The Centurion

February is Black History Month. This month is a time to celebrate the cultural contributions and achievements made by black people in history, art, science, sports, and more. This is a great opportunity for your kids or students learn about some amazing black martial artists! Try making this fun trivia game for your kids, and let them match the names and faces with inspiring facts. 

You’ve probably heard about the five fitness trends gaining traction in 2017. Many of them share a theme: decreased reliance on traditional gyms. There’s nothing wrong with heading to the gym to get your fit on. However, many people are looking for a new place to work out and finding it at home. Having your “gym” in your living room is convenient for a few reasons. For one, you never need to worry about crowded spaces. Transportation is a cinch, and the commute can be measured in seconds and footsteps.

People have been using edged weapons since the beginning of time. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in edged weapons, and how they can be used for personal protection. A large number of martial arts incorporate some type of edged weapon training into their curriculum. The training ranges from blade work incorporated into katas, to demonstrations and combat applications. Spears, swords, knives and more are all used.

Hi there! My name is Sarah. I’m a martial artist (I’ve trained in Muay Thai for about four years and started Brazilian jiu-jitsu about eight months ago) and – I won’t say foodie because that implies an amount of sophistication, not to mention budget, beyond what I possess, but I certainly enjoy cooking and eating. So when I got the opportunity to test recipes from the Angela Gracie Recipe Book for this blog, I was happy to do so. 

Did you know that, according to a survey on Neilson.com, two of the most common New Year’s resolutions are to get fitter and healthier, or to lose weight? Isn’t it great that so many people use this time of year as the starting point to make changes that could really improve their lives? …If only it really worked that way. As it turns out, these are two of the most frequently broken resolutions as well. Clearly this is something people want to do, or they wouldn’t be making the resolution in the first place. So what goes consistently wrong to keep all these well-meaning resolution-makers from reaching their goals?

It was the knockout felt round the world. At UFC 193,Holly Holm stepped into the cage with Ronda Rousey. At stake was the Women’s Bantamweight Championship belt. Tension between Rousey and Holm had already been high in the weeks leading up to the fight. Rousey in particular seemed prone to spouting off with her signature brash in-your- face confidence (or, as many people felt, arrogance). Insults were exchanged at the weigh-in, and it seemed that the rivals nearly came to blows then. At the start of the fight, Rousey refused to touch gloves when Holm offered.

We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Watch video

It’s almost Christmas, which means you’re going to need to set some cookies out for Santa! Nigel is ready to help put a ninja spin on this year’s holiday baking, by decorating some Ninja Sugar Cookies! Here’s how you can, too: First, you’ll need to make a batch of sugar cookie dough! You can use pre-made dough or a store-bought mix, or find Nigel’s favorite recipe at the bottom of the page. You will also need cookie cutters – Nigel used ninja-shaped cookie cutters, but plain gingerbread men would work too – as well as toothpicks, blue icing, red edible decorating gel and black edible decorating gel.   Make sure your sugar cookie dough is nice and cold when you roll it out! Hint: sprinkling powdered sugar or flour on your countertop before you roll the dough out helps it to not stick.

Retention Tip 1: Acknowledge The Awkward “Welcome to our martial arts school.  Now, bow at the wall and listen to me speak in another language”… Okay, so we don’t actually say these things out loud, but you get the gist.  If you take a BIG step back, and look at how your classes are run from the new student’s prospective, you may find a few things that would seem confusing or maybe even down right weird…  Don’t worry! That doesn't mean that your program needs an overhaul.  It simply means that you need to identify what may look or sound weird to new members and take the time to explain those items to them.  However… There may also be things in our programs that we do, simply because we have always done them and, perhaps, they are stumbling blocks for potential clients, especially adults… 

We’re rapidly approaching that most wonderful time of the year again, folks – that’s right, it’s the holiday season! Regardless of what you celebrate or how you celebrate it, it’s a great opportunity to spend time with loved ones, relax, and enjoy a pervasive sense of jolliness. It’s also the perfect time for martial arts! There are few bad times for martial arts, actually. If your kids are out of school for the holiday season, they probably have more energy that they (or you) know what to do with. They may still have martial arts lessons (or not – instructors need breaks too!), but without school to take the edge off, and with the excitement of impending holidays, they’re probably wired. If you’re looking for something to burn off their energy in a healthy way, and make sure their interest in martial arts lasts through the break, look no further! Nigel the Ninja is your perfect companion for holiday fun.