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General

2016 Book Recommendations!

NWSMA’s summer reading contest kicked off on June 1, so I figured I’d throw out a few recommendations to get y’all started. Obviously, my recommendations will be colored by my own interests (fantasy, Middle East, SE Asia, Japan, history, comics), and I also tried to pick things I’ve read more recently, things with universal appeal, and also things that are pretty squeaky clean in terms of content.

Speaking of content! Parents, if you haven’t heard of it, Common Sense Media is a wonderful site to add to your favorites. It allows you to check out what your kids are reading, watching, and, playing. Each entry rates the piece of media in several categories, including violence, positive messages, role models, and drugs/drinking/smoking.

Another note for our readers: if you’re having trouble finding a book, try the following 6 ideas:

  • Read a book that was made into a movie or tv series
  • Re-read an old favorite
  • Ask a friend (or your kids) for a recommendation
  • Read a book that is part of a series
  • Browse AT the library (novel concept I know!)
  • For adults: read a YA or teen novel

Recs after the jump!

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General

7 Benefits of Summer Martial Arts Training (or, why you should continue to train over the summer)

NWSMA students at a sparring-focused summer camp.

I’m going to keep this simple: MOST students who train during the summer advance to their next belt before or close to September. (Obviously, this isn’t a guarantee–the only thing that guarantees a test is effort, focus, consistency, and skill growth!)

So, what is it about training during the summer that is so beneficial?

  1. Students who train over the summer do not forget their requirements. Students who take the summer off forget things. (It’s amazing how quickly the memory goes!) Martial arts is cumulative: basic skills lead to more advanced skills. Students who come back in September after a few months’ break have to go through a period of “re-learning” and re-practicing a lot of basics. We also often see old habits make a comeback after a break. All of this impacts progress. On the other hand, students who do train over the summer see a lot of benefits from staying consistent in their practice.
  2. Students who train over the summer have only one thing to focus on. Well, maybe they have Boy Scouts or other summer activities. But the point is that they’re not in school, trying to keep a handle on a wide variety of subjects, homework, activities, etc. When students are able to focus in on 1-2 things, they make faster progress in skills. They’re able to give full attention to martial arts, without worrying about getting their homework done later.
  3. Students who train over the summer maintain their level of fitness. All those pushups and situps are great, but when the body isn’t asked to do them, your fitness will suffer. This is not as much of a problem for lower ranks, but can hugely impact students who are at higher ranks, where the expectations for fitness are high.
  4. Students who train over the summer learn about having a routine and sticking to it–an important Life Skill for success. Consistency is a key Life Skill: you go to school regularly, you do your homework, [in college] you plan your study time, you show up to work, you stick with something you’ve started: GET IT DONE. Why? Because when you quit, you don’t reach your goals! One of the most important lessons you can teach your children is to have a routine and stick to it. Allowing children to choose when they go to class can be problematic, as it teaches them they can do whatever they want, whenever they “feel like it.” Not a recipe for life success. Now, we’re not saying you shouldn’t take a break from time to time, go on vacation, etc. But we are saying that training over the summer is a BIG part of experiencing what it’s like to stick with something.
  5. Students who train over the summer stay in a “learning mindset.” When these students return to school in the fall, their brain is already primed to continue learning. The brain, like the muscles, can get lazy, and martial arts is a great opportunity to keep your mindset open for learning and growing.
  6. Students who train over the summer grow their brains bigger. Repeating any skill you’ve learned causes the connections in your brain to grow, widen, and thicken. Bigger pathways mean better transmission of electrical signals. Repetition makes brain connections stronger! What’s the big deal here? Well, in addition to strengthening brain function (which may work against degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s), the bigger and stronger a brain connection is, the more likely it is that a student will actually be able to perform their martial arts in a real life situation. The summer is a huge opportunity to get in repetition, strengthen the brain, and increase your chances of success in a real-life self-defense situation.
  7. Students who train over the summer have NUF in class! Summer classes can be really NUF for students! We have summer camps, we play BINGO, we have competitions in reading, we bring in cold treats on hot days, we train with various weapons, we play games, we go outside to train…there are so many AWESOME things about NWSMA in the summer. Summer is the best time for students to develop strong social connections to other students through fun activities.

You wouldn’t want to miss out, would you?

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General

Culture in the Martial Arts School: Commitment & Honor

What kind of martial art do you do? What place, country, nation, or people does it come from? How much do you know about the culture of that country, historically or contemporarily? Is your understanding simple, or is it deep and complex?

What kind of place do you live in? What are the values of the people in your specific locale? What kind of culture are you stepping into when you bow in for class? How does “dojo culture” differ from the wider culture your dojo is situated in?

Today, I want to talk about two deeper values that are common to many traditional martial arts: commitment and honor. I want to define these two values, and then talk about how YOU might be expected to SHOW those values in your school or training hall.

Obviously, all schools are different. These values may not be as important in your specific school. I’m going to talk about these ones because, in my nearly two decades of training, being a student and guest in dozens of schools, these are the ones that in my experience stand out across many styles, places, teachers, and schools.

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General

Martial Arts and Values

Hey, all! Just dropping by the blog to tell a story that happened to me a while back.

I was speaking with family friend’s child about their schoolwork. We were trying to figure out how to improve on what they’d begun.

What astonished me was not only that they listened respectfully, they were also quick to volunteer that they were responsible for something! Without me prompting them, they admitted to getting distracted while working. They were also open to some ideas about what they could do next time, like re-read their work out loud to make sure it sounded okay.

This young person was not a martial artist at NWSMA, but they had trained in martial arts elsewhere, and they did a couple other contact sports. I was impressed, not only that they could understand their mistakes, but also that they could admit to some personal tendencies that were getting in the way.

It was a mature, responsible, and open-minded attitude, and that kind of attitude lends itself to quick learning and growth.

What is it about martial arts and contact sports that lead to this kind of attitude?

Well, in a sparring match or tournament, martial artists usually spar one-on-one. This leaves very little room for blaming anything other than yourself when you lose! Martial artists are forced DAILY to look their mistakes in the eye and figure out how to become better.

Just another reason why martial arts are so awesome!

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General

“Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes” by Ryan

Ryan is a provisional black belt candidate for 1st degree. Here is his essay about what it means and what it takes to be a black belt.

Ryan is an adult student. In this essay, he tackles some issues that will be familiar to adult martial artists: how humbling it is to start something new,  how tough it can be to make time for training outside of class, how difficult change can be, and how much there is to remember! What I love is how Ryan talks about his own strategies for overcoming these difficulties, while also recognizing that the very act of overcoming them is a key part of being and becoming a black belt.

Check it out after the jump!

“What a Black Belt is and What it Takes” by Ryan

Black Belt in Life

I started my journey to black belt on the sidelines, watching my kids with their own Taekwondo experience. I didn’t just watch, but I really paid attention. It didn’t take me long to realize that Instructor Chris wasn’t just teaching these kids how to punch and kick. He was teaching them so much more, and more about life. One thing he always said to the kids, and it has stuck with me, is that he didn’t just want them to just be a black belt at the school, but that he wanted to teach them to “be a Black Belt in life.” This is powerful, and its essence is exactly what a black belt is and what it should take.

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General Instructor Resources

School’s Out! (Tips to Get ‘Em Reading)

We’re challenging all NWSMA students to read for 20 minutes (or more) every day this summer!

My class seemed a little surprised the other day when I told them that comic books, newspapers, and magazines all would count for summer reading.

Time to share some information about reading! How do we get those darn kids to read more books?

Here’s what we know about reading.

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Benefits of Martial Arts General Instructor Resources

A (Student-Generated) List of Ways to Show Effort in Class

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I was cleaning out files, and I found an exercise I had my classes do about a year ago.

I sat the class down and explained that I wasn’t inside their heads. I couldn’t tell what they were thinking, unless they told me with words or acted a certain way.

We broke out into groups. I gave each group a sheet of paper and assigned a scribe. Together, the group created a list of “Ways to Show Effort in Class.” 

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Women’s Self-Defense May 3, 2015!!!

“You don’t have to be a martial artist to be able to defend yourself.”

–Sensei Doris

We think it’s SO important for *every* woman to have some basic, common sense self-defense skills! Please join us on May 3, 2015 to learn how to defend yourself and your loved ones.

Feeling a little unsure about trying something new? Sensei says, “Bring a friend or family member for double the fun!”

  • May 3, 2015
  • 2-3:30 pm
  • Stanwood Masonic Hall, 27205 102nd Ave NW
  • $35/woman
  • All ages and drop-ins welcome!
  • Proceeds benefit Bikes for Books

WSD May 2015 (1)

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Celebrating Our Youth 2014!

NWSMA Donation to Stanwood Food Banksm
NWSMA students with their Food Bank donation.

Students from NW School of Martial Arts donate 100 pounds of food to Stanwood Camano Food Bank! Students also helped a local church fill baskets of food for families in need.

School owner Doris Eastbury believes that, “As martial artists, we want to make the world a better place by serving others. Our annual donation drives are a great way for our kids to help make a difference.”

NW School of Martial Arts donates a portion of their proceeds to Bikes for Books, and as a part of their annual summer camp, collected school supplies for the Caring Place.

It takes a village to raise a child. –African proverb

Big thanks and mad props to NWSMA PARENTS, for helping these kids be a part of something bigger, for encouraging them through struggle, and for supporting us 100% of the way. We couldn’t do this without you, and we are so grateful that you have chosen us to be a part of your village. 🙂

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Change Drive & Guess-Off Results!

Howdy, folks! Just an update on the change drive:

We raised a grand total of $207. 96!!!!

change

Whoa! That’s a lot of change! Nice job, and thanks to everyone for their contributions. 🙂

We’ll be using this money to buy some new focus pads, and probably a few pairs of new Arnis sticks for the school. And of course, your instructors will be making an additional $100 donation to Bikes for Books!

The BIG WINNER in the guess-off was Snicklefritz, who guessed that we raised $215!!

Black belts

She’s second from the right in the photo there (and stay tuned, because her black belt essay is upcoming)!