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Let Martial
Arts Shape Your Child For School Success ! We know that your child's scholastic success is very important to you. It's important to us, too. Many parents have credited the Martial Arts with helping their children succeed in school. There are countless stories reporting significant improvements in grades, comprehension, attentiveness, athletics, general behavior and social skills. While there haven't been any scientific studies to prove that Martial Arts training improves a child's academic achievements, we hypothesize that the Martial Arts does help children develop specific skills and behaviors that increase the probability of success. We believe that all children have the potential to succeed scholastically providing they are prepared for the many challenges they will encounter. Here are some of the ways Martial Arts is helping to shape your child for success. Self-Confidence We must realize that it is not enough for us to believe children can be successful. Each child must embrace that belief. Self confidence isn't something you can touch or see, but rather something you feel. Children need that inner feeling of confidence so they believe they can be successful. A high level of confidence isn't something with which children are born; confidence is developed through positive and negative experiences. The Martial Arts teaches children to think "I can!" instead of "I can't." Martial Arts teaches this by focusing on the education of self-defense through constant positive reinforcement. The knowledge that they can defend themselves from physical harm can boost their confidence levels, which can dramatically improve their academic results. A child with self-confidence is more than half way to achieving success in school and in anything they attempt! Self-Leadership Negative peer pressures can steer children off a path of success. We must teach our children how to become their own leader so that they will feel, and will be, in control of their own destiny. The same power that makes a child think "I can!" can also provide the ability to say "no!". Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, skipping school, and cheating on exams are all temptations that children will face. Peer pressure will interfere with our children's academic goals unless they have the ability to make their own decisions. Martial Arts training instills a sense of individuality and leadership, giving children the strength to follow their own path and create their own destiny. Self-Control Patience, positive attitude, appropriate behavior, concentration, and attentiveness are all important aspects of self control that will give children an edge in school and in life. At our school, children learn self-control through our structured classroom environment, and through exercise and breathing techniques. The same breathing techniques that are used to develop powerful kicks and punches can also be a powerful resource to help children focus, relax and concentrate on exams, reading, and homework. So this year as you send your child off to school, make sure they are fully equipped to tackle the challenges ahead. In addition to their notebooks and pencils, give them the tools of self-confidence, self-leadership, and self-control. Give them the essentials for academic and life success through Martial Arts training. Good Reasons to Keep Your Child Training
in the Martial Arts There are many reasons to enroll your children and keep them training in the Martial Arts. Martial Arts builds self confidence and teaches discipline which will provide a solid foundation from which your children will develop strong character. While studying the Martial Arts is fun, children will be learning important lessons in values and respect that will shape how they view the world around them. And even though we teach to avoid confrontations, if the need arises, your children can be secure in their knowledge of how to defend themselves from physical harm. This is the power derived from the Martial Arts. Martial Arts builds self-confidence. It is a physical and demanding "sport." Children who participate and progress in the Martial Arts will develop a positive attitude that they can take with them to help accomplish other important tasks and face other challenges. Our school is dedicated to making your children feel accepted as well as motivated. We focus on providing children with a positive atmosphere where they can build their confidence, even after a bad day at school or playing a sport. It's a place where they'll find support when they feel down or discouraged. We are ready and able to give your children the additional support to face life's challenges and stay on the right path. In addition to the structure you provide at home, Martial Arts also provides your child with discipline. This involves coming to class on time and following school rules and policy. It also concerns learning to respect themselves and others, which is an important goal that we strive to instill in our students. We teach children not to feel that they can't complete a task because it's too hard or because they've failed the first time. Instead we teach them to relax, regroup and give 100 percent effort again. The discipline that they learn helps them to stay focused and work hard to accomplish their goals. Martial Arts is a tool that can help your children in other sports, as well as keeping them in shape and healthy. Many drills that we practice enhance skills they will need in other extracurricular activities. For example, proper balance and hand-eye coordination are skills that are essential in sports such as baseball, football, gymnastics and soccer. Martial Arts training can give your children the competitive edge. Knowing that they can defend themselves if a problem arises is another benefit that your children derive from Martial Arts training. Martial Arts does not just teach kids how to defend themselves physically, but more importantly, how to avoid dangerous situations. Avoiding the situation rather than being in a physical confrontation is an important concept that instructors teach both indirectly and directly. Through the Martial Arts, your children will learn many valuable lesson that will help them throughout their lives. And the best thing about it is that it's fun. They may not even realize that they are learning all these "values." And it's not only enjoyable for the kids, it's also enjoyable for the parents. To watch your children learn new skills and watch them improve will fill you with pride. But why stay on the sidelines? Martial Arts is an activity that you can do as a family. It's a way of spending more quality time with your children, and that's invaluable in today's hectic world. Martial Arts is an art form that has existed for many centuries and is taught around the world today. It's teachings are inspiring and unique. The values and lessons of Martial Arts can assist your children in becoming better citizens, and becoming better equipped to handle the many situations that they will face in their academic and personal lives. Control Your Time, Control Your Life
! It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you're trying to accomplish many tasks. Although computer technology promised us far more "free" time to enjoy life, most people are still juggling multiple tasks, wishing for more time to get more things done. This can lead to increased stress, which isn't healthy, and unachieved goals, which can be frustrating. Time management expert and author Alan Lakein said, "Time is life, therefore waste your time and waste your life, or master your time and master your life." Similarly, I would like to add, "Control your time and control your life." Taking control of your time begins with effective time management. Ultimately, time management becomes your plan to get everything done and still have some of that "free" time to do with what you please. And you can use martial arts training to provide some of the tools you will need along the way !! The first step in taking control of your time is to recognize that there are two main categories of activities on which your time can be spent. The first is business, which is your job or school if you are a student. If you are a homemaker, then that is your business. The second category is personal, which is everything else. Each of these categories can have many sub-categories as we will discuss in step four. The second step is to allocate a block of time for business and a block of time for personal use. A friend once told me to forget about "24 hours in a day" and focus on the bigger picture, perhaps a week. Interesting, I thought, there are 168 hours in a week! How much time do you want to devote to business time? If you work for someone else, your answer may be totally or partially pre-determined. Regardless, you should factor in all activities related to work, such as your commuting time, bringing work home, continuing education, and even time spent on time management. Then consider the rest of the time as personal time. This usually includes sleep, bathing, exercise, eating, household maintenance, personal relationships, recreation, and again, time management. Once you determine how much time you want to spend for business and personal, your third step is to develop a plan or schedule of when you are going to be doing what you do. For example, if you allocate 60 weekly hours for business, then you should determine when those 60 hours are to take place. Your schedule may fluctuate from week to week but you need always to deploy a plan of when you will be spending your 60 hours for business. Do the same for personal and you'll be surprised at how much "free" time is available to you. It is also a good idea to schedule some miscellaneous time that can be used for either business or personal time if you experience unexpected requirements. The fourth step is to make a list of all the tasks you are responsible to complete. Label each task as high, medium or low priority. For your personal time management plan, sleeping, eating, and bathing should be obvious necessities and you should give yourself adequate time to complete them. But how many times have you pulled an "all nighter", skipped a shower, or grabbed a non-nutritious snack because you had to meet an important deadline? An effective time management plan can help you avoid these periods of chaos. In business, accomplishing high priority tasks is essential to success. Fill your schedule with high priority tasks first, giving them the bulk of your attention. Then add medium priority tasks with a medium amount of time followed by low priority tasks with a low amount of your time. As a basic rule, if possible, you should delegate all your low priority tasks and some of your medium priority tasks so that you can focus on those of high priority. If you find it difficult to complete even your high priority tasks in the allotted time, then you must also delegate these or work with others to complete them. According to Gregory P. Smith's article, Are You Managing Time or is Time Managing You?, "A person that refuses to delegate will very likely be a very busy and frustrated person." As you are probably discovering, developing an effective time management plan takes time. You must view this time as an investment that will yield many more hours of "free" time to do the things you previously did not have time to do. Effective planning is a skill that requires time to learn, to implement, and to refine. Be careful not to fall into the trap of formulating a time management plan and thinking you are done. The hardest part is administering your plan and making necessary changes during your learning process. Martial Arts training is a valuable tool that can help you manage your time more efficiently. For starters, the Martial Arts helps reduce stress and enhances your ability to be patient. Patience is a key attribute of a good time-manager. Martial Arts is part of your personal time. It provides you with a routine of needed exercise and builds the discipline to focus on high priority tasks. A common pitfall that some people fall into during periods of work overload is that they focus on easy, less important, quickly completed tasks in an attempt to feel self-esteem. For example a manager may clean his/her desk rather than working on a difficult budget proposal due tomorrow. The discipline of the Martial Arts enables you to focus on high priority tasks and to get them completed. A common myth of time management is that "There's too much to do; I can't handle it all." In reality, there are people who have many more priorities than you have and who are getting them all done. These people have mastered time management and understand the benefits and value of delegation. If you recognize that there are other people out there with more "to do" than you, and that they are completing their high priority tasks, you can be confident that you, too, can create a time management plan that works for you. So start today and make a plan to organize your time. Write it down, implement it, and analyze it until it works. And don't forget to make time for your Martial Arts training so that you can attain many of your highest personal priorities… self defense knowledge, better health and fitness, self confidence, and a black belt! Should You be "Eating Right for Your
(Blood) Type?" According to advocates of the Eat Right for Your (Blood) Type diet, by Peter J. D'Adamo, your food choices should be determined based on your genetic make-up, as expressed in your blood type. Although this diet has been widely accepted by the public, is this something you should actually be doing to optimize your nutritional status? Will eating for your blood type maximize your athletic performance? These are the questions many martial artists ask when evaluating any popular diet, including this one. Although the Eat Right for Your Type diet (ER4YT) offers explanations for the premises on which the diet is based, these explanations "hold up to neither scientific scrutiny nor, at the very least, competent theoretical speculation of open-minded critics," according to the Nutrition in Complementary Care Newsletter. This is not a diet based on sound dietetic or medical principles. The first implication made by ER4YT is that blood types have evolved or mutated over the course of human existence, when in fact, we share the same blood groups (A, B, AB and O) with chimpanzees and gorillas. This proves that we didn't evolve from some other blood groups, but have always been these blood types since our evolutionary predecessors already have this blood type. Why would this author make such an implication that is so obviously not grounded in fact. This alone is enough to make you question both his philosophies and his motivations. Another blatant misrepresentation of known medical fact used as foundation for the diet prescriptions in this book is that stomach acid is responsible for the digestion of protein. Any introductory nutrition or even health class will tell you that Pepsin (an enzyme) is secreted into the stomach and that it, not the acid, digests the protein. High levels of stomach acid actually impair protein digestion. The book uses this premise to prescribe a diet high in protein for those with blood type O, whom they say have a higher secretion of stomach acid. This is another invalid claim. The book also quotes forty year old research, which has since been disproven, to back up their suggestion that certain blood types should consume a diet high in cholesterol. In fact, although not everyone is sensitive to high cholesterol foods in terms of increasing risk of heart disease, no one should consume a diet HIGH in cholesterol as those foods high in cholesterol wouldn't create a balanced diet. They are also generally high in fat, which leads to unwanted empty calorie intake. Another area where ER4YT errs in is recommending daily animal protein consumption for people having blood group O or B. Vegetarian diets have been widely proven to benefit extremely large percentages of the population, and since blood groups O and B comprise up to 69% of the population, people with these blood types may benefit in many ways from a vegetarian diet. While eating beef isn't bad for you in and of itself, saying that you will be healthier for consuming it daily is totally ungrounded in scientific knowledge or research, regardless of your blood group. Finally, and probably where it makes it biggest mistake, the ER4YT diet discourages exercise for blood type A. Everyone knows that regular exercise benefits just about everyone. And I, as a type A person, certainly don't understand how anyone could say that it isn't healthy for me to exercise! According to John J. McMahon, Jr., a naturopathic physician (MD) and author of The Blood Type Diet: Latest Diet Scan, "The blood type solution encourages sundry capricious restrictions on diet, exercise and herbal medicine for which it is only able to reference itself as final authority. Good science and common sense make this theory impossible for me to take seriously." Instead of looking to find a quick and easy fix to make you healthy overnight without any effort including exercising, focus on what you already know is the only way: eating right (high fiber, low fat, variety) and exercising regularly. Do We Know if Supplements are Safe?
Most Martial Artists, like most athletes, are constantly striving to improve their performance. In addition to training, many try to make positive lifestyle changes, such as eating healthful foods, not smoking, and taking care of their health. In an effort to gain the competitive edge, some may try anything that they suspect may help them to squeak out that extra little bit. Whether or not a supplement is really doing what it says, taking it may help to improve performance just because the person thinks it will work (the placebo effect). So even if something doesn't do what it claims, taking it may increase an individual's performance. So what is the harm? Well, that is actually a critically important question, because not all supplements are harmless. You would assume that a substance that is commercially available would be safe. Our government has departments/divisions/groups that are designed to protect consumers and consumers' health. Unfortunately, the way that current legislation works, we are not guaranteed of every product's safety. Not only are companies not required to be able to support the health claims they make for products classified as "dietary supplements," they don't even have to completely test and prove safety, or even put warnings on their label if the products may be unsafe. In 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was passed in response to the health food industry and its allies urging Congress to "preserve the consumer's freedom to choose dietary supplements." While the regulations provide greater access to products, and lower prices, they do not provide guidance and/or protection to consumers. This Act (DSHEA) categorizes dietary supplements differently than food additives, severely limiting the regulation of these products. It also expands the scope of the definition of dietary supplements to include vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, other dietary substances, and any concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of such ingredients. This means that although prescription and over the counter drugs, as well as food additives, must meet the Food and Drug Administration's safety and effectiveness requirements, "supplements" bypass these regulations, even though they are marketed for their alleged preventative or therapeutic effects. So a substance that can be labeled as a dietary supplement can be on the shelves of your health food or grocery store without any testing for efficacy (if it works), safety, or potency. In addition, there are no legal standards for the processing, harvesting, or packaging of dietary supplements, so there is no guarantee that you are getting what the label claims to be providing. DSHEA does, however, require supplements to carry a label giving the "supplement facts:" a complete list of ingredients, serving size, and number of servings per container. But given the previously listed limitations of the Act, and that the company determines the serving size and dosage, this label is virtually meaningless. Likewise, dietary supplements can put statements of nutritional support, known as structure/function claims, without obtaining authorization from the FDA. A company just needs to put a disclaimer after the statement saying that it hasn't been evaluated by the FDA and that it "is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." But does anyone really care about this disclaimer when they are evaluating the product themselves? And the manufacturers don't have to say that the product isn't proven to do what it says it does, or even that it has no adverse side effects. Furthermore, the FDA cannot remove a dietary supplement from the market unless the agency can prove that using the supplement causes a medical problem. This means that the FDA has to first know that there is a problem occurring with the product, and then the FDA has to provide scientific proof of the problem. The FDA isn't designed to police issues such as these, so only the very serious and very widespread cases ever come to this. So is your favorite supplement safe? There is no easy way to tell. The best advice is to fully research any product you are considering, seeking information sources that have nothing to gain by your consumption of the product. Luckily, with the availability of information via the Internet, information is generally available. In addition, The Food and Nutrition Science Alliance offers the following "advice:" When purchasing dietary supplements buyer beware applies. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is not true. Dietary supplements encompass vitamins and minerals as well as herbals and botanicals. Multivitamins may help some people. Less is known about herbals and botanicals than vitamins and minerals. High doses of some dietary supplements may be harmful. "Natural" is not synonymous with "safe." For good health, eat a variety of foods. Resolution Success is Mind over Matter
As we begin the New Year, many of us reflect on what personal changes we can make to improve our lives. An important lesson to be learned from the Martial Arts is that it is not the biggest or the strongest who wins the battle but rather the smartest. To achieve resolution success, your mind can be your greatest asset against any opponent. People outside the Martial Arts community view the Martial Arts as self-defense through kicks and punches, the physical side of training. But for those who become students, a second aspect is quickly discovered, a mental discipline. Although the Martial Arts can be split into two forms of training, the physical and the mental, it is when you eliminate the mental training that you inevitably lose the art of Martial Arts. It is the art that teaches us to defend ourselves against physical harm from any opponent, especially when that opponent may be ourselves. Most of us experience physical harm NOT from other people, but rather from ourselves. We can become our own opponent by allowing life's negative forces to take control of our lives. Over time, our bodies can collapse from poor eating habits, insufficient exercise, work related stress, daily pressures, and unhealthy habits like smoking. These life threatening opponents kill more people than the greatest wars or natural disasters. The Martial Arts can prepare you for a continuous battle of self-defense by teaching you how to balance the physical and mental aspects of your life so they work as one, thus achieving self-control and better focus. For example, take people who quit smoking. Quite often one result is weight gain. A reason for this is that these ex-smokers substituted another action (eating) when their minds called for relief. Martial Artists learn that physical exercise combined with self-control can satisfy the desires that would have lead to excessive eating. Self control, which is achieved through varying degrees of meditation, can be used by the Martial Artist to overcome many obstacles. Deep breathing and focus exercises that are learned throughout training can be called upon anytime and anywhere. When stress, tension or anything negative attempts an attack, a few moments of learned relaxation techniques can relieve you and help regain your self-control. Your mind holds the key to all your actions. The Martial Arts can help you harness your mental energy and live a happier, healthier life. Good luck with your New Year's Resolutions! Can Martial Arts Improve Your Memory?
As we age, memory tends to diminish. But aging isn't the only thing that negatively affects memory. With today's busy lifestyles, failures in memory are more apt to happen. Lack of exercise, mundane tasks, and stress can all negatively affect even a young mind. So what can you do to combat this decline? The answer is simple: participate in Martial Arts! First, Martial Arts provides routine exercise that has been proven to protect brain function. Researchers believe that exercise protects the brain in many ways including increasing blood flow and decreasing the risk of diseases that may impair brain function. Exercise also helps to control stress, which, unmanaged, negatively affects memory. Chronic stress not only interferes with your ability to focus, but actually leads to altered brain structure. Controlling stress is therefore one crucial key to maintaining brain function and memory. Martial Arts is a great stress reducer, above and beyond its role as exercise, as it incorporates meditation and other directly stress reducing techniques. Martial Arts also exercises your mind. Just as physical exercise builds your physical body, mental exercise pushes your brain to get in shape. The brain is a "use it or lose it" organ. According to Dr. Robert Butler of Mount Sinai Medical School "some decrease in [brain] function results from disuse." By participating in the Martial Arts you are constantly giving your brain new information and movements to learn thereby keeping your brain in tip-top shape. As you age and "enjoy" your busy lifestyle, decreased memory doesn't have to be inevitable. Practice the Martial Arts regularly to exercise your mind and body, allowing you to enjoy a more active and healthier brain. Compare Yourself To You The popularity of Martial Arts training can be attributed to its appeal to many age groups. Children, teens, young adults, middle agers and seniors can reap a variety of benefits from an ongoing commitment to Martial Arts participation. And because Martial Arts has such a diverse following, individual progression and expectation can vary greatly among students. For this reason especially, it is important to understand your potential and compare your achievements only to your own possibilities. Expertise in the Martial Arts comes with years of continuous training. However you may never be able to execute a flying sidekick across a room or fall into a full 180 degree split. And that's OK. You can still be a successful Martial Artist with great physical and mental skills. I remember training with a middle aged gentleman named Frank who had only one arm. One could argue that having only one arm was a disadvantage that would severely affect his Martial Arts abilities. In actuality, this man had incredible leg strength and hip control that produced very powerful kicks, and which made him a great fighter and Martial Artist. Then there are also the Mr. Miyagi (Karate Kid) type Martial Artists who are great fighters through mental focus, quickness and technique. I like to think of the Martial Arts as a personal expression of individual strengths, which are different in each participant, that results in self-defense. So how do you compare yourself to your potential? Start with your Martial Arts assets. Are you strong, flexible, tall or short, quick, accurate, or energetic? How's your balance, concentration , and hand-eye coordination? These are just a few examples of personal characteristics that may be your strengths, or even your weaknesses. Martial Arts training certainly will diminish your weaknesses, but the enhancement of your strengths will control the direction of your training and will ultimately shape you as a Martial Artist. Understanding your personal limitations and potential will provide you with the insight to compare yourself to your potential. The rest is up to you. Martial Arts Creates A Positive Competitive
Spirit Competition has always been a force that motivates people to try as hard as they can to give 100% effort to succeed. In Martial Arts class, students are exposed to two forms of competition: Self-Driven and Peer-Driven. Unlike many other activities where the main focus of competition is to defeat another person, the competition in Martial Arts classes emphasizes learning, which results in a positive competitive spirit among all students in the class. Self-Driven competition relies on the students' desire to progress in rank and thus learn more advanced skills. This is a goal-oriented, motivational force that keeps students progressing. From the first day of class, students begin to develop this self-driven competitive spirit as a character trait. This character trait, developed in Martial Arts classes, will have a significant impact on all aspects of their lives. Students will face many challenges in the years ahead and their opportunities for success may be stifled by self-imposed limitations, rather than by competition from others. When students are self-driven, opportunities that arise in life are met with confidence and motivation. Peer-Driven competition is even more natural. Students motivate each other by advancing through the ranks as a group. Just as great sports players can inspire better efforts from their teammates, highly skilled Martial Arts students help others to perform to their own potential. As adults, we know the importance of working well as a group, or as a team, in performing any task. Martial Arts training helps develop these group skills to the fullest. The Martial Arts offers students unlimited opportunities for success by using the competitive spirit in positive ways. Students learn that they can be winners every day, because when you are learning, you can never lose! HealthKick: Hydrate Your Body For Optimal
Performance Staying adequately hydrated is key to both optimal athletic performance and feeling your best each and every day. The general standard is to drink at least 8 glasses of water (just plain water) daily. But what about when you are preparing for a special athletic event? Whether you are getting ready for a testing, competition, demonstration, or just an intense days of working out (where the exertion will last more than 90 minutes), the following are guidelines to ensure your optimal hydration status: The day before the event, drink copious amounts of fluids. This means drinking as much as you can comfortably ingest. Be sure that most of the fluids are pure water. Right before the event, drink 8-16 ounces of water (1-2 cups). During the event, drink 4- 8 ounces (1/2-1 cup) of water every 10 minutes. After the event, drink 16 ounces (2 cups) of water for every pound lost during the event. It is important to follow a "schedule" of drinking such as this, especially for children. Thirst alone will not prompt you to ingest adequate fluid. In fact, without a schedule, children will only replace about two-thirds of their fluid losses. Adhering to these guidelines will help to ensure your optimal hydration, which will increase your ability to "give your all" at your special event. How Martial Arts Can Help Prevent Bullying
According to a nationwide study of children in grades six through ten, nearly one of every three US children is affected by bullying. Bullying is defined as verbal or physical behavior designed to disturb someone less powerful. Attacks can include spreading rumors, making sexual comments or gestures, or belittling someone about religion, race, looks or speech, in addition to the commonly recognized behavior of hitting, slapping, or pushing. As reported by Lindsey Tanner of the Associated Press, researcher Tonja Nasel of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development states, "it's a problem that has been in a lot of ways ignored for quite a while." When you consider that bullying has been connected to major incidents such as the March 2001 slaying of two students in Santee, California and the 1999 massacre of 13 by two suicidal students at Colorado's Columbine High School, it's difficult to maintain the long-held attitude that "kids will be kids." To deal with these issues, a growing number of schools across the country have instituted "bullying intervention programs." It is clear that a solution to the bullying problem is going to take active community involvement by various groups including teachers, students, parents and perhaps the Martial Arts community. Martial Arts can help deter bullying among children in two direct ways. The first is to help those who would normally be subject to bullying threats. The study reported that children who were targets of bullies were more lonely and had increased difficulty in making friends. The Martial Arts can help develop self confidence and self assurance in dealing with negative interactions with peers. Bullying is instigated against those who are "weaker" than the perpetrator. A self confident child is usually overlooked for easier prey. The second way that Martial Arts can help is by working with children who are either bullies or are likely candidates to become bullies. The study revealed that children who did the bullying were more likely to have poor grades and to smoke and drink alcohol. Martial Arts can help children deal with emotional troubles that can prompt inappropriate behavior (such as smoking and drinking) and actions against their peers. Martial Arts training combines a physical and emotional outlet while teaching discipline and a positive characteristics which are lacking in members of this group. It is often difficult to know in advance which children will be bullies or which will be victims of bullies, so that you can intervene to improve the quality of their childhood experience. That is why it is so important that you have chosen to have your child participate in Martial Arts training. But we all need to do more. As a parent, talk to your school about how your Martial Arts school can help institute or improve a bullying intervention program. We also need to involve children while they are young and peer pressures are minimal. Let's give all children a stress free environment in which to learn and develop social skills that will be needed to succeed as adults through Martial Arts training! Guidelines for Athletic Vegetarians,
And Any Healthful Athlete Athletes may follow a "vegetarian" diet for a variety of reasons, although these reasons are usually based on personal convictions rather than on health factors. Because of that, "vegetarian" may mean different things to different people. One "vegetarian" may eat only plant products, while another may include milk products and/or eggs in their diets. I have even heard people refer to themselves as "vegetarian" when the only food eliminated from the diet is red meat. Regardless of the "vegetarian" restrictions adopted, a carefully planned diet with limit or no animal protein can still provide adequate proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals to sustain activity, and even growth in children. And the principles employed are much the same as those used in planning any healthy person's diet. According to the experts E. Coleman and S.N. Steen, vegetarian athletes should choose a wide variety of foods and consume enough calories to fulfill their energy requirements. This is obviously an appropriate recommendation for any athlete. It is just a bit more of a challenge for a vegetarian since some of the options have been limited. Many of the other recommendations Coleman and Steen make for vegetarians are similarly applicable to all athletes: 1. The intake of low nutrient-dense foods (e.g. sweets and fatty foods) should be kept to a minimum. 2. Whole and unrefined grain products should be chosen instead of refined products whenever possible. Fortified or enriched cereal products are the next best choice. 3. A variety of fruits and vegetables should be consumed, including a good food source of Vitamin C. 4. Low-fat and non-fat varieties of milk should be included if dairy products are consumed. 5. Egg yolks should be limited to three per week (if they are eaten). 6. Vegans (those consuming no milk or egg products) should have a reliable source of vitamin B12, such as fortified soy beverages, or a cyanocobalamin supplement. If exposure to sunlight is limited, a vitamin D supplement may be indicated. For adolescent athletes who follow a vegan diet, great care needs to be taken to provide adequate calories and protein, as well as other nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D, zinc, iron, and B12. Any additional individual food restrictions make it more difficult to plan a diet that provides adequate nutrients. Professional consultation with a dietitian is strongly recommended for any adolescent vegan, as they require nutrients not only for energy and performance, but also for growth and development. Finally, when planning a vegetarian diet, many people work at "balancing" or "combining" proteins. A crucial point in this practice is that the DAILY diet, not a single meal, is what must be "balance" or "combined" properly. In other words, the proteins over the course of a day need to complement each other. This is much the same way that the diet of a non-vegetarian needs to be balanced over the course of a day and/or week. Challenge Yourself To Succeed What is success? For some people, the attainment of a long term goal is success. For others it may be the completion of smaller tasks. Similarly in Martial Arts training, achieving Black Belt or "under" belts may be what some students consider being successful. However, succeeding as a Martial Arts practitioner involves mastering the most basic fundamentals of training. These fundamentals include attendance, commitment, practice, sharing, and health, which lay the foundation of continued success as a Martial Arts student for life. Attendance: In today's busy lifestyle, it is sometimes a challenge to maintain an optimal twice per week attendance in class. With summer upon us in the Northern Hemisphere, students must set a goal to attend class regularly. And if you must miss class, immediately make it up. Remember, a drop out begins with the first missed class. Don't become a negative statistic, attend class regularly. Commitment: A student's motivational level is governed by their level of commitment. The more important something is to us, the more likely we are to pursue it. As a Martial Arts student, set a day each month to reflect on your training and reaffirm your commitment to the Martial Arts. Ask yourself what benefits are you receiving and how are you a better person through Martial Arts. Practice: While you may work out several times per week at the school, set aside mini workout sessions during the week to review your knowledge. Self-workouts give you an opportunity to have personal time which reinforces what you are learning in class and, most importantly, what you need to improve. Sharing: The Martial Arts has grown through the spread of knowledge from teacher to student, who then becomes teacher, and who spreads the knowledge to new students. The teacher-student relationship in the Martial Arts is one built on honor, respect, and gratitude that often sets the Martial Arts apart from many other educational relationships. As a student, look for opportunities to help others and begin your journey as a teacher. You will prosper from your relationships and your Martial Arts knowledge will increase exponentially. Health: Continued Martial Arts training can provide your body with exercise to stay in shape. But that's only half the battle. You must eat healthfully to provide your body with the proper fuel to produce optimal training results. The Martial Arts is truly an activity for everyone. Each of these fundamentals can be achieved by everyone who has the desire to feel more confident, get in shape, break bad habits, become more flexible, and yes, learn self defense (to name a few benefits). It's time to challenge yourself to succeed and focus on these five key fundamentals that are sure to give you a powerful feeling of success! HealthKick: How to Find Accurate Nutrition
Information Martial Artists are generally interested in any information about nutritional requirements that may make us feel and be better. And we are willing to act on what we learn, often by taking supplements. In a recent survey, 40% of American adults reported taking vitamin/mineral supplements and 14% reported taking at least one herbal supplement. But where do we get our information, and is it reliable? According to the American Dietetic Association's Nutrition and You: Trends 2000 survey, the media are the consumers' leading source of nutrition information. Television, magazines, and newspapers are the three primary information sources. Only 11% and 1% cited physicians and dietitians respectively as their source for nutrition guidance. And now the internet has become the overwhelming source for those seeking nutrition information. But how reliable is the information being presented on the internet? The reliability of the information presented on an internet site is largely determined by what the site actually is. Who are the authors? What are their credentials? Who do they work for? Do they have anything to gain by "selling" you on their point of view? Always keep in mind that the information presented on the internet is not governed by ANY regulatory agency. This means that anyone can say anything they like. So if someone on the internet is trying to sell you a supplement, it is best not to rely on their site for information regarding it. They may just be trying to sell their product and may be misinterpreting scientific studies (either intentionally or due to lack of knowledge) or they may not be relying on any type of scientific evidence at all. Do a little research of your own. Rely on information from known medical/nutritional/scientific organizations or government agencies; such as the American Medical Association, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, National Academies of Science, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Here are two extremely reputable sites that have valuable information on supplement use (to get you started): www.eatright.org (site of the American Dietetic Association) www.cfsan.fda.gov (site of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition) Through Parental Commitment. Children
Win! As parents, you are responsible for keeping the commitments and obligations of your children. Commitment provides structure and guidance for your children to achieve their goals. Without commitment, your children are disadvantaged in developing important habits such as responsibility, goal setting, and perseverance that are essential to success in all aspects of life. Parents set the example that their children will follow from the time they are very young right through young adulthood. You, as a parent, carry the responsibility of ensuring that your children have your support and commitment to help them complete what they start and to be accountable to a standard of excellence. You may start your children with basic commitments such as brushing their teeth and explaining the benefits of having healthy teeth. You will guide them to brush their teeth after every meal and/or before bedtime. Eventually, your child will no longer need to be told, as their own good habits will be formed through your commitment. However, you will still be there to remind them periodically by asking "Did you brush your teeth?" These reminders establish your ongoing commitment to your child's healthy teeth. Did you make your bed? Did you do your homework? Did you clean your room? Did you take out the garbage? Did you remember your lunch? Do you have your books? These are among the many questions parents come to memorize over the years, with the hope of instilling positive habits in their children. As they mature, your children will take over the responsibility of meeting daily challenges without your intervention. Your children's martial arts training is no exception. You are responsible for their class attendance and for helping them to meet their class requirements. These important parental commitments are crucial to allow them to progress and achieve their martial arts goals. Sometimes martial arts parents are faced with situations that challenge those commitments. How you handle these challenges will determine your child's success or failure while instilling other important habits, good or bad, that are integral to their success in life. We realize that you only want to do what is best for your children. As martial arts instructors we also share in this objective. When situations arise that may challenge your commitment to bring your children to class we strongly feel that their absence works against their martial arts goals which in turn works against life's goals. To help you make the right decision (the best for your children), we offer a resolution to a potential scenario that can face a martial arts parent. What should I do if... my child wants to skip a martial arts lesson? When children suggest skipping a class, parents often worry if the child is losing interest. In most cases, your child isn't telling you that they don't enjoy class (they're always enthusiastic after taking a class) but rather that they would prefer to seek immediate enjoyment. Children are often focused on the present and are not able to project their thinking into the future and weigh the potential for future rewards. (For example, if you offered a child a dollar now or five dollars next week, most children would ask for the dollar and receive immediate gratification.) Parents often ask children to make choices that are difficult and create conflict. A child may resist turning off the TV or video game (immediate gratification) to go to martial arts class (delayed gratification). A child may enjoy training, but may still complain and demonstrate other negative behavior because martial arts is introduced as a deferred (and therefore less attractive) alternative to what they are currently doing. To deal with this response, parents can set limits on activities ahead of time. For example, a parent might say, "You may watch TV for one hour", rather than: "Turn off the TV set now, it's time for your martial arts lesson". Once limits are set, martial arts can be encouraged as a positive activity. Your child will not feel that they are sacrificing one enjoyable activity for another. Equally important, when your child is attending class with enthusiasm, explain that you will not accept any complaining that interferes with their commitment to their martial arts program. If they think they have a specific problem, they should speak to their instructor before or after attending class. By doing this, you have provided a strategy for resolving any future problems that aren't directly related to their class, and you have given them a grown up approach to addressing any real complaints. As your children mature, they will be better able to understand delayed gratification and its benefits. Rewards such as improved confidence, self-esteem, increased attention span, self defense skills, and better school grades are the result of consistent actions from children, parents, and instructors. Children often experience plateaus in their training and periods of time they do not feel motivated to train. When parents and instructors work together, these feelings often pass and lead to attaining higher goals. All roads aren't smooth, but with parents in the driver's seat, children can fulfill their commitment to martial arts training and martial arts can fulfill its quest to reward students with all its benefits. How Martial Arts Helps Students Succeed
in School Martial arts instruction has long been recognized for its ability to turn average or sub par academic students into honor students achieving A's and B 's. Parents know that better grades in school can strongly influence a child 's overall success in life, and feedback from parents across the country indicates that there are an extraordinary number of cases where children involved with martial arts training are improving academically, sometimes dramatically. What causes these martial arts students to have such positive academic transformations? To give you a better understanding of this phenomenon, here are some of the theories that may explain how marital arts helps students succeed in school. Hierarchy of Human Needs Dr. Abraham Maslow was a famous psychologist who proposed that people have 5 basic levels of needs (see pyramid). His theory suggests that we must satisfy lower level needs before we can move on to achieve higher level needs. Following Maslow's theory, we need to feel secure and protected from the outside world before our mind can focus on attaining higher level needs, such as self-actualization, prosperity, success, self-respect, and self-fulfillment. According to Dr. Maslow, after fulfilling level 1 needs food, water, shelter, etc.) our inner self concentrates on level 2, "Safety/Security Needs." The root benefit of martial arts training is learning the skills of self-defense. Martial arts provides our young people with the knowledge of self-preservation and security, enabling them to concentrate on academics without distractions and anxiety stemming from insecurity, thus moving on to higher level needs. Breathing & Meditation Martial arts training incorporates various breathing techniques. Some may be classified as forms of meditation. As students progress with their training, they learn to master their breathing, which can affect their physical state. These "meditational" experiences help students deal more effectively with daily stress and pressures associated with exams, quizzes, and deadlines, keeping them relaxed and focused to produce better results. Self-Esteem Self-esteem is having a positive impression and respect of oneself. Students who have strong self-esteem are more likely to succeed in school, or at any goals they set. Martial arts training teaches students the importance of mental discipline, which develops strong character traits such as self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-respect. Martial arts instructors nurture a student's self-esteem through positive reinforcement of achieved goals. Physical activity improves health and appearance which are also linked to one's self-esteem. It is easier to have a positive impression of yourself when you look good and feel good. Martial arts makes staying active easy... it's fun! Respect for Teachers Respect for teachers, parents, adults, and fellow students is an important part of martial arts training. Students learn to respect those with higher knowledge, which promotes positive relationships with authority figures outside of our school as well. As students' martial arts knowledge develops, it is equally important that they learn humility when respect for their knowledge is reciprocated. Setting Goals To achieve black belt at our school, each student will be required to successfully complete a series of other rank promotions that lead to black belt. Martial arts training teaches students that you can achieve a long term goal by breaking the goal down into many short term objectives. These objectives represent interim goals that need to be accomplished in order for the long term goal to be realized. Students learn the importance of goal setting strategies which are invaluable scholastically as well as in life. It doesn't matter if you are a student in pre-school, grades school, high school, or college; martial arts can impact your scholastic results. Martial arts students learn that success requires commitment, determination, and hard work. Back-to-school season is upon us and many of you will face important scholastic challenges in the year ahead. We have tremendous confidence in our students to meet these challenges and produce excellent results. Let's Get Mom Training in Martial Arts!!
A mother has the toughest job in the world, raising children. As a father, I have tremendous respect for the responsibilities that many women face daily. Mother, wife, daughter, worker, and friend are among the many roles women fulfill. Balancing these roles is no easy task. Martial arts training offers mental and physical tools to face the daily rituals of a mom's hectic life. Let's help mom and get her training in martial arts! Any mother will tell you that a mom's job is not a desk job! Despite the potential daily marathons moms are engaged in, martial arts training provides the type of exercise that can add dramatic value to their lives. Reduced stress, weight loss, flexibility, endurance, cardio-vascular health, coordination, and muscle toning are just some of the benefits that mom will receive when she starts martial arts training. Stress exists in some measure for all of us. Managing stress can reduce the risks of many stress-related health problems that affect everyone, including moms. Martial arts exercise can teach mom how to breathe properly and to relax virtually on command. And if anyone needs this power, it's mom! Part of becoming a mom involves understanding that the physical body will undergo many changes in the process and that some of these changes can be difficult to undo. Martial arts training is a full-body work out that strengthens and tones muscles, improves flexibility, and helps to reduce weight. So whether your mom is new to the job or one with years of experience, martial arts can help her create the look she wants. When mom looks good, she will feel good, too! Decreased levels of self-confidence and self-esteem can attack mom just like anyone else. Self-defense education can be an internal power source to anyone needing a pick-me-up, but we often take this aspect of martial arts training for granted (like mom). Now she can have the knowledge and confidence to protect herself, while feeling great! It's never too late to make new friends. Encouraging mom to learn martial arts will also give her an opportunity to socialize with her peers and develop friendships. Martial arts can be her time to meet new people with similar interests and experiences, while achieving her personal goals. It is easy to see how martial arts training would be great for mom, isn't it? Ask our school for information on how to get mom started in martial arts training. Flowers last a week, but martial arts lasts a lifetime! We would like to celebrate Mother's Day by thanking all our martial arts moms who take the time to bring their children to our school. We know the greatest gift you can receive is to watch your children progress in our class and in all aspects of life. We also wish to congratulate our moms who are students at our school. It is our hope that our school continues to provide you with a mini-vacation from the daily responsibilities you undertake and that you will continue to achieve your goals here with us. To all those moms that are not students of the martial arts, we encourage you to take a time-out and join us in our classroom to begin an exciting journey. Empower Your Child To Succeed If you ask parents what level of success they want their children to achieve in life, most will say they hope their children will reach their potential. It seems like an achievable goal when all you want is for them to do their best. How many times have you said to your child, "Try your best, that's all that we ask?" The unfortunate reality is that most children will not even come close to reaching their potential because we fail to provide our children with the proper tools to achieve. In order for any child to reach his or her potential, they must first possess three key attributes: knowledge, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Even if they excel in one or two of these attributes, their results probably will be average at best. A child will be empowered for success when all the key traits function as a whole. Knowledge will give them the skills to navigate through life. And when they feel good about themselves, "the confidence in those skills makes them feel valuable and worthy," according to Martin Seligman, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. It is these components that establish the foundation of strong self-esteem. Developing your child's knowledge can begin as early as infancy. According to Laurel Graeber of Parent's magazine, the latest studies indicate that environment may be even more important than heredity in predicting school and life success. This does not mean that as a parent you have the ability to create an Albert Einstein, "but within the intelligence range where most of us fall, the environment is all-important," says Jerome Kagan, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Harvard University. Recent studies indicate that talking to your child starting in infancy and using words playfully can have a positive impact on the child's IQ and vocabulary. When your child is old enough to attend school, make scholastic and martial arts education a priority. Scholastic education provides a gateway to all the wonders of the natural and man-made world. Martial arts education teaches respect, goal setting, and discipline, and enhances the self confidence and self esteem that knowledge builds. Adequate sleep, consistent attendance, and breakfast are also key to your child's ability to concentrate and absorb new information. As adults we must show children that we never stop learning regardless of how far we've gone in school. "Motivation isn't just about getting good grades; it's also about being curious," says Kagan. This is evident in martial arts training, as the quest for knowledge never stops: there is always something new to learn, whether it be a technique or a concept. There seems to be a trend where people are lowering their expectations to create better results. This is a misguided effort to feel better about themselves at the expense of knowledge. According to Parent's magazine, "Educators and child psychologists believe many parents and teachers have become confused about the connection between self-esteem and basic competence in children." Our society has changed its priority in raising children: we are so concerned with making our children feel good about themselves (self-esteem), that we are ignoring the development of the skills required to achieve. The result is weaker confidence, decreased skills, and a false sense of esteem, which are preventing children from reaching their potential. William Damon, Ph.D., a professor of education at Stanford University, states that, "although many researchers have studied children's self-esteem, there are none who have convincingly shown that high self-esteem fosters high achievement." Dr. Martin Seligman, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, believes "the 'self-esteem' movement has contributed to lower standards in schools and a virtual epidemic of youthful depression." Furthermore, Diane Ehrensaft, Ph.D., a child psychologist, states that since the 1980's, she has begun seeing more anxiety-ridden young clients whose parents had made a terrific fuss over their every accomplishment. As a result, some kids thought that they were far better at tasks than they really were, while others, who saw through their parents' puffery, were unsure of their true talents. Our society has moved in a direction of nurturing our youth's ego and ignoring the importance of learning skills. This is evident in the results of the "most comprehensive and rigorous international comparison ever conducted of academic achievement," where USA students scored near the bottom in virtually every subject category (math, science), but scored near the top in self-esteem. Charles Sykes, an author in the field, charges that "schools are obsessed with students' self-esteem, which in turn makes teachers afraid to demand high performance. Despite all the stars and smiley faces, if students don't have the skills to compete and survive, they will eventually figure that out and know it's all a fraud." So now what? It is important to recognize that we all face a serious problem that needs immediate attention. As parents, it is important to have high expectations for your children. According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Ph.D., professor of human development at the University of Chicago, children who achieve well in school have parents who are both challenging and supportive. His studies indicate that "parents who consistently expect their children to work hard in school, get the highest grades." You can also influence schools to have higher expectations. Review your children's school work. If you notice that teachers are allowing sloppy work without comment, failing to correct punctuation, spelling, and grammatical errors, make an appointment with these teachers and let them know you demand a higher level of achievement from your kids. By enrolling your child in a martial arts program you have already taken an effective step to remedy poor student habits that are being overlooked by many academic institutions. Our classes are designed to be entertaining but we understand the necessity to challenge students to overcome obstacles. As martial arts instructors, we strive to uphold the rules that are traditional within the martial arts. We often need the support of parents to uphold and enforce these rules. First, students are expected to come to class wearing a clean, neat uniform. Second, students are expected to arrive before class so that they are ready to begin when class starts. Third, parents must allow the instructors to determine when their child is ready for testing. Our school will not test a student if he or she is not ready, which may lead to the student being disappointed. Some parents who are concerned about their children's self-esteem become upset with a testing delay. However, if we focus on increasing skills and parents support our decision with strong attendance, the self-esteem and confidence your child will develop as they pass each test will be unbreakable. Your children will be expected to function in the real world, whether they are prepared or not. Through hard work, in school and the martial arts, they will develop the knowledge, self confidence and self esteem that they need to achieve success. Self Defense Smarts For Kids Public concern is increasing regarding the tragedy of missing children. Not all missing children are runaways; some children just seem to vanish without a trace. We cannot always be with our children, so we must count on their intelligence and good judgment to protect them. At our school, we teach children to be alert to the world. We give them knowledge to cope with the times they may find themselves in danger. We don't necessarily expect our eight-year-old martial artists to defend themselves against adult attackers, but through martial arts training, children can learn to greatly reduce their risks for becoming victims. It is important that children learn how to spot dangerous people and the lures they may use to entice them. Child abductors seek easy targets, and children who appear alert are less likely to become victims. Predators look for children who walk to school alone, take shortcuts, or seem to be alienated from other children. Quite often they watch playgrounds and observe children's play habits. Alert your children to avoid the dangers of vacant lots, alleyways, etc., on their route to and from school. Martial arts is one of the best activities to increase your child's confidence and self-esteem. These important characteristics will identify your child as alert, ready, and not an easy target. Self-defense is a skill that goes well beyond kicks and punches. Children should be aware of the dangers, not afraid. Martial arts can help achieve that goal. As important as martial arts training is, you also must take an active role in protecting your children. Set aside a time to talk to your children about dangerous people and strangers. Gear the talk to your childrens' level of understanding. Be straightforward without frightening the sensitive child. Be willing to talk and listen to anything your children may want to report. Never underestimate their fears or concerns. Children should trust their feelings and know that you are always concerned for their safety. Explain who a stranger is. Children should never enter a stranger's home, get into a stranger's car, or take gifts from a stranger. Explain when a child has the right to say NO to an adult. Be aware of anyone who pays an unusual amount of attention to your children. Listen to your children if they do not want to be left alone with someone. Ask them to tell you about anyone who asks them to keep a secret or about any new adults they meet. Be sure your children know what to do if you are separated while shopping. They should not look for you: they should go to the nearest clerk and ask for help! Be cautious when you select someone to care for your children. Meet them and check their references. If children must be left alone, explain the proper way to answer the telephone and the door. Teach your children their full name and yours, phone number with area code, and address and zip code. They should know how to make local and long distance calls; use a pay phone; call home and law enforcement departments; and dial "0" for operator or 911 in an emergency (if applicable). Mentally note the clothes your children wear EVERY DAY. Avoid putting names visibly on clothing or belongings. Know where your children are at all times. Never leave them unattended in a public place, car, or store. Children should play in supervised areas only. As a family, choose a secret code word. Instruct your children never to go with anyone who does not know the code word. Stress that the word is a secret. Change it frequently. Ask the school or day care center to notify you immediately if your children are absent. Inform them of the people authorized to pick up your children. Have the same person pick up your child every day if possible. Encourage your children to use the buddy system. Advise them what to do if a stranger follows or approaches them. Get to know neighbors and establish "safe homes" where children can go for help. With martial arts training and good parental education, we can greatly reduce the risk of your child being abducted. But unfortunately, nothing is a guarantee. That is why it is important for you to be prepared in case your child is ever missing. Keep current files on your children. Include recent photographs (update four times a year for children under two), physical description, information about outside activities (for example teams with contact names, music teacher's telephone number, etc.), and friends, names, addresses, and phone numbers. Obtain a set of footprints and fingerprints through local law enforcement or qualified professionals. Maintain dental or medical records. The saying "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" certainly applies here. Prepare your children at home, and through their martial arts training, to avoid being victimized. You Are a Winner by Joseph Galea You've chosen to become a student of the martial arts, with all the commitment, hard work, and discipline that the martial arts requires. That makes you a winner. As a winner, you never quit or give up on the goals you have set for yourself. A winner continues forward when times are tough and goals may not seem immediately attainable. Winners see the roadblocks of life as mere "speed bumps" along a path that MUST be completed. Winners will not be deterred from their objective. Most of us were taught, however, that winners are only those with the highest scores, the most points, and the championship trophies. Some define only those people as "successful." We know better! We know that all martial arts students are winners. Each time they attend class, they renew their quest for learning and their commitment to achieving their goals. Each class is a step on the path along which all students work together to achieve success. Students soon discover that the martial arts develops into a way of life. The principles that are taught in martial arts can take winners and make them successful in all aspects of their life. Principles such as perseverance, commitment, dedication, teamwork, respect, focus, etc. are important in making successful martial artists. But aren't these principles also what make us successful human beings? As martial arts instructors, we are proud to have the opportunity to teach these ideals to our students, so that they have the tools to become successful both inside and outside the school. This is one of the reasons we aspire to keep students active in the martial arts and in our school for many years to come. This objective can only be accomplished if all of us (instructors, students, and parents) have a winning attitude. It is easy to keep a strong winning attitude when everything goes as expected. But life doesn't always deal a great hand, and we are often faced with challenges that can interrupt our plans. For martial artists, challenges are often external influences that may prevent them from attending a scheduled class. Understandably, these occurrences are generally beyond the students' control. Bad weather, sickness, vacations, and other obstacles can lead to a missed class. It is at these times that the students, with the support of parents/spouses, must remain focused on school goals. Winners never quit and quitters never win. A student quitter begins with the first missed class. We don't want any student to become a victim of a series of absences. If a class must be missed, make a personal commitment to attend your next class and give it your all. This is the winning attitude. Together, as martial artists, we will help each other continue to be winners for life. And through our winner's attitude, we will become successful in all we do. The Stretch Theory Most successes in life are the result of doing something a little better than average. A good example of this is in sports. An average baseball player may hit for a .250 batting average (3 hits per 12 at bats). A superstar player will get just one more hit, a .333 batting average (4 hits per 12 at bats). The difference, one hit, and a contract worth millions of dollars more per year! Amazing! Wouldn't your scholastic grades also be a good example? Have you ever taken a test where the difference between an A grade and a B grade is just one correct answer? And you know that you could have answered at least one more correct if you studied a little extra. The same holds true in martial arts training. We call it the Stretch Theory. Yes, the martial arts will make you more flexible, but we had a different type of stretching in mind. In fact, you might call it mind-stretching! This is the ability to motivate yourself to go beyond what you normally do. To push yourself beyond the boundaries or limitations your mind may have placed before you. When you stretch yourself mentally, even when you think you have already given it your all, the most amazing changes will occur! The Stretch Theory says that you will have significantly more positive results if you give or do more than you currently are doing. Have you heard the saying, "There is always room for improvement"? Stretching is the art of seeking that improvement. In the classroom, students are asked to give a 110% effort. It's that little extra that can really make a difference. For example, did you know that when you are doing push-ups or sit-ups, the last few repetitions have the greatest impact on your conditioning? Those last few that are the hardest to do are the ones that give you the best results. At our school, one of our objectives is to teach students how to stretch outside of what they believe to be their boundaries or limitations. Often, students are amazed that their potential is much higher than they ever thought possible. A key ingredient in achieving this objective is attendance consistency. As the summer months approach, we ask that all students "stretch," giving that something extra to be consistent with their class attendance. Losing Interest: Fact or Fiction Whether it be on a bright, sunny day or a rainy day, there will most likely come a time for all students when they think of not coming to class. This is when the Stretch Theory is most crucial to the future of each student. Every drop out begins with the first missed class, so ask yourself why you are missing class. If your reason is anything but a reasonable excuse, then you must employ the Stretch Theory and attend class that day. Parental Stretching Adult students are responsible for their own actions which lead to success or failure. The fate of our younger students are often determined by their parents. During this time of year, we realize that daily routines are often bombarded with interruptions, but parents' ability to stretch with their children will ensure their children's progression toward black belt. Along this rewarding journey, there are many ups and downs. At the school, it is a team effort of instructors and parents to motivate and re-motivate children to give them the support they require. Peaks and Valleys All students experience peaks and valleys in learning, which can affect their level of motivation. These shifts in motivation occur from time to time and are natural during the course of training. In fact, these are times when students' characters can make significant shifts and become much stronger. Their development as martial artists progresses as they demonstrate qualities of perseverance and commitment. As parents, you play an integral role in the remotivation process, by your own perseverance and dedication. Even when it may be difficult, you know you are doing the best for your children. As parents, you give that little extra push that children often need. "Let me see that new technique you learned yesterday," you ask. "Wow that's great!" You think to yourself: "my child has really come a long way since that first class." Reason: To Be a Black Belt An essential aspect of the Stretch Theory is to have an ultimate goal. It would be difficult for anyone to give a little extra for something they don' t really want or that isn't worth achieving. Everyone needs a reason to be motivated. In martial arts, we want everyone to remember that first day of class. It was a time of excitement and of discovery. Look at how far you have come and remember your ultimate goal, to be a black belt. Copyright 2001 Professional Payment Systems (PPS) |
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