Posted on Torontoist
According to the Inside the CBC blog and the National Post, Toronto's favourite boyish-looking provocateur, Avi Lewis, is back on the airwaves with his newest show, Frontline: USA. The show promises to "strip away the spin and highlight real issues such as poverty, violence, race, health, and immigration" in America. Considering that Lewis is involved and that the show airs on Al Jazeera English, chances are that Frontline: USA won't be a Dobbsian exercise in blaming America's problems on immigrants.
Avi Lewis is best known for being the first host of CBC's current affiars debate program counterSpin. Although his last two CBC shows, The Big Picture and On the Map, didn't make it to their second season, Lewis is still a highly respected media personality. The first episode of Frontline: USA examines the effects of Hurricane Katrina, exploring why America failed to protect its poorest citizens and how this affects the way New Orleans will vote in the upcoming election. The weekly show will continue until America's election, and then who knows. In the meantime, you can watch the show and other Al Jazeera English programs on their YouTube channel.
Link to the original post on Torontoist here with all the links embedded.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Standing Engagment: Regent Park Focus
Published in National Post. [Toronto magazine, Feb. 9, 2008.]
Neighbourhood must-see TV
For most Torontonians, day-to-day life in Regent Park is a mystery. It was designed that way. Walking by, on a trip to Cabbagetown or Riverdale, one only sees the brown blocky exteriors of its buildings. But plans for a Regent Park TV station, RPTV, may give Torontonians a realistic glimpse of daily life in the area.
The station is part of Regent Park Focus, a drug-awareness program that provides media training to youth in the area. Participants produce a quartery magazine and broadcast a 30-minute radio show on Tuesday evenings on CKLN. The group offers free youth programs on video production, photography, music production and Web design.
"Our hope with RPTV is that it becomes a fully engaged community process," says Adonis Huggins, program director for Regent Park Focus. "It would have a significant impact on the community."
Throughout its 17-year history, Regent Park Focus has already made an impact. Its facilities are accessible to interested youth even if they aren't enrolled in a program.
Three afternoons a week, participants from the O'Connor Focus group in Victoria Park travel to Regent Park. To them, the experience has been nothing but positive.
"Instead of [getting into trouble]," says Jessica Simpson, 18, "we can learn something."
In a recent three-hour session, participants were introduced to storyboarding and script writing and then asked to storyboard, shoot and edit a public service announcement on a topic of their choice.
"It's really about the youth who come in," says Huggins. "[For the O'Connor participants] it's really trying to encourage them to produce videos about their community. For the youth that come after school, it tends to be about reporting and covering different events."
For some of the participants, the program is providing them with the training and access to contacts that will assist in their pursuit of a media job. "I used to come here all the time two years ago," says Web site technician and Regent Park resident Fahim Mohammed, 19. Originally a participant, Mohammed will slip into an instructor role when Regent Park Focus's new Web design program launches.
The program's success is being replicated in other parts of Toronto. The Rexdale Protech Media Arts Centre opened last July and Regent Park Focus works in partnership with many community groups within the province.
With promising negotiations underway with Toronto Community Housing to move into a new 5,000-square-foot space that's above ground, Regent Park Focus's future looks bright. However, that doesn't mean Huggins can't see other avenues for growth.
"One of the things we haven't been able to do is attract the corporate support that a program like this needs," he admits.
RPTV videos can be viewed online at regentpark.tv. For more information, call 416-863-1074.
Neighbourhood must-see TV
For most Torontonians, day-to-day life in Regent Park is a mystery. It was designed that way. Walking by, on a trip to Cabbagetown or Riverdale, one only sees the brown blocky exteriors of its buildings. But plans for a Regent Park TV station, RPTV, may give Torontonians a realistic glimpse of daily life in the area.
The station is part of Regent Park Focus, a drug-awareness program that provides media training to youth in the area. Participants produce a quartery magazine and broadcast a 30-minute radio show on Tuesday evenings on CKLN. The group offers free youth programs on video production, photography, music production and Web design.
"Our hope with RPTV is that it becomes a fully engaged community process," says Adonis Huggins, program director for Regent Park Focus. "It would have a significant impact on the community."
Throughout its 17-year history, Regent Park Focus has already made an impact. Its facilities are accessible to interested youth even if they aren't enrolled in a program.
Three afternoons a week, participants from the O'Connor Focus group in Victoria Park travel to Regent Park. To them, the experience has been nothing but positive.
"Instead of [getting into trouble]," says Jessica Simpson, 18, "we can learn something."
In a recent three-hour session, participants were introduced to storyboarding and script writing and then asked to storyboard, shoot and edit a public service announcement on a topic of their choice.
"It's really about the youth who come in," says Huggins. "[For the O'Connor participants] it's really trying to encourage them to produce videos about their community. For the youth that come after school, it tends to be about reporting and covering different events."
For some of the participants, the program is providing them with the training and access to contacts that will assist in their pursuit of a media job. "I used to come here all the time two years ago," says Web site technician and Regent Park resident Fahim Mohammed, 19. Originally a participant, Mohammed will slip into an instructor role when Regent Park Focus's new Web design program launches.
The program's success is being replicated in other parts of Toronto. The Rexdale Protech Media Arts Centre opened last July and Regent Park Focus works in partnership with many community groups within the province.
With promising negotiations underway with Toronto Community Housing to move into a new 5,000-square-foot space that's above ground, Regent Park Focus's future looks bright. However, that doesn't mean Huggins can't see other avenues for growth.
"One of the things we haven't been able to do is attract the corporate support that a program like this needs," he admits.
RPTV videos can be viewed online at regentpark.tv. For more information, call 416-863-1074.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Blog Post: Chris Bosh, Thespian
Posted on Torontoist
(This story ended up being linked on HoopsHype.com, a basketball rumours site, which continues to blow my mind.)
Chris Bosh is at it again. Although his innovative video pitch to fans wasn't enough to push him past Kevin Garnett and Lebron James for a starting spot in the NBA All-Star Game, it has made him a media player. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix details how the video's popularity has raised Bosh's profile to new heights and how it prompted CB4 to start his own Chris Bosh TV channel on YouTube.
To ring in the occassion, Bosh slips on a wig, thick glasses, and a bow tie to introduce the world to Blaine Harrington. Although there are many more adventures to come for Blaine, the Toronto Raptor's website is polling people on what guise they would like Bosh to take on next. The Raptors' website is polling people on what guise they would like Bosh to take on next. The choices are: 1980's rock star, 1920's gangster, 1970's disco king, or international spy. Strangely enough, Bosh is a bit late in joining his fellow 2003 NBA Draft mates Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony in showcasing their range.
Showing that Chris Bosh doesn't have a monopoly on the team in video production, 27-year old rookie Jamario Moon has released a clip hyping his participation in this year's NBA All-Star slam dunk contest. Moon will be joined in New Orleans next weekend by Jason Kapono (3 Point Competition), Andrea Bargnani (Rookie-Sophomore Game), and Chris Bosh, who was selected by coaches as an All-Star. The Raptors host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
Link to original story on Torontoist including embedded links here.
(This story ended up being linked on HoopsHype.com, a basketball rumours site, which continues to blow my mind.)
Chris Bosh is at it again. Although his innovative video pitch to fans wasn't enough to push him past Kevin Garnett and Lebron James for a starting spot in the NBA All-Star Game, it has made him a media player. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix details how the video's popularity has raised Bosh's profile to new heights and how it prompted CB4 to start his own Chris Bosh TV channel on YouTube.
To ring in the occassion, Bosh slips on a wig, thick glasses, and a bow tie to introduce the world to Blaine Harrington. Although there are many more adventures to come for Blaine, the Toronto Raptor's website is polling people on what guise they would like Bosh to take on next. The Raptors' website is polling people on what guise they would like Bosh to take on next. The choices are: 1980's rock star, 1920's gangster, 1970's disco king, or international spy. Strangely enough, Bosh is a bit late in joining his fellow 2003 NBA Draft mates Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony in showcasing their range.
Showing that Chris Bosh doesn't have a monopoly on the team in video production, 27-year old rookie Jamario Moon has released a clip hyping his participation in this year's NBA All-Star slam dunk contest. Moon will be joined in New Orleans next weekend by Jason Kapono (3 Point Competition), Andrea Bargnani (Rookie-Sophomore Game), and Chris Bosh, who was selected by coaches as an All-Star. The Raptors host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
Link to original story on Torontoist including embedded links here.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Graduates: Steven D'Souza
Published in Richmond Hill Post. (January 2008)
A nose for news
Grad turns CBC video journalist
Report Card
Student: Steven D'Souza
Graduated: St. Elizabeth Catholic High School, 1996
Best Subject: English
Worst Suject: Math
Current Job: CBC Video Journalist
For many aspiring journalists in the country, a position with the CBC represents a pinnacle in their career. However, for Steven D'Souza, a St. Elizabeth Catholic High School grad, the job he aspired to in journalism school was a little bit different.
"Me and my friend Anthony labelled ourselves TSN 2000," D'Souza says. "We were going to be the anchors on TSN. It's funny because a lot of my teachers at the time were from CBC, and CBC was one of the last places I could picture myself working."
Although he hasn't made it to TSN yet, D'Souza has spent the past three years climbing the CBC ladder as an intrepid video journalist. It's a position that allowed him to meet Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and cover the 2006 Stanley Cup finals in Edmonton.
While he achieved a lot of success in a short period of time, D'Souza's career as a journalist started with a high school internship with the Toronto Sun. As the other students at St. Elizabeth did school work, D'Souza spent most of the week getting a first-hand education in journalism.
"I find that journalism is one of those things that you can best learn from doing," he says. "You can only learn so much in a classroom, but really you just have to get out there and do it."
As he attended Ryerson to study journalism, D'Souza showcased his work ethic. At one point, he was working at the Canadian Press, The Hockey News, and on Live Audio Wrestling while maintaining his school schedule.
However after he graduated, D'Souza realized that he had to leave Toronto. With plans to build up reporting experience, the Richmond Hill native ended up in Summerside, P.E.I.
"It was quite the shift to live there because Summerside is a little town with 15,000 people," he says. "Richmond Hill is huge compared to that."
In his near two years in Summerside, D'Souza became a bit of a local celebrity. After his first broadcast, Summerside residents spotted him grocery shopping and welcomed him to the town.
"It became one of those things that, if people didn't recognize me, I kind of thought it was weird," he says.
After some time, D'Souza was ready for another challenge. A five-week assignment filling in at CBC Toronto had led to his current position. The opportunity has allowed the Richmond Hill resident to rediscover his hometown.
"When I was living in P.E.I. and coming back home to visit my family, it just seemed like there was a new subdivision popping up every day," D'Souza says. "I could say before that, that you could drop me off anywhere in Richmond Hill and I'd find my way around, but now I find neighbourhoods that I never knew existed."
A nose for news
Grad turns CBC video journalist
Report Card
Student: Steven D'Souza
Graduated: St. Elizabeth Catholic High School, 1996
Best Subject: English
Worst Suject: Math
Current Job: CBC Video Journalist
For many aspiring journalists in the country, a position with the CBC represents a pinnacle in their career. However, for Steven D'Souza, a St. Elizabeth Catholic High School grad, the job he aspired to in journalism school was a little bit different.
"Me and my friend Anthony labelled ourselves TSN 2000," D'Souza says. "We were going to be the anchors on TSN. It's funny because a lot of my teachers at the time were from CBC, and CBC was one of the last places I could picture myself working."
Although he hasn't made it to TSN yet, D'Souza has spent the past three years climbing the CBC ladder as an intrepid video journalist. It's a position that allowed him to meet Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and cover the 2006 Stanley Cup finals in Edmonton.
While he achieved a lot of success in a short period of time, D'Souza's career as a journalist started with a high school internship with the Toronto Sun. As the other students at St. Elizabeth did school work, D'Souza spent most of the week getting a first-hand education in journalism.
"I find that journalism is one of those things that you can best learn from doing," he says. "You can only learn so much in a classroom, but really you just have to get out there and do it."
As he attended Ryerson to study journalism, D'Souza showcased his work ethic. At one point, he was working at the Canadian Press, The Hockey News, and on Live Audio Wrestling while maintaining his school schedule.
However after he graduated, D'Souza realized that he had to leave Toronto. With plans to build up reporting experience, the Richmond Hill native ended up in Summerside, P.E.I.
"It was quite the shift to live there because Summerside is a little town with 15,000 people," he says. "Richmond Hill is huge compared to that."
In his near two years in Summerside, D'Souza became a bit of a local celebrity. After his first broadcast, Summerside residents spotted him grocery shopping and welcomed him to the town.
"It became one of those things that, if people didn't recognize me, I kind of thought it was weird," he says.
After some time, D'Souza was ready for another challenge. A five-week assignment filling in at CBC Toronto had led to his current position. The opportunity has allowed the Richmond Hill resident to rediscover his hometown.
"When I was living in P.E.I. and coming back home to visit my family, it just seemed like there was a new subdivision popping up every day," D'Souza says. "I could say before that, that you could drop me off anywhere in Richmond Hill and I'd find my way around, but now I find neighbourhoods that I never knew existed."
Friday, December 14, 2007
Column: The Rump Shaker
Posted weekly on Torontoist, [December 2007 to June 2008.]
The Rump Shaker
December 2007 to June 2008
The Rump Shaker was a weekly dance column that highlighted three things that were happening in the city and was followed by listings. I soon realized that listings take a very long time to do when you're interlinking, but there are some really cool posts from this like ones on M.I.A., Jay-Z, Kid Sister and The Chameleon Project. Also, click on those links in there: they typically go to cool videos.
Check out The Rump Shaker on Torontoist here.
The Rump Shaker
December 2007 to June 2008
The Rump Shaker was a weekly dance column that highlighted three things that were happening in the city and was followed by listings. I soon realized that listings take a very long time to do when you're interlinking, but there are some really cool posts from this like ones on M.I.A., Jay-Z, Kid Sister and The Chameleon Project. Also, click on those links in there: they typically go to cool videos.
Check out The Rump Shaker on Torontoist here.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Graduates: Harris Rosen
Published in Bayview Post. [December 2007]
Local grad gives peace a chance with urban magazine
Early love of music spawns a successful urban magazine
Report Card:
Student: Harris Rosen
Graduated: A.Y. Jackson Secondary School, 1986
Best Subject: History
Worst Subject: Math
Current Job: Publisher of Peace Magazine
The 15th year anniversary of a magazine is a big deal, especially for an independent publication like urban lifestyle magazine Peace. For its publisher, Harris Rosen, it still feels like every day is his first.
"Where did the time go," he asks rhetorically. "It just doesn't seem like it's been 15 years."
For Rosen, the longevity of Peace is proof positive that you can achieve a good life by simply following your passions. The A.Y. Jackson graduate explains that he wasn't a particularly exceptional student.
"I went to my classes," he says. "The ones I enjoyed, I spent a lot of time on the work and tried to do really well. In the ones I didn't like, I caused problems in class."
Fortunately for potential employers, Rosen decided that he had to be his own boss. Working at Seneca College's school newspaper and inspired by music, Rosen struck out on his own as an independent magazine publisher.
After co-starting up two fledgling publications, Rosen found success with the launch of Peace in 1992.
Although the first issue of Peace featured Kurt Cobain on the cover, Rosen couldn't ignore his passion for a then controversial style of music - hip hop.
"I've been totally in love with hip hop since the mid-'80's when I was at A.Y. Jackson. When I first heard Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys, it was game over," Rosen says.
That love grew, and when he began publishing Peace, he couldn't ignore his love any longer.
"It got to the point where it was taking so much of my time and attention that I slipped hip hop content into Peace," he says.
Soon after its launch, Peace became known as one of Canada's foremost hip hop magazines.
Rosen's interview with Notorious B.I.G. has become in Rosen's words, "quite a legendary interview that's been written about a lot online and in books."
For Rosen, having the ability to meet many legendary artists, often before they become popular, was one of the perks of his job. He reminisces about a listening session with Southern rap entrepreneur and one-time Toronto Raptor Master P.
"I remember being in a room with Master P and listening to [his three-million-selling breakthrough album] Ghetto D months before it came out and just knowing that it was going to be a huge record."
Meeting rappers and having a generally good time has helped Rosen stay dedicated as an independent publisher. Although he acknowledges that, "You've got to be on the grind - every day 24/7 - to survive as an independent publisher," Rosen explains that the unique benefits of shaping a magazine outweigh the hardship.
"When you're young and into that stuff, it's amazing. I've been able to travel around the world with the magazine, and I get to see all of these different cultures," he says. "All of the people you meet in between is the spice and body."
However, much like the rap world that he started off covering, Rosen understands the importance of reinvention. As Peace grew older, Rosen made a fundamental decision to change Peace into a lifestyle magazine.
"People don't buy music any more, and to base a magazine on just one thing is dumb," he explains.
It's just one of the many changes that Rosen has noticed in the fifteen years of publishing Peace. He admits that, "When we first started out, it was more like a family, but now that we're older, it's still fun but it feels more like work."
Still. Rosen is making sure that Peace celebrates its 15th birthday in style. There already has been a special anniversary issue, a TV commercial and numerous events that the magazine has sponsored. When asked if he can picture celebrating a 30th anniversary for the magazine, Rosen answers immediately.
"No, I don't even think of that."
Local grad gives peace a chance with urban magazine
Early love of music spawns a successful urban magazine
Report Card:
Student: Harris Rosen
Graduated: A.Y. Jackson Secondary School, 1986
Best Subject: History
Worst Subject: Math
Current Job: Publisher of Peace Magazine
The 15th year anniversary of a magazine is a big deal, especially for an independent publication like urban lifestyle magazine Peace. For its publisher, Harris Rosen, it still feels like every day is his first.
"Where did the time go," he asks rhetorically. "It just doesn't seem like it's been 15 years."
For Rosen, the longevity of Peace is proof positive that you can achieve a good life by simply following your passions. The A.Y. Jackson graduate explains that he wasn't a particularly exceptional student.
"I went to my classes," he says. "The ones I enjoyed, I spent a lot of time on the work and tried to do really well. In the ones I didn't like, I caused problems in class."
Fortunately for potential employers, Rosen decided that he had to be his own boss. Working at Seneca College's school newspaper and inspired by music, Rosen struck out on his own as an independent magazine publisher.
After co-starting up two fledgling publications, Rosen found success with the launch of Peace in 1992.
Although the first issue of Peace featured Kurt Cobain on the cover, Rosen couldn't ignore his passion for a then controversial style of music - hip hop.
"I've been totally in love with hip hop since the mid-'80's when I was at A.Y. Jackson. When I first heard Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys, it was game over," Rosen says.
That love grew, and when he began publishing Peace, he couldn't ignore his love any longer.
"It got to the point where it was taking so much of my time and attention that I slipped hip hop content into Peace," he says.
Soon after its launch, Peace became known as one of Canada's foremost hip hop magazines.
Rosen's interview with Notorious B.I.G. has become in Rosen's words, "quite a legendary interview that's been written about a lot online and in books."
For Rosen, having the ability to meet many legendary artists, often before they become popular, was one of the perks of his job. He reminisces about a listening session with Southern rap entrepreneur and one-time Toronto Raptor Master P.
"I remember being in a room with Master P and listening to [his three-million-selling breakthrough album] Ghetto D months before it came out and just knowing that it was going to be a huge record."
Meeting rappers and having a generally good time has helped Rosen stay dedicated as an independent publisher. Although he acknowledges that, "You've got to be on the grind - every day 24/7 - to survive as an independent publisher," Rosen explains that the unique benefits of shaping a magazine outweigh the hardship.
"When you're young and into that stuff, it's amazing. I've been able to travel around the world with the magazine, and I get to see all of these different cultures," he says. "All of the people you meet in between is the spice and body."
However, much like the rap world that he started off covering, Rosen understands the importance of reinvention. As Peace grew older, Rosen made a fundamental decision to change Peace into a lifestyle magazine.
"People don't buy music any more, and to base a magazine on just one thing is dumb," he explains.
It's just one of the many changes that Rosen has noticed in the fifteen years of publishing Peace. He admits that, "When we first started out, it was more like a family, but now that we're older, it's still fun but it feels more like work."
Still. Rosen is making sure that Peace celebrates its 15th birthday in style. There already has been a special anniversary issue, a TV commercial and numerous events that the magazine has sponsored. When asked if he can picture celebrating a 30th anniversary for the magazine, Rosen answers immediately.
"No, I don't even think of that."
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Standing Engagement: Team Ryouko's XSD Program
Published in National Post. [Toronto magazine, Nov. 24, 2007]
Just like they do it in the movies!
From Shinobi to Kato to Leonardo and his crew, ninjas have long captured our imagination. They are notoriously shadowy figures, though. Uma Thurman had to travel to a remote Chinese village to learn her skills in Kill Bill. Fortunately, Torontonians only have to travel to Scarborough.
Nestled near Kennedy Road and the 401 is Sunny Tang Martial Arts School. Here, members of the Team Ryouko, a unique extreme entertainment company, put willing participants through their Xtreme Skills Development (XSD) program.
Chris and James Mark, brothers and co-founding Team Ryouko members, created XSD martial arts in 2001. "We developed our program because people came up to us after our shows, asking where they could learn this martial art," explains Chris.
Team Ryouko's style fuses traditional martial arts with capoeira, breakdancing and acrobatics. Individually, members have done stunt work on 300, Shoot 'em Up and Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Collectively, the group has wowed local audiences at Massey Hall and international audiences via YouTube.
While traditional martial arts classes teach fighting and self-defence moves, XSD is all about performing movie stunt-like moves.
The program has four levels, including one on weapons training. Each class lasts an hour and its unique mixture of styles is perfect for a generation that embraces cultural fusion.
"We advertise XSD like a traditional martial arts program," says James. "The difference is that it's not combat, but fitness and performance."
"It's probably one of the most visually exciting martial arts you'll see," says Eric Daniel, an XSD instructor at Sunny Tang. "It's performance-based, so a lot of the moves that we do are flashier and more eye-catching, especially with the mix of acrobatics into it."
The emphasis on creativity and performing makes the class a big hit with students, who are encouraged to create heir own combinations of moves and aren't shy about their enthusiasm.
"I love it," says Sandra Ngo, a student at the school. "The reason I'm here is because any other martial arts class is boring. I'm a hyperactive person and I don't want to spend six months just doing basic drills."
XSD is helping Paul Karda, 49, get back in shape. "I knew that being on a treadmill would be too boring for me," he says. "This allows me to do something interesting while challenging myself."
Performing effortless flips may be enough for most students, but for some, there is another reward that keeps them working hard - a chance to be invited into Team Ryouko.
"Six of my students are now part of the Junior Ryouko team," says Chris Mark. "We train them once a week on stage performance and they have a big part in our live shows."
XSD is offered at Sunny Tang Martial Arts School (Unit B22-25, 2370 Midland Ave.), as well as at schools in Newmarket, Georgetown, Mississauga and Port Union. For details, call 416-321-5913 or vist sunnytang.com.
Just like they do it in the movies!
From Shinobi to Kato to Leonardo and his crew, ninjas have long captured our imagination. They are notoriously shadowy figures, though. Uma Thurman had to travel to a remote Chinese village to learn her skills in Kill Bill. Fortunately, Torontonians only have to travel to Scarborough.
Nestled near Kennedy Road and the 401 is Sunny Tang Martial Arts School. Here, members of the Team Ryouko, a unique extreme entertainment company, put willing participants through their Xtreme Skills Development (XSD) program.
Chris and James Mark, brothers and co-founding Team Ryouko members, created XSD martial arts in 2001. "We developed our program because people came up to us after our shows, asking where they could learn this martial art," explains Chris.
Team Ryouko's style fuses traditional martial arts with capoeira, breakdancing and acrobatics. Individually, members have done stunt work on 300, Shoot 'em Up and Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Collectively, the group has wowed local audiences at Massey Hall and international audiences via YouTube.
While traditional martial arts classes teach fighting and self-defence moves, XSD is all about performing movie stunt-like moves.
The program has four levels, including one on weapons training. Each class lasts an hour and its unique mixture of styles is perfect for a generation that embraces cultural fusion.
"We advertise XSD like a traditional martial arts program," says James. "The difference is that it's not combat, but fitness and performance."
"It's probably one of the most visually exciting martial arts you'll see," says Eric Daniel, an XSD instructor at Sunny Tang. "It's performance-based, so a lot of the moves that we do are flashier and more eye-catching, especially with the mix of acrobatics into it."
The emphasis on creativity and performing makes the class a big hit with students, who are encouraged to create heir own combinations of moves and aren't shy about their enthusiasm.
"I love it," says Sandra Ngo, a student at the school. "The reason I'm here is because any other martial arts class is boring. I'm a hyperactive person and I don't want to spend six months just doing basic drills."
XSD is helping Paul Karda, 49, get back in shape. "I knew that being on a treadmill would be too boring for me," he says. "This allows me to do something interesting while challenging myself."
Performing effortless flips may be enough for most students, but for some, there is another reward that keeps them working hard - a chance to be invited into Team Ryouko.
"Six of my students are now part of the Junior Ryouko team," says Chris Mark. "We train them once a week on stage performance and they have a big part in our live shows."
XSD is offered at Sunny Tang Martial Arts School (Unit B22-25, 2370 Midland Ave.), as well as at schools in Newmarket, Georgetown, Mississauga and Port Union. For details, call 416-321-5913 or vist sunnytang.com.
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