We here at SSU-USA hope all of you and your families had a great holiday season, and are looking forward to another successful year in 2008! 
   The first SSU-USA National Seminar & WKF referee’s seminar that was held in St. Louis in November 2007 was another successful event for the SSU-USA.  In addition to our own sensei, we invited one of the top certified WKF referees to help us hone our skills both as mat referees and line judges. Through this event, we were able to update the KUMITE rules and get a better idea of how to referee the various age groups. 
    Some changes were made at the general meeting. I’d like to welcome aboard to the SSU-USA committee Jeff Goff, Daniel Galarza and John Francis from Rolla, along with Lisa Hall and Paul Schiavi, both from Glens Falls.  Michael Berkowitz, 5th Dan from Glens Falls was elected as the president of the SSU-USA.  I am confident that the new people in our committee will make our association an even better one.  
   We also have agreed that we will host the first SSU-USA national tournament in St. Louis in 2009.   Because of this exciting opportunity, our training will focus on the development of the highest level of competitive spirit and skills.  It is my belief that this event will mark an important milestone in the organization’s national history!   We have an opportunity to promote the traditional style of karate-do in the United States of America; which is in accordance with our mission.
        In 2008, I would like to focus on the retention of students in our organization.  I am very proud that the karate-do experience we have been providing has contributed greatly to the health, maturity and success of our students. 
 
 Happy New Year to all!

1. We had two karate tournaments in 2007 (April & September)

2. Our first KARATE SUMMER CAMP was held in June 2007

3. Our new brown belts: Matthew Graham, 10 and Jacob blythe, 11 (Nov. 30, 2007)
4. The Mid-County YMCA Karate Awards Night (Dec. 7, 2007)
2007 Outstanding Performance - Caitlin Hoogstraten, Samuel Hafidi, Tyler Herman
2007 Most Improved - Anisa Buttar-Miller, Emily Eden, Angelica Brice
2007 Outstanding Attention - Katie Reus (Little Samurai)
2007 Assistant Instructor of the Year ( Ben Marmoun)

Daniel Galarza received his 1st degree Black Belt on December 6, 2007. 

Dan began studying in the Rolla dojo in June of 2005, after acheiving the rank of 6th kyu in a previous style. 

    In other grading news, Gwen Cook and Jessica Fraser both acheived the rank of 4th kyu, while Trent Mahaney and Courtney Sweigard both acheived the rank of 8th kyu.  Congratulations to you all!

   During the summer Dan, John Francis, and sensei Goff were all pleased to be able to help out Sensei Tomlinson with his tournament in St. Louis. 

With the combined forces of all those adults, the kids’ tournament went very smoothly, and a good time was had by all!