Student of the Month - Kristine

Favorite Color - Red and Black

Favorite Food - Artichokes and Chocolate (not together)

Profession - Kaju AZ Admin

Tell us about your family - My husband Russ and I have been married for 16 years.  He is always very supportive and keeps me laughing.  We have 2 kids Lauren (13) and Landon (10) and one dog Harry and he is very hairy, but the family wouldn't let me spell it that way.  

Both kids also train at KajuAZ.  We like to take family bike rides, play games and watch movies.

Besides Kaju, what other activities do you enjoy? Reading, biking, quilting and photography

What do you like most about training at Kaju AZ? I feel like I am turning back the clock.  It challenges me both physically and mentally  - and I believe in the use it or lose it theory.  I also love the people, real honest and supportive.  Just the type of people I want around my family.

What are your goals for the next year?

I want to work on my flexibility.  I would like to be able to do the splits again.  At home, I need to develop more patience as my kids approach the teen/tween years.  My other goal is to work on cleaning out and organizing the house.

Student of the Month - Maunale'o

Favorite Color - Blue, Red, Green and Yellow

Favorite Food - Teriyaki Chicken, Kalua Pig, Saimin and Pizza

Favorite Subject in School - PE, so I can play

Tell us about your family - I have a twin sister named Kaihohonu who dance hula at Kaju AZ. I also have a big brother and big sister on Maui. We live with our Mama To in San Tan Valley and our Daddy lives on Maui.

Do you have any pets? Not here, but a Blue Nose Pitbull named Poly back on Maui and pig named Baggy.

Besides Kajukenbo, what other activities do you enjoy? Watching Kung Fu movies while eating popcorn with Mochi crunch and Lihing mui powder. I really like rollerblading, swimming and just hanging out with my ohana

What do you like most about training at Kaju AZ? Take downs, monkey crawls, the friends I made, my instructors, and sometimes I love the running. I also like learning self defense and boxing hands.

Student of the Month - Gracie

Favorite Color - Purple

Favorite Food - Shrimp

Favorite Subject in school - Music

Tell us about your family - My brother is funny, my dad is awesome, and my mom is great because she helps me with my homework.

Do you have any pets? I have 2 dogs. Their names are Jessie and Louis

Besides Kaju, what other activities do you enjoy? Playing on my playground.

What do you like most about training at Kaju AZ?  I get to see my friends and train strong to remain strong.

Train Strong to Remain Strong In Life

Dave Kovar, motivational speaker, successful businessman, and martial artist, recently posted the following statement:
       
 By developing our physical stamina, Martial Arts not only increases vital energy, but also develops mental toughness to get through life’s biggest challenges.

I wholeheartedly agree with this statement.

Our martial arts training requires us to learn and practice the techniques, develop a no quit attitude, and build the physical strength and stamina to use the techniques when we need to.

We can know the technique in our mind, but if our body is not strong enough or our cardio is not sufficient to carry us through a situation, we might not succeed when it matters most.

John Hackleman has said that the fighter in the best shape has the most chances for winning. Sometimes your sheer strength and cardio will overcome the opponent’s initial barrage and allow you to win even if they are technically more skilled.

I have noticed that the martial artists who spend the time training their bodies and overcoming physical challenges tend to develop the mental toughness that is needed to make progress in their training.                

That same mental toughness leads to success in life.

Successful people tend to have a mental toughness that allows them to overcome the distractions that might otherwise pull them away from their dedication to their goals. Successful people overcome minor aches and pains and keep going when others give up. Successful people don’t care what other people are doing, they just do what needs to be done.

We became a PIT affiliate in 2008, and added CrossPITs to our schedule. We also made two PITs a week the minimum requirement for progression in our belt programs.  It’s been a great fit for Kaju AZ and been a way to expand our Ohana too.  I think because of our PIT affiliation and dedication to working hard, our students tend to be much stronger in mind AND body than others.

At last year’s Martial Arts SuperShow, I was training in the Pit Master’s morning workout and there were a lot of people there. One person in particular caught my eye. He was smiling, talking to people, and was very personable to everyone around him. He also was working out harder than most people and you could tell he was no stranger to hard workouts. It was Kyoshi Dave Kovar himself.  He’s got nothing to prove but keeps fit, physically and perhaps more importantly, mentally.  It’s no wonder to me why he is so successful.

Make your next workout your best workout!

Train Strong to Remain Strong!
-Sigung Kelly