https://youtu.be/K1UxoJv5Uts Does karate help with bullying? The short answer is: Heck yeah, it does. But it’s not for the reasons you might think. It’s not just about learning how to throw a punch; it’s about fixing the “Grit Gap” created by modern technology. As a former public school teacher with a Master’s in Education, I’ve […]
https://youtu.be/mB5suLqn5dU Not to be the “old guy,” but let’s look at the math of the last 30 years. In the ’90s, the average Oak Creek home had one or two screens—the TVs. Today, every child has a smartphone in their pocket and a personalized tablet at school. As a former elementary teacher with 10 years […]
https://youtu.be/I24ixzXFg8k About 18 years ago, back when I was a band teacher, I had a student who was a beginner trumpet player. He was doing great in my class, so his parents signed him up for karate at my newly opened school. In both trumpet and karate, he was a model student—focused, respectful, and hardworking. […]
https://youtu.be/HI4wsSGIA3g Do you know the #1 place where kids quit sports? It’s not on the field, on the mat, or in the pool. It’s in the backseat of your car on the drive home. As a former public school teacher with a Master’s degree in Education, I’ve seen this cycle a thousand times. We as […]
https://youtu.be/do59xcbhvSs I’ll never forget 4th grade. I was sitting at my desk, not being disruptive, just quietly watching a kickball game through the window. My teacher snapped. I was sent to the “Learning Center” to write 100 sentences and eventually given in-school suspension. I missed the lesson, I missed recess, and I learned absolutely nothing […]
https://youtu.be/vjo1XoUuPAE I’ve spent 10 years in public school classrooms with a Master’s in Education. I’ve taught everything from the violin to the tuba. But 20 years ago, a single trumpet player taught me the most important lesson of my career. This student was a beginner in my small-group trumpet lesson. He was doing great, so […]
https://youtu.be/-XPyWCYmTrQ Not to be the “old guy” who walked uphill both ways to school, but we have to look at the math of 2026. Two decades ago, if you were bored, your parents “booted” you outside. You used your imagination, you moved your body, and you stayed out until the streetlights came on. Today, in […]
https://youtu.be/q_RxrhQVD5I If you feel like you’re constantly fighting a losing battle against screens, I want to tell you something: It’s not your fault. As a former elementary school teacher with a Master’s in Education, I’ve watched the classroom evolve. In the ’90s, we had “Movie Fridays” on a rolling TV cart. Then it was five […]
https://youtu.be/0LUwB8KAX4U If you feel like your child’s attention span is shorter than ever, you aren’t imagining it. As a martial arts instructor and a former public school teacher with a Master’s in Education, I look at the math. Back in the “prehistoric” 1980s, the average home in Oak Creek had one, maybe two screens (TVs). […]
https://youtu.be/dyd6M56iiWA Whether you live in Oak Creek, Franklin, or anywhere in Southeast Wisconsin, the trend is the same: kids are losing their confidence at record speeds. As a former public school teacher with a Master’s degree in Education, I’ve watched this shift happen over two decades. We’ve moved into a world of instant gratification and […]
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Recent Posts
- Beyond the Pink Belt: Why Oak Creek Daughters Need a “Black Belt Voice”
- Co-Parenting with Your Dojo: How Oak Creek Families Bridge the Gap Between Mat and Home
- Screening a Dojo: 3 Questions Every Oak Creek Parent Should Ask Before Signing Up
- Screen Time vs. Mat Time: A Master of Ed’s Guide to the Childhood Dopamine Crisis
- Karate vs. Taekwondo vs. Jiu-Jitsu: Which Martial Arts Style is “The Best”?