It’s almost the new year and people will be trying to think of New Year’s resolutions. My tip to you: DON’T! Don’t waste your time with empty resolutions and false promises to yourself. Instead, make a commitment! Make a commitment to better yourself in some way. That could be healthier eating, starting an exercise routine, taking care…
Author: Josh
Building Detail-Oriented Habits
How does standing in a ready stance lead to academic success? People do not always understand the benefits of structured rituals in martial arts class. Why do students need to stand in a ready stance? Why do students need to put their shoes with heels to the mat? Why do teachers demand students sit a…
Making it Stick
Martial arts schools are going to adopt different means of training and motivation. Much of how martial arts is taught Punishment vs Stimulus Self Exploration Deliberate Practice Lecture v/s Quizing Mindfulness of Emotions Immediate feedback Micro Training Be Slow to be Fast Draw analogies Patience and empathy Make it real. You’re already there. Trick the…
Growth Through Challange and Adversity
Martial arts practice will allow you to deal with a spectrum of emotions. I love every chance I get to practice …if you couldn’t already tell. However, it’s also very challenging and full of difficult moments, both emotionally and physically. When I hear someone say, “it is hard,” I usually reply with something along the…
"I don't wanna go!"
• Anticipate the “I don’t want to go” moments. Be ready to gently insist on their attendance and always check in post-class. They’ll likely admit to having fun. • Maintain a consistent schedule while avoiding burnout. Allow occasional breaks, but emphasize the importance of discipline in personal growth and skill enhancement. Parents, We’ve all faced the…
Why Kick High – When You Can Kick Low?
As I was watching my oldest daughter’s swim practice tonight, I saw two boys, maybe 11-12, show of their karate skills off in the corner of the pool grounds; just a little mock fight. Every kick they threw aimed for the head. I’ve only been training for about 10 years. But the older and more…
The Importance of Student Teachers
The road to black belt is a long journey. And 1st Dan (degree) Black Belt is even the start of a new journey! The title of Sensei is honored to those Black Belts who will also be teachers, this title is awarded by their instructor. However, not all Black Belts will be a Sensei. But…
Keep the 'Nasties' away!
Sweat, blood, and rock and roll! At least the first two are things you’ll find in most every Dojo. Some Dojos you can also find nasties that come with that, different types of fungus, ringworm, bacteria, blood pathogens, staff, and more. Yes, scary stuff! We are diligent about keep our Dojo mats clean by wiping them…
Intensity in Training
When is it ok to have 100% intensity in Kumite or Rolling? The answer is never. For the sake of this thread, I’ll use the term Kumite to cover kumite/sparring/randori/rolling. It seems almost necessary to see how far you can push yourself in Kumite. How do you know how you will perform in a ‘real’ fight…