Pottstown Athletic Club

This program offers an avenue of expression and socializing for area youth who find team activities difficult for whatever reason. Some in the Karate train for free because of their socioeconomic origins. This discipline teaches valuable personal management skills that these children have not been learning elsewhere for a variety of reasons. Karate is the art of unarmed self-defense. Karate is a Japanese phrase meaning   "kara"   - (empty),   "te"   - (hand), or the way of the empty hand. Karate is a centuries old martial art, formally introduced in Japan by Master Gichin Funakoshi. Since the 1950s, karate has been practiced throughout the United States and other parts of the world. Karate is an excellent exercise, utilizing 90% of the body muscles. The mental aspects are as important as the physical. The main objective of karate training is development of character, although karate is also a practical and effective self-defense system.  Men and women...

I remember my first taste of CrossFit very clearly, about a year ago.  My son had invited me and my daughter, his sister, to Pottstown CrossFit’s Annual River Run.  Wanting to try something new, we took him up on the offer.  Little did I know that it was anything but a RUN.  During the run, various workout stations were set up to include tire flips, kettle ball swings, and thrusters.  Considering that I had not done any type of physical activity over the past 4 years, due to working full time, raising 2 teenagers, and attending graduate school, I was feeling really out of shape during the workout.  However, one of the things that I noticed really quickly was that everyone was so supportive and helped me and my daughter throughout the course of the run.  Everyone was encouraging and showed us each routine at each station.  After completing the run I felt exhausted, but at the same time felt a sense of accomplishment.  It was at that time that...