Are You Next ? A phrase I reformed into a question to promote greatness. When I ask my clients or my students are you next? Their responses let me know everything about what they believe is greatness and also what they think of themselves. Their Answer’s tell me if they’re still staring at a poster of someone they call great or are they looking in the mirror saying it to themselves. Over the summer I promoted my ideology of self building. Once a person decides what they want to be its up to them too accomplish that goal.

These weeks the kids have displayed there energy levels. Some stronger than others, while some were more shy than others. Some kids have advanced in their minds to believe they’re unstoppable, simply overconfident in what would be known as a practical setting. Outside of the steam program some students study kung fu and martial arts. After introducing the multiple sports and styles some believed they knew it all. My response was simple if you know it all ” Show Me What You Got”.

Within seconds a flashback, I saw a small piece of myself in the child. I came home from another tournament with another championship. Every other week I would advance to a new belt and new level of confidence. Until one day I went to see my father who was doing full kick splits in the air. I felt strong Confident, until he said the same words I said to my student “Throw a punch “.

The kids facial expression was priceless because he looked like me, nervous but sure, but unsure as he threw his punch. At that point I finally knew how how my father had felt all those years ago. “All those belts, all those trophy’s, and you cant throw a punch” he said. That summer for the rest of my life and till this day, I have a daily 1,200 punch minimum. As many kung fu schools that I have been through no one contributed more to me being the martial artist I am today then my father. Not because of training drills but the learning to use the drills for myself to make myself stronger.

My dad would leave the boxing gloves in  the backyard and put the heavy bag on the garage. He would not return till almost 7 at night. He never forced me to complete the 1,200 a day just believed that I would do what I needed to do. This trust instilled into me I instilled into the children as well teaching them proper punching and proper movement is important, but its only beneficial if its important to them.