Using The Martial Arts To Help Combat Childhood Obesity

 

      We can all agree that the health and wellbeing of our children are of major importance to us, and ensuring that they grow up healthy, happy, and thriving is the goal of all parents. With that said, I think martial arts is one of the most powerful transformative tools out there.     

     I think we can all agree that childhood obesity is a serious problem in this county which puts a large segment of our youth at risk for poor health. According to the CDC, childhood obesity affects around "19.3%, or 14.4 million children and adolescences ages 2 to 19. Speaking in generalities, the main cause of obesity be it, children, adolescence, or adults is a combination of poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle. The health-related issues facing those children and adolescence who are obese are significant. Again according to the CDC those children and adolescents are at a great risk for developing: 

     1. High blood pressure

     2.  Diabetes

     3. Breathing problems

     4. Join problems

     4. Fatty liver disease, gallstones,

     Along with the physical compromises, obese children and adolescents are at greater risk for developing psychological and social issues as well.

     1. Anxiety and depression

     2. Low self-esteem

     3. Increased incidents of bullying.

     While the exact causes and treatment of childhood and adolescence obesity are complex, we as an industry are in a unique position to bring about profound and lasting change to our student's lives. Martial arts are not simply an activity but a way of life. The physical practice of martial arts incorporates many beneficial elements that when combined together become a powerful tool to combat the detrimental effects of obesity. Things such as...

     1. Strenght training and cardiovascular conditioning.

     2. Increased flexibility, coordination, and balance.

     3. Improved nutrition.

     4.  Discipline.

     5. Improved self-confidence, self-control, and self-respect

     6. Resilience.

     7. Determination.

     8. Dedication.

     9. Goal setting.

     10. Increased focus and contration.

     11. Positive support and encouragement from teammates

     For me, martial arts is unmatched in its ability to offer its students the tools and support they'll need, to succeed, to thrive, to become the best possible versions of themselves! 

     

     

      

     

            

              

Don't Wait To Feel Motivated

 

     I like most of you I was conditioned into believing that motivation was the vital ingredient needed before you could proceed with any goalsetting. That somehow, this elusive feeling, which we often give magical qualities to, had to be present in order for us to find success.

     After years of waiting to feel motivated before I started something, or stopping something when I no longer felt motivated to I had an epiphany! I suddenly realize the reason I was going through life so frustrated and unable to stick with even the simplest goals was my perspective. I realized that it was not motivation itself that was going to allow me to stick with something. Instead, the real deciding factors were the habits and systems I had in place.

     You see what most of us fail to realize is that motivation, and or inspiration, is a fickle and fleeting feeling. It cannot be counted upon to deliver results, as it is subject to so many internal and external factors. Things such as past experiences, the amount of sleep we had the night before, our current environment, our temperament all converge to influence our feelings of motivation. In fact, it's quite natural at times for us to feel uninspired and unmotivated in the pursuit of our goals. In many cases, it is not unusual to feel unmotivated until after we've started  Some of us even view this absence of motivation and or inspiration as a sign that we should give up altogether on the goal, or not even start the process.   

     The important point to remember is that motivation in and of itself will is not sufficient to guarantee success in achieving your goals. While motivation is important, it should be viewed more as a catalyst or starting point. To have any real chance at sticking with and achieving your goals one needs to have first laid down a solid foundation of habits and systems. Good habits and the systems that allow you to develop these good habits are the lynchpins of success They can be counted upon to carry you through even in the absence or lack of motivation and inspiration.           

     

            

              

What I've Learned In My 56 Years Of Life

 

     Life presents us all with opportunities to learn and grow from the many experiences presented to us throughout our lives. If we are humble enough we will see each situation, even the negative ones as a chance for us to gain true personal insight and personal growth. Here then are the biggest takeaways I've learned on my short time on this earth.

     1. Treat others as you would want to be treated, the Golden Rule.

     2. Believe in yourself and don't allow others to defene who you are.

     3. Celebrate your victories, even the small ones.

     4. Never be out worked

     5. Don't overthink things

     6. Learn to forgive, yourself as well as others.

     7. Live within your means.

     8. Be self aware.

     9. Be compasionate

     10. Give more than you take.

     11. Be humble

     12. Live each day fully and with purpose

     13. Have a great work ethic

     14. Add value to peoples lives

     15. Constantly challenge yourself

     16. Give back.

     17. Like who you see in the mirror

     18. Take responsibility for yourself and your actions

     19. Don't make excuses.

     20. Read everyday.

     21. Meditate everyday.

     22. It's alright to not have all the answers.

     23. Never settle.

     24. Know your worth.

     25. Set bounderies

     26. Be kind

     27. To truyly grow as a person requres you to examine uncomortable aspects of yourself.

     28. Be courageous

     29. Do not ask others to do what you are not perpared to do.

     30. Don't take yourself to seriously

     31. Laugh.

     32. Dream big.

     33. Constantly tell those around you how much you love and appreciate them.

     34. Give with no expectations

     35. Be hopeful. 

 

          

Leave Your Ego At The Door

 

     If you've spent any amount of time training jiu-jitsu, chances are you've either heard or read the following statement, "leave your ego at the door." What exactly does that mean to me and how does that impact my training?

     When it comes to training, improving, and evolving as a martial artist having an ego is akin to having an anchor around your neck! The ego does not care about your self-improvement or the improvement of those you train with, it's all about winning and dominating! The presence of ego not only limits your technical growth but your overall development as a martial artist. Still unsure if your ego is getting in the way of your training, then ask yourself the following.

     1. When rolling do you focus primarily on winning or are you more concerned with improving?

     2. Do you get upset if you get tapped out by a lower rank, or someone you feel you shouldn't have tapped to? 

     3. Do you make excuses when your training partner is able to shut down your game? 

     4. Are you afraid to experiment and try out new techniques for fear of getting caught? 

     5. Do I train with the lower ranks, and if so do I make sure they're able to work their techniques as well?  

     In the end, it's all about evolving, self-improvement, and progression, as well as helping your teammates achieve the same. A martial artist cannot hope to become the best version of themselves if they allow their ego to take center stage. To truly improve and progress in your training you need to be humble enough to learn from your mistakes, step out of your comfort zone, take chances, help your teammates!  

  

                

Setting Training Goals

 

     Advancing through the ranks in Jiu-Jitsu takes longer than most other martial arts, with a student looking at an average of 10 plus years to go from white to black belt. With students looking at having to invest such a significant amount of time it's crucial they set goals in their training. Goals help to keep your training relevant, enjoyable, and on track.

     

     When setting training goals for yourself it's important you follow a few simple guidelines.

     1. Be specific in what exactly it is you want to achieve ie... I want to get into better shape, I want to learn to defend myself, I want to earn my Black belt.

     2. Make sure you're able to keep track of your progress ie writing it down, or videotaping and revisiting it regularly.

     3. Make sure your goals challenge you but are at the same time attainable.

     4. Make sure your environment helps support the attainment of your goals. ie... have your gi and equipment all ready to go the night before, budgeting your time.

     

     Your first goal with training should be just getting to class consistently and on time. This is by far the most important step in your goal-setting process. If you are unable to consistently train you will be hard-pressed to attain the other goals you set for yourself. 

     Once you've established a consistent training regiment you can then focus on setting goals for yourself every class. The objective here is to focus on improving your technical skills by just 1%, every time your train. If you're able to keep your goals focused on a micro level, ie... training consistently, 1% improvement, then the macro goals ie... getting into shape, the ability to defend yourself, competing in a tournament will take care of themselves.

     Don't get me wrong, having long-term goals are very important in that they help give you direction and a sense of purpose. What I feel a lot of people fail to realize is that it's the small, daily, weekly goals that will allow you to accomplish your larger goals.

     On a side note, make sure one of your goals is to have fun, enjoy your training and the process of self-improvement and self-discovery!      

     

           

Words to Live By!

 

     I wanted to share with you the principles I have taken and incorporated into my life. I use these as my guide, my moral compass, my code of conduct.

1. One Life. I understand that we have one life and one chance to live it as fully and with joyful purpose as we can!

2. Lead by Example. Let your actions, not your words do the talking!

3. Responsibility. I am responsible for living my life as fully and with joyful purposeful as I can each and every day! 

4. Accountability. I am responsible for my actions and decisions! 

5. Educate Yourself. Take time to learn something new every day.

6. Challenge Yourself. Take time to do something that scares you, that pushes you out of your comfort zone every day!

7. Forgive. Learn to forgive others as well as yourself, we are all only human after all.

8. Standards. Set high standards of conduct for yourself and those around you.  

9. Give Back. Empower, uplift, support, encourage, mentor others! 

10. Attitude of Gratitude. Appreciate your life and that you have the love and support of those around you!     

Changing The World Through Martial Arts

      If your a martial arts instructor, school owner, and your goal is anything less than transforming the lives of your students, then you're in the wrong business! In fact, I look at it as my personal obligation to not only transform the lives of my students but members of my community, and the world as a whole!   

     This may seem a bit far-fetched, and far-reaching but for me, that's exactly what the martial arts are in a position to deliver. You see, what sets martial arts apart from most other activities or sports is that it is not just simply a form of exercise or recreation, but rather a way of life. The benefits it offers are far-reaching and comprehensive.

     Not only can it be used as a form of self-defense, but as an excellent way for students to strengthen their bodies, and keep physically fit. Beyond what is traditionally thought of as the benefits of training, discipline, focus, self-confidence self-control, resilience, the martial arts goes much deeper. Through their training, students learn a variety of other valuable life skills. 

1. Responsibility. Teaches students to take responsibility for their thoughts, feelings, and actions.

2. Perseverance. Students must spend hundreds of hours perfecting and honing their skills.

3. Values. Students learn to respect themselves and others, as well as to have compassion, and empathy for others.

4. Positivity. Teaches to look at life and its challenges with a positive mindset, that you have the ability to adapt and overcome

5. Goal Setting. Teaches how to set short, medium, and long-term goals and achieve them.

6. Work Ethic. To succeed on any level requires hard work, sacrifice, and preparation.

7. Wisdom. To truly understand a particular system you are training in requires more than simply learning the techniques themselves. One must also understand the history and culture of the people from which your art originated.

8. Courage. The martial arts are all about stepping out of your comfort zone, working past your fears, becoming comfortable in uncomfortable situations.

9. Creativity. Teaches students to think outside the box, to take new approaches to novel situations.

10. Leadership. Martial arts encourage a leadership mindset of improving one's community and the world. Martial artists learn to value and respect others, understand their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as thinking outside of the box.

11. Open Mindinesss. Learning that you don't have all the answers, and to be open to new concepts and ideas.

12. Mindfulness. Learning to live and be in the moment.

13. Situational Awareness. Learning to be alert to what is going on around you and understanding how certain situations, physical objects, and actions may affect an outcome.

14. Action. Teaches students to be active participants in their lives, to work toward improving themselves, as well as empowering, uplifting, and supporting those around us.

      As you can see no other activity, sport offers its participants as many mental and physical benefits as does training in the martial arts!