When you’re working a full time job 40+ hours a week, it’s easy to get in the habit of going to work, going home, and resting. I mentioned in a previous article that as a small business owner, I’ve been getting in the habit of doing as much work as Continue Reading
Training and motivation in martial arts
There are times when you can find yourself in a rut, so to speak, in terms of getting yourself to the dojang to train. Motivation can be hard to find when you have work deadlines to meet, family obligations to fulfill, and the weather outside is horrid. It can be Continue Reading
Prioritizing Good Technique Over Memorization
Disclaimer: My direct students are all university students, and as such, they are at their prime physically and have a mature yet sponge-like brain that can absorb things quickly. I understand that I teach in the most ideal situation, and some of what is mentioned will not apply as much Continue Reading
Why It’s Important to Pronounce Terms Correctly
After training for some time, you may feel more confident in speaking the commands of whatever style you train. However, as someone who is fluent in Japanese, reciting commands does not necessarily mean being coherent in everyday speech. I have heard and been to dojos where, while the commands were Continue Reading
The Importance of Being Thankful
I really try to avoid talking about my relationship on this blog. I don’t find it to be appropriate or relevant in many cases, but there is one thing about my relationship and influence that my girlfriend Sarah has had on me that we can all easily apply to our Continue Reading
Sharpening the Mind in Order to Sharpen the Body – Why Education is Important to Martial Arts
Often times in popular media and entertainment, the physical aspects of martial arts are highlighted to the detriment of all else. The focus is always on what kind of fancy flips and spin kicks they can perform as they look flashy and impressive. What they don’t often show is how Continue Reading
Every Day Is a New Day
My life as a new karate studio owner has been crazy busy, whenever I have any down time I look for more things to do to help my business. Therefore, some of my training has taken a cut as I don’t get around to training as much as I used Continue Reading
Manage Your Expectations with Your Effort
As a young 3rd Dan that had just started a college club, I was very hard core with the technical aspects of class as well as attendance expectations of my students if they were to train. I was very strict and often told them that if they did not come Continue Reading
How to Improve Your Kihap
Many people have a general idea on how to yell, and with some training and direction they can make a decent kihap (kiai). However, there are those who have trouble doing kihaps, whether in class or during competition. They may be self-conscious in how they sound, or have difficulty in Continue Reading
Another Important Leadership Tip: Remember People’s Names!
One thing that stood out to me when I was reading the popular book How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie is the advice to remember people’s names and use their names when talking to them. Indeed, one thing that leaves an impact on me when interacting Continue Reading