Taking a Break From Karate This Summer? Read This First

Taking a Break From Karate?Should my child take a break from karate this summer?

That’s a question we are often asked here at Urban Martial Arts, and it’s a question our character development expert Dr. Robyn Silverman gets a lot too.

She actually wrote a whole article about it, giving her expert take on the topic:

In my experience, maintaining at least 1-2 classes per week during the summer helps a child to feel a sense of accomplishment and stability.

At the same time, they’re able to strengthen their character and keep their commitment to learning alive. This helps them to be classroom-ready when school resumes.

Children get very uneasy if they feel that they’re missing something or that someone is advancing ahead when they are “on a break.”

This can negatively impact children’s confidence levels and make them feel reluctant to rejoin once the break is over.

You can read more of Dr. Robyn’s thoughts on this topic.

And if you’re interested in enrolling your child in our Karate for Kids program, you can learn more about it here.

Just $179 for 6 Weeks of Classes!

KarateKidsKickingGet 6 weeks of karate classes, plus a free karate uniform and T-shirt ($60 value) for just $179! Enter your email address below to see schedule and details.

Healthy Restaurant Choices: Avoid These 10 Words on the Menu

Healthy Restaurant ChoicesWhen restaurants disguise high-calorie meals with healthy-sounding names, how can you eat healthy when dining out?

Check out this article by Darya Rose, which explains how to decode “menuspeak” and navigate any menu to make healthy restaurant choices.

How do you know if a restaurant is trying to mask its food with shameless flavor enhancers? Several code words and descriptions can tip you off to this sort of culinary cover-up. Sugar, for example, tends to be sticky, so words like “glaze” and even “sticky” itself are a good sign there is extra sweetener around. Similarly, anything that’s “crispy” or “crusted” has likely been covered in a batter made from processed wheat or corn and soaked in oil at high temperatures. Fortunately, there are also words that signify more healthily prepared dishes. “Roasted,” “grilled,” or “spiced” foods have extra flavor without extra calories.

You can find the rest of the article here.

And if you want to lead a healthier lifestyle, check out our fitness kickboxing program.

Try one fitness kickboxing class absolutely free!

Just enter your email address below to view our class schedule and details, and to request a free class.

Be sure to confirm your request by clicking the link on the confirmation email you’ll receive from us.

Looking for a Summer Camp in Brooklyn? Watch These Videos

There are just a few days left to take advantage of our early bird specials for the Karate Sports Summer Camp at Urban Martial Arts.

You could save over $800 on 7 weeks of camp!

Check out how much fun our campers had last summer.

Look for Summer Camp in Brooklyn?

KarateKidsKickingJust enter your email address below to get pricing and details, and to request a free orientation.

Be sure to confirm your request by clicking the link on the confirmation email you’ll receive from us.

Video from June 2013 Karate Belt Promotion

Congratulations to everyone who earned their new belts on Saturday! You’ve put in a lot of hard work, and we’re so proud of you.

Here’s a video with some highlights from the belt promotion:

Just $179 for 6 Weeks of Classes!

KarateKidsKickingGet 6 weeks of karate classes, plus a free karate uniform and T-shirt ($60 value) for just $179! Enter your email address below to see schedule and details.

3 Great Reasons You Should Consider Cooking With Your Kids

Cooking With KidsIf you’ve ever tried to involve your child in cooking a meal, you know that it takes a lot of patience.

But cooking with — not just for — your kids can yield benefits far beyond nutritional ones.

To find out more, check out this article from parenting blog Activity Hero.

According to Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, kids who spend time preparing and eating dinners with their three times a week on average are “less likely” to fall prey in drug addiction.

A child who finds time to regularly bond during family dinner is 50 percent less likely to smoke tobacco or marijuana and 35 percent less likely to drink alcoholic beverages.

You can read about the other 2 great reasons here. We still have a few spots left in our Karate Sports Summer Camp! Learn more here.

Just $179 for 6 Weeks of Classes!

KarateKidsKickingGet 6 weeks of karate classes, plus a free karate uniform and T-shirt ($60 value) for just $179! Enter your email address below to see schedule and details.

Video from Board-Breaking Parents Night Out April 2013

Our students had an absolute blast at our recent Board-Breaking Parents Night Out.

Here’s video from the event:

Just $179 for 6 Weeks of Classes!

KarateKidsKickingGet 6 weeks of karate classes, plus a free karate uniform and T-shirt ($60 value) for just $179! Enter your email address below to see schedule and details.

Photos from Black Belt Candidate 3-Mile Run – June 9, 2013

Urban Martial Arts’ first ever class of black belt candidates did a 3 mile run in Prospect Park on June 9, 2013 as part of their pre-test.

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Their parents and grandparents were so supportive that many ran or walked with them.

Our after-school students, led by Miss Camille and Mr Donald, made awesome signs to show love to their instructors Mr. Jared and Mr. Andrew, both of whom will be testing for their 1st degree black belts.

Sean, the 4-year-old daughter of Urban Martial Arts’ owners Sensei Serge and Carmen was there to help cheer. She’s known these students and their families since she was born!

After the run, our students sat down to hear Sensei Serge Sognonvi explain the significance of the run, and what they have in store during next Saturday’s belt test.

View the entire album on our Facebook page.

Just $179 for 6 Weeks of Classes!

KarateKidsKickingGet 6 weeks of karate classes, plus a free karate uniform and T-shirt ($60 value) for just $179! Enter your email address below to see schedule and details.

Developing Mental Toughness In Health, Work, and Life

Developing Mental Toughness In Health, Work, and LifeWhat makes one person more successful than another?

It is just about talent and smarts?

No. The factor that matters most is mental toughness.

Check out this article by James Clear, which explains the science of developing mental toughness in health, work, and life.

It wasn’t strength or smarts or leadership potential that accurately predicted whether or not a cadet would finish Beast Barracks. Instead, it was grit — the perseverance and passion to achieve long–term goals — that made the difference.

In fact, cadets who were one standard deviation higher on the Grit Scale were 60% more likely to finish Beast Barracks than their peers. It was mental toughness that predicted whether or not a cadet would be successful, not their talent, intelligence, or genetics.

You can find the rest of the article here.

Try one fitness kickboxing class absolutely free!

Just enter your email address below to view our class schedule and details, and to request a free class.

Be sure to confirm your request by clicking the link on the confirmation email you’ll receive from us.

Urban Martial Arts Wins Big at the East Coast Summer Open 2013!

Congratulations to everyone who competed at the East Coast Summer Open 2013 in Freeport, NY!

For a few of our students, this was only their first or second tournament and as you’ll see in the video, they showed a lot of heart!

Great job, everybody! We look forward to seeing how you’ll do in the next tournament!

Just $179 for 6 Weeks of Classes!

KarateKidsKickingGet 6 weeks of karate classes, plus a free karate uniform and T-shirt ($60 value) for just $179! Enter your email address below to see schedule and details.

DETAILED TOURNAMENT RANKINGS

1ST PLACE
Angel Bernejo (8-9 Beginner Boys Sparring and Forms)
Christopher Djama (14-15 Advanced Boys Sparring and Forms)
Donald Claireville (30-39 Advanced Mens Sparring)
Jose Bernejo (10-11 Beginner Boys Sparring)
Kiara Brown (10-11 Advanced Girls Sparring)

Read the full article →

Video from March 2013 Karate Belt Promotion

Congratulations to everyone who earned their new belts this quarter! You’ve put in a lot of hard work, and we’re so proud of you.

Here’s a video with some highlights from the belt promotion:

Just $179 for 6 Weeks of Classes!

KarateKidsKickingGet 6 weeks of karate classes, plus a free karate uniform and T-shirt ($60 value) for just $179! Enter your email address below to see schedule and details.