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AWMA, Inc.
9400 Ashton Road
Philadelphia, PA
19114
Call Us Toll Free:
1.800.345.2962
Fax: 1.800.922.2962
awma@awma.com
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Life long lasting benefits of the Martial Arts
Have you ever really thought of the long term benefits gained from the Martial Arts?
Not just the ones that are frequently hyped in a Yellow Page ad. But, the actual benefits that you and your students are enjoying each and everyday you train and practice the Martial Arts in your dojo.
I considered myself blessed for the good fortune to have enjoyed being a very active practitioner for the past 40 years. It's been one helluva ride with some great observations.
I am continually amazed at how much the Martial Arts truly impacts peoples lives. Here are just a few of my experiences and observations. See if you can identify and agree with some.
First and foremost, is the high level of physical health and fitness. The tremendous emphasis of a balanced approach to fitness provides on going, exciting reason to stay flexible, toned and cardiovascular strong.
The built in goal setting of the belt system, combined with the availability of multi-style training, can keep you striving and climbing for excellence for a long time.
Each style has it's one built in benefit. Muay Thai pad work or Kickboxing in general provides great cardio and stress relief along with useful skills. Jiu Jitsu and the grappling arts enhance flexibility and provide a mental stimulation similar to playing chess.
Traditional Oriental Arts provides such a strong base of learning and for many, they teach much needed structure and discipline. Not to mention the confidence, satisfaction and pleasure a student gains from mastering each technique and form.
Nowadays, just getting people to set down their cell phone and PDA for an hour long class is an exercise of discipline and concentration. Along with the constant reminders and emphasis on respect, discipline and self control.
Martial Arts, when presented and taught in properly, is a very complete and much needed personal self development program for all ages.
The next things I have enjoyed and observed, is the long lasting relationships that are formed in the dojo. I have seen many people meet their soul mate at the dojo and witnessed thousands of outstanding relationships formed at the dojo.
Most families that train in the Martial Arts are very value driven people, and they often meet other value driven families that they socialize with outside of the dojo as well. It's great to meet other positive, goal oriented, active and healthy people.
The Martial Arts tends to develop and bring out the best qualities in people.
Besides the many teacher/student relationships that are formed, a well ran dojo becomes a community networking center. There are large numbers of local business owners and very successful professionals that train and/or bring their family into the dojo.
There aren't too many places that parents and families can get the respectful and dignified treatment that they receive in the dojo. If you are running a World Class professional Martial Arts school, it is an exciting, well organized center of activities that represents and provides a high level of education and motivation to excel in all areas of life.
The reality is this, long term Martial Arts training makes a huge difference in people's lives. And not just the lives of those who train, quite often you see that their family and friends benefit as well.
Why do I say this? If a Dad comes to the dojo and relieves the stress of his day and feels great about his own health and energy level, there's a good chance he will be a better Dad and husband.
If a kid develops a higher self esteem and better self control, the parents will enjoy their child more and the entire family become excited about the child's progress in the Martial Arts and in every other aspect of life.
When a Mom gets involved in training, they grow closer to their children and share a common interest. It allows for some great bonding and stronger communications between them, thus strengthening and improving their relationship at home and otherwise.
I could go on and on about the things I see and things I enjoy the most about the Martial Arts. Like I said earlier, it's been an amazing journey so far and the observations and views have been unbelievable.
For those of us that get to experience the joy of the full time Martial Arts lifestyle, it's been my experience and opinion that all of the benefits mentioned above greatly magnify in every area. A great question to ask on a regular basis is:
How did I get so lucky?
I hope you feel as lucky and fortunate as I do. Share your passion with your students and watched their passion and enthusiasm skyrocket as well. Osu!
Staff Training Tip: What MOTIVATES one doesn't MOTIVATE ALL!
Do you have any students or staff members that you really understand what makes them tick? On the other side, have you ever had one that you didn't quite learn how to motivate them?
What motivates one, certainly does not motivate all. Some people are very reward driven and love incentives or a carrot to go after. Some people seem to need more nagging than others. Some seem to need a combination of both.
Others are more self motivated and juiced by achievement and recognition from you and their peers. Although we are all very similar in some ways, we are very different in others.
When it comes to developing long term progressive relationships with your advanced students or staff members, the more you learn what motivates them, the easier you will be able to get them and keep them motivated to give their best, on the mat and off.
Motivation has been described as the motive to take action. Why we do something is said to be more important than how we do it. If you or your team really want something and you have enough reasons why, you will always find the way.
If you properly invest time and effort into maintaining strong relationships and great communications with your people, you will learn how to get them and keep them focused and fired up!
Enthusiasm is contagious...so is the lack of it!
Would you rather be surrounded by eager and enthusiastic team members, or would you prefer a bunch of dead heads that lack drive and desire? Simple answer...
A better question to ask is:
What else can I do to get each member of my team focused and fired up?
Start by learning what makes them tick. What do they enjoy the most about their job?
What do they enjoy the most about their training? What are some of the things they want to have, become or do? What kind of car would they love to own? How successful do they want to become? What is their definition of success? What are their proudest moments of the past? What are they most excited about right now?
These are just a few of the questions that I like to ask during 1-on-1 progress updates with members of my team. Notice that they are open ended questions that are designed to get them to talk and share their feelings emotions.
By the way...these are pretty decent question to ask yourself on a regular basis as well!
MAY IS MOTHERS APPRECIATION MONTH! What are you and your team doing to make it special for those dedicated Moms that always support and encourage their kids on a daily basis?
I can instantly think of several that I know always put their kids interest before their own.
MOM's are very special and you can make them feel even more special if you tap your pencil with your team and come up with at least 10 ways to express appreciation and gratitude.
MARVLEOUS MAY IS HERE...LET'S MAKE IT OUR BEST EVER...
Go for it!
Osu,
Kyoshi
Steve LaVallee
Chief Master Instructor
www.USABLACKBELTCHAMPIONS.com
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No part of this web site may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from an officer of AWMA, Inc.
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