Having a front row seat to some phenomenal parents over the past 20 years at Personal Best Karate has reinforced a lot to me. One of the most valuable items has been the concept of the routine. Students of all ages who grow and progress in our program often do so because they have made their martial arts training a way of life. They schedule the time to train on a regular basis, and although they have a choice to come any of six days a week, most adhere to their predetermined schedule. If their routine is Monday and Wednesday for their classroom training they stick to it. Because of this there is no energy wasted in thinking, “when will I train this week”, they “set it and forget it”
Simple acts of daily routines can also create positive life habits. Since the beginning of Personal Best Karate I have advocated the habit of making your bed in the morning. The reason is that it takes personal discipline to do so. I believe that self discipline is like a muscle in that the more you use it, the bigger and stronger it grows; conversely, the less you use it the weaker it becomes. In the long run, it is well worth the energy it takes to put your success habits and the success habits of your children on automatic pilot. You can start with simple tasks like making your bed then extend it to exercise, nutrition or whatever else you value. What you choose is up to you, it’s about being the very best you can be, it’s not about the bed.
If you would like to have your child try our award-winning character based martial arts program that will reinforce family value and teach mental and physical skills to ensure they are safe, please go to the registration page to sign up today. I promise you that our team of highly-skilled martial arts teachers and mentors will make you and your family feel right at home.
PBK Teen Leadership Team ready for new year
Posted: June 01, 2019
The Personal Best Karate Teen Leadership Team has been quite busy since forming this past spring. They have already met a few times, established their peer support sessions and held their first charitable fundraiser.
Being on the ground floor of this team sure to have longevity has been very rewarding, said Team Director Paul Relyea, a student at the Personal Best Karate School in Foxboro and one of the founding Board members. "We really want to offer teens the opportunities to lead in fun and impactful events in the community," he explained.
"(Founder) Master Christopher Rappold and I spoke about creating the group and what we could offer for the members," Relyea said. The vision of the group was to create a social atmosphere but still be the support for each other. "We facilitate meetings where kids can bring their problems and we work together to offer our support," said Relyea.
She's been fighting since she was two
Posted: June 01, 2019
The powerhouse Grace Jarboe is an 11-year old natural-born fighter. Yes, she just earned her 1st Degree Black Belt in June. Yes, she is currently a lacrosse and ice hockey player. And, yes, she fought cancer and won - but she did that when she was 4 years old.
A conversation no parents wants to have with their pediatrician, Grace was diagnosed with Bilateral Wilms Tumor when she was two years, nine-months old. A form of kidney cancer, Grace went through treatments until she was four and continues with scans. Though she has since recovered, Grace was left with the use of only 80 percent of one kidney.
St. Jude's Hospital was such an integral part of her journey, that when choosing a charity for the charitable giving portion of their Black Belt Training Cycle, the class elected to donate to the organization. "If it wasn't for St. Jude's I wouldn't be here," she said emphatically.
How to Make Health and Wellness part of your Families Lifestyle
Posted: May 27, 2019
As adults, we are responsible for our lifestyle choices and in many cases, our children’s lifestyles. Whether or not our children get enough exercise and eat healthy foods has a lot to do with the example we set for them and the choices we provide them with.
According to USA Today, the percentage of children who are overweight has doubled in the last 20 years! But don’t blame the kids. Keith Ayoob, an associate Professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine says, “I never see a child who has better eating habits than his parents.” Children eat the foods that are served to them or what is easily available at school or home. Family rules and routines can compromise exercise any time they like, but an eight-year-old more than likely requires supervision. Children have obstacles to overcome when it comes to lifestyle choices.
Don't let negative people occupy space in your head!
Posted: May 25, 2019
Raise the Rent and Kick Them Out!
Excerpt from Be Your Personal Best: Focus by Master Christopher Rappold
Ever wonder how many different morning routines there are to get ready for school or work in the morning? Some start by jumping in the shower, others start by brushing their teeth and washing their face. Others fix their bed and lay out their clothes. What is important to understand is there are probably a thousand different sequences, none right or wrong, just different. Some may be slightly quicker, some, based on the person doing them may seem more logical but all generally lead to the same end goal of getting ready in the morning.