Stuck at home? Potomac Kempo has been teaching Japanese martial arts virtually through the pandemic.
The dojo has a number of locations in Alexandria, and while hundreds of students are starting to come back the business is transitioning from offering online-only services.
Jeff Gibbs manages the Huntington location and has practiced Kempo for nearly a quarter-century. He’s a third-degree black belt and said that online courses can be effective, but not as impactful on developing real skills.
“Contact is necessary for training and self-defense,” Gibbs told ALXnow. “Now, if your interest is just to stay in shape while doing something mentally engaging, then sure, that is not a problem. If it’s a kid looking to just have improved focus or having a half-hour of focusing on something, and their parents need a break, then we can focus on that.”
Gibbs said instructors have been told to take their fighters outside if it gets too crowded indoors.
“It turns out martial arts can be learned just fine in the rain,” Gibbs said.
Potomac Kempo isn’t the only local dojo in the virtual training arena. Seichou Karate in Old Town has also been hosting courses online to keep students training through the pandemic.
Photo via Potomac Kempo/Facebook
Recent Stories
A look at the most and least expensive single-family homes sold in Alexandria last month, April 2024.
The Traffic and Parking Board endorsed one intersection change that could make Lynhaven/Del Ray a little safer but did not approve the proposed reversal of a one-way street. The proposed…
No charges were filed against a man arrested for a suspected misdemeanor assault and battery on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray on Sunday. A passerby called 911 at around…
Here’s a roundup of all the events, live music, and entertainment happening around Alexandria this weekend; enjoy! Are you organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow. Friday, May 3 Things…
Good news, D.C. area. You can save money on your next home cleaning with Well-Paid Maids. It’s easy!
We offer a discount when you set up recurring cleans — and the discounts just increased this week!
For weekly cleans, get $30 off each cleaning.
Potomac Harmony is Back! Following a gap year of competing, then virtual rehearsals during the pandemic, followed by the well-earned retirement of our long-term director, a year of a director search, Potomac Harmony hit the regional contest stage in Concord, North Carolina in March for the first time since 2018! It was exhilarating, reaffirming, and rewarding!
The chorus hit all of its goals, the biggest of which was to have fun and sing our best on contest stage — we did both! Because we earned a score over 400 points, our new Director, Allison Lynskey, was awarded the Novice Director award, photo above. Additionally, one of our charter members, Jackie Bottash, was nominated for and honored with the Leadership Excellence award. It was a celebratory weekend!
What’s next? So much! We now look forward to upcoming performances, growing our membership, and expanding our musical product with new arrangements and an education component each week. It’s an exciting time to be part of this ever-growing ensemble!
Alexandria NAACP, Shiloh Baptist Church, DPC to hold City Council…
The Alexandria Branch of the NAACP, Shiloh Baptist Church, and The Departmental Progressive Club to hold the City Council Candidate Forum for ALL Candidates in the City of Alexandria Virginia. The event is Free of Charge and Open to The