A GREAT SUCCESS!

MARTiAL YOU continued its collaborations with the Bangor YMCA in 2013 to put on a one of a kind martial arts camp for youth ages 7 through 18. Shawn Hill a volunteer taekwondo instructor for the Bangor YMCA and the founder of MARTiAL YOU had suggested attempting a martial arts camp for several years and this year Annie Grant, Sports Director of the YMCA made the camp an official program offering. Shawn Hill then began the process of structuring and organizing the five day training program in order to introduce participants to some basics of martial arts. For more on the camps preparation click here!

The camp was designed and organized by MARTiAL YOU to be offered as a program through the Bangor YMCA. The five day introduction to martial arts for kids was a collaborative effort which included volunteers from the Young’s MMA, and Eduardo Benjamin of Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It combined the efforts of top notch volunteers trained in Taekwondo, Boxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Yoga, Nutrition and Group Leadership skills in order to introduce youth ages 7 - 18 to various styles of martial arts and to provide a challenging yet fun and educational experience. The camp reflected the basic core values from the martial arts: Respect, Humility, Integrity, Perseverance and Community Responsibility while promoting both Health and Wellbeing. The main focus of the camp was not only to introduce kids to martial arts as a productive means of self-improvement but also to work with them on leadership skills through a daily group discussion lead by Eric Taylor, an experienced youth counselor who currently acts as the Youth Director of the Bangor YMCA.

31 kids ranging from 7 years old to 15 were enrolled in the camp as of Monday August 19th 2013 and 27 of those kids successfully completed all five days. Each day the participants started out with 45 minutes of Olympic Style Taekwondo then after a 10 minute break began 45 minutes of boxing lessons until the next break which lead to 45 minutes of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu basics. The pace slowed down after jiu-jitsu as the kids participated in 30 minutes of Yoga and finally a 30 minute group leadership discussion. Every day ended with a lunch provided through a program by the Feeding America non-profit organization.

 

Martial arts gives those who practice it an opportunity to improve upon themselves in many ways and it is our hope that all those who participated gained some personal growth, learned something new and had a good time doing it.

If you wish to enroll your child in martial arts classes based on the arts demonstrated at this camp, please contact:

For TAEKWONDO, the Bangor YMCA at 207-941-2808
For BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU, Eduardo Benjamin at 207-404-3630

We had an awesome group of volunteers and staff helping to make this camp a reality and we cannot thank everyone enough for the support and effort that was given.

VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION

 

ORIGINAL DETAILS

This camp was designed and organized by MARTiAL YOU to be offered as a program through the Bangor YMCA. The five day introduction to martial arts for kids was a collaborative effort which included volunteers from Young’s MMA, and Eduardo Benjamin of Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, local organizations that are passionate about the health and well-being of today’s youth. It combined the efforts of top notch volunteers trained in Taekwondo, Boxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Yoga, Nutrition and group leadership skills in order to introduce youth ages 7 - 18 to various styles of martial arts and to provide a challenging yet fun and educational experience. The camp reflected the basic core values from the martial arts: Respect, Humility, Integrity, Perseverance and Community Responsibility while promoting both Health and Wellbeing.

Click on the 2013 Parent Handbook or the YMCA Summer Camp Guide links or the pictures below to read or print them out. Fill out the registration form in the Summer Camp Guide and enroll today! Limited enrollments are available. Camp cost is $80.00 per child for those who are not members of the Bangor YMCA and $50.00 per child for those who are members of the Bangor YMCA. Scholarship opportunities are available.
Fill out and return theYouth Summer Program Scholarship Application to the Bangor YMCA at 17 2nd Street Bangor Maine 04401.

 

ACTIVITIES

Each day from 9:00am to 2:00pm participants will be immersed into a world of martial arts, nutritional education and leadership skills. Those who enroll will be introduced to the kicking style of Olympic TAEKWONDO, the punching style of modern BOXING and the ground defense of JIU-JITSU in order to provide a well-rounded experience. Training will wind down with YOGA and then finish with a leadership workshop just before lunch.

Taekwondo – From Korea: Meaning "The way of the hand and foot", is a modern martial art that is characterized by its fast, high and spinning kicks. It combines combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, and in some cases meditation and philosophy. In 1989, Taekwondo was the world's most popular martial art in terms of number of practitioners. Gyeorugi, a type of sparring, has been an Olympic event since 2000. On your left you can see a picture showing a competitor in blue scoring points with an axe kick technique. Participants will be introduced to many of the basic elements of this art such as etiquette, traditional blocks, strikes, movements, breaking and Olympic style sparring. 

 

 

Boxing – Often called "the manly art of self-defense," is a sport in which two competitors try to hit each other with their glove-encased fists while trying to avoid each other's blows. Today the skills derived from boxing are essential self-defense tools for everyone to have. Participants will be introduced to the basic movements, punches and defenses associated with boxing. The picture to the right from the U.S Navy Imagery collection shows that boxing is not just a manly art of self-defense anymore.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - (BJJ) is a martial art, combat sport, and a self-defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. The art was derived from the Japanese martial art of Kodokan judo (which itself is derived from Japanese Jujutsu) in the early 20th century. It teaches that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique. Shown to the left is a picture of Royce Gracie, one of the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, demonstrating technique. 

Yoga - Which originated in ancient India has become a popular system of physical exercise across the Western world. The physical postures of yoga are used to alleviate health problems, reduce stress and increase flexibility. Yoga will conclude the daily activities in order to promote flexibility and to help participants wind down before the leadership workshop.

REGISTRATION & SCHEDULE INFORMATION

 

CAMP RULES

 

EXPECTATIONS & WHAT TO BRING

 

OUR PARTNERS FOR THIS CAMP

Today, the Y engages more than 10,000 neighborhoods across the U.S. As the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to helping people and communities to learn, grow and thrive, our contributions are both far-reaching and intimate—from influencing our nation’s culture during times of profound social change to the individual support we provide an adult learning to read. By nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving the nation’s health and well-being, and supporting and serving our neighbors, the Y ensures that everyone has the opportunity to become healthier, more confident, connected and secure.

 

 

Chris Young of Young’s MMA has been involved in mixed martial arts for over 20 years, having competed until an injury set him back. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as he learned how he enjoyed coaching fighters for cage matches. Chris grew a small gym located in his garage to a full-sized MMA gym with a cage located in Bangor, Maine. Ernie Fitch who works with Chris Young and has over 5 years of mixed martial arts management experience in Maine sees MMA as an avenue to bring back safe combative sports to New England much like the boxing heyday in the 1960’s which included legends such as Muhammad Ali competing in Lewiston, Maine.

  

Eduardo Benjamin teaches classes in GRACIE BARRA Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to both kids and adults in Bangor Maine. The benefits of Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are far reaching and will touch every aspect of your life. GB BJJ is for anyone who wants to learn how to defend him or herself in combat. What most people don’t know is that GB BJJ will also allow you to apply those same principles to fighting the daily battles of life, like weight loss, stress, relationship issues, and self-confidence. You will learn how to think through problems more constructively than before, on and off the mats.

PREPARING FOR CAMP

On August 3rd 2013 several volunteers from MARTiAL YOU, the Bangor YMCA and the Kohl's department store in Bangor Maine combined their efforts to help clean over 200 puzzle mats to be used in our upcoming martial arts camp. Thank You to all the volunteers who helped us!!!

Article about the camp from the MaineEdge by Katy England: Bangor Y’s Martial Arts Camp