As we head into the season of New Year's Resolutions, I've decided to set a big, audacious goal for myself and the dojo: In 2010, I'm aiming to make Emerald Necklace Martial Arts the most well known, well respected, most influential community-service-based martial arts organization in the city of Boston.
In short, when people need exciting fitness training, a boost in self-confidence, and a sense of belonging, I want them to come to us and enroll. When city leaders need help on an important community project, I want them to seek our member's assistance and participation. When a local school teacher or principal needs someone to speak to their students about safety, bullying, leadership, wellness, WHATEVER, I want him or her to think about contacting our school.
To be sure, to meet these goals, we need to increase our dojo enrollment. We need to grow in size to stay in business, and to do more as a community. But, I don't simply want to have the "biggest" martial arts school school in the city. It's not all that important for us to be the "most profitable" school around (although that would be nice). I simply want to be the best — on the dojo floor in terms of our physical ability and level of performance, and out there on the streets in terms of our character and the positive impact of our service.
I shot a short video on the subject this week:
Find more videos like this on The Emerald Necklace Martial Arts "Digital Dojo"
To my students: It's time to take some action.
If you aren't willing to help us grow, and thrive, and make a difference in the community/world, should you really be training here?
To the community we serve: We are here for you.
Check out our online portfolio of community service projects. I want you to challenge us. Engage us. Ask us for help. And I promise, we will rise to the occasion. (And maybe, just maybe, you'll be inspired to JOIN US.)
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Conscious Consuming, Healthy Eating, and the Holiday Season
I've been thinking a lot lately about raising my awareness of what I "consume" in my life, from the food that I eat to the purchases that I make, to the media that I watch and read. And of course, I've been thinking about how all of these things relate to the martial arts and "self-defense."
I recently watched the movie, "Food, Inc." A real eye opener in terms of becoming more aware of the source of our meals and the methods that are being used to produce and deliver our food to the market. And I'm becoming more and more aware of just how interconnected and interdependent we all are.
No, I don't eat local, organic, fairly-traded, healthy food all of the time. In fact, I love to eat absolute crap, but I am making small changes where I can — and when I remember to. Awareness is the key. For example, I still drink coffee, but with a growing awareness of how bad the cream and sugar are for my overall health, I'm drinking it black more frequently. (And hey, it tastes pretty good!)
With raised awareness, I'm finding myself being more mindful and grateful, too. Shot this video this morning:
I recently watched the movie, "Food, Inc." A real eye opener in terms of becoming more aware of the source of our meals and the methods that are being used to produce and deliver our food to the market. And I'm becoming more and more aware of just how interconnected and interdependent we all are.
No, I don't eat local, organic, fairly-traded, healthy food all of the time. In fact, I love to eat absolute crap, but I am making small changes where I can — and when I remember to. Awareness is the key. For example, I still drink coffee, but with a growing awareness of how bad the cream and sugar are for my overall health, I'm drinking it black more frequently. (And hey, it tastes pretty good!)
With raised awareness, I'm finding myself being more mindful and grateful, too. Shot this video this morning:
Friday, November 20, 2009
This Week's Update
November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and last weekend was World Diabetes Day, so I ran two women's self-defense seminars at the dojo that raised about $200 for the Defeat Diabetes organization.
We've been doing some realistic training in our Black Belt Club sessions, with a goal of developing physical & mental toughness, and the willingness to engage in physical conflict if necessary. (I've still got a few bruises from the training, but I'm healing quickly!)
On my own time, I've been studying the concepts of "Verbal Judo" so that I can share them with my students though future confidence & assertiveness training seminars.
One of our dojo members is collecting food items for homeless families for Thanksgiving. The drop-off box in the dojo is filling up from student's donations, and I even have a few members from the community (not dojo members) stopping by the dojo this weekend to make additional contributions! In honor of the upcoming holiday, we discussed the quality of "gratitude" and how it relates to the martial arts between punching drills in my grade-school class this morning.
We'll be holding a "healthy foods potluck" at the dojo next week to emphasize the notion that "healthy eating is self-defense." And since we're heading into the season of excessive eating, we'll also be showing the film, "Food, Inc." to raise awareness about our food sources and our habits of consumption.
We've been doing some realistic training in our Black Belt Club sessions, with a goal of developing physical & mental toughness, and the willingness to engage in physical conflict if necessary. (I've still got a few bruises from the training, but I'm healing quickly!)
On my own time, I've been studying the concepts of "Verbal Judo" so that I can share them with my students though future confidence & assertiveness training seminars.
One of our dojo members is collecting food items for homeless families for Thanksgiving. The drop-off box in the dojo is filling up from student's donations, and I even have a few members from the community (not dojo members) stopping by the dojo this weekend to make additional contributions! In honor of the upcoming holiday, we discussed the quality of "gratitude" and how it relates to the martial arts between punching drills in my grade-school class this morning.
We'll be holding a "healthy foods potluck" at the dojo next week to emphasize the notion that "healthy eating is self-defense." And since we're heading into the season of excessive eating, we'll also be showing the film, "Food, Inc." to raise awareness about our food sources and our habits of consumption.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Self-Defense for a Good Cause
November is Diabetes Awareness Month!
Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, located at 95 Everett Street in Allston, will be running
women's self-defense classes on Saturday, November 14 and on Sunday November 15. These 60-minute classes will start promptly at 1:30 PM on both days.
In lieu of a training fee, the dojo is collecting donations for the Defeat Diabetes organization. Suggested donation is $15, but any amount will be gratefully accepted!
Over the weekend, I'll also be refining my MADDCAP presentation, and I will be hosting informal talks on diabetes awareness and prevention at the dojo.
Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, located at 95 Everett Street in Allston, will be running
women's self-defense classes on Saturday, November 14 and on Sunday November 15. These 60-minute classes will start promptly at 1:30 PM on both days.
In lieu of a training fee, the dojo is collecting donations for the Defeat Diabetes organization. Suggested donation is $15, but any amount will be gratefully accepted!
Over the weekend, I'll also be refining my MADDCAP presentation, and I will be hosting informal talks on diabetes awareness and prevention at the dojo.
Self Defense and Real Life
Sorry I missed posting last week; lots has been happening.
With all the community service activities and postive things we do at the dojo (leadership training, environmental projects, anger management, peace education, diabetes awareness, etc.), sometimes we forget where we come from as martial artists. The where-the-rubber-meets-the-road physical stuff — the punching and kicking — is very important, too.
I've been working on "realistic self-defense" training with our dojo's Black Belt Club members over the past couple of weeks. We're focusing on (1) conflict avoidance and verbal de-escalation skills training; (2) developing striking power under stressful conditions and dealing with adrenal stress; (3) learning escapes from grabs and holds and basic groundwork fundamentals; and (4) developing aggressiveness for defense along with physical and mental toughness (read: the willingness to engage and hit, and the tolerance for getting hit).
As part of our training, we're doing case studies of actual violent attacks, and as a group we're reading "Meditations on Violence" by Sgt. Rory Miller. And, as this month is the 234th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, we're practicing and reviewing techniques from the LINE training system of close combat.
An odd coincidence: there was a stabbibg murder in the neighborhood last week. A rare occurrence in these parts to be sure, but it happened about two blocks from the dojo — and my house. The event prompted me to write this article on self-defense against weapons.
With all the community service activities and postive things we do at the dojo (leadership training, environmental projects, anger management, peace education, diabetes awareness, etc.), sometimes we forget where we come from as martial artists. The where-the-rubber-meets-the-road physical stuff — the punching and kicking — is very important, too.
I've been working on "realistic self-defense" training with our dojo's Black Belt Club members over the past couple of weeks. We're focusing on (1) conflict avoidance and verbal de-escalation skills training; (2) developing striking power under stressful conditions and dealing with adrenal stress; (3) learning escapes from grabs and holds and basic groundwork fundamentals; and (4) developing aggressiveness for defense along with physical and mental toughness (read: the willingness to engage and hit, and the tolerance for getting hit).
As part of our training, we're doing case studies of actual violent attacks, and as a group we're reading "Meditations on Violence" by Sgt. Rory Miller. And, as this month is the 234th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, we're practicing and reviewing techniques from the LINE training system of close combat.
An odd coincidence: there was a stabbibg murder in the neighborhood last week. A rare occurrence in these parts to be sure, but it happened about two blocks from the dojo — and my house. The event prompted me to write this article on self-defense against weapons.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Self Defense, Service, Safety
This week, I was inspired to create "Flu Prevention Is Self Defense" cards to help prevent and/or reduce the spread of germs in what's expected to be a difficult cold and flu season. This morning, I shared the cards with my network of like-minded martial artists around the country, and as of this writing, the information is being spread (ironically like virus, no?) through martial arts schools in Washington, South Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Texas, and Washington, D.C. We'll be using these cards during mat chats in our Little Dragons classes at our dojo, and also in the enrichment classes that I teach in the Boston Public School System. Please contact me if you'd like the artwork to make a set of cards!
TokBox - Free Video Chat and Video Messaging
This past weekend, a bunch of my students and I planted 180 daffodil bulbs in the public green space just outside the dojo. We've kind of adopted the area, which used to be a wasteland of weeds, broken glass, and spare tires. Back in the spring, we held a service project to clean the area up, and with help from local agencies, we managed to plant about 15 new donated trees. Alas, the flowers we contributed and planted that day were stolen from the site within 24 hours, so hopefully the bulbs we planted last weekend will still be there for a glorious debut in the spring!
Also, I'm reminding folks to be safe this Halloween by referring then to my list of links to Halloween Safety Tips!
TokBox - Free Video Chat and Video Messaging
This past weekend, a bunch of my students and I planted 180 daffodil bulbs in the public green space just outside the dojo. We've kind of adopted the area, which used to be a wasteland of weeds, broken glass, and spare tires. Back in the spring, we held a service project to clean the area up, and with help from local agencies, we managed to plant about 15 new donated trees. Alas, the flowers we contributed and planted that day were stolen from the site within 24 hours, so hopefully the bulbs we planted last weekend will still be there for a glorious debut in the spring!
Also, I'm reminding folks to be safe this Halloween by referring then to my list of links to Halloween Safety Tips!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Busy, busy, busy!
Things have been busy at the dojo, and my students have been organizing and participating in community service projects faster than I can track them: By the end of this month, we'll have completed a canned food drive, a walk to benefit the lymphoma society for cancer research, a "vision walk" against blindness, a gardening an bulb planting beautification project, and a "Caps for Kids" knitting project. Phew!It's amazing that we manage to get in any martial arts training at all!This week, I'm starting to use my new anti-smoking self-defense cards in my kids classes. And, I'm also posting them on the dojo community board to catch the attention of my adult students that smoke.
YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. THINK OF YOUR HEALTH! THINK OF THE EXAMPLE YOU'RE SETTING! I DARE YOU TO QUIT!
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