Tag: Bully Prevention

Being a Part of a Black Belt School – This is an Education not an Activity

Posted on | by Crabapple Martial Arts

Blocking, Kicking, And Punching Is Just The Beginning.

Martial arts is all about learning blocks, counters, punches, holds, and kicks, right? The answer is yes, but it’s also only the beginning. The goal of becoming a Black Belt is the goal of becoming a better human being. A martial arts education gives you the tools and a pathway to accomplish that and so very much more.

Crabapple Martial Arts Academy has these words stenciled boldly above the mat:

We are a Black Belt Academy

What does this mean? What is expected of students who belong to this exclusive school? Why do we call the karate schools “schools” at all?

Martial arts training centers go by many names. The words “dojo” (Japanese) and “dojang” (Korean) literally mean “place of the way” or “way place” and this is representative of the breadth of education delivered in these halls.  This is a place where the way of leadership, excellence, determination, self-discipline, focus, and martial arts is taught. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training centers are often called “academies,” which again denotes a place of very specialized preparation.

Just like traditional education, parents want the best martial arts school for their kids. So you ask the same kinds of questions: What curriculum do they follow? Does the school teach leadership skills and philosophy along with academics? How educated are the teachers themselves? And maybe most importantly: What percentage of the school’s students graduate, and what have their graduates done? 

What Does The Top 1% Do That Others Do Not?

The top 1% of martial arts schools build a team and program around these concepts. Crabapple Martial Arts Academy employs a martial arts curriculum that traces its lineage to Grandmaster Dr. Steven Roensch, one of the most respected martial artists and teachers the modern world has ever known, the late Hanshi Ridgely Abele, and even to Grandmaster Robert Trias who is credited with pioneering Japanese martial arts in the United States. Through various programs (leadership book reviews, mat chats, requirements for volunteer and community service, worksheets, and newsletters that explore concepts like gratitude, courage, and humility), we teach students about history, how to help others, and the power of martial arts to create a more promising future.

That kind of well-rounded education is what we believe Black Belts should have, and it’s why we call Crabapple Martial Arts Academy a Black Belt Academy. So to get back to the starting question: What do we expect of all our new white belt students? That you’ll make it to Black Belt. As a Crabapple Martial Arts Academy student (or a parent of one), you can expect it, too.

 

In Budo,

C. Matthew White, Renshi
5th Degree Black Belt – Shintoyoshin Kai Jiu Jitsu
5th Degree Black Belt – Shuri Ryu Karatedo
Master Instructor

 

 

 

Crabapplemartialarts.com and Crabapple Martial Arts Academy has been selected the nation’s #1 martial arts schools for SIX YEARS IN A ROW by the American Budokai International!

Founded in 2013 by Mr. C. Matthew White a 5th degree Black Belt in Karate and 5th degree Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu, and Master Instructor, Crabapple Martial Arts and Karate lessons for pre-school children ages 4-6 and elementary age kids ages 7 and up are designed to develop the critical building blocks kids need – specialized for their age group – for school excellence and later success in life.

Crabapple Martial Arts Adult Karate training is a complete adult fitness and conditioning program for adults who want to lose weight, get (and stay in shape) or learn self-defense in a supportive environment.

Instructors can answer questions or be contacted 24 hours or the day, 7 days a week at office@crabapplemartialarts.com or call directly at 770-645-0930. You can also visit our website at CrabappleMartialArts.com.

About C. Matthew White, Renshi:  Matt is a fifth degree black belt in a traditional Japanese and Okinawan Martial Arts – Shuri Ryu Karatedo and also a fifth degree black belt in Japanese Jiu Jitsu – Shintoyoshin Kai Jiu Jitsu, and is a master instructor with a title of Renshi, which means Scholar in Japanese.  He has a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Physiology. He has been training and teaching martial arts for over 27 years and has owned Crabapple Martial Arts Academy since 2013. Renshi White is a motivational speaker and educator and teaches seminars in bullying, business, and martial arts training, around the world.

Crabapple Martial Arts Academy Headquarters is in Alpharetta, Georgia at 12315 Crabapple Road., Suite 124, Alpharetta GA 30004. You can locate the Chief Instructor, Sensei Randy Neese there directly at (770) 645-0930.

The Confidence to Shut Down Bullies

Posted on | by rmgmav1

If you have watched the ‘80s film ‘The Karate Kid’ or its 2010 remake, there are many life lessons to be learned, key among them about firmly facing down bullies. The film charts the story of a teenager who learns to fight bullies with the help of karate. Karate and other forms of martial art can, as the film portrays, help a kid build confidence and stay prepared to handle bullies. Contrary to popular perception, learning a form of martial arts does not make a kid combative; instead practicing karate helps a kid feel strong and safe.

Role play to hone self-defense skills

Among other things, karate can teach children to anticipate trouble. Much of karate training is devoted to applying techniques in practical self-defense situations. Wwhen a kid practices karate, he or she learns to respond to aggression or a scenario of bullying in an instinctive manner. Children often develop the self-confidence to confront, deter, or subdue aggression because of the dozens or hundreds of previous times they practiced in a safe, supervised, role- playing environment.

Karate stances and positions also help instill confidence in a child in terms of body language. If a child’s body language or posture is poor, he or she is especially vulnerable to being bullied or victimized. When a person of any age has high self-esteem and self-confidence, it sends a visual message that deters bullies or would-be assailants. Aggressors typically choose a vulnerable person to threaten or force into conflict and submission. Mankind shares with animals a primal instinct to sense fear. Kids must be taught to behave fearlessly and exude confidence in their actions. Karate accomplishes these goals effortlessly, and the rewards of a safer, more secure child is self-evident.

Boost communication skills

Karate not only helps a all practitioners physically, it also helps in other skills such as communication and interpersonal skills. Karate teaches children how to build a rapport and communicate calmly, thoughtfully, and clearly. Kids learn to defuse and de-escalate bullying situations with humor, or firm tone and volume when needed. Karate helps build mental fortitude, teaching children how to stay focused and composed for longer time periods. It helps develop a body posture that is straight, eyes and mind focused, and feet on solid ground – until the moment those feet are required to not be in self-defense! Karate also helps children learn breathing techniques that aid as coping skills and improve relaxation, stretching, and proficiency in the execution of many martial arts moves.

Many karate schools conduct special anti-bullying programs that focus on self-defense and body language. Bullying is a serious problem in American schools, the source of many crimes of passion and suicides. A 2013 study of 200,000 children between third and 12th grades indicated 39 percent were bullied regularly. The number has only increased as technology has proliferated in the mainstream. In the face of such a serious problem, learning a form of martial arts such as karate will surely help in a multitude of ways.