Dreams and Goals 2013

2013 Dreams Vs. Goals

 

2012 is quickly coming to a close.   It was another great year here at Leading Edge Martial Arts.  I want to thank all of you, our students, parents, and staff for helping to make 2012 such a success.   

2012 saw a tremendous growth in students taking to the mat.  We saw 100's of students reaching for and achieving new personal bests.

 2012 saw seven students achieve Jr. Black Belt, five students achieve 1st Degree Black Belt, and one student achieve the rank of 2nd Degree Black Belt.  Congratulations to all of you!

In 2012, LEMA was  voted best Martial Arts school in the Lehigh Valley by  Morning Call's Readers Choice Awards for the 4th year in a row.  

With the start of a new year, it is customary for people to set new year'sresolutions.  At LEMA, we like to refer to these as New Years goals to which your commitment should be resolute. 

So many new year's goals are made with great intent, but quickly are forgotten.  Here are a few tips to help you keep your goals for the year 2013.

First let's start by understanding the difference between a dream and a goal.   Dreams and goals are both things that people would like to achieve.   One we let happen and the other we make happen. 

The main difference between a dream and a goal is that with a goal, we have a plan of action on how we wish to achieve that goal.  For example, one can dream of being a black belt but until they sit down and come up with a plan of action to achieve this, it is still a dream.  Once a plan of action is set, the dream becomes a goal.

 This difference between dreams and goals is not only true in martial arts but in every aspect of your life, family, work, etc.

 You can have short term goals and long term goals.   You can have work goals and personal goals. You can have relationship goals andmartial art goals .  Regardless of what your goals are, remember to follow these five steps.

1.  Decide on your goal, and  document it.  Write it down. 

2.  Ask yourself why the goal is important you and write it down beneath the goal.   This helps you stay focused on the goal and reminds you why you set that goal in the first place.

3.  Set a time line for achieving this goal.  Setting a target date will help keep you from pushing the goal off to a later date.  Write it down.

4.  Figure out a plan of action to help you achieve this goal.   Follow the plan!  Write it down.

5.  Lastly, post the goal somewhere where you will see it on a regular basis to help remind you to stay on track.

 

Make a commitment to yourself to let NOTHING stop you from achieving your goals.  You are bound to encounter obstacles/goal barriers along the way.  Whether illness, time, money, relationships, injury, or just laziness,  something will undoubtedly challenge you not to accomplish your goals.  Promise yourself now that you will

overcome your obstacles and accomplish your goals.......and you will!     

 

See you on the mat in 2013!

 

Sensei Rob

 

It's that most STRESSFUL time of year! by Down Town Judy Browne

It’s the most STRESSFUL time of the year!

Why is it that this time of year turns us all into Martha Stewart wanna-bes? Trim the tree! Light the lights! Bake the cookies! Host a party!  Oh – and look like you just stepped out of GQ or Glamour while doing it.

While it’s true that the holiday season is a very joyous time, it can also be very stressful. From the cost of food, presents, and decorations, to over-eating, over-drinking, and especially over-scheduling, it’s not surprising many of us feel overwhelmed!  And these days, it’s easy to look at our friends’ cheerful statuses and on social media sites and compare our lives to our friends’ – and find our own lacking.

Our kids also feel the stress of the holidays, and are often much more prone to tantrums and meltdowns because they don’t know how to handle it or express their feelings.

So how do we deal with the overload? Two of the top suggestions by mental health professionals just happen to be what we do here at LEMA:  1) Stick to your normal routine as much as possible and 2) EXERCISE!

Keeping to a routine helps us to feel in control. It also forces us to “just say no” to too many extra activities that can cause overload and burnout in both our kids and ourselves.  While a few fun outings and family traditions put the ho-ho in the holidays, too many can quickly add up to burnout and meltdowns. Keeping things as normal as possible will help avoid those peaks and valleys throughout the season.

As for exercise:  all of us here at LEMA know how good we feel after a workout!  That’s because exercise releases endorphins, those feel-good chemicals that immediately improve our mood.   So, be sure NOT to skip your workouts or your kids’ scheduled physical activities.  Even on the craziest day, just plugging in your iPod and dancing to Jingle Bell Rock in your living room will bring a little cheer – and may even begin a new family tradition!

Finally, lighten up!  Let go of those unrealistic expectations.  You are not going to look like a supermodel by New Year’s Eve if you don’t already (although some of you already do!) Your family is not going to appear on the cover of Family Circle.  Your wife is not going to buy you that new sports car for Christmas, and your boyfriend probably won’t propose in Times Square at midnight on New Year’s Eve on the jumbotron. Even if any of these things do happen, something will probably not be perfect. Consider this as a holiday gift to yourself: Self-acceptance, self-respect and reasonable expectations.

Finally, don’t forget to take some time for yourself each day.  Those of you who attend my Cage Fitness classes know how important that is to me, and why I include one “me” minute at at the end of every class.  We can’t be there for everyone else unless we take care of ourselves first!

I wish you all the very best of the holiday season.  Cherish the time with your family and friends – remember, the best gift of all is your time.

 

Namaste,

 

Judy aka Down Town Judy Browne!

My Motivation by Cage Carrie

My Motivation

 

I am not going to lie..I love when I hear my class moan and groan and sometimes complain when something I am teaching is causing them discomfort.....hahaha!! ;) Now, you know I mean that in the most loving way! It is a good discomfort, the kind that makes you push yourself harder and further then you thought you could.

 

I want to share some personal things about myself with you.

 

When I was in my late teens early twenties I suffered from Body Dysmorphic Disorder and bulimia. I was so ashamed and embarrassed that I only shared it with a few people, one of them being my mother. I lost the two others as friends because I guess it was just too much for them to handle.

 

I would exercise for HOURS, eat like a bird, throw it up and still hated myself not matter how skinny or fit I was. Long story short I was a train wreck.

At that time I could not afford to get help or did not want to because I was too ashamed and embarrassed. My mother was my rock..she and I fought our way through it and Squashed it!!!  And the best part is...the shame is gone..Yes..I had a problem, and yes I kicked it's butt. It was not easy, and sometimes it still tries to nip at me, but I will keep standing up to it.

 

So when I have people make comments-

. How do you have so much energy?

. How do you teach so many classes in a row?

. Why are you always smiling ?

 

I will never allow negative energy to take over me again. I love to smile, I love to laugh, and I love the way I feel after teaching my class.

 

I don't know who can tell me it does not feel good walking out of a Cage Fitness and then some class knowing that you just pushed yourself to your limits. I look so forward to seeing everybody and busting our butts together as a team each and every class.  

 

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Look forward to working off the feast with you!

 

If you have time.. Respond with why you are thankful for Cage Fitness at LEMA!!

 

Gobble Gobble! 

<3 Carrie

70% Kitchen - 30% Gym

You have all heard the old saying "You are what you eat."   This story really hit home for me a few years back.  Let me start from the from beginning.

I have always been very active and very fit.  I played sports year round, did martial arts, and even went to college on a swimming scholarship. (Bet most of you wouldn't have guessed that.) 
It was fairly easy for me staying in shape when I was younger.  

As I hit my late 20's and early 30's, I still felt really good.  I was going to the gym, teaching martial arts, and generally staying much more active them most people I knew my age.  A Few things in my life had changed though.  I was married and had a business.   This added up to a lot of eating out on the weekends and late night Ellios Frozen Pizzas for dinner.  I figured I was still doing really well.  I mean I felt great.  Only thing I had noticed really changed, was my hair decided to stay back in my 20's once I moved on to my 30's.

It wasn't until the summer of 2008, that I had realized how much I had slipped.  I was at the beach with my family for vacation and I was downloading pictures off my camera to save space.  While browsing through the pictures and munching on some boardwalk fries, i said to my wife Jenn, "Who is that old fat bald guy playing with Lucas (my oldest son)?"  I had this sudden sinking feeling in my newly realized gut, that that was me.  I couldn't believe how much I had let myself go.  This was not me.  This is not who I wanted to be.  I was determined to reclaim my youth....or at least the healthy body part of my youth. 

I immediately consulted a friend who had recently transformed herself into a much healthier person.  I told her I didn't understand.  I was going to the gym and teaching all day.  "Why am I gaining weight?" I asked.    She taught me a very big lesson that day.   I have lived by it ever since.   "70% of your fitness level is determined in the kitchen and 30% in the gym."  I had to completely change my entire dietary lifestyle. Yes, I used the word "Lifestyle."  It is a common misconception that a DIET is something we go on to lose weight.  The truth is, your diet is how you eat at any given time. It is your eating habbits.  You can have healthy diets and unhealthy diets.  For me, it was a matter of completely revamping my dietary lifestyle.  I began right away in the beginning of July 2008.   By the end of Aug, 2008, I had lost over 20lbs.   By Christmas, i was down a total of 35lbs.  It is now 4 years later.  I have stuck to my plan.  I am still down 35lbs from that pre-healthy lifestyle weight.  I just turned 40 this past Sept. and I am in better shape now than i was in my early 20's.  I am still working out and feel great doing it. 

If I can do it, you can do it.  If you need motivation, if you need advice, please feel free to contact me.  I would be happy to help you.  If you need a diet plan though, please seek a liscenced nutritionalist as I am not. 

Good luck and keep working!!  

See you on the mat!
Sensei Rob

Trick or Treat Safety Tips from LEMA

Trick or Treat Safety Tips
from LEMA

 

Here are some tips to help keep your lil ghouls and goblins safe this Halloween.

   Halloween and Trick or Treat are a fun family time of year. Ghosts, goblins, and lots and lots of sugar! What more could one ask for? It is a fun time of year but it can also be a dangerous time if we are not careful with our little ones. Here are a few tips to help keep your loved ones safe this Halloween and Trick or Treat season.

 

1. Have your children wear reflective material on all costumes. Flashlights and glow sticks are always a great idea.

2. Regardless of your children's age, have them travel with a parent or another responsible adult so not to get lost or abducted.

3. Don't let your children run ahead of the group or cross the streets without adult supervision.

4. Teach your children not to go in to any houses without adult supervision.

5. Instruct your children not to eat any candy at all until you have had the opportunity to inspect each piece of candy for dangerous things like razors, needles, drugs, etc. Don't allow them to eat anything that is not still factory wrapped.

6. Children are smarter than we sometimes give them credit for. Instruct them about the dangers of Trick or Treating. Traffic, Strangers, tainted treats, etc.   Knowing what to look out for will keep them safe.

    

Lets work together and keep our children safe this Spooky time of year. Have a great Halloween and don't eat too much this Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween!

Hi! I'm Cage Carrie!!

BLOG!?!? HOW DO I BLOG!?!?!

That being said…I am brand new at this whole blog thing so be kind!! ;)

For those of you who don’t know me, I am Carrie Houser the peeps at LEMA call me “Cage Carrie” J

Sounds scary I know, but don’t worry I don’t bite J I am one of the two Carrie’s at LEMA and we share every initial so that is how we keep the confusion to a minimum. Cage Carrie and Cardio Carrie! J

That being out of the way. I teach Cage Fitness at Leading Edge Martial Arts (Allentown).

I have been with LEMA for about two years now; I started out teaching Cardio Kickboxing there on Thursday nights. I can still remember the call from Sensei Rob. Sensei and the LEMA team were in Vegas at the MMA expo.

 

Sensei:  Carrie…. Log onto your computer

Me: Why?

Sensei:  JUST DO IT! (Like a tennis shoe)

Me:  UGH! Computer is taking forever! ARGH!!!

Sensei: Log onto CageFitness.com and check it out!

Me: OMG!!!! WHAT IS THIS? I LOVE IT!

Sensei:  I am bringing this to LEMA!

ME: Hook, line, and sinker!!! SOLD!!!!! J

So here we are two years later and still going strong! Cage Fitness has been such an amazing part of my life. I am stronger, faster, and have more energy than I ever had since I have been teaching Cage.  Take my advice and get in a class!!! You will never be the same!

Until Next Time,

Cage Carrie     

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. -Jim Ryan

 

UFC Super Star Chael Sonnen and Cage Fitness Pro Kelly Babb Oct 27th

Hello students and parents,

Sorry its been a little while since my last blog entry.  Blogging is still kind of new to me. The staff was so kind as to remind me to get back at it.  So....here we go....   I figured I would start off with a VERY exciting event we have coming up.

On Saturday Oct 27th, UFC Super Star Chael Sonnen along with Cage Fitness Pro Kelly Babb will be at Leading Edge Martial Arts Allentown.  We are VERY excited about this. 

Kelly and Chael will hold a series of Cage Fitness classes followed by autograph and pictures sessions. 

Chael Sonnen will also instruct a 2 hour MMA workout.  If this is ANYTHING like the 2 hour MMA workout Matt Hughes instructed, then it is a CAN'T miss event. 

I encourage everyone and anyone to attend the Cage Fitness workouts.   I welcome all teenagers and adults with our without experience to enjoy the MMA workout. 

If you are a martial arts fan, a UFC fan, a Chael Sonnen fan, or simply a LEMA fan, don't miss out. 
Tickets are limited.  Call 610-434-3343 to register today.

 Click here for the official Chael Sonnen Oct 27th event website. 

Event Schedule:

• 9:30am Cage Fitness for Adults 1                $20
• 10:30am Cage Fitness for Adults 2              $20
• 11:30am MMA Workout with Chael Sonnen  $75
• 2:15pm  Public Autograph Session                 $20
• Special Combo Cage Fitness and MMA WO  $85
• 3:00pm Cage Fitness for Kids                       $15

*All sessions followed by Photograph and Autograph session.*

(Cage Fitness for Kids Autographs at 2:15pm) 

See you on the mat!

Sensei Rob

Bully and Stranger Awareness in your schools.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far.  I know I am.  It does seem to be flying by though.
Just this morning I had a meeting about implimenting a program in a local school for the fall. 

I met with Mr. Best of Macungie Elementary School.  We talked at length about Bullying and about Stranger Awareness and Safety.   Macungie has an excellent track record and a strong anti-bullying program in place.  On the heals of the widely publicized near abduction in Philadelphia, he asked if LEMA could come in and do a program about strangers. 
LEMA will be at Macungie Elemenary on Oct 19th for a Stranger Awareness program.

If you would like LEMA to come to your school to talk about Bullies and Strangers, please see myself or Sensei Joe to see what we can set up. 

In case your missed it, here is the link to the news story Channel 69 did about stranger awareness and safety featuring Leading Edge Martial Arts.  http://www.wfmz.com/news/Yell-scream-make-a-scene-Keeping-kids-safe-from-predators/-/121458/15678640/-/gjbuv0z/-/index.html

See you on the mat!
Sensei Rob

12 years and Kicking Strong!

12 years and Kicking Strong! 

I can't believe it has been 12 years already.  When i think back to the first class I taught at our little school on Lehigh St, I remember how nervous I was to be running my own school. 

It was 1997, and I had a dream, of one day having my own martial arts school.  It didn't happen over night.  In fact, it took 3 years of hard work and determination till the dream became a reality. 
We finally opened our doors on June 20th 2000. 

It is now 12 years later.  We have two locations, hundreds of students, and nearly 20 Members of the Team LEMA Staff. 

I want to thank all the staff members, students, and of course my family for helping to make LEMA what it is today.  I look forward to many more years spreading the Leading Edge! 

Happy 12 years LEMA family!

Sensei Rob

Welcome to the offical LEMA Instructor Blog.

Welcome to the offical LEMA Instructor Blog.

Over the next few weeks, we will be tweaking and fine tuning this new interactive section of our website to better serve you the parents and students. 

In this blog, you will hear from our different instructors.  You will receive training tips, goal setting tips, weekly challenges, random thoughts from your Sensei, and reminders.   We will also use this as a forum for fielding some questions from you the students and parents. 

We hope this is just another step in helping to enhance your LEMA experience. 

See you on the mat!

Sensei Rob

Don’t Let Bright Sunshine Blind You From Your Goals!

 Spring has sprung!  Don’t let the sun and the nice weather blind you or your children from your goals  This time of year always concerns me because spring fever runs rampant.   Both children and adult       students can be distracted by the bright sunshine.  Who wants to be inside when it is so nice outside?  Who wants to work out and sweat when we can spend time in the pool?  This is when it is most important to stay focused on our goals.     It is important to remember why we started training and of the goals we have set for ourselves since we first came to Leading Edge Martial Arts.  I encourage everyone to give themselves a set consistent  schedule of twice a week training.  It is ok to back off a little if you were training more than that but don’t let yourself fall completely off track.       Parents, this is very important for you.  Spring and the beginning of the summer are the hardest times to get your children to class.  Regardless of how much they loved training two months ago, they may kick and scream now when you say it is time to go.  Even the most diligent and motivated  student’s interest can waiver in the spring.  My advice to you is, if they are giving you a hard time, back off to only twice a week for now and continually explain to them the importance of consistent training.  They will thank you for helping them stick with it later.     One of the biggest mistakes I have witnessed over the years that I have been teaching is when a student or parent of a student decides to take a break when spring hits.  Spring sports tend to be very demanding and take a heavy toll on student’s motivation and consistency of training.  I advise still trying to maintain a training schedule of twice a week.  However, if sport schedules do not allow it, the goal should be to attend class at least once a week during those heavy activity times.  Training even once a week keeps the ball rolling and does not allow for the positive momentum to stop.  Those classes can be made up when the schedules lighten up a little.  Taking a break makes it very hard to get back on track later.  Children tend to fear coming back after breaks because they are worried that they have forgotten too much of the curriculum.  They also see that their friends have moved beyond them.       Remember why you started at Leading Edge Martial Arts.  Stay consistent and diligent with your   training and working towards your goals.  Parents, remember to be supportive and positive guides in helping your children stick with what they started.  It is during these times that you can help your kids learn the  importance of overcoming goal barriers and the true meaning of a non quitting spirit.  Enjoy the weather.    See you on the mat!

Welcome

This is the first post on the LEMA instructors BLOG!