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John C. Graybeal holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. He is a former F-16 pilot who graduated number one in his pilot training class. He is a 4th degree Black Belt Master Instructor and a former United States Tae Kwon Do Champion. In 1993 he opened a martial arts school in Bloomington, Illinois and began teaching full time. He enjoys working with children and adults through his unique martial arts programs. He can be seen on his own local martial arts television show, Martial Arts America. He is very active in children's issues, organizing and raising money to sponsor children in physically empowering programs.
He is a contributing writer to Martial Arts Professional and Martial Arts Business Information Magazine. As an amateur magician Mr. Graybeal has performed in venues nationwide, including the Flamingo Hilton in Las Vegas.
In his free time he enjoys working with his bird dog, Lacey, and putting the finishing touches on his first novel, an adventure/espionage thriller about jet fighter planes and the CIA.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
I arrived at the martial arts school early one morning and noticed a small envelope on my desk. One of my students, who was also an instructor, had recently graduated from high school. I recognized his handwriting and expected perhaps a thank you note for the small gift I'd sent. When I opened it I found much more!
Dear Mr. Graybeal, Your card was very inspirational, just as you have been to me for many years. I have grown up admiring you as a role model. I have learned a great deal from you and you have given me so much. You have been a hero to me, giving me the skills and shaping my character into what it is today. You have given me the opportunities to have succeeded as I have done and to go on to even better things. I will try to live up to your teachings and expectations of me. Perhaps the greatest thing you have given me is the ability and opportunity to give back to other children some of what you have given me. I've been able to work with hundreds of children who I love and adore, and I hope that I've been able to make a difference in their lives as well. I've come to learn that every single student I work with is very special and deserves the best. I hope that part of what I give them helps to make them the best that they can possibly be. Thank you for making me the young man that I am, and I wish you luck in shaping the lives of others as I try to pass on what you have given me. Jeff
I stood frozen, not knowing whether to cry or smile. Out of thousands of students, Jeff had been with me the longest, from the time he was five. He had seen me change as much as I had seen him change. And he reflected the very personal empowerment I wanted to accomplish with my life and my teaching. This letter confirmed in my mind that what I was doing worked and brought with it an overwhelming feeling I carry with me every day.
Note in hand, I caught myself staring out the window, remembering a similar letter I'd written to my own martial arts instructor when I graduated from high school. I wanted nothing more than to live up to what he believed I could be. What was passed on to me I now had passed on to another. He, in turn, will pass it on as well.
A WORD TO TEACHERS Before we begin our journey, we must start with ourselves. As adults, we not only need to mold the lives of our students, but we must continually mold our own.
Five Steps to Success One afternoon I sat in my office, watching an instructor lead class. I knew he was having difficulties in other areas of his life. Being one to always offer encouragement toward goals, I turned my chair around, fired up the computer, and typed "Martial Arts America's Five Steps to Success" across the top of the page. Action Change Communication Responsibility Knowledge
Action Before you finish any task, you must first begin and you begin by taking action. You could write a few notes, read a book, or go to the library, anything that will move you forward. Our goal is to increase our level of communication with children and, as usual, the most difficult step is the first. I once had an adult student who faced a dilemma about her future, in particular where she wanted to live. She could not decide whether to stay in Illinois or move to Las Vegas, where her parents lived. One night she walked into the school with a long face and arms hanging limp at her side. I asked her into the office and we talked for some time about taking action, we even wrote down a few goals. The next morning I received a phone call. She was packing as we spoke, heading for the desert. Nike's famous slogan, "Just do it" is an extremely powerful message. Just do it-do something. Often times anything is better than just sitting on the couch. As the old saying goes, be the kind of person who makes things happen-or at the very least, the kind of person who is there when it happens. What you don't want to be is the kind of person who sits and wonders what happened.
Change If the action you take doesn't work, change. It sounds simple and it is. If that new action doesn't work? Change again. The ability to look upon a situation and change the perspective gives you power. Start by changing your daily routine. Small changes will lead to powerful ones. Paul, a friend of mine, spent a few years traveling the country consulting with martial arts school owners. He had one goal in mind-increasing their business. He set up a meeting with the owner of a martial arts school in New York city. Upon his arrival, he spent a few minutes getting acquainted and then went into the office to discuss business. The school owner began to express how bad business was. "People just aren't coming in." the owner complained. "How many calls did you make last night to prospective students?" "Ten." "Could you make fifteen tonight?" "Yeah. I suppose." "Could you make twenty?" Paul asked lowering his voice. "Maybe." "Could you make thirty?" "No. That would take too long and I like to be home by 9:00." With that Paul reached across the desk and extended his fingers to represent a gun. "If I held a gun to your head do you think you could make those thirty calls?" "Yes." The owner said nervously. Paul leaned back in his chair. "Well, I can't hold a gun to your head, but you can!" Sometimes we just need motivation.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
inspiring parental reading,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Art of Empowering Children: A Karate Master's Secrets (Paperback)
I bought this book for my daughter's karate teacher and read it before giving it to him. I enjoyed it. It explained much of the why and how behind karate for a know nothing parent, who just loves what it has done for my daughter (who I suspect has ADD). Her self esteem, attitude and school work have improved. thumbs up and a bow.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Secrets that you must share!,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Art of Empowering Children: A Karate Master's Secrets (Paperback)
"The Art of Empowering Children" is a shelf full of parenting books in one. The ideas are not brand new cutting edge techniques; instead they are based on age-old ways of how children can excel with the right amount of attention and care. The book is clearly written with each new subject falling in line with the previous one. It is also filled with many examples of how the techniques are used in real life situations. The book was written from a teaching perspective, but it can be easily incorporated in a family setting.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Guide for Our Children's 'Guiders'.,
By Cynthia Ritchie (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Art of Empowering Children: A Karate Master's Secrets (Paperback)
Finally, there is a guide to help teachers, caregivers, coaches, and other mentors interact with children in a respectful and successful manner. "The Art of Empowering Children" is a book that enlightens the parents to how important the influence of other teaching figures are in our childrens lives. I read this book as a parent and found several ways to successfully work with and discipline my children in a 'win- win' outcome. The respect and enthusiasm for children that Graybeal describes is contagious. I couldn't wait for the next chapter. This book should be included in college curriculums for teaching degrees; as also for all those soccer coaches and anyone else who works with children on a day to day basis. There might not be a manual for parenthood, but this comes the closest I've read yet for a manaul for teachers, coaches and caregivers.
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