Back to School w/ Martial Arts Pt. 2 - Discipline

Many times students who are struggling in the classroom, do so because of a lack of focus.  Whether it is a legitimate ADHD, a highly imaginative mind, or any other reason, the lack of focus leads to students not understanding what is being taught.


I believe that this discipline can only help a student in a classroom.  In order to cope with traditional school work, students must learn how to listen to the teacher and not get distracted by their surroundings.

One of the main tenets of martial arts training is that of self discipline and focus.  Students of the martial arts spend a majority of their training time learning to shut out outside distractions and to focus on the task at hand, such as forms training.  Students must discipline their minds from outside influences and their own doubts and fears.  While sparring, students learn to work together toward a common goal, which requires discipline.  Board breaking practice allows a student to shut off fears and achieve a goal.

We have a great back to school special to help your student learn discipline and focus in life, and in the classroom.  Get your first four weeks for only $49 by visiting http://www.sulphurspringsata.com, or by calling 903-243-8767 and mentioning this article.

Back to School w/ Martial Arts Pt.1

As a certified music teacher in the state of Texas, August brings with it the thought of preparing for the school year.  For most families, August is the great back to school time.  While you are picking up your school supplies and buying new clothes to replace those the kids have outgrown, why not enroll your child in a qualified martial arts program to help them achieve their very best this year?

Please understand, we are not making a promise that martial arts = better grades.  Martial arts addresses the whole person and helps develop learning and coping strategies that many children and teenagers need.

Part 1 - Perseverance

Recently I saw an episode of "Girl Meets World" on Disney Channel.  In the scene, a pre-teen girl receives an F on a paper and then tells her teacher that since he considered her a failure she had nothing more to learn.  Many children and teenagers feel like failures because they do not get the best grades in school, or have trouble focusing.  In the highly competitive culture of today's high stakes state testings, we label students as "not up to standards."  Many times these students wish to give up.

Martial arts teaches that failure is a part of any goal worth achieving.  Students learn to try new things, and how to handle failure.  Competing at tournaments allows students to win with humility and lose with grace.  Sometimes students test and do not pass.  Martial arts encourages students to work hard to gain the black belt rank.

For more information, please go to http://www.sulphurspringsata.com  Enroll today to receive your first month of taekwondo training for only $49 with a FREE Uniform.

Coming soon Part 2 - Discipline.

Why Go To Tournaments?

As we approach this tournament season, I hear the question, "why should I go to a tournament?"  As an instructor, I see the benefits of competition far outweigh any negatives, but it's sometimes very hard to get past those thoughts. Here is a list of the five reasons students should go and compete. 

1. Competition shows you can use what you have learned. 

Imagine practicing every day of baseball season. You work so hard for months, but when the first game comes up, you tell the coach "no thanks. I'll sit on the bench."  Then repeat this for the entire season. Have you actually learned how to play baseball?

Competitions allow us to see how our martial arts is progressing and how we stack up against others. They allow us to use those techniques that we have spent hours trying to perfect in a real life situation. 

2.  Competitions help us to learn and grow as martial artists. 

After each phase of competition, you can step back and find what you are good at and what you need to work on to improve. Did you get a great score from the hand judge but a low one from the foot judge?  That tells you that you have room to improve on your kicks and stances. Maybe you fell for the same kick three times in your sparring matches.  Now you have the opportunity to come back to the school and have a training partner throw the sme kick at you in practice. This way, you improve because of what you learned. 

Even if you win 1st place in every event, you can find some area for improvement. 

3. Your fellow competitors become lifelong friends. 

A tournament many times turn in to a sort of a family reunion. The higher in rank you get, you begin to see the same faces each time you compete. These people quickly become your friends. 

You will learn to look forward to seeing your friends at each tournament. Many times, we have seen students stay with their competition, travel together, and stay in touch through Facebook long after the tournament is over. 

4.  You go to learn from others. 

When you come to class, most times you end up sparring the same few people every time. You learn their strengths, their weaknesses, and how to strategize only against them. Going to tournaments allows you to spar people you have never met before, creating a new and fun challenge. 

5. Tournaments help you overcome your fears. 

Martial arts training is all about learning control in the midst of chaos. Anyone who goes to a tournament knows that nervous feeling when the judge says to begin. Your heart starts racing. Your mouth gets dry. This is the effect of adrenaline in your system. 

The first time is ways the hardest, but you will learn how to control those fears and perform to your very best. Each time after that will become easier until you are an expert at competing. You will begin to look forward to that feeling of excitement when you are called to do your form, or to spar someone new. 

I hope that it is very clear that in these benefits I never mentioned anything such as medals, trophies, or Championships. Those things are wonderful, and we are proud of each champion we have in our school. But championships are available only to a few people each year. The personal benefits of competition are available to everyone whether you sweep the medals or finish last in every event. 

We look forward to this competition year. Be sure to sign up at the desk for the next tournament. Go to www.sulphurspringsata.com to learn more. 

5 Benefits of Martial Arts for Adults.

Are you an adult looking for a way to stay active and improve your overall health? Then you may want to consider taking an adult martial arts class. These classes are commonly taken by children to help them learn to defend themselves, but that should by no means scare adults away from the discipline. Grownups can enjoy many of the same benefits of learning martial arts, and here are some of the best ones:

1.  Strengthen muscles – As you age, your muscles begin to age, too, and may lose some of their density and strength. This is why it is important to keep your muscles in use and to work on strengthening them. When you take an adult martial arts class, your muscles will be in constant use, helping them to stay strong. In addition, you will also build greater muscle mass, which in turn will give your body a more toned, healthy appearance.

2.  Help you lose weight – Adult martial arts classes require you to remain active, which will keep you burning the calories and losing weight. Additionally, as previously discussed, you will be building muscle mass, which will also help you to improve your metabolism and allow you to burn more calories at a rapid pace. You’ll be able to fight off obesity with ease.

3.  Improve confidence – For many adults, a toned, lean body is enough reason for increased confidence; however, the self-defense skills that are taught in martial arts can also help your self-assurance. If you ever find yourself in a dangerous situation, you will be better able to manage your emotions and not be afraid. Knowing that you have the skills necessary to protect yourself from harm will help you to be confident and act in a more effective manner, even during the most troubling of times.

4.  Relieve stress – It’s easy for adults to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Between work, kids, and general household duties, it seems like the worries never end. By taking an adult martial arts class, you will be able to blow off some steam and relieve yourself of some of life’s stresses in a healthy and efficient manner. The more you participate in martial arts, the calmer you will be.

5.  Improve your concentration – Martial arts requires great skill and concentration. You will learn to act fast in order to defend yourself against your opponent’s attacks. This will not only help you to improve your reflexes, but your concentration, as well. You will be required to focus with intensity on details and anticipate your opponent’s next move before they’ve even blinked.

As you can see, adult martial arts classes have many benefits for adults. When you enroll in an adult martial arts class, you will see an improvement in both your physical and mental health, allowing you to live a longer, happier life.

See www.sulphurspringsata.com/display/Programs for information about our program.