"Your kids are so polite!" I love hearing this, and luckily I get to hear it often. My three sons are and....at least in public are always very polite, and our students at our Academy are always very polite in class. As a result we often get asked "how do you do it!". So we decided to break down a few simple steps to help anyone who wants to help their kids increase their manners, self-respect, and respect for others! Step One: "Monkey See....Monkey Do" 1) Teaching your kids

Good manners, common courtesy, and respect seem to be in a bit of a decline in recent history. With the advent of social media, and the power of anonymity it provides, it is easier than ever to say and do things that you might not do in person. In a society that seems to be speeding up exponentially, people just don't seem to have the time........for patience. Popular culture is bombarded with examplesof this type of behavior, even our Presidential Debates have taken on a dec

Training Jiu-Jitsu is absolutely one of the best ways to learn Self-Defense, become confident, and get in shape on the mats, but it has impact far beyond that. Here are 5 lessons from Jiu-Jitsu that you can apply to life off the mats, in success, health, business, and relationships. 1) Victory is a result of Persistence: "Its not about who's the best, its about who's left." The most talented, naturally gifted, athletically inclined will pick up Jiu-Jitsu faster than the avera

"I marked that of my Bucket List." "Been there, done that." "I just got done with my 30 Day Diet!" We all have things we want to accomplish. Those titles, accolades, achievements, that we want to look back on and say "I did that!"....and their is nothing wrong with that. Having a getting mentality can take you to some great successes, to some truly amazing accomplishments....but they just can't keep you there. We see it every time we have a Blackbelt Test. Students push, stri

"Josh this is the Bell Lap!" These are the words one of my running buddies says to me every morning as we start the last mile of our run. They have become a part of the run that always makes me smile. The Bell Lap is a reminder that we are almost done, that the finish line is in sight, and now is not the time to slow down.....its time to speed up! Its the lap where we push a little harder, dig a little bit deeper, and sprint past the finish line. Whats amazing is, even on tho

"In case of a sudden loss of Cabin pressure a masks will drop from the overhead compartment. Make sure to fit your mask on first safely and securely, then secure the other mask to your child." Have you ever heard or seen this speech before a fight? Chances are you have, and most likely it made perfect sense to you, after all, how can I help my child if I am unconscious? It seems obvious really, I have to take care of me, so I can take care of them. I have to model the behavio

''Hurricanes and earthquakes get all of the publicity, but termites do more damage....'' -Zig Ziglar Big Events, Major Events, the events that are shocking, and almost unimaginable just seem to get all the press. Wars gets minute by minute coverage. The big court case gets aired live online. These days the big events even get seen live on someones Social Media before the News can even cover it! What we don't see most of there time are the little daily events, choices, and hab

“Be Yourself Because Everyone Else Is……..Already Taken.” Some people live their entire lives, trying to be someone else, wondering why they just can’t seem to be happy, why they feel like a square peg, trying to squeeze into a round hole, frustrated with trying to fit in, to be like everyone else. You were born to be…..You. With a set of qualities, skills, attributes, and gifts that nobody else in the history of the world has. You are made in a manner that might be similar to

Kindness is the one commodity that increases the more its used. It is that secret ingredient that makes everything taste better. It is the i

One thing that never seems to be in short supply is criticism. People always have an opinion of things you can do better, if you don't believe me....just ask them! In fact learning how to ask for advice, and what to do with that criticism can be one of the most beneficial, and most difficult things we can do to help us grow, develop, and succeed in Martial Arts and in Life. Here are three quick strategies to help you figure out what advice to keep, what to sweep, and how to k

If you are walking up a steep hill and you stop, you don't stay in place.....you inevitably start to slide back down, lose your momentum, and make your trip to the top infinitely harder than it should be. Likewise Your Success will not be defined by brief periods of massive action, but rather by the small, consistent actions, habits, and thoughts we follow through on each and every day. More often than not success is the byproduct of daily discipline over time...... #Hickory

Reminders: Tuition Due: 1st thru 10th Pay Online: https://squareup.com/store/hickory-academy-of-martial-arts Testing: January 27th 6pm to 7:30pm Testing List is posted at the Dojo. Theme of the Month: Goals vs Dreams Taking dreams and making them goals. Online Pro-Shop Uniforms, Gear, and More www.hickorymartialarts.com: Click on the Shop Online Button to get started.Big discounts on everything you need for class and direct shipping! Connect With Us Online: www.hickorymartial

How to make time to get on shape in 2017!

They say winning is a habit, and they are right. There is a mindset, lifestyle, routine, and expectation that comes with being successful. Small victories have a way of accumulating, and building momentum that you might not see, but that are necessary to lay the foundation for bigger success down the road. Unfortunately, losing is a habit too! Big failures are made up of tiny, seemingly insignificant failures months, years, and decades before they might even be noticed. That

Quick Video for kids and families dealing with bullying, with a quick tip to get help and get through a bullying situation. 1 in 4 Kids are a victim of Bullying in the United States, many of which feel alone, like they are to blame for their situation, and like they have no one to talk to. This video was made to offer some hope, encouragment, and direction for those kids and thier families. We are comitted to helping as many kids, not only in our comminity of Hickory, NC but