Celebrating the Holidays With Food Drive & Mini-Camps

Dec 21, 2011

The community turned out for a growing local tradition as the Mount Shasta Martial Arts Program hosted its 4th Open House & Holiday Food Drive on December 14.

Front Kicks at the Open House

MSMAP Holiday Action

Combining martial arts demonstrations with food collection for the Senior Meal Program, the action began with the Tiny Tigers, children ages 4 to 8, running through several exercises and activities including strength, flexibility, and coordination drills like “frog jumping” and “cheetah races.”

They also got the audience excited with paddle kicking races and a game called, “Who owns the green ball?” involving a combination of strength, wits, and will-power to hold onto a ball just about as big as they are.

“The really young children were adorable and really trying to focus on the task at hand,” shared Marie-Joseée Wells, Executive Director of the Mt. Shasta Chamber of Commerce.

Taekwondo Sparring!

Sparring Action!

Ross Winters faces off against Kyle Van Laeken in an exciting sparring demonstration.
Both boys competed earlier in the year at the UC Open winning a few medals. And, they were important participants in our first celebration of Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving).

The older taekwondo participants demonstrated kicks, forms, sparring, and board breaks.

The energy picked up with the yongmudo portion of the event with participants leaping headfirst over a volunteer from the audience, an exhibition of submission wrestling, and defensive hip, wrist, and sacrifice throws.

Self-Defense Yongmudo Action

Xia Tian and Blake Hanson demonstrate various skills including Fireman's Throw and Armbar Joint Lock Submission.
Xia also competed in the UC Yongmudo Championships in October while Blake competed the following year.
Self-Defense Yongmudo Action!

The Gift of Food

Throughout the event, spectators brought in a multitude of food items for the Senior Meal Program. In return, they were entered into a gift drawing sponsored by several local merchants including Couch Critics, the Wayside Grill, Fusions Thai & Chinese Restaurant, Sereni-Tea, Sportsmen’s Den, Scott Valley Bank, the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, Round Table Pizza, Ray’s Family Market, and Coming Attractions Theaters.

Food Donations for the Senior Nutrition Program

“With the large show of people and enthusiasm of the children, this is a great opportunity for service to the community,” said yellow belt Elina Saryon, 14. “It’s satisfying to give to those in need in our own community.”

Mike Rodriquez, administrator of the Mount Shasta Recreation and Parks District, thanked the participants and spectators for their generosity and wished everyone, “Happy holidays!”

2011 Open House Participants
 
 
 
Happy Holidays from MSMAP!
 
 
 

Winter Break Mini-Camps

MSRPD and MSMAP are also partnering to offer two three-day Winter Break Mini-Camps for area families from December 27 to 29 and January 3 to 5, 10am to 2pm.

“We’re looking forward to introducing participants to many of the skills they saw here tonight,” said MSMAP head instructor Chuck Buhs. “Our plan is to burn off excess holiday energy with plenty of healthy exercise and self-defense strategies while emphasizing confidence, discipline, respect, and fun.”

For more information about the mini-camps, contact MSMAP or City Park at 859-2024, 926-2494, camp [-AT-] MtShastaMA.org, Facebook, or www.MtShastaMA.org/camp/.

Mount Shasta City Park welcomes food and financial donations during this season of giving and throughout the New Year. Contact 926-2494 to learn more about how you can help make a difference in the health and well-being of a local senior.

MSMAP specializes in building a better community by offering positive activities to develop healthy bodies, minds, and spirits.

More Information

Senior Nutrition Program
The Recreation and Parks District is the official provider for the senior meal program thru a contract with the California Department of Aging and Planning and Service Area 2 - Agency on Aging. Year-round donations of food and money for the Senior Nutrition Program can be made by calling 926-2494.

“Since 1974, there has been a hot lunch program for senior citizens at the City Park Recreation Center...55+ meals are delivered to homebound seniors in the South County (Home Delivered Meals). Transportation to and from the Mt. Shasta lunch site is also available...The Senior Nutrition Program strives to not only meet the nutritional needs of its senior participants, but also recognizes the importance of socialization and life enrichment. Informational programs, special events, and other activities are a regular component of the senior lunch program schedule.”

MSMAP's Open House
Each December, MSMAP hosts an Open House & Holiday Food Drive to celebrate the holidays with a unique, martial arts-based event of action, prizes, and food donations. First held in 2008, it is a chance for participants to display their growing skills and help those in need.

In The News
Recommended Resources
Fundraising Help
7th Open House & Holiday Food Drive: Dec 2014

Celebrate the holidays, MSMAP-style!
We invite you to attend our Seventh annual event in December 2014. Come see what we do and help make the holidays a little brighter for seniors in-need with the gift of food for the Senior Nutrition Program.

Jump Back Kick

Shorter Event, More Action
The senior ranks step up and offer the community some exciting martial arts action, loads of raffle prizes, and food for the seniors.
December 24, 2014; Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers

Yongmudo Throw

Ramping Up for a Holiday Tradition
Planning for a shorter, more action-packed event with lots of prizes and food for the seniors. Game on.
December 10, 2014; Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers

2013 Open House Action

More Creativity, More Heart-Pounding Action
Lots of participants, lots of raffle prizes, and lots of food for the Senior Nutrition Program.
December 25, 2013; Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers

Split Kicks

Getting Ready for New Things
We get ready to do more exciting stuff: jumping kicks, spinning kicks, higher dive rolls, lots more.
December 11, 2013; Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers

2012 Open House Action

Mission Accomplished: Our Best Event...Ever
The best demo, the most raffle prizes, and, most importantly, the most food ever collected for this annual holiday celebration.
December 26, 2012; Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers

2012 Open House Prep

Getting ready for our biggest event...ever
Our goal this year: the best event that we’ve ever done.
December 12, 2012; Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers

4th Open House & Holiday Food Drive

Highlights of our 4th annual event — lots of people, lots of food, lots of gifts. And, we get ready for our Winter Break Mini-Camps, a great way to burn off excess holiday energy. “With the large show of people and enthusiasm of the children, this is a great opportunity for service to the community.”
December 21, 2011; Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers

Preparing for the Yongmudo Demonstration

“We’re glad to help with our own special way of celebrating the holidays: Exciting martial arts action, giving away cool gifts, and, most importantly, helping to brighten the spirits of those less fortunate during this season of giving.”
December 07, 2011; Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers

3rd Open House & Food Drive Action

New Location, Bigger Action!
How much fun can children, teens, and adults have helping others in need during the holiday season?
December 29, 2010; Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers

2nd Open House & Food Drive Action

Bigger and Better
Our activity center expands to include local treasure, Nuria’s Dance Academy. We share demonstrations of dance and martial arts and hold our first, and very successful, food drive!
December 9, 2009; Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers

2008 Open House & Housewarming Party

The Start of a Holiday Tradition
We open our doors and welcome the community to our new, dedicated training facility — five demonstrations (three taekwondo, two yongmudo), food, prizes, and lots of energy.
November 9, 2008; Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers

4th Open House & Holiday Food Drive: Wed, Dec 14

Join us for exciting martial arts action!
Wednesday, December 14   •   4:30 to 6:30pm
We invite you to our FOURTH annual event to see what we do and help make the holidays a little brighter for seniors with the gift of food for the Senior Nutrition Program.

Winter Break Mini-Camps

Join us for exciting martial arts action!
Dec 27 – 29   &   Jan 3 – 5
Burn off excess holiday energy with a full program of taekwondo, yongmudo, and self-defense activities during Winter Break in this partnership with the Mt. Shasta Recreation & Parks District.

Taekwondo is an exciting martial art that combines effective footwork and powerful kicking techniques into a dynamic system of sport and self-defense.

Yongmudo outside wrist throw

Yongmudo incorporates a variety of techniques including kicks, strikes, throws, jointlocks, submission wrestling into a comprehensive system of personal health & self-protection.