#2. Andy Smallman

Andy Smallman was the director of the school that I went to for high school and I can honestly say that he is one of the people that has helped shape me for the person I am today. I am grateful to get to know him…

According to KidsHealth.org children 6 - 12 years of  age need physical activity to build strength, coordination,  confidence — and to lay the groundwork for a healthy lifestyle.

They're also gaining more control over how active they are.

School-age kids should have many chances to participate in a variety of activities,…

Today we worked with the kids with their mindfulness meditation and breathing meditation.  We keep it fairly simple, to sit, in good posture, and focus on breathing in silently through the nose, and exhaling a little more slowly.   And paying attention to slowing breath.  Keeping mind on the breathing.  …

Hello all you wonderful martial artists.  So thrilled with everything that is happening at the school, such as parents night out, mariners game night and camps.  However, I want to make sure all you little dragons and team tigers know about the "two week challenge".  If you don't know or would like some more information contact me right away, so that you can get rewarded for your respectful accomplishments.  All students are more than welcome to try the…

Living Heros #4

Sabina Leveque

Sabina is kind, persistent, smart, and artsy. I very much hope to someday be very much like her. Sabina was born in Ann Arbor, MI on January 16, 2008. I was right there in the waiting room with my Grandma as she came into the world. By the time she was eight months old, we had moved to Mercer Island. She immeiatley took a liking to art. At school, at home, in the car, she was always doing art. Her pictures plastered the walls of our home, and my…

Ansel Leveque

Living Heros #2

J.C. Leveque

My dad is a great leader, inspiring doctor, and amazing at biking. He is also persitent, hard-working, and smart. My dad went to school in Washington, D.C., and was very good at it. He graduated collage only to go back to school a few years later to get his medical degree. During this time, he married my mom, Thellea, and moved to Michigan. He did a lot of schoolwork and a lot of school. He started out being an average Neroseurgon,…

Hello everybody!  I wanted to share what the after school kids were working on, they are currently involved with a coloring contest.  Everyday there will…

I love this challenge because I have so much to be thankful for and so many people to be thankful for.  I am thankful for my family, I am grateful for my friends,  I am thankful for all that I have and I am grateful for special students.  There is just so much to be grateful for :)!

This year I need to thank a very special person in my life.  She is…

Living hero #1

By Ansel Leveque

On Dixie Noble

My grandma Dixie Noble, is a kind, intellegent, persistient woman. She grew up in a less fortunate family. The family had less money, and her father was very hard on her. Dixie Noble grew up in a small town in Texas called Maybank, with one brother and three sisters. She started out not liking school very much, because she had teachers that demanded a lot of things from her and she was very overwhelmed at the time. Overcoming…

Living hero #1

By Ansel Leveque

On Dixie Noble

My grandma Dixie Noble, is a kind, intellegent, persistient woman. She grew up in a less fortunate family. The family had less money, and her father was very hard on her. Dixie Noble grew up in a small town in Texas called Maybank, with one brother and three sisters. She started out not liking school very much, because she had teachers that demanded a lot of things from her and she was very overwhelmed at the time. Overcoming…

 Thanksgiving and Veteran's Day are coming up this month which means it time to start thinking about the things that we are grateful for.   Every year we challenge you to think about some of the things that you are thankful for.  Here is the research behind gratefulness, as well as our challenge to you.  We will be working on our Gratitude Challenge with the kids during our Veteran's Day Camp on Friday, November 10th. Adults and Teens we encourage you to do a gratitude challenge, as well.…

Our kids are working so hard in our camps.  Not only do they do 3-4 formal martial arts classes per day, but they are also making daily trips to one of our amazing parks on Mercer Island.  They are playing active games, sports, and moving around most of the day.  This kind of activity burns a ton of calories-- plus kids grow so much during the summer, it's sometimes hard to keep up with their caloric needs.  As, parents you want to keep your kids healthy, so I found this link via Cooking…

Register or find out more:    CLICK HERE  or call 206  230-9050

MeLisa Turcott Strongheart is a Master Instructor and owner at Mercer Island Martial…

Persistence:  finish what you start.   Persevere!   Such an important trait to develop.   Here is the worksheet to get kids going with how it works.…

I find the motivation to come to class on any given day comes primarily from seeking greater discipline and control. So when I feel tired and might want to surf the web at home instead of coming in, there’s a reminder that getting up will lead to more long term benefits, including being able to get up easier the next time. Being able to know exactly where my limits are and how to train at full effort are skills I’ve learned in the dojo, and have aided me in life outside as well. Apart from…

    Being a black belt has shown to me the difference between teaching and leading. When I first received the rank, the responsibilities of being a black belt seemed immense. I had this impression that as a leader in the group, I needed to know every form and every kick by heart. It took months of…

My leadership project was done in conjunction with my volunteer effort with the local chapter of the Red Cross. I have been a Red Cross volunteer for almost five years and work in the DST group. This is the group which manages the IT and communication for the Red Cross. As one of the more technical members of the team, I was asked to lead an effort for building out a new communication system…