Pressure often shows up at tournaments. This weekend in the dojo we had our first kids grappling tournament since Covid. It was a great afternoon with lots of close matches. In the end, each division could only have one winner. As we entered the final rounds to see who would get the gold medal, the competition began to heat up. When the students felt the pressure to perform and win,

The question of the week is How do you react when you’re overwhelmed?   Let’s dissect the question a bit. First, the word react assumes a more or less automatic action, as opposed to a deliberate response. Most of us go through life reacting rather than responding; being forced into action by something that happens to us. The next part of the question basically points to that idea, that you’re overwhelmed, meaning

We take off our shoes before entering the mats in the dojo for a few reasons. One, we practice barefoot for safety (some kicks and brazilian jiu jitsu techniques are more difficult or dangerous with shoes). Two, it is cleaner as we don’t track dirt from the outside world onto the mats. Three, we remove our shoes as a sign of respect.  The cleanliness and respect reasons are related, as I

Sometimes a mind rut can sneak up on us. While we were stretching at the beginning of the kids Wushu class yesterday, I mentioned the test coming up. One of the kids in the front row said, “I don’t think I’m going to be very good in the test.” This seemed like a great opportunity to talk about something I discuss with the kids on a regular basis: practicing confidence.

In an Aikido class I took many years ago at Sifu Brown’s dojo, I heard a wonderful way of conceptualizing the different levels of self. If I remember correctly, the teacher’s name was Sensei Bob Nadou. He said that when he thinks of himself as Bobby, he isn’t capable of much. As Bob, he can do a bit more. As Sensei, he is capable of anything. I like to think