State Parks Are Threatened

 

Despite all the doom and gloom you hear about in Washington, with regards to our debt ceiling and our bloated budget, I can't say there has been a dramatic impact on me or most people I know in my state.  However, for the first time I can ever recall, our state park system is under attack across the US, with many states considering closing their parks in order to save money.

While I certainly sympathize with the states, as the current economy is one of the worst in decades, and Washington really hasn't been able to get it's house in order to help the states, it seems to me, closing the parks is just a quick and easy fix and doesn't really address the state's long term fiscal problems.

At a time when many families are struggling, our state parks provide an outlet for family fun that is low cost and encourages healthy activities like walking, biking, canoeing and hiking.

I also believe there is a bigger issue with closing these parks.  For the first time, our current geneartion is growing up without any exposure to the outdoors.  Parents are terrified of letting their children play outside, for fear their child might be abducted or molested. 

However, as author Richard Louv points out in his book, Last Child In The Woods, there is a growing nature deficit,  "As the nature deficit grows, new studies demonstrate just how important direct contact with the outdoors is to healthy human development. Most of the new evidence that connects nature to well-being and restoration has focused on adults, but during the past decade, scientists have begun to study the impact of nearby nature on child development. Environmental psychologists reported in 2003 that that nature in or around the home, or simply a room with a view of a natural landscape, helped protect the psychological well-being of the children."

Closing these state parks will only compound the nature deficit that many of our children are already experiencing!

I hope the states can figure something out and keep the parks open.  

To me, this is good self defense!

If you would like to find out what parks your state are considering for closure, please visit the link here: Tree Hugger.

"There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm."  Teddy Roosevelt

 

This blog post is a part of The Ultimate Black Belt Test (ultimateblackbelttest.com), an undertaking ofThe 100 (the100.us), and a part of Samurai Karate Studio (samuraikaratestudio.net)

New School Year Around The Corner

Phew!

The summer has really gone by quickly, with just a few weeks left before school starts.  I am always sad as summer comes to an end, but I love the excitement and energy that a new school year brings as well.

Busy School Year

I expect this to be a very busy school year, as I will be involved in many different programs.  Aside from teaching my regular classes at Samurai Karate Studio, I will also be teaching at the University of South Carolina.  I am a professor there.  I will be teaching beginner karate, but hopefully, I will be adding a second class, self defense for women, in the Spring.  

I love teaching at USC!  College students enroll in this class because they are interested in learning how to defend themselves and gaining an understanding of karate.  These students tend to be in pretty good shape, are flexible and pick up the techniques pretty quickly.

I will be teaching twice a week at USC.

I have also offered my services, to teach basic self defense skills to the women in the USC sororities.  Statistically, this age group is one of the most vulnerable to sexual assault and it is my goal, to help educate as many women as possible so that they can defend themselves if assaulted.

Richland County School District 2

I will be teaching afterschool karate programs at Rice Creek Elementary, Sandlapper Elementary and North Springs Elementary Schools. This will be my 3rd year teaching at these schools and I have a blast working with the younger students.  These classes focus on character skills such as discipline and respect, cover topics like stranger danger and Diabetes awareness as well as cover basic karate techniques.

I am hoping to pick up another afterschool program, across the street from my dojo, at Living Springs Church.

In addition to my karate programs, I work with the local teachers and guidance counselors covering various presentations.  The most popular one (of course) is bullying and how to defeat the bully in a non violent kind of way.  I have taught hundreds of kids over the past 4 years and I have had great luck helping these children understand what bullying is and how they can "fight back"  without resorting to kicking or punching.

Of course, if you know someone who is having a problem with bullies, please contact me and I will work one on one with the child and parent to help them deal with their situation.

Community Service

In addition to all of the above, SKS will continue to serve it's community in many different ways.  I am looking forward to a trash clean up project, a homeless project, Harvest Hope Food Drive, etc.  If you or someone you know, needs some work done, SKS is here to serve you.  Just call us at 803-462-9425.

Lastly, SKS has it's first students testing for black belt in September.  This is a very special event for me, as these are my very own students that I will be promoting to black belt.

So, as you can see, this will be a very busy school year, but I am really looking forward to it.

 

Sensei Chris Feldt

Samurai Karate Studio

Columbia, SC  29229

803-462-9425

samuraikaratestudio@gmail.com

What Samurai Karate Studio Is All About!

Join me and listen to the video below that describes what Samurai Karate Studio is all about!  It was created by my mentor, teacher and friend, Tom Callos, who has more than 40 years of experience practicing and teaching the martial arts:

I have been training with Master Callos for more than 3 years and I am a proud member of two of the most unique associations for martial artist's and school owners out in the world today. They are The 100 and The UBBT.

Please check out the work we are doing!


Sensei Chris Feldt
Samurai Karate Studio
Columbia, SC 29229
803-462-9425
samuraikaratestudio@gmail.com

Jamie Oliver

Check out the most recent episode of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution

 

Mr. Oliver has become passionate about the state of kids’ nutrition, especially in public schools. His fight to be recognized in the LA area makes for a good story, but the information he brings — and his techniques for informing kids about the consequences of what they eat — really make this worth the watch.
He’s not teaching kicks and punches, but this information is far more likely to save some lives.

Sensei Chris Feldt

Samurai Karate Studio

Columbia, SC 29229
803-462-9425

Happy Father’s Day: The Benefits of Dads to Children

Dr. Robyn Silverman is a child development expert who appears on television quite frequently, particularly, the Today Show. She also is the creator of Powerful Words, a character development program for children. In honor of father's day, she shares with us an article about fathers.


Happy Father's Day!


By Dr. Robyn on June 17, 2011

I watch my husband with my children in complete awe. They just adore him and he is so taken with them. He’s hilarious and goofy, stern yet gentle, physical yet affectionate and kind. I consider our family so blessed to have him as my children’s Dad. What a Dad he is.

If anyone believes that a father’s influence is any less important that a mother’s, they are certainly mistaken. The presence of involved, engaged fathers in their children’s lives can have enormous social, cognitive, and emotional benefits- whether a father is an everyday fixture in a child’s life or only sees them once in a while.

Benefits of Dads (who are involved and engaged in their children’s lives)

Increased self-confidence, self reliance. Empathy, self control, overall well being and assertiveness

Higher academic achievement

Lower delinquency rates, lower rates of teen violence, failing/dropping out, legal issues

Better career advancement (most notably in fields of science, math and tech for girls is increased)

Score higher on cognitive tests

Improved cognitive ability

More likely to avoid teen pregnancy, early marriage, physical/emotional abuse

Positive risk taking increased, willing to try new things.

More equipped to resist peer pressure—premature sex, smoking, eating disorders (for girls)

Better sociability and better able to work with people in authority (teachers and employers)

(So it’s important for mothers to allow and encourage fathers and children to spend time together)

Are fathers more important in a boy’s life than a girl’s life?

Fathers are vital in both the lives of their sons and their daughters. However, Sometimes Dads forget just how important they are: a Roper Poll commissioned in 2004 by the nonprofit advocacy group Dads and Daughters reported that two-thirds of fathers surveyed didn’t think their active involvement in their daughters’ lives was vital to the daughters’ health and well-being.

Some fathers don’t live with their children full time. Some are in a divorce situation while others must live away do to work needs. How would you tell a father to best stay in touch and connect with their children in these circumstances?

(1) Make parenting a priority: Even when you are away, you are still their Dad. Make sure that you make time to let your children know that you are thinking of them, love them, and are there for them in any way you can be.

(2) Take an interest in what they care about: Make sure you know the names of their best friends, their favorite activities and their current struggles. Open conversation about things that matter to them.

(3) Listen and ask specific questions: If you have limited time, make sure you listen more than you talk. Ask questions about their lives– and make them specific. Instead of asking; “what’s new?” or “How are things?” Ask; “What was something fun that you did with your best friend, Dena, this week?” “What new skill did you learn in martial arts class?” or “What was something that made you smile since we talked on Tuesday?”

(4) Know that the little things count: If you can’t talk for long, call, email, or skype anyway. Even a few minutes to show your children you care is better than nothing at all. Make a little video of yourself telling them how important they are to you or of you wishing them luck on their next big game– even though you can’t be there yourself. If you don’t have phone or internet access, write little notes about things you are thinking or doing or wondering about them– and then send them snail mail so they can always know you are thinking of them.

(5) Spend alone time with your children: When you don’t see your children a great deal, the typical temptation is to lump them together and spend time with everyone at once. However, once in a while, even spending short, focused interactions with one at a time can give them the undivided attention that they need to know you care and to share with you what’s going on in their lives. This time should be scheduled, reliable and predictable, if possible, such that a child knows that every Sunday at 10am s/he has brunch with Dad or every Saturday afternoon, they go for a walk/drive/run/bike ride/martial arts class. As you may have seen in my Today Show segment yesterday, even a little silly rough-housing and “horseplay” with Dad can have great benefits. * A new study tells us that children’s perception of how much time they spent with their fathers had the most impact on bullying behavior. (Vanderbilt U, 2011).

Happy Father’s Day to all you Dads out there. You matter so much– thank you for all that you do.



Sensei Chris Feldt
Samurai Karate Studio
803-462-9425

Yes I Can!

As a martial art's school owner and instructor, one of the many challenges I have is motivating my younger students to have courage and perseverance, to keep pressing forward, no matter what and to never give up! Unfortunately, in today's society, I find too many children give up very quickly and many parents just let their children quit. I am not just talking about martial art's, I am talking about other sports, playing a musical instrument or getting good grades.

One of my instructors, Tom Callos, who is the creator and team coach for the UBBT and The 100, reminds me all of the time, "that nothing in life that is worthwhile, comes easy!"

Sure, getting a Black Belt takes many years, hours of practice and dedication and overcoming the many obstacles that life throws your way. The same goes for never missing a day of school or work, or getting good grades or that well deserved promotion.

So, I am always looking for ways to inspire and found a great one!

I love the short video below! Why?

Because it's from the heart and even better, it's from a little child.

Watch this and be inspired.....

Oh, and be prepared to smile!

"Experience is the child of thought, and thought is the child of action."

Benjamin Disraeli

Sensei Chris Feldt
Samurai Karate Studio
803-462-9425
samuraikarate@bellsouth.net

Remembering Memorial Day

I found this really beautiful video from Humanity Healing, that helps us remember the significance of what Memorial Day is all about. I have several military families that train with me, and several members that have been deployed over the past three years. Thankfully, no one I know personally has been wounded or killed.

However, we are engaged in two wars and the reality is we have men and women who continue to be in harms way.

Let's say a prayer for the fallen, and those still serving on the front lines!

Thank you to all who serve and those that gave their lives to protect our freedom!

Happy Memorial Day!

Sensei Chris Feldt
Samurai Karate Studio
803-462-9425
samuraikarate@bellsouth.net