As the summer break approaches, children eagerly anticipate the freedom and fun that comes with their time off of school. However, it’s crucial not to overlook the importance of maintaining consistent martial arts training during this break. Regular attendance at classes plays a significant role in skill development, progress, and overall growth. In this article, […]
Productivity is one of the most highly regarded traits in the work world today. And to be productive, multitasking is the go-to method. The ability to switch between multiple tasks rapidly is seen as a special skill, but it stifles productivity and increases the likelihood of making mistakes. But with the growing flood of information […]
All parents want their children to exhibit positive behaviors that will help them transition smoothly through the different stages of their development. And while parents have the best intentions, they often don’t use the most effective discipline strategies to achieve that goal. And granted, parents do their best to implement the knowledge and experiences that […]
Children of all ages are spending more and more time on devices. Online schoolwork and staying connected to family members are positive ways children can use technology. And while video games and social media apps are ways for children to connect and “play” with friends, these platforms are also a breeding ground for inappropriate content […]
Throughout the past five months, schedules have been upended and downtime has taken over. However, as the new school year gets underway, reality is going to show up and we are going to be scrambling to get ourselves and our children back on a productive path. In the book “The 7 Habits of Happy Kids” […]
Over the past few months, interactions have been minimal, and our social skills are rusty. Since prolonged school closures have a negative impact on children’s social development, we are now faced with how to regain skills while moving forward with new skills. Though some children will return to a brick-and-mortar school, others will virtually engage […]
As back to school plans continue to change almost daily, children’s emotions will remain unpredictable. One day they are thinking about returning to their friends and teachers at school, and the next, they are told they won’t be returning for another few months. Because of this, our children’s emotional needs have never been greater. And […]
Over the past few months, we have been inundated with information that seems to change almost daily, making it hard to resolve what should and should not be done. Everyone has their thoughts and feelings about varying current debates, especially regarding starting school. And while there will be no answer that satisfies everyone in the […]
We are currently faced with all sorts of unknowns most, of which, are completely out of our control. And while we cannot dictate how others choose to move forward, what we can do, as parents, is prepare our own families for what may lie ahead. Currently, one of the most pressing matters is preparing children […]
Preparing Children to Return to School A Developmental Approach As we continue through the current pandemic and re-opening efforts show real challenges, school districts everywhere are trying to devise the best plans for children, teachers, and staff to return. And while there will be no perfect solution for each family, parents must consider all the […]
As the world continues its reopening efforts, more and more parents are headed back to work. And while this is a positive sign, it leaves parents with the task of finding their children a fun, yet safe, program to spend each day at. Since summer camps are unable to provide some of the usual daily […]
As we continue to navigate the uncharted waters of the current pandemic, many are looking to the future and what it holds. And while it’s hard to predict how long our current daily life modifications will last, what we do know is that the experience of this trauma will have personal changes that could last […]
Remember when you wished the weekend would last forever? As weeks of the “shelter in place” order have passed, the eagerness for some “time off” has lost its spark. Children’s boredom is growing day by day and will continue, especially as many schools will be ending the school year earlier than normal. The rising monotony […]
** Updated Monday, April 27th, 2020 ** The health and safety of our members is of utmost importance to us and we would like to take the opportunity to let our members know how we are preparing for and handling the Novel Coronavirus/COVID-19 situation. We will use this page (as well as communicate via our […]
Valentine’s Day has just passed, but February is still all about the heart. Every year, the American Heart Association celebrates Heart Month to raise awareness about heart disease and heart health. What you may not know is that martial arts are great for the heart. In fact, the cardiac benefits of martial arts give a […]
Thanksgiving is this coming Thursday. While many Americans look forward to Thanksgiving Day as an opportunity to eat whatever they want without counting calories, it’s important not to lose sight of fitness – even as you face down a plate of turkey with all the fixings Here are some ideas to help you enjoy your […]
Your New Family Activity: Martial Arts September 26th is National Family Day, and it’s the ideal time to talk about how to find family activities. If you have kids of different ages, then you know how challenging it can be to find things to do as a group. What excites your 10-year-old daughter is likely […]
adults, we think a lot about stress. Modern life is difficult. We worry about paying the bills, doing our jobs well – and we worry about our kids. That’s part of our jobs as parents, but we don’t want our kids to be affected by stress. It’s not good for them physically or emotionally. Still, […]
We’ve been talking about the core tenets of martial arts instruction, and today’s tenet is one that a lot of kids need to learn. (See the blog post on perseverance here). I’m talking about self-control. Control is something that’s hard for kids. Their brains and bodies aren’t fully developed, and from the time they’re babies, […]
Bullying is in the news a lot these days. Hardly a day passes without there being a story about a child who was at the receiving end of bullying – and it can have terrible consequences. When we look at the problem of bullying, it’s important to do it from both sides. Why are some […]
There are many physical benefits of studying martial arts at Sturgis Academy of Martial Arts, including increased “good” cholesterol, better heart health, better sleep, and more. Now I want to shift my focus and talk about the mental benefits of martial arts, starting with – you guessed it – focus. You know that our martial […]
If you’ve ever seen a martial arts movie – whether it’s traditional Kung Fu or a modern take like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – you know that martial artists are great fighters. It’s an efficient way to take down an opponent. In fact, many men and women take our classes because they want to feel […]
You’ve probably experienced the feeling of dread that comes when you have difficulty getting to sleep. A large percentage of Americans are sleep-deprived, and most of us experience insomnia at some point in our lives. You lie awake watching the clock. With every minute that passes, you can feel your anxiety mounting. You know the […]
How often do you feel stressed out? If you’re like most adults the answer is, “A lot.” I understand. Life can be stressful. You might be juggling so many things in a day that you don’t know which end is up. It’s common for adults to experience stress as they struggle to balance kids, work, […]
Today I want to tell you about one of the best benefits of martial arts for adults – one that’s especially important for all of us as we age. I’m talking, of course, about flexibility. As we get older, we tend to become less flexible. Kids are very flexible. They can contort their bodies easily. […]
You know that studying martial arts classes provide an aerobic workout. What might surprise you is that it tones muscles, too. A lot of people associate muscle toning with lifting weights or – in the case of abdominal muscles – doing crunches. And sometimes they make the mistake of thinking that studying martial arts has […]
It’s time to talk about our second core tenet, and it’s an important one (We discussed the first one, courtesy, in a previous post). It can be hard to teach kids about the importance of honor. Every day, they see celebrities and other public figures behaving dishonorably – and if you want your child to […]
Martial arts instructors talk about core tenets – things that dictate our behavior inside and outside of class. These are things that we teach our students. Their value goes far beyond martial arts instruction. In other words, these are life skills. There are five core tenets that our students learn. In this blog post, I’ll […]
There are few things quite like working out with a partner or spouse – a loved one of any sort. No matter type of martial arts you both practice, there are some benefits to exercising together. From perfecting your form to keeping each other motivated, you’ll find them here Read on to find out more. […]