Vegetables of Okinawa: Top 10
The traditional Okinawan diet had over seven times more vegetables than the modern American diet. Why does this matter? Many tout the diet of elders in Okinawa as one of the main reasons they live active, healthy lives to over 100 years old. The biggest difference in nutrition? Okinawans traditionally fill up on vegetables (instead…
Read MoreFunny Martial Arts Video Scenes
For a little light reading and viewing, I’d like to share some of my favorite martial arts video clips. People around me and I myself sometimes quote some of these lines. This may be to lighten the mood, or to make a point. JIM CARREY SELF DEFENSE VIDEO Here’s a link to the longest clip…
Read MoreSummer Camp: 5 Favorite Memories
I unexpectedly saw one of our black belts at the beginning of summer and our conversation turned toward Summer Camp. We naturally spoke of our travel experiences to headquarters, both recent and in years past. We have been fortunate – or as some people put it, we have made the sacrifice – to attend so…
Read MoreKarate Empowered Me To: Top 5 Things
I hope this doesn’t come across as bragging. It’s not meant to be an ego trip. But karate empowered me in many ways and I want to share with you the practicalities of how that plays out in my life away from martial arts. Every once in a while the realization hits me. I am…
Read MoreYou Represent Your Dojo
Our student came directly from school, wearing his camp t-shirt which boldly read “URKA” on the front as well as “Texas Seminar.” I said, “I see you represented the Alliance as well as the Bushukan dojo (in Texas) today. I hope you did so well.” You represent your dojo. As a karate practitioner you consistently…
Read MoreTop 10 Reasons Black Belts Quit Karate
As an instructor, it breaks my heart when yudansha pull their support and attendance from the dojo. It also disappoints me when I learn that one of the U.R.K.A. black belts quit. I don’t even like to hear that black belts I know from other styles stopped training. When I shared the title of this…
Read MoreGenerosity 2: Students’ Generosity
This is a continuation of my last blog citing our students’ generosity. I constantly and consistently learn from my trainees about many aspects of the human condition. That is in addition to the deeper understanding of martial arts when studied from the prospective of the instructor as well as the learner. Here you will find…
Read MoreGenerosity 1: Learned From Students
You may think that a high ranking karate instructor only imparts wisdom. But we learn from teaching and we learn from our students as well. I have learned a lot about generosity from my students. And I keep an open mind to continue to do so. GENEROSITY WITH A GUITAR Sometimes instructors can’t help but…
Read MoreHow to Help Your Kids Stay Off Drugs
All Pro Dad has an excellent blog with 10 ways parents can help kids stay off drugs. At the end of this, I will share a link to that great advice. But I have a few other techniques to add to those. I got the biggest and least-heard one, from NotMyKid where they inspire positive…
Read MoreSelf-Defense Classes
Today, a teen karate student and I will promote a free self-defense class to take place Saturday. We’ll host a table at the Gilbert Public Schools Employee Benefits Fair to announce this special offer for employees and their family members who are teens or adults. These types of classes are one way that our dojo…
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