Industry Recognizes USBA and Its Students
October 7, 2009
I just returned from an amazing weekend in Miami, Florida, where I attended the Educational Funding Company’s Annual International Summit. It’s a gathering of over 700 school owners from all around the globe. I had the honor and privilege to teach a seminar entitled, “Don’t Let Your Minimums Become Your Maximums.” It was very well received, and it was an honor for me to speak in front of many of my esteemed friends and colleagues. The networking, regarding the direction of the Martial Arts field, and the vast knowledge shared by all speakers, was absolutely amazing.
I would like to congratulate my close friend, Mr. Chris Robinson on his “President’s Award” for outstanding contribution to his community in Newmarket, Ontario, and to the Martial Arts field as a whole. He works tirelessly to promote the incredible benefits that the Martial Arts bring to the world. I’m very proud to have him as a friend.
We were also honored to receive the prestigious “Best Martial Arts School Award” this year. I would like to thank all of our incredible staff for this achievement, and more importantly, to thank our students. Without you all, we could never realize our dream of being a Professional Martial Arts School. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives.
Master I. Kravitz
Martial Arts = Success for Kids
July 8, 2009
There are many, many choices of sports and activities available to our youth that can help them prepare for life’s challenges and whatever the future brings, but few can match the benefits that martial arts has to offer. By focusing on mind, body and spirit, the martial arts provide the necessary skills to improve every child and to take them to their full potential in every aspect of life.
While teaching a number of key character traits including courtesy and integrity, martial arts stresses respect. In fact, martial arts begins and ends with respect and encourages students to apply this philosophy to all aspects of life. It teaches respect for one’s self, as well as towards others. In addition, martial arts teaches kids how to manage their emotions, how to set and achieve goals, how to overcome obstacles and most of all, how to hold themselves to high standards.
Martial arts students see improvements in strength, flexibility, speed and timing at every class and then with the help of their instructors, learn how to bring these results into the home, school and a variety of other social settings. Most importantly, they learn that through hard work any goal that they set is achievable.
Martial arts teaches students to deal with conflict, to help others in need, recognize negative situations, and to challenge themselves to be better tomorrow than they were today.
Remember, success is a journey, not a destination, and we all need to stay on a quest to be our best.
Winner or Whiner?
May 1, 2009
I have a very simple question for you to answer this month: Are you a winner or a whiner?
WINNERS are positive, optimistic, pro active and excited about their goals and activities in life…WHINERS are negative, pessimistic, re active and love to whine about everything and anything….
WINNERS develop self-discipline in order to bring out their absolute best in themselves and in others…WHINERS lack discipline of their minds and are often critical of themselves and others….
WINNERS condition their minds and bodies for Peak Performance in and out of the dojo…WHINERS blame others for their problems and always make excuses for Poor Performance in and out of the dojo….
WINNERS give value to others, they train hard and make a positive contribution to their team…WHINERS love to moan, groan and complain, and their negative attitude takes away from their team….
WINNERS brighten up a room when they enter…WHINERS brighten it up as they exit….
Take a look at how your life is going and ask yourself whether you are a WINNER or a WHINER. If you are a WINNER, then keep up the great work. If you are a WHINER, the good news is that it’s easy to change. To arrange a free orientation class, call us at (949) 363-6500, contact us via email, or stop by at USBA in person if you’d like some more info on how to help yourself and your children succeed in life.
Make 2009 Your Best Year Ever!
January 27, 2009
Happy New Year! Like many people, I’m extremely excited about 2009, but unlike most, I’ve got a plan, and a big part of my plan is my martial arts training.
How can Martial Arts help YOU have your best year ever?
It’s proven that people who keep themselves in top shape have a higher energy level and stronger self esteem. These are key ingredients to becoming a Top Performer in all other areas of life.
Studies have also shown that goals have buddies…meaning that when you achieve success in one area of life, it often propels you to success in other areas as well. This would explain why 95% of our Junior Black Belts are also high academic achievers.
It also explains why the vast majority of our Adult Black Belt Champions are Peak Performers in their careers and lead very successful, well balanced lives outside of the dojo.
What’s the best way to make this your best training year ever?
Get into the dojo for class frequently, arrive early enough for a good warm up and give your best effort and attention to learning the details.
The combination of frequency and intensity is a powerful combination to see positive and powerful progress in your Martial Arts and fitness development.
Start fast to make it your best year ever!
If you were in a foot race, you’d want to come out of the gate fast and finish strong. If you want this to be your best year ever…you also want to be a fast starter and a strong finisher.
How do you make 2009 your personal best?
You attack it with aggressive, ambitious action. To make this your best year ever, you’ll give yourself a tremendous advantage if you start it as strong as possible.
Training in the Martial Arts teaches you that the more you train, the greater energy you have to train and do other things as well.
To make this your best year ever, you must first decide that this is YOUR YEAR and it’s going to be a great one. Then, you must take aggressive action everyday to move forward toward your chosen objectives. Call or contact us via email, or stop by at USBA in person if you’d like to discuss your martial arts training goals for 2009.
Make 2009 Your Best Year Ever!
January 19, 2009
Happy New Year! Like many people, I’m extremely excited about 2009, but unlike most, I’ve got a plan, and a big part of my plan is my martial arts training.
How can Martial Arts help YOU have your best year ever?
It’s proven that people who keep themselves in top shape have a higher energy level and stronger self esteem. These are key ingredients to becoming a Top Performer in all other areas of life.
Studies have also shown that goals have buddies…meaning that when you achieve success in one area of life, it often propels you to success in other areas as well. This would explain why 95% of our Junior Black Belts are also high academic achievers.
It also explains why the vast majority of our Adult Black Belt Champions are Peak Performers in their careers and lead very successful, well balanced lives outside of the dojo.
What’s the best way to make this your best training year ever?
Get into the dojo for class frequently, arrive early enough for a good warm up and give your best effort and attention to learning the details.
The combination of frequency and intensity is a powerful combination to see positive and powerful progress in your Martial Arts and fitness development.
Start fast to make it your best year ever!
If you were in a foot race, you’d want to come out of the gate fast and finish strong. If you want this to be your best year ever…you also want to be a fast starter and a strong finisher.
How do you make 2009 your personal best?
You attack it with aggressive, ambitious action. To make this your best year ever, you’ll give yourself a tremendous advantage if you start it as strong as possible.
Training in the Martial Arts teaches you that the more you train, the greater energy you have to train and do other things as well.
To make this your best year ever, you must first decide that this is YOUR YEAR and it’s going to be a great one. Then, you must take aggressive action everyday to move forward toward your chosen objectives.
Call or contact us via email, or stop by at USBA in person if you’d like some more info on how to make 2009 your Best Year Ever!.
Champions Believe They Can Achieve!
November 1, 2008
Belief is the knowledge and confidence that you can achieve. It’s the inner feeling, that gut instinct that we really can and will accomplish what we set our sights on achieving.
Belief gives us power… it strengthens our will to win… it pours fuel on our fire and feeds our desire. All arer key ingredients to high levels of success and achievement.
If you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will either. Imagine a world class golfer like Tiger Woods stepping on to the green, thinking he is going to miss a crucial putt. Knowing that his thoughts precede and dictate he actions, it is unlikely that he will be celebrating a victory with thoughts like that. Champions must believe in themselves and their ability to achieve all their goals in life.
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right!”
— Henry Ford
To be a true champion in whatever you do, whether it be dance, soccer, school, sing, work or guiding your children through life, you must believe in yourself and your ability to succeed. It’s no different in business or in life. If you want to win and succeed in business, you must believe in yourself and your ability to achieve your goals. Big or small, you’ve got to believe!
Whether you are in sales, management or service, you must believe in yourself and believe in your product. If you do, you’ll succeed; if you don’t, you’ll fail. It’s that simple.
Call or contact us via email, or stop by at USBA in person if you’d like some more info on how to help yourself and your children succeed in life.
Massive Action Leads to Massive Results
September 1, 2008
Many people talk about all of the plans, dreams, successes and rewards that they are after in life, but often forget that to make those thoughts a reality they will need ACTION. This month’s message is going to discuss how to turn these dreams and goals into a reality. Remember, a goal without an action plan is just a thought.
When planning for success in any aspect of life, we need to do three very important things:
- write it down somewhere so you can be reminded of it,
- share it with someone (a buddy, spouse or even co-worker) for accountability,
- MAKE AN ACTION PLAN ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR IT TO HAPPEN
In our martial arts class we often use the saying, “you can’t manage it if you don’t measure it”. Get your starting point! For example, it’s hard to start a weight loss routine if you don’t know what you weigh. After you’ve determined your starting point, create small short term goals that are easily attainable. This will help you feel successful and in turn build your confidence and desire to keep going. If the goal is too big, it may be discouraging, but INCH BY INCH IS A CINCH. Create a logbook to measure and document the steps you have taken and the results from those actions. Last, but not least, remember to always have a positive attitude. It is easy to see the negatives, but always look for the positive. In the example of weight loss, one pound lost means that you have already completed 1/10th of your ultimate goal. Celebrate that success and continue on that path of action.
Massive action leads to massive results when we are putting in 100 percent effort and when we stick to our plans. GOALS WE SET ARE GOALS WE GET.
Proper Planning Leads to Peak Performance
August 6, 2008
It does not matter whether you are 5 or 55, it is important to always arm yourself with the tools and habits to be the best you can be. People often ask when is the best time to start to create habits for young children or ask, “…am I too old to change my current situation?” The answer is simple, and it is, “You are never too young and certainly never too old.”
To begin planning, often people need a motivator which can be a change of season, a fun challenge or worse, a real life situation of urgency. Back to school is coming and this can be one time for all of us to refocus, re-energize and make change. To begin you need to first Plan Your Work, and then – Work Your Plan. Martial arts have proven for hundreds of years that it can help improve attitude, behaviour, habits and even character. Habits we train are habits we gain, and every day when attending martial arts classes you learn how to create winning habits and attitudes.
Through constant goal setting in small increments you will quickly see new improved results. “Inch by inch is a cinch!” This is the thinking you need to adapt if you are going to grow to the next level. For the younger kids it can be as simple as learning that the element of hard work will lead to strong results. For an adult, realizing that when you put your mind to work you can achieve any goal you desire.
If you are looking for something to jumpstart you or a family member to a new long term success plan, have a look at martial arts, we guarantee it will make a difference.
The Importance of Self-Control
July 28, 2008
Respect, discipline and self-control are three characteristics that are taught in every class at U.S. Blackbelt Academy. Of the three, I believe self-control is the key characteristic as it fosters discipline and respect.
Self-control is a habit, and as you’ve heard many times at USBA, “the habits we train are habits we gain”. As a person focuses on developing self-control in one part of his life, he will see great changes in not only that part, but in many others. Soon, his life will begin to drastically change in all aspects, whether it be diet, work, school or socially.
Self-control can be broken into a variety of different categories, but the two main ones are mental and physical. A person’s ability to have physical self-control helps them manage her diet, to exercise, to get enough sleep and to eat the right things. Mentally, self-control helps a person guide her emotions to the right responses. It helps her relax and think when panicked, to keep her temper when she gets angry and to better handle a wide variety of situations.
It is never too early to teach our children the importance of self-control. A simple habit such as sticking to a consistent time for homework is an excellent method of teaching self-control. As adults, we have opportunities daily, both at home and at work, to exercise self control. The most basic way to build self-control when a job is ahead of you is to attempt to stay on task and avoid procrastination.
Self-control, both mentally and physically from a martial arts perspective is important to ensure that the skills we teach our students are never abused or misused. Martial arts champions learn that they must control their emotions, or their emotions may control them.
Master Ivan Kravitz
Habits of Excellence
June 9, 2008
Why not make excellence your habit? Wouldn’t it be great to lead a life filled with excellence?
It’s been said that mediocrity is the enemy of excellence…simply meaning either one can become a habit for life. If you accept mediocrity in yourself and others that you influence, that’s when you begin to develop the habit of mediocrity. You will soon be destined to accept okay results.
However, if you demand excellence in attitude, performance and results, from yourself and those you influence, that is what you will get (and valuable experience as well). Whichever you choose, it will be the start of a habit.
Why? Because anything that you do repeatedly, over and over again, is bound to be become habit…that’s just the way it is.
Visualize a life of excellent health, wealth and happiness.
Excellent health would give you greater energy to train and do the things you want to do each day, and allow you to accomplish more each year. Looking and feeling fit, toned and flexible, will give you energy to burn.
Excellence in wealth would free you from financial worry and concern. Allowing you more choices and opportunities to learn, grow, achieve and and have more fun in life.
Excellence in happiness would mean that you are happy with who you are, what you are, where you are going, and the relationships and people you are surrounded by everyday. You’d have excellent friends, co-workers and a happy family life as well. You’d be smiling, singing, whistling, humming and/or laughing…more than 95% of the people on the planet.
This is what happens when you develop habits of excellence.
Start today by committing yourself to step up your game. Decide right now that you are going to do everything you do better. You can start by displaying an attitude of excellence, give excellent polite greetings and do excellent push ups. Practice having an excellent smile and share it with as many people as you can. Strive for excellent results in everything you do, go the extra mile to create a better outcome in every area of your life.
Sincerely,
Master Ivan Kravitz
Royce Gracie with Ivan Kravitz, USBA Owner
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