release dates: June 20-26 25-1 (09) Go dot to dot and color.

© 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate Gaining Strength, Inside and Out Mastering the Martial Arts Have you seen movies and TV shows These students demonstrate where the actors fight using martial arts their stance, or way of standing, at the Los Angeles such as karate? In real life, people use the Air Force Base Fitness Center. martial arts mostly to defend themselves. They are demonstrating the Even more important, martial arts give martial art of comba-tai. people the strength to avoid a fight. That Comba-tai (COM-ba TIE) is a mix of Asian and African can be even harder to do. disciplines that has developed The Mini Page talked to a team leader over thousands of years. in the Houston KickStart* program to learn more about the martial arts. *The KickStart program was founded by actor Chuck Norris to help kids grow strong in character through martial arts training.

What are the martial arts? photo by Joe Juarez, courtesy U.S. Air Force When people talk about the martial The strength not to fight Healthy power arts (MAR-shuhl arts), they are usually Experts Experts say most people who fight are talking about the many Asian forms of say scared of something. When you are from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate self-defense fighting. There are hundreds martial confident and know what you can do, you of different disciplines (DI-sih-plihns), arts are have the inner strength and courage to TM or styles. not about avoid most fights. Rookie Cookie’s Recipe The most common fighting. A good martial arts program teaches martial arts They are students to be strong in many ways. Meat-in-a-Loaf Pan practiced in about Students also learn to eat healthy foods. You’ll need: America are NOT They develop strong bodies through • 1 pound lean ground beef • 1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs fighting. exercises and matches. • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce • 1/8 teaspoon pepper taekwondo (tie-kwon- • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard • 1 egg DOE) and karate The most important thing martial arts A 10-year-old boy • 1/2 onion, chopped fine (1/2 cup), • 1 (8-ounce) can (kuh-RAH-tee). students gain is strength inside throws an Airman 1st optional tomato sauce Martial arts have been practiced in themselves. Students learn self- Class instructor with a What to do: judo move during a 1. Mix together ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, onion, Asia for thousands of years. They were confidence, self-respect and self- self-defense class at discipline, or the ability to do hard things bread crumbs, pepper and egg in a large bowl. invented as a way for people to defend the fitness center at 2. Mold mixture into a regular loaf pan. themselves against invaders. to become better or stronger. Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. 3. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes until top is browned. Martial artists often do not use A martial artist learns not to give in 4. Drain away any visible fat. weapons. The artists fight using their when friends do the wrong thing. He or 5. Pour tomato sauce over top and continue cooking for 10 minutes more. bodies. Today these arts are practiced for she can walk away when someone else is 6. Slice and serve. Serves 6. You will need an adult’s help with this recipe. trying to pick a fight. photo by Senior Airman Alexandra Sandoval (Released), from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate sport as well as for defense. courtesy U.S. Air Force

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate Meet George Lopez George Lopez stars as Eddie Serrano in the Nickelodeon TV movie “Mr. Troop Mom.” Different Disciplines George, 48, was born in Mission Hills, Calif. He worked as a disc jockey at a radio station in California before becoming an actor. He now lives in Styles Some terms to know Los Angeles. Different Asian countries have Belts: Most martial He does stand-up comedy and has created comedy albums. He has also been a commentator for the different styles of martial arts. arts disciplines award HBO sports show “Inside the NFL.” He loves to play In the Japanese arts, such as different-colored belts, golf. karate, fighters stand firmly. They use or sashes, to indicate

photo courtesy Warner Bros./Nickelodeon George co-created, wrote, produced and starred in a TV sitcom, or situation comedy, series called “George Lopez.” He has many low kicks, and they use their open skill level. The colors appeared in several other TV shows and movies, including the Disney TV hands. vary according to the movie “Naughty or Nice.” He was the voice of Papi in the Disney movie Other Japanese martial arts styles discipline and school. “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.” Four years ago, George had a successful kidney transplant. The kidney include aikido (eye-key-DOE), judo A black belt usually was donated by his wife, Ann Serrano. (JUE-doe) and jujitsu (jue-JIT-sue). means the martial artist has gained a He has set up his own charity to help with educational causes. He has also In the Korean arts, known as very high skill level. A red belt is often done fund-raising for earthquake victims in Guatemala and El Salvador. from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate taekwondo, fighters start by standing the highest an artist can get.

TM from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate up tall so they can raise their legs quickly. They focus on kicking and high Sensei (SEN-say): jumps. The martial arts photo by Airman 1st Class Julius Delos Reyes, courtesy U.S. Air Force Chinese martial arts in general are This Edwards Air Force Base black belt instructor. This term Supersport: Courtney Kupets called kung fu (kung foo). The Chinese instructor demonstrates a taekwondo usually applies to Height: 5-3 Hometown: Athens, Ga. developed two general styles of martial jumping side kick. “Taekwondo” means “the instructors of the Courtney Kupets was flying around. On the bars and beam, on way of the hand and foot.” the floor and vault, the University of Georgia senior was simply arts, short and long. Japanese disciplines. the gem of the 2009 NCAA women’s gymnastics championships. Shorter styles were invented for In the Chinese long styles of martial Dojo (DOE-joe): A With acrobatic flair and elegant form, Kupets won the all- around, bars, beam and floor competitions while leading the fighting in urban, or city, areas where arts, fighters might include moves such school for teaching Bulldogs to their fifth consecutive national title. It also marked the first time there is less space. Longer styles were as flips. They are able to perform moves martial arts. an individual had won all four events. That performance brought Kupets her second Honda Sports Award, which invented for fighting in rural, or country, taking up more space. Gi (gee): The is presented annually to women in 12 collegiate sports. She also won the areas where there is a lot of space. Partly because of the influence of uniform honor in 2007. In 2008 she was sidelined during the NCAAs with a heel Chinese short styles of fighting movies and TV, modern martial arts worn by injury, knocking her out of the running. Kupets, winner of 15 All-America citations and silver and bronze medals in include in-close and in-tight moves. fighters often include more gymnastics martial artists. It usually the 2004 Olympics, excelled in the classroom as well. In 2008 she posted the Fighters might strike and defend with moves, such as flips, into their consists of loose-fitting pants top grade point average among Georgia’s senior female athletes. their elbows and knees. They train to disciplines. with a long shirt. This is a In short, the Lady Bulldog is a 5-3 giant who will always stand tall in University of Georgia athletic and academic lore. fight close to their opponents. Japanese martial arts term.

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate Choosing Your Discipline TM All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category? Learning skills for living Comba-tai students demonstrate their Experts say martial arts students striking technique at the Frank: How do chubby rabbits get fit? carry their confidence and self-discipline Los Angeles Air Force Fiona: They do harerobics! into the rest of their lives. Students Base Fitness Center. learn how to discipline themselves in Farah: What do martial arts instructors like other parts of life, such as in listening to to grill? their teachers and studying. Festus: Karate chops! Kids’ grades and conduct in school often improve after they have been in martial arts programs for a while. Felicia: What happens when you practice karate Students learn to focus better. kicks in the forest? Felix: You get chopsticks!

Many older kids and adults say photo by Joe Juarez, courtesy Los Angeles Air Force Base martial arts programs helped them Choosing a discipline Choosing a school from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate change their lives. The discipline helped TM Taekwondo is the most popular Different schools focus on different Basset Brown TRY ’N them stay out of gangs or away from The News prison. Martial arts instructors back up martial art in America. Different forms things. You need to find the one that Hound’s Martial Arts FIND parents’ teaching. of karate are also quite popular. suits you best. For example, you and Words that remind us of martial arts are hidden in the block below. Experts say your parents might want a school: Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find: Staying safe DISCIPLINE, INNER, STRENGTH, SELF, DEFENSE, ASIA, SPORT, all systems are • that is more about the sport. CONFIDENCE, EAT, HEALTHY, CHINA, JAPAN, KOREA, KARATE, Learning martial arts helps people equally good. It • where the main focus is on helping SAFE, KID, GIRL, BOY, KICK, HANDS, JUMP, BELT, SENSEI, stay safer in many ways. If you do have just depends on you learn to be strong inside. DOJO, USE. KKA I SAETARAKK I D to defend yourself, martial arts training what the • that focuses more on self-defense. I GET A SO I SOJODESNE F ED will help you do that. But usually before student wants. There are many good choices. KICK OUT OF TSRCEBYHTLAEHCJ things get that bad, martial arts If you want to Experts say a good school will have a KARATE! students learn to walk away. RP J EKL E I NNERVHA take martial balance of all three benefits: sport, EOBUAL F LSDNAH I P Learning martial arts takes time and arts classes, do some research. Find out character development and self-defense. NR L OMESUT L R I GNA work. As with everything else, the more what’s available in your area. The martial arts have elements that you practice, the better and stronger Often it is a good idea to talk to your appeal to all types of kids. Kids often GT L LYPM I ESNESAN you will become. physical education teacher for advice. start learning as young as age 4. TEFASECNED I FNOC Check out private martial arts schools, Unlike many school or team sports, HFEN I LP I CS I DTAE

as well as classes at community centers the martial arts can be practiced year- from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate and organizations such as the YMCA round. Girls as well as boys take part. TM or YWCA. Mini Spy . . . Mini Spy and Basset Brown are practicing karate in class. The Mini Page thanks John Kurek, Houston See if you can find: team leader, KickStart, for help with this • tooth issue. • word MINI Site to see: www.kick-start.org/benefits.html • letter A Look through your newspaper for stories • pencil and pictures of fun activities that also • heart • kite photo by Joe Juarez, courtesy U.S. Air Force teach discipline and character. photo courtesy Tom Livermore and NASA A comba-tai instructor spars with a student NASA scientists study karate at the • number 8 at the Los Angeles Air Force Base Fitness Shotokan Karate of America Dojo at the • fish Center. Next week, The Mini Page is about fireworks California Institute of Technology. safety. • number 7 The Mini Page Staff • letter Y Betty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist • letter V

Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.