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Page 16 Thursday, September 2, 2010 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION Westfield Resident Tsirigotis ‘Goes to the Mat’ for Martial Arts By MARYLOU MORANO A student of martial arts since he was area. Westfield Boy LaVelle Appears Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times 11, Mr. Tsirigotis holds a black belt in One would expect that with this abun- WESTFIELD – “Back to school” Taekwondo and is the originator of his dance of experience, the author would not only means getting back to the own system of martial arts; it is based take a stance that martial arts are for books; it means heading back to after- on pankration, a combat sport that – every child. Instead, his unbiased look On the YES Network, WFAN Radio school activities as well. blending boxing and wrestling with at martial arts and the martial arts in- strategy – was introduced into the Greek dustry allows each parent to make the By CHRISTIE STORMS meeting the New York Yankees at show, simulcast on TV via the YES Olympic Games in 648 BC and which best decision for his or her child. He Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times their new stadium come true. And (Yankees Entertainment & Sports) featured the philosopher Plato among provides the benefits of martial arts WESTFIELD — In May, the this past week, the same charitable Network and on WFAN 66 AM Ra- its participants. training, but he also provides a list of Make-A-Wish Foundation made 9- organization invited Connor to ap- dio. Mr. Tsirigotis has also trained in 10 the dangers. year-old Connor LaVelle’s dream of pear on Mike Francesa’s sports talk Kerry LaVelle, Connor’s mother, other forms of martial arts and was on Mr. Tsirigotis also compares the reported that the Make-A-Wish the U.S. Boxe Francaise Savate “lone wolf” aspect of martial arts with “My heart was pounding so fast, but I loved it.” Foundation sought a child to appear [kickboxing] Team. team sports. on its behalf and had recalled Mr. Tsirigotis is also the founder of “[The martial arts] student does not ~Connor LaVelle, talking about his on-camera interview with YES Connor’s upbeat personality and Xeiron’s Academy, a martial arts pro- have the …burden of holding the team passion for the Yankees. They in- gram for children and young adults, back…On the flipside, a student is not vited the family down to Bar Antici- and has worked with the campus police held back by the limits of others,” he pation (Bar A) in Belmar, where department at Boston University to writes. Francesa broadcasts a special end- develop a campus safety and crime- Mr. Tsirigotis resides in Westfield of-summer installment of his show prevention program that included self- with his wife and three children. In his annually. defense. He also taught self-defense professional life, he is a corporate secu- The LaVelles received V.I.P. passes and crime prevention through North- rities attorney who works on Wall Street. to view Mr. Francesa’s five-hour si- eastern University and Bentley “Developing Body, Mind, and Spirit” mulcast right in front of the stage College’s residence halls. In addition, is available at amazon.com. last Friday. he has taught self-defense and crime * * * YES Network personality Chris prevention for the federal government, Paid Book Review Shearn then came down into the au- as well as instructed at various martial E-mail [email protected] to learn dience for a brief interview with Parents who are thinking about en- arts schools in the Washington, D.C., more. Connor, who has spent much of his rolling their children in a martial arts life in a wheelchair due to a diagno- program will find a wealth of informa- sis of Neurofibromatosis (NF1). tion in “Developing Body, Mind and Connor wore his Yankees 2009 World Spirit: A Parents Guide To Martial Arts Series shirt and cap for the occasion. Training for Kids,” a book by Westfield Connor told The Westfield Leader resident Peter Tsirigotis. and The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Times Unless they are serious students of that while show representatives briefed martial arts, most people – especially him ahead of time regarding the Yan- young people – view this sport as enter- kee topics he would be discussing on tainment. air, he still felt nervous once the cam- Popular culture perpetuates this myth YES, AND IT COUNTS...Nine-year-old Westfield boy Connor LaVelle shares his eras were rolling. with the Power Rangers, a live-action feelings on the Yankees’ postseason chances, as well as his favorite player, with the YES Network’s Chris Shearn at Bar A in Belmar. This past week the Make- “My heart was pounding so fast,” children’s show, and other television A-Wish Foundation invited Connor to appear on Mike Francesa’s sports-talk he said. “But I loved it.” programs like “Kung Fu.” show, simulcast on TV via the YES Network and on WFAN 66 AM Radio. Yet those watching him on TV “The media, for entertainment pur- would merely see a boy speaking poses, has created a mystique around calmly and confidently about his the martial arts,” said Mr. Tsirigotis. The Melody Lingers On favorite baseball team, as if he made “My goal is to shatter this mystique and these kinds of appearances all the MAKING ALL HIS NOWHERE PLANS…Nowhere Boy, starring Anne-Marie present to parents an honest assess- Duff and Aaron Johnson (as a young John Lennon), and 20 more not-yet-released At NJWA’s Music Studio time. ment of the benefits and drawbacks of movies will premiere in Filmmakers Symposium’s Arthouse Film Festival, When asked how he made it look children training in the martial arts.” beginning this month at AMC Loews Mountainside. For information, call (800) WESTFIELD – Autumn has long There are separate fall, winter, spring so easy, Connor replied, “You just The book is short but comprehen- 531-9416 or visit PrivateScreenings.org. been associated with a return to and summer sessions, for which stu- have to pretend the camera’s not sive, and includes an introduction that school, and the New Jersey Work- dents may register at any time and even there...I was focusing on his addresses various aspects of martial shop for the Arts (NJWA) Music Stu- tuition will be pro-rated accordingly. questions.” arts in a question-and-answer format. Arthouse Film Festival dio, after a successful summer ses- The Music Studio also offers group On air, Connor shared his feelings Mr. Tsirigotis also discusses martial sion, is now preparing for its fall lessons such as the beginner piano about such topics as visiting the Yan- arts techniques, applications, training, semester. class, for ages 4 and older. In “Kids kees’ new stadium (all positive), his benefits and cautions. Coming to Loews Theater “We’re looking forward to an ex- on Keys,” students use the innovative favorite player, Mark Teixeira, His chapter on finding a martial arts MOUNTAINSIDE – Starting Sep- films that later earned a total of 21 Oscar, citing season,” said Ted Schlosberg, method of Musique Rapide, an accel- (again, positive) and whether the school includes a checklist to help a tember 20, Filmmakers Symposium’s 32 Spirit, 26 British Academy and 16 founder and executive director of the erated program that helps them grasp Yankees would become the 2010 parent determine whether or not a par- Arthouse Film Festival will run for 12 European Film Award nominations.” NJWA. “We are employing additional the fundamentals of reading music. World Series Champions (absolutely ticular school is appropriate for a child. weeks at two New Jersey theatres: AMC “We also work to ferret out potential music-staff members based on the There are also separate group guitar positive with an emphatic nod). Mr. Tsirigotis also fearlessly debunks Loews in Mountainside and AMC hits in the development and production recent increase of interested students and voice lessons specially created Connor also got to meet Francesa, many of the myths associated with Loews at the Monmouth Mall. The stages so we are ready to pounce on the during our summer music lessons.” for children ages 5 to 7. who presented him with an martial arts training. festival has hosted 1,393 movie pre- best films first,” Mr. Rose said. Contemplating that the upswing in In addition to the vocal and instru- autographed photo. He additionally For example, he believes a child mieres, with 926 live guest appear- Confirmed films and those under enrollment may be related to the re- mental music lessons, the Music Stu- received one from retired New York should not begin training until the age ances over the past 20 years. consideration for the upcoming festi- cent statewide cuts in music educa- dio also gives opportunities for area Giants’ football player Sean Landeta, of 7, and he cautions parents against Oscar winners and nominees Danny val include: Blue Valentine, with Ryan tion, Dr. Schlosberg added, “We plan musicians to play in its many bands, who appeared as a guest that day. martial arts schools that enroll younger Aiello, Alan Arkin, James Cromwell, Gosling and Michelle Williams, di- to accommodate students whose orchestras and symphonies. Among Mrs. LaVelle expressed apprecia- children. Ethan Hawke, Viggo Mortensen, Chazz rected by Derek Cianfrance; The Com- music programs have been altered in them are the NJWA Concert Band, tion for the opportunities presented to “I see these types of programs as Palminteri and David Strathairn have pany Men, with Ben Affleck and Chris their local school districts.” NJWA Summer Symphony, Rockin’ Connor thanks to the Make-A-Wish glorified play groups or watered-down joined Famke Janssen, Joseph Gordon- Cooper, directed by John Wells; Con- “Instruction at the Music Studio” Jazz Band, International Alphorn Foundation, which she described as gymnastics class that provide no more Levitt, David Morse, Connie Nielsen, viction, with Hilary Swank and Sam is not solely intended for young stu- Society Ensemble and the Saturday “such an amazing organization.” benefits than the standard ‘mommy Joe Pantoliano and Kevin Smith as guest Rockwell, directed by Tony Goldwyn; dents, but is geared toward musicians Matinee Orchestra.

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