Newest update

Hi Everyone,

I have added a new feature to the blog. You can now get blog updates sent right to your email instead of having to check the blog regularly. Just enter your email in the box to the left. I encourange you to check back with us even if you decide to use the email updates.

Thank you,
Christopher Story

Positive reinforcement video blog

What builds a leader in a child?

Every parent wants their child to become a leader not a follower. What are the qualities of a leader:

1. Focus – The ability to stay on task
2. Discipline – The ability to something the first time needed
3. Drive – The ability to push forward
4. Perseverance – Never give up attitude.

Those are a few of the qualities of a leader. Name more in the comment section below.

Positive reinforcement

This is one of the most powerful tools in child development and commonly an under rated tool. Over the years I have seen people use the fear tactic to control a child and get them to comply. Using positive reinforcement is better then fear tactics.

If your child does something good let them know make a big deal about it, letting them know they did great. Always praise the behavior you are seeking for your child to have. Next time around the child will want to do the same action so her or she gets the praise. It is human nature to seek praise and approval from others.

"Yes sir" Master. Basic

Advance techniques are the basics master. Sometimes students want to learn the flashy moves like a high kick or a flying armlock but that is not what makes a student proficient at the art. The goal is to look for consistency in the techniques that you use. As people say " the old reliable"


What makes a black belt a black belt is they use the same techniques that everyone else uses but the do them over and over mastering the basics and not the advance techniques? Think about when you roll with someone bigger then yourself the consistency of doing the flying arm lock and landing it over and over is far and few between..

Share your experience with the basic techniques you have learned that are the most consistent for you?

Instuctors are a parents ally (Part 1)

Many parents enroll their children in martial arts for many different reasons such as discipline, respect, focus and self confidence to name a few. When parents enroll their children they are essentially gaining a new ally in their child’s growth and development.




Martial arts instructors put a lot of time and energy into the students they teach. The instruction is done with love and care for the student by using positive reinforcement and patience. Over the years I have had parents of new students ask me, “Mr.Story, will my childs focus improve? He is looking around during class and not focusing.” The answer I give them is positive reinforcement and patience is crucial. We must remember that children will live up to the expectations we set for them. Using positive reinforcement and patience the child can make leaps and bound of growth.


In my next post (Instructors are a parents ally (Part 2) I will give examples of how parents can help use the techniques of the martial arts discipline and respect in the home to help reinforce the child’s training.

Confidence!!! It can take you anywhere you want!!!!!

When a child starts martial arts one of the first things they will have to develop is confidence. Think back for a second, when we learn something new even as adults we are a bit unsure sometimes. This is due to our confidence level being low. Once we are comfortable with the new found skill. The comfort we feel is really confidence. Even as adults we experience the same thing that children do when they start something new or learn a new skill.




When your child starts martial arts remember the first step to the process is developing confidence in them, showing the student that they perform the techniques. Encouragement is the best tool for an instructor and a parent to help the new student achieve their goal of black belt excellence.



Think back about who believed in you...? Share your story in the comments...