At a program on Thursday, I challenged the class (and myself) to do 1000 kicks. We talked about having strong fundamentals for tournament. We talked about Bruce Lee’s quote “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” We did some math (how many kicks to we need to do in a minute to get in 1000 in 30 minutes?) We all did 200 ax, 200 front, 200 side, 200 roundhouse and 200 back kicks, with a stretch betwee

In all our classes, students are given the opportunity to practice leadership skills. Higher ranks assist with lower ranks.  Older students can help with younger students. They take turns running stretches and different warm up drills. We practice being good partners. We talk about how words of encouragement are as important as holding the target properly. It is a good reminder that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses but with practice and perseverance, we can all

All of our students are working hard to prepare for the upcoming J.K. Lee Fall Tournament of Champions. In class, we talk about what judges look for during the competition. The biggest lesson reviewed is that we need to focus on the fundamentals and always PRACTICE! We are often asked, “How can I help my child get ready?” Here are a couple of ways you can assist your child get ready for Tournament. Making Practice Fun: Set aside a consistent time free from distractions. Give

“Focus our eyes! Focus our minds! Focus our bodies!” This has been our mantra for June. When summer draws close our attention flies to the window so we’ve been discussing the importance of finishing the year with strength. We looked at it as if we were watching a movie or basketball game. You wouldn’t want the actors or players to stop doing their best at the end. We expect the finish to be the best part. We should put that same effort into our school and classes. Whenever ou

May is national Mental Health Awareness Month and in our classes we’ve been focusing on We are always reminding ourselves in class by saying PILSUNG, a Korean word translated as: “I can do it!” or “Certain victory!” We practice bringing that attitude out of the class and into our everyday. Click here for more information on Mental Health Awareness #health #children #martialarts #selfimprovement #teaching #awareness #blackbeltexample #cityyouthmartialarts #practice

It’s time again for tournament so we are reviewing the 5 P’s: Prior preparation prevents poor performance! We are working hard in class on our forms and board breaking kicks. It’s obvious how the Five P’s apply to competition but in our mat chat we take it a step further. We apply it to our homework and tests. We see the benefit in our dance and sporting events. We understand how helping with household chores makes routines easier (If we put our stuff away, we can find it!) E

March is National Nutrition Month! What you eat and drink is as an important part of your self defense practice as your blocks and strikes. Good food choices make your body and mind feel better! Everyone is different. There is no diet plan perfect for everyone. Make sure you listen to your doctor and pediatrician. 1. Be mindful of what you are eating! Try not to eat while you are doing something else. Think about why you are choosing a certain food over others. 2. Read labels

sabonim–a Korean term and title signifying a master level martial arts teacher/instructor Our theme for the coming spring and  end of the school year is maintaining focus.  We remind our students and parents that like everything we want to excel at, this takes practice. We play a game with our grade school students, a modified Simon Says, to encourage focus, concentration and listening skills.  In order to be successful at the game you need to stay present in the current mome

It was a high energy class, the students enjoying the relays, kicks and punches, while showing respect to the instructors by listening and following directions the first time. But when we lined up to get a drink of water, multiple arguments broke out over who was where first. We sat back down and had a talk about what they thought a Black Belt would do in the same circumstances. Right away they knew the answer. A Black Belt lets the others go first. Courtesy is one of our fiv

Happy New Year to our Students, Parents and Families! The New Year is typically a time for resolution and setting goals, even though as martial artists we are taught to continually be resolute with the daily practice of goal setting. We would like to encourage and support all of our students and friends by helping everyone realize their goals.  The multitude of self-help books and articles found in magazines and the internet recommend being realistic in your goals: Set small

The following call to be a GUARDIAN and Holiday Safety Tips are courtesy of Mr. Dave Young, the founder of the U.S. Fighting Systems Program. He has spent the past 25 years teaching military, police and corrections officers how to stay safe and defend themselves. For more information, sign up for his free safety tips here: Your Family Defense Dave Young’s End of Year and Holiday Safety Tips Increase your level of AWARENESS. On your morning run or ride to work through the neig

Family Safety Tips for Halloween Renowned safety authority, Dave Young, offers his top ten family safety tips for Halloween 2014!  Dave Young is the president of Arma Training, US Fighting Systems and Your Family Defense. He has more than 30 years of combined civilian/military law enforcement training and experience. He is recognized as one of the nation’s leading tactical trainers for personal survival and safety. Dave has been featured by People magazine, Fox and Friends an

We begin each class with some meditation time. Students sit cross legged, eyes closed for anywhere from 1  to 5 minutes. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Breathing in the positive, breathing out the negative. We meditate to help us focus. It encourages us to be present in the current moment. Letting go what happened earlier today. Letting be what may or may not happen later. Numerous studies on meditation comment on its benefits. Even a short daily practice can significantly

What you eat and drink is as an important part of your self defense practice as your blocks and strikes. Good food choices make your body and mind feel better! Everyone is different. There is no diet plan perfect for everyone. Make sure you listen to your doctor and pediatrician. 1. Be mindful of what you are eating! Try not to eat while you are doing something else. Think about why you are choosing a certain food over others. 2. Read labels! Watch for added sugar and ingredi