First MA1st Event in UK held at Academy

The Academy in Dewsbury hosted the first MA1st event in the UK over a four day period, Thursday 19^th to Sunday 22^nd September 2013.

MA1st is run by Kyoshi Fred DePalma of DePalma Martial Arts in Arizona USA.

The event started on the Thursday evening with with Kyoshi DePalma teaching a workshop on Kenpo Karate, to the students of the Academy.

Friday saw the MA1st event start with a business section for staff members on all aspects of running a Martial Arts Academy and showing ways to improve student service.

Saturday continued with the theme of improving instructor skills when Shihan DePalma ran an instructor course which was well received by all who attended.

The event finished on the Sunday with a joint seminar taught by Kyoshi DePalma and the Kokoro Academy owner and chief instructor David Pawson. This seminar covered a number of scenarios and explored the similarities and differences of the two styles taught by the respective instructors.

One student who attended the Thursday and Sunday session had this to say “Thank you again for the opportunity to train with Fred DePalma recently. It was an excellent opportunity for me to push the boundaries of my knowledge by training in a martial art I have not had exposure to before. 

It was particularly interesting as Kyoshi DePalma has cross trained in a number of systems but has retained a core identity in Kempo Karate, and spoke at length about this and "making techniques your own".

While many of the base movements and set-ups were very different and therefore challenging to me, I enjoyed every last minute of instruction and training, particularly when similarities and cross-overs became apparent and were looked at in more detail. Thank you again for the opportunity to train with Fred DePalma recently. It was an excellent opportunity for me to push the boundaries of my knowledge by training in a martial art I have not had exposure to before. 

It was particularly interesting as Kyoshi DePalma has cross trained in a number of systems but has retained a core identity in Kempo Karate, and spoke at length about this and "making techniques your own".

While many of the base movements and set-ups were very different and therefore challenging to me, I enjoyed every last minute of instruction and training, particularly when similarities and cross-overs became apparent and were looked at in more detail. “ 

One of our instructors who took part in the whole weekend said “The MA1st weekend event was an amazing opportunity. Training on the seminars was an eye opener to a different style of martial art, which is also similar at the same time. 

In the workshops I learnt a lot about running a successful business, where several clubs are involved. We did fun warm ups, and learnt how little dragon sessions are delivered so attention can be had throughout a class. 

Overall I had an amazing weekend, made new friends and hope to attend one again in the future. “

If you are interested in what MA1st has to offer please visit the following website; MA1st