Kiddo emPOWer!

Jewels

2012-01-16T08:07:00.001-08:00

I had the privilege of meeting (again) a young woman who spent 6 days with us learning basic self defense. She enjoyed herself so much she wanted more so she came to the dojo. She was very excited to start classes, but qualified her excitement by saying, "...I had so much fun in your sessions, but I'm kind of aggressive...." - she was apologizing for actually working through the scenarios

A happy journeyman, -er, woman...

2011-12-18T21:19:00.001-08:00

"...I can do it... I really can!"

What is important?

2011-11-18T21:54:00.001-08:00

When a kid chooses YOU to give their best to, that's important. When a kid says proudly,"...and now for my finale...", that's important. When brothers glance at each other, wordlessly hoping their teacher will let THEM be partners, that's important. When you are told by a kid that a clear challenge "is really easy" because THEY know YOU believe in them, that's important. When

Always a white belt...

2011-11-10T08:11:00.001-08:00

Mr E and I went to a kobudo seminar last weekend - 10+ hours of good sweaty fun...and a great reminder that we will always be white belts in some aspect of our lives. Just being able to feel that state of "I know nothing, but want to learn!" was great! It reminds you of the patience you need, the humility you'd better have (!), and the satisfaction you get from hearing, "good work!"

Eye to eye with the verbal bully...

2011-10-28T21:19:00.001-07:00

I worked tonight with a student who was learning about "personal space" and the verbal bully. A subtle but effective way to send a clear statement to someone who likes to verbally pick on you would be to get in to the bully's personal space, maintain eye contact -DONT DROP YOUR GAZE - and tell them with a "serious as a heart attack" voice to STOP. Repeat until they get the hint. Stay in

Trampoline Time at Karate America Stoughton - Play Time or Heavy Work?

2011-10-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

Why a trampoline? Here's a professional's perspective: The trampoline is a powerful tool that is an excellent resource in clinic and home programs. Jumping on the trampoline activated information to the joints and the movement system. It also provides heavy work input to the physical body, activating cardiovascular conditioning, and facilitating self-regulation (calmer state).The trampoline can

Kids with Sticks

2011-07-19T12:10:00.001-07:00

"Put that down, you'll poke someone's eye out!"; I've said it, you've said it. It's been drummed into our heads since the first person poked someone's eye out. A stick can be a {gasp!} weapon that could hurt another. This is true, and hurting another by accident or intention is no light thing. But I would ask you to consider the following: a stick in the hand can become another way for a

Review - a classic well worth owning

2011-07-05T13:04:00.000-07:00

This book is about 25-30 years old, but good info is timeless, and this one is. Written by Dr. Peter Williamson (a Madison WI pediatric psychologist) it really gives you the "down and dirty" on what can be a very complicated thing. I had the awesome privilege to have both my kids work with Dr. Williamson throughout their growing up years - and he was a great partner/mentor/doctor for the whole

How come my kids mind YOU and not me?

2011-07-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

I've spent a lot of time with kids (quite possibly more time than with adults); so when I'm asked "How come YOU can get them to do XYZ, but I can't!" (Trust me, I say this about MY kids, too.) It's really not magic and I'm nothing great, but I know who I am and what I do works for kids. So, in the context of relatiohship building, here's some of what I do. Loyalty: An accepting,

Regulation strategies for kids

2011-04-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

I'm always happy when I find simple but neat new ways to think about regulation strategies for kids. Here's a PDF from Dr. Monica Fitzgerald that lists simple ways to bring your child's internal engine up or down. Keep in mind, these things can work for EVERYBODY, not just kids! Give them a try! Relaxation Scripts for Younger Children

Jay Banks - A Man with a Mission

2011-03-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

This fellow really impressed me - trying to find out what it takes to get him here in the Madison area.

"Bullying on the Bus"

2011-03-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

Here's what happens when teachers really get creative. A great take on a serious subject!

PBS Kids - Bullying Website

2011-03-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

Check out this website for more kid/teen friendly information about bullying and teasing. In my daily browsing websites and information, I found this to be one of the cleanest, easily digested sites. It gets to the heart of the matter simply. PBS Kids - It's My Life - Bullies

Just Yell Fire - a MUST VISIT WEBSITE for women and girls

2011-02-18T16:06:00.000-08:00

I came across this website when Dallas Jessop was just getting started in her mission to help girls be safe. "Just Yell Fire" is a terrific program that is now world-wide, using simple practical self-defense methods to promote empowerment. She offers for free a powerful movie she stars in showing real life situations girls could find themselves in. The absolute best scenario is a drunk

Empowerment - the best self-defense

2011-02-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

In addition to the self defense I teach at my dojo, I have the great privilege of teaching self defense to teenage girls at our local high school. I only get them for 6 sessions per semester, but I am able to share with them ideas and moves that positively impacts them. It's common knowledge that 90% of what you teach kids in a quickie-self defense class gets forgotten. But what I've been

Bullying - "The Talk..."

2011-02-15T18:21:00.000-08:00

Heavy Work - It's almost magic how it works!

2011-02-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

Heavy Work Activities At Karate America Stoughton, we think about kicking and punching in terms of "heavy work" and "joint compression." The concept that joints give muscles and the rest of the body "feedback" was revolutionary for me when I learned this from an OT. My youngest who is an Aspie, would literally need to spin, jump, push, punch, stamp, and other physical things to "tell" his

For Mom, Dad, and driving Sibs...

2011-02-04T17:29:00.001-08:00

Saw this and thought it would be worth posting! Yikes! http://hni.com/blog/bid/46223/Texting-While-Driving-It-s-Illegal-in-Wisconsin

2011-01-25T18:32:00.000-08:00

Recommended book: The Explosive Child I was "assigned" to read this book because my oldest, the one who defies gravity, tends to have no middle level emotional volume. Hot or Cold - that's all.; This book was a huge challenge to me, as it asked me to put aside the typical responses to an explosive kid's comments, and be the calming force in the discussion - calming, but not passive. Great

Things that work for wiggly kids: bubble seats

2011-01-25T16:57:00.000-08:00

Don't know if you have ever seen this product, but we used a blue square version for my youngest son (Asperger's) to help him sit still at the table or at his desk. When you watched him sit, he'd rock and roll as if his "sit bones" hurt. Does your kid have this too? The "bubble seat" as we called it, was WONDERFUL in that it softened the surface for his bottom, AND the wedge shape tilted his

Welcome...

2011-01-24T22:00:00.000-08:00

This blog was born because I have two amazing, brave kids with challenges, and because I work with amazing, brave kids with challenges. As a former public school teacher (Language Arts) and a current martial arts instructor and school owner, I have been blessed to share in the growing up of kids who struggle to be an accepted part of this world. The best we "typicals" can do is empathize and