Story from FOX News...

What Calysta did right:

She fought back. I’m the first one to say that a kid has a slim chance of defeating a larger assailant in a physical encounter, but fighting back always increases the odds of survival.

She picked the right time to escape and said all the right things when she made her move. Instead of yelling help, Calysta ran into a convenience store and yelled that the man with her was not her father. That attracted the attention of people who could help her.

She paid attention to what she had been taught. Too often kids are placed in perfunctory self-defense sessions in school or elsewhere and the advice simply goes in one ear and out the other. Calysta retained what she had been taught, particularly by her mother and did all the right things when the time came to act.

It is always my hope that the self-defense training we give kids at the Black Belt Mindset Institute will never be used. It is still important that children know the dangers they may face in today’s world and know how to react. There is nothing you can do for your child that is any more important than enrolling in a good martial arts program; for self-defense and for the values of respect, practice and self-confidence that your child will use in every aspect of life.

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Not just for kids!

FREE karate classes for adults now through the end of February at the Black Belt Mindset Institute in Brunswick, Maine! Call 721-0299 for details TODAY!

Now through February, FREE martial arts classes for adults at Northern Chi Martial Arts Center at the Black Belt Mindset Institute in Brunswick, Maine!

PLUS…for every class you attend now through February, you earn a chance for great bonus prizes including:

• Full ONE YEAR adult program!
• Discounts on full year programs!
• Uniforms & martial arts shoes!
• Signed copy of THINK Like a BLACK BELT!

Forget about resolutions…this year strap on your belt and get to work! We’ll help you reach all your fitness and personal development goals!

Call 721-0299 today…

…or drop by our Brunswick center at 25 Stanwood Street, across from Brunswick Home & Garden.

DON’T WAIT! Every class you attend gives you another chance to win our great prizes!

*New adult students only. Cannot be combined with other offers. Offer expires February 28, 2012…

Noon ET on THINK Like a BLACK BELT: The Show, and on demand at your convenience!

September is National Self-Improvement Month and International THINK Like a BLACK BELT Month!

What is the best time to start your journey to self-improvement? The answer to that question is always “now!” And the journey never ends!

“Perfection is not a destination; it’s a never-ending process!”

Martial artists know that every moment is an opportunity for self-improvement and that the process is ongoing. Improving your Self is the least selfish thing you can do. Improve yourself and you become a greater resource and add value to everyone in your life at work, in your community and at home.

While kicking and punching are a lot of fun, it is the personal development aspect that first attracted me to martial arts and that’s what has kept me interested in nearly 30 years of practice. Martial arts provided a way for me to develop confidence and courage and to cultivate and expand my potential. Over time, I learned that the real secrets of the arts had nothing to do with punching and kicking…it has to do with thinking.

That’s how I developed my concept of Black Belt Mindset. You can learn to THINK Like a BLACK BELT whether you want to kick or punch or not. You don’t have to become a black belt to think like one…

…but it’s a great way to do it!

If you’ve been thinking about starting a martial arts program or providing one for someone you care about, there is no better time than right now. Why wait to become more disciplined, focused and confident? It takes time to reach your full potential. Why wait one more day?

International THINK Like a BLACK BELT SPECIALS!

• $100 off our 3 Month Introductory Special!
• An additional $200 off ANY regular program!
• FREE Uniform & Shoes!
• FREE signed copy of THINK Like a BLACK BELT!

“As society has advanced, our brains have changed” says Susan Gabbard, Director of Fine Arts at Oklahoma City schools. This change is apparently not for the better. For children to expand imagination, Gabbard says they’ve got to be nourished in an environment that encourages creativity.

Martial arts provides that environment. In a well-rounded martial arts program, children are constantly problem solving, imagining and solving scenarios, and expressing themselves through thought and movement.

Some people see the discipline of the dojo as the antithesis to creativity; nothing could be farther from the truth. Discipline is the foundation for encouraging creative thought and gives children (and adults) the tools necessary for creative expression. Creative thought is a discipline; it’s an ability that must be practiced and encouraged to expand and develop. Discipline, taught properly, not restrictive — it’s liberating.

In our society we’ve devolved to a culture of enabling. With best intentions we try to make the learning experience easier and less painful. We try to shield children from failure and protect them from pressure and stress. We allow them to use electronic gadgets that provide answers rather than teaching reflection and introspection as a way to find solutions.

A quality martial arts program teaches through problem solving. We teach by challenging students and giving them the opportunity to expand their potential. We expose students to the reality that life is not always easy and encourage them to develop the strength, confidence and courage to face challenges and solve problems.

For many reasons, a martial arts program may be the most important investment you can make in your child’s life. Encouraging your child’s creative development is one of the best reasons to enroll your child today!

The creativity deficit in children as reported on FOX News...

 NOW through August 19th…Save 50% on ANY program at the Black Belt Mindset Institute at Northern Chi Martial Arts Center! You can enroll today and start later! In Maine call 207-721-0299 TODAY!

*For new students only. Cannot be combined with other discounts.

What do your kids need for school? New shoes, pencils & pens, maybe a larger backpack to accommodate the additional books he or she will be carrying in the next grade.

Ever since the first humans started scratching pictures on cave walls and telling stories, we’ve been looking for the latest and greatest innovations to make the learning process more exciting, efficient and enjoyable. However, some things never change and if you want your young students to make the most of school this year there are some essentials they’d better be carrying — and these don’t go in their backpacks.

Don’t even think about sending your kids to school without these important items:

• Self-confidence
• Motivation
• Good learning attitude
• Respect
• Discipline
• Focus

First, I make a couple of assumptions. Because I’m dealing with terrific people at the Black Belt Mindset Institute at Northern Chi, I assume that if the police are asking you questions it’s because you were right and the other party was wrong. It’s also likely that the person you defended yourself against is a criminal of some sort; of course, you’re not.

Good people want to do the right thing. It’s natural for you to want to tell your story and get this whole thing over with quickly. It’s also natural for you to think that because you’re not a criminal and you’re in the right that everything will work out. After all, the truth can never hurt you, right?

The fact is you’re probably more nervous and scared in this situation than the criminal that attacked you. The assailant may have already been in this situation and may know from experience to keep his mouth shut. You may simply be doing your best to help the police.

Don’t…or to put it in a more positive light, you’ll be helping the police a lot more by keeping your mouth shut.

Police officers are by and large honest and hard working people. They risk their lives every day to protect and serve their communities. Their job is not to ruin your life, but to get to the truth and restore the balance of justice and preserve public safety. They would much rather have you give a clear, accurate statement than to have to untangle a mess of contradictions caused by stress.

Exposed to the stress of a crime scene, you may, with best intentions, say things that will later incriminate you rather than solidifying the case against your attacker. Of course if you’ve just been hit over the head and your attacker is running away, there is no problem telling the police where he ran to and what he looked like. On the other hand, if when police arrive you’re standing over the unconscious body of the attacker who you just knocked out with a well placed elbow to the temple…well; imagine what this looks like to the officers.

Keep your mouth shut other than a polite yes sir, no m’am and “I’d like to talk with my attorney.”

I’m a regular contributor to Primer magazine, a tremendous online resource for “post-college men.” They recently posted a very informative article and video that validates my advice. Watch the video in it’s entirety as a seasoned law professor and a veteran police officer explain the reasons you should “lawyer up” any time you’re involved in a crime…even if you’re right!

Click here for full story & video!

From our friend Dennis McClellan at DC Press…

I visited Alex after an operation as he was recovering at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center. He was always in great spirits and displayed courage and stamina that people many times his age would envy.

I was saddened to just hear of Alex’s passing. I feel blessed to have known him and his remarkable family for even a short time.

Here’s an article from the Times Record about Alex and his legacy…