Business professors Gary Hamel and C. K. Prahalad wrote about an experiment conducted with a group of monkeys. Four monkeys were placed in a room that had a tall pole in the center. Suspended from the top of that pole was a bunch of bananas.
Do: Always compliment your child after each class (find something they did well). This is also a great time to give a hug or a kiss (these are free and generous). High fives work great too! Kids should immediately associate martial arts with a feeling of success and pride. Don’t: Criticize your child during or immediately … Continued
This story illustrates that the grass only looks greener on the other side of the fence when it rarely is greener and it’s one of my favorites. We become so accustomed to our side of the fence or our station in life that we succumb to unfair or inaccurate comparisons.
At the end of our kempo classes, we frequently wrap up by standing in a circle and saying “I’m glad I came.” Truth be told, there are many times when going to class takes a lot of effort. When I was coming up through the ranks, there were times I would get frustrated at how quickly … Continued
Four martial arts students all decided to climb Pikes Peak. One went up the north side, one the east, one the west and one the south. As they each walked up the mountain, they saw different things.
There was once a martial arts student that had trained for many years and was preparing to test for her black belt. She was ready – she had trained hard on all her pushups and situps, she could jump rope, her kicks and punches were strong and she knew all her forms by heart. She … Continued
In 1976, my father took a medical retirement at age 45 due to heart disease. At that time, he thought that he should start exercising to get in better shape. He wanted to start running or at least walking so I decided to join him. He wasn’t able to stick with it but I did.
Success in the martial arts helps build the character and discipline that can lead to success in all other aspects of your life. In the fall of 2010, I had my regular 6 month appointment with my oncologist. The way colon cancer treatment works, they start counting from the day you are diagnosed and for … Continued