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đ LIFE BRINGS YOU OPPORTUNITIES đđ„„
A Parent Life Skills Tip You donât have to search too hard to figure out what life skill your child needs to practice. Life will usually bring the lesson right into your home. We use this same idea in our home and at the dojo. For example, when a bunch of new karate students join, we already know they may not understand how to respect the mat, listen quickly, or control their bodies yet. So for a while, we swing the theme further toward discipline, self-control, and respect f
Miki Lawrence
Aug 34 min read
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The Two Types of Embarrassment: Helping Kids Learn From Mistakes to Boost Confidence
Embarrassment is something every kid feels. They feel it when they make a mistake in front of the class.They feel it when they get corrected.They feel it when they lose a game, forget a move, say the wrong thing, or realize they reacted in a way they are not proud of. But one thing we teach at Life Skills Karate is that not all embarrassment is the same. There are two types of embarrassment. One keeps you stuck.The other helps you grow. The First Type: Embarrassment That Keep
Miki Lawrence
Jun 294 min read
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Learning to Laugh at Yourself
Breaking Up Heavy Energy and Finding Your Power Again Last week at Life Skills Karate, our life skill was all about learning to laugh at yourself. Not in a mean way. Not in a âmake fun of yourselfâ way. But in a powerful way. Sometimes life feels heavy. We get frustrated, embarrassed, overwhelmed, or stuck in our own emotions. A small problem suddenly feels huge. A sibling says something annoying. A child ignores a simple instruction. A mistake happens. And before we kn
Miki Lawrence
May 264 min read
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Life is Like Mario Kart: Teaching Kids to Reset and Get Back on Track
This weekâs Life Skill lesson at Life Skills Karate is called âLife is Like Mario Kart.â đïž The idea is simple, fun, and easy for kids to understand: In Mario Kart, nobody drives a perfect race. You might be cruising along, feeling pretty good, and then suddenly, boom, you get hit by a shell. You slip on a banana peel. You miss a turn. You get bumped off the track. One second youâre in the lead, and the next second youâre spinning around wondering what just happened. Life wo
Miki Lawrence
Apr 274 min read
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I Donât Have to Be Right, and Itâs Okay to Be Wrong
This week at the dojo we talked about a big life skill: I donât have to be right, and itâs okay to be wrong. When kids feel like they always have to be âright,â they often become defensive or resistant to correction. But when they learn that mistakes are part of growth, they become easier to teach, more honest, and more willing to keep trying. That mindset helps them not only in karate, but at home, at school, and in life. đđ„đą At Life Skills Karate, we help kids build that
Miki Lawrence
Apr 231 min read
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Easy Way vs. Hard Way: Why Self-Discipline Makes Life Easier
Sometimes the right choice feels harder at first . Thatâs true for kids.Thatâs true for parents.And honestly, thatâs true for all of us. At Life Skills Karate in Orem , we teach students that the âeasy wayâ is often the path that looks good in the moment but creates more stress later. The âhard wayâ usually takes more effort upfront, but it builds confidence, freedom, and peace over time. The Easy Way Usually Becomes the Hard Way Putting things off can feel easier. Avoiding c
Miki Lawrence
Mar 313 min read
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Fear of Missing Out: Teaching Kids (and Parents) How Life Goes in Turns
Waiting doesnât mean missing out. It means your wave is still forming. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) shows up often for kidsâand usually not because theyâre truly missing out, but because they donât yet understand how turns work in life. A common example many families experience is when one sibling gets invited to a birthday party and the other does not. To a child, this can feel unfair and personal. Their mind quickly goes to, âIâm missing out.â In reality, whatâs happening is
Miki Lawrence
Feb 242 min read
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The Benefits of Good Organic Salts
Why Your Body Needs More Than Just Table Salt What Are Good âOrganicâ Salts? Examples: Himalayan pink salt, sea salt (Celtic, Hawaiian, Redmond Real Salt), black salt, and other unrefined, mineral-rich salts. Difference: Natural salts contain many essential trace minerals. Table salt is mostly just sodium chloride with additives and lacks those bonus minerals. 5 Ways Good Salts Support Your Body 1. Hydration & Electrolyte Balance Help your body absorb and hold water betterâ
Miki Lawrence
Feb 12 min read
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đą The Turtle, Patience, and the Path to Wisdom
This week in class, weâre working on a powerful Life Skill using the symbol of the turtle âa reminder of patience, wisdom, and inner peace . We teach students that patience is what we practice when we want something to change, improve, or happen fasterâbut instead of forcing it, we learn to relax and let go of the timing . This is especially important for kids who are new to karate. Early on, theyâre learning how to make mistakes, try again, and focus on the journey of practi
Miki Lawrence
Jan 241 min read
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FIRE AND DISCIPLINE
How Karate Helps Kids (and parents) Build Real Life Skills At Life Skills Karate in Orem , we often talk about fire â not as something scary, but as something honest. Fire burns clean. It also reveals where weâre out of alignment. We call this the mirror burn â the moment when frustration with our kids points us back to our own habits, routines, and consistency as parents. When Parenting Gets Hard, Look at Real Life â Not Report Cards Most parents want their kids to be succ
Miki Lawrence
Jan 12 min read
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People Are More Important Than Things
Life Skill Spotlight at Life Skills Karate in Orem, UT At Life Skills Karate, we teach principles that go far beyond punches and kicks. One of the most important lessons we share with students and families is: People Are More Important Than Things. In the busy world we all live in, kids and adults alike get caught up in objects, schedules, goals, and distractions. This life skill helps bring us back to what really mattersâconnection, compassion, and putting people first. For
Miki Lawrence
Nov 24, 20253 min read
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đ Youâre Already a Great Person
Most people believe they have to earn their worth through success, grades, money, or recognition. We chase achievements hoping theyâll finally prove something about who we are. But hereâs the truth: đ Youâre already a great person. You donât have to earn your value â you just need to practice being it. At Life Skills Karate in Orem, Utah , we remind our students that martial arts isnât just about punches and kicks. Itâs about discovering the inner strength you already have
Miki Lawrence
Oct 24, 20252 min read
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A Historic Milestone: Our First Black Belts at Life Skills Karate
After a 3-hour black belt test. Feeling amazing! At Life Skills Karate in Orem, Utah, we recently celebrated a truly historic moment â...
Miki Lawrence
Sep 29, 20253 min read
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Relax and Get Out of Your Own Way: What Karate Teaches Us About Parenting
At Life Skills Karate, we often say that âtrying too hardâ can actually hold you back. That may sound strange in a world that celebrates...
Miki Lawrence
Aug 25, 20252 min read
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đ§ Just Do the Work: Why Excuses Drain More Energy Than Action
Putting in the work, one rep at a time. At Life Skills Karate, we donât just teach kicks and punches we teach mindsets . One of the most...
Miki Lawrence
Jul 31, 20252 min read
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Why We Use Play-Based Learning at Life Skills Karate
At Life Skills Karate, we believe the best learning doesnât feel like learningâit feels like playing . When you walk into our dojo, you...
Miki Lawrence
Jun 30, 20253 min read
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Brutal Truths Every Parent Needs to Hear If You Want to Raise Confident, Resilient Kids
At Life Skills Karate in Orem, Utah, we donât just teach punches and kicksâwe teach real-life parenting strategies that change families...
Miki Lawrence
May 23, 20252 min read
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Why Kids Interrupt (And What They Really Need Instead)
Have you ever wondered why kids interrupt in class, blurt out stories, or raise their hands just to go off-topic? Itâs a common challenge for parents, teachers, and coaches alike â and one that can quickly derail a group activity or lesson plan. But hereâs what Iâve learned after years of teaching and parenting: Most interruptions arenât about rudeness. Theyâre about a lack of tools. In our martial arts program at Life Skills Karate in Orem, Utah, we help kids develop emotion
Miki Lawrence
May 9, 20252 min read
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Life Skill of the Week â The Journey Is the Reward | Life Skills Karate Orem UT
đ„ The Journey Is the Reward: Why We Teach More Than Kicks and Punches At Life Skills Karate here in Orem, Utah, we love celebrating our...
Miki Lawrence
May 5, 20252 min read
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Building Confidence, One Board Break at a Time!
At Life Skills Karate, board breaking is one of the most exciting milestones our students experience â but it's about much more than just...
Miki Lawrence
Apr 27, 20251 min read
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