Enrichment Programs vs. Extracurricular Activities: A Closer Look at Okami Kai’s Martial Arts Program for Kids

In today’s educational landscape, both enrichment programs and extracurricular activities play significant roles in a child’s overall development. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they serve distinct purposes. Enrichment programs like Okami Kai’s Martial Arts program focus on developmental growth with structured learning, while extracurricular activities emphasize recreation and social engagement. Here, we’ll dive […]

My Focus Needs More Focus

By Scott CampsallHow comfortable are you with silence?We live in a world that believes it’s better to be multi-tasking and I’m just as guilty (maybe more so) than anyone else. I find it difficult to sit without checking my phone for messages that I may have missed. I ache while driving thinking of all the tasks […]

The Power of YET

By Scott CampsallI had no idea what it meant to be a 6TH degree black belt when I started karate classes. I just knew it was a ‘big deal’. I had heard the word ‘sensei’ before, but I didn’t know what a ‘shihan’ was. The man who I trusted to teach me had these qualifications […]

Beware of the Shortcut

James and Margaret Reed

A shortcut might look appealing, but it usually costs you more than you imagine it could in the long run.

Risk Starts Where Planning Stops

Lt. Cdr. Victor Prather and Cdr. Malcolm Ross in Gondola May 4, 1961

Lt. Cdr. Victor Prather and Cdr. Malcolm Ross in the gondola prior to their balloon flight on
May 4, 1961
Taken from https://dca.lib.tufts.edu/
Reprinted from National Geographic, Nov. 1961, vol. 120, #3, p. 675

Stop Planning and Start Doing

By Scott CampsallIn my almost 30 years of martial arts training, I cannot count how many times I’ve heard people say they are planning to start to train. They need their schedule to open more like when their kids get older or when they’re less busy at work. Or they need another activity to finish so they can start a new one.  Or […]

And Still…

Bruce Buffer

The two words that every announcer says when someone retains a title in sports like boxing, mixed martial arts, or even professional wrestling. “And still.”A champion battles inside a ring or cage and the audience is told they are still the person who is at the top of their game. The fighter has not been […]

The One More Rule

By Scott CampsallSo many workouts and other things requiring self discipline come down to the same desire…add one more.At some point, you want to be able to push yourself to go a little further (one more step, or kilometre), lift a little heavier (one more kilogram), kick or punch a little harder or faster, do […]

Using Giri for Awareness

By Scott CampsallGiri (義理) is a Japanese value that translates as “duty”, or “obligation”. Emotions are put aside to fulfill obligations; usually to superiors.One of the most intensive ways to train in Japanese martial arts is by being an Uchi-deshi (内弟子, lit. “inside student”).  It is like an apprenticeship type of program that is usually paid for by […]

How Okami Kai Transforms Kids’ Lives

When it comes to raising confident, resilient, and well-rounded children, parents are constantly on the lookout for activities that go beyond the ordinary. Our mission transcends the realm of kicks and punches. We are committed to crafting unforgettable experiences for every child who enters our doors, and in the process, we are nurturing the potential […]