"I want. I choose. I commit." -Randy Holeman
After competing in my first tournament I was inspired to take it to the next level. Many competitors who are students say they WANT TO BECOME A WORLD CHAMPION and then become uninspired by a loss or how much money it costs to fly all over the country. The business of motivating children and motivating people can be a challenging one.
When setting a goal like becoming a State, District, or World Champion, athletes must commit to it. This can give you the "emotional juice" to really achieve a goal that many people never get close to. What a great way to improve student motivation! I believe with the correct coaching, motivation, and inspiration, any able-bodied person can become a world champion!
When it comes to coaching, you CHOOSE YOUR COACH. When it comes to the motivation, you choose that too! I know people who have motivated their kids by saying, "If you get 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at Worlds, I'll buy you the Lego Death Star set!" While some people think that's just a bribe, I think that to get a child excited about training and winning, that might appeal to their personal interest better than red letters and a new uniform. To help children succeed, sometimes you need a little more than words of encouragement. Once the child FEELS the positive benefits of training and winning, the motivation for those students will move away from $300 Lego Sets into accomplishing a worthy goal.
When it comes to Information, we are 2 weeks away from unveiling the first Future World Champion product. It is called "How to create a world champion form in 12 weeks." This is created for Coaches, athletes, and instructors that want the end result to be WINS! It lays out elements of forms that are most important, what judges are looking for, and how to develop those elements into skills.
I've trained myself and others to win at local tournaments and world events using these steps. If you would like to get on the list for this special book, click on this link right here. As soon as it is released, we'll let you in on the ground floor!
Click here for the new product link
Monday, March 18, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Future World Champ will change our teaching style and create world champions!
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with what's under one's feet." -Lao Tsu (Ancient Chinese Philosopher)
Lots of adults say they wish they started martial arts when they were younger and they're too old or out of shape to start now. In my opinion, people are consumed with the perfect situation to begin setting goals. Many people regret not taking action in the past. Lao Tsu's concept in the quote above rings true - everyone can start working on their goals using the skills that they have. That's why I wrote my book "Become a Forms Master."
I like to use the following quote, it's more modern and uses language that we and kids understand:
"Sucking at something is the first step to being kinda good at something." Jake from "Adventure Time"
Dividing your form into only Eight Segments and focusing on the four different "elements" that will create a show stopping form is exactly what I lay out in the Become a Forms Master book! The first product by Future World Champ.
Our goal is:
Lots of adults say they wish they started martial arts when they were younger and they're too old or out of shape to start now. In my opinion, people are consumed with the perfect situation to begin setting goals. Many people regret not taking action in the past. Lao Tsu's concept in the quote above rings true - everyone can start working on their goals using the skills that they have. That's why I wrote my book "Become a Forms Master."
I like to use the following quote, it's more modern and uses language that we and kids understand:
"Sucking at something is the first step to being kinda good at something." Jake from "Adventure Time"
Dividing your form into only Eight Segments and focusing on the four different "elements" that will create a show stopping form is exactly what I lay out in the Become a Forms Master book! The first product by Future World Champ.
Our goal is:
- To give instructors resources to create world champion forms athletes
- To give parents the tools to help their children become world champion forms athletes by training at home
- To give goal-oriented students tools to improve their forms on their own
- To help improve the parent-to-student and instructor-to-student relationship while training on their own
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
How to train your child at home
As instructors, we set goals for our students. At ATA Elkton, there is a goal every two weeks. Some students take longer to achieve them but most students stay right on track. Depending on your rank, the requirements for stripes may change! Ask your instructor if your not sure but one thing remains - you must practice at home to get it!
In between days that you have class, schedule a few training days. The workouts don't have to be crazy, the best training I've ever had have been low-key and for between 15-45 minutes. I just review all my material and practice doing it perfect or practice performing with speed and power!
You can do the same thing! And the best part- you don't even have to know how to do it perfect. Practice whatever you know, however you know it. When you come to class next time, you'll be able to polish it up and improve.
"But he won't practice at home with me!" You have to make it their IDEA to practice! Don't try and force it. Kids know better than adults - no one can force you to do anything - NOTHING. But if you make it their idea, they will be more likely to stick with it.
Here's how the conversation can go:
"Mr. Hayhurst really wants you to practice at home by just doing your forms a few times. How long do you think he wants you to practice at home"
Kid says, "I don't know, like 6 hours?" (Most kids don't get the concept of time)
Mom says, "Haha, I don't think that long. Maybe like 5 minutes." (Understate because it's coming from Mr. Hayhurst, the kid will think it's a lot longer)
Kid says, "Yeah, probably like 20 minutes."
Mom says, "I bet you can practice for 20 minutes and not stop the whole time, you're pretty tough compared to some of the other kids." (Kids will always compare themselves, and it's OK. Competition is GOOD!)
Kids says, "Yeah I could probably do 100 minutes!"
Mom says, "Well, what, like 2 days per week and then go to class 2 days per week? Do you think that would be good enough for Mr. Hayhurst?"
Kid says, "That is probably good."
Mom says, "Well you have class on Mondays and Wednesdays, which days should you practice at home?"
Kid says, "Sunday and Thursday!" (Probably just random days)
Mom says, "That sounds good, then let's try that, do you think Mr. Hayhurst would be proud that you practiced at home? Let's tell him!"
Kid says, "Yeah!!"
There, you came up with a plan. Now, write it down on 3 sheets of paper, really big like a sign. Post one on the fridge, one on the child's bedroom door, and one on your bedroom door. That way it's always all over the house and the kid knows what to expect. Kids are creatures of habits whether they want you to believe that they are or not! Post the exact time 6:15pm - 6:35pm on Sundays and Thursdays. In addition, post the days that classes are too so if the child is busy with Nintendo DS or XBOX, they know class is soon and they have to save their games soon! Then don't miss one workout. Any kid can become a champion - ones without discipline, focus, or skill. A lazy parent makes a lazy kid. And lazy kids don't become champions!
Stick to it and stay strong!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
More workouts = Less Effort
What!? When we're talking about Martial Arts forms, sparring, weapons forms, and combat sparring, it's totally true. Based on research I've done over the past two years, I've come up with a startling discovery! Now, I'm probably not the first one to discover it, but I use it in my advanced classes.
Here's the science: When your muscles become stronger, they require less oxygen (aka Fuel) to get the same amount of work done. For example: Let's say I'm working out with a much stronger partner and we're working on squats. The bar is loaded up with 200 lbs and I'm up to do my set. My goal is 10 reps and I pick the bar up on the front of my shoulders, squat down and struggle to come up. Burning out 10 reps seemed almost impossible but I was finished, strained, and out of breath. My bigger and stronger partner comes up to do some squats and he does it without taking a break and not breaking a sweat. He's also not breathing any harder than he did when he was watching me! This is because he got the same job done as me but with less effort. He is more efficient
What that also means, is his capacity for weight is much higher than mine - he should probably do the same reps with more weight, right? Then he would be struggling as much as me and breathing just as hard. Let's take that same stronger guy and he's doing forms. We are competing against each other and we both throw a strong front kick. The science is the same - he just effortlessly throws out that kick and it looks awesome. For me to have the same amount of power on that kick, I'd have to use every ounce of effort possible! You don't want to make it looks like you are really trying hard, you just want that attitude in your facial expression (the Mean Karate Face!).
So, what the heck am I talking about!?
It's like this - use power lifting and other weight lifting programs in order to strengthen your muscles and balance your body in order to make your competition performances better. Once you become stronger, you will need to relax your muscles and just whip the techniques out instead of pushing hard on every technique. Sometimes, you'll feel weird about some techniques in forms and weapons forms. The moves don't FEEL cool but they sure do LOOK cool! So try recording yourself when throwing techniques.
Here's the moral to the story - the STRONGER you get, the less EFFORT you have to put forth. In the video, I used Knifehand strike, it looks like I can control my power pretty well with those, but watch as I try to use all my strength on the front kicks, how sloppy they get! Watch the video right after this sentence for a visual description!
Here's the science: When your muscles become stronger, they require less oxygen (aka Fuel) to get the same amount of work done. For example: Let's say I'm working out with a much stronger partner and we're working on squats. The bar is loaded up with 200 lbs and I'm up to do my set. My goal is 10 reps and I pick the bar up on the front of my shoulders, squat down and struggle to come up. Burning out 10 reps seemed almost impossible but I was finished, strained, and out of breath. My bigger and stronger partner comes up to do some squats and he does it without taking a break and not breaking a sweat. He's also not breathing any harder than he did when he was watching me! This is because he got the same job done as me but with less effort. He is more efficient
What that also means, is his capacity for weight is much higher than mine - he should probably do the same reps with more weight, right? Then he would be struggling as much as me and breathing just as hard. Let's take that same stronger guy and he's doing forms. We are competing against each other and we both throw a strong front kick. The science is the same - he just effortlessly throws out that kick and it looks awesome. For me to have the same amount of power on that kick, I'd have to use every ounce of effort possible! You don't want to make it looks like you are really trying hard, you just want that attitude in your facial expression (the Mean Karate Face!).
So, what the heck am I talking about!?
It's like this - use power lifting and other weight lifting programs in order to strengthen your muscles and balance your body in order to make your competition performances better. Once you become stronger, you will need to relax your muscles and just whip the techniques out instead of pushing hard on every technique. Sometimes, you'll feel weird about some techniques in forms and weapons forms. The moves don't FEEL cool but they sure do LOOK cool! So try recording yourself when throwing techniques.
Here's the moral to the story - the STRONGER you get, the less EFFORT you have to put forth. In the video, I used Knifehand strike, it looks like I can control my power pretty well with those, but watch as I try to use all my strength on the front kicks, how sloppy they get! Watch the video right after this sentence for a visual description!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
To take a stand (this is impossibly important to me)
I was taught the meaning of "taking a stand" last summer during a leadership seminar in Philadelphia. The class was a very intense 3-day weekend where I learned a lot about myself, other people, and how we interact with each other. One of the many affirmations that I got from the seminar was "Big people take a stand for each other."
Over the past few months, I've been talking to parents about taking a stand for their children. My call to action has been:
"My passion for the character development in children inspires me to give you this call to action: Take a stand for the important people in your life that train in martial arts - get them to commit to competing in a tournament to make them better martial artists and stronger people."
Sometimes, you really have to "force" a kid to do something they won't like so that they can become better people or better at what they do. This could be a Lacrosse Camp that they don't want to go to, a tutoring school that's extracurricular, or a martial arts tournament. No one can "force" anyone to do anything. A parent can take things away from a child and ground them or whatever they want but when it comes down to it, a child will make the decision whether to do something or not. Parents give motivation or inspiration for a child to do something, that is what we mean by "force." For example: A parent can motivate a child by saying "If you get 1st place at world championships, I'll buy you the Star Wars Death Star Lego Set!!" Or, the parent can inspire the child by saying, "Can you imagine what it will feel like wearing your Black Belt?? That will be the coolest thing in the world!!" But picking a child up and bringing them to karate class will not make them into black belts, the parents must inspire or motivate them to do it.
Re-reading the last paragraph makes me think about two kinds of kids and parents. Parents who have self-motivated kids who try their best always and parents that have to constantly motivate their children with negative or positive reinforcement to get them to do their best. There is always a teeter-totter of emotion about staying on track for their goals and keeping a high level of discipline. But what about those parents that don't take a stand?
Parents who don't take a stand for their child and let them make their own decision. A parent that allows their children to skate through a program, not helping to keep them engaged because of their own personal interests. I feel bad for the children whose parents let them quit. The children in a seemingly happy household whose mother and father will not take a stand for something that a child has, at one point, set forth with intensity to achieve something that only a few can. And at the first sign of failure or loss-of-interest, the parent lets the child decide what's best for them.
Think about the 8 or 9 year old kid who looks at her mother and says, "I don't want to go today." Mom says, "Oh you're going, don't even try it." The child attends their class at their martial arts school or dance school and enjoys herself, as usual. It really hurts me to think about that same girl who looks at her mom and she says, "OK, don't do it then." Mother doesn't care whether the girl does it or not. Mother doesn't care.
Over the past few months, I've been talking to parents about taking a stand for their children. My call to action has been:
"My passion for the character development in children inspires me to give you this call to action: Take a stand for the important people in your life that train in martial arts - get them to commit to competing in a tournament to make them better martial artists and stronger people."
Sometimes, you really have to "force" a kid to do something they won't like so that they can become better people or better at what they do. This could be a Lacrosse Camp that they don't want to go to, a tutoring school that's extracurricular, or a martial arts tournament. No one can "force" anyone to do anything. A parent can take things away from a child and ground them or whatever they want but when it comes down to it, a child will make the decision whether to do something or not. Parents give motivation or inspiration for a child to do something, that is what we mean by "force." For example: A parent can motivate a child by saying "If you get 1st place at world championships, I'll buy you the Star Wars Death Star Lego Set!!" Or, the parent can inspire the child by saying, "Can you imagine what it will feel like wearing your Black Belt?? That will be the coolest thing in the world!!" But picking a child up and bringing them to karate class will not make them into black belts, the parents must inspire or motivate them to do it.
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| Here's a quote that I truly believe in. |
Parents who don't take a stand for their child and let them make their own decision. A parent that allows their children to skate through a program, not helping to keep them engaged because of their own personal interests. I feel bad for the children whose parents let them quit. The children in a seemingly happy household whose mother and father will not take a stand for something that a child has, at one point, set forth with intensity to achieve something that only a few can. And at the first sign of failure or loss-of-interest, the parent lets the child decide what's best for them.
Think about the 8 or 9 year old kid who looks at her mother and says, "I don't want to go today." Mom says, "Oh you're going, don't even try it." The child attends their class at their martial arts school or dance school and enjoys herself, as usual. It really hurts me to think about that same girl who looks at her mom and she says, "OK, don't do it then." Mother doesn't care whether the girl does it or not. Mother doesn't care.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Something about Respect
Recently, I visited a gym that had a very unique policy. As we walked by the over 50 pieces of cardio equipment, the sales person said that this is a judgement free zone - "members can relax, get in
shape, and have fun without being subjected to the hard-core, look-at-me
attitude that exists in too many gyms." After that, we got a tour of the strength training equipment in the back. There were machines that you push, pull, sit on and kick your legs up and back, and a bunch of other things. There were free weights and something called a Smith Machine (it's like a barbell machine that actually guides your movement instead of being free). On the wall was a big alarm that said it will go off - light up and make a loud sound - if someone acts a certain way. Specifically, if a person grunts, drops weights, or judges other people
After studying fitness and training in strength, cardio, and martial arts over the past 10 years, I've created a plan-of-action for myself that I share with everyone that trains with me.
My philosophy on training:
CLICK HERE to sign up for a free class
After studying fitness and training in strength, cardio, and martial arts over the past 10 years, I've created a plan-of-action for myself that I share with everyone that trains with me.
My philosophy on training:
- When it comes to training in a gym, there is no "relax." You should go in, get busy, then leave.
- There is nowhere in the entire universe that is "judgement free." You will be judged your whole life on everything you do. You may not hear what other people are saying about you, but trust that your every action will be judged. The way you handle criticism and compliments is a true test of your character. So what would you rather be judged on - not trying hard or watching others work out or being the hardest working one in the gym?
- As far as the person that grunts, drops weights, or judges other people in a way that others are embarrassed or creeped out, that stems from the other person's insecurities. When someone grunts loud on every exercise, they are usually looking for attention. When you judge and criticize other people, it is usually because you're insecure about yourself. You will notice people that are nice, outgoing, and friendly, usually are secure about the way they look and feel good about themselves. So the grunter, weight dropping, judger is just a person that shows a lot of disrespect for the people near him/ her.
- To really become the strongest version of yourself, you have to come out of your comfort zone. Train with people that are better than you and develop a vision of how you want to look and feel a year from now. Let others set the example for you until you reach your goal fitness level!
- Be aware of others' personal space
- Don't stare at someone unless you are going to say, "Hi!"
- If you feel someone disrespects you, speak your mind in a respectful way to tell them how you feel and a solution to the problem - if that offends them, then welcome them to the club!
CLICK HERE to sign up for a free class
Monday, July 9, 2012
Special Training for color belts
Check out these videos designed for our school. Do 30 seconds of each warm up drill, every basic technique ten times on each side (with 100% power), and the segment in the video 10 times.
For beginners: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2jL9KmpkWc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
For intermediate levels:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VbuHXTzMmQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
If you are red black belts or higher, choose which video to practice as a quick martial arts workout. Perform this stuff at 100% and it will be a great warm up to a perfect work out!
For beginners: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2jL9KmpkWc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
For intermediate levels:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VbuHXTzMmQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
If you are red black belts or higher, choose which video to practice as a quick martial arts workout. Perform this stuff at 100% and it will be a great warm up to a perfect work out!
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