Dream in December - 2018

Mixed Martial Arts Belt Test: Thursday December 13 during your regularly scheduled Thursday class time. Dream does not charge belt-testing fees.

Promotion Ceremony: Saturday December 15 during your regularly scheduled Saturday class time.

Holiday Brunch: Saturday December 15 after your age group’s ceremony.

Holiday Break: Dream will be closed December 24-January 1

The Moral of the Month of December is gratitude. Our Family Fun and Gratitude event on November 24th was a great kick-off for gratitude awareness. Thank you to all students, caretakers and family members came out and participated.

By bringing our attention to what we are thankful for rather than what we lack or are missing can lead to greater contentment, health and satisfaction in our lives. Studies have shown that kids who practice grateful thinking show more resiliency and have more positive attitudes toward school and family.

Gratitude strengthens relationships; when we reflect on who and what we are grateful for we realize how much the people in our lives value, care for and love us.

Below are some talking points that we will be touching upon in classes. We invite you to reinforce these lessons at home with your children.

• We have so much to be grateful for! Shelter, food, clean water, our families and friends. The shoes on our feet!

• Anytime is a good time to count our blessings. Talk with your child about the things you are grateful for and ask them to name three things that they are thankful for. This is a nice bedtime activity!

• Tell your kids why you are grateful that they are in your life.

• Encourage them to express gratitude to others. It might be writing a thank you note or simply saying thank you for a kind gesture.

Article about gratitude in kids: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/grateful_schools_happy_schools

Dream In November - 2018

Dream Mini Camp!

There are still spots available for our Martial Arts and Nature-based Mini Camp on Thursday Nov. 8 and Nov. 9. Schools are closed during the teacher’s convention so come join us! Camp hours are 9AM-3PM for ages 6-10. After Care is available Click here to register.

Closings And Announcements:

We are closed Wed. 11/21 – Fri. 11/23

Saturday 11/24 we are having our Family Fun and Gratitude Event during regularly scheduled classes. Grown ups will be invited on to the mats to train and play. You will receive an email with more information and to RSVP. It’s a wonderful bonding moment you and your kids will love. Hope to see you there.

Next MMA Belt Test Thursday Dec. 13

Promotion Ceremony and Holiday Brunch Saturday December 15

Moral of the Month: Patience

In a world of instant gratification, it can be difficult to cultivate and embody patience. Patience is vital to achieve goals and overcome obstacles.

Establishing patience in our children returns huge dividends not only in their life and future but also in making our lives as parents easier!  No one is born patient; it is a skill that must be developed.

We will talk to students about short-term and long-term patience. We will ask them to make a point to sit patiently while they are waiting for their meal or their turn with toys. We will talk to them about the patience required to achieve a long-term goal such as earning a black belt.

If your child demonstrates patience, please let us know so we can recognize him/her in class.

Put it into practice:

1. Model Patience

The best way to develop patience in our kids is to model it for them. I wish there was an easier way! Can we breath and wait patiently while they take forever to get their shoes on or unbuckle themselves from their seat? Can we slow down on the road or remain mindful when we must wait in line? Show them what patience looks like!

2. Start small

Challenge your children to wait patiently for food, drink or whatever it is they are requesting.  If you are in the middle of a conversation ask them to wait rather than allowing them to interrupt. Remind them that this is what we are working on at Dream and that if they can be patient they can talk about it in class and maybe get a sticker!

3. Acknowledge Patience

Look for opportunities to point out when they are practicing patience. Also, when you are being impatient point it out to show them that it is something that you are working on as well. Patience requires effort and dedication.

Good article about the importance of patience: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/250211

Dream in October - 2018

DREAM is closed Monday October 8. All classes are cancelled.

Theme of the Month: Discipline

Discipline is a fundamental building block of a martial arts practice. We define discipline as doing something beneficial that moves us towards our goals even if we don’t feel like it. Alternatively, discipline is also choosing NOT to do something that doesn’t benefits us or impedes progress towards goals.

Everything from the way we address instructors and fellow students to the way we drill techniques involves a sense of discipline. Repetitive positive action builds positive habits that benefit every aspect of our students’ lives both on the mats and in everyday life.

Here are ways you can cultivate a sense of discipline:

Reward/recognize self-discipline. Did your child exercise self-restraint? Recognize it no matter how small it may seem, simply with a kind word of encouragement and a hug.

Rewards can come in the form of an allowance, but non-monetary rewards can prove even more effective. Anything from 30 more minutes of playtime to an extra book at bedtime can reinforce positive behavior.

Build in some downtime. Exercising self-control takes energy! Make sure your child has an opportunity for free time to play before moving onto the next objective.

Structure a clear routine. Establish concrete expectations and a schedule for your child around any number of activities or phases of the day from getting ready for school to completing homework. Following routines build habits!

Dream in September - 2018

Thursday September 20: MMA Test day: Mixed Martial Arts students will be tested during regular class times. We no longer charge a fee for testing. There is no testing for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

Thursday September 27: MMA Promotion Ceremony: Each age group will have their promotion ceremony during regularly scheduled classes.

Theme of the month: Wisdom (Third Moral of the Dojo)

Wisdom is a virtue that can be difficult to explain or define. It is more than knowledge or book learning. Nor will experience alone impart wisdom. Only when we reflect on our experiences are we able to gain wisdom.

This month we will talk to students about the importance of taking time for reflection and contemplation. What did we learn from our experiences? How did we react to difficulties? We will encourage them to take time to unplug from distractions to sit quietly. Our mindful meditation practices that we learn in class will serve as our foundation.

Wisdom means seeing the whole picture, not looking at situations in black and white terms. Most situations, especially those involving human behavior, are nuanced. Putting yourself in the other person’s shoes to understand their choices can build wisdom and empathy. 

Included in our lessons about wisdom we will discuss the importance of showing respect to elders. When an older person walks in to a room, go to them and greet them. Look them in the eye and say hello to an older person first, don’t wait for them to greet you.

Morals of the Dojo: 1. Respect 2. Perseverance 3. Wisdom 4. Discipline 5. Patience 6. Gratitude 

Dream in August - 2018

PLEASE NOTE! DREAM IS GOING ON SUMMER BREAK

The school will be closed August 27-September 3. Our normal class schedule will resume on Tuesday, September 4.

Theme of the month: Perseverance

Perseverance is the continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. 

At Dream we talk about how perseverance is needed not only to get through tough times but also to achieve our goals and accomplish great things. At some point in our Martial Arts journeys we will need perseverance to push us through moments when we want to give up or quit.  

Here are some ways for you to reinforce lessons about perseverance at home:

- Encourage them. Don’t reward or congratulate your child only for achievement. Recognize effort and perseverance as well.

- Talk to your children about times when you needed perseverance to accomplish a difficult task. We don’t often tell our children about our failures, so children sometimes think that success comes with ease.

- Be clear. Tell them that Martial Arts and obtaining the rank of black belt is not easy. Struggle and challenges are inevitable. Knowing that they are meant to struggle makes it much easier to deal with.

- Be there for them when they do struggle or fail. Provide support, help them evaluate why things weren't successful, and guide them in determining how to try again.

Dream in July - 2018

Greetings Dream Team,

Summer is here and the time is right to keep training and learning.

We are closed Wednesday July 4 for Independence Day.

July we begin the second half of the calendar year with new morals of the dojo. Each moral will provide us with a theme for the month.

1. Respect 2. Perseverance 3. Wisdom 4. Discipline 5. Patience 6. Gratitude

We decided to keep respect as the first moral because it is a fundamental part of martial arts training. We often tell our students that a dojo cannot function without mutual respect between all parties.

We cannot train martial arts by ourselves; we need our training partners. We must strive to be somebody who our training partners look forward to seeing in class and the way we do that is by treating one another with kindness and respect.

Respectful behavior is severely lacking in our culture right now. Even those who hold the highest positions in government, entertainment and sports are not modeling respectful behavior for young people. To be dismissive and disrespectful is moving towards becoming normal. To stem that tide we focus on respect at Dream and hope to instill respectful behavior in our students. If your child does something that demonstrates respect please let us know so we can recognize him/her in class.

There are different facets of respect that we will discuss with the students. Respect for others, self-respect and respect for property/places.

There is still time to join us for Summer Camp.

Camp runs from 9am-3PM. Before and after care is available. Here is schedule:

Ages 9yrs-11yrs

July 16-20

July 23-27

Ages 6yrs-8yrs

July 30-August 3

August 6-10

Dream in June - 2018

Greetings parents and students,

June is a big month at Dream and we are excited and grateful that you are a part of our community!

Below are the happenings for this month:

Thursday June 7: Test day: MMA students will be tested during regular class times.  If your child attends class regularly, he/she will have no problem passing the test. We have been reviewing the techniques they will be tested on during class for the last couple of weeks and will continue to do so until test day. We do not charge a fee for testing. There is no testing for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

Tuesday June 12: Dream One Year Anniversary Celebration: Dream turns ONE! The last year has been amazing! Seeing our students on the mats is like having our hopes and dreams unfold in reality before our eyes! On Tuesday June 12 please come in and celebrate, we will have light hors devours and refreshments. 

Anniversary offer for new students in June: First month of unlimited training only $49!

Thursday June 14: Promotion Ceremony: Each age group will have their promotion ceremony during regularly scheduled classes.

The theme for the month of June is Awareness, one of the foundational morals for all of our character development lessons.

How can we be kind if we are not aware that someone is in need of kindness?

How can we be grateful if we don’t bring awareness to the things that deserve our gratitude?

How can we be courageous if we don’t first confront the fact that we feel fear and bring our awareness to the sensations of fear in our bodies?

Our mindfulness practice is our greatest tool for boosting our present moment awareness. In the domain of personal safety, where things unfold quickly and seconds are often the difference between life and death, how we direct our attention is paramount. By being aware we can detect potentially dangerous situations and avoid them before they are a threat to our safety. Mindfulness can also put us more in touch with our thoughts and feelings so that we are better able to deal with stressful situations.

There are many ways we can work our awareness muscle. The first is simply to notice… sounds, smells, sights… when you step outside notice and point out bird song, the direction from which the wind is blowing or anything happening in your environment.

Play is the best way to get your child’s attention and help them work on their observational/awareness skills. To play, when you go into a business, make note of a few things about your environment: the number of workers behind the counter, the clothing and gender of the person sitting next to you, how many entry/exits there are, etc. When you leave and get into the car to head home, ask your kids questions like “How many workers were behind the counter?” “Was the person sitting next to us a man or a woman?” “What color was his/her shirt?” “How many exits were there?”

Besides keeping us safe, mindfulness/awareness has been proven to boost creativity and empathy and reduce stress.

OSS

Dream in May - 2018

Greetings students and parents!

This month, we are focusing on the 5th moral of the dojo: community. I have been lucky enough to travel the globe pursuing my passion for the martial arts. I owe so much to the martial arts community, my teachers, my training partners, and my students, when it comes to my growth as a martial artist.

As a New Jersey native, I knew I wanted to come home to the community that raised me, open Dream Martial Arts, and share my experiences and lessons learned. It is my goal to build a true community within our school. And, if you are reading this email, you are on the Dream Team!

All are welcome on the Dream Team, but it does come with some responsibilities!

• We all need to support one another on and off the mats.

• If you see someone struggling with a technique or having a hard time with something at home, take the opportunity to lend a hand, to build them up.

• Time is the most valuable gift you can give. Find ways to serve your community through volunteering or even helping someone in your neighborhood. No improvement is too small!

• We are all on the Dream Team! Extend your sense of community to your family, friends, and acquaintances. The stronger our community, the stronger we are as individuals.

PLEAE NOTE: We are closed Saturday May 26 and Monday May 28 for Memorial Day Weekend.

Spots are still available for our Summer Camp. May 21 is the deadline for early bird prices. To register for summer camp click here.

We are also offering before and after care for summer camp, click here.

Thank you and see you at Dream!