Meeting Minutes - March 4, 2023

Jeff Brinker, Tania Vantuil, Khona Rybak, Kevin Lindstrom, Malinda Ferris, Kody Bjorkquist, Sharida Csillag, Noa Csillag, Shira Csillag.  Absent:  Yitzik Csillag

1. Shadowing: Is where a student can get through a form with help, not just following along.   We need to adjust our expectations here.

2. Expectations:  Our actions need to match our words

1. Set them, communicate them, enforce them.

3.  Management:  We are not just teaching, we are managing - manage students, manage assets, manage class.

4.  Animal Badges:  Can be used to help keep kids motivated while they are earning their stripes.

1.  Talk to parents - these teach hard work

2.  We need to promote these more

3.  How do we communicate the value?

5.  Drills:  Make a list of drills that will NOT be done unless they are run by a program director.

1. These are drills that we go to once in a while, when our creativity starts to wane.

2. We cannot keep going to the same drills, as they lose their efficacy

6.  Finishing Classes on Time: it’s imperative that we end classes on time

1.  When we end classes has an effect on when the next class can start, and the upcoming class MUST start on time as we cannot have students waiting and wondering what is going on.

7.  Audit the Members Only section:  Make sure that members only have access to what they should

1.  We need to make sure that students are only seeing the information that pertains to them.

8.  Student Ratings:  A, B, or C

1.  Program directors will have these up to date by the end of the month each month so that the data is in almost real time.

2.  Instructors are encouraged to share their thoughts on ratings, as they may see things that the Program Directors may miss.  However, the Program Director has the final decision.

Meeting Minutes - June 11, 2022

• Stop asking so many questions of the kids, specifically “who knows…”. Often when you ask questions and have one kid answer the rest can’t hear and few of the others are engaged. When you ask “who knows” you won’t get an accurate answer anyways (just run them through the form and you’ll know) plus it comes across as you are not prepared.

• When teaching forms, don’t do more than a single rep with the whole class (specifically level 1’s). It causes frustration for the kids who don’t know the form and are being left behind. Get them to go through it together to determine what groups you should create.

• Don’t explain drills so much. Especially if drills are constantly changing/evolving. You’re losing most of the class. Just get them moving and the rest of the instructors can do the rest. Less yak, more smack.

• No class should end on a downer or negative note. Class structure should be high energy, followed by the meat, finishing with high energy. 

• Gauge your classes mostly based on the back rows, or the kids who are less engaged. Running a class based on the most engaged kids all the time will while leaving behind the others only causes frustration. Too much of a gap, break up the class.

• There should be one person leading the class, the rest are teaching (wandering corrections). If you’re running the class, that should be your main job, all other instructors on deck should be continuously engaging with the kids.

• Teaching is found in the interactions with the students, not in the drills. You have to connect with the kids. Find talk to them, get to know them, encourage them. Encouragement is a much stronger tool than punishment. 

Meeting Minutes - February 18, 2020

New, unified syllabus (same for both kids and adults)

7 stripes, 7 core concepts

Yellow- Vocabulary of Motion (how you move, flow)     

White- 6 Harmonies (forms) Red- Keystone Principles (have to become progressively better)

Green- Lifestyle & Leadership (if your lifestyle doesn’t support your Kung Fu, you won’t pass your grading, core values, leadership) 

Blue- Traditional Tenets (2000 yrs old, still around for a reason, still relevant) 

Orange- Dynamic Control (even with changing situation, exemplified with ability to handle a weapon)

 Black- Wuxin (no mind, how you should be able to apply your Kung Fu in real time; no         syllabus, last to be earned)

• If asked, the answer needs to be specific to each student. What they do7 to earn it or what they need to work on. Specific with weapon forms or hand forms. As specific or vague as needed with keystone principles, vocabulary of motion, etc.

• The CURRICULUM has never changed. The syllabus has been changed, yes, but adjusted in such a way to make better black belts, to address the weaknesses that have been noted, make the road better for upcoming generations.

• Train to learn the curriculum. Teach to teach the curriculum. The syllabus is just a list of tools. Teach what the class needs, do not just teach to serve a piece of paper.

• Keep each other on the right path. If you see one of us teaching just to stripe or knock it off a list, bring it up. If students are asking “what do I need for x stripe?”, this is a warning that they are working to be striped, not to learn Kung Fu.

• Need to always apply a high level of control and a high level of discipline in all the classes (eg. 3 points of contact on the stick). Free sparing needs to be taught and not just done. Control needs to be taught and maintained.

• This is a learning curve. Ask someone who understands if you do not. Do not just regurgitate answers you’ve heard given; understand why that answer was given to that student. Develop your own vocabulary.

• Ego based teaching is the problem (this is not equal to arrogance). For ourselves vs. for the student. Teaching what we know instead of teaching what the student needs. Going into detail and taking away their chance to get the reps in. Even if you have something great to say, consider how it will be received or if it will help.

• We need to have each other backs. We have some problem students; we need to be watching for disrespectful attitudes. It can’t be up to the individual being disrespected to enforce. 

• We need to maintain control and recognize when we’re losing control. In this case, we need a reset.

• Make sure you are visible to all students. Be mindful of the guys in the back in the center.

Meeting Minutes - November 23, 2019

• Trying to win the war not the battle- need to correct at the right time. We do have a problem with discipline but how we crack down is just as important. We tend to jump in when the kids are participating, maybe just a little enthusiastically. 

• Tiny Tigers on November 14, 2019-

• Separate Lindens and Hoffmans & Lars’s in lines. 

• Keep in mind parents- don’t let the problem kids be front and center in front of the parents.

• Make sure we don’t get distracted by the instructions- make sure we notice the kids beside us and not just where we’re looking.

• Be aware of the other instructors- don’t interfere if another instructor is working with a student (successfully). Be aware that we’re blocking the students view and being a distraction if we’re just wandering or standing in the rows. 

• Need to engage. Just holding a target and then walking away is not engaging. 

• Need to understand and follow the spirit of instructions, not the letter. You need an understanding so make sure you do, ask if you don’t- you can make things worse if you don’t understand.

• Less talk- no need to have a conversation with the kids. If you need to explain then it’s a lesson for the group or should be saved for after class, etc. 

• To deal with Booth and others like him- need to be decisive and act accordingly. Stop him, don’t chase him. Decisive and compassionate- this is a safety concern.

• Knudsen- needs a sense of purpose to the sound focus. He’ll be able to handle the repetitive, loud noises if he has a purpose behind it. 

• Example- correcting kids when they scream too long, to high, etc. We encourage them to scream then complain when they do it wrong- they need to understand the why (if you’re busy screaming and you’re punched in the gut it won’t go well for you). 

• Need to be mindful about consistency. If we’re at the front we are all the mirror image. When we count, we count first strike second. Consistent with terminology (switch, sound focus vs. just switch). Everyone from now on- command, sound focus. Command- gets them thinking. Sound focus- gets them reacting. 

• Lao Gar- kids cannot repeat. However the standard is just shadowing therefore we’re okay. We need to keep this in mind when we’re teaching and helping. Usually teach sequence then technique- when teaching to shadow, need to teach technique before sequence (they don’t need the sequence).

• There is no difference between the syllabus for the kids and adults, however there is a difference in requirements. The syllabus is a living document so refinements will be happening as time passes.

•  Make mistakes, explain if you disagree, tell us your logic, what you’re seeing and why you’re doing.

Meeting Minutes - January 8, 2019

Paige Hall- December 2017

    Two stripes in the system, four on her belt. Parents are extremely engaged. Paige’s lack of effort and engagement falls onto us. She is motivated, likes more than she dislikes. According to her mom Paige becomes more accountable when she knows her mom is watching. Experiences from instructors differ. Regardless, we do not have the results. Keep an eye on her; we need to know if we have what it takes to motivate her. 

    Apparently she does not know what she needs to do to get striped or why she isn’t getting striped (as per her mom). 

    Passports worked great for her- little goals and direction.

2. We need to reverse engineer why the stripes are off & double check when we enter information. Check in workouts & skills on the overview page (shows only for current belt). Striping to be left to Khona for the foreseeable future. 

3. Passports on line may become a possibility (through zen). Sifu Brinker wants any suggestions we have regarding this.

4. Progressive syllabus requirements. Any progress? Don’t hesitate to speak up if you are not interested in participating. High priority.

5. Need to stress- need more doers (healthy guys). Many of us cannot demonstrate some of this stuff but students still need to see it and have that motivation. If you’re good at something, show it off. If you’re not, don’t.

6. Banquet- as of next year our venue is changing. Holy Trinity Church already booked this year. 1/3 the price, includes dishes & sound system. Problem is Saturday Mass at 5-6pm (right during lion dance). Possibility of moving starting time half an hour. If you have any concerns please speak up. Booked for January 25, 2020.

7. Need to line up 6 in a row in BBD. Desbiens was not only in the change room but was being blocked by us while we were helping the new guys.

8. Aubriella Balan-Waege- we need to talk to her parents (need void cheque). 

9. Depending on Claire the ABD will be getting shut down. Ryder (maybe), Carter Hanson & Blakely Whitehouse-Strong will be moving out after the next grading.

10. Teaching shoulder rolls- kid to go over shoulder opposite you, grab their head & pull it to the opposite shoulder, throw their legs over. Kids don’t have a chance not to do it. Demo’d by Sifu Brinker. 

11. New TT. Idol is Bruce Lee. Make it work.

Meeting Minutes - December 4, 2018

• Banquet- looking for ideas to better promote the Pandamonium & increase parent engagement

• Pandamonium- considering making it part of farmers days. The fundraising should be occurring throughout the year as part of the intelligent curriculum.

• Water bottles, AofK, etc- Why? NOT because we're tree hugging environmentalists. Everyone understands that plastic is bad, but not everyone knows recycling is not universal and nota solution. Change starts with you; what can you do? Responsibility & empowerment. These are the best tools at our disposal to teach empathy and compassion. Students want to reuse a disposable water bottle? No- poor leadership. No one else knows its full of tap water & all it does is send the wrong message & undermine our ability to teach the other kids.

• Think about the lion dance, altar, items on the walls; everything has a purpose.

• Don't expect a child to transfer information, notices or concepts to their parents. Talk to the parents directly. 

• Assume children that are acting out, not listening, etc. have some sort of mental limitation. Hands off kids you don't know unless there is a safety issue; physical contact can become a trigger. Students that leave for a duration eg. Cohen Johnson need to be eased back into where they were.

• Avoidance as a strategy with anxiety is common. If you allow a student to avoid the situation you are reaffirming avoidance as a strategy and you are doing the individual a disservice. 

• Animal badges- must be on every uniform. Yitzik to send Khona the spreadsheet from the Tiger Challenge so an animal team winner can be determined. 

Please feel free to fill in the gaps.

Meeting Minutes - August 7, 2018

No one is grading on Saturday. 

Very short handed in kids classes lately, but classes are going well regardless 

Jeff had to go on deck last week.  

Jeff spent almost a week with the UBBT team 

Need to refocus 

2 prong approach- take care of parents needs (justify why they should keep taking their kids to classes) 

Take care of students needs. Learning the concepts 

Concern with how we approach, some of us are broken, there needs to be instructors that can actually demonstrate what we are trying to teach (eg. Flying kicks) 

When a student or parent of student asks us why the martial arts are important and what the benefits are, we need to answer with confidence. 

The first answer needs to be the same answer from one instructor to the next. Then individual reasons can be stated if done so with competancy.  

Can we prove our answer with our own actions?  

The evidence of the benefits need to be present on deck to reinforce what the students are working towards 

CONCEPT FROM TOM CALLOS: Money coming in is always varing, money going out is always constant. What is each student worth? How many students do you need to pay the bills? Treat each student like they are your last. They are needed for the school to continue to operate. The buck stops with each one of them. They are all equally vital to our operation. Priceless. 

QUESTION: What have we normalized that is harming us?  

Low hanging fruit (too many games, too much running around) they are happy, but not benefiting from what the martial arts can offer 

Whenever the class is getting dry we panic and go to what we know pleases the students 

We forget that there is ONE leader and five instructors. The leader should be able to continue teaching the class and instructors should correct. The leader should not have to stop the class to correct 

The other instructors should not just be pylons 

A conversation about the plan for class has to happen. This has been happening to a point, but if circumstances change, it is difficult to communicate the new intentions for the class. 

CONCEPTS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Reduce everyone's roles. One person leading, everyone else focus on teaching.  

Have a single backup for the leader. No more than one in order to limit confusion.  

With a consistant leadership, it will be easier to predict where the leader is going and what the instructors are correcting.  

Immediate feedback is critical. It will have the most impact and facilitate the most change.  

Weekly meetings? At end of each night of classes? Quick 5 minute recap of good/bad.  

Striping system. We are struggling with concept of teaching curriculum and sylabus. We used to have a single colour of stripes. (Yellow x6) which were given when the concepts were covered, not necessarily when a student was proficient. One white stripe was given, showing proficiency and ready for grading. 

Looking at a rotating curriculum. Work on one concept at a time, once the section is done, the stripe will be given.  

One concept is the MAIN concept. With one or two additional concepts to prevent student boredom and skill atrophy. It is important to not get hung up on the core concept and continue to touch on others as well.  

Attempt to stop doing warmups? This may mitigate students attitude towards the first part of class (slow saunter back after getting water.) . Give them a break when they need a break. Make the "warmup" pertinent to the lesson for the day.  

It must still be a reasonable time. 10-15 mins (for legal issues).  

RECAP: Where are our students going? What do they see in us, how are they inspired to continue training? 

Let me know if I have missed or mis-interpreted something.  

Meeting Minutes - July 3, 2018

- Mr Olsen, Mr. Kover, Mr. Ewart grading on Saturday
- Olsen and Ewart recent stripes were not put in Zen Planner.
- None of these three are actually registered in Zen Planner to grade.
- We need to get on top of entering stripes into the system. Have a buddy system. Always ask each other if they gave a stripe and if they entered it into Zen.
- Our deadline is July 12 9:00am to fix all the database problems.
- Melanie is being added as an instructor in Zen Planner and Mighty Networks
- Taking a different approach in teaching black dragons. Having multiple instructors teach classes and keeping the energy up. Different approaches to the same general concepts.
- However, we need to make sure it all builds on one another, instead of being four individual segments.
- Take inspiration from the Spanish soccer team. The coach explains what they want from the players and dynamically corrects them when they are doing it wrong with out halting activity.
- Simply having them active is not enough, they need to be dynamically corrected. Correct them consistantly to achieve progress. Don't necessarily stop them all the time, this will kill momentum, but ensure they are working on proper technique.
- 80/20 rule. Forms are the most influential in your training. They work on several different aspects of your training. 20 percent of the total training that provides 80 percent the results.
- Find the 20 percent that works with the classes. (Forms)
- Encoding success, give the students steps to achieve the end goal. Give small amounts at a time to promote success and encourage further practice.

- We need to ensure student transitions from one class to another are more smooth. We need to support them more and make sure they are comfortable and still feel safe.
- Moving classes changes their entire perspective. They were just the top of their class and are now back on the bottom, this can be overwhelming.

Meeting Minutes - May 1, 2018

Possible new student with autism (8yrs) signing up. Was in MMA classes in BC, managed to integrate into the main class then the family moved. Will have to gauge whether TT or BBD is most suitable- one-on-one with an instructor for the first few classes best bet. Triggers- loud noises and crowds.

Grading Saturdat- Robbie Percy & Kyle Rempel. The Intent to Promote letters need to be handled properly; had an incident where we could not find Robbie's letter, it had been folded and left on the filing cabinet without anyone's knowledge. Needs to be handed directly to main instructor, signed with grading date and scanned onto their file before they are placed in the Intent to Promote file (in the top wall file inside the door of the office.).

Kids talking during class & instruction- needs to handled, the instructors need to be setting the example.

Too much noise from the penalty boxes, the front desk and from instructors meeting on deck. There should be zero. We can't reign in the parents in the instructors are setting a bad example.

Talking about the classes during the classes is too late- this is why we need meetings before the class. If things go off course, wing it and adapt. 

There will be some exceptions (learning zen) however conversations and sign ups are to be moved into the office. 

Number 1 reason people quit- The perceived indifference of the instructors. 

Instructors are letting their guards down during the IBD, having conversations or doing their own thing. Keep busy, keep engaged with the class and don't stand still.

Deal with sign-ups & parent conversations in the office, therefore no conversations on deck or at the desk. 

Deal with Chiasson, Kover & Tomie- expectations should be higher for established families as they set the example. Kids and parents both need to be reigned in, kids can't be coming and going as they please.

Try to handle purchases and payments between classes as much as possible Class notes & skills entries done at the front desk.

Front desk is becoming a disaster- papers and belts everywhere, paperwork being misplaced. Needs to be cleaned up, things handled or put away as they come up. The printer will be moved into the office & the office will be changing.

Need to integrate concept of boundaries more into the classes. Kids are pulling on each other, etc. Teach them how to be aware of body language & use the word "boundary".

Respect must be in classes. Kids need to learn these skills, not just be told to show respect. They need a reason, taught reasons and shown how instead of blindly doing. We need to set the example, we need to be showing them how and we need to be doing instead of saying. We need to be teaching with words other than "respect".

Bowing should be a personal message, not mindless. If it's a bark out during a drill it is not personal. If the class isn't stopped it is not personal. The students need  to be thinking of the when and why instead of mindlessly bowing or bowing "just in case"; this isn't showing respect and isn't making them mindful. 

Need to get the kids on board with the acts of kindness and fundraising before we focus on the Pandamonium. We can launch Color Your Kwoon in a week or so once the excitement recedes, and use the kids demos in the same way.

Meeting Minutes - February 27, 2018

• Adult instructors @ the meetings- if we do follow through and change the meetings to a general instructor meeting we'll need to stop discussing particular kids and anecdotal information unless it pertains to an issue across the board. These types of things should be discussed online anyways as waiting until meetings is too long to address them appropriately and efficiently.

• We should be reading these notes after they're posted and referring back to them over and over again. A lot of repetition in the meetings- some of which could be stemmed if we referred back, refocused and refreshed ourselves to the issues. 

• Make your own notes during these meetings so that everything is in your own language and you're not relying on another's interpretation.

• If you don't understand or agree with a direction thats being set bring it up to Sifu Brinker, challenge him. We need to be on the same page and if not we need to be discussing these things.

• Chronic tartiness- we need time for pre class meetings before the doors open. Need to be here, changed and on the deck at least 10 minutes before the doors open. 

• We need to have a set, systemized approach before June (when you loose me). The parents aren't seeing the value of the extracurricular stuff (passports, projects, pandemonium) and if it continues these projects are doomed. This needs to be addressed in the next 8 weeks.

• Sifu Brinker needs better access to the instructors.

• All instructors need to understand the direction the classes are being taken and the vision for the classes as it stands. This is different than agreeing- first understand and move forward with it, then challenge if you see fit. 

• Think about the level of commitment you can give to this approach, i.e. being here early enough for a 10 minute meeting prior. Let Sifu Brinker know if this is going to be an issue. If so, we need to find an alternative that will accomplish the same things (more meetings, most likely).

• July- I'll be gone (Khona) along with Dan (gone for 2 weeks). The remaining instructors are going to have to take on a major role. Having a system in place will be vital. Note that the Csillag's will be gone on several days during the summer, including July.

• The curtain on the store room MUST be closed at all times. Zero tolerance. The image of this school has been built up over decades and something like leaving the curtain open wipes out all that work. It has been shown that people associate clutter with lack of safety.

• As noted by me (Khona) even when we're engaged with a child we need to stay aware of the class in general. If you're working with one kid and another is lighting a fuse elsewhere and no-one notices it creates huge problems.

• All conversations at the front desk (incl. between Lisa & myself) need to be quieter. Conversations with parents should be moved into the office. Eventually signups should be moved into the office as well. No conversations on the deck during classes (this doesn't include instructions, just two way conversations that require conversing back and forth, back and forth). If a conversation is needed, pull the instructor into the office. 

Meeting Minutes - January 30, 2018

• Grading Saturday- Willoughby & Chiasson

• Willoughby- tartiness is getting better but we need to have a zero tolerance approach; talk to his mom if it continues. 

• Last for a student is defined by arrival after we bow in. We need to have a conversation with the kid first followed by a conversation with the parents. This should become part of a stripe (probably green); if a kid is late they loose the stripe. ***Tartiness is part of the lessons but not a factor in the stripe until it becomes an issue*** This can't be binary; if it doesn't serve a purpose then theres no reason to do it.

• Involve Sifu Brinker if it becomes an issue.

• Bullying- is a perceived imbalance of power. Chronic conflict isn't necessarily bullying unless there is a power imbalance. We should be teaching these concepts every day in classes as life lessons and organically, never sitting down and lecturing. The green stripe needs to reflect this (the life lessons & the curriculum, not memorization of facts & presentation of them). 

• Banquet- Sifu Brinker wants to have a kids demo using the kids that will be there and determined by their strengths so that rehearsal is unnecessary. Need to look at the list to determine what students we have and where we can go from there. Need to be done by this weekend.

• Need to clarify with students that people without tickets won't get in like in previous years. Also clarify there will be assigned seating & schedule; doors @ 5, program @ 5:30, dinner to follow

• Mightybell- keep note and bring up any notifications you don't get. Having some issues with notifications in certain groups, want to make sure the system is working. If you post something and receive no comments or acknowledgement reach out to find out why.

Meeting Minutes - January 9, 2018

• Coen Johnson- refusing to participate in classes on occasion. He has gotten better but has regressed since taking time off over Christmas. Instructors need to be consistent when dealing with him and he gets no warnings anymore; he knows the rules.

• Jessica Johnson- showing defiance towards instructors (Lisa)

• Mediocrity seeping into the school; Fodor (intermediate adults) is close to being thrown out because of his attitude and disregard for fellow student and instructors. If he's been allowed to act this way in his class it goes to say there is mediocrity in other classes as well.

• Need to become binary on discipline.

• **No one will make the class wait. If they do they're done for the day.**

• Look at these instances as missed opportunities; we have a chance for a great life lesson but if  we let the kids get away with these things not only are we missing the chance we are also harming them and the rest of the class.

• Riley Coombs & Jacob Johnston grading. Hayden Chiasson being held back by parents of the second month. We need to talk to Katy to ensure he is not going to fall into a slump.

• Remind the parents that they have the ability to override the teachers if they feel the need to when we talk to them about grading and the intent to promote.

• Leigh Willoughby- perpetually late; need to take action on this and talk to his parents. Sifu Brinker has talked to his dad (note in front desk) so we need to wait and see if anything changes.

Instructors Pay and Subs

• Only paid for classes we attend. No more coverage UNLESS it's proper coverage approved by Sifu Brinker and the heads of the programs (Lisa, Tania or Khona depending on program). We will in the future have an approval process. At the same time we need to be encouraging and training other individuals so that they can become approved. One if us needs to be specifically assigned to the trainees

• *We need to pay our subs. We are responsible for this, it won't be deducted from our pay.

• **We cannot be late! It causes damage to the school. If you're walking in when the doors are open and students are arriving you are late. We'll be deducted for arriving late. 

Meeting Minutes - November 28, 2017

• Hayden Chiasson- will not be grading this Saturday due to some issues at school.

• Sam Percy- has tactile issues; need to start poking him a bit (not literally) to try to get him used to touch and ready for more contact 

• Sam Tomie- we need to be consistent in our approach with her- when she starts getting anxious we need to get her to calm down and focus without resorting to injury. Let her get a drink and take a minute away from the class to collect herself. Nichole is on board with this approach and will be working on coping mechanisms at home with her.

• Capacity of TT- 32-38, but is dependent on the student we have and what we can handle at the time. Ratio is 7:1, but if we have a few kids who need a bit more attention then we'll decrease our enrollment

• Bows- need to sort it out. If they need to be amped up then don't let the bows disrupt that. Use when .appropriate. When it is used the students need to be mindful. We also need to have very clear, loud instruction. Don't set the kids up for failure. 

• Fixing the bows will start with us- we need to be 100% mindful.

• We have turned the corner and reached equilibrium. Well done guys.

• TT- wean off relays & ossicle sources. They can be used but should be exception and not the norm. 

• Don't beat a good idea to death.

• Don't leave everything to one individual; think and fill in the gaps.

• Kids demos- move to Pandamonium. Possibly do a demo at the banquet with just the top students.

• Need to start thinking about the kids awards. I'll post separately for that.

Meeting Minutes - November 7, 2017

• Sparring- Brenda was told that Mackenzie McGregor quit because she was getting hurt while sparring. We need to change  the students expectations; this has a risk and there will be times that kids get hurt. We need to make sure the kids feel safe and are safe but at the same time they need to toughen up.

• Sam Tomie- seems to be using injuries to deal with anxieties. We need to be very sensitive to this, talk to her parents and develop a strategy to help her.

• We will never have a systemized approach; our approach will always be dependent on the individual and the individual situation. This is how we are consistent- we always consider the individuals and circumstances.

• Kids moving to adult classes- try to catch on 7 stripes, but it'll be dependent of the kid and situation. If we catch them on 7 they will move before they grade and we will try to catch them up before they grade and are promoted. Use it as a shock and try to improve motivation. It's safer to move them at 7 because they won't be specifically focused on something. Kids are usually moved due to lack of motivation therefore we do not grade them before and resultantly reward mediocrity. We move. motivate, get some improvement and then reward.

• Minimum standard for que belts- as much as we can get from them before we move them up. This means more will be expected from Bruce Lee than Peewee Herman.

• Tiny Tigers- still needs some work as demonstrated but Pruden, McLean & Johnson. Need an 'explosion' every 30 sec - 1 min to refocus them and regain their attention. Also need to vary drills for right and left brain, imagination vs. goals & math. 

• Bowing needs to be addressed in all  classes. As per the Tiger Challenge the kids do not know how to bow. We cannot let substandard effort slip by anymore.

Meeting Minutes - October 10, 2017

Tiger Challenge

• we need to change & improve our vocabulary

• we have to talk to the parents; the benefits are too abstract for the kids so it's the parents who need to understand and make the decisions, to see the benefits. We should be talking to the parents one on one and tracking who we've talked to and who we have not.

• the conversation has to be different for the LL & TT; the benefits are different since the expectations are different. Should be reinforcing the concept of healthy competition.

• we need to better document the event as a whole, maybe somehow free up Yitzik so he can be our photographer 

• we also need to know how to navigate the website and mighty bell in order to help the parents find the forms. Which reminds me, I can't find the forms on Mightybell, except for  the one you sent me, Yitzik

Coen Johnson- there has been major improvement from what Sifu Brinker has seen. However, we need to stay 100% consistent with him and all of our students. 99% consistent is inconsistent. We need excellent communication amongst ourselves to ensure w'er all on the same page and all aware of kids and issues. If you're not the right one to handle a specific situation don't ignore it, ensure the right instructor is aware and is on it. 

Bullying- Lisa's note on Jessica Johnson's file is a must read. "It can also take away from the lessons we teach if we are hammering on the kids in a very blatant way instead of having them learn to think and learn empathy.". We need to be laying out a pattern and letting the kids connect the dots- just telling them these things won't sink any further for them then it already has. We teach self defence and conflict resolution, NOT how to fight. We should be developing our vocabulary and understanding through our personal blogs.

Contractors vs. Employees

• If you need time off ensure it's in the calendar asap. We don't want multiple instructors gone at the same time. If someone else has booked time off please do what you can to ensure you are there. There are times when we can't help but be missing multiple instructors but we need to keep these times at a minimum.

• If your backup does not show up you do not get paid. Anything else changes the relationship from contractor to employee. YOU MUST GET BACKUP.

• You are entitled to deductions as a contractor. Talk to Sifu Brinker if you have questions regarding this. 

The value of participation - it's difficult to inspire others to do something or be somewhere when you yourself are unwilling  to do or be there. Participation will make our jobs easier in the long run and go far towards inspiring our students. 

Meeting Minutes - June 11, 2017

Apologies for taking so long. Here's the meeting notes from last Tuesday- please add anything I missed.

• Caylinn Dyble- are class may be what she needs. Set a goal for her that she can meet so that we can catch her on a high. Sifu Brinker had the idea of setting 150 (or something) acts of kindness she needs to complete and document before her grading. Has anyone talked to Paul about this?

• Rowan Johnson- has a very overdue homework assignment that needs to be dealt with.  Need to check if it's still relevant or if it's fixed. If it is still relevant we need to rework it so that it can be effective for her. Talk to her about it. Chantal, where are we with this?

• Avery Rudelich- time to move up to the adults. He's grading in July (also taking July off) so the move would work on his return. Yitzik, I know you talked to his dad before about this, where are they at?

• Need to make sure we are taking responsibility and being accountable for these guys, all of them, no matter their situation. Don't write off a kid with slow progression due to attendance, attitude, etc. If they're missing classes then we obviously haven't been engaging them enough in class. Something else is more important to them.

• Engagement- we tend to go to the extremes; all fun, no meat or all meat no fun. We need to find the right balance where the kids are having fun but learning kung fu. Classes need to be high energy with excitement and kids need a real sense of accomplishment. Building in thinking requirements into the drills is one way. Building pertinence into the classes, real life issues, so the kids and parents alike can start connecting the dots.

• Need to practice our vocabulary, build it up and connect the dots for everyone with a why. We can only get better by practicing so look for opportunities to build it in without stopping the class. 

• Less yack. 

• Calendar- we must be using the calendar. If we're not or not getting cover then we are not contractors and we can be owing CPP & UI. Big, ugly consequences if we're not doing this properly.

I know a lot more was said but I was busy listening and not taking notes. Please add your two cents in.

Meeting Minutes - May 2, 2017

Foreword- I was a bit foggy last night so there are holes in my notes. Please help me out and fill in anything I missed and/or details I glazed.

• Went over the kids stripes- need to keep this current and in the front of our minds.

• Move Killkenny, Balin & O'Connor up to the adults class together, asap. Killkenny is grading this weekend so best if we can move them for first thing next week.

• Noah Saidler is making the switch permanent. Talk to Erin again about having Calin Yakimchuk join the adults class when he returns. 

• We have an opportunity to redirect the advanced class for the next while. Prepare them for adult as many of them will be moving this year.

• Pandamonium needs to be kept separate from the fundraiser- Pandamonium is on the 27th, Kind-Act-Athon started on the first.

• Ask yourself why you are here? Keep that in front of you always and it will help you teach. 

• Couple notes from myself- Carter Hanson actually had 6 stripes, not sure when he got his green but it was not recorded in the system. This has been corrected. Additionally he received his last stripe tonight.

• Jordan Carreau has an outstanding task that was assigned November 16th- Sifu Csillag and I both have talked to him regarding it. It is currently in the way of his red stripe and after that the only stripe left for him is green. It's in his hands. I talked to him tonight again and let him know the two things I want to see him fix, including the task in his book.

Meeting Minutes - April 11, 2017

• Need to ensure we're on time, meaning 10 minutes before classes. Everything is perception and the perception if we're late is that we don't care and are unprepared. Be shinier products.

• The school is not a democracy but also not a dictatorship. Please contribute and feel free to speak up, however the final decision will always be up to one guy (Sifu Brinker).

RE: Student Passports

• Stripe mentors need to be 100% over and done with in all forms; the system failed because we were teaching to stripe vs. teaching kung fu. Teach kung fu, the skill and therefore stripes will follow.

• The passports will only be valuable if they are being used properly. Meant for the students, not parents. Tasks are not to be written for the parents and need to be presented in such a way that they are easily understandable and legible. Concise. 

• Tasks must have a beginning and an end, not just written information or correction. Must be fast, kids need the ability to get them done within approx. 48 hrs or over a weekend so that they do not tire and lose motivation to complete them while still getting the benefit. 

• Only assign a kid one task at a time. If there is a task already outstanding keep yours until it is completed. 

After that I quit taking notes so if you guys can fill in the blanks it'll be helpful. Please and thank you. 

Meeting Minutes - February 28, 2017

Pre note- I didn't take extensive notes this time so please, please add anything I've missed. I know I missed things.

• Rowan Johnson is grading this weekend- she's unmotivated right now and we need to figure out how to fix that.

• Need to fully commit to the transition, no more 1 foot in, 1 for out. Commit to an idea, don't second guess things. Much comes down reliance on the support network. Less talk in classes. Need to get more technique out of the kids (eg. jab-jab-reverse needs to be at a higher level). Don't force a lesson- if it's not working don't flog a dying horse, move on.

• Need more creative drills to get the same lessons across. (Personal note- help me with this guys. My fountain is running dry right now).

• We all need to be making notes- need to be engaged with the kids and the parents and noting everything. By the time a kid has disappeared for months it's too late- we should have noticed and intervened before that point. Possibility of discussing each student individually during the meetings, ranking as A, B or C student. C student needs intervention.

• No pylons on the matts. Need to congeal as a team.

• Watch the parents, engage with the parents. If their kid is a C student, discuss it with them. They're ultimately the ones with the ability to pull or keep a kid in.

• Use the spreadsheet for each and every class- three days later is too late and the record will be inaccurate. Also use the spreadsheet to determine what needs to be covered. 

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Comments & Discussion of Minutes

Yitzik Csillag 6y

Host

Thanks for posting.
Why no pylons?
Was the stripe mentoring discussed?
When and how are we going to rank students? I like the idea.
We should discuss c students but also students that move from A to B.

• 1

• · Reply

• Khona Rybak 6y

  Host

  I mean people pylons- we always need to be engaged. No to stripe mentors. Just discuss each student during the meetings and determine where they're at- something that I feel should be getting done more often than once a month anyways, discuss the students as we note issues instead of waiting for the next meeting. 

  • · Reply

• Jeff Brinker 6y

  Host·Sifu

  It should be noted that the stuff we covered in last night's meeting is virtually identical to the meeting notes from 2012 that I read out to you all at the beginning. We need to implement my instructions or I am going to have to start making changes. The specific instructions that need to be implemented are concerning the pylons. Everybody needs to be 100% engaged as a team member. Each of us fills a purpose on the deck and we fill in for voids left by the other instructors. We're part of a team and we need to act accordingly. 

  • · Reply

  • Yitzik Csillag 6y

    Host

    I think that there need to be more specific instructions as obviously not much changed. I also think that we should be addressing how we make sure that "helpers" are actually helping. Making sure they know what is expected from them, what the class is going to be, etc.

    • · Reply

• Jeff Brinker 6y

  Host·Sifu

  I can't be more specific unless I am on the deck consistently to observe what and when things are happening. One of the reasons I have so many instructors out there is because I cannot be on the deck consistently. Furthermore, specific or not, (curriculum vs. syllabus, when to call "students", online engagement, etc.) there is a consistent inconsistency with our instructors which makes it impossible to move ahead unless everyone is following the instructions and policies that have been set. It is our inconsistency that pushes us to constantly revise our approach in an attempt to get buy in.
  
  What everyone must start doing is weekly reviewing our goals and policies and ensuring they are mindful to follow them 100% of the time. If that happens, consistency will show results, results can be evaluated, and proper adjustments can be made.
  
  As far as helpers go, everyone must comply and pull their weight. If someone is seeing a consistent pylon out there, it must be brought to my attention. I will deal with the individual and help them to properly engage with the class and the team's expectations. If they cannot comply, then their future as an instructor must be re-evaluated. Of course I expect the team to be sharing information and ideas that are going to help helpers figure out where they are needed. However, if all else fails, I need to be informed and become involved. 

  • · Reply

• Khona Rybak 6y

  Host

  Personally I think a huge chunk of this is communication, or lack thereof. It's rare we have full or timely online engagement. Not all of us make it to classes before the doors open to the students and after classes we all have other commitments or responsibilities. If we had a reliable form of frequent communication many of these issues could be addressed. Your idea, Yitzik of a weekly meeting after one of the classes I think is the best, so we can discuss the students, any issues and try to refocus ourselves as to what the policies are and what is expected. Although I don't know if that'll fly. 

  Tania, would you be available after classes Tuesdays? Yitzik, are you available after the Monday class? We can start there and see where we need to go after that. 

  • · Reply

• Yitzik Csillag 6y

  Host

  Mondays after class will work for me.

  • · Reply

• Tania Vantuil 6y

  Member

  I should be good after classes on Tuesdays.

  • · Reply

• Yitzik Csillag 6y

  Host

  I agree with what you are saying but I think it is being interpreted differently by different people.
  
  Reviewing our goals and policies on a regular basis is great if there is a clarity of what they are. I can't just nod our heads and continue like nothing happened.
  
  If we have the same issues we had for few years we obviously have a problem of understanding what the issues are or how to go about fixing.
  
  I also think communication is key for all of it but clarity of wha we need to do and even more important- why we do it is key.

  • · Reply

  • Jeff Brinker 6y

    Host·Sifu

    When you say "it", what are you referring to? I am not in agreement that we have not been communicating consistently throughout the past 5 years. The posting I referred to at the beginning of the meeting is proof of that. We discuss this stuff almost every meeting. I am not sure how to make it more clear than "NO PYLONS ON DECK". Or " PERSON UP FRONT LEADS, THE REST TEACH". Or "WE'RE ALL PART OF THE SAME TEAM, NOT A BUNCH OF INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTORS."
    
    The fact that we have discussed this a lot over the years tells me that this is not an interpretation thing as I would expect there to be questions if people do not understand. I believe this to be an inertia thing. People tend to do what they always do unless acted upon by an outside force. I believe the problem is that I am not motivating people enough to actually comply. We spend more energy in finding compromises or new approaches since the old one (the one that people failed to comply with) did not work. 

    • · Reply

• Jeff Brinker 6y

  Host·Sifu

  Case in point. How many times have we discussed the need for people to actually comment on a post in order to get notifications and be aware of the continuing conversation? Yet here we are, the same four people having the same conversation with the rest blissfully unaware. People continue to Cheer but they stay ignorant of what is actually being discussed. This is not a lack of communication or understanding of what is needed. This is something else altogether. 

  • · Reply

• Jeff Brinker 6y

  Host·Sifu

  As far as meetings go, I believe they need to take place before class rather than after class. After class requires people keeping in front of them what they have failed to keep in front of themselves for the past 5 years and apply it in the next class. Obviously before class is not possible because of everyone's schedules so all we can do is hope meetings more often generate the results we desire.

  • · Reply

• Khona Rybak 6y

  Host

  Agreed. To be clear, I think communication is lacking between us, not you and us. Agree that after classes isn't ideal but it's a step in the right direction. 

Meeting Minutes - January 31, 2017

• Meetings need to be more pertinent to the issues being discussed. 

• Information needs to be discussed as it comes up. We need to start having meetings before or after classes OR have 100% online reliability, within the necessary timeframe. Share all information, pertinent or not (online).

• Been receiving positive feedback regarding the demo and program as a whole. Need to document ideas for improvement. Need to make better use of the microphone- some frustration over the speeches was expressed.

• Intent to Promote letters need to come directly to Sifu Rybak from the student. 

• No more games- activities need to be fun drills (BD's). TT's- games and drills kung fu related.

• Stripe mentors are being abolished. Its creating the illusion that stripes only come from the stripe mentor. Everything must be documented and kept accurate in FrontDesk, including date of stripes and date of last stripe. WE will be generating report before meetings to discuss any issues.

• Passports need to be used. If you have suggestions to make them better let Sifu Brinker know. They're meant to be chart by exception. If commenting in them, be sure to write the date and initial them so we know who to talk to if we need to. We need to make the kids advocates for their own success, not their mentors.

• Kids seem to not be completing their assigned tasks, going on 3-4 months without the parents signatures. If this is the case we need to bring it to the parents attention. 

• Every 1/4; Sifu Brinker PTA meeting.

• NEVER stipe a kid without checking the passports. Have the kids decide which stripe they want to focus on- helps them be their own advocates. Having them define specific goals will go a long way toward this.

• We need to be discussing the passports, the kids and the classes before and after the classes until all of us are firing on all cylinders with them.

• Class rotation is wiped out- up to the instructor to plan accordingly & to accurately document each and every class. A spreadsheet has been created for this.

• Emily Bouey- no longer a student until further notice.

• If students are complaining about pain or an injury, ask them what they did to hurt themselves and document everything. If the injury persists through several classes bring it to the attention of the parents. Documentation is an absolute must.