News & Events

Dojo is going virtual!

Dear IMA Family,

As we mentioned in last week’s announcements, keeping our members and community safe is our top priority, so we wanted to share some new opportunities for you to stay connected and training in the time of social distancing. We have a big announcement for you!
Social distancing, is proven to be the most effective way to stop this epidemic and it’s the only healthy option at this time. This is a time for IMA to show leadership and act decisively to prevent the virus from spreading.

Starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the IMA Honbu Dojo is going virtual! Face-to-face classes are suspended for the time being, but training continues for our members and their families online. We are excited to offer our regular classes via Zoom, a videoconferencing service.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:
If you don’t have it already, download Zoom and sign up for an account using whatever email address you’d like!
Go to zoom.us and click the “SIGN UP, IT’S FREE!” button OR
Download the Zoom app on your smartphone (iPhone/iPad and Android apps available) and sign up in the app
Five minutes before your regular class time, either click on this link to enter the Zoom IMA Virtual Dojo https://zoom.us/j/8044321773 (you’ll be prompted to open the Zoom app on your device) or open your Zoom app and enter this number: 804 432 1773 to access the Zoom IMA Virtual Dojo. Yes, you can bow on your way in! Make sure the student’s name is showing on the video.
For the love of Funakoshi and all that is good, MUTE YOUR LINE during regular class times. Instructors will be watching to see if you raise your hand with a question and will ask you to unmute then to ask your question. You may unmute for games!
An 8 ft by 8 ft (larger is better) open space would be optimal for training.
Even if you’re remote from home, come dressed for class.
Use this checklist to earn blue stripes when we’re back for face-to-face training.

Our Zoom IMA Virtual Dojo will be open from about 4:30-8:30 Tuesdays through Fridays and 8:30-12:30 Saturdays. We will be testing the technology tomorrow with the competition team, regular Zoom IMA Virtual Dojo https://zoom.us/j/8044321773 classes will begin Tuesday.

A reminder of our regular class schedule:
Little Dragons 5:00-6:00 Tuesday through Friday
Youth Class 6:00-7:00 Tuesday through Friday
Adult Class 7:00-8:30 Wednesday, Friday; 12:00-1:00 Tuesday, Thursday
Black Belt Class 7:00-8:30 Tuesday, Thursday
Saturday Classes
All-Age Kids Class 10:00-11:00
Adult Class 11:00-12:15

Instructors: You must participate in the Zoom IMA Virtual Dojo during all of your regular classes!

More time on your hands? Review Taikyuku and Heian Shodan on our IMA YouTube site. We will add more kata this week. (https://www.youtube.com/user/imakarate)!

If the situation improves and there are no other restrictions, we will host the kyu testing on April 4th and will make some changes to the schedule, in part by providing a specific timeline for each group so we can maintain only a small number of people at a time in the dojo. If the situation doesn’t improve or if there are further restrictions, we will postpone the test. We will make a final decision closer to the testing date and will update everyone when we have more information.

As always, please feel free to talk to us about any concerns or questions that you might have. We will be asking you how we can serve you during this time. We love your feedback!

You are the lifeblood of our dojo and we strongly encourage you to join us face-to-face or virtually so we can keep our IMA karate family strong.

Wash hands, be kind, see you online!

Dojo remains open, On line training is on the way!

Dear IMA Family,

Keeping you and our members safe is our top priority, so we wanted to share the steps we’re taking in response to coronavirus and school closure concerns. We’re keeping the dojo open and implementing measures to maintain a clean and healthy place to come and do your workout. We strongly believe that by continuing to provide a good workout in a clean environment, we help our community and help our members relieve stress and keep their bodies strong. Here’s what we’re doing:
• First, we’ve ramped up cleaning efforts. The dojo is cleaned daily, now with additional sanitizing solutions used in high-touch, high-traffic areas.
• Second, if you are sick-stay home. If you have a fever-stay home. This is critical.
• Finally, we want to remind everyone to wash hands for 20 seconds, cover your mouth by coughing into your sleeve.

We are working with senior instructors to plan for online training and learning opportunities, should some of our students need to stay at home.

As always, we’re grateful for the opportunity to serve you. Rest assured, we’re doing everything in our power to provide a safe exercising experience for our members and a healthy environment for everyone in our communities. Especially with large events being canceled and schools closed, we’d like to provide a safe and healthy place for our kids and adults to enjoy a friendly workout with others.

We still plan to host the kyu testing on April 4th and might make some small changes to the schedule, in part by providing a specific timeline for each group so we can maintain only a small number of people at a time in the dojo. We will keep you posted.

As always, please feel free to talk to us about any concerns or questions that you might have.

IMA is 30 years old!

On February 1st, a number of I.M.A. Jr. and Sr. students and black belts will get together for another black belt testing experience.

The testing will start at 8:00am and will last several hours. Everyone is welcome to stop by the dojo and support the students during testing.

Please note: The youth and adult classes will not be held on this day.

Following the Dan testing (at 6pm), all I.M.A. members and their families are invited to join us for a Black Belt Extravaganza at the Honbu Dojo. The celebration is filled with demonstrations, an award ceremony and I.M.A.’s yearly recognition of several athletes.
It is also a night to celebrate 30 years of IMA organization. We will have some slide show from the old days to show the starting of our organization and will also recognize several members of Dojo pioneers!

Don’t miss this once-a-year celebration!

USA Karate Team trial

USA Karate team trial will take place this coming Saturday January 18, in Colorado Springs, CO.
This year team selection is even more important as we will be selecting the top athlete who will be representing USA in the Olympic selection in May in Paris.

The team selection take place in two phases. First phase competition will be in the morning when the top 6 athletes from 2019 national qualifier compete to represent USA in Pan American and world championship. The second phase will take place in the afternoon when the top 4 of light and heavy category will be merged together and compete for one spot for Olympic trial.

Our own Kamran and Kelara and Davoud Ashrafian will represent IMA in this intense competition. They have been training very hard to prepare themselves for this day.

The competition will start at 9:00am on Saturday and will be in the ballroom of Double tree Hilton in Colorado Springs. So, if you are interested of watching the event and cheer up Kamran and Kelara, come on down and be loud!
Good luck Kam and Kel & Davoud! We are proud of you!

Pan Am Games Gold Medal

USA Karate Press release:
Kamran has been awarded the gold medal after originally finishing second at the 2019 Pan American Games. Madani’s medal reallocation has come about after first place Colombia was disqualified after a positive anti-doping violation.

Kamran:
What a way to start the year! After recent events, I have been informed that the original gold medalist from the Pan American Games was stripped of his medal, making me the new gold medalist!
This is work outside of my power, and is a product of the continous positive energy my family and friends show me every single day.
All I have to say is thank you, this is a true testament to how much I love my support system. All glory to God!