Blog Feed: My Karate Kicks

Is Taking a Break a Good Idea?

Published on 2012-05-25 10:41:00

You’ve been very disciplined, attending classes every week, and with the summer months approaching you want to take a well-deserved break. Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!Let’s compare this decision with other scenarios.You’ve been dieting for a year and have dropped 20 pounds, You’ve reached the inevitable plateau where your progress seems to slow down. Why not take a break for three months and just eat whatever you want without thinking about it. ARE YOU NUTS? You will gain back everyth [..] > read more

How Can Martial Arts Help in Our Day Jobs?

Published on 2012-05-13 13:42:00

By day, I'm a mild mannered Enterprise Architect and you can lean much about my day job here. Recently, I was asked to speak at an industry conference on any topic I wanted. I thought the conference organizers were nuts (or they didn't know me very well.)I any event, I chose the following topic. > read more

Save the Green Belts (How to drastically increase total enrollment)

Published on 2012-01-29 06:00:00

This post will have limited appeal to the broader audience as it is meant to provide some interesting data to school owners. That being said, if you are a green belt, you are entering the time you are most likely to quit - and that is a shame. Green belts are on the cusp of being able to actually use their martial art.I have a post here titled, What's After Black Belt. It’s the most read article, and it should be no surprise that a lot of students quit their martial arts training after getting [..] > read more

The 10,000 Hour Rule

Published on 2012-01-22 19:12:00

What is the secret to being really good at martial arts? Does it require superb instruction, years of isolation, physical giftedness, and a burning desire emanating from a childhood trauma? I suppose if you aspire to be Batman and you live in a fantasy world that includes talking penguins, that combination of ingredients will yield a terrific defender of truth, justice, and the American Way. Or did I subtly shift super hero genres?I grew up at a time when The Beatles were all the rage. The songs [..] > read more

The Meaning of the Belts

Published on 2012-01-15 06:00:00

A few years ago I was on a panel of speakers providing information to a group of new employees at the company where I work. One of the other gentlemen on the dias was a Process Engineer, an individual who defines how to improve business processes. He was very skilled and had achieved a certification known as a Six Sigma Black Belt.It was interesting that everyone in the audience immediately could understand the meaning of Black Belt, i.e. one who is proficient in his craft. The belt rankings of [..] > read more

Published on 2012-01-08 09:51:00

Every so often we come across a student that is too timid to fight, or stated more correctly too timid to spar. The flood of thoughts, reasons, compensating motivations, and causes can drive a teacher to migraines (especially if one is prone to them any ways - but I digress).Should the instructor make the timid Timmys fight, should we let them sit-out? Maybe pair them up with a very senior belt whose has great control to coach them along. Extra padding, limit the number of attack moves, increase [..] > read more

Published on 2012-01-01 06:00:00

This year will be different. I am going to oscillate through various diet and exercise programs until I am 20 pounds heavier. I am going to eat more salt, and wait longer to reply to emails and voicemail. I know these don't sound like good goals, but I have so badly underachieved my resolutions over the past several years that if I miss these by the same degree - I’ll lose weight, lower my blood pressure, and be more responsive to my students.I don't know about you, but New Year's Resolutio [..] > read more

Martial Arts and Discipline

Published on 2011-12-22 21:18:00

When you hear the word discipline, what comes to mind? Do your thoughts drift towards moments of your former, younger self, being the recipient of physical duress at the hands of a parent, teacher, or Drill Sargent? Do you immediately think of being uncomfortable, akin to near torture? Discipline is one of the most highly touted aspects of martial arts training, and yet it may be the most misunderstood. (Right next to "if you know how to fight, you're more likely to fight" - not true).To be [..] > read more

Martial Arts Training with Your Child

Published on 2011-11-13 06:00:00

Martial arts training is a great family activity. I speak from experience, as my son, daughter, and I all trained together for over six years - mostly during their adolescence. My daughter reached Second Degree Black Belt, and my son, Third. We have countless family photos of tests, tournaments, and other notable achievements. I truly miss those days.Should you take classes with your child. In an unequivocal, unambiguous short answer; Yes!Now for the disclaimer... You and your children are on se [..] > read more

Is Martial Arts Right for Children with Disabilities?

Published on 2011-11-06 10:33:00

In a day and age of Americans with Disabilities (ADA), Inclusion Laws, Individual Education Plans (IEP) and other state / federal mandates for education, it has become quite common to adjust teaching patterns, testing methods, and in some cases expectations as adaptations for children with needs. As a martial arts instructor, I have taught children with neurological disorders, attention deficit, hearing impairments, coordination disabilities, hyperactivity, autism, cognitive limitations, and oth [..] > read more

Should You Train with Your Child?

Published on 2011-10-14 18:49:00

Should you sign up and take karate classes with your child. In an unequivocal, unambiguous short answer; Yes!Now for the disclaimer... don’t let your child’s needs, challenges, or advantages disrupt your progress. Maintain a healthy balance of parent, co-student, and independent martial artist. This takes a little explaining, and some effort on your part.I trained with both of my kids, a girl and a boy for over six years. My daughter left when she entered college as a second degree black [..] > read more

Full Contact Teaching

Published on 2011-10-01 18:55:00

With a loathing fear of my own lifespan, I have to report that much of what I learned in school had nothing to do with the text books. Being a product of the mid to late 1900s, I learned that if I picked a fight and lost, I couldn’t tattle on my “victim.” I discovered that a paddling in school often resulted in a paddling at home. I found that being right and snarky was the same as being wrong.For some good reasons, and maybe a few silly ones, those days are gone.Fortunately, parents can [..] > read more

Why do I have to Wait?

Published on 2011-06-07 11:00:00

Adults seems to understand without asking. Kids ask outright. “Why do I need to wait to test for my next belt, since I know all the stuff I need to.” Different schools have different criteria, but most Martial Arts systems requi > read more

Part Two: Slowing Down the Fight

Published on 2011-04-26 11:49:00

Last time I wrote about a training technique for sparring in which one of the participants does all the attacking and the other one is only allowed to defend. I’ve been told that sounds an awful lot like authorized assault. “Did you j > read more

Part One: Slowing Down the Fight

Published on 2011-04-17 12:31:00

Sparring does not come easy for most of us. My first sparring match consisted of me bouncing in place for 30 seconds while a senior belt fed me a steady diet of really soft easy-to-watch kicks and punches all the while providing verbal cues suc > read more

Is Violence Ever the Answer?

Published on 2011-04-03 14:33:00

Is violence ever the right answer? I would hope that mankind can evolve to a point that the question could be answered No. For now, in the context of planet Earth, given the social, political, and natural environments in which we live and > read more

Training Methods: Rocky versus Karate Kid

Published on 2011-03-25 11:32:00

So which do you prefer?Mary Ann or Ginger?Trek or Wars?Connery or Niven or Moore or Dalton or Brosnan or Craig?Diane Chambers or Rebecca Howe“Wax on, wax off” or “Put on the jacket, take off the jacket”Everyone who understands these options, > read more

When the cat's away

Published on 2011-03-16 19:04:00

Have you ever attended a martial arts class when the head instructor was away? This happens a lot in the bigger schools, but somewhat infrequently in the smaller ones. I’m always interested to see how the students respond when the master is away. > read more

Drop and give me 50

Published on 2011-03-11 11:50:00

Different instructors motivate their students in different ways. If you come to one of my classes, you'll see that we focus on techniques, lots of repetition, and a good dose of humor. Yes, in my class you will have some fun while your eyes melt. > read more

Please, Wash Your Uniform

Published on 2011-03-06 21:45:00

In Tang Soo Do, we call our martial art uniform a Do Bok. Other arts call it a Gi ("gee", with a hard ‘g’ like go). We have two uniform weights, one fairly lightweight, it's made out of cotton, and the other made (I swear) from tent canvas. The > read more

Tiger Mom and the Martial Arts

Published on 2011-02-27 14:48:00

My daughter once accused my wife and I of being the strictest parents in the district.Amy Chua was a mom of zero notoriety and an author of limited exposure before writing her recent book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom. She has quickly ascended > read more

Carly Simon, Heinz Ketchup, and Good Sparring

Published on 2011-02-08 19:31:00

What do birthdays, Christmas, Carly Simon, and Heinz Ketchup have in common? Anticipation. Anticipation is the waiting, the anxiety, and the patience necessary to survive the endless eternity that separates expectation from actualization.As I watch > read more

Thirteen sets of Rules

Published on 2010-12-01 20:03:00

My wife and I took exactly one course together in college; algebra. It was a disaster. We both ended up getting A’s in the course, but studying together was torture for us. You see, I’m a very visual thinker and so I approached > read more

Can Karate Fix Shyness - Part II

Published on 2010-11-21 22:00:00

Sometimes the children we see are brought to us because they are shy. I’ve written before on the topic of Martial Arts and how it can help shy kids (and adults). As I’ve said before, shyness is not an attribute that needs to be fixed. Being shy i > read more

You've Been Dropping Your Child Off at Karate Class and You're Just not Seeing Improvement

Published on 2010-11-14 22:00:00

I grew up in Warren, Ohio in an age after Andy Griffith and before the Brady Bunch. The general rule of expectation in the Meredith household was - be home before the street lights went on. I can remember leaving the house after breakfast (cereal I p > read more

My Child is Shy, Will Karate Help?

Published on 2010-11-07 21:02:00

I hate, hate, hate when a newscast, blog title, or magazine article promises some nugget of information, and then makes you wait for the answer. “Up next, how to predict tomorrow night’s winning lottery numbers. But first, let’s check in with > read more

Does it hurt to break a board?

Published on 2010-10-22 13:02:00

Does it hurt to break a board? Does it hurt more when breaking more than one? The short answer is, No - believe it or not. This is not just a personal experience. I have discussed this with many practitioners and the universal answer to the questi > read more

Does Anybody Actually Understand Karate Manuals?

Published on 2010-10-12 18:16:00

Every so often our karate school conducts an instructor’s seminar to ensure that all of the teachers are correctly representing the various techniques of our art. As a by product of the seminar, each instructor receives the latest written manual d > read more

Basic Instinct

Published on 2010-09-19 14:10:00

Should you be afraid?Much of the teaching of martial arts is about understanding and controlling one’s emotions. I don’t mean ‘control’ in the same way that Spock means it, i.e. suppressing emotions. I mean ‘control’ as in ‘channellin > read more

Answering the Tough Karate Questions

Published on 2010-08-28 18:00:00

Comedian David Brenner hit the late night talk shows in the 1970s with a bit that included the line, “Of course you always find things in the last place you look; who would find something and then keep looking for it?”The answer, interestingl > read more

Can anybody get a Black Belt? - The Ugly Truth

Published on 2010-08-22 15:00:00

How’s that old joke go - How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Answer; Practice, practice, practice. I have the good fortune of not owning a martial arts school, and as such my livelihood and children’s college education are not depende > read more

What should I do with my trophies?

Published on 2010-08-14 21:01:00

I remember the first trophy I ever won at a karate tournament - I couldn't wait to show my Dad and Mom. I was 38 years old - seriously. It doesn't matter if you win in fighting, or forms (Kata / hyung / patters) or breaking. That fi > read more