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Principles We Follow at Miller’s Dojo

February 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I have certain principles I believe in and follow that I expect my students to follow as well.  It’s easy at times to stray from our path and become easily influenced by negative things.  By reciting the principles below every day we can keep them fresh in our minds so that we don’t let the power of negative influence take over our lives and hinder the process of the ultimate goals of our journey in life.  Life is precious and we are on this earth for a reason.  I challenge everyone reading this to learn to follow these principles and I can assure you that your life will be healthier and happier.

-         You can be anything you want to be – how bad do you want it?

-         Never, EVER, give up. Nothing is ever accomplished by quitting.

-         Give 100 percent effort, 100 percent of the time.

-         Be realistic, but push yourself

-         Strive for progress, not perfection.  You will always fall short of perfection, but you can always make progress each day.

-         Be a better person today than you were yesterday

-         Be kind and humble, but have a warrior mindset

-         You are your toughest opponent

-         Train hard and enjoy the benefits

-         Be a good winner and a good loser – you always learn something

-         Set a good example by being a good role model

-         Make each day your masterpiece

-         Try to resolve conflicts without fighting – fight in the ring

 

I’m not saying you will never slip up here and there.  We are not perfect and never will be, but if you sincerely try your best to follow these principles they will help you become all you are capable of becoming. 

TCB…

Filed Under: Adult Kenpo Program, Blog/Articles, Junior Program, Kenpo Kids Program, Little Dragons, Member Articles, Parents

Our Mission at Miller’s Kenpo Karate

January 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

At Miller’s Kenpo Karate we believe in providing the best methods possible to succeed in all aspects of life.  We genuinly care about every student and the progress that the student makes.   We will do whatever we can to help every student reach his or her full potential and accomplish the goals he or she sets.  At our school it’s about the students, not the instructors.  Any martial arts studio that focuses on the instructors’s accomplishments or the instructors pocket book is a place where a student will be limited and will receive nothing more than a false sense of security.  An instructor with an ego, boasting about how great he or she is while strutting around with his or her arms crossed barking orders is a sure sign of a poor instructor who produces poor quality students and gives away belts to keep students coming and paying.   Instructors who are focused on themselves cannot help others become all they are capable of becoming.  As a student you are much more concerned with what an instructor can do for you, rather than what the instructor has accomplished.  With that said, we wanted to share our mission at our school as a reminder. 

 

Our Mission:

 

The Objective

To teach students how to think and become self – correcting through learning concepts, principles, and theories that are practical in thought and action with realistic modern training modalities to better their lives on all levels, while creating a Kenpo mindset allowing logical and practical thinking through personal interpretation, analyzing, dissecting, and creating to become the best they are capable of becoming at their personal style of Kenpo by always remaining a student who is humble, loyal, respectful, disciplined, motivated, and leads by example through appropriate behaviors and character.

The Purpose

To improve the lives of every student who walks through the studio door by teaching proper values as well as high impact drills to help build better balance, coordination, agility, flexibility, stamina, strength, cardiovascular health, and muscular endurance to create a much happier and healthier student who is motivated to set goals, and stay on course to achieving those goals while being focused and disciplined, creating self-confidence and a healthy self-esteem. Also, to teach students to learn to be optimistic and take personal responsibility for their own lives while learning a modern practical system of self-defense and personal protection based on logic and reason, not tradition, while molding their own personal style of Kenpo tailored to them, eventually becoming fully qualified black belts who are role models for our community.

The Plan

To teach quality classes that focus on improving every student each class, as well as to get on a personal level with each student so that the student can be properly taught according to his or her ability, desires, needs, thoughts, personality and body type to produce a student who has reached his or her full potential and looks forward to a continued journey of success. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Adult Kenpo Program, Blog/Articles, Junior Program, Kenpo Kids Program, Latest news, Little Dragons, Member Articles, Parents

Kindness – A Deviant Trait?

February 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I’m sure you all know what kindness means.  If not, here is the definition from dictionary.com:

- the state or quality of being kind: kindness to animals.

- a kind act; favor: his many kindnesses to me.

- kind behavior: I will never forget your kindness.

- friendly feeling; liking.

Some synonyms to kindness include: thoughtfulness, consideration, understanding, benevolence, and forbearance.

Deviant is defined as being different, unique or strange.

This article is about kindness and how it seems to be a deviant trait in today’s society.  I do realize that there are some really great people still out there, but due to my personal experiences, it seems that kindness has become odd in today’s world. Being kind should not even be thought about.  It should just be done.  We should be kind to everybody.  It’s obvious that not everybody is going to be kind to us, but it’s important for us to not allow somebody else’s lack of character hinder our own.

As a martial arts instructor, kindness is extremely important in my book.  Although I was always brought up to be kind and thoughtful, the martial arts have assisted me on my journey through life to accomplish that task.  To me, it’s a part of me.  I also want that in my students.  Kindness means everything.  My students learn to be kind verbally, and to due random acts of kindness.

I will share two personal stories with you that shocked me.  The first one occurred several months ago.  I was walking into the local country fair.  As I approached the glass door I could see that a woman–probably in her mid-forties–was approaching the door from the inside, which immediately told me that she was on her way out.  As a normal thing that I do everyday, I pulled the door open for her and waited for her to come out before I went in.  She walked through the door with a smile on her face and said, “Thank-You!” I said, “You’re Welcome!”

After she walked through the door and I was about to head in, she stopped walking, turned around and said, “You know, there aren’t very many people around like you!”  I said, “Isn’t it sad?”  She agreed.  Just the simple kind act of holding a door for this woman really made her day.  I was shocked.  It was just a simple act of kindness.

My second story has to do with another normal act of kindness on my part.  At least three times per week I go to my favorite place to eat lunch in my hometown (Bradford, Pa), Togi’s restaurant.  Togi’s has great people, great service, and awesome food.  The best soups I have ever tasted.  While there about two months ago, this distraught couple came into the place.  They had to be upper thirties, lower forties in age.  They came from out of town and needed to make an emergency phone call.  Because Togi’s doesn’t have long distance, they couldn’t use the phone their.  This couple was clearly stressed and didn’t know what to do.

I told them that they could use my cell phone.  They could not believe that I was going to do that for them.  They thanked me profusely, made the call, and offered to buy me a drink.  I told them no thank you.  They asked if they could at least pay me a few dollars for doing this.  Once again, I declined.  I told them that I was just doing what everybody else in the world should do–help out someone in need.  They then ate lunch and as they were eating, my phone rang.  The person they had called needed to talk with them so I walked over handed them the phone and after a five minute conversation, the fellow gave me my phone back and apologized for that person calling my phone.  I told him it was not an issue and to have a great day.  They still insisted on doing something for me, even to the point to where they were trying to get the waitress to convince me to allow them to do something.

I look at this situation as being sad, because clearly, they arenot used to kind people.  They did tell me that they asked three different people to help them and they were all rude.  I offered–they didn’t ask.  I think it’s pathetic that everybody automatically feels obligated to give something in return when a kind deed is done.  I know it’s natural to feel that way, but true kindness comes from not wanting anything in return.

I challenge you to open your heart to being kind all the time, if you are not already.  Kindness can change the world, but it starts with you.

“If you haven’t any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.”  ~Bob Hope

“Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up.”  ~Jesse Jackson

“It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”  ~Author Unknown

“Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.  It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. ” ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are.”  ~Author Unknown

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion.  ~Dalai Lama

About the Author:

Michael Miller is an expert in self-defense, personal protection, personal development, and fitness.  He currently holds a 4th degree black belt in American Kenpo (one of the leading systems of self-defense), and also studies and teaches boxing, kickboxing, Joe Lewis Fighting Systems and Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu.  He has been featured several times in Inside Kung-fu and Black Belt magazines as an authority in his field.  He can be reached through his web site at www.millersdojo.com, through e-mail at michael.miller@millersodjo.com or phone at 814-368-3725.

Filed Under: Adult Kenpo Program, Junior Program, Kenpo Kids Program, Little Dragons, Member Articles, Parents, Storm Team, Uncategorized

Building Self-Confidence

February 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Self-confidence is vital in our lives.  Our confidence in ourselves dictates how we walk, talk, and act.  It is an important element to our success in life.  Self-confidence deals with whether or not we believe in ourselves.  Do we believe we CAN accomplish the things we are out to accomplish, or do we have doubts for some reason or another?

“Recent studies (Peixe, 2009) show that self confidence is something you act on, not something you learn. There are a number of practical exercises that are said to help anyone achieve the level of belief that allows them to take action and pursue their objectives.”  — wikopedia site

Building self-confidence is about action, as stated in the above paragraph.  If you feel you need better confidence in yourself, this article will help you.  Here is a little write up from the site: www.confidencemanual.com

People who are self confident are those who acknowledge their capacity to do something and then proceed to do these things. They do not rely on the approval of other people in order to affirm their existence. It is enough that they know they have the capacity and the potential to do something, and the guts to do it no matter what others may say. People who are self confident take advantage of the opportunities that comes their way.

Lack of self confidence is not proportional to a person’s abilities. In fact, there are people who are extremely talented and able but they lack self confidence to show these abilities.

If you are wanting in self confidence, then you must continuously do things that will help you gain confidence.

Identify your strengths and weaknesses and capitalize on that. Make full use of your strength and gather positive points. This will help you gain self confidence. Do not expect everything to be perfect because you are bound to do something wrong along the way. Nobody is perfect and everyone is culpable of making mistakes.

Acknowledge your abilities and talent and take stock of them. Do not under estimate yourself. Try to recognize every little thing you have done which has become successful. Try to learn a new skill, and try to learn new things as this will make you a better person.

Look for things that make you feel good about yourself. It can be photos of past achievements like when you won a race or won a debate; it can be a poem you wrote which was published in a book. Concentrate on things that you have achieved and take it from there. This will give you more confidence to do other things in life.

Developing self confidence is not easy especially if you do not think highly of yourself. If you want to be self confident, avoid things that will discourage you from gaining confidence. Do not dwell on past mistakes or failures because it will make you feel insignificant. Being a defeatist will not give your confidence a boost.

Better yet, concentrate on the positive things that you have done and accomplished and make them your inspiration. In time, you will have more faith in yourself, and hopefully, more confidence.

Here is a great article I found on pickthebrain.com.  It’s written by the editor.

10 Ways to Instantly Build Self-Confidence

1. Dress Sharp

Although clothes don’t make the man, they certainly affect the way he feels about himself. No one is more conscious of your physical appearance than you are. When you don’t look good, it changes the way you carry yourself and interact with other people. Use this to your advantage by taking care of your personal appearance. In most cases, significant improvements can be made by bathing and shaving frequently, wearing clean clothes, and being cognizant of the latest styles.

This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot on clothes. One great rule to follow is “spend twice as much, buy half as much”. Rather than buying a bunch of cheap clothes, buy half as many select, high quality items. In long run this decreases spending because expensive clothes wear out less easily and stay in style longer than cheap clothes. Buying less also helps reduce the clutter in your closet.

2. Walk Faster

One of the easiest ways to tell how a person feels about herself is to examine her walk. Is it slow? tired? painful? Or is it energetic and purposeful? People with confidence walk quickly. They have places to go, people to see, and important work to do. Even if you aren’t in a hurry, you can increase your self confidence by putting some pep in your step. Walking 25% faster will make to you look and feel more important.

3. Good Posture

Similarly, the way a person carries herself tells a story. People with slumped shoulders and lethargic movements display a lack of self confidence. They aren’t enthusiastic about what they’re doing and they don’t consider themselves important. By practicing good posture, you’ll automatically feel more confident. Stand up straight, keep your head up, and make eye contact. You’ll make a positive impression on others and instantly feel more alert and empowered.

4. Personal Commercial

One of the best ways to build confidence is listening to a motivational speech. Unfortunately, opportunities to listen to a great speaker are few and far between. You can fill this need by creating a personal commercial. Write a 30-60 second speech that highlights your strengths and goals. Then recite it in front of the mirror aloud (or inside your head if you prefer) whenever you need a confidence boost.

5. Gratitude

When you focus too much on what you want, the mind creates reasons why you can’t have it. This leads you to dwell on your weaknesses. The best way to avoid this is consciously focusing on gratitude. Set aside time each day to mentally list everything you have to be grateful for. Recall your past successes, unique skills, loving relationships, and positive momentum. You’ll be amazed how much you have going for you and motivated to take that next step towards success.

6. Compliment other people

When we think negatively about ourselves, we often project that feeling on to others in the form of insults and gossip. To break this cycle of negativity, get in the habit of praising other people. Refuse to engage in backstabbing gossip and make an effort to compliment those around you. In the process, you’ll become well liked and build self confidence. By looking for the best in others, you indirectly bring out the best in yourself.

7. Sit in the front row

In schools, offices, and public assemblies around the world, people constantly strive to sit at the back of the room. Most people prefer the back because they’re afraid of being noticed. This reflects a lack of self confidence. By deciding to sit in the front row, you can get over this irrational fear and build your self confidence. You’ll also be more visible to the important people talking from the front of the room.

8. Speak up

During group discussions many people never speak up because they’re afraid that people will judge them for saying something stupid. This fear isn’t really justified. Generally, people are much more accepting than we imagine. In fact most people are dealing with the exact same fears. By making an effort to speak up at least once in every group discussion, you’ll become a better public speaker, more confident in your own thoughts, and recognized as a leader by your peers.

9. Work out

Along the same lines as personal appearance, physical fitness has a huge effect on self confidence. If you’re out of shape, you’ll feel insecure, unattractive, and less energetic. By working out, you improve your physcial appearance, energize yourself, and accomplish something positive. Having the discipline to work out not only makes you feel better, it creates positive momentum that you can build on the rest of the day.

10. Focus on contribution

Too often we get caught up in our own desires. We focus too much on ourselves and not enough on the needs of other people. If you stop thinking about yourself and concentrate on the contribution you’re making to the rest of the world, you won’t worry as much about you own flaws. This will increase self confidence and allow you to contribute with maximum efficiency. The more you contribute to the world the more you’ll be rewarded with personal success and recognition.

[end article]

Follow these steps and you will build your self-confidence instantly and can enjoy a healthier, happier life.  Keep in mind that children need to be confident so be sure to educate your children in how to do so.  One of the things to build confidence mentioned in the article was working out.  One of the best forms of working out is martial arts.  Martial Arts build confidence quicker and better than anything else.  It’s been proven time and time again.

Remember, actions produce confidence!

Michael Miller

www.millersdojo.com

michael.miller@millersdojo.com

Filed Under: Adult Kenpo Program, Junior Helpers, Junior Program, Kenpo Kids Program, Little Dragons, Member Articles, Parents, Storm Team, Uncategorized