Better Behaved Kids - The next installment...

Hopefully, you have had some time to notice and work with your kids on our first Project of "Being asked to do something one time.".  Judging from the kids' reactions in class, it seems that things are better but not where we want them to be regarding having to "nag" kids to get the simple things in life done...  Brushing their teeth...  Turning the TV off...  Getting ready for bed...  etc.

We will continue to work on it in class and hope you will join us in reinforcing this important behavior at home.

The next Project we are working on with the kids is "Not being Fresh."  Now, "fresh" is a term from our generation and not necessarily theirs.  I invite you to supplement whatever word you use with your children.  Some parents use "sassy", "rude", "talking back", "having an 'attitude'" and a variety of others.

The more important behavior that I have noticed over the year is not so much what comes out of their mouth, but their body language.  Everyone has heard the phrase, "Its not what you say but how you say it."  Another way to put it is, if you were viewing a child and parent across a parking lot, could you tell simply by the child's body whether or not they were being "fresh"?  I can and I believe you can too.

I would argue that the physical "being fresh", like an eye roll, or crossed arms precedes the verbal.  Meaning, the verbal follows the physical.  This is why I pay very close attention to my children's body language.  I tend to be able to head off this type of behavior before it becomes a problem.

I invite you to try it for yourself and again, I hope that these Projects are making a difference in the children's behavior at home.

Thank you for your support and for partnering up with us to raise Better Behaved Kids!

Master Dan

President
Stryker Martial Arts Inc.

 

 “Children are tough, though we tend to think of them as fragile. They have to be tough. Childhood is not easy. We sentimentalize children, but they know what’s real and what’s not. They understand metaphor and symbol. If children are different from us, they are more spontaneous. Grown-up lives have become overlaid with dross.”
-Maurice Sendak

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Better Behaved Kids - Part 1

Dear Parents,

If you have watched class lately, you have noticed that we have implemented a "Better Behaved Kids" portion of our class where we have begun discussing different "Projects" we want the kids working on.  These "Projects" are meant to support what you are already doing at home.  We have found that when messages from parents are reiterated by a third party, they really start to gain some traction. 

Kids start saying to themselves, "Well ghee, if my mom says that I should say please and thank you, and the instructors at the karate school tell me I should say please and thank you, it must be the thing to do."

The first Project we implemented was "Being asked to do something one time... and one time only."  Hopefully you have already seen the benefits of this Project at home.  If you haven't, I invite you to start referencing it with your children.  I reference these projects regularly with my son and his behavior changes very quickly. 

Please remember that the belt system, stripes and merit badges are all a reward system.  When you reference karate, the kids immediately refer to that reward system in their mind because it is what we use on the mat.  This reward system has been specifically designed over the last 16 years and it works! 

Some of the issues that we have been discussing are:

• Cleaning their room
• Turning the TV off
• Getting ready for school
• Getting ready for bed

...and plenty more.

Again, I hope you have seen an improvement in this area of your child's life and I look forward to partnering with you in the future to help raise, "Better Behaved Kids."

Sincerely,

Master Dan

President
Stryker Martial Arts Inc.

No Adult Class Tonight!

The ADULT Class at 7:45PM tonight is CANCELLED due to potential inclement weather and specifically icing.  The kid's class and the Family Class are on as scheduled. 

Great Martial Arts.  Great People.  That is what Stryker Martial Arts is all about.

Many people attempt to determine how much we charge "per class".  This is a mistake.  We don't sell martial arts classes.  No.  We sell much more than that. 

Many people attempt to compare our program with others.  This is another mistake.  Our program is unique and why we have one of the longest standing martial arts schools is Fairfield - over 16 years. 

What do we sell? 

We sell a Superior Martial Arts EXPERIENCE.  I don't know anyone who couldn't benefit from this experience.  Do you?   Now is a great time to invite the people you know to experience our program for themselves.  You will be glad you did...  and so will they. 

Year End and some updates...

Dear Students and Families,

I hope that you are enjoying this holiday season!

We are ready for an outstanding 2012 where Stryker Martial Arts will be making a bigger impact, teaching more students, and bringing the benefits of martial arts training to more families!

As we close out this year, I just wanted to remind you that there are no classes tomorrow as we have testing. (Remember, as usual, there are no unsupervised kids during the adult test)

Starting Friday, we will begin our winter break and will be closed until the new year (January 2nd, 2012).

It has been an interesting and challenging 2011 both personally and professionally for me and for SMA. I feel that both the students and the school have met these challenges and exceeded any "normal" expectation.  I am extremely proud of all of us!

I am confident that SMA has stepped up the program and increased both the value and the benefits for its members. Our kids' program is strong and while my teaching style seemed a bit abrupt at first, many parents have expressed positive outcomes both on the mat and off.  Ultimately, parents are noticing a difference in the behavior of their kids outside the karate school... not just the "fun" they are having on the mat. After all, this has always been the goal of professional martial arts instruction. 

I want to thank all the parents for the positive feedback that we have received.  It means a lot to us.  Yet we are starting to receive an even bigger compliment.  Many parents have begun referring their friends and family to the school. This is the biggest vote of confidence we can receive and I thank you for the trust you instill in us by having your friends and family try our program.  We will do the best we can to meet their needs.

I am very excited for our Thai Kickboxing program heading into the new year. I have made some slight modifications over the last few months and I truly believe that these simple improvements are going to have a dramatic effect on the students' physical transformation. Not only that, but our renewed stand against violence towards women is what will propel this program beyond anything its seen before.  Stryker Martial Arts is determined to teach women how to fight back. 
Imagine a program where you can have the physical transformation you want PLUS the opportunity to be safer and more confident. Its the best of both worlds and no one is bringing this to you except Stryker Martial Arts. 

Our goals for 2012 is to bring more families into our school and training together. I am not quite sure how this will look but it is something that I am very interested in. The parents who participate in the Thai Kickboxing and even the parents who have participated in our family class have a much different perspective regarding their kids’ participation in our program as well as the program itself. Therefore, I would like to see more families on the mat together. 

Thank you to all the students and families for your support in 2011 and I look forward to an outstanding 2012!

Sincerely,

Dan Stryker
President
Stryker Martial Arts Inc.

Announcements

A quick reminder that there are no classes this saturday. (October 22nd)  I am in Boston at a seminar. 

Testing is next Thursday (October 27).  If you or your child are testing, be sure to check with Master Dan that you are on the list. 

Remember that there are no classes on test day and as usual, there are no unsupervised kids during the
adult test. 

Finally, October 31st - Halloween - there are no classes in the afternoon and evening.  I am going to be
"trick-or-treating" with my son and I imagine you will be doing the same with your children. 

Thanks to one of our students to passing this on!

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; ... - Life isn't always fair; - And maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies, don't spend more than you can earn and adults, not children, are in charge. His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife Discretion, his daughter Responsibility, and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, do nothing...( taken from a friend of a friend)..

Another Great Day

We had some awesome classes today!  The Thai Kickboxers worked up a sweat while polishing a useful self-defense technique.  The Black Belt Club Kids were amazing!  They showed incredible focus and discipline.  Many of them learned how to do a jumping roundhouse kick for the first time!  (Watch out for those lamps!)

The 4 to 9 year olds did excellent.  We had one of the Black Belt Kids working along side them and they stepped their game up and increased their intensity.  We finished up with some flying sidekicks that ROCKED! 

Great Job today!  Keep it up!