It's Student of the Month time...

This week we will reveal the student of the month! As you all know, the Student of the Month has extra responsibility such as Lining everyone up, Bowing in the Class, Leading Warm Ups and Closing the Class.
Our Student of the Month Program is different. Instead of choosing a Student at the beginning of the month, we here at OMA are one month behind. We choose who leads the class based on the merit of the previous month and the person we believe to have taken the Warrior Tenet of Resilience to heart. Over the course of the last week we've talked to parents as well as the potential candidate, compared and contrasted and decided whom we thought is most deserving of the responsibility. This program is Unique because it needs to be earned, and once earned, puts the deserving individual in a leadership position with extra responsibility.

We have also shot a fun "Demo Reel" of the student, displaying their talents combined with an interview with their parents and instructors. This video will be shown in front of the class and will also be loaded onto our YouTube and Facebook page. I strongly suggest you "Like" and "Share" this video with your Family and Friends to show your support for the hard work and dedication of this new Student of the Month.

If your child was up for consideration for Student of the Month this month and didn't make it, it's okay. Explain to them that there will be many other chances to make Student of the Month, and as long as they are Resilient... Like the Warrior Tenet of the month... You are confident they will get what they strive for! Remember, every moment is a teaching moment that can help your child learn about the reality that is life. Sometimes we don't get what we work hard for... sometimes we even come close just missing... but we must NEVER stop reaching for that brass ring. If we want it enough to where we are willing to continue working hard for it... Nothing can stop us.

Respectfully in the Arts,

Mike O'Laskey

O'Laskey Martial Arts is Located at

1312 W. Magnolia Blvd

Burbank, Ca, 91506

Phn 818-480-7810

www.olaskeyma.com

Resilience Week 3... The Kobayashi Maru

This week opens the New Star Trek in Theaters. So we have incorporated Star Trek themed concepts into this weeks lesson. This week we're doing our own version of the Lesson learned from the Kobayashi Maru in the Star Fleet Academy.

For those who don't know. The Kobayashi Maru is a test in the fictional Star Trek universe. It is a Starfleet training exercise designed to test the character of cadets in the command track at Starfleet Academy. Rescuing the civilian vessel Kobayashi Maru is the notional primary goal in a simulated battle with the Klingons. The disabled ship is located in the Klingon Neutral Zone, and any Starfleet ship entering the zone would be in violation of the Organian Peace Treaty. The approaching cadet crew must decide whether to attempt rescue of the Kobayashi Maru crew – endangering their own ship and lives – or leave the Kobayashi Maru to certain destruction. The test was designed to be a no-win scenario in which the cadets learn that sometimes things are out of their hands. However, The creative Captain Kirk sets a virus into the system causing the game to be changed. He destroys the evil Klingons and rescues the ship.

What originally was supposed to be a lesson in Humility turns out to be a lesson in Resilience on the part of Captain Kirk. The character attempts the simulation several times in order to figure out a way to beat it and fails. But instead of giving up, He comes up with a Creative Solution to the problem by thinking outside the box.

Here is a low res version of the scene if you like:








No, How do we incorporate this lesson with out the aid of the USS Enterprise? Simple, with Party Ribbon...

Before class will have party ribbon strung up across the mat, resembling Laser Alarm Triggers we see so much in Spy Movies. The children will be instructed to maneuver their way to the other side of the school with out "Tripping" the sensors. If a child touches, The Sensei will sound an Alarm of some sort. Forcing the child to take the open walk way back to the beginning. Children will have 15 minutes to attempt this as much as the want. However, Much like the Kobayashi Maru... the Task will be impossible to accomplish the way the parameters are set up.

After the 15 minutes time limit, Sensei will lecture and praise the children for they're resilience in attempting to complete the task. He will then ask if the class if they would like to see "Him" complete the Kobayashi Maru. When the class agrees, Sensei will walk down the open corridor the children formally used after they failed to return to the begining. As this corridor is not laced with the Ribbon, the Sensei will have a clear leisurely stroll to the other side of the class.

At this point, the Sensei will lecture briefly on the importance of Resilience of the mind, and if at first you don't succeed... Don't JUST try again... try again a DIFFERENT way. And learn to think outside the box.

Hopefully this will be a fun way to learn a different aspect of resilence. If there are any questions come see us!

Respectfully in the Arts,

Mike O'Laskey

O'Laskey Martial Arts is Located at

1312 W. Magnolia Blvd

Burbank, Ca, 91506

Phn 818-480-7810

www.olaskeyma.com

Resilience week 2

Hello again OMA members, Our apologies for the late post!

Today marks Week 2 of Resilience training with our Kids. Remember last week when we asked you to remember your child's acts of resilience if it came up? Well, now you will learn why. But first... Some advice.

It is sometimes in our nature as parents to want to consistently "protect" our children. Of course, that is quite possibly the first thing we say to our child when we were holding them for the first time. There is a deep need with in us to make sure no harm comes to our child, it is coded in our DNA. But what sometimes we forget is that tales of resilience in your child's life will help build memories that can aid in defining them as adults. A child that lead a worry free life without any hardships is bound to have an unbalanced adulthood and perhaps even a unhealthy outlook on life in general. In life, we MUST fall, if only in order to learn how to get back up.

Psychologists have identified three kinds of unifying narratives when it some to resilience. The first is the ascending narrative, the rags to riches, Horatio Alger story that so captivated American minds in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The second storyline is the opposite of the first; it’s a descending tale of how we once had it all and then we lost it. The archetypal version of this might by the story of our expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The third unifying narrative is the combination of the first two; it is the oscillating account of how we had it, lost it and then got it back again. When it comes to boys getting and losing girls, it’s a Hollywood’s favourite. The oscillating story has an ecological dynamic and, not surprisingly, it turns out to be healthiest story of the three when it comes to creating resilient families. Children with such stories have a strong sense of their identity, of their “intergenerational self”. This is their role in following the traditions and living up to the standards of those who have gone before them and passing something of value onto those who follow.

Now, don't get me wrong. We're not saying to allow harm to befall your child only so that they learn a lesson. That would be cruel. The moral of which I am trying to impart is that we as parents have to accept that hardships happen in children's lives and use this as a teaching tool. Rather than trying to fix it for the child, or even worse "Shield" them from the truth in order to spare their feelings. This goes for small things like a poor grade on a spelling test or not being able to replicate a move in Martial Arts Class, to large life altering events like perhaps a divorce or a death in the family.

Resilience is a character defining attribute in an OMA warrior and allowing, helping and supporting your child to overcome their own demons will help them far more in their lives then you fixing it for them. However tempting that might be.

Now, Back to "In class Application"

This week in class we are going to do some positive reinforcement and we need your help. This week Sensei will ask parents at the end of class if anyone has a tale of resilience that they would like to share. Sensei will choose one of two people to speak aloud about their child's story of resilience.

This will serve two purposes, first, it will show the class how good it feels to do what is right... Especially when we didn't want to and it rewards the child internally for making the hard decision. And second, for kids whom perhaps made poor decisions during the week, it'll give them a moment of introspective reflection... even if its subconscious... about their decisions in the past week. This way no child has to be reprimanded in class for not taking the lesson to heart.

What we need parents to be conscious of is to not embellish the stories for the sake of their child. Or even worse... Make up a story so that their child doesn't feel bad. The whole point of this exercise is to teach resilience and to aid in your child's decision making abilities. If in fact your child DOES feel bad (Which they shouldn't, it's the reason the exercise is set up in this way, but it can happen) Remind your child that decisions have consequences, And if they are upset with that then the easiest way to fix it is to make better decisions no matter how hard. And remind them of the word of the month. Resilience. Let's hold our head high, pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and do better next week!

I hope this helps! Remember to come to us if you have any questions!

Respectfully in the Arts,

Mike O'Laskey

O'Laskey Martial Arts is Located at

1312 W. Magnolia Blvd

Burbank, Ca, 91506

Phn 818-480-7810

www.olaskeyma.com

May's Warrior Tenet! Resilience.

Its May Ladies and Gentlemen, Children and Parents alike! And It is Time for a New Warrior Tenet! This Month we will have the kids Focus on...

Resilience

This can be summed up with one phrase by Alain de Botton, Philosopher, Entrepreneur and author of several best sellers and one of only 450 fellows in the Royal Society of Literature. He describes Resilience as "never giving up, even when things become dark."

We all have moments in our lives were we have to remain resilient. Big and Small. Why, even your humble instructors have to practice resilience in the wake of Hard Times. Whether is be a time during the season where the school is in financial trouble from students going on vacation. Or with something small like when a child isn't grasping the concepts as quickly or as easily as we like. But alas a warriors resilience is Halt less. We KNOW our students are Resilient enough to Honor their commitment to themselves and us by continuing to attend class and pay their dues, Just as we will never leave a child or person behind in class, merely because it takes a bit more resilience to teach and guide them correctly.

A warrior and a student at O'Laskey Martial Arts knows that Resilience is a two way street.

Our Process

So at O'Laskey Martial Arts, We have the following on the docket to maximize our students understanding of the warrior tenet of Resilience. 

In the first week of May, at the End of every class, Sensei will go over what resilience means for the kids and how important it is to a warrior. Children will be reminded to strive to practice resilience through out the month. Focusing on it during things like Homework or House chores.

Your Job

This month's word can really help whip your child into shape as far as doing whats right regardless of whether or not they like it! But it is important this week to NOT be overtly pushy about its concept, next week you will find out why.

For this week I want you to focus on gentle reminders. If your child is being problematic about Home work, Or Chores Etc. Guide the child as you normally would, But add in the following "Remember the Warrior Tenet in Martial Arts Class? A Warrior sticks to what needs to be done, even if its hard, or they just plain don't want to do it." And leave it at that.

Avoid using phrases similar to "Sensei Michael would be disappointed!" or "You are not acting like a Warrior." Because first of all, that not the truth! Your child can never disappoint us, and making your child "feel bad" in this case IS NOT going to produce the long term results you want. Instead, all you have to do is stick to your guns. Insist your child has responsibilities that cannot be ignored, and they must be fulfilled regardless of whether or not your child "wants" to do them.

When/If your child laments responsibly and fulfills the task at hand follow it up with "There, That wasn't so hard was it?" in a nice loving tone, and add in how proud you are of them. Chances are they are not going to respond quite as nicely as the kids would in an episode of "Full House", But thats not real life. You have done your job as a parent.

Make sure that you remember your child's act of resilience. ESPECIALLY if it was a hard decision for them to make or a bit of an argument. It will play into next weeks lesson plan.

As always if you have any questions please make sure you come to us! Its what we're here for!

Respectfully in the Arts,

Mike O'Laskey

O'Laskey Martial Arts is Located at

1312 W. Magnolia Blvd

Burbank, Ca, 91506

Phn 818-480-7810

www.olaskeyma.com