KICKIN' IT! BLOG

What are you willing to give up?

Imagine yourself standing in the dojo, surrounded by fellow warriors, a palpable aura of determination in the air. As martial artists, we know that true growth and achievement are born from the willingness to push beyond our limits. Today, we delve into a question that holds the key to unlocking your full potential: 

What are you willing to do to achieve your goals?

1. Embrace the Power of Sacrifice: Success rarely comes without sacrifice. It requires a fierce commitment to your goals, a dedication to pushing through obstacles and limitations. Are you willing to trade a night out with friends for extra practice? Can you resist the allure of distractions and prioritize your training? Remember, greatness is forged in the crucible of sacrifice.
2. Embody Perseverance and Resilience: Every warrior faces setbacks and challenges. It’s how we respond that defines us. Will you rise above the frustrations and disappointments? Can you pick yourself up after a defeat and push harder? Embrace the indomitable spirit of perseverance, for it is the fuel that propels us towards victory.
3. Step Beyond Your Comfort Zone: Growth occurs when we dare to venture beyond the familiar. Break free from the limitations that bind you. Challenge yourself to try new techniques, face opponents who test your skills, and venture into uncharted territories. Only by stepping outside your comfort zone can you unlock untapped potential and truly flourish.
4. Harness the Power of Goal Setting: Goals provide a roadmap to success, a guiding light in the darkest moments. Define your goals with clarity and specificity. Do you want to earn your black belt? Compete in tournaments? Achieve mastery in a particular technique? Set your intentions, break them into achievable milestones, and watch as your actions align with your ambitions.
5. Seek Guidance and Mentorship: Even the most formidable warriors require guidance on their journey. Surround yourself with mentors, coaches, and fellow practitioners who inspire and push you to new heights. Seek wisdom from those who have walked the path before you, and absorb their knowledge like a sponge. Together, we can achieve far more than we ever could alone.

Remember that the pursuit of greatness is not for the faint of heart. It requires discipline, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to your goals. Embrace the challenges, setbacks, and sacrifices along the way, for they are the stepping stones to your success. As you embark on your journey, always keep the question in your heart: What are you willing to do to achieve your goals? Let your answer be a resounding battle cry that echoes through the dojo, igniting the warrior spirit within you.

Stop picking fights you can’t win!

I have some simple advice…stop picking fights you can’t win.

If you’re fighting a fight that can’t be won, you’re wasting time. You should be spending time on fights that you can win. One of the things that you quickly learn in martial arts is which fights you should or shouldn’t be fighting.

How to succeed in the martial arts.

How to do I become a great martial artist? That’s a big question that I’ve been asked more than once. It’s hard to answer, but there is one skill that I’ve realized every successful martial artist has. If you can master it, not only will you be a great martial artist, you’ll be great at everything you try. That’s what this week’s message of the week is all about.

The one skill that every successful martial artist needs is flexibility and I’m not talking about touching your toes. I’m talking about being able to adapt and adjust to new situations and events. Rarely does something go smoothy and you get it on the first try so you need to be flexible.

What’s your SUPERPOWER? What are you truly capable of?

Have you ever found yourself hesitating to try something new because you’re not sure if you can do it? Maybe you’re afraid of failing or making a mistake, or perhaps you just feel more comfortable sticking with what you know. If so, it’s time to remind yourself of a powerful truth: 

“You never know what you can do until you try, and very few people are willing to try unless they have to.”

What was the moment that changed your life?

Do you know the moment that changed your life? We all have a moment. A single event that shifted our journey. Want to know what moment changed my life? My moment happened when I was nine. It’s one of my proudest moments. I think it affected the rest of my life and that’s what this week’s message is all about.

Some background. My uncle taught me how to play chess when I was seven. From then on, and for the next 4 or 5 years, I played multiple games a week. When I was eight, I got into a class and our teacher encouraged us to play every day. We played a ton and I just loved it.

What’s the most important thing in the world?

What’s the most important thing in the world? With everything that’s been going on lately, it’s hard not to ask some big questions. Inevitably, the mother of all questions gets asked.

For me and I’m pretty confident that it’s the same for most of you, there has been one solid constant. One thing that has that got me through all the ups, downs, the “I’m not even sure’s”… and that got me thinking about this week’s message of the week. This week’s message of the week is really simple…

How Tip Testing Works

The great thing about the martial arts is that it helps people build confidence. With a built in set of goals, as students work their way through the ranks, inevitably their confidence grows. One important thing that we teach our students is that if you break up a goal into smaller pieces, it’s makes achieving your goals a lot easier. How we do that for our students, is with tips.

Most students have the opportunity to earn their tips in the 3rd or 4th week of the month. To earn their tips, they’ll need to meet certain requirments that include:

Why it’s important to smile

With so many restrictions this year, some of the things that I love doing and that keep me active have been limited. Now, I don’t deal well with not being active…when I’m active, I can’t stop smiling. One night last week I had a great experience that made me smile and that got me thinking about this week’s message of the week.

This week’s message is very simple…

Want to know why principles are important?

Last week I got into a discussion with a parent. At the end of it, I was reminded why my principles are important. I also knew after this conversation, that I had to revisit this message.

Our conversation went along the lines of them asking me to do them a favour. It was something that I could totally understand asking, but I was definitely not comfortable doing it. It went against a rule that I have at the school and my principles so I said ‘No’.

The Key to Success is Effort

You’ve probably heard the saying …

“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.”