Two of the Bravest Young Men I Know

When we think of bravery, we often think of members of the military, police, firefighters, and first-responders.  After the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, this is not surprising.  However, I'd like to introduce you to two of the bravest young men I know.

They are not old enough to serve in our military or in law enforcement.  But they have fought an enemy that is insidious, relentless, and devastating.  Ian Black and Ethan Henry have not reached their 10th birthdays.  Yet they have fought a battle that would terrify most adults.

Both of these young men have battled cancer at their young ages.  Both have triumphed.  We at All American Martial Arts have been privileged to be a part of their success.  We have seen the progress they have made not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

Now we want to solicit you into the fight against childhood cancer as well.  We have partnered with these two families to participate in the Oklahoma City CureSearch Walk on September 19th.  This event will raise funds to find cures for various forms of childhood cancer.

Ian and Ethan were fortunate to have good medical care, stable families that provided support, and access to physical and mental rehabilitation through the martial arts.  But not every child who is struck by cancer has these assets.

We're asking you to join us in defeating this horrible disease that strikes at too many of our children and families.  Our goal is to raise $1000 for this effort.  You can contribute by going here.  Your donation will help children across our state have the same chance as Ian and Ethan.

If you have any questions, please contact All American Martial Arts at (405) 601-0639 or by e-mail at aama2010@usa.com. 

Bullying Stops Here!

On Tuesday, September 6th, we're taking bullying head on!  The new school year isn't even a month old and we have already received reports of bullying.  So we're bringing back our Bullying Stops Here seminar and have created a single day camp for students to attend. 

This camp will focus on several important aspects of bullying.  First, we'll supercharge participants' self-confidence.  Children with low self-esteem are much more likely to be victims of bullying.  And children who have been bullied will have trouble gaining self-confidence.  It's a vicious cycle that we are going to break.

We'll also explain why some students try to bully others.  It is important for students to understand the mindset of a bully so they are not intimidated by them.  Once you remove the "mask", bullies aren't nearly so fearsome.

Then we're going to give participants a 3-step process to end bullying behavior by others.  This process will give students control over their situation.  It will allow them to understand how to end bullying effectively.  And it will keep them safe.

We're also going to provide students with the absolute best in youth self-defense techniques.  Like other parents, we don't want our children to be involved in fighting.  But we also don't want them to be helpless victims to bullies, either.  The fact is, these techniques, like those we teach every day, aren't "fighting techniques."  They are techniques to end a physical confrontation as quickly and effectively as possible. 

In addition, we're going to help participants increase their awareness and recognition skills.  Students can stay safe and avoid confrontations by increasing their ability to see a problem before it occurs.  We'll help them understand their surroundings and learn to identify potential dangers before they are entangled by them. 

We're also going to address two other important aspects to student safety and self-defense.  The new phenomenon of "pack bullying" - where groups of students roam a campus looking for victims - and surprise attacks.  It's unfortunate that sometimes, no matter how prepared someone is, they can be attacked by surprise.  We're going to help participants understand how to deal with surprise attacks and how to think clearly even if they have been hit first.

This seminar is a must attend event if you have a child in school.  Some schools are out on September 6th, so they won't have to miss school to attend.  But even if school is in, we recommend you consider having your child attend this important event.  It very well could be the most important thing your child learns this year.

You can register for this event by clicking here.

Black Belts in Business Part I: Self-Confidence

People often view the martial arts as simply a youth activity.  But the reality is there are many useful benefits and applications that can be taken from the martial arts and used by adults as well.  Over the next few weeks, we’ll explore how the martial arts can improve your performance in your professional life.  Whether you are a small business owner, employee, or chief executive officer of a major company, there are many aspects of the martial arts that can help you improve your personal performance as well as the performance of your team.

One of the most important and impactful characteristics gained through the martial arts is self-confidence.  Regardless of your age or profession, self-confidence is a key ingredient to success.  The self-confident employee is going to be more likely to make suggestions to their supervisor for process improvements.  The self-confident small business owner is more likely to take the necessary risks that will create long-term success for their business.  And the self-confident CEO will more easily gain the trust and respect from employees during times of change.

The martial arts offer a great way to help individuals increase their self-confidence.  Activities such as board breaking are great for helping individuals feel empowered and conquering a sense of the unknown.  In addition, forms, belt promotions, and even the physical fitness aspects of martial arts training allow individuals to feel better about themselves and what they can accomplish.  And every good martial arts school will remind their students that what they learn on the mats should impact other areas of their lives, as well.

If you, an employee, or co-worker is struggling with low self-confidence, consider the benefits of a martial arts training program.  Not only will the individual gain from it, but so will your business.

At All American Martial Arts, we're making it easier than ever to find out if the martial arts are right for you.  Our summer special offers individuals a low-cost, short term opportunity to learn the benefits and fun that are a part of martial arts training.  And as always, we offer two free lessons to anyone interested.  Come find out why we say we offer a "Whole New Martial Arts Experience!"

Are you looking for daycare or "childcare" in your after school program?

Parents, school is coming soon.  In the Mid-Del area, school begins August 11^th.  In some areas of the metro, school will begin even sooner.  If you have a school age child between the ages of 5 and 13, and you have them in a daycare provided after-school program, we have good news for you – there’s a better alternative!

Here are a few simple reasons you should strongly consider enrolling your child in our martial arts after school program:

·         Life Skills/Character Education – from learning how to increase their focus, to gaining self-discipline and understanding the importance of respect and perseverance, the martial arts are an excellent mechanism for reinforcing those values that will help your child succeed in every area of life.

·         Anti-Bullying/Self-Defense – In previous posts we’ve catalogued the most recent statistics for bullying in both the U.S. and Oklahoma.  None of us wants our child in a physical confrontation.  That’s why we teach our students appropriate conflict resolution techniques.  However, if attacked, none of us should expect a child to be a victim either.

·         Physical Fitness – The simple fact is child obesity continues to remain at near-epidemic levels.  With school budgets continuing to be cut, physical education programs are becoming less of a priority.  The martial arts are a great way for your child to develop physical as well as mental fitness.

·         We’re not going to talk about how many stars we have – Let’s be honest, daycares spend a great deal of time qualifying for, and then promoting their rating (stars) from DHS.  But we all know that meeting minimum state regulations does not translate into true “childcare.”  At All American Martial Arts, we’re going to spend our time talking about the growth and improvement your child can make physically, mentally, and emotionally through our program. 

·         Pricing – The reality is this program is far superior to most after school programs, and we could charge significantly more for it.  However, we have chosen to keep our price down in order to make it affordable for most families in our community.  In some cases, our cost is actually lower than daycares in the area.

·         Daycare vs. “Childcare” – If you need after school care for your child, consider what truly constitutes quality childcare.  Is it the number of stars a facility has?  Is it sitting at a table coloring or drawing for 3 hours?  Or would true childcare include important character education, physical fitness instruction, and self-defense training? 

If you believe the latter is more reflective of true “childcare”, than you need to call us TODAY to enroll your child in our after school martial arts program.  It truly is the absolute best alternative for families needing after school care for their children. 

Are you a good teammate?

"Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." - Vince Lombardi

At All American Martial Arts we have four current students who have earned the title "National Champion" from the Amateur Athletic Union's National Taekwondo Championships.  One has earned that title twice.  However, they will be the first to tell you it was a team effort that made that accomplishment possible.

Instructors, family, sparring partners and others all contributed to the effort that allowed them to compete and win at the highest level.  But the same is true of every other area of our lives.  Author and leadership expert John Maxwell has said, "No great accomplishment has ever been achieved by an individual."  We all have teams around us.

In visiting with young students, we often remind them that their families are teams also.  We help emphasize the importance of being a good "teammate" at home.  The same is true for adults as well.

Whenever we hear the word "team" it is natural to think of our favorite sports team.  However, the same principles that help those teams to win championships are necessary for us to achieve success at home, at work, and in society.

Personal sacrifice, commitment to a common goal, dedication to improve, accountability, and perseverance are all attributes we see in championship teams, whether they be a football team, a major corporation, a community organization, or a family.

How well your team performs will be determined by the integrity each teammate displays towards achieving team goals.  What kind of teammate are you?  Do you display the characteristics of a champion in your daily life?  Or do you just try to get by, only worrying about how to improve your personal position in the organization?

The first step in building a good team is dedicating yourself to being a good teammate.  Want to create a winning team at home, at work, and in your community?  Commit yourself to being the best possible teammate.  Doing so will inspire others to do the same.  Before you know it, you will have achieved those goals, too.  And you can truly lay claim to the title "Champion."

Awareness & Recognition Keys to Self-Defense

At all American Martial Arts, we pride ourselves on teaching real-world, practical, and effective self-defense techniques.  While we hope none of our students ever have to use them, we recognize that some will.  We want them to be prepared and have the knowledge and skills to protect themselves.  Regardless of age, we teach our students to avoid a physical confrontation if possible, but don't be a victim.

However, the reality is that the most effective self-defense tools you have are your eyes, ears, and brain.  Knowing when danger is present, finding a route to escape or avoid it, and paying attention to your surroundings can keep you out of harm's way much more effectively than your fists and feet.

Awareness is a skill just as much as executing a roundhouse kick or a back fist.  And you develop it with practice just like those physical actions.  This can be done at the store, the park, or the office.

It doesn't take a black belt to be able to increase your awareness and recognition skills.  It simply takes effort and diligence.  And these skills can help keep you from having to use the more physical skills taught through the martial arts.  However, if you have to use those physical skills, your awareness and recognition can give you an important advantage.

Hottest Deal of the Summer!

Right now, All American Martial Arts is offering its summer special.  Sign-up for this program and get:

• 10 Weeks of Martial Arts Training
• A Private Lesson with a Certified Instructor
• A Free Uniform
• 2 Guest Passes to Bring Friends
• 1 Family Pass (VIPs for a month)

You'll receive all of this for only $199!

But wait, there's more! 

Sign up for one of our our regular programs before the end of the summer and we'll waive your down payment!

The best martial arts instruction in the metro at the best martial arts facility in the metro, now at the absolute best pricing in the metro! 

Contact us today to begin your "Whole New Martial Arts Experience!"