Balanced Life Skills Martial Arts

In many ways, Aikido is a lifelong journey. There’s always something to learn around the corner,always something just out of reach. This is what makes practicing Aikido so rewarding. You are always on the path, and the path never ends. I have practiced with Aikido practitioners who have been on the path for many years but [...]

The summertime offers more free time and our kids are going to want to do things online more than ever.  So what are some guidelines that we can set and how do we keep them safe.  This article that just came out covers this material very well.  It is at the Common Sense Media website. As [...]

The first word we here in trustworthiness is ‘trust’.  Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote,” I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.”  There are many ways of losing that trust and it is not just with words.  As we get older, teens and adults, it is [...]

Announcement: Balanced Life Skills introduces the first in a series of public websites that will address issues that our children, parents and teachers will be interested in following.  The first of this series is Bully Prevention Partners.  This public site will have information for all on it, but will also invite everyone to become a partner [...]

This is a question that every parent has asked themselves, just not understanding how “their child” could possibly do this to them.  Children lie for the same reason that their parents do, they are attempting to solve a problem. Problem: I want to go outside to play  and I have homework – Solution: Tell mom and dad [...]

One of the differences between one who reaches their goals and has a successful career and life and those that do not is in this quality of trustworthiness.  Those who consistently tell the truth, keep promises, keep secrets, do not cheat, follow the rules, do the right thing because it is the right thing to do [...]

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  Each month we define and discuss a word of character development and life skill with all of our students. This month the word is  Trustworthiness and will be defined this way. Young students: Trustworthiness means, “You can count on me, to do the right thing.” Older students: Trustworthiness means:  Worthy of trust by being Reliable, Accountable and [...]

Our legacy or how we are remembered is a day by day, place by place, person by person event.  If we are the guests of someone in their home and are disrespectful or leave a mess – that person will remember us for that event.  If we are in school and we are good listeners [...]

Each of the Black Belt candidates wrote an essay about their journey.  The winning Best Essay will be read at the closing ceremony on April 22, 2012 at Camp Letts.  In the mean time I thought it would be nice for all to see some of the excerpts from all of them.  We are looking [...]

This week as we started to talk to our students about LEGACY, one of them had their grandparents with them.  After the class the grandparents were sure that we had had that discussion because they had been in the audience.  Unfortunately too many times we think of leaving a legacy about those who have already [...]

  Each month we define and discuss a word of character development and life skill with all of our students. This month the word is Legacy and will be defined this way. Young students: Legacy means, “This is what people remember about us.” Older students: Legacy is a gift, lesson, or reputation handed down from one person or [...]

Saturday night I had the privilege to attend the performance of Shen Yun. This performing art of traditional Chinese culture, filled with stories and virtues told with music, dance, acrobatics and beautiful costumes. I learned just enough about Chinese culture, met some fascinating individuals who all inspired me to put on my list of must [...]

Having the courage to stand up to others and especially our friends may be one of the hardest things we may ever feel the need to do. It can by scary to do what we believe and know to be right when our friends are disagreeing with us. We do not want to lose the [...]

Here are four of our students who have raised money for and shaved their heads in support of finding cures for childhood cancer.  We are very proud of them for finding ways to make a difference their community.

Courage is all about facing our fears and challenges with determination.  One of the biggest challenges we all face is going outside our comfort zone, trying something new or pushing past what we believe we are able to do.  It is very easy for us, especially adults, to get comfortable with what we are doing, [...]