BLACK BELT PATHWAY ESSAY By Rowen Stewart Nov. 2024 Ever since I started off as a white belt, I have always questioned how far I would make it in my martial arts journey. When I started, black belt seemed like it was so far away. When I was a white belt, I sometimes thought I […]
As people grow older, they begin to find ways to be more productive and make use of their time. For senior citizens, in particular, they find that there is even more time they need to utilize and want to do so effectively. Many will go out and find other jobs while others will pursue hobbies […]
Every year, the American Heart Association celebrates Heart Month to raise awareness about heart disease and heart health. What you may not know is that martial arts are great for the heart. In fact, the cardiac benefits of martial arts give a whole new meaning to the idea of cardiovascular fitness. With that in mind, […]
Grade school can be quite the experience for any child. It is a place where a child not only learns academically but one where a child must learn to socialize and function in the world. Unfortunately, there are a lot of negative experiences that a child may have when going through school. Whatever those experiences […]
The leaves are just starting to fall, and the school bell is once again ringing. This year that school bell might clang on a campus full of new rules and regulations, or it might ping in a student’s bedroom as she logs onto Zoom. But however it calls us, it marks the end of one […]
“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails” Growing up my dad said, ad nauseam “the only thing certain is change.” In this one statement he meant a lot of things. The primary things being, don’t freak out when things change because things are always going to change. Expect change. And most […]
We are living in strange times folks. These are strange times indeed. We are social creatures. We are also creatures of habit, routine, and structure. Most people crave a balance of familiar and novel experiences. If you are practicing extensive social distancing right now then all of your previous habits, routines, and most of your […]
In the musical “The Sound of Music” the main character Maria, played by Julie Andrews, famously teaches the Von Trapp children how to sing by starting “at the very beginning.” She continues singing “when you read you begin with a, b, c, and when you sing you begin with do, re, mi. Maria, makes everything […]
The Kaizen Challenge has begun! We’re here. Are you jumping in with excitement? This is the part where most bloggers for a martial arts studio would show you nothing but eager anticipation for this coming challenge. It’s going to be fun. I’m going to get in better shape. Everything is going to be awesome. […]
Are you ready? Are you ready to stretch yourself? Are you ready to be part of a team? Are you ready to make a change for good? Are you ready for the Kaizen Challenge? The Kaizen Challenge begins Monday, January 13, 2020 and ends Monday, March 9, 2020. Kaizen translates to change for […]
Our Journey Begins Greetings Lovely Readers, My name is Cortland Robert Grzy-Mader, aka Bob, and I am learning Karate. I was really athletic as a kid, and as a kid, I had a passive interest in martial arts, but I never pursued that interest. As an adult, I’ve been moderately active at best. I […]