EVENTS

 

PAST ACADEMY ACTIVITIES:

ARE YOU WONDERING WHAT TYPES OF EVENTS DRAGON KIDO SPONSORS?  HERE'S A SAMPLING OF ACTIVITIES FROM PRIOR YEARS:

WARRIOR GAMES OPEN HOUSE--APRIL 2019

THE PUBLIC WAS INVITED TO TEST THEIR SKILLS AT DRAGON KIDO'S WARRIOR GAMES OPEN HOUSE, WHICH FEATURED LOTS OF FREE FAMILY FUN:

• MARTIAL ARTS DRILLS

• CHALLENGING FITNESS STATIONS

• NEAT PRIZES

• DELICIOUS REFRESHMENTS

• DETAILS ABOUT OUR AFFORDABLE PROGRAMS
  

ALL AGES WERE WELCOME TO ATTEND!

WOOHOO WEDNESDAYS--MAY, JUNE, JULY 2019

FROM 5/1-7/31, MEMBERS OF DRAGON KIDO BROUGHT THEIR "CAN DO ATTITUDES" TO WEDNESDAY CLASSES BECAUSE OUR CERTIFIED MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTOR, SAMANTHA, WAS PUSHING THINGS TO THE LIMIT!

HER TRAINING SEQUENCES INCLUDED EQUIPMENT-BASED SPEED, TIMING, BALANCE, ENDURANCE AND AGILITY DRILLS, AND MUCH MORE.  BY THE END OF THE SUMMER, DRAGON KIDO'S STUDENTS BECAME STRONGER & FASTER, INCREASED THEIR STAMINA, AND HAD LOTS OF LAUGHS IN THE PROCESS.  WOOHOO!

WILLARD'S GYM CLASS WEEK AND FUN FAIR--MAY 2019

DRAGON KIDO SPONSORED MARTIAL ARTS GYM CLASS WEEK AT WILLARD ELEMENTARY FROM MAY 6TH THROUGH THE 10TH. DKAMA's INSTRUCTORS PROVIDED MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING TO ALL THE STUDENTS, FROM K-6TH GRADE.  THE KIDS LEARNED SOME BASIC KICKING, STRIKING, AND BLOCKING TECHNIQUES, AS WELL AS A FEW KEY KOREAN PHRASES.  THE MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES WERE BOTH EXCITING & LOUD!  THANK YOU PRINCIPAL COVARRUBIAS AND MS. PLACH FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY.

DRAGON KIDO AMA ALSO PARTICIPATED IN WILLARD'S END-OF-THE-YEAR FUN FAIR.  ATTENDEES SPUN OUR RAFFLE WHEEL AND WON UNIQUE ASIAN PRIZES, IN ADDITION TO RECEIVING COUPONS FOR $10 OFF SUMMER ENROLLMENT.  NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO COME VISIT OUR ACADEMY AND SIGN UP FOR FUN PROGRAMS AT DRAGON KIDO!

WONG'S WARRIORS DEMO TEAM/SEASON 1--MAY TO OCTOBER 2019

A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO THE YOUTH MEMBERS OF OUR NEW WONG'S WARRIORS DEMO TEAM: 

• LEVI
• WILLOW
• LUKA
• JAXON
• NOAH 

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT--WONG'S WARRIORS DEMO TEAM'S PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE FILLED UP QUICKLY FOR THE SUMMER AND BEYOND! 

OUR TEAM MADE THEIR INITIAL APPEARANCE AT WILLARD'S FUN FAIR ON MAY 17TH, AND HEADLINED AT THESE LOCAL ACTIVITIES THROUGH OCTOBER:  

• 7/4        SOUTH ELGIN'S FOURTH OF JULY PARADE,
• 7/7        YOUTH & TEEN KIMUDO COLOR BELT TESTS, 
• 7/28      STARS & STRIPES FORMS TOURNAMENT,
• 8/6        SOUTH ELGIN'S NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, &
• 10/19    BLACK BELT PRETEST/AWARDS CEREMONY.

WE ALSO HOSTED TEAM-BUILDING OUTINGS EACH MONTH:  BLOWING BUBBLES AT THE CHURCH'S OUTDOOR  PAVILION; COMPETING IN SACK RACES AT MEIER PARK; EXPLORING THE NATURAL PLAYGROUND AT SEBA PARK; PLAYING FIELD BALL GAMES AT HANSEN PARK, AND TAKING AN EVENING TREK TO THE DRAGON'S DEN.  WE APPRECIATE CAPTAIN SAMANTHA'S DEDICATION TO OUR TEAM.

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NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, WONG'S WARRIORS DEMO TEAM HAD AN EXCITING FIRST SEASON!

CAN YOU GUESS WHERE'S WONG'S WARRIORS DEMO TEAM?

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OUR YOUTH ACADEMY DEMO TEAM'S FINAL SEASON INCLUDED SYNCHRONIZED DOUBLE KALI STICK TRAINING & PERFORMANCES.

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INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE & ICE CREAM SOCIAL--JULY 2019

D-K-A-M-A DRAGON KIDO HIYAH! 

THANKS TO ALL THE COMMITTED STUDENTS & THEIR FAMILIES FOR REPRESENTING OUR ACADEMY AT SOUTH ELGIN'S 4TH OF JULY PARADE.  WONG'S WARRIORS YOUTH DEMO TEAM WAS FEATURED AT THIS COMMUNITY EVENT AND DID A PHENOMENAL JOB!

FOLLOWING OUR PERFORMANCE, WE HEADED OVER TO GRANDMASTER HUTSON'S TO MAKE OUR OWN ICE CREAM CREATIONS, PLAY LADDER BALL & BEAN BAG TOSS, AND DOUSE EACH OTHER WITH WATER BALLOONS!   

 ***HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!***

WONG'S WARRIORS SUMMER FIELD TRIP--JULY 2019

THE KIDS AT DRAGON KIDO ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF OUR ACADEMY. 

WONG'S WARRIORS WENT ON A YOUTH OUTING TO HANSEN PARK AT THE END OF JULY.  OUR GROUP PLAYED GAMES WITH JUMBO BALLS, TOSSED TORPEDO FOOTBALLS, FLUNG FRISBEES, CLIMBED AROUND IN THE PLAYGROUND & SHARED A PICNIC LUNCH.

THIS TIME, EVEN PARENTS & SIBLINGS JOINED IN!

TEEN FLING--JULY 2019

TEEN MEMBERS OF DRAGON KIDO AMA LIKE HANGING OUT TOGETHER--

IN FACT, THEY WENT AS A GROUP TO THE RETROCADE ARCADE IN WEST DUNDEE FOR HOURS OF GAMING FUN!  IN BETWEEN, THEY STOPPED FOR A QUICK BITE TO EAT AT VAN'S, FOLLOWED BY ICE CREAM TREATS AT DAIRY QUEEN.

THANK YOU GRANDMASTER HUTSON FOR MAKING THIS EPIC SUMMER ADVENTURE POSSIBLE!

STARS & STRIPES KIMUDO FORMS TOURNAMENT--JULY 2019

DRAGON KIDO AMA's STARS & STRIPES KIMUDO FORMS TOURNAMENT TOOK PLACE ON SUNDAY, JULY 28, FROM 2-4 PM.   1ST, 2ND, & 3RD PLACE TROPHIES WERE AWARDED TO THE BRAVE COMPETITORS IN EACH DIVISION. 

WONG'S WARRIORS MARTIAL ARTS DEMO TEAM KICKED OFF THE AFTERNOON BY PERFORMING A FLAWLESS RENDITION OF THEIR SOUTH ROUTINE. AFTER THE TOURNEY COMPETITION, THE BLACK BELT WEAPONS SHOWCASE FEATURED THE KATANA, TONFA, AND BO.   

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE FRIENDS & FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HELPED MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT--AUGUST 2019

DRAGON KIDO AMA PARTNERED WITH THE VILLAGE OF SOUTH ELGIN TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.  OUR SCHOOL WAS A SPONSOR OF THE EVENT & PARTICIPATED IN THE BUSINESS EXPO, ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT MARTIAL ARTS & DISTRIBUTING HUNDREDS OF GIVEAWAYS TO AREA RESIDENTS WHO GAVE OUR LARGE PRIZE WHEEL A SPIN.

OUR ACADEMY WAS ALSO PART OF THE SHOW.  DRAGON KIDO'S PERFORMANCE AT THE SECONDARY STAGE INCLUDED A WICKED FAST BO STAFF WEAPONS EXHIBITION, FOLLOWED BY SOME SELF-DEFENSE TECHNIQUES. 

WE SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST AND ENDED WITH AN IMPRESSIVE SYNCHRONIZED MARTIAL ARTS ROUTINE BY OUR YOUTH DEMO TEAM. 

WONG'S WARRIORS YOUTH MARTIAL ARTS DEMO TEAM RULES!

#DragonKidoCares--AUGUST TO NOVEMBER 2019

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER, FOR ALL THOSE WHO FOUND A DRAGON KIDO CHARACTER CONCEPT ROCK!  OUR ACADEMY IS PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE . . . ONE LUCKY PERSON AT A TIME. 

PARTICIPANTS WERE ADVISED TO KEEP IT FOR A WEEK OR SO, AND MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO DO WHATEVER THEIR PARTICULAR MESSAGE SAID--DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP, SHOW KINDNESS, BE COURAGEOUS, ETC.  AFTERWARDS, THEY WERE INVITED TO SPREAD SOME HAPPINESS BY PLACING THEIR PAINTED ROCK IN PLAIN SIGHT OUTDOORS AT A PARK, PLAYGROUND OR FOREST PRESERVE FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO FIND!

DRAGON KIDO TRACKED THE JOURNEYS OF OUR UNIQUE CHARACTER CONCEPT ROCKS VIA EMAIL. OUR ACADEMY RECEIVED REPORTS THAT THE FOLLOWING COLORFUL TREASURES WERE CIRCULATING AROUND THROUGH TOWN:  DEPENDABILITY--BLACKHAWK PARK; RESPECT--SOUTH ELGIN'S VILLAGE HALL; LEADERSHIP--SEBA PARK; HUMOR--WILLARD ELEMENTARY'S PLAYGROUND; CREATIVITY--GAIL BORDEN LIBRARY'S RAKOW BRANCH; AND COOPERATION--HAWTHORNE HILL NATURE CENTER!

THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF OUR ACADEMY'S MISSION TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

AUTUMN WEAPONS CLINIC--SEPTEMBER 2019

DRAGON KIDO'S AUTUMN WEAPONS CLINIC FEATURED THE BO. GRANDMASTER HUTSON TAUGHT STUDENTS PROPER HANDLING, WEAPONS MANIPULATION AND PRACTICAL DRILLS.  BASIC STAFF FIGHTING TECHNIQUES WERE ALSO COVERED DURING THIS MARTIAL ARTS WEAPONS TRAINING SESSION. 

SATURDAYS 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

FOUR WEEK SESSION

SEPTEMBER 7-28

AGES 11 YEARS & UP

NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE NECESSARY

CHINESE AND JAPANESE STAFFS WERE AVAILABLE FOR CLASS USE OR COULD BE PURCHASED FROM OUR PRO SHOP FOR A NOMINAL FEE.   FUTURE WEAPONS CLINIC DATES TBA.   

BLACK BELT PRETEST--OCTOBER 2019

DRAGON KIDO AMA RECENTLY PUT FOUR BLACK BELT CANDIDATES THROUGH THE PACES AT AN ADVANCED ACADEMY PRETEST.  SAMANTHA WAS PROMOTED TO A 4TH DEGREE JUNIOR MASTER, WHILE MATTHEW COMPLETED THE FIRST STAGE OF MOVING TOWARD A 2ND DAN, AND VICTORIA & JENNA TOOK THE INITIAL STEPS TO BECOME FIRST DEGREES! 

THE RIGOROUS BLACK BELT EXAMINATION WAS FOLLOWED BY AN ACADEMY AWARDS CEREMONY, AS WELL AS COMPLIMENTARY REFRESHMENTS FOR GRANDMASTER CRAIG HUTSON'S BIRTHDAY.  WONG'S WARRIORS YOUTH DEMO TEAM ALSO PERFORMED AT THIS SPECIAL EVENT AND EARNED THEIR SWAT PATCHES. 

DRAGON KIDO VALUES THE PARTICIPATION OF ALL THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT JOINED US ON THIS IMPORTANT DATE FOR A PREVIEW OF THE BLACK BELT ADVANCEMENT PROCESS AND OUR ACADEMY'S CELEBRATION. 

NEW COLOR BELTS--OCTOBER 2019

LET'S HEAR IT FOR AMIYA & MIA, OUR NEWEST COLOR BELTS!  BOTH GIRLS ARE PROGRESSING AT A GOOD PACE AND PASSED THEIR FIRST RANK PROMOTION TEST TO EARN THEIR YELLOW WITH BLACK STRIPE BELTS. 

AS THE MOST RECENT ADDITIONS TO DRAGON KIDO'S WONG'S WARRIORS YOUTH KIMUDO CLASS, THEY HAVE OFFICIALLY STARTED THEIR JOURNEY TO BECOME BLACK BELTS. 

GRANDMASTER CRAIG HUTSON AND JUNIOR MASTER SAMANTHA HARVILLE COMMEND THEM ON THEIR STELLAR EFFORTS!

FALL FAMILY DAY--NOVEMBER 2019

ON NOVEMBER 16TH FOR FALL FAMILY DAY, EACH STUDENT IN OUR WONG'S WARRIORS MARTIAL ARTS CLASS INVITED A PARENT PARTNER ONTO THE MAT FOR SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOCUSING ON COOPERATION & TEAMWORK, FOLLOWED BY COOKIES & CHOCOLATE MILK.   ALL THE PARENT/CHILD PAIRS DID VERY WELL WITH THE HEAVY BAG DRILLS AND FITNESS EXERCISES, WHILE THE RELAY RACES AND HUMAN TARGET PRACTICE WERE HILARIOUS!  TAKE A PEEK AT THE PHOTO OF OUR CREW BY ACCESSING THE WORDS OF WISDOM BLOG POST #2 UNDER THE MISSION TAB OF OUR WEBSITE.

TURKEY TRIALS--NOVEMBER 2019

THE NEXT WEEK, DURING THE TEEN/ADULT KIMUDO CLASS, STUDENTS AND THEIR BUDDIES COMPETED IN DKAMA's TURKEY TRIALS, FOCUSING ON HIIT STATIONS & MARTIAL ARTS DRILLS.

THE HANGING BAG, BATTLE ROPE, FIRING SQUAD ACTIVITY & CRASH PAD DIVE ROLLS WERE DEFINITELY A HIT!  AFTER WORKING UP A SWEAT, THE ENERGETIC GROUP KICKED BACK TO ENJOY DONUTS & CARAMEL APPLES. 

OUR THANKS GO OUT TO JUNIOR MASTER SAMANTHA FOR CREATING CLASSES THAT WERE BOTH FUN AND CHALLENGING.  EVERY GUEST IS WELCOME BACK TO OUR ACADEMY--BECOME A MEMBER OF DRAGON KIDO AMA & TRAIN WITH YOUR FRIENDS ALL THE TIME!

YEAR-END PROMOTIONS--DECEMBER 2019

EXAM PAPERS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS IN OUR JUDO AND BUSHIDO PROGRAMS FOR YEAR-END PROMOTIONS.

OUR JUDOKAS WERE TESTED ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20TH.

A CHALLENGING TWO-DAY EXAMINATION WAS ADMINISTERED TO MEMBERS OF DRAGON KIDO'S BUSHIDO WEAPONRY PROGRAM ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14TH AND 21ST.  THESE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY TRAINING FOR 4 YEARS TO EARN THEIR BLACK BELTS IN A SERIES OF BUSHIDO WEAPONS, INCLUDING KALI STICKS, THE BO, BOKKEN, TONFA, NUNCHAKU, SAI, KAMA AND KATANA.  PROFICIENCY DRILLS, WEAPONS FORMS, ADVANCED MANIPULATION TECHNIQUES & ACTUAL COMBAT--BOTH WEAPON-TO-WEAPON & WEAPON-TO-OPEN HAND FIGHTING--WAS DEMONSTRATED IN FRONT OF THE MASTERS' BLACK BELT BOARD.

CONGRATULATIONS JUDO & BUSHIDO CANDIDATES!

IN 2020, DKAMA HOSTED MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE MATINEES, SOLIDARITY SUNDAY'S SUMMER WORKOUT & AWARDS CEREMONY, COLOR BELT TESTING & PROMOTIONS, BLACK BELT PRETESTING & ADVANCEMENTS AND OUTDOOR RUCKING CHALLENGES--

A GROUP OF EAGER CHILDREN & ADULTS FROM DRAGON KIDO PARTICIPATED IN A SPECIAL FALL FITNESS WALK AT FITCHIE CREEK FOREST PRESERVE IN ELGIN.  AS RUCKING NOVICES, MOST STUDENTS STARTED OUT CONSERVATIVELY BY WEARING BACKPACKS RANGING FROM ABOUT 9-14 LBS. DURING A 2 1/2 MILE TRAIL LOOP THROUGH EXPANSIVE PRAIRIES AND COLORFUL WOODLANDS.

A FEW WEEKS LATER, JUNIOR MASTER SAM & SOME OF HER FELLOW ENTHUSIASTS COMPLETED STAGE 2, BRISKLY HIKING FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL HAMPSHIRE FOREST PRESERVE WHILE TOTING 30 LB. RUCKSACKS.  DESPITE COLDER WEATHER, THE LAST ADVENTURE OF THE SEASON FEATURED ADDING EVEN MORE WEIGHTS AND TREKKING AT A FASTER PACE FOR A LONGER DISTANCE UP & DOWN THE SCENIC BANKS OF THE FOX RIVER.  HOOAH!

MARTIAL ARTS UNLEASHED SERIES--SEPTEMBER 2021

JUNIOR MASTER SAMANTHA LOVES ADVENTURE AND HOSTED A WEAPONS IN THE WILD BO WORKSHOP FOR INTERMEDIATE YOUTH MARTIAL ARTS STUDENTS.

PARTICIPANTS LEARNED PROPER WEAPONS HANDLING, LONG STAFF DRILLS, MANIPULATION TECHNIQUES AND BASIC COMBAT TRAINING IN AN EXPANSIVE OUTDOOR SETTING.  THE GROUP ALSO WENT ON AN INDIAN RUN, HIKED THROUGH THE FOREST PRESERVES, CREATED A NATURAL CRAFT PROJECT AND ENJOYED COMPLIMENTARY REFRESHMENTS.

FALL FORM-OFF--OCTOBER 2021

PROPS TO DKAMA MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR ACADEMY'S FALL FORM-OFF!  THE MASTERS' JUDGING PANEL WAS IMPRESSED WITH STUDENTS' PRESENTATIONS OF THEIR TWO HIGHEST MARTIAL ARTS FORMS.    THE INDIVIDUAL SCORES HAVE BEEN TALLIED AND THE RESULTS WERE CLOSE!  SPECIAL TROPHIES ENGRAVED WITH OUR ACADEMY'S PATCH WERE AWARDED IN EACH DIVISION TO THE 1ST, 2ND & 3RD PLACE WINNERS.  THIS NEW SCHOOL EVENT COUNTS AS A CATEGORY #1 STEWARDSHIP ENTRY ON EACH COMPETITOR'S BLACK BELT RESUME. 

SPECIAL SUMMER PROGRAMMING--JUNE TO AUGUST 2022

THANK YOU FIRST DEGREE BLACK BELT CANDIDATE, MISS VICTORIA, FOR ASSISTING IN THE YOUTH MARTIAL ARTS CLASS.  THE KIDS EXPERIENCED SOME AWESOME TEAM MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING DURING BLACK BELT LEADERSHIP DAY IN JUNE!

STUDENTS IN THURSDAY'S ADULT CLASS SAMPLED A COUPLE OF JR. MASTER SAM'S OUTDOOR FITNESS CHALLENGES IN JULY, INCLUDING LINE BALL & T-DRILL CONE EXERCISES FOR AGILITY AND WEIGHTED HILL SPRINTS & BATTLE ROPE TRAINING FOR ENDURANCE.  LAST UP WERE MEDICINE BALL RELAYS... WAY TO GO GUYS!

KIDS ENROLLED IN MARTIAL ARTS LESSONS AT DRAGON KIDO THIS SUMMER WERE ENTERED INTO OUR DRAGON DAYS DRAWING!  A TICKET WAS EARNED BY EACH YOUTH MEMBER FOR COMPLETING A FOCUSED TRAINING SESSION WITH HIS/HER INSTRUCTOR.  WILLOW WAS ANNOUNCED THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST, & IN AUGUST, SHE ENJOYED AN AFTERNOON OF FUN WITH JR. MASTER SAM!

MARTIAL ARTS SPARRING TOURNAMENT & WEAPONS SHOWCASE--JULY 2022

**GO WEEKEND WARRIORS!** DKAMA'S MARTIAL ARTS WEAPONS SHOWCASE FEATURING THE BO, DOUBLE KALI STICKS, TONFA & METAL FIGHTING FANS WAS HELD OUTDOORS ON A WARM NIGHT BEFORE A LARGE CROWD.  AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MARTIAL ARTS WEAPONS PERFORMANCES, MASTER HARVILLE WAS PRESENTED WITH HER 2ND DEGREE BLACK BELT CERTIFICATE IN BUSHIDO WEAPONRY. 

DRAGON KIDO'S SPARRING TOURNEY WAS NEXT ON THE AGENDA & WAS ACTION-PACKED.  THE 2 MINUTE MATCHES OF CONTINUOUS FIGHTING WERE AWESOME, INCLUDING SOME SUDDEN DEATH ROUNDS!  

GRANDMASTER HUTSON IS PROUD OF EACH & EVERY COMPETITOR FOR STEPPING INTO THE RING & DOING THEIR BEST.  ALL TROPHIES WERE WELL DESERVED.  WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT & GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP.

SUMMER MARTIAL ARTS CAMARADERIE--JUNE TO AUGUST 2023

CHECK OUT THE TOP OF OUR EVENTS PAGE FOR THIS YEAR'S ACADEMY HIGHLIGHTS! 

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     THANKS FOR VISITING WITH US!