List Of Mat Chats

What Is Respect: 3 kinds of respect

Obey Cheerfully

Do what your parents tell you to do & with a good attitude.

It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It

Your tone of voice will really show what you are thinking or feeling.

Be Part Of The Solution, Not The Problem

Live In Such A Way That If Someone Spoke Badly Of You No One Would Believe Them

Action speaks louder than words. 

If you live in such a way, if someone spoke badly about you, someone who hears the story will say, "I know him/her and that's not the type of person he/she is."

3 Rules of Concentration

Black Belt Success Cycle

It's important to be grateful, not just on Thanksgiving, but each and every day.

S = Specific

M = Measurable

A = Attainable (Achievable)

R = Realistic

T = Time Bound

It’s Not How We Make Mistakes But How We Correct Them That Defines Us

Some of your greatest lessons come from your mistakes.

Ask yourself, “What is the lesson in this mistake?” “What can this teach me?”

A Little Bit Of Something Is Better Than A Whole Lot Of Nothing

A little can sometimes be a whole lot. (Ex: 5 minutes of daily practice)

What Is Cooperation?

Working together to get something done.

What Is Accountability?

I make good choices and fix my mistakes.

What Is Determination?

You made the decision and decided to do something. (ex: learning how to ride a bike or swim, testing for your next belt) 

What Is Responsibility?

Something you are expected to do. (Brush your teeth, homework, coming to martial arts class)

What Is Goal Setting?

Goal-setting is a target or something you shoot for. Something you want to achieve or get better at (in school, at home, with friends or even in martial arts)

What is Dependability?

You can count on me.

What Is Perseverance?

Don’t give up when things get tough. Continuing to do something even if it gets tough

5 Questions of Character

Who Is A Mighty Person?

A mighty person is one who has control of their emotions. Controlling your mind and the situation. 

Who Is An Honored Person:

Someone who pays respect to others is going to receive respect in return.(Ex: allowing the other person to go first, encouraging people in the class, treating people nicely, etc.)

Who Is A Wise Person:

A wise person is one who learns from others. Someone who learns from their mistakes and the mistakes of others. 

Who Is A Rich Person:

Someone who appreciates all that he/she has. How does that relate to learning Martial Arts? Grateful to be learning martial arts, grateful for your family & friends. Every day we should appreciate all that we have. 

Who Is A Brave Person:

It means doing something even though we're scared.

If It Doesn’t Challenge You  It Won’t Change You

We learn and grow in situations when we are challenged, and need to put some extra effort to overcome some obstacle or solve some problem.. if we are in our “comfort” zone all the time we shall hardly grow.

Discipline Vs. Self Discipline

Discipline is when someone tells you to do something Self Discipline is when you do it without being told to.

Dinner Before Dessert

Dinner before Dessert is Work Before Play. Work hard then reward yourself with something fun.

Mental And Physical Fitness Is Ongoing

Fitness and learning continues for your entire life. Once you stop working out you get fat and out of shape. Once you stop learning your mind gets out of shape.

I Can I Will

"I Can. I Will." refers to your Attitude, your Belief and your Commitment. It is an affirmation that you WILL get through any challenge that you are currently facing. It is about being stubborn in a positive way.

Just Have To Do It

You don’t have to WANT to do it, you just have to do it. It is doing what you don’t want to do but know you should?

Balance Over Emotions

Standing on one foot to help you change the way you are feeling or thinking.

Words Over Emotions

Transformational vocabulary. Take angry words and change them to less angry words.

Body Over Emotions

Change your body language to change the way you feel. (10 deep breaths)

Mind Over Emotions

What we think about can change how we feel.

Coach Yourself

Try and correct your technique without a teacher. Practice mindfully.

Train As If It Were Real

Pretend that class drills are a real self defense situation and train with intensity and seriousness.

Healthy Competition

Look around the class and compare yourself with the other students. Ask yourself if you are doing better or worse than they are.

Rate Yourself On A Scale 1-10

1 being the best and 10 being the worst how did you do today? How did you do with being friendly? Being intense? Listening to the Instructor?

Is Your Guard Up Or Is Your Hand Out?

The next time you find yourself in a hostile environment, I challenge you to resist your first instinct, no matter how strong, and really try to bring a hand of friendship

What Is Maturity?

When someone does something to you, You don’t feel like getting them back

How To Politely Interrupt An Adult In Conversation

Place your hand on their shoulder and wait for them to acknowledge you. They will finish their conversation first then speak to you. Be patient.

Be Friendly On Purpose

Be first to introduce yourself or talk to someone. Don’t wait for them to approach you. If you wait you are friendly on accident not on purpose.

Being Loyal To Those Not Present

Don't say mean things about your friends when they are not around.

You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression

It's important to smile, have eye contact, and be polite when meeting someone new.

Keeping Promises

When we keep our commitment to an activity, team or individual, others will trust us

Having Fun Vs. Being Funny

Having fun – Things that make you smile and happy. (Okay to be smiling in class)

Being Funny – Trying to be the class clown (wanting to make people laugh and pokes fun at the wrong time)

How To Be  A Good Finder

Look for the good in a bad situation and look for the good in people that you meet.

What Are Manners?

Manners means: Kind words and kind ways!

What Is Open Mindedness?

I listen, learn and try before I decide!

What Is Friendship?

Friendship means: We care, share and work together!

What Is Good Sportsmanship?

No matter if we win or lose, we use kind words and follow the rules!

What Is Initiative?

Initiative means: I’m a self starter!

What Is Generosity?

I give to others!

What Is Resilience?

When life pushes me down, I bounce back up!

What Is Compassion?

What Is Self Discipline?

The ability to control themselves and to make themselves work hard or behave in a particular way without needing anyone else to tell them what to do

What Is Leadership?

I am a good example & make great choices – so follow me!

What Is Self Control?

I stop and think before I act!.

What Is Integrity?

I do what’s right even if nobody knows or everyone is watching.

What Is Kindness?

I use caring words and choose kind actions

What Is Self Reliance?

Self reliance means we will “try, try again”, but be willing to ask for help when needed.

What Is Loyalty?

“I’ll stand by you!”

What Is Patience?

Patience means: Waiting without complaining!

What Is Honesty?

Honesty means: I show and tell the truth!

What Is Empathy?

Empathy means: I can imagine how you feel!

What Is Fairness?

When everyone has or receives what they deserve and what they need.

Never Ruin An Apology With An Excuse

He Who Angers You Conquers You

When you let someone make you angry, you’re letting them take control over you.

What Is Trustworthiness?

To be deserving of someone’s complete faith, belief and confidence.

There Is No Better Test Of A Man’s Integrity Than His Behavior When He Is Wrong

Admitting mistakes can be very difficult for our ego and self-image. Admitting you messed up may not always feel good, but can show to others that you are compassionate, empathetic, sympathetic, and a good listener.

It’s Not How We Make Mistakes But How We Correct Them That Defines Us

What really counts isn’t that we make mistakes but the choices that follow those mistakes. Mistakes are bad, no doubt, but not learning from them is worse. The key to learning from mistakes is to admit them without excuses or defensiveness, rub your nose in them a little, and make the changes you need to make to grow going forward. If you can’t admit your mistakes, you won’t grow.

If You Always Tell The Truth You Won’t Have To Remember Anything

It means that if you lie, you spend all of your time trying to remember what lie you told.

Maintaining a lie requires you to never forget what you said. It causes ordinary conversations to be stressful. It gets even harder if you have to remember which people were told the truth, and if you told different lies to different people. One lie also leads to others as people ask for details.

Our Character Is What We Do When No One Is Watching

This is doing the right thing all the time, even when it might cause you hardship.

Decide Ahead Of Time, I Will Not Cheat, Steal Or Lie

If you decide ahead of time, then when the time comes in real life and there is peer pressure you will already know what the right course of action is.

You Learn More Through Failure Than Success

Coming back from failure teaches resilience, and resilience is the one quality all successful people have in common.

Focus On Your Past Success

Stay focused on your past successes rather than your past failures.

Communicate With Confidence

Fake It Till You Make It

Pretend like you already know something. If you feel a certain way, you will act that certain way.

Filters Of Insecurity

Your level of confidence will determine how you interpret comments.

I Just Wipe It Off

I don’t care what you say to me because I JUST WIPE IT OFF, while making a gesture with her hand like you would if a spider was on your shoulder.

Sometimes You Win Sometimes You Learn

It's okay if you lose. You can learn a lot from not winning.

A habit is a regularly repeated behavior pattern that you continue until it becomes a natural part of you. Once a habit has become a part of you, it has become a part of your character.

Everyday Is A Chance To Get Better

Every day you have a new chance to start anew and to become better than yesterday.

What Is Confidence?

I believe in me and you!

What Is A Positive Attitude?

Positive Attitude  means: I look for the good in life!

What Is Optimism?

I look on the bright side!

What Is Being Punctual?

To try your best to be on time. Being considerate of other people's time.

Whatever It Takes Attitude

When Is It Ok To Defend Yourself?

Self defense is always used only as a last resort.

Proactive Vs. Reactive

Proactive means solving problems before they have a chance to appear. Reactive is responding to problems after they have happened.

Crazy Monkey Defense

Look at the bully and think of them as a monkey that is going crazy then say these words”Why would you say something like that?”

Funny Defense

When a bully says something mean to you, respond with a joke.

Focus on solutions, not problems. Don’t feed the drama. Respond, but don’t react.

Tattling Vs. Reporting

Is your goal to get them in trouble or is it to keep them safe because they are doing something dangerous?

When you find yourself getting angry or irritated, simply take a deep breath and say, “I remain calm even in challenging situations.”

How To Be An Upstander

5 Rules Of Personal Safety