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Media
Best Martial Arts Studio
Mizudo Academy of Martial Arts
13244 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-582-5803
The melting pot, nay, the tossed salad of southeastern Michigan martial
arts, Mizudo Academy draws students from Detroit, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights,
Garden City, Westland and beyond. We tested a few places before we found
that Mizudo prides itself on being more culturally diverse and community-minded
than a number of its roundhouse-kicking counterparts. From training in
the park, to various holiday food and clothing drives, Mizudo gives more
back to the community than highly skilled and disciplined students of
karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Further, Mizudo opens its doors to non-members
for free self-defense seminars several times each year. The next Mizudo
self-defense class, a parent-child safety seminar, is Wednesday, Oct.
24, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Chopping the fear out of taking the MEAP
By Liz Cobbs | The Ann Arbor News October 15, 2007 08:34AM
Breaking News
CHASE/ANN ARBOR NEWS
Montise Peterson leads a group of Haggerty Elementary School Third-graders
in a karate lesson prior to taking a MEAP test. The school is conducting
a "boot camp" with a variety of exercises including aerobics
to get the students ready for the tests.
"Kids are being tested all morning, then they
go to lunch. Having activities for them in the afternoon helps to re-energize
them so they can go back to the MEAP again." - Haggerty Elementary
School Principal Alisa Pitt.
Charles Love, a third-grader at Haggerty School in
the Van Buren district, stood in line with his classmates to go into the
gym to practice karate.
Charles said he was scared to try karate moves because he hadn't done
them before.
But after Charles and 70 other third-graders got the hang of the basic
techniques from karate master Montise Peterson, a fifth-degree black belt,
the fun began.
When it was over, Charles said he wasn't scared
any more.
"It was good," Charles said, wearing a broad smile as he headed
toward his classroom, skipping along the way.
The karate exercises were part of a series of afternoon "aerobics
boot camp" activities for third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students
taking the Michigan Educational Assessment Program test, said Haggerty
Principal Alisa Pitt
"Kids are being tested all morning, then they go to lunch,"
Pitt said. "Having activities for them in the afternoon helps to
re-energize them so they can go back to the MEAP again."
Last week, students also had jazzercise, brain-teasing exercises and calisthenics.
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MEAP testing for Michigan's third- through eighth-grade students runs
from Oct. 8 through Oct. 26. During that time, many schools find ways
to help students relieve the stress of test-taking.
It's been a tradition at Redner Elementary School in the Lincoln Consolidated
School district for first- and second-graders, who don't take the MEAP,
to encourage the older students on the eve of MEAP, said Redner Principal
David Northrop.
The Friday before MEAP testing began, the younger students visited third-
through fifth-grade classrooms with decorated letter cards that spelled
out, "You Are Redner Allstars To Us." On the count of three,
the kids held up the letters to spell out the slogan.
"What we're trying to accomplish is to give the younger children
an opportunity to support older children," Northrop said.
"This gives the younger kids something to look forward to, to have
the opportunity for this to happen to them. We are really trying to take
a positive approach to encourage our children."
Liz Cobbs can be reached at lcobbs@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6810
Dearborn Press & Guide
Dearborn martial arts academy spearheads food
drive for needy
Students at the Mizudo Academy of Martial Arts and the city of Dearborn
teamed up during the holiday season to provide help to area families in
need.
The academy is located at 13244 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. Recently, Mizudo
students — led by the academy’s owner, Sensei T. Montise Peterson — organized
a drive to create food baskets for 20 local families in need. Students
collected canned goods and other foodstuffs to fill the baskets, and the
city — in cooperation with Hegira Programs — donated the cost of 20 turkeys
for the baskets.
Peterson, his students and Dearborn Fire Chief Michael Birrell worked
together to fill and distribute the baskets shortly before Christmas.
"Community spirit is what makes Dearborn such a special place,"
said Mayor Michael Guido. "Sensei Peterson and his students have
touched the lives of many families in our city through their generosity,
and have reminded us how much better it is to give than to receive."
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