Hello Parents,

Our mission at Keiko Martial Arts is helping parents and children to lead happy and successful, lives at school, home, and life beyond.

But how?

The simple answer is just “copy” what other successful parents and children do. Three characteristics we know all successful people have in common are:

1. The right attitudes (trying your best)

2. Habits (disciplines)

3. Thinking (growth mindset)”.

Of the three, the “right thinking” has to come first. Much like the food they eat, we have to make sure your child’s mind is well fed with thoughts that enrich and nourish. But just as eating too much junk food can make your child sick, the wrong thoughts repeated over time will adversely affect their mind and ultimately the course of their life.

September is a wonderful opportunity for our children. It has become the unofficial NEW YEAR, because of our return to school, and the tremendous opportunity to start fresh, or to build on last year’s success and momentum. So as we do ever year at this time, we are about to feed your child’s mind with one of the most powerful nutrients.....

We believe your words become your thoughts, and your thoughts become your identity. There are two phrases we never allow at the dojo, and you never ever want to let your child say. “I can’t” and “I hate school”. (that is why we counter by saying “Try my best” or "I love school). Or in this case..."I always start strong!!"

Just as we can copy what successful people do we can equally avoid what the unsuccessful do. I cannot tell you the number of parents that bring failing teens to us to “fix”. They are in middle or high school, getting F’s in classes, disrespectful, fighting with their parents, have few friends, are unmotivated, and do not care about their future.

I feel for the parents because not only is this a nightmare for them but they feel helpless and utterly powerless to turn it around. The one thing all these struggling teens have in common is they repeatedly say “I hate school”.

You cannot say a negative word or think a negative thought at the same time as a positive word or positive thought. So to be proactive and keep those words from ever taking root in your child we will repeat “I always start strong” over and over until it sticks!

So watch the words your child uses carefully. We do!

I ALWAYS START STRONG!

To your…… BEST YEAR EVER!!!

Sensei

Keiko Karate – “Actually we do make Ninjas and Superheroes here………………we turn kids into Ninjas and we turn their parents into their superheroes!”