The Dojo

Wow! Two weeks of Camp Dojo summer camp are already in the books. For some martial arts schools, summer is a slow time. For us, that's when things really get going. Our day starts at 7:30 a.m. with camp, and some days don't end until after 8:00 p.m. when we finish our Teen & Adult classes. Yes, we love teaching karate, but that's not our primary goal. Our goal is to partner with parents to build stronger futures for their kids. Camp Dojo does that by giving kids a community. It's a place where they're free to learn, explore, and play. They also learn how to focus, be disciplined, and respect themselves and others. No lazy days of summer for us at the Dojo, but we wouldn't have it any other way. #dojodifference #summercamp #discipline #martialarts *First 3 pics from Jump Into Summer (Week 1), pic 4 NERF or Nothing field trip (Week 2)

Our Downtown Cumming location had the opportunity to treat our After School Karate (ASK) students to some fun on the last day of school. The traditional end of year bus parade!

We're in the home stretch of the school year, and we know that means one thing for our schools - it's testing season. It's not just stressful for the students; it's also stressful for the teachers. Test anxiety is no joke. Students want to do well, but sometimes they get so anxious that they lose focus. Here's something we use often at the Dojo to help our kids regain focus in times of stress. It's simple to teach and do, and it doesn't cause a disruption or distraction to other students. Dragon Breathing We call this 'Dragon Breathing,' because you're calming that fire-breathing dragon inside you. Many people and groups use this type of breathing in stressful situations, including Navy SEALs. It just takes four steps and usually takes effect in less than a minute. 1. Breathe in through the nose for a count of 4 2. Hold your breath for a count of 4 3. Breathe out through the mouth for a count of 4 4. Rest for a count of 4 Repeat four times or until calm. That's it. 

Our After School Karate program offers more than just kicks and punches. Yes, we help kids develop discipline and confidence in our classes, but we also take time to have a little fun, too. The eclipse view we had was only at 80% totality, but that didn't deter us. All of our locations took a few moments to let the kids enjoy the sight! (with appropriate eye protection, of course). For our schools that dismissed after the eclipse started, the kids were yelling, "I see it!" on the bus. It's a really good thing they were talking about the eclipse! **pics below are from our students at the South Forsyth Dojo. #dojodifference #earnit #alwayslearning #eclipse2024

If you go to any of our locations this week, you'll see our students scurrying around before class hustling to put on all their protective gear before we start. While we love the 'arts' component of martial arts, practitioners sometimes forget about the 'martial' aspect, especially when working with kids. But, you can't really have the arts without the martial. Here are some of the reasons why: ✅ Application - why learn something if you can't apply it. Hitting and kicking the air or a target just aren't the same as hitting a person. ✅ Fitness - strength, cardiovascular health, and agility all improve with consistent training ✅Confidence - the challenge of trying something new, failing at it, and then getting better at it leads to improved self esteem ✅Problem solving - sparring with another person forces you to anticipate and look for the unexpected, which help develop problem solving and strategic thinking skills. ✅Stress relief - boxing and kickboxing have been shown to relieve stress, anxiety, and some levels of depression ✅Fun - Yes! Can't leave this part out. It's so much fun to hit something, especially in a safe environment If you're anywhere in our area (Forsyth County and Milton, GA), come check us out for yourself. If you're not, but have been thinking about switching up your routine, find a good martial arts gym that believes in application of the arts. It could make all the difference. #dojodifference #fitness #leadership #discipline #earnit

Yesterday we had a parent walk in the studio looking for the owner. She talked to our chief instructor for a few minutes about how The Dojo had changed her son's trajectory in life. She left a note for the owner and then went on her way. When I got there, the coach told me about the visit. I remembered that kid, now a 21 year old. He had been a handful, to say the least. (He's on the spectrum with some behavior disorder issues.) We almost invited him to leave the studio on a number of occasions, but we kept pouring into him. Eventually, though, he violently attacked one of our coaches, so we did ask him to leave. So, when his mom walked in (roughly eight years after the last time we saw him), I was surprised. Even though he wasn't with us anymore, mom said the lessons we taught her son were what caused him to change his behavior, and the "entire trajectory of his life." He's leaving for a spiritual retreat in a few days, and his goal in life is to find a way to help others like him. What a blessing that we could be who he needed as a child, and that now he wants to be the same for someone else. So, when someone asks what we do, we don't say that we teach karate. We say that we change kids' lives. #dojodifference #mentorship #leadershipdevelopment

Karate isn't just about kicks and punches. We're in the business of changing kids' lives. As coaches, if we want kids to learn and grow, we have to do the same. I love our weekly instructor training sessions that always end with a group workout. We demonstrate drills to use in class, share drills that have worked for is, and build comraderie with our team. That's part of the Dojo difference. https://lnkd.in/gYuh_dEg #dojodifference #leadership #professionaldevelopment

We're in week 2 of our Spring season. What's our theme for this season? Discipline. It's a concept that most adults grasp and can describe easily, but how do you explain discipline effectively to a child. One way we teach it is with karate and candy. First, we break down the concept of discipline in simple terms and repeat that phrase over and over until the kids can say it without help. Discipline is doing what you don't want to do NOW so you can do what you want to do LATER. We use Now and Later candy to help drive the point home. A giant jar of the candy sits on our mat. At the end of each class, and only at the end of class, the student who showed the most discipline in class earns a candy. The kids really want that candy, so they work hard to keep their little bodies still when they're supposed to, listen to the instructor, follow instructions, and do everything they know is expected of them to earn that one tiny little piece of candy. Eventually, they don't do it for the candy. They just do it because it gets them to their goal faster. It's a simple way to teach them the concept, but carrots (or candy) sometimes work better than sticks. #discipline #leadershipdevelopment #childdevelopment

This list is spot on! When kids start at the Dojo, extrinsic motivation is a huge factor for the littler kids. As they develop their skills, however, we have to remind them and their parents that in order to become a black belt, the kids must have that desire on their own. For some of our parents, that's a difficult concept. As a coach and parent, it's a lesson I love teaching to both kids and parents. Be sure to check out the whole list in the article. What item stands out the most to you?