How Do I Get Ready for a Karate Tournament?
January 25, 2012 • Leave a Comment
If you need to prepare for a martial arts tournament, there are a few things to keep in mind.
In this video, Sensei Serge goes over the best way to get ready for a karate tournament.
Weight Loss for Kids: How to Keep Your Kid Happy and Healthy
January 23, 2012 • Leave a Comment
Throughout January 2012, we’ll be working on the concept of “health.”
All our discussions and activities will aim to help our students understand that being healthy is more than just feeling good. It’s total well-being and freedom from disease.
Powerful Words is the name of our character development curriculum here at Urban Martial Arts. It’s designed by one of the nation’s leading childhood development experts, Dr. Robyn Silverman. Every month, we’ll focus on a different Powerful Word, or concept around character development.
In this post, Dr. Robyn answers a question from a parent who’s concerned about her children’s health.
Dear Dr. Robyn,
I wanted to talk to you about a bit of a touchy topic. Our children are getting a little older and they are starting to put on more weight. I know from reading your book that this can be a “hot button” for many kids. How can I make sure they are staying healthy?
– Sara B, Phoenix, AZ
Dear Sara,
Yes, you are right. “Weight” can be a hot button for many children as they get older. For one thing, while it’s normal and natural for children to put on weight as they go through puberty, their bodies change greatly and some can become uncomfortable. In addition, as children become adolescents, they may become more aware of media messages that glorify “body perfection” and can become more prone to comparing themselves to others.
In my book, Good Girls Don’t Get Fat: How Weight Obsession is Messing Up Our Girls & How We Can Help Them Thrive Despite It, I talk about the importance of health over weight. There are actions that everyone can take, regardless of weight, that help to keep us healthy.
1. Eat foods that nourish the body
Everyone needs to eat a balanced diet that provides such things as lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low fat dairy items. We can explain to our children that they should eat a variety of natural foods that represent every color in the rainbow. When we eat nutritious foods, we feel energized. Read the rest of this entry »
How to Lose the Last 10 Pounds Once and For All!
January 19, 2012 • Leave a Comment
This is a fitness tip that might get you better results than anything else you’ve tried.
It’s called a “game face.”
A “game face” is that look you sometimes see in someone’s eyes when they mean business.
If that person says they’re gonna go climb Everest – you know they really are.
Or if that person says they’re gonna lose every pound they have to lose – you can see in their eyes that they’re really going to.
Do you have a game face?
How serious are you about your health and your body?
Do you want to get in shape because the media says it’s good for you?
Or do you have a deeper, more burning reason?
Find your reason.
Before committing to a life of health and fitness, find “why” you really want to. Read the rest of this entry »
Study: Children In Character Education Programs Get Better Grades
January 18, 2012 • Leave a Comment
Most parents would agree that teaching kids about character education is a good thing, since it helps children get along well with others and feel positive about themselves.
But a new study suggests that the benefits of character education programs go far beyond these “soft skills.”
In a recent study, researchers took 20 public elementary schools in Hawaii and randomly assigned students from some of those schools to participate in a character education program called “Positive Action.”
So what happened? BabyCenter has the report:
At the beginning of the study, the control schools happened to be better off. They had higher test scores overall, and, unlike the schools assigned to the test condition, their scores were higher than the Hawaiian state average.
But by the end of the study, the situation had flipped: The schools that had adopted the Positive Action curriculum were now performing better than the controls.
And when researchers interviewed teachers, parents, and students about school quality, the Positive Action schools got higher ratings from all groups. People involved with these schools had nicer things to say.
(Emphasis mine.)
Studies like these are exactly why we place so much emphasis on character education here at Urban Martial Arts.
In addition to our rigorous martial arts curriculum, we have an entire character education program designed by Dr. Robyn Silverman, one of the country’s leading child development specialists.
Every month, we focus on a different Powerful Word, or concept around character education.
All our class discussions revolve around this concept, our karate students have to turn in worksheets on the topic, and we provide parents with lots of tools so that they can reinforce these lessons at home.
If you’d like to try a karate for kids class, fill out this form or call us at 718-287-5500 to book your $19.99 orientation class today!
Photo Credit: taryn_liz on Flickr
How Parents Can Raise Healthy Kids by Setting an Example
January 16, 2012 • Leave a Comment
Throughout January 2012, we’ll be working on the concept of “health.”
All our discussions and activities will aim to help our students understand that being healthy is more than just feeling good. It’s total well-being and freedom from disease.
Powerful Words is the name of our character development curriculum here at Urban Martial Arts. It’s designed by one of the nation’s leading childhood development experts, Dr. Robyn Silverman. Every month, we’ll focus on a different Powerful Word, or concept around character development.
In this video, Dr. Robyn answers a question from a parent who has started working out regularly and eating more healthfully. She would like to set a good example for her child, and wants to know what suggestions Dr. Robyn has for her:
There’s no better way to drive home the lessons we teach at Urban Martial Arts than by reinforcing them… well, at home!
To give you more ideas for conversation topics, here’s a run-down of what we’ll be discussing this month:
Week 1 Health defined: Nutrition, Physical Activity, Good Hygiene, Sleep, and Stress
Week 2 Nutritious Eating: Nutrition; the food groups and good hydration
Week 3 Physical Activity: Exercise, Fitness, Endurance, Strength and Flexibility
Week 4 Unhealthy Choices: Things to Avoid and Healthy Goal-Setting for 2012
We’d love to hear how your conversations go with your child so do share with us!
Photo Credit: Kenski1970 on Flickr
3 More Myths About Kickboxing – Debunked!
January 13, 2012 • 1 Comment
Last week we debunked 3 myths – this week we’re debunking 3 more!
A lot of people interested in our kickboxing program have these “pre-cooked ideas” about what a kickboxing program is.
So, we thought we’d take this opportunity to “de-bunk” these ideas because they’re simply not true.
See if you too can relate to any of the things below…
1. “I’m not really an aggressive person – so I don’t think I’ll like kickboxing”
The thing with kickboxing is – we’re not training to hurt people. We’re just getting in awesome shape, and using kickboxing as a fun, fresh way to get there.
And if you’re anything like me, I’m sure you have some stress you’d love to blow off. NOTHING relieves stress more than punching and kicking a heavy bag! I guarantee it.
Plus, most of our members are super laid-back people who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Kickboxing is just so fun that they get hooked the moment they start.
2. “Okay… This might sound weird but… I don’t know any of the moves and I’m kinda worried about looking stupid…” Read the rest of this entry »
Health Quotes: 5 Terrific Quotes About Health
January 10, 2012 • Leave a Comment
Throughout January 2012, we’ll be working on the concept of “health.”
All our discussions and activities will aim to help our students understand that being healthy is more than just feeling good. It’s total well-being and freedom from disease.
Powerful Words is the name of our character development curriculum here at Urban Martial Arts. It’s designed by one of the nation’s leading childhood development experts, Dr. Robyn Silverman. Every month, we’ll focus on a different Powerful Word, or concept around character development.
To inspire your own discussions at home, here are five of our all-time favorite quotes about teamwork:
“For he who has health has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.”
—Owen Arthur
“The one who thinks about his health only after it is compromised is likely the one who will have to think about his health a great deal.”
—Dr. Robyn Silverman
“The greatest of follies is to sacrifice health for any other kind of happiness.”
—Arthur Schopenhauer
“Health is not a condition of matter, but of mind.”
—Mary Baker Eddy
“What is called genius is the abundance of life and health.”
—Henry David Thoreau
3 Lies People Like to Tell About Kickboxing
January 6, 2012 • Leave a Comment
We want to take a moment to clear up some of the most common misconceptions about kickboxing.
If anything is still holding you back from getting into the fastest way I’ve ever seen for losing weight and getting in great shape – hopefully this blog post will change all that for you!
1. “Kickboxing is just as good as any form of cardio”
Whoa there! No way!
No other program can help you lose up to 15 pounds in 2 weeks.
Seriously. Your friends will stare in amazement when they see how much weight you lose in such a short period of time.
But that’s only if you use kickboxing in the “right way”.
Which means you have two choices: figure out that “right way” on your own. Research different moves, buy exercise videos, etc.
This works for some, but I know a lot of people don’t have the time to sit there and figure it all out.
Which brings us to option #2… Read the rest of this entry »
Urban Martial Arts Kickboxing Class Featured in The L Magazine!
January 5, 2012 • Leave a Comment
The L Magazine just named our kickboxing class as one of their top “10 Workouts for People Who Hate Working Out!”
Check out their hilarious review:
This is definitely the most intense workout on the list, and some of you may want to kickbox us in the face for including it. Apart from putting on your gloves and punching and kicking, you will do jumping jacks, push-ups and crunches and hate most of it.
But the amazing thing is, looking around the small studio, you’ll see a wonderfully diverse group of fellow Brooklynites all hating it just as much you do—and it will feel nice. These classes are never boring, and the various drills are short enough to be bearable… the whole thing is over before you know it.
Owner Sensei Serge Sognonvi is a great motivator and will make you feel like you’re working with a personal trainer. Don’t forget to bring a gallon of water and a towel.
If you’d like to give our kickboxing class a try, sign up for our web special!
You can get 3 kickboxing classes plus free boxing gloves for just $19.99.
Enter your name and email here to get started!
Image Credit: The L Magazine
Martin Luther King Day Activity Camp on Jan 16th
January 4, 2012 • Leave a Comment
Looking for a way to keep your child engaged in learning and having fun while school is out on Monday, January 16th?
Then sign them up for our MLK Day Activity Camp!
The activities at this camp will be based on the values that Dr. King promoted: non-violence, equality, justice, and working to create positive change in the world.
We’ll hold group discussions, do age-appropriate written projects, and create arts and crafts projects.
Of course, we like to keep our kids active so we’ll also be playing a lot of games that will allow them to run around burn off energy!
This camp is open to all children – not just those who are already students at Urban Martial Arts.
Get all the details here.
Space in the program is limited, so call us today at 718-287-5500 to find out if we have any spots open for your child.
