I use my knowledge of martial arts in my business world and translate my business dealings into running my martial arts schools. Still, I consider myself a recreational martial artist because unlike many of my martial arts colleagues who teach full-time, I am accomplishing a different challenge; I come home at 5:00 PM and run off to the gym to teach.

My biggest thrill is to teach the younger children and then transfer what I have learned from that experience to my adult students. I believe if I can get the message across to the kids, I know I can get it across to the adults. A martial arts school is the structured environment that is created through discipline. One of the big things I value is this: when kids come in to the school, I try to break down the barriers of wealth and privilege by putting them same uniform. This creates the sense that everyone has the same status in the school; training and rank has its privilege through hard work, not through the fact that you have more money or more financial power than another child. The kids are all treated equally regardless of their backgrounds. The school is very structured, so we can teach values such as treating each other with courtesy and respect. Students learn perseverance ? never giving up; humility; the indomitable spirit of the athlete and a sense of self. It's important to be a good role model for these kids. The benefits are real. What I have learned in martial arts I can transfer to my business life and I've been very successful. For example, when I have to train for a competition the biggest thing is the physical and emotional preparation; you have to be as well conditioned as possible before you stepped into the ring. In the business world you've got to do the same thing. I've never lost a competitive proposal, and that is because of my martial arts training. I've always been prepared. You need to be ready for any event inthe business world. Following these guidlines will keep you ready for anything. Good luck with all that you do.

Copyright (c) 2007 Steven E