Loren Broyles

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  • Simple Self-Defense Techniques by Sensei Loren Broyles

    Jun 02, 11

    Here are two simple self-defense tips, a one-minute-read, that could save your life –and/or the life of someone you love.

    Ready?

    1. Eat MINDFULLY. Eating without paying attention causes you to eat the wrong things and/or too much food. Doing either (or both) could, as they say, “take the shine off your shoes.” Heart disease, diabetes, and all sorts of ailments await the person who doesn’t practice mindful eating. Look to the video, below, for for some mindful eating basics (it’s Harvard Professor, Dr. Lilian Cheung, co-author of Savor, Mindful Eating, Mindful Life): The video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emd9q6_o6Z0

    2. The self-defense expert Sanford Strong, author of Strong on Defense, sets forth four survival rules that everyone should know if faced with a dangerous situation or attack:

    • React immediately
    • Resist,
    • Avoid crime scene #2
    • Never give up.

    Want more? (We want you to want more!)

    We are actively recruiting women (mothers and daughters) in our community for an upcoming 2 hour “What I Need to Know About Self-Defense” workshop. If you would like to be on our “Self-Defense Tips” mailing list and/or hear more about our workshops, please contact us here:

    Dragon Martial Arts

    1212 N Pines RD

    Spokane WA 99206

    509-928-5425

    
    
  • A Few Things You Need in Martial Arts

    May 13, 11

    In the martial arts, to make true and worthwhile progress, you would do well to have a few “things.”

    One of those things is patience. Patience means you look at the long-term benefits of steady, consistent training; not too hard and not to easy, but training that’s varied, interesting, and –eventually –both meditative and challenging.

    Another thing is the big picture view. Your martial arts practice should not be limited to –or even predominately on –the mat. The awareness, the calmness, the confidence, should make it’s way off of the mat and into your world.

    “My favorite saying about the martial arts and life is,’My life is my dojo.’” –Tom Callos (www.tomcallos.com)

    And yet another great thing to have is an instructor with a brain and some awareness. It’s a great, great thing to have friends and mentors who have the makings for a full picnic lunch –and it’s a real bummer when you end up hanging out with someone who turns out to have brought the basket, but forgot to pack the sandwiches.

    Oh, and a really wonderful thing to have is a good diet. Without a good diet, the body doesn’t cooperate the way it should and training is never as much fun or as productive as it could (and should) be.

    If you’re considering martial arts classes as a way to have some fun while polishing those “things” that you like most about yourself, consider using the pass you can find here. I like to give new students a good, healthy opportunity to see what the training is like (we always start slow and easy).

    If you have questions, please, call this number 509-928-5425

    
    
  • Self-Defense is Found in the Simple Things by Sensei Loren Broyles

    Mar 29, 11

    I teach self-defense –and self-defense is found in the simplest of things. Kindness, for example; kindness is a beautiful form of self-defense. Good food –and the appreciation of it; there’s a fine, fine kind of self-defense. Oh, and how about love of community? Participation in –and love for –one’s community is a kind of self-defense that’s impossible to put a value on. And my favorite kind of self-defense is found in a simple rule, The Golden Rule:

    Treat others as you would want them to treat you.

    Simply perfect.

    I like Tom Callos’ (www.tomcallos.com) description of self-defense too: “Self-defense isn’t only about personal protection, it’s about taking care of the people around you and the place you live as well.”

    Of course, self-defense training is all you imagined it to be, but with this particular attitude about it, self-defense becomes about living a good life. What a great idea.

    Loren Broyles, Sensei

    Dragon Martial Arts

    509-928-5425

    
    
  • Martial Arts Lessons: It’s Not About Violence by Sensei Loren Broyles

    Mar 11, 11

    Just the other day a parent asked me if she thought my classes promoted violent behavior in young boys. She was inquiring about lessons for her son and was concerned that he and his friends might take what they’re learning and use it inappropriately.

    I thought it was a fine question.

    Yes, there have been a few cases (very few) of students “playing martial arts” with friends, the same way they play as their favorite superheroes, but I’ve never heard of the play being malicious or hurtful. I do, however, hear many stories of my young students using the kind of restraint we talk about in almost every class. I hear many stories of the young people in my program –and other martial arts schools –avoiding violence, avoiding conflict, and staying out of trouble as a result of their training.

    A good martial arts teacher adds instructions and advice about how NOT to use martial arts, as often as he or she teaches the technical aspects of the arts.

    “The ‘cake’ that is what a martial arts teacher offers his or her students,” says Tom Callos (www.tomcallos.com), the National Director of The One Hundred (www.flavors.me/masterteachers), an association made up of martial arts instructors who embrace education over the more media-prevalent aspects of martial arts instruction, “is made up of blocks, punches, kicks, and other maneuvers, But the real “flour” of the recipe is in the restraint, the self-control, and the attitude of self-discipline that makes up the best-of-the-best the martial arts has to offer.”

    And by way of an offer, any reader of this piece that would like to “taste” the cake we produce at our school, need only click this link to receive a  free trial class.

    And no, it is not about violence or aggression or hurting people. The martial arts are about grown-up adults mentoring young people in the ways of non-violence, self-control, and contribution.

    Loren Broyles

    Dragon Martial Arts

    509-928-5425

     

    
    
  • 10 Simple Lessons In Self-Defense, For Girls by Sensei Loren Broyles

    Mar 02, 11

    It’s this simple:  Children defend themselves with their heads. It’s knowledge that protects children in today’s world. Knowledge about safety, about what to avoid, about what to do, where to go, and how to stay out of harm’s way.

    I’m a part of a remarkable association of martial arts teachers, really forward thinking and action-oriented instructors, who come together almost every day to move worthwhile projects forward. The group is called The One Hundred, it’s headed by a 6th degree black belt named Tom Callos (www.tomcallos.com).

    The One Hundred, all of us, work on things that are, literally, “good for the world.” Like we’re bringing diabetes education to martial arts schools and anger management training and environmental self-defense programs. This week we launched a very simple, but powerful website to help girls (young women) learn about a kind of self-defense made just for today’s world.

    The site, still being added to and polished, is www.flavors.me/10Lessons. Check it out.

    And if you know a young person who could use some self-defense instruction, send them our way. Tell us you visited our 10 Lessons site and we’ll give you an introductory program, for free –and one thing you will NEVER get at a school in The One Hundred, is a “sales pitch.” We don’t sell over the counter, we sell by engaging in and delivering extraordinary work.

    SpokaneDragonMartialArts.com

    http://www.facebook.com/Sensei.Loren.Broyles

    
    
  • Children’s Classes in Martial Arts, What to Expect by Sensei Loren Broyles

    Feb 17, 11

    Expect there to be one or more experienced teachers on the floor in your child’s class. Expect the teacher to, at times, appear to have the patience of Job. Expect a bit more, Oh how shall we say it? ENERGY, every so often. Expect the teacher, whether gently guiding everyone along or cranking up the troops, to wear a smile (a happy one!).

    Expect a lot of talk about respect, about leadership, about good manners, about anger, about a whole bunch of things just about any parent would love to hear some OTHER adult talking to them about. That’s the way we do it.

    “I haven’t been a ‘karate kid’ for some time, like decades, but the experience is still in my mind like it happened yesterday. Parents, enroll your child in a good martial arts school. You’ll never regret it — and your children will never forget it.” — Tom Callos, www.tomcallos.com
    
    Expect a lot of good-sleep-inducing exercise. And expect some special events, as one of our primary goals is to teach our students to take what they practice on the mat and apply it to other things (like school, like work, like fun, and — to the community).

    Expect to look back on your son or daughters martial arts lessons with great pleasure and fond memories. Expect, genuinely, some very good times.

    For a free trial program and mark my words here, there’s no “hook” or sales pitch in this offer. This is simply a way for you to test drive our school, before ever THINKING about enrollment. Click here or contact us at: SpokaneDragonMartialArts.com 509-928-5425

    
    
  • Advice for Men and Women over the age of 40, Thinking About Taking Martial Arts Classes

    Feb 07, 11

    First, take it slow. No, really. There’s no hurry, it’s not a competition, and you’re not 20 anymore (even though you look like it). Going too hard, too fast, is why a lot of people who would like to enjoy all the benefits of training, no longer practice the martial arts (or any number of activities). Go too fast, get injured; get injured, quit training.

    Second, if the instructor is your age (or older), that’s a good thing. If he or she is younger, make sure they know who’s the boss (you!). You only do what your body says you can do. If and when a class moves into an area you, for sure, want to avoid, you can always find an alternative way to stay engaged. What you shouldn’t do is “100 reps” when your body is telling you the 50 would be wise. Trust me, your teacher will appreciate your input. Give yourself enough time and you will not only keep up with the group, you might be leading it!

    Be consistent. Being inconsistent about class attendance can dampen the fire of your enthusiasm. Stay on course!

    Try out the class you’re interested, first, before enrolling. There’s nothing wrong with trying a week or even two weeks of classes with an instructor you’re interested in studying with. Most all schools will provide you with an introductory or trial course, without a fee (if you like classes, they’re going to know you for a long, long time). If a school doesn’t offer an introductory, it’s a red flag to enrollment.

    By the way, click  here to receive a free introductory course to our school, good for you and up to 5 family and/or friends.

    Tom Callos, 51 years of age and a 40 year veteran of martial arts practice (see his bio at www.tomcallos.com) offers the following advice:

    “Don’t hesitate to enroll in martial arts classes,” says Callos. “It’s a wonderful, thorough, and engaging form of exercise. Just be mindful about the way you practice. Study some of the history of the art you engage in. Enjoy the process of improvement.”

    That’s good advice and that is why I have been training in Martial Arts for over 30 years, because it’s fun and I enjoy it.  I’ve tried gym memberships in the past and I had to exert every ounce of self-discipline to force myself to go.  But with Martial Arts I can’t wait to get on the training floor!

    Loren Broyles

    Spokane Dragon Martial Arts

    509-928-5425

     

     

    
    
  • Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Karate, Taekwondo, or Jiu-jitsu, which is Best?

    Feb 01, 11

    This is an article full of shopping advice. If you’re shopping for a martial arts school, for training, then you’ve come to the right place.

    Here are three pieces of advice for you, regardless of the kind of martial arts you might be interested in:

    • It’s the teacher that makes the “style,” not the other way around. Look for a coach you respect, look for a teacher you feel you have rapport with. If a martial arts teacher treats you poorly, leave. If he or she treats you with respect, you might be in the right place.
    • Find a teacher that has a kind of training that speaks to the kind of training you like to do (or think you would like to do). If the class is too easy or too slow for you, say so. If it’s too hard core, consider finding another teacher (or at least address the issue with the instructor). Some teachers will use apparatus to train, some will only need mats or mirrors or a hardwood floor. If you have the luxury of choices, then choose a kind of training that fits your fitness level and interests.
    • Every good school offers and introductory program that allows prospective students to try classes before they enroll. If a school does not offer a free trial class or classes, don’t enroll.

    (Note: call this phone number to get a free trial program at our school: 509-928-5425).

    In the end, in today’s world, most martial arts teach many of the same things. Remember however, it’s not “the martial art” that teaches you, it’s the teacher. Look to his or her experience and demeanor before you look at the style.

    Loren Broyles
    Spokane Dragon Martial Arts
    509-928-5425

    
    
  • Mom, Dad, Here’s The Honest Truth About The Martial Arts for Your Child, Age 5 to 13. Written by Tom Callos of www.TomCallos.com for Loren Broyles Sensei

    Jan 30, 11

    I took my first martial arts lesson at age 9. By the age of 13, when my friends were experimenting, when peer pressure seemed at an all time high, when I just knew my brain power had far surpassed my father’s, and when I couldn’t pass any reflective surface without gazing in wonder at what it beheld, I was firmly and deeply entrenched in my identity as a martial artist.

    The classes anchored me, in fact, they were just about the only place where I could stand completely still for any extended period of time (except, of course, if front of the TV). The instructors emphasized respect, courtesy, and a code of honor that nobody else I knew seemed to care about. For me, that was good. It made me feel unique.

    In a good martial arts school, your child will feel like a part of “the team.” And this team, if they’re good at what they do, will have daily talks about compassion, about respect for self and others, about kindness, and about non-violent conflict resolution.

    But equally as good as the philosophy can be is the fact that your little one will be training, as in legs flying, rolling, punching, blocking, jumping, and spinning. Each maneuver has an effect on your child’s brain and, of course, their body. When I watch the young people in my classes doing what we do, I always think about how good it is that they’re here, doing something so constructive and positive.

    I also reflect back to when I was a child –and that’s usually followed by a silent “thank you” to my parents.

    Football, soccer, baseball, tennis, and guitar were all fun, but not one of them affected me as my martial arts lessons have. If you’re a parent, I would highly recommend enrolling your child in a good school –and you might even consider some classes for yourself.
    By the way, I’m 51 now –and the martial arts are STILL keeping me out of trouble.

    Here’s a guest pass for the family: Just call Loren Broyles at Dragon Martial Arts 509-928-5425 and mention this Bolg

    
    
  • 10 Tips for Martial Arts Students to Deepen Your Practice

    Jan 26, 11

    By Tom Callos for Loren Broyles & Dragon Martial Arts

    You didn’t start your study of the martial arts to “go through the motions” of it all, did you? Of course you didn’t, but look around you in your next class and I’ll bet you spot a number of your classmates doing that very thing, going through the motions. It’s human nature to get distracted, to multi-task, and wander off course.

    To deepen and strengthen your practice so that you stay on the mark and make reasonable progress, I offer you these 10 time-tested, Tom-tested tips:

    1. As often as you can remember to do so, say to yourself “I am aware that I am training” (kicking, punching grappling, or whatever it is you’re doing at the moment). For me, that never fails to get my head out of the clouds and back into my practice (I am aware that I am writing this!).

    2. Use a training partner (or partners) to hold you accountable to more intense, more focused, and more “present” practice. Friends are a good thing.

    3. Eat better food before and after ever class (and, of course, that translates into ALL THE TIME). If you’re body’s jammed full of food-delivered chemicals, cups of corn-syrup, and crates full of unnecessary carbs or fats, you’re going to find you don’t function like the well-oiled machine you’re supposed to be. Contrary to the way a lot of people live their lives, what you eat IS important to your performance. In fact, what you eat IS self-defense.

    4. Breath deeply, focus on breathing deeply, think about breathing deeply, and maybe, if you have a habit of forgetting, write “BREATH DEEPLY” on the backside of your hand. To see just how much this helps you, do it. You’ll feel the benefits right away.

    5. Take your practice off of the mat. Courtesy and respect for others isn’t something that’s practiced in the school with people you’re semi-afraid of. It’s for that ding-dong at the supermarket (you can tell what someone is made of by how they treat the people that mean nothing to them). It’s for your Mom, who sometimes bugs you in a big way. It’s for the substitute teacher (yes, even for him/her).

    6. Practice at home, a minimum of 10 minutes a day on the days you don’t attend classes. Little things add up, so even 10 minutes of practice can help you grow. Oh, and if you don’t think 10 minutes matters, try to hold your side-kick out out for 10 minutes or try and hold your breath for 10 minutes. Yeah.

    7. Read age-appropriate philosophy. Champions, whether in science, baseball, chess, jiu-jitsu, or cross-country skiing, all have belief systems that make them rise above hardship and overcome obstacles. They all learn to cope with defeat –and victory. Reading the words of someone with experience can be the next best thing to talking with them face-to-face.

    8. Go crazy. Yes, act in a way that most people would consider very odd indeed. For example, when things start getting really hard, you pretend they’re getting easier. Crazy! When everyone else complains — and for good reasons too, you find the good in the situation and jump up to be the first person to turn whatever is wrong, right. Insane! When everyone else quits, you stick to it! You’re a nut!

    Actually, you’re a martial artist.
    9. Measure your own personal performance on a scale between 1 and 10, with “1” being your worst performance — and “10” being an all out, focused, beautiful-to-behold effort. Try to operate as close to level 10 as you can during your classes (whether you’re standing still or doing difficult maneuvers). And while you’re at it, try to LIVE at level 10, whenever possible. It’s a good thing.

    10. I hate to drop this one on you last, as it’s a bit of a let-down after all this glorious focus on you and yours, but maybe the best way to deepen your own practice of the martial arts is to help other deepen theirs. Yes, that’s right, in the end, it’s not about you at all. Funny how it always works out that way.

    Tom Callos

    About the Author: Tom Callos’ bio and project portfolio may be read at www.tomcallos.com

    
    
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