What is W.S.A.M.A.'s

SPITFIRE

Demonstration Team?

"Becoming a member of the SPITFIRE Demonstration Team is an accomplishment. Staying active is a commitment. Your diligence demonstrates the pride you have for yourself, your school, and your art. You are an inspiration to other martial artists as well as non-martial artists, not only to succeed in everything you do, but to continue to raise the standards and expectations of the art. The most important thing is this: to sacrifice what we are for what we want to become."

WSAMA's SPITFIRE Demonstration Team is comprised of Team Members of various belt ranks who are great examples of what you can do with great dedication and commitment to the martial arts. SPITFIRE Demo Team Members not only demonstrate WSAMA curriculum at its best, but incorporate the art of gymnastics, freestyle acrobatics, and theatrics to enhance the overall experience. SPITFIRE performs for any kind of event, not only for entertainment purposes, but to provide a deeper look into what it takes in succeeding to become a better martial artist and person. It's a great place to gain skills that will take you to the next level of excellence!

SPITFIRE Member Expectations:

1. Commit to Team membership for 1 year and work for the good of the Team. We will allow 15 practice class absences for vacation, other sports, injury, and/or illness (extended illnesses, injuries, & unexpected circumstances will be taken into consideration). If you aren't able to commit, then it would be in best interest that you do not participate on the Team, thus leaving open spaces on the Team for those that can commit. If a member misses 16+ practices, they will be moved onto the SPARKS Training Team until proven good attendance for a three month period.

2. Display respect to others and themselves, humbleness, focus, self-discipline, a positive winning attitude, and a willingness to work with others. Always demonstrate strong and solid martial art skill at practices and at demonstrations.

3. Belt rank on the SPITFIRE Team is obsolete. All members are chosen according to their own special abilities. Since SPITFIRE is the elite composition of the dojang's students, there is no need for ranking. The SPITFIRE black belts do not represent rank or seniority over anyone. They represent dedication, diligence, desire, patience, and passion for the martial arts and for the SPITFIRE Demo Team. It is a goal and award to strive for.

4. Attend both Monday & Thursday practices from 7pm – 8pm each night. If you miss either a Monday or a Thursday practice, that will count as 1 missed class.

The Demo Team practice before a demo is a mandatory practice. This way, we know who is able to attend the coming demo and so everyone knows there positions and routines. It makes the show run much smoother with fewer mistakes. If you are not able to attend the practice, you are not permitted to perform in the demo.

5. Being part of the SPITFIRE Demo Team is a privilege. All members are to demonstrate strong and clean martial art techniques. In order to maintain these skills, SPITFIRE members are required to continue attending regular martial art classes with a minimum of 10 classes per month. Please be sure to turn in attendance cards at the beginning or the end of class. Your attendance will be checked at the end of each month. Cardio classes do not count as a regular martial art class. If a team member did not attain the 10 required classes in the month he/she will be given a notice about the attendance and the team member must make up those days missed and also attain the required 10 days for that month in the following month. Failure to do so in the following month will result in placement on the training team until the required 10 mandatory classes per month are attained and all missed classes are made up.

6. Dress code for SPITFIRE Demos: Demo Pants, Demo Top, Long Sleeve Grey Underarmour Top (cold weather) and Demo Clip-Belt or SPITFIRE Belt. If you choose to wear a shirt underneath the Demo Top, please make sure it is black and sleeveless, like a tank top, cami, or Underarmour shirt. Also those with long hair, being boy or girl, must have it pulled back accordingly using hair bands, head bands, or bandanna.

What is W.S.A.M.A.'s

SPARKS

Demo Training Team?

In our SPARKS Demo Team Training Class, we give the opportunity to children 7 years of age or older, to train and to someday join the SPITFIRE Demo Team. In this class, we provide the participants with the information, knowledge, and skill they need to someday make it onto the SPITFIRE Team. Students will be encouraged to not only continue working on their strong points in this class, but their weaknesses as well. Through this training class we hope to improve and develop all of the student's aspects in the martial arts to the level of extreme performance!

What will they learn in this class?

Students in training will be taught all of the necessary techniques and information they need to someday become a SPITFIRE member. All that will be covered is as follow: intensity, flexibility, kicking, weapons, focus, acting, gymnastics, forms, skits, and proper manner. As oppose to learning the routines that SPITFIRE practices, SPARKS will be encouraged and helped in doing the above. Depending on how hard the student(s) works and how much they desire to be on SPITFIRE will determine how quickly they will get onto the Team.

How do I get on the SPITFIRE Team?

Hard work, desire, and patience are essential to being accepted onto the Team. When the student has attended at least six months of training classes and when the SPITFIRE Captain or Coach sees significant improvement in a SPARKS’s student, they will be considered to move up. Once promoted to the Team, that student must continue to work just as hard. Once they are on doesn't mean they can't be removed.

How do I stay on the SPITFIRE Team?

Again through hard work, desire, and patience. Once on the SPITFIRE Team, attendance plays an important role for your position. Members are strongly encouraged to attend both practices a week. As long as they continue doing their personal best and keep a good attendance, their position on the Team will be secure. Consequences of not trying their hardest and lack of attendance (15 classes) could result in being suspended from SPITFIRE. If suspended, they will be placed on the SPARKS Training Team for time to improve their overall technique and attendance for at least three months.

What is W.S.A.M.A.’s

INFERNOFEST ?

The West Shore Academy of Martial Arts’ SPITFIRE Demonstration Team, each year, hosts a very special festival called INFERNOFEST. At this great gathering,  families, friends, and other fellow martial artists are invited to partake of the many festivities held at the W.S.A.M.A. Games, food, raffles, and prizes are just the small things that make it enjoyable to attend. For opening acts and shows, other action teams and special guests are scheduled for entertainment. But the main event of the festival is the great martial art performance and demonstration performed by W.S.A.M.A.’s SPITFIRE Demo Team. At this show, SPITFIRE uses the addition of louder music, theatrics, pyrotechnics, special lighting, and effects to enhance the martial art experience. We hope one day that this festival will become even more well-known throughout the state, and hopefully attract more demonstration teams to add to the extreme martial arts fun and thrill!!!