It’s no secret that at our schools we are strong believers in the importance of competition to the development of quality martial artists. Healthy competition encourages people to try harder, push beyond their comfort zones, and to identify their strengths and weaknesses. However, sometimes competition can have

As you all know, this past weekend we attended the EFC Summit in Washington DC. In attendance were Martial Arts Instructors from all across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Many of these people were new instructors just starting out, while others have been professional martial artists

There is an old Japanese saying, “Nana-Korobi, Ya-Oki”. This is translated as “Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight”… and it goes a long way in describing the martial arts philiophy of indomitable spirit It is said that struggle and crisis reveal a person’s true character. That anyone

Punctuality is a very important life skill to develop. Being on time shows both respect and discipline.  Being on time, like all things, is simply a habit. The earlier on in life we learn this habit, the easier it is to keep. Being late is also a

Show up on time for class – Actually, show up early. Use the 15 minutes of open mat time before your class to warm up, stretch out, and practice. If you’re attending 3 times per week, this extra time adds up to almost 40 hours of additional

This past weekend was our Association’s Staff and Leadership Team Banquet. It was a lot of fun and was a great opportunity for all of us to reflect on the past few years as well as set some goals for the future. The keynote speech was presented

Winning big everyday is an exciting way to live life and it’s a positive mind set that will have a strong influence on every area of your life. There are many ways to set yourself up for success everyday. Over the next few weeks, I will share several