Living Lessons

Living Lessons on USAdojo.com offers wisdom for everyday life.

Sensei Ryan Speaks Out

Sensei Ryan Speaks Out About Inspiration

Sensei Ryan Speaks Out about Inspiration and how it is much more powerful than motivation. Motivation comes from the mere fact that you want...
Victoria's Story: A Tiny Jitsu-ka With A Huge Spirit

Victoria’s Story: A Tiny Jitsu-ka With A Huge Spirit

By Sensei Trevor Steward ~ I would like to take this opportunity to share with you all a story about Victoria Watson, a student of mine that...
Dave Kovar's Living Lessons

Dave Kovar’s Daily Five Points of Focus

Dave Kovar's Daily Five Points of Focus Keep my center. Value my relationships. Know where I am going. Have a plan to get there. If I fall, get right...
Dave Kovar's Living Lessons

Be Grateful and Express Your Gratitude

http://youtu.be/cVua9fZQHME grate·ful adjective feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful. "I'm very grateful to you for all your help" If you are grateful and you express your...
Dave Kovar's Living Lessons

Teaching Martial Arts

This is one of my favorite memories about teaching martial arts. Even though it happened over twenty years ago, I remember him like it was...
Bronson Phiri’s Brush With Death

Bronson Phiri’s Brush With Death

Among the underprivileged youth and orphans that I teach in our club I have a Sempai (head student) by the name of Bronson Phiri....
Dane Harden's Living Lessons

The Elephant and the Blind Students

Once upon a time there were three blind students, who were martial artists.  Each of them diligently studied their styles of fighting and each...
Ask Dr. Robyn

Dr. Robyn Talks About Fairness and More

Dr Robyn discusses empathy, fairness and integrity. What is fairness? What is the relationship between empathy, fairness and integrity. What doe it mean to...
Sensei Ryan Speaks Out

Sensei Ryan Speaks Out Saying YOSHI or Let’s Go!

Sensei Ryan Speaks Out Saying about Yoshi which in Japanese means "Let's go" or "I'm going to do this now." It's a way to get...
Dave Kovar's Living Lessons

Choose Your Words Carefully

As a coach, teacher or parent, you must choose your words carefully as someone's life will be influenced by those words. As a child, I...
Dane Harden's Living Lessons

First Empty Your Cup

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea. He poured his...
Dave Kovar's Living Lessons

I’m A Better Person After You Leave The Room

I am fortunate to have a great relationship with my two children. Although they are well behaved and respectful when they should be, there...

Musashi Miyamoto Quotes

Musash Miyamoto quotes are from A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy by Musashi Miyamoto and other sources. “Both in fighting and in...
Baseball and the Hidden Meaning of Flow

The Principle of Flow and its Hidden Meaning

Baseball and The Principle of Flow This week we celebrated a birthday of one of my favorite student’s, Justin Ray Harvey. It’s significant because Justin...

Ivan Outerbridge Travels to Home of Capoeira

Ivan Outerbridge travels to where slaves created the 'secret' art of Capoeira Avid and long time martial artist, Ivan Outerbridge of Capoeira Camara – Bermuda, recently...
Ask Dr. Robyn

3 Things to Do Instead of Scream at Your Kids

Let’s face it. A long day with the kids or a long day at work can leave the most patient moms feeling exhausted and...