I Want to Hear from You!

As a teacher, I am here always for your kids, planning curriculums, and teaching lessons that will help them through these challenging times. My main priority is to keep our kids both SAFE and SANE during these crazy times.

Parents I want to hear from you …

What can I do to make things even better (from your perspective)? Another class? Different times? Another location? Online training? Sunday training? I am open to any suggestions that will help YOU and the Kids.

Your feedback would be much appreciated, just email your suggestions to me before the end of the week em@fight-club.ca

Here is the Youth Schedule of Classes for the month of October.

Wednesday 

Outdoor Youth Training 6-6:45 pm

Saturday 

Outdoor Youth Training 10-10:45 am

* I am encouraging the older kids to come to the Tuesday & Thursday Adult Outdoor training sessions at East York Collegiate. It might seem a little scary at first for them, but I know they will get a lot out of the experience. Please try to encourage them to attend. If that doesn’t work then just come to the Wednesday and Saturday classes.

Look forward to seeing you on the field!

Keeping Kids Safe and Sane

Hey FC Parents & Kids,

As I’m sure you all have heard by now the Ontario Provincial Government has closed all indoor fitness faculties for the next 30 days. Unfortunately, that means the schedule needs to change once again.

Here is the new Youth Schedule of Classes;

Wednesday 

Outdoor Youth Training 6-7 pm

Saturday 

Outdoor Youth Training 10-10:45 am 

* I am encouraging the older kids to come to the Tuesday & Thursday Adult Outdoor training sessions at East York Collegiate. It might seem a little scary at first for them, but I know they will get a lot out of the experience. Please try to encourage them to attend. If that doesn’t work then just come to the Wednesday and Saturday classes.

Rule, restrictions, and classifications are grey areas these days and things seem to be changing weekly, so stay tuned for more updates. My main priority is to keep our kids both SAFE and SANE during these crazy times. I hope you know I’m trying my best to make both possible.

Look forward to seeing you on the field!

Being Dedicated

All dedicated athletes get inspired, but not all athletes dedicated. Being dedicated is “staying the course” amid the storms of uncertainty. It’s not about disciple or motivation. Some people are inspired for a few minutes or days, motivated for a few days or months, yet dedicated for a lifetime. Dedication is the devotion to a certain way, the lifestyle, in order to make the most out of oneself. I know (and expect) that kids will struggle with dedication, but when they do please remind them of its importance.

To me, being dedicated is that spiritual space that embraces failures, fatigue, setbacks, mistakes, frustrations, suffering, sacrifice on the journey of being the best you can be!

Systema has provided me a lifetime of ‘gifts’; dedication has been the greatest one. I hope that with every class your kids attend at FightClub they find the same gift.

See you at FightClub,

Self-Talk & Imagery

“We must learn to not listen to the malignant sounds of negativity”

This noise can come from others in our lives as well as from the inner voice developed from society’s messages. Such self-talk deeply influences self-esteem and the way we perceive or see ourselves – that is, self-image. I have learned this from champions; No matter how good you feel about yourself, the malignant sounds will penetrate your nervous system and dictate the road you travel, Unless they are short-circuited by strong, positive opposing messages.

I know this and take specific steps in each class I teach to stay on track when negative self-talk and images make their entry into the minds and hearts of the kids that train at FightClub. I do this by not forcing the negative self-talk and images away, but by substituting upbeat words and phrases that support each student.

“You should exercise unrelenting discipline over your thought patterns. Cultivate only productive attitudes … You are a product of everything you put in your body and mind”

I’ve always tried to communicate to the kids that ‘Thoughts are Things’. During these negative times, it’s even more important that parents and teachers alike build strong self-talk ad imagery with every interaction.

I will be talking to the kids about this a lot this week and much more …

See you at FC!

emmanuel

The Still Point

I help all my students find ways of quieting their minds. There are many ways of calming the body, quieting the mind, and settling the nervous system. This state of mind is called “The Still Point”, a place of inner quiet and peace. Great champions train to find this place, which raises awareness, makes movement effortless, and confidence robust. Kids need to be taught how to get to this place. It is difficult, but as a teacher, I’m up to the challenge. 

COVID-19 is here and will be for some time, this I cannot control. But parents and teachers alike must find ways of giving kids positive energy, relaxed intensity, and the courage to thrust onward through these challenging times.

Here is a little tip to help kids (and parents too) find their ‘Still Point’

1. Breath Slowly In and Out – Image the breath going to all parts of the body

2. Repeat the process 10+ times – You should feel yourself relaxing with each breath

3. Visualize images of success and say positive words of affirmation

It sounds simple, and it is … Have the kids try this before and after school this week!

In this week’s youth classes I will be focusing on helping all the kids ‘feel and find’ their Still Point. See you on the mats …

emmauel