOM student who shows up is more than welcome to march with us!  Meet up a little early, though, so we can get a good spot...

Also, summer camp dates are out!  July 16th-27th!  Camp BOOM! is open to ANYBODY in the community, not just current BOOM! students!  You can sign up for one or both weeks of camp.  It's $149 for one week, or $249 for both!  And, just like last year, anyone who completes (survives) both weeks of camp can test for their next belt at the end of the second week! (Getting kicked in the pool is optional, but fun!)

So, sign-up for Camp BOOM! TODAY!  Space is limited, and I mean it!

Mr Moench

As Spring starts to poke its head out (a little), we've got a lot of exciting things coming up as the weather warms!

First off, Spring Break Camp is this week (April 2nd-6th).  Padded weapons fighting is the theme, and it will be AWESOME!  Parents:  The Camp runs from 9am-3pm.  Campers will need their uniform and belt, as well as some comfortable clothes they can move around in.  They'll also need a lunch, snack, and a water bottle.  The drop off schedule for Spring Break Camp is as follows:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday please drop off in the Dance Barn by 9am.  Thursday's drop-off will be in the Adult Center.  

The camp will end at 3:30.  Pickup is sometime between then and the end of their class.  IMPORTANT:  BOOM! will still have regular classes during Spring Break camp, and attendance is still required during this week, even if you're doing Spring Break Camp.  The pickup location will depend on when the students are picked up.  If they are staying for class that day, just pick 'em up from there. 

If they're not staying for class, Monday and Thursday pickup will be at the Adult Center; Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday in the Dance Barn.  Complicated enough?  I'll have a handout for everyone on Monday that should be a little more clear.

Whew!  CampBOOM - our amazing summer camp - is on again this year!  It was so awesome last year that we're doing it again!  July 16th-27th here in Sudden Valley!  See Mr Moench for more details or to register TODAY!!

Which leads me to some REALLY big news:  as some of you may have heard, BOOM! will soon be coming to Bellingham!  That's right, BOOM! Elite Martial Arts will be opening a Bellingham location soon!  Our Sudden Valley location will still be there (don't worry); this is just a great opportunity for us to offer some BOOMtastic awesomeness to families in Bellingham!  Tell your friends and stay tuned for more!

Mr Moench

First of all, big ups to all of those who survived TIP Testing in January.  And when I say survived, I mean it!  It was tough training, especially right after that week off!  I think what impressed me the most was how much everybody stepped up!  People sweated, people cried, people had to try it three or four times, but people DIDN'T GIVE UP.  That's what it's all about, folks.  Persistence.  Sometimes I think that's the only reason I got that black belt: I was just too stubborn to stop....  Again, a shout out to Jake for his honorary black belt for a day!  Well earned, sir!

A couple of things as we stare down the end of winter:  starting February 13th, the Monday Li'l Dragons class will be moved to 5:20, and run till 6:00; this should get us out of there ahead of the yoga class....  Also, parents:  you guys ROCK for coming in and supporting your child as we teach them some BOOMtastic martial arts!  I know it's not always easy, especially if they've got younger brothers or sisters that maybe can't sit through an entire class....  However, the SVCA has let me know that children cannot be unsupervised in the Adult Center (that's why it's the ADULT Center... they barely let us do classes there...), so please, if you have a small child that needs supervision, there is child care available at the Community Center (in the bottom of the Barn).

That's about it!  Padded weapons are on the way!  Sweet!  So, just to be extra mean, we'll do a special padded weapons day sometime in March, just so your kids can really bug you about Spring Break Camp.  You're Welcome!

Mr Moench

Hello, everybody, and welcome to 2012!!  For the new year, we've got some, let's say "exciting announcements"!  First off, for the Kids and Teens class; the Beginning Students (white belt thru purple belt) will be with Mr Rice ALL DAY on A Days, and with Mr Moench ALL DAY on B Days.  Parents, all this really means for you is that the Beginning students will need sparring gear on B Days now.  They don't need any extra gear for the A days this time around.

Intermediate and Advanced Students, it's the other way around.  You're with Mr Moench on A Days, Mr Rice on B Days (that means you guys'll need sparring gear on A Days).  Got all that?  Good!

Don't forget:  BOOM!'s Winter Parent's Night Out is Friday, January 13th, from 6:30 to 11pm in the Dance Barn!  Parents, you can drop off the kids with BOOM! for the evening, and we'll play games, have some food, watch movies, and generally have a BOOMtastic time!  The cost is only $30 for the whole evening, and they can bring a friend for FREE (note:  friend cannot also be a student at BOOM! Sorry)

What else?  Oh, yeah!  Buddy Week is next week, January 9th-12th!  The students can bring their friends into class all week for FREE!  It's gonna be awesome!  We had a presale on Buddy Week this week, and it was sweet! (I don't really know if that's the right term, but we did have some buddies in class this week!  They did great!)

Also, freestyle classes this month on the 7th and the 21st!  Advanced Brown Belts and above:  don't forget about the meeting with Mr Moench and Mr Rice this Friday, the 6th @ 7:30 in the Adult Center!  The requirements for Black Belt will be covered, and we'll talk about opportunities for you guys to get in some extra training as you work towards black!

That's a lot of stuff, but look for more info on our Spring Break camp, April 2nd-6th.  We'll be doing padded weapons sparring, which may be the most fun you can have.  Period.  There'll be a sign up sheet available starting next week.

Lastly, BOOM! will be hosting our first annual kick-a-thon coming up.  Details to follow...

Whew

Mr Moench

Just wanted to let everybody know that BOOM! is gonna be at the Sudden Valley Halloween Carnival!  Come by and say hi!  Students, you can wear your Halloween costume to class on Monday, October 31st!  (There is no TEEN class on Halloween, but you guys weren't gonna come to class on Halloween, were you?)

Also, we'll be closed for Turkey Day Wednesday, November 23rd through Saturday, November 26th!  Enjoy the weekend, and remember:  don't let your loved ones drive after eating all that turkey!  (sorry)

Keep your eyes peeled for dates for our upcoming adult self-defense workshop!  Apparently, we just can't take a hint, but it will be a spectacularly informative workshop, with lots of great self-defense tips, and a lot of Big Ideas about self-defense!

Lastly, anyone who's got some graduation photos, feel free to send 'em to Mr. Moench, or post 'em up on BOOM!'s Facebook page!  Just click the links to either drop me an email, or link to the Facebook page!  Salutations

Mr Moench

Hey everyone, August is gonna be a blast!  Glad summer is finally here! 

Come down to Bloedel-Donovan Park in Bellingham on Saturday, August 6th from 11-3 for KidsFest!  KidsFest is an annual event put on by Parks 'n' Rec of Bellingham!  It's full of games and activities for kids, food, and a whole bunch of fun!  Stop by and say hi to us at the BOOMBooth!

Freestyle classes this month on Saturdays now!  The 13th and the 27th!  Freestyle classes are 11:30am-12:30pm in the Adult Center!  These classes are included in your membership, but you do need your sparring gear!  Join us for this great class, and really take your training up a notch!  BOOM!

Parent's Night Out this month is Friday the 12th, from 6:30-11pm in the Dance Barn!  The theme for this month's Parent's Night Out is "take me out to the ballgame"!  We'll be playing all different kinds of ball games!  Kickball, Warball, Indoor baseball, Karate ball, and much, much more!  Just 30 bucks for one BOOM! student and their friend!  Includes food and a movie!  Don't miss out on all the fun!

Saturday, August 20th is our first ever BOOM! Adult Self-Defense Seminar!  Come learn some great, easily applied, and easy-to-remember self-defense moves!  The seminar starts at 11:30 in the Adult Center, and lasts until about 1:00 or so!  Tell all your friends!

BOOM! is going to be doing a back-to-school safety seminar in early September!  Stay tuned for date and time!  (I know it said September 10th in the newsletter, but that's not gonna work out...)

The week of June 27th (that's the week after Graduation), BOOM! is going to be hosting a special week of classes for everybody!  BOOM! students; bring your friends, these classes are open to everyone in the community! 

That week, we'll be doing a Stranger Safety Week!  With summer upon us, the kids are at home, at mom and dad at work, the kids are going to be out and about with their friends, and less adults around!  Help them learn the skills they need to stay safe this summer!

The classes will held at regularly scheduled times (see the Schedule on the About Us page), and again, are open to the entire community!  Call BOOM! at (360) 303-3334 with any questions about class times or to RSVP for this spectacular week of classes!

Mr Moench