Archive for September, 2015

Ninja Nation – Bullies Come in All Sizes!

Friday, September 11th, 2015

 

At the beginning of a school year we must prepare physically by shopping for for new school supplies and getting up-to-date on our healthcare needs. But, we can also prepare mentally. Now is a perfect time to talk to your kids again about bullying. School can be hard physically, but it can also be mentally taxing for children in preschool all the way to college.

Typically defined as repeated, unwanted and aggressive behavior, bullying encompasses making threats, spreading rumors, physical/verbal abuse and exclusion.

We tend to have the stereotypical imagine in our minds of the classic bully: Big burly kids with large fists and a loud laugh. However, bullies can come in all shapes and sizes - September 11, 2001 proved that to so many unsuspecting hard-working American families.

As we prepare remember our fallen heroes who gave their all to help those caught in this awful tragedy, let us teach our children Respect for all people, Self-Control to respond to negative situations in a positive manner, Confidence to do the right thing, and Leadership to show others the right path!  One day our children will be in a position to choose to make a difference - it is our job to prepare them today for what tomorrow brings.

Kihap: The Energy Yell

Thursday, September 10th, 2015

The kihap (pronounced “key hap”) is a very important part of Tae Kwon Do training.  When properly practiced, this special kind of yell combines sound with breathing in one explosive burst.  The kihap should not come from the throat, but from deep down in the stomach, using the diaphragm to forcefully push air up and out through the mouth.  The kihap is one of the most distinctive elements of Tae Kwon Do practice; no two students’ kihaps are identical.  You will find that as your Tae Kwon Do skills change and grow, so will your kihap. (more…)