Stephanie McGrath has held many roles at Personal Best Karate as an instructor these past 20 years, but her most important teaching role for the students came from what she learned off the mat.
McGrath’s Personal Best story started before elementary school. She joined Personal Best Karate in Foxborough when she was three-years-old – her older brother had joined at five and she had tagged along. She took classes for a few years, then needed to stop as her family’s personal life hit some speed bumps.
McGrath, who has three brothers, experienced some tough times growing up. For a while, her family was homeless, bouncing back and forth living at friends’ houses, camp grounds and community housing. Although she was young, she remembers the hard times they were facing. Luckily, they were gifted a trailer and were settled for a little while. Then in 2004 when McGrath was 10, Habitat for Humanity built a house for her family in Norton.
A long way from sitting on the side of the mat
Posted: May 25, 2019
Former student reflects on lessons that brought him to victory
It's hard to believe that a Martial Arts National Championship winner in Forms and Weapons and recent college graduate from University of Massachusetts in Mechanical Engineering where he presented to Fortune 500 companies had a challenge with speaking in front of other people. But it’s true – Kyle Gallagher’s parents enrolled him in Personal Best at the recommendation from the public school to help him with his shy demeanor and gain more confidence.
A family affair
Posted: May 25, 2019
It was because of his family that John Mosca first started karate classes at Personal Best, and then it was because of his family that he opened his own Personal Best in
John Mosca and his son Tyler as White Belts
(far right) and when they received their Third Degree Black Belts (left)
6 Tips for Keeping the Summer Body You Want
Posted: May 25, 2019
Where are you now?
Understanding where you are now is important in measuring forward progress. Some common measurements are waist size, weight, body composition cardio or strength maximums. Pick a couple of the measurements that make the most sense to you and check in with yourself every week. By simply keeping your eye on those numbers that matter to you, you are more likely to make positive progress.
How to Strike a Balance between being a Parent vs Friend
Posted: May 22, 2019
Life is about balance. To appreciate hard we need soft, to know lightness we need darkness. The ebb and flow of opposites is part of what creates the reality we appreciate. Children need someone to encourage greatness, especially the greatness of habits that will make them stronger in the future. Every time you ask your child to do something they would not willingly do on their own like eating vegetables, doing homework, taking out the trash or reminding them about using manners you are fulfilling the role of parent. Well done… pat yourself on the back, without YOU how would they know and grow in a way to maximize their potential
When you take the time to do all the above and other activities and wrap it in language and with tone you would extend to a peer you are being their friend. The great thing is by choosing this approach instead of doing the quick fix of being demanding you are growing their self esteem and self worth which will ultimately reinforce excellence for a lifetime.
Though some see Parent OR Friend, I see parent and friend as two opposite concepts that need each other to be totally effective. Instead of feeling like you have to make a choice just use both. High standards of excellence in line with their skills and abilities wrapped in thoughtful word choice and responses instead of urgent reactions will win the day every time. Pride yourself on being both a parent and friend!