The school picnic as I mentioned in my previous post is August 9th at the Shelter 2, at Moir Park in west Bloomington.  The picnic starts after the test or at 12:00 noon and we have the facilities until 8:00 pm.  Shelter 2 is located at the south end of Moir Park just off 104th St. between Morgan Ave. and Penn Ave.  Shelter 2 is an inside/outside facility so no rain check.  Many amenities are available including grills, indoor rest rooms, baseball fields, volleyball sand court, walking trails and picnic tables both inside and out.  This as usual this will be a Pot Luck food event.  Please bring something to share or grill.  The school will provide beer and soda and the cost of the facility for the day. HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!

I have decided to return to a annual picnic instead of the annual holiday party we have been doing the last several years.  Instead of getting together indoors in cold weather returning to getting together outside when its warm is a more attractive group party I think.  We are currently looking at August 9th 2025 as our first picnic date.  In addition we will have the annual advanced test on that same day.  I think the test at the school at 11:00 am and the picnic at 12 noon or 1:00 pm would work well.  We are looking at one of the Bloomington parks as a location for the picnic.  If anyone knows of one that would be appropriate please let me know.  And as usual the picnic will be pot luck so everyone needs to bring something.  There are two Black Belts who can test at this advanced test.  Mr. Erlandson and Mr. Campagna have enough time in and have my permission to test should they choose.  

Hello

Just a few things to mention at this time.  First, if you have not noticed we have made several changes to the class schedule.  All regular classes are now at the same time every night.  Two reasons for this.  We decided it would be much easier for everyone both students and instructors to have a more consistent schedule.  Also several parents mentioned they wanted their kids to be out by 7:30 each night because of school being in session again.

I also want to remind everyone that the December Test is on December 7th and not the second weekend as usual.  It is an advanced test.  Mr. Duke will be testing and I am sure he would appreciate all of your support.  

And of course the annual school party will follow immediately after the test.  It is a pot luck food party so everyone should bring something to share.  The school will provide refreshments.  All students and family are invited.  Please come and join us all and enjoy our celebration of being open for 50 years.

Well it's been a year since my last post but there hasn't been many changes to mention up until now. To bring everyone up to date, we have added Power Up Kickboxing classes to our schedule three times a week.  If you haven't tried it yet I would suggest you give it a try. 

If you didn't see the announcement in the local paper recently, the school had it's 50th Anniversary this past April.  No other martial arts school in Bloomington can say that so it is actually something I am very proud of. Thank you to all the Instructors and students that helped make that happen.

This year like last year we are moving the December test up by one week.  The test will be held Saturday 12/7/24.  As always, we will hold our annual Holiday Party immediately after.  It will be pot luck with the school providing the beverages.  This year only one person is up for a higher Black Belt rank.  That would be Mr. Hydukovich.  I am at this time giving Mr. "DUKE" permission to test at the December advanced promotion test.  I hope the other Black Belts will help him with anything he needs to prepare for the test.

Summer is almost over and I look forward to many people coming back to train that were too busy over the summer to come in.  If you have not attended a class lately I suggest you do.  You may be pleased with the changes we have made to attendance and structure of the classes.

HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

Hello Again

Just a reminder of the upcoming December Advanced Promotion Test and our annual Holiday Party.  

DATE - December 2nd 2023

TEST - 12:00 Noon - All Belt test and Advanced Black Belt promotion for Mr. Mark Bettes & Mr. Ben Chung.

BKCI ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY - All students, family and friends invited.  POT LUCK food and drink.  Begins 
                                                  immediately after test.  Please bring something to share with everyone at the
                                                  party.  HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
​

Hello everyone.  It's been a while but I wanted to catch everyone up on the year end for 2023.  This year we will be moving the December test from the second Saturday to the first Saturday.  This is due to me wanting to get out of the Minnesota winter ASAP this year.  I wanted to give you the new date for two reasons.  One, as always we have our Holiday Party in December and two, I want to inform the Black Belts qualified to test in December so they can plan around the change.  

Two Black Belts are qualified to test for promotion at this test.  They are:

Mr. Ben Chung - 3rd Dan to 4th Dan
Mr. Mark Bettes - 4th Dan to 5th Dan

I hope the other Black Belts, especially the higher rank ones will do everything possible to help these two prepare for this test.  I look forward to, as I'm sure many of you do, watching them demonstrate their technique and knowledge during the exam.

As always, the test will be followed by our annual holiday party which consists of a pot luck dinner.  I hope you all will attend and participate in bringing a dish to share with everyone.  Beverages will be covered by the school.  I look forward to seeing you all in December!

Congratulations to the Black Belts who successfully were promoted at the December advanced testing.  

Mr. CB Bunkholt - 7th DAN
Mr. Peyton Russell - 6th DAN
Mr. John Yang - 3rd DAN
Mr. Dave Erlandson - 2nd DAN
Mr. Pat Campagna - 2nd DAN

We had a great time at the annual holiday party with great food and drink.  Thank you all for your help and support.  I look forward to another new year with all of you.  Enjoy your holiday season with family and friends stay safe and see you next year.

As a reminder the advanced test and annual holiday party is on Saturday December 10th.  The test starts at 12:00 noon with the party immediately after.  Mr. Babcock and Mr. King are coming in from St. Louis on Thursday the 8th and will be at the school that night with the hopes you will join them for some fun practice and comradery.  At this time the following are testing for higher Black Belt rank:

Mr. Dave Erlandson
Mr. Pat Campagna
Mr. John Yang
Mr. Peyton Russell
Mr. CB Bunkholt

Please come and join us for both the test and the party.  The party as usual, is a Pot Luck food so everyone please bring something.  The school will provide beverages.  We hope to see you!

On December 10th of this year we will be conducting the next Black Belt testing.  As always our Holiday Party will follow immediately after the test.  I am listing the Black Belts who will have their time in by this date so that they can start preparing now for their promotion exam.  I hope all listed below will work hard and do everything to be promoted to their next Dan level at this test.  You all are outstanding examples of what a Black Belt should be.  Your dedication has brought you to this new challenge to achieve everything you can be in the future.  It is my sincere pleasure to be your Instructor.


1st Dan to Second Dan: Mr. Dave Erlandson
​                                     Mr. Pat Campagna

2nd Dan to 3rd Dan: Mr. Brian Byrne
                                Mr. John Yang
                                Ms. Alice Caffari

3rd Dan to 4th Dan: Mr. Mark Bettes

​to 6th Dan : Peyton Russell

6th Dan to 7th Dan: Mr. CB Bunkholt

Good luck to you all!

​

Beginning 2/1/22 Black Belt classes will resume on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm.  I am looking forward to working with you all again.  For the first several classes I will be working on teaching and promoting students.  If you are currently teaching classes I would appreciate you attending those early Black Belt classes so we are all working together for the same goals.