By Sensei Serge Sognonvi and Carmen Sognonvi
Originally published at http://www.urbandojo.com/blog
Thanks to everyone who came out and had some birthday cake with us on Saturday! Can’t believe our little girl is 2 already!
Here’s the video in case you missed it:
By Sensei Serge Sognonvi and Carmen Sognonvi
Originally published at http://www.urbandojo.com/blog
Throughout May 2011, we’ll be working on the concept of “optimism” as part of our Powerful Words character development curriculum.
All our discussions and activities will aim to help our students understand how to look at the bright side — how to see a challenge and know everything is going to turn out exactly as it should.
To inspire your own discussions at home, here are nine of our all-time favorite quotes on optimism:
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
~Winston Churchill
“Between the optimist and the pessimist, the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole!”
~Oscar Wilde
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”
~Helen Keller Read the full article →
By Sensei Serge Sognonvi and Carmen Sognonvi
Originally published at http://www.urbandojo.com/blog
It’s the beginning of a new month, and that means it’s time for a new Powerful Word!
Throughout May 2011, we’ll be working on the concept of “optimism.”
What is optimism? Optimism is all about looking at the bright side — seeing a challenge and knowing everything is going to turn out exactly as it should.
Powerful Words is the character development curriculum at Urban Martial Arts. It’s designed by one of the nation’s leading childhood development experts, Dr. Robyn Silverman. Every month, we focus on a different Powerful Word, or concept around character development.
Here’s a video from Dr. Robyn Silverman in which she introduces some of the concepts we’ll be covering this month:
Our students will get a real sense of what pessimism vs optimism means and how it relates to how people see and deal with challenges in their lives. Pessimists tend to see bad things that happen as permanent, pervasive, and personal. They see one bad thing happening as an indication that more bad things are on their way. Optimists, in contrast, see negative incidents as temporary and external– having no bearing on what’s to come in the future.
Optimism isn’t just great for attitude and outlook. It has many other benefits. On the flip side, pessimism can have many negative consequences. Read the full article →
By Dr. Robyn Silverman
Originally published at http://www.urbandojo.com/blog
Throughout April 2011, we’re working on the concept of “respect” as part of our Powerful Words character development curriculum, designed by leading child development expert Dr. Robyn Silverman.
All our discussions and activities will aim to help our students understand what it means to show care, consideration, concern and courtesy for others.
This month’s “Dear Dr. Robyn” column is all about teaching respect to children.
Dr. Robyn Silverman is the child development expert who created Powerful Words, our character development curriculum here at Urban Martial Arts.
Dear Dr. Robyn,
My wife and I are having a disagreement about whether or not my brother’s use of “strong language” is affecting our kids. They’re 6 and 3 and at times, copy what he says or does — but usually don’t do it when he leaves. Obviously, we want our kids to show respect. How can we ensure it?
—Joe P, Toronto, ON
Dear Joe,
Children will take their cues from those they trust. Simply put, if children are around respectful adults, they’re more likely to show respect. When they’re around disrespectful adults, they’re more likely to show disrespect.
Yelling, cursing, shouting over, and sarcasm are transferable. On the flip side, so is speaking with kindness, consideration, and care. Children will copy the behavior they see — so it is best to keep disrespectful language out of your home.
Here are 8 tips for teaching respect and curbing disrespect:
1. Model it:
If you want them to do it, you have to do it too.
2. Expect it:
When your expectations are reasonably high, children rise to the occasion.
3. Teach it:
Give children the tools they need to show you respect. The lessons your children will be learning in class this month will be great springboards for discussion.
4. Praise it:
When you see or hear your children showing respect, recognize it and praise them for these choices.
5. Discuss it:
Pick out times when you see other children using respectful or disrespectful language or behavior and discuss with it your children.
6. Correct it:
Be strong, firm and direct when teaching respect. At the same time, be sure you are being respectful yourself while correcting the behavior.
7. Understand it:
Your children are growing and learning. Poor choices can be made when children don’t have the correct words or behavior to relay “I’m tired,” or “I’m angry.”
8. Reinforce it:
Help children to remember how it felt, the praise they received, and the overall experience of being respectful.
It is best to associate respectful behavior with intangible rewards such as praise, recognition, extra responsibility, and privileges.
Teaching respect takes patience, time, and a willingness to do as you preach. Of course, it takes years to rear a respectful child and only moments to fill one with anger and disrespect.
Fill out the form below to request a free PDF download of our special report:
“The Power of Respect: A Guide for Parents and Educators”
This special report is an excellent resource, whether you’re a parent who wants to instill greater respect in your children, or you’re a teacher looking for character development lesson ideas in the classroom.
By filling out the form above, you’ll also receive a complimentary subscription to Black Belt Success, the email newsletter from Urban Martial Arts.
Here’s to your success!
By Sensei Serge Sognonvi and Carmen Sognonvi
Originally published at http://www.urbandojo.com/blog
Here’s a round-up of the best blog posts and articles on personal development we came across this week.
18 Things My Dad Was Right About
When blogger Marc was 14, his teacher gave him the assignment of interviewing his father to find out what his tips were for the younger generation. He recently found this assignment again and was blown away by the wisdom his father shared with him because he relates to them now in a way he didn’t as a teenager.
7 Ways to Make the Most of Failure
How do you cope when you fail at something? Do you think failure is something you have to learn to get over? What if you thought of failure as the most important success skill of all? Check out this post, in which blogger Nea Joy argues that failure is something we should all embrace.
The Power of Belief, Caroline Casey & Johnny Cash
When blogger Tia Singh was 17, she had to repeat 12th grade. At the time she thought it was the most humiliating thing she had ever experienced, but she got through it and even made three new best friends. In this post, she reflects on the way this experience made her see how much her life is a gift.
How Being Vulnerable Can Expand Your World
Many of us are raised to think of vulnerability as a liability. If we’re vulnerable, the thinking goes, people will take that for a sign of weakness and try to exploit it. In this post, writer Wendy Miyake shares an experience from her days as a high school teacher in which she learned that being vulnerable allows people to see your authentic self, and that you can connect with them on a completely different level.
Use Questions to Change Your Mindset
Imagine that you’ve just woken up in the morning. In scenario A, you ask yourself “Why do I have to go to work today?” and in scenario B you ask yourself “What am I most grateful for right now?” In which scenario do you think you’d feel more enthusiastic and energized? In this post, blogger and coach Jonathan Wells explains that asking the right questions is one of the quickest ways to change our mindset from a limiting one to an empowering one.
By Sensei Serge Sognonvi and Carmen Sognonvi
Originally published at http://www.urbandojo.com/blog
Throughout April 2011, we’ll be working on the concept of “respect” as part of our Powerful Words character development curriculum, designed by leading child development expert Dr. Robyn Silverman.
All our discussions and activities will aim to help our students understand what it means to show care, consideration, concern and courtesy for others.
In this video, Dr. Robyn gives advice to a grandparent who wrote in because he’s concerned by the disruptive and disrespectful behavior he sees from his grandchildren when they’re out in public:
Here are Dr. Robyn’s tips for parents who want to teach their children how to better behave in public.
1. Teach them to be respectful at home
If you insist that kids use manners and refrain from being rude at home, it’s much more likely they’ll continue that good behavior when they’re in public.
2. Praise respectful behavior
Do your best to “catch them being good.” When you see your kids using manners or sharing without being prompted, make sure you praise them. Be as specific as you can. Don’t simply say, “Good job.” Instead, say “I really like the way you shared toys with your brother.”
3. Give them respect
We often demand from our kids that they look us in the eye, or that they don’t interrupt us, or that they speak to us in a respectful tone. But sometimes we don’t reciprocate that behavior. If you want respect from your kids, don’t forget to give them respect too.
4. Model respect
Show your kids how to be respectful by allowing them to hear you use manners and speak kindly. Each time you make a courteous gesture, you’re showing them what respect looks like.
5. Don’t reward disrespectful behavior
Sometimes when a child is being disrespectful, we can wrongly give them positive feedback by laughing. Next time your child acts in a disrespectful way, make sure you express your disapproval, but don’t linger. The more attention you give to their disrespect, the more likely they are to engage in that kind of behavior again.
Fill out the form below to request a free PDF download of our special report:
“The Power of Respect: A Guide for Parents and Educators”
This special report is an excellent resource, whether you’re a parent who wants to instill greater respect in your children, or you’re a teacher looking for character development lesson ideas in the classroom.
By filling out the form above, you’ll also receive a complimentary subscription to Black Belt Success, the email newsletter from Urban Martial Arts.
By Sensei Serge Sognonvi and Carmen Sognonvi
Originally published at http://www.urbandojo.com/blog
Here’s a round-up of the best martial arts-related news stories and blog posts that we came across this week.
How to Improve Your Success Rate in Applying Submissions
With so many tutorial videos online nowadays, anyone can figure out how to do a basic submission. But in this post, jiu-jitsu instructor and blogger Lori O’Connell explains that videos won’t allow you to learn “the finer points that helps you actually complete these moves against a live, resisting opponent.” She breaks down the 3 key concepts you need in submission grappling.
Guts Are the Anesthesia That Deaden the Pain of Fear
Why is it so important for martial arts students to compete in tournaments? In this post, kenpo instructor and blogger Sam Bowley explains that the courage a student develops by competing is invaluable because if they find themselves “in a more intense situation, like a fight or flight problem, they’ll have developed the guts they need and won’t freeze.”
How to Become a Better Fighter with Kata
Many people dismiss kata as that “old-school stuff” and think that in today’s martial arts landscape, with the increasing popularity of MMA, it has become irrelevant. But did you know that fighters like Lyoto Machida, Mas Oyama, Andy Hug, and even Georges St. Pierre use kata as part of their training? In this post, martial artist and blogger Josh Skinner explains how kata is still useful for martial artists and combat athletes.
Are Martial Arts Ruining Action Movies?
Provocative headline, huh? In this post for the blog Vulture, Kyle Buchanan declares that “with little in the way of stakes, a sameness in presentation, and no blood or bruises, martial arts have turned action scenes into dance scenes, and while those can be fun, they’re not usually renowned for their suspense.” What do you think?
Karate Analytics: Test, Think, Triumph!
In this post, karate blogger Jesse Enkamp details an exercise/experiment he did in which he had some junior black belts teach some intermediate students a section of a kata, then had everyone switch so that by the end of it, each “instructor” had taught 5 students and each student learned from 5 “instructors.” What did the junior black belts learn from this exercise? That by teaching the kata, they were able to learn it better themselves. In other words, teaching = learning.
By Sensei Serge Sognonvi and Carmen Sognonvi
Originally published at http://www.urbandojo.com/blog
Here’s a round-up of the best blog posts and articles on personal development we came across this week.
15 Amazing Commercials That Will Inspire the Greatness in You
Advertising is designed to trigger emotional responses in us so we’ll buy products. But some commercials go beyond the sales pitch and convey a deeper message that we can draw inspiration from. Next time you’re in need of a motivational boost, watch some of these gems blogger Celestine Chua uncovered.
How to See Yourself More Clearly and Rise to the Next Level
“You won’t like me when I’m angry,” Dr. David Banner would say before transforming into The Hulk. You’re not a comic book character, but have you ever found yourself acting completely out of character when confronted with a frustrating situation? In this post, blogger Nea Joy explains why moments like these “expose the gap between the Higher Self and the person we’re living as at any given time.”
16 Harsh Truths that Make Us Stronger
Some of the statements in this post from bloggers Marc and Angel may make you wince a bit: “Life is not easy.” “You will fail sometimes.” “Right now, there’s a lot you don’t know.” But embracing these harsh truths is not about looking at the world through a glass-half-empty lens. Rather, doing so will help keep you focused on what’s most important in your life.
Can You Live a Balanced Life with a Cluttered Mind?
When you feel overwhelmed by having too many things to do, you often feel helpless because things seem to be spiraling out of control. In this post, coach and blogger Jonathan Wells explains why it’s important to change your self-talk so that instead of thinking that you’re being forced into a situation, you realize you are making a choice.
5 Ways for Parents to Manage Anxiety
When you become a parent for the first time, the anxiety can be overwhelming. Is your child getting enough sleep? Is your child getting the right nutrition? Being constantly worried is no good, as babies can pick up on your emotions. In this post, artist and journalist Geordie Proudfoot shares 5 ways you can combat parental anxiety and access intuition.
By Sensei Serge Sognonvi and Carmen Sognonvi
Originally published at http://www.urbandojo.com/blog
Throughout April 2011, we’ll be working on the concept of “respect” as part of our Powerful Words character development curriculum.
All our discussions and activities will aim to help our students understand what it means to show care, consideration, concern and courtesy for others.
To inspire your own discussions at home, here are seven of our all-time favorite quotes about respect:
“Karate begins and ends with respect.”
~Anko Itosu
“Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.”
~Bruce Lee
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.”
~Lao-Tzu
“Men are respectable only as they respect.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
“If one doesn’t respect oneself one can have neither love nor respect for others.”
~Ayn Rand
“Leaders who win the respect of others are the ones who deliver more than they promise, not the ones who promise more than they can deliver.”
~Mark Clement
“He removes the greatest ornament of friendship, who takes away from it respect.”
~Cicero
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By Sensei Serge Sognonvi and Carmen Sognonvi
Originally published at http://www.urbandojo.com/blog
Here’s a round-up of the best martial arts-related news stories and blog posts that we came across this week.
Boost Your Karate Talent the Spartan Way
In this funny post, martial arts blogger Jesse Enkamp wonders if there’s a correlation between the condition of the facilities at a martial arts school and the quality of the students. In other words, do you need a run-down, “butt-ugly dojo” (his words) to develop the most skilled practitioners?
A Lesson About Character
Martial arts writer and researcher Charles C. Goodin shares a simple but profound story that illustrates what it really means to be a successful martial arts student. Hint: It’s not about how many trophies you have.
Karate: Is It About Fighting or Self-Defense?
Almost every martial arts school touts the benefits of learning how to defend oneself. But isn’t point sparring, for example, more about fighting? In this post, martial arts student and blogger Sue C. explores the blurry line between self-defense and fighting in karate.
The Most Important Thing…
What’s more important? Footwork or stance? Stand-up or ground? Whatever aspect of martial arts you seem to be lacking in will be the thing you think it’s most important. But that’s the wrong approach. In this post, Charles C. Goodin argues that in fact, “everything is important in karate. And character is always the most important and essential thing of all.”
The 5 Essential Elements of Martial Arts
The elements that are most essential to martial arts are just as essential in everyday life. In this post, martial arts blogger and instructor Andy Dickinson breaks down the importance of awareness, breaking balance, distance, breath, and eyes.