- Arrive Early - This will make registration go more smoothly and give you time to find a good seat. We are meeting at All American Martial Arts at 7:30am to go to the tournament site as a group.
- Do an Equipment Check Friday Night - If you are sparring, you will need all of your protective equipment (including protective cup for males and mouthpieces). Doing this the night before will save time and ensure you have everything you don't get to the tournament site without something you need.
- Be Patient - Larger tournaments take some time to get running. And when there are a lot of participants, you won't get through your events real quick.
- Try to Make Some New Friends - Tournaments are a great place to meet new people. While you're waiting to compete, visit with the other competitors in your categories.
- Bring Drinks and Snacks (competitors) - Especially if you are sparring. You will want water or Gatorade or something similar. Also, it doesn't hurt to have some energy bars with you either.
- Show Good Sportsmanship - be prepared right now that everything is NOT going to go your way. That's the nature of competition. The point is that you do your best. Be gracious whether you win or lose and people will respect you. (Parents, this goes for you, too!)
- Cheer for your Teammates - When you are not competing, cheer for the other students from All American Martial Arts. This will make the event more fun for everyone.
- Follow Instructions - Whether they come from the tournament directors, referees/judges, or your coaches, the instructions are to ensure everyone plays by the same rules and remains safe.
- If you have a question, disagree with a ruling or result, Discuss it with a Coach - Do not argue with a tournament official. If there is a question about something, your coach will do his or her best to find out why something happened.
- Trim Your Nails - Especially if you are sparring. Referees will not allow long fingernails or toenails. So trim them the night before the tournament.
- Invite Friends & Family to Come and Support You - Events like this are more fun when we can share them with others.
- Bring a Positive Attitude (and keep it) - We all want to win. And from our perspective, just by placing yourself in the ring, you are a winner. But not everyone will get a 1st Place trophy. Do your best, have fun, make friends, and enjoy the experience.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tips for a Fun and Successful Tournament Experience
The U.S. Central Taekwondo Oklahoma Invitational Tournament is this Saturday, February 26th. This is our first tournament of the year and it is one of the largest tournaments in the southwest United States. Whether you are attending your very first tournament, or are an experienced competitor, here are some tips on how to make sure your tournament experience is a success:
Monday, February 21, 2011
Bullying - By the Numbers
On March 5th All American Martial Arts will hold its "Bullying Stops Here" seminar. This issue continues to face students, parents, and school officials across the United States and here in Oklahoma. Here are some statistics relating to bullying both nationwide and in our state.
From http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/:
- Nearly 50% of students are bullied at least once during elementary or
middle school. (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
- Nearly 1/3 of all students ages 12 - 18 reported being bullied in 2007.
(National Center for Education Statistics)
- "Pack" Bullying is more common in high school and lasts for a longer period
of time than bullying by an individual student. (2009 Wesley Report)
From http://www.howtostopbulling.com/:
- 160,000 students miss school each day for fear of bullying.
- 282,000 students are attacked each year in secondary schools.
- 46% of males and 26% of females report being in a physical fight during
school. (Bureau of Justice Report)
From http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/:
- 1/3 of Oklahoma students report being involved in incidents of bullying as
either a victim, a bully, or as both (OK Dept. of Health)
- 12% of Oklahoma elementary and middle school students identified
themselves as having bullied another student. (OK Dept. of Health)
- 60% of those identified as bullies in middle school had at least one criminal
conviction by age 24.
- 71% of school shooters cited bullying as a motivating factor (U.S. Secret
Service/Dept. of Education)
From the Oklahoma Department of Health Injury Update (2008):
- 69% of 7th graders, 54% of 5th graders, and 40% of 3rd graders reported
that bullying occured daily or weekly in their school.
- Most common places for bullying to occur include: 1) playground (70%); 2)
school bus (42%); 3) halls (36%); 4) bathrooms (28%); classrooms (23%).
- 20% of Oklahoma elementary and middle school students worried daily or
often about bullying.
- Only 34% of Oklahoma elementary and middle school students reported
helping a fellow student who was being bullied.
These statistics can be rather disturbing. But they should also motivate you to help ensure that every child you know has the knowledge and skills to protect them from the growing menace of bullying. The "Bullying Stops Here" seminar is the right opportunity at the right time.
From http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/:
- Nearly 50% of students are bullied at least once during elementary or
middle school. (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
- Nearly 1/3 of all students ages 12 - 18 reported being bullied in 2007.
(National Center for Education Statistics)
- "Pack" Bullying is more common in high school and lasts for a longer period
of time than bullying by an individual student. (2009 Wesley Report)
From http://www.howtostopbulling.com/:
- 160,000 students miss school each day for fear of bullying.
- 282,000 students are attacked each year in secondary schools.
- 46% of males and 26% of females report being in a physical fight during
school. (Bureau of Justice Report)
From http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/:
- 1/3 of Oklahoma students report being involved in incidents of bullying as
either a victim, a bully, or as both (OK Dept. of Health)
- 12% of Oklahoma elementary and middle school students identified
themselves as having bullied another student. (OK Dept. of Health)
- 60% of those identified as bullies in middle school had at least one criminal
conviction by age 24.
- 71% of school shooters cited bullying as a motivating factor (U.S. Secret
Service/Dept. of Education)
From the Oklahoma Department of Health Injury Update (2008):
- 69% of 7th graders, 54% of 5th graders, and 40% of 3rd graders reported
that bullying occured daily or weekly in their school.
- Most common places for bullying to occur include: 1) playground (70%); 2)
school bus (42%); 3) halls (36%); 4) bathrooms (28%); classrooms (23%).
- 20% of Oklahoma elementary and middle school students worried daily or
often about bullying.
- Only 34% of Oklahoma elementary and middle school students reported
helping a fellow student who was being bullied.
These statistics can be rather disturbing. But they should also motivate you to help ensure that every child you know has the knowledge and skills to protect them from the growing menace of bullying. The "Bullying Stops Here" seminar is the right opportunity at the right time.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Taekwondo for Business
In our last post we discussed the five chief tenets of Taekwondo: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and the indomitable spirit. The application of these principles to our daily lives yields many rewards. Let's examine how these five traits can help you in your daily work environment.
Courtesy
How many times have you been in line at the store and the person behind the checkout counter seemed less than enthused to assist you? Did that experience make you inclined to return to that store? Or, the next time you went shopping for a similar item, did you go to a different business? The simplest things, such as a smile, friendly greeting, and prompt service can make the difference in keeping customers or losing them.
Whether you are a cashier at the grocery store, an accountant visiting with a client, or a manager dealing with a customer complaint, an emphasis on being courteous will not only make your workday more pleasant, it will also keep your customers returning.
Integrity
Integrity is more than just refraining from lying or cheating. In the business world, integrity also includes completing projects on time, following through with customer requests, and delivering the service you have promised your customers. How many times have you had a project that was delayed because someone did not complete their required portion on schedule? I'm sure you can recall the frustration, especially if others were waiting on you. Integrity is about keeping your commitments as well as your word. Consistently failing to display this important trait will begin to erode customer loyalty and have a direct impact on your company's bottom line.
Perseverance
Every business faces challenges. Acquiring start-up capital, gaining customers or clients, retaining your customers, creating effective internal controls and policies, and managing personnel are just a few of the issues business owners and managers face on a daily basis. The question is not "How do I avoid these problems?" Some issues cannot be avoided. Rather the question should be, "How will I face these challenges when they come?"
In our school creed, we talk about doing so with "confidence, determination, and fearlessness." Confidence comes from experience. In the martial arts realm, it is a result of consistent training. In the business world it comes from your own knowledge base you have gained over time. Determination and fearlessness are both choices that we must make. Choosing to move past the difficulty and not letting current fears or concerns prevent us from accomplishing our goals.
Self-Control
Perhaps the most difficult challenge we often face is not controlling others, but ourselves. Again, this isn't just about self-discipline (doing what you should when you should), but also about remaining in control when times are very stressful.
I discussed this with a group of students just recently. How many times have you let a co-worker, subordinate, or customer get completely under your skin and drive you crazy? Every time we allow someone to push us in such a direction, we have given them power over us. Controlling our emotions, checking our pride, and remaining calm when others are losing control gives you the ability to see through the fog and understand the real issues that need to be addressed. It also gives you the power to create solutions to those challenges.
Indomitable Spirit
There's a scene in the movie The Last Samurai that is a classical illustration of this principle. During the scene, Tom Cruise's character is being beaten by a Samurai warrior. Although it is clear he cannot win the fight, he continues to struggle. It's not so much as an attempt to win physically, as to demonstrate that his will cannot be broken. This is the essence of the indomitable spirit - not giving up. Successful businesses from fast food chains to sports franchises and many more have survived because the owner simply refused to give up.
I challenge you to focus on just one of these principles during the next ten days. Make a conscious effort to consistently apply it in every aspect of your business. And see if it doesn't make a significant difference both in your operations but also in your bottom line.
Courtesy
How many times have you been in line at the store and the person behind the checkout counter seemed less than enthused to assist you? Did that experience make you inclined to return to that store? Or, the next time you went shopping for a similar item, did you go to a different business? The simplest things, such as a smile, friendly greeting, and prompt service can make the difference in keeping customers or losing them.
Whether you are a cashier at the grocery store, an accountant visiting with a client, or a manager dealing with a customer complaint, an emphasis on being courteous will not only make your workday more pleasant, it will also keep your customers returning.
Integrity
Integrity is more than just refraining from lying or cheating. In the business world, integrity also includes completing projects on time, following through with customer requests, and delivering the service you have promised your customers. How many times have you had a project that was delayed because someone did not complete their required portion on schedule? I'm sure you can recall the frustration, especially if others were waiting on you. Integrity is about keeping your commitments as well as your word. Consistently failing to display this important trait will begin to erode customer loyalty and have a direct impact on your company's bottom line.
Perseverance
Every business faces challenges. Acquiring start-up capital, gaining customers or clients, retaining your customers, creating effective internal controls and policies, and managing personnel are just a few of the issues business owners and managers face on a daily basis. The question is not "How do I avoid these problems?" Some issues cannot be avoided. Rather the question should be, "How will I face these challenges when they come?"
In our school creed, we talk about doing so with "confidence, determination, and fearlessness." Confidence comes from experience. In the martial arts realm, it is a result of consistent training. In the business world it comes from your own knowledge base you have gained over time. Determination and fearlessness are both choices that we must make. Choosing to move past the difficulty and not letting current fears or concerns prevent us from accomplishing our goals.
Self-Control
Perhaps the most difficult challenge we often face is not controlling others, but ourselves. Again, this isn't just about self-discipline (doing what you should when you should), but also about remaining in control when times are very stressful.
I discussed this with a group of students just recently. How many times have you let a co-worker, subordinate, or customer get completely under your skin and drive you crazy? Every time we allow someone to push us in such a direction, we have given them power over us. Controlling our emotions, checking our pride, and remaining calm when others are losing control gives you the ability to see through the fog and understand the real issues that need to be addressed. It also gives you the power to create solutions to those challenges.
Indomitable Spirit
There's a scene in the movie The Last Samurai that is a classical illustration of this principle. During the scene, Tom Cruise's character is being beaten by a Samurai warrior. Although it is clear he cannot win the fight, he continues to struggle. It's not so much as an attempt to win physically, as to demonstrate that his will cannot be broken. This is the essence of the indomitable spirit - not giving up. Successful businesses from fast food chains to sports franchises and many more have survived because the owner simply refused to give up.
I challenge you to focus on just one of these principles during the next ten days. Make a conscious effort to consistently apply it in every aspect of your business. And see if it doesn't make a significant difference both in your operations but also in your bottom line.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Do You Know the Tenets of Taekwondo?
Taekwondo has five chief tenets that it emphasizes. We believe these principles are at the heart of what it means to be a true Martial Artist. They define the characteristics we want each of our students to develop and insist that each of our black belts display.
At All American Martial Arts, we believe so strongly in these tenets that we created a student creed that incorporates them. Below is that creed:
"As a student of All American Martial Arts I will follow the principles of Taekwondo:
Courtesy - I will be polite and considerate of others;
Integrity - I will act with honesty and respect;
Perseverance - I will face the challenges and obstacles of life with confidence, determination, and fearlessness;
Self-Control - I will discipline my mind, body, and spirit in those things that will lead to a purposeful life;
Indomitable Spirit - I will not let circumstances determine my actions or my success.
I will show respect to my instructors and my school, give my full attention and energy to every effort I make, and I will seek to assist others. I am a student of All American Martial Arts and this is my creed."
If you are looking for a Martial Arts school to attend, take the time to ask the instructor about the tenets of the school's particular discipline. While they don't necessarily have to have a school creed, the instructor should be able to articulate the basic principles associated with his or her discipline.
If they can't, it's a pretty good indication that school doesn't spend much time emphasizing the important character traits associated with the Martial Arts. This would be like teaching players all the skills needed to play football but never teaching them the rules of the game.
The Martial Arts are about more than just kicking and punching. They are about a way of life that provides the foundation of success in every area of the student's life. As you look for a Martial Arts school, make sure the school you choose emphasizes this important aspect of the Martial Arts.
At All American Martial Arts, we believe so strongly in these tenets that we created a student creed that incorporates them. Below is that creed:
"As a student of All American Martial Arts I will follow the principles of Taekwondo:
Courtesy - I will be polite and considerate of others;
Integrity - I will act with honesty and respect;
Perseverance - I will face the challenges and obstacles of life with confidence, determination, and fearlessness;
Self-Control - I will discipline my mind, body, and spirit in those things that will lead to a purposeful life;
Indomitable Spirit - I will not let circumstances determine my actions or my success.
I will show respect to my instructors and my school, give my full attention and energy to every effort I make, and I will seek to assist others. I am a student of All American Martial Arts and this is my creed."
If you are looking for a Martial Arts school to attend, take the time to ask the instructor about the tenets of the school's particular discipline. While they don't necessarily have to have a school creed, the instructor should be able to articulate the basic principles associated with his or her discipline.
If they can't, it's a pretty good indication that school doesn't spend much time emphasizing the important character traits associated with the Martial Arts. This would be like teaching players all the skills needed to play football but never teaching them the rules of the game.
The Martial Arts are about more than just kicking and punching. They are about a way of life that provides the foundation of success in every area of the student's life. As you look for a Martial Arts school, make sure the school you choose emphasizes this important aspect of the Martial Arts.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Black Belt Living
"Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced everyday." - Jim Rohn
This month we are discussing self-discipline in our classes. As the quote by Jim Rohn illustrates, self-discipline is the key to success in any and every area of our lives. We must create regular habits that will aid us in accomplishing our goals.
In our Martial Arts training, that means practicing our techniques regularly. In school, it means creating good study habits. At work, it means developing the ability to focus on those activities that will lead to better performance.
Success is not a permanent condition. It requires constant work and effort to achieve. We must choose every day to do those things we know will make us better students, teachers, parents, employees and business owners. Fortunately, after a while of doing these things, it becomes almost a habit. You feel off, or incomplete, when you don't do them.
Here's some more good news. You are not alone in your efforts. You have people all around you who want you to succeed. Parents, teachers, supervisors, friends, etc. are willing to help you reach your goals. And so are we.
If you are having trouble reaching certain goals, ask yourself if you are doing the things you should be doing each day to reach them. If you find you need help or guidance, ask someone. You'll be surprised just how many people are willing to help you be successful!
In our Martial Arts training, that means practicing our techniques regularly. In school, it means creating good study habits. At work, it means developing the ability to focus on those activities that will lead to better performance.
Success is not a permanent condition. It requires constant work and effort to achieve. We must choose every day to do those things we know will make us better students, teachers, parents, employees and business owners. Fortunately, after a while of doing these things, it becomes almost a habit. You feel off, or incomplete, when you don't do them.
Here's some more good news. You are not alone in your efforts. You have people all around you who want you to succeed. Parents, teachers, supervisors, friends, etc. are willing to help you reach your goals. And so are we.
If you are having trouble reaching certain goals, ask yourself if you are doing the things you should be doing each day to reach them. If you find you need help or guidance, ask someone. You'll be surprised just how many people are willing to help you be successful!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Black Belt Club Members: Self-Defense Emphasis Tonight
If you are a Black Belt Club member, watch the video we posted earlier on our blog (there's also a link from our Facebook page to it) about the young man who was assaulted by several bullies from his school.
We're going to discuss this tonight and show you how to try to avoid getting trapped in this type of scenario. If, for some reason, you find yourself in this situation, we're also going to work through the steps to get yourself out of it as safely as possible.
This will be a hands on, real-world, self-defense class. So come prepared!
We're going to discuss this tonight and show you how to try to avoid getting trapped in this type of scenario. If, for some reason, you find yourself in this situation, we're also going to work through the steps to get yourself out of it as safely as possible.
This will be a hands on, real-world, self-defense class. So come prepared!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Don't Let Your Child be the Next Victim!
The question is, will your son or daughter be next? Bullying has become such a serious issue that many states have passed or are considering passing legislation to combat it. Parents need to take this issue seriously and take steps to help their children be prepared.
Don't let your child be a victim to a bully. Give them the skills and training to protect themselves. If you want to know more about how you can protect your son or daughter from the growing menace of bullying, contact All American Martial Arts.
CLASSES CLOSED TODAY!
Due to weather conditions, classes will be closed today, February 1, 2011. We'll keep you posted on the status of classes for the rest of the week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)