Our discussions with all students have emphasized the 5 P’s: Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance! In order to do well at anything, we need to practice. We don’t merely go through the motions. We practice how we would want to perform. It’s important to find time every day. Even 10 minutes helps! This adaptation of an old military adage is also a good reminder that our self defense fundamentals should be practiced with that same intensity. It’s difficult to think under stress, but your muscles will remember what they’ve done.
Investigating the 5 P’s led us to review what it means to be a good student, whether at Martial Arts class, grade school, college, music lessons, continuing education, etc. A good student is:
Present – Physically and mentally. Let all those other things wait. Focus on the here and now.
Prepared – Review the previous lesson on your own, with your family or in a study group. Bring all materials or equipment.
Productive – Stay on task. Ask questions. There’s time before and after class to visit and sometimes play!
Polite – Showing courtesy and respect to everyone, including parents, teachers and peers, is part of our core values. Be welcoming and encouraging to others.
Positive – At our Academy “can’t” is considered a bad word. Our school greeting is “Pilsung!” A Korean word meaning “certain victory” or for the children “I can do it!”.
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