Pokemon Winner!

Congratulations Dorothy!

Our student from Family Class, Dorothy Dade, won third place in regional and first place in State for a Pokemon tournament.  Now, it's off to the nationals!

Congratulations and good luck Dorothy!

Self-Control

Self Control

"He who loses control of his emotions gives his opponent a powerful ally." - Anonymous

A Martial Arts Perspective:  

Next to confidence, self control is the most desired skill sought by new students at our school.  Obviously, self control impacts all areas of a persons life whether they be a child or an adult.  From domestic relationships, school, work or social situations, self-control plays a major role in your success.

Self control means more than just avoiding conflict.  It represents staying balanced in all areas of your life.  Avoiding excesses of food, drugs, alcohol, smoking and even exercise, can be difficult yet obviously the need to do so is quite important to your health, happiness and well being.  

For a child, lack of self control is most often noted for more active impulses that impact personal friendships and learning at school. Parents may feel completely overwhelmed by their child's seeming inability to sit still during a meal, during classes or in social situations where being in control of one's body is the accepted norm.  

But, as with any new skill, children can be completely unaware of what is expected of them.  Self control is a learned skill just like any other, and without guidance, a child has no parameters or frame of reference for their behavior.

Adults may be completely aware of what areas in their life they lack self-control in, but having not practiced the skill very often, they may actually just need to know that they are more than capable of exercising restraint when necessary.

For the Student:

What does self-control look like?

How can I practice self-control?

In the dojang, students are expected to practice absolute self-control at all times.  As a beginner, this is sometimes overwhelming, however, the very nature of a martial arts atmosphere, and especially a group martial arts atmosphere, is that you are given a very simple set of parameters and behavioral expectations to follow.  Actually relinquishing a little bit of control to the rules themselves allows you the freedom to simply work on your skills.  Do we expect you to stand still?  Yes, we do.  Do we expect you to answer when you are called?  Yes, we do.  Do we expect you to be respectful?  Yes, we do.  Do we expect you to try your best at all times?  Yes, we do.

Over time, your behavior in class becomes very natural.  It becomes easier and easier to maintain control over your body and mind while you work on new skills.  Having self-control allows you to learn more efficiently and focus on the task at hand.  As time goes by you will notice that it takes you less time to master a new skill with a much higher complexity level.

In a more practical application that students can more readily understand because of the immediate ramifications, is that martial arts can be dangerous to both you and your training partners or opponents if you do not exercise self control.  In a sparring situation, you will most certainly lose, and perhaps be hurt, if you do not maintain control and think about your next move.  Allowing yourself to lose control emotionally will most certainly result in a lack of focus and ability to rationalize.  In this scenario you will most certainly give your opponent a lot of power and certain victory.

The legitimate practice of martial arts is founded upon non-violent principles such as respect, courtesy and patience.  It is the practice of these very simple principles that will allow you to develop self-control.  The advantage of all of this practice, is that you WILL possess the necessary skills to apply self control to all areas of your life.

© Mountain Taekwondo 2014.  All Rights Reserved.

Decorating the Dojang

Decorating the Dojang

We are loving our new art sitting above our bamboo forest in the dojang. We are wondering if any of our students can guess what they say? The first correct guess given to Instructor Sonya in person gets a free school t-shirt!

© Mountain Taekwondo 2014.  All Rights Reserved.

Focus

Focus

"A successful warrior is the average man, with laser like focus." - Bruce Lee

"My success, part of it certainly, is that I have focused in on a few things." - Bill Gates

A Martial Arts Perspective:

As a beginner in Taekwondo, one of the most important and impactful habits that you can develop is the habit of focus.  Not only will focus improve your Taekwondo skills, consistent focus affects every facet of your personal and professional life.  You will be rewarded with greater comprehension and faster progress in any thing you do when you have good focusing skills.

For children, the focus skills they develop in Taekwondo class will carry over to the academic classroom, giving them greater success in all areas of learning.

For adults, consistent focus will help you to accomplish many tasks, stay on track, and complete numerous challenges despite how busy you become. 

As a martial artist you will develop the ability to focus in each moment, whatever the task is--breaking a board, making a presentation, completing a form, master a sword skill, or finishing an assignment.  You will learn that although something seems difficult, that a little focus will go a long way to making your task simpler and your performance more efficient.

For The Student:

In the dojang, what can you do to develop focus?  

What does focus look like?

Focus your eyes: Work on keeping eye contact with your instructor, or the target you are kicking.  Keep your eyes focused even when you feel compelled to look away.  Practicing eye contact will help you to develop a focused mind.  Also, people will understand that you are listening to them.  They will understand that you are engaged in what they are talking about and taking them seriously.

Focus your body: A focused body is when you sit or stand with no motion.  You are ready to take instruction or engage in a physical skill.  In the dojang you do this while you wait for class to begin, when you meditate, or you are listening to your instructors.  Keeping your body still allows you to work on keeping your mind focused.  You are not distracted by your clothing or outside movement.  A focused body demonstrates that you are engaged in listening.  Your body language is telling an important story to the people around you.

Focus your mind: Try to keep your thoughts on the task at hand.  Do not let your mind stray.  When you are sparring, a mind that is not focused on what you are doing has the potential to cause injury.  You must focus on your opponent and what they are doing to keep yourself safe.

© Mountain Taekwondo 2014.  All Rights Reserved.

Confidence

Confidence 

The Martial Arts Perspective:

When new students first come to our school we ask them why they are here.  We want to know what motivated them to walk into our dojang.  Not only does their answer help us to further develop our black belt curriculum, to be something that resonates with our students, it helps us to understand the individual student very quickly.

And while there are many things that bring a student to us, the overwhelming majority cite "Confidence" as their main motivator for joining us.  By our reasoning, this indicates that an overwhelmingly large number of people feel that they lack confidence in their day to day life.  It also means that walking in to our dojang, and asking us to help them develop confidence, was probably one of the most nerve wracking and difficult things they have had to do.  Telling a stranger that you lack confidence is not easy!

A most rewarding part of our job then becomes watching a student's confidence evolve.  If I were to present a picture of the average white belt student to you, I would describe a student that has their head bowed slightly, their shoulders slumped in a little.  They may shuffle nervously from foot to foot or stand on one leg with the other tucked hesitantly behind.  They do not know what to do with their hands.  Maybe they swing them back and forward, or pull on their sleeves or shirt hem or tap their fingers together.  Their body is not still or attentive and they are so worried about their surroundings, and the impression that they give off, that their focus is not engaged at all.

But an amazing thing starts to happen to this student.  A few belts in to the curriculum and their physical presence begins to change.  Shoulders are straighter and the head is higher.  They are making eye contact and listening attentively.  Their feet, after many hours of kicking practice and balance skills, are unerringly planted in a solid stance.  They smile and engage in conversation, answer questions and ask for help unapologetically.  They begin to understand that not knowing something does not mean that they will never know it.  They have confidence in their ability to learn.

By the time this same student has reached black belt level, they have truly embodied the concept of confidence.  Confidence is not about comparing yourself to other people.  Confidence IS about being comfortable with exactly where you are at yourself.  Confidence gives you the ability to look at yourself not in comparison to others.  Confidence is knowing and accepting that you have much to learn.  Confidence is opening yourself up to learning.  Confidence is asking for guidance.  Confidence is listening to the people around you.

For the Student:  

How can you develop confidence?  Although praise and motivation from your instructors can contribute, true confidence is created and maintained by accomplishing challenging tasks.  Confidence is earned.  Look back at your training and realize how much you have already developed in this short time, the skills that you have mastered, the boards that you have broken.  Those experiences have earned you the right to be confident in your physical, mental and emotional strength.

Remember how nervous and unsure you felt when you first walked in the door of the dojang?  Now, you stride in and greet your instructors and fellow students with a smile and anticipation.  You are not afraid to walk on to the mat or yell your loudest when you perform your kicking or punching.  You are not nervous about testing anymore, but excited to be moving on to a higher belt and new curriculum level.  You are beginning to develop true confidence.

The success that you have had in Taekwondo should encourage you for your potential for success in other activities.  Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone, try new things, and develop new skills.  

Apply the confidence you have earned in Taekwondo to each new challenge you face.

© Mountain Taekwondo 2014

Grand Opening

Come join us at Mountain Taekwondo's official Grand Opening and first Black Belt Testing!

10:00 am Black Belt Testing

11:00 am Opening Ceremony

11:15 am Master Demonstration

11:45 am A Taste of Korean Food

Mountain Taekwondo's Grand Opening and 1st Black Belt Testing