It's getting close to that time again already.... Belt testing and graduation is coming up at the end of June!  Intent to Test forms will go out in class the first week of June.  Students, make sure you've got all your homework handed in, if you need another copy of April or May homework, it's here on the BOOMBlog:

Belt testing will be done IN CLASS for Li'l Dragons, on the week of June 23rd.  Testing for kids and teens will be done on Saturday, June 29th at 5pm in the Sudden Valley Dance Barn.  Graduation will follow at 7:30.  There will be plenty of seating for graduation, so invite anyone who may like to see you take that next step toward black belt!  

As summer gets here (hopefully!) we look forward to getting outside for those few weeks each year we get to do that around here!  Our first summer, BOOM! did a BBQ and squirtgun fight in Sudden Valley.  It was so much fun, we are definitely gonna do it again this year!  On Saturday, July 13th, location to be announced (that keeps the suspense)!  BOOM! will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, and stuff to go on said hot dogs and burgers.  There will be a sign up sheet for side dishes and beverages; we always seem to have waaaaaaaaaay more than we can eat, but that's the challenge, right? RIGHT!?

Mr Moench

Well, the weather's heating up, and summer is right around the corner!  BOOM! has got some exciting stuff going down over the next little bit, so be sure not to miss out!

Coming up on Saturday, May 11th is Parent's Night Out!  From 6:30 to 11pm at the Bellingham BOOM!  We'll be doing some awesome Jedi Training; Vadering, using the Force, and of course, lightsaber training!  Everybody who attends Parent's Night Out will also be able to construct their own lightsaber!  Don't miss out on this awesome event!  Just $30 for one BOOM! student and a friend (includes food, movie, and all necessary lightsaber components!)

On Friday, May 17th, BOOM! will be in Bellingham's annual Jr Ski 2 Sea parade!  The lineup for the parade starts at 5:00 (although we'll get there earlier, cuz it's fun to stand on the street extra!) on Cornwall Ave, across from Bellingham High School.  The parade starts at 6:00 pm, and lasts about 30 minutes or so, through downtown.  Come join us as we march through the Ham, doing martial arts as we go!  This should be a blast!

Don't forget, BOOM! will be closed for regular classes that day (Friday the 17th) for the parade, as well as Saturday, May 18th (Mr Moench is headed down to Port Orchard!)

Lastly, what you really wanted:  April's COURTESY Homework!!

Hey, BOOM!  just started posting all the homeworks on the website.  For this quarter, that includes the homework for MODESTY, ASSERTIVENESS, and HEALTH & HYGIENE.  Click the links below to download them as a .pdf file; so it should work with whatever!  

Li'l Dragons Homeworks:

Kids Homeworks:

Teens Homeworks:

Don't forget:  belt testing is coming up next week (in class for Li'l Dragons, on Saturday, March 30th for Kids and Teens)!  Train hard, and if you have any questions, please come to an extra class, or have your folks call BOOM! and set up a time for a one-on-one class with Mr Moench!  

Also, don't miss our Tiny Tigers and adult Combat Fitness classes, starting April 8th!

Other stuff:  Buddy Week is the week of April 8th, Spring Break camp Spar Wars is on officially the 1st-5th of April, and don't forget our GRAND OPENING for our new location, Saturday, April 13th from 11am-3pm!  Whew-eee!

Mr Moench

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

Hello everyone

As I'm sure you've heard by now, Mr Rice is longer with BOOM!  I wish him and Mr Schultsmeier all the best as they continue their martial arts instruction in Bellingham.  

As BOOM! moves forward, I just wanted to let those people who were waiting on the Bellingham school to know that it has not been scrapped.  It's just gonna be a little longer.  I'd appreciate any feedback from parents or students about either location.  As things stand now, I am considering a school in Bellingham for classes on Monday, Wednesday, Friday; with the Sudden Valley location holding classes Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  

I also wanted to extend an offer to all current students at BOOM!  Although it's also mentioned in the August newsletter, I do want to add a little something to everyone's martial arts experience here at BOOM!  So, starting immediately, all current students will receive two half-hour private lessons each month!!  Please don't fail to take advantage of this:  private lessons generally run $25 per hour, and we're offering one free hour of private lessons per month!  Of course, the private lessons are on a first come, first served basis, so please contact Mr Moench today to schedule yours!

If you have any questions about BOOM! from here, please don't hesitate to email me at [email protected] or call BOOM! at (360) 303-3334.  Thank you, and keep training hard!!

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