World Tai Chi Day at Elm Park in Worcester, MA

On Saturday April 24th 10:00am - 12:00 noon we celebrated World Tai Chi Day at Elm Park in Worcester, MA. Their were about 40 participants that day. I want to thank Karim and all his students that showed up that day. I had an awesome time doing Tai Chi with everyone. I also had the privilege to introduce Chi Sau exercises from my Wing Chun system. The highlight of the day was seeing some old friends and meeting some new ones. I really recommend the Tai Chi class! Parents, check it out.

Thanks for the opportunity Karim, I really enjoyed it!

Sensei Mike

Styles offered:

Yang Style for beginners and intermediate.
Chen & Bagua for advanced.
Taught by Instructor Karim - Ben Saunders

Self-Defense, Which Self-Defense Program is right for you?

Self-Defense

My name is Michael J. Agbay I’m the owner/founder of MJA Martial Arts, Inc. in Spencer, MA. I’ve been in the business of self-defense since 1994. I’ve been training in the Martial Arts for over 30- years and I’ve seen and experienced all different styles of self defense.


Which Self-Defense Program is right for you?
We hear this phrase quite often, but do we really understand what it means? By definition, “Self-Defense is the act of defending oneself, ones property, or the well-being of another.”

When you hear the phrase, “self-defense,” most people think of the Martial Arts Styles. There are numerous types of Martial Arts Systems. Many styles of martial arts are practiced for self-defense or include self-defense techniques.

Historically, martial arts systems were created, tested, and used in combat. That’s right COMBAT! No rules...no laws. In modern times we see so many different things happening in the Martial Arts that we may become more confused than ever.

Martial Arts are broken down in two very simple categories, Sport or Combat.

Sport Martial Arts
While sport martial arts may be effectively applied for self-defense, it is not the primary training objective. Sport martial arts have rules and regulations. Some martial arts schools combine several styles together for competitive sport. This is most often referred to as Mixed Martial Arts or MMA.

Combat Martial Arts
Combat martial arts styles train primarily for self-defense. Combat martial arts have no rules. It’s a matter of surviving, not winning. There are no winners in combat, just survivors.


What’s the relationship between Self-Defense & Martial Arts Systems?

The Martial Arts are a discipline. It takes many years to develop skill, muscle memory, timing, reaction, physical and mental conditioning and speed.

Self-defense techniques, however, can be learned in a much shorter time than a Martial Arts System. One can learn simple and effective Self-Defense techniques that, with a little practice, will be very effective in a Self-Defense situation.

However, when training specifically in self-defense techniques alone, you are limiting yourself by not getting into the finite details and challenging yourself physically and mentally. Your instructor can give you additional insights that you can use in a self-defense situation such as learning the physical vital target points on the body, as well as the specific natural weapons to use in a given situation. By studying a Martial Arts System you will be able to build a solid foundation in the system that you choose. You will learn how to be healthy, fit and stress free.


Martial Arts Systems

How do you find a Martial Arts System that is best for you?

Everyone has their own preferences. I relate it to buying clothes. When we shop for clothing, we may choose something that is attractive, but it may not always be practical.
When you choose a Martial Arts style for self-defense purposes, you should choose something that you find attractive however, it has to work in combat. I tell my students to “Train as if it were real!” Once you learn something you need to test it out for combat!

Martial Arts Systems takes years to learn and develop. There are no short cuts.

There are three phases of learning the Martial Arts.

1. Primitive Stage – Beginner
2. Mechanical Stage - Intermediate
3. Spontaneous Reaction stage – Advanced

I love and respect all martial arts systems, but I do not feel every Martial Artist represents their system well. I have some of my students who are 10 – 12 years old come up to me and say, “Sensei my friend at school is a 11 and has his 2nd Degree Black Belt and he’s only been training for 2-years.” My reply is they think they are a black belt because their teacher told them they are a black belt.

These children may possess discipline, respect, self-control and self-confidence which are all character traits of what all martial artists should be. This does not, however, determine physical and mental martial skills. I feel bad for these children, because they are being misled into thinking they are Black Belts. It gives them a false sense of security, and if they get in a street confrontation they may end up learning the hard way.

It is important that you understand the difference between sport and combat martial arts.
Do not be misled into believing that flying cart wheel kicks and doing weapon katas with swords and bow staffs flying in the air are effective in a real life self defense situations!

There is nothing wrong with these “systems” as long as you understand that these gymnastics are not for self-defense. In a street fight both feet will never leave the ground! Weapons never leave your hands.

There always will be SPORT martial arts and there will always be COMBAT martial arts. Just know the difference!

Jan 22, 2010 FREE Tai Chi Class in Worcester County Area, MA

We are having a FREE Tai Chi class instructed by Karim-Ben Saunders TONIGHT (Thursday Jan 22 at 7:30 p.m.)

Please come join us for this interesting and relaxing class. You'll really enjoy it. Please feel free to mention to family and friends. Dress comfortably but no shoes please.

We look forward to seeing you!

Read more about Tai Chi on our website: www.mjamartialarts.com

MJA Martial Arts, Inc.
64 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Spencer, MA 01562
508-885-9100

Serving the following Worcester County Massachusetts areas: Spencer, East Brookfield, Leicester, North Brookfield, Paxton, Rochdale, Charlton, Oxford, Sturbridge, Southbridge, Worcester, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Auburn, Holden, Rutland, Barre, Webster, Dudley and surrounding towns.

Tai Chi Classes, FREE Tai Chi Trial Class, Spencer, MA

We are having a FREE Tai Chi class instructed by Karim-Ben Saunders this coming Thursday Jan 22 at 7:30 p.m. Many of you may remember him from the demonstration he did at our recent open house.

Please come join us for this interesting and relaxing class. You'll really enjoy it. Please feel free to mention to family and friends. Dress comfortably but no shoes please.

We look forward to seeing you!

Read more about Tai Chi on our website: www.mjamartialarts.com

MJA Martial Arts, Inc.
64 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Spencer, MA 01562
508-885-9100

Serving the following Worcester County Massachusetts areas: Spencer, East Brookfield, Leicester, North Brookfield, Paxton, Rochdale, Charlton, Oxford, Sturbridge, Southbridge, Worcester, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Auburn, Holden, Rutland, Barre, Webster, Dudley and surrounding towns.

Tai Chi Class - Free Tai Chi Lesson in Worcester County!

We will be having a FREE Tai Chi class instructed by Karim-Ben Saunders this coming Thursday Jan 14 at 7:30 p.m. Many of you may remember him from the demonstration he did at our recent open house.

Please come join us for this interesting and relaxing class. You'll really enjoy it. Please feel free to mention to family and friends. Dress comfortably but no shoes please.

We look forward to seeing you!

Read more about Tai Chi on our website: www.mjamartialarts.com

MJA Martial Arts, Inc.
64 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Spencer, MA 01562
508-885-9100

Serving the following Worcester County Massachusetts areas: Spencer, East Brookfield, Leicester, North Brookfield, Paxton, Rochdale, Charlton, Oxford, Sturbridge, Southbridge, Worcester, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Auburn, Holden, Rutland, Barre, Webster, Dudley and surrounding towns.

Adult Personal-Protection Self - Defense Seminar, Massachusetts

Don’t Wait Until This Happens!















Turn Fear Into Power!

Highly specialized, easy to learn,

Adult Personal-Protection
Self - Defense Seminar.

MJA Martial Arts, Inc.
64 Main Street-2nd Floor
Spencer, MA 01562

Saturday February 13, 2010
1:30 - 5:30 pm

Call Now to reserve your spot. Space is limited so don’t wait! (508) 885-9100

MJA Martial Arts, Inc.
64 Main Street
2nd Floor
Spencer, MA 01562
508-885-9100

Serving the following Worcester County Massachusetts areas: Spencer, Oxford, Sturbridge, Southbridge, Worcester, Brookfield, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Millbury, Auburn, Leicester, Paxton, Holden, Rutland, Charlton, Barre, Webster, Brimfield, Oakham, Warren, Dudley, Princeton and surrounding towns.

Adult Self-Defense Seminar at MJA Martial Arts, Spencer, MA

Adult Self-Defense Seminar - Feb 13, 2010
Time: 1:30 - 5:30pm
Call for details. (Members receive a discount!)

MJA Martial Arts, Inc.
64 Main Street
2nd Floor
Spencer, MA 01562
508-885-9100

Serving the following Worcester County Massachusetts areas: Spencer, Oxford, Sturbridge, Southbridge, Worcester, Brookfield, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Millbury, Auburn, Leicester, Paxton, Holden, Rutland, Charlton, Barre, Webster, Brimfield, Oakham, Warren, Dudley, Princeton and surrounding towns.

Reduce stress with tai chi, Worcester County, MA

Tai chi (TIE-chee) originated in China for self-defense and has evolved into a form of exercise that's now used for stress reduction and to help with a variety of other health conditions. Tai chi is sometimes described as "meditation in motion" because it promotes serenity through gentle movements — connecting the mind and body. Because tai chi is low impact, it may be especially suitable if you're an older adult who otherwise may not exercise.

Tai chi, also called tai chi chuan, is a self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching. To do tai chi, you perform a series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion.

Tai chi has many different styles. All forms of tai chi include rhythmic patterns of movement that are coordinated with breathing to help you achieve a sense of inner calm. The concentration required for tai chi forces you to live in the present moment, putting aside distressing thoughts.

During tai chi, you focus on movement and breathing. This combination creates a state of relaxation and calm. Stress, anxiety and tension should melt away as you focus on the present, and the effects may last well after you stop your tai chi session.

Despite its long history, tai chi has been studied scientifically only in recent years. Preliminary evidence suggests that tai chi may offer numerous benefits beyond stress reduction, including:

• Reducing anxiety and depression
• Improving balance, flexibility and muscle strength
• Reducing falls in older adults
• Improving sleep quality
• Lowering blood pressure
• Improving cardiovascular fitness in older adult
• Relieving chronic pain
• Increasing energy, endurance and agility
• Improving overall feelings of well-being

Sign-up for Tai Chi Classes Today!

Styles offered:
Yang Style for beginners and intermediate.
Chen & Bagua for advanced.


MJA Martial Arts, Inc.
64 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Spencer, MA 01562
508-885-9100

Serving the following Worcester County Massachusetts areas: Spencer, Oxford, Sturbridge, Southbridge, Worcester, Brookfield, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Millbury, Auburn, Leicester, Paxton, Holden, Rutland, Charlton, Barre, Webster, Brimfield, Oakham, Warren, Dudley, Princeton and surrounding towns.

Personal Safety Academy - Self Defense Programs near Worcester, MA

Personal Safety Academy
A division of MJA Martial Arts, Inc.

Your safety is our business!

Whether you’re a Security Guard, Nurse, EMT, Doctor, Police Officer, Correctional Officer, Parole Officer, Social Worker, Fireman, Store Clerk, Office Worker, Sales Person, or Mental Health Worker. Our course can provide you with the keys to safety. We offer courses for large corporations, small business, and individuals alike.

PSA – What do we do?

1. • Educate people on how to be safe in their environment.
   • Help you understand you possess the power to be safe.
   • We provide you the keys to safety.
   • Once you believe that you possess the power that is when the training begins.

Questions to consider about using our service:

1. • Do your employees or students feel safe at work?
   • Does your company or school have a safety policy?
   • Does your company or school employ security guards for your building and grounds? Do they carry a firearm?
2. • Would it be possible for a stranger to enter the premises undetected?
   • How would you or your employees or students react to a violent incident at your school or work place?

   ---

Personal Safety / EZ Defense Program

Program Description:

Level One: Non-Contact, Verbal Boundaries Skills and Concepts. In this program, you’ll learn how to assert yourself and deal with the natural excitement and fear that can cause you to “freeze-up” when faced with an aggressor. You’ll be lead through simple by effective drills and scenarios designed to help you overcome the uncomfortable feelings and fear that can mark you as an easy target for attack.

Understand how to use your emotions to help you become stronger and safer. Fear and anger are tremendous sources of power when used in defense.

The Level One program has no contact and is a perfect introductory program.

Features of the EZ Defense Program

EZ Defense builds on your personal strengths.

EZ Defense builds on the potential that you already have for self- protection. This includes the ability to learn to make good choices and use effective reasoning under stress. EZ Defense provides self-protection training in a safe, supportive environment.

The step-by-step process of developing skills and confidence builds from yhe successes you attain in every class. By the end of the course. You will have used your skills repeatedly to assess danger, set boundaries, and respond effectively to real and potential attacks.

With the support of other students and the instructor, you’ll have many opportunities to practice using your skills, judgments, and emotions in simulated attack scenarios. You Can Protect Yourself!

EZ Defense is highly specialized self-protection program that teaches you to successfully defend against an assailant of any size.

EZ Defense is based on the idea that learning is best accomplished by “doing.”
In all of our programs, you’ll work with a highly trained instructor who will create safe, yet powerful, scenarios and role plays designed to help you experience the “rush” of self-defense without contact and without the danger or consequences.

You Are Worthy of Defending
Learn simple and effective self-protection and prevention skills through the EZ Defense program. These are concepts that any person, regardless of age or fitness level, can learn.

Practice in a safe environment.
The instructor teaches and demonstrates all the skills and coaches students while they practice. The key to the EZ Defense program is that there is no contact. You will be amazed by the power and control you will develop as a result of learning and then practicing simple EZ Defense concepts under the safe supervision of our trained coach.

What Will I Learn?
EZ Defense has developed a wide variety of progressive learning programs ranging from non-contact, one day classes on verbal skills to intense multi-week programs.

Why is EZ Defense important for you?
Truly, the most important skill you will develop is the ability to stay in control. This is the critical skill that will help you avoid violence in over 90 percent of all potentially harmful situations.

What other benefits will I receive?
Many participants tell us that the benefits of EZ Defense training go far beyond learning self-defense. Our graduates report:

1. • Increased focus and effectiveness at work
   • The ability to remain calm and use clearheaded thinking during stress or crisis
   • Feeling less intimidated by other people or situations
   • Increased self-esteem and assertiveness
   • Greater confidence
   • Improved leadership skills
   • Improved ability to communicate clearly and directly
   • Increased problem solving skills

Think about it.

What would your life be like if you were never intimidated by a person or situation again?

MJA Martial Arts, Inc.
64 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Spencer, MA 01562
508-885-9100

Serving the following Worcester County Massachusetts areas: Spencer, Oxford, Sturbridge, Southbridge, Worcester, Brookfield, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Millbury, Auburn, Leicester, Paxton, Holden, Rutland, Charlton, Barre, Webster, Brimfield, Oakham, Warren, Dudley, Princeton and surrounding towns.

College Student Specials - MJA Martial Arts, Spencer, MA

Attention College Students!
For Workouts, Kickboxing and Boxing Programs. Call 508-885-9100 to Inquire

MJA Martial Arts, Inc.
64 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Spencer, MA 01562
508-885-9100

Serving the following Worcester County Massachusetts areas: Spencer, East Brookfield, Leicester, North Brookfield, Paxton, Rochdale, Charlton, Oxford, Sturbridge, Southbridge, Worcester, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Auburn, Holden, Rutland, Barre, Webster, Dudley and surrounding towns.

FREE Tai Chi Classes in November at MJA Martial Arts

Free Trial Classes Offered Saturday mornings in November (7,14 & 21) From 10:00 to 11:00am at MJA Martial Arts in Spencer, MA.

MJA Martial Arts, Inc.
64 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Spencer, MA 01562
508-885-9100

Serving the following Worcester County Massachusetts areas: Spencer, East Brookfield, Leicester, North Brookfield, Paxton, Rochdale, Charlton, Oxford, Sturbridge, Southbridge, Worcester, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Auburn, Holden, Rutland, Barre, Webster, Dudley and surrounding towns.

New GYM - MJA Martial Arts, Spencer, MA

We have expanded and have taken over the entire second floor at 64 Main St, Spencer, MA.

Additional classes and new workout areas are now available. Come on in and train or workout in a complete boxing gym.

New Dojo Room:

•More Classes
•A more Flexible schedule to fit your/your child's needs
•And for larger families, double classes (two different classes going on at the same time to accommodate your needs)

New Boxing Gym/Workout Area:

•Instructional & Non-Instructional Workouts available.
•Heavy Bags, Speed Bags, Double End Balls, Abs Station, Workout Area.
•Family Discounts
•Parents Can Now Workout while their Child/Children Take Classes.

Other Areas Added:

•Adult Changing Rooms
•Child Changing Rooms
•New Waiting Area (for new dojo Rm)

If you're interested in checking us out, taking classes or joining the gym stop by for a visit or call us at 508-885-9100. Try it yourself with a free week!!!

MJA Martial Arts, Inc.
64 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Spencer, MA 01562
508-885-9100

Serving the following Worcester County Massachusetts areas: Spencer, Oxford, Sturbridge, Southbridge, Worcester, Brookfield, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Millbury, Auburn, Leicester, Paxton, Holden, Rutland, Charlton, Barre, Webster, Brimfield, Oakham, Warren, Dudley, Princeton and surrounding towns.