Mind Over Matter Karate School
34 Doncaster Ave, Unit 6 L3T 4S1 Markham, ON, Canada

Awesome job, so who’s next ?

Who’s next? Who is brave enough for this challenge? Watch Sensei's holiday message in the previous post.

Happy holidays and wishing you all a great start to the New Year. Sensei has issued a challenge! Post your video in the comment section or send us a message. Stay safe, have fun and train hard.

Did you know that online classes for the next season of training start tomorrow? Check your email or contact us here to register. Hope to see you online so we can continue growing our minds, bodies and spirits together. Leave a comment below to share something awesome you learned from any of your instructors at karate

We've been focusing on optimizing your hip movement for better power, speed and technique for the last 4 Saturdays. Watch this video from Team Ki and keep practicing because when you improve fundamentals, your whole game gets exponentially better. See you online at 1 pm!

5 things to do before you next online #Karate class

It was awesome to be back in-person again with all the protocols in place. As of today, we are back online due to York Region's move back to Stage 2. Students and families, check your email for details! Class starts at 1:00 p.m.!

We are carefully monitoring and following Ontario and York Region guidelines for gyms and other businesses. We remain open. Since reopening, we've had strict safety protocols so thank you all for following them! As a reminder: - Before you come: Parents of students under 18 years old and any student 18 years of age or older must complete our online self-screening check before coming to class every Saturday. You may not enter without passing this online screening test. If y...ou do not pass the screening test, do not come to karate. You also need your face covering. - Arrival: Arrive 10 minutes early in your Gi/training attire and face covering to minimize use of changing rooms. Form a line outside while staying 2 meters apart, or stay in your car and come out one at a time. We will perform the non-contact infrared temperature check as you come in. Use the hand sanitizer as you enter the dojo. - Training: Stay 2 meters apart & keep your face covering on. There will be no contact. - Departure: We will form a line (2 meters apart), and exit in orderly fashion to minimize contact. Use the sanitizer upon exiting. Then the next class, the advanced class, will come in. - Cleaning: We will be disinfecting surfaces such as door handles between each class.

In case you haven't checked your email: We'll be at our new location as of today at 1:00 pm. Before coming please review and follow all of our protocols and procedures to ensure it is a safe an enjoyable experience for all. Protocols are listed in the email and in the comment section below. See you soon!... We are also offering Wednesday evening classes online. https://goo.gl/maps/98yHuMAC7EJodJbC8

As you know we're hosting a free physical distanced meet-up to catch up and train at our regular location at 1:30pm (outdoor, on the soccer field side of the building). We'll stay warm by keeping active, but it's a little chilly so dress accordingly. Note: You must screen for COVID-19 before going to karate. Answer the following questions to help you decide if you should or should not go today. You can fill this out on behalf of a student too. https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/

30 years later, still punching. Next time, can someone take the photo when the board is breaking? Is that too much to ask?

We worked on kicks from the side stance today and last week. Check out Bill "Superfoot" Wallace who made this style popular in Karate. Let us know what your favourite kick is!

Check out Senpai David, stood in the same spot ~20 years later! If you are persistent you will get it. If you are consistent you will keep it. Anonymous Which one will you be?... Post YOUR "then and now" pictures as a new white belt and where you are today in the comment section below! We want to celebrate your journey too!

Karate begins and ends with respect This includes respect to others and your own self-esteem. Watch this video for a great lesson on the power of self-esteem and how to build it with self-talk and self-image. What's an example of your own positive/helpful self-talk?

Study today's video about the history of modern Karate! "Learn about the Okinawan master who modernized Japanese Karate. By creating the five Pinan / Heian kata and introducing Karate to the prefectural school system in Okinawa, this master paved the way for traditional Karate to be practiced in the Western world. ... Without this sensei, Okinawa's martial art might not exist in mainland Japan. His most famous students included Funakoshi Gichin (Shotokan), Mabuni Kenwa (Shito-ryu), Chibana Choshin (Shorin-ryu) and Motobu Choki. The practical applications of kata (bunkai) along with Kobudo (weapons) were unfortunately lost in this transition from Tode (Chinese Hand), but at least the art didn't die out. If it wasn't for this grandmaster, most of us probably wouldn't be practicing Karate today." -Jesse Enkamp

If you registered for our summer online classes that start today, check your email because we sent you the Zoom links this morning. There's still time to register. Send us a message or email if you're interested! We've got the meditation and leadership class at 12:30, the beginner class at 1, and the advanced class at 1:45!

"Running water never gets stale" - Bruce Lee Today was our last online class of this season, but you should sign up for the online summer season if you check our latest email called: "Checking in". It starts on Saturday, June 27 and runs until September 12, 2020 online. Watch Bruce Lee's interview from about 50 years ago that we discussed during today's leadership lesson!

Reminder to our community in light of the black lives matter movement: If you accept that karate-do is about working towards perfection of mind, body, spirit and character, then we must also do the work of anti-racism within ourselves. Anti-racism includes beliefs, actions, movements, and policies adopted or developed to oppose racism. See link in comments for access to resources for continued learning and action.

During our meditation and leadership talk this afternoon, we watched half this video and discuss its many applications to life and martial arts. Watch and study for amazing inspiration from Rick Rigsby!

The sun shining, the rain stopped falling and we're going live with our students on Zoom! Happy long weekend if you're local. Students, start your afternoon with us starting at 12:30 pm on Zoom (check your email). If you want to try one of our classes for the first time, send us a message as we're also offering private online classes for beginners!

Home workout after our karate training. Follow along! Thanks to HASfit!

Today's 12:30 p.m. leadership and motivational series is on mindset and our duty to care for one another during the coronavirus pandemic. See you then and at 1 p.m. for training.

Dear students, our free leadership and motivational series starts TODAY at 12:30 p.m. Check your email for the Zoom link! Tune in with your family. We're going to watch this video of the "Eagle and the Chickens" and unpack the inspirational lessons : https://youtu.be/yYZ3GvnsaII Then at 1 p.m., senpai Alex will take us through some sparring combinations. Then, we'll dig deeper in those sparring combinations with the advanced class at 1:45 p.m.... See you soon!

Current students: 1. See you online for training at 1pm! 2. Would you be interested in a free 30 minute leadership and motvation class to build your mind, spirit and character from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., every Saturday on Zoom during the pandemic?

Happy Easter everyone! Stay safe and have fun. As you know Classes are now on Zoom every Saturday and myself, David and Alex are doing the best we can to make them fun and motivating to encourage you to train at home. If you have any comments as to how we can make them better or you would like to see something different please comment below or message me.... Take care Sensei See more

Happy Easter long weekend! See you online in under 10 minutes!

Hey students! Grab your gi or put on your sports clothes. We're going live on Zoom in 30 minutes with Senpai Alex.

Here's senpai David. He's challenging all of you to 100x "push-up to beasts" (like a push up, then a loaded child's pose - check YouTube). Start with 10, then see where it takes you. Do as many as you can! Post your video in the comment section below.

In an effort to keep people safe, well and strong at home, we've started to work with our students online thanks to video technology. We are grateful for these opportunities amidst the #pandemic, #socialdistancing and #covid19. Who else is using these technologies to keep classes going and your communities connected?

Great news for all our students! We have just posted a YouTube series with our white belt (8th Kyu) techniques. Please watch, study, and let us know if you have any feedback because we will be posting for yellow belt and up in the future. Don't forget that white belt techniques are everyone's techniques... Even black belts practice them again and again. A student well versed in even one technique will naturally see corresponding points in other techniques. A upper level ...punch, a lower punch, a front punch and a reverse punch are all essentially the same. Looking over thirty-odd kata, he should be able to see that they are essentially variations on just a handful. -- Gichin Funakoshi See more

Hey Students! We hope you are healthy. This is an uncertain time, but we can still practice together online to take care of our minds, bodies, and spirits. Please JOIN our FREE live online classes on Saturdays during the pandemic: 1. Leadership and Motivation series at 12:30 pm 2. Beginning karate class from 1:00 pm to 1:35 pm... 3. Advanced karate class at 1:45 pm as well. All you need is a computer, smartphone or tablet to hear, see and train along with us. You don't need a lot of space, just enough to so you can kick, punch and lie down on the spot safely. HOW to join? At 12:30 pm, join the Zoom meeting. We sent you all three links by EMAIL. Send us a message if you can't find the email. Need help? Click here to watch a video to learn how to join a meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch Let us know if you have any questions or if you will be joining us, Sensei Neil and Team

White belt tutorial videos coming soon to a YouTube channel near you. Soon you'll be able to train from home without the fear of forgetting any techniques. P.S. did you know Sensei is an award-winning film director?

No Karate this Saturday. Our school permits have been put on hold until at least April 5 due to COVID-19 precautions. You will not be charged for these classes. We will extend the season to accommodate. But you know what's not on hold? Practicing and studying Karate from home! If you don't practice, you'll become very rusty.... Don't forget we have a Youtube playlist of common techniques we use during warm-ups: https://www.youtube.com/watch We also recommend watching this interview with Hanshi Sensei Patrick McCarthy, Karate Historian, to learn about the history of our art: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZu17t0lBMo We'll be in touch with more information as we receive it. In the meantime, practice and take care Sensei Neil and team

Heads up! Even though it's a long weekend we're still training on February 15th. See you there! It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop - Confucius Train hard and have fun!

The karate that has been introduced to Tokyo is actually just a part of the whole. The fact that those who have learnt karate there feel it only consists of kicks & punches, and that throws & locks are only to be found in judo or jujutsu, can only be put down to a lack of understanding [] Those who are thinking of the future of karate should have an open mind and strive to study the complete art. - Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952, one of the first to teach karate in mainland Japan... Here's a shot from our grappling focused class this weekend! Develop the confidence to protect yourself no matter if you're standing, kneeling or on the ground with a well-rounded martial arts school! http://mindovermatterkarate.com/

DIFFERENT LOCATION THIS SATURDAY We will be at this location at 1 pm in the gymnasium: École élémentaire Paul-Demers... 100 Ravel Road (near Finch/Leslie) North York, ON M2H 1S9 We will be back at our regular location after that. Train hard and see you at 100 Ravel Road this Saturday!

Please give yourself extra time to travel to karate today due to the snow storm. Wear layers and be extra vigilant and careful. But when you get here, don't worry because we'll jump into our routine and get warm very quickly!

Take a look at Rika Usami's Kata during the 21st WKF World Karate Championships in Paris 2012. What's your favourite part of her technique? What can you learn from her? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiiznDpoapQ

Hope you're getting nice and limber because the first class after the holiday break is TODAY. See you soon!

Getting those dynamic stretches in before a special holiday training seminar. Wishing everyone a happy holiday season! See you in the new year! Train hard.