From the Sensei’s Desk
98 columns since 2012 from Sensei Willy Strohmeier and the CKC instructors on confidence, discipline, bullying, and raising kids who don’t quit.
Meet the authors: Sensei Willy Strohmeier (87) and Sensei Kyra Arnold (11)
2026
Ounces Now or Tons Later
Jim Rohn said discipline weighs ounces and regret weighs tons. How small, daily rules at home and in the dojo turned a screen-bound nine-year-old around.
The Problem With Being the Nice Kid
Why kind, predictable kids become targets, how posture changes that, and the one sentence every parent should tell their child about self-defense.
What I Can Tell About Your Child in Ten Seconds
Five things an instructor notices in a child's first ten seconds, why they're habits rather than character, and why they matter for the school year.
More Than a Belt
After failing evaluation after evaluation, a younger brother found his work ethic, fought through doubt, and earned his brown belt.
Keeping Our Kids Safe on E-Bikes This Summer
Kids on electric mini-dirt bikes are everywhere this summer. How drivers, parents, and city officials can work together to keep them safe.
Who's Kicking Your Cat?
Good moods and bad ones spread like dominoes. Zig Ziglar's classic story and a student's progress show why every interaction matters.
Heroes Never Die, They Just Fade Away
A broken bed, The Way of the Dragon, and Chuck Norris: how a childhood hero's discipline, humility, and faith inspired a lifetime of karate.
The Power of Turning OFF
Blackout evenings in 1980s Lima and a fidgety six-year-old's progress show why kids need quiet, screen-free space to build focus.
Choosing Friends Who Lift You Up
We become the average of the five people we spend the most time with. Why choosing uplifting friends matters for kids and adults alike.
Finding Your Inner Drive
True motivation is the inner fire that keeps kids showing up on tough days. How to help children shift from "I have to" to "I want to."
2025
Full Circle Moments: Lessons That Last a Lifetime
A former student returns 19 years later with his own child, proof that the character lessons taught on the mat endure long after the techniques.
The Grumpy Kid Who Found His Smile
An eleven-year-old who struggled with respect and listening finds a kinder, happier path through coaching and consistent karate training.
The Dojo - A Classroom for Life
Respect, structure, resilience, and teamwork: how the karate dojo works like a classroom that prepares kids for life on and off the mat.
From White Belts to Role Models: The Story of Two Brothers Who Never Gave Up
Two brothers who started karate in tears at ages 4 and 5 kept showing up for 13 years, earning black belts and becoming instructors.
"He Called Me a %@#&*!"
A four-year-old with the energy of an atomic reactor learns self-control, proving that consistency and never giving up on a child pay off.
Viejo, Mi Querido Viejo!
A student's spontaneous "I love you, Dad" brings back memories of a father and a song. A Father's Day reminder: you can't say it enough.
Kicking Together: How One Mom Turned Karate Into Family Time
A mom who joined her daughter on the mat shows how training together builds shared growth, mutual respect, and lasting family memories.
You Hurt My Feelings!
Be the water, not the soda: how kids can build emotional resilience and stop handing others the power to control how they feel.
Congratulations, You're Starting Over!
Why a promotion can feel like a setback, and how pushing through the discomfort of starting over builds stronger, more confident kids.
A World Without TikTok
TikTok went dark for twelve hours and few noticed. Five simple ways families can moderate phone use and reclaim time for what matters.
Karate Gave Me a Head Start in Life
Dane joined the dojo at twelve in 2007. Now an Army Chaplain Candidate, he shares how 'Seek Perfection of Character' shaped his calling.
2024
It Was the Worst of Times…
A family hospital stay and the caring staff at Children's Hospital Colorado inspired the club's holiday toy drive for young patients.
Have We Become Too Impersonal?
A handwritten letter from a reader is a reminder that real effort, not emojis and wall posts, shows people how much they matter to us.
3 Reasons Why Cobra Kai Stinks
A karate instructor's take on Cobra Kai: why the show misses what real martial arts training is about, from character to mentorship.
Meet Intermediate Student, Leo!
Leo joined karate unable to speak English and bullied at school. With patience and care he found his smile, and now helps new students feel safe.
Mom, You Are My Champion!
She started karate in her mid-fifties and at 76 earns her third-degree black belt. A Mother's Day tribute to Sensei Willy's mom, and his student.
Potential Is Nothing… Until You Do Something!
Potential is like $10,000 in your pocket: you can build something with it or lose it through a hole. Believe in yourself, then put in the work.
It’s Time to Re-Focus
Distractions are guaranteed. What matters is noticing them and choosing to refocus. Repeat it often enough and focus becomes a habit.
You Are Free to Be Mediocre!
"Do I have to make a vision board?" No. You can always choose to be mediocre, or you can choose to be extraordinary. What will it be?
A Person With a Purpose Never Despairs
Viktor Frankl survived the Holocaust by holding on to purpose. Despair is suffering without meaning. What gives your life meaning this new year?
2023
The Greatest Victory
A legendary swordsman valued judgment over skill. Thinking before we act, even under pressure, is the greatest victory: a victory over self.
Break the Chains of Negative Thinking
"I'm not good at pushups." Self-limiting beliefs crumble the moment we prove them wrong once. Everything is hard before it becomes easy.
God Does Not Help the Lazy Man!
Handed a shovel at age seven, entrepreneur Eddie Wilson learned his dad's lesson: a little bit at a time, so get going. God won't help a lazy man.
Shifting Your Life Focus
Born without legs and with one arm, Nick Santonastasso asks: do you focus on what you have or what you don't? What we focus on, we get more of.
The Way of Cleanliness
Why karate students scrub the dojo floor: Soji, the Japanese way of cleanliness, builds humility, responsibility, respect and courtesy.
The World Doesn’t Owe You a Thing!
A grateful childhood amid hardship in 1980s Lima contrasts with today's dissatisfied youth. Are we raising an entitled generation?
That’s Just the Way I Am
People can become completely different, in a better way. Swap "that's just the way I am" for "I choose to" and take control of who you become.
The Best Is Yet to Come!
Little karate students greet every day with joyful expectation. What if adults approached the new year the same way, even on a Monday?
2022
My Child Won’t Listen… to Me…
Why do kids listen to Sensei but not to mom and dad? Sometimes the message lands best from a trusted third party. Don't take it personally.
Weakness Is NOT a Virtue
Why learn karate if you can't use it? The virtue is in restraint, not weakness. Secure, capable people rarely need to lash out.
Three Lessons from Cobra Kai
Setting aside instant black belts and endless brawls, Cobra Kai offers three good lessons: don't judge too fast, redemption is possible, and nothing is guaranteed.
Embrace the Haters
Anyone who tries something outside the norm meets the professional critic. Why Roosevelt's Man in the Arena hangs in both of our dojos.
My Four Year Old Has So Much Energy!
An energetic four-year-old learns to pay attention, listen at home and take pride in his progress. Every karate student grows in their own way.
My Job Sucked, and I’m Thankful for It
A telemarketing job with broken English taught Sensei Willy sales, grit and gratitude. Hard seasons are often preparation for something better.
You Graduated, Time to Start Over
Graduation, like a karate promotion, puts you back at the bottom of a new hill. Learning to embrace starting over is how we keep growing.
You Never Listen to Me!
A teenage daughter's complaint started a lesson in listening: like speaking, it's a skill that must be learned, practiced and perfected.
Confidence Is a Skill, Not a Trait
A shy 12-year-old's journey shows that confidence isn't something you're born with. It's a skill built through practice, repetition and facing challenges.
2021
Self-Made? Not Me!
If you see a turtle on a fence post, it had help getting there. Sensei Willy thanks the friend and mentor who helped him build his karate school.
Gratitude Makes It All Worth It
Sensei Willy's own teacher left a national coaching job because it was thankless. A simple thank you can make someone's work worth it.
It's Not My Fault
Blaming others means admitting we couldn't do better. Why our dojo teaches extreme ownership: be prompt, no whining, no excuses.
Honoring Our Past, Living in the Present, and Forging Our Future
Revisiting his childhood Sensei in Lima, Peru, Sensei Willy reflects on what a teacher passes on, and how anyone with experience can be a Sensei.
Seek Perfection of Character
The Dojo Kun opens with 'Seek Perfection of Character.' A class conversation with new students on what character is, and why growth never stops.
We All Need to Be Heard
Being listened to builds confidence in kids and adults alike. Four practical tips to become a better listener and give the gift of attention.
The Bumblebee Shouldn't Fly… and Yet It Does
A chubby kid who never made the sports teams found karate. Like the bumblebee, success comes from working harder, not natural gifts.
Happy Mother's Day!
A four-year-old holding the dojo door for her mom sparks a reflection on the love mothers pour into us, and our turn to give it back.
I Quit
At ten, Sensei Willy skipped karate to watch the Flintstones. His father's tough love kept him training, and changed the course of his life.
Change Yourself, Change the World
A bullied boy found karate, earned his black belt, and became UFC legend Georges St-Pierre. You overcome the bully by changing yourself.
Pushing Brighton Forward
Like pushing an old Datsun to get it started, our community needs a push. Practical ways to support Brighton's small businesses through hard times.
2020
Paralyzed by Fear or Driven by Courage
A crushed cheekbone at the 2008 Nationals taught Sensei Willy that fear must be understood, not obeyed. Weigh the risks, then move forward with courage.
Sorry, But You Can't Change the World!
A bullied 9-year-old couldn't change the world around her, so she changed herself. It's not the blowing of the wind, but the setting of the sails.
Recharge - Reassess - Redouble
After months in the pandemic washing machine, don't just survive. Rest to recharge, reassess where you're headed, then redouble your effort.
Where Is Your Joy? Really?
With the dojo doors closed, a moment in front of the mirror reminded Sensei Willy that joy is anchored in people, not buildings. Where is yours?
Be Like Mike
A near-stranger named Mike treated Sensei Willy like an old friend, then died days later. A reflection on giving people your greatest asset: your time.
What Does It Take to Be Happy?
"Mom, all my hard work has paid off!" A young student's green belt test shows that happiness is not pleasure, happiness is victory.
2019
Motivation Gets You Going, Discipline Keeps You Growing
Motivation lights the spark, but it dies out quickly. Discipline is what carries every successful person to their goals. Anyone can be motivated.
Chasing Trophies or Chasing Excellence?
Cleaning out the garage, Sensei Willy found a box of old karate medals and tossed them. The real prize was never first place, but excellence.
Becoming a Black Belt
You can order a black belt by Wednesday, but becoming one takes years. To achieve more, we must first become more.
The “No Excuses” Super Power
In our dojo, excuses aren't allowed and aren't needed. Students learn accountability early, and it becomes a super power anyone can build day by day.
Karate, Not Just Kicking and Punching
A karate mom shares what her family found at our school: balance and focus for her son, and much more, a community that helps raise our children.
Diary of an Angry Kid
Sensei Willy was a short-fused first grader nicknamed 'Fosforito.' Karate didn't make him a better fighter; it taught him to manage his anger.
2018
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells… Aaahh Bah Humbug!
Christmas multiplies the noise of modern life. Like mokuso at the start of karate class, a few minutes of silence each day can clear the mind.
A Better Way to Say Thank You!
A young student's handwritten postcard reminded me how much a written thank-you can lift someone. It takes only minutes, and can change a person's day.
Building Confident Children
Our words shape a child's self-image. Drop negative labels, separate the child from the action, and remember: every encounter builds up or tears down.
That Didn’t Go Quite As I Had Planned
Every martial artist has hit the mat after an over-ambitious kick. Getting up and trying again is how we grow: failure is an event, not a person.
When I Get Old...
'When I get old, I want to be like Grandma.' Sensei Willy's 70-year-old mother, a black belt, is a reminder that parents must make time to stay healthy.
Bullyproof or Bully-Target
Growing up small in a tough all-boys school in Lima taught me that confident posture and standing your ground are the best deterrents to bullies.
While Time Is on Your Side
I put off visiting my father-in-law in the hospital to finish a work order, and never got the chance. Make time for those you love while you can.
Show Me Some (Tough) Love
At ten I wanted to quit karate and watch cartoons. My father said no. That tough love led to national teams and a life's calling. I'm forever grateful.
Get Vaccinated!
Zig Ziglar called it PLOM, “Poor Little Ol' Me” disease. The vaccine is an “if it is to be, it is up to me” attitude, for kids and adults alike.
The Power of Failure and the Cost of Success
A six-year-old fails his yellow belt test, then trains harder and earns it. Why letting children fail teaches them the true value of success.
The “Bum” Who Saved My Home
In 1989 Lima, a young man my family dismissed as a bum ran into our burning house to save it. A lesson in looking beyond the surface to see potential.
2017
The Best Job I Ever Had
A karate instructor on why she loves her job: the kids' small victories, a parent's thank-you, and a former tiny student now training beside her.
Discipline, Confidence, Tools to Succeed!
What goals do you have for your child this school year? Karate can build self-discipline, respect, focus, and the confidence to stand up to bullies.
Karate: Not Just Another Activity
Choosing a back-to-school activity? Look for one that builds life skills. Parents tell us karate grows confidence, focus, discipline, and respect.
Summertime! Keeping Kids Active
“But Mom, there's nothing to do outside!” Simple, fun ideas to pull kids away from screens this summer and get them active and imagining again.
The Best Teacher I Ever Had
Told at eight she'd never be more than average, she chose to turn criticism into fuel. You can let criticism define you, or rise above it.
Taking the Time to Be Kind
A stranger paying for coffee in the drive-thru inspired a day of random kindness around Brighton. Do one kind thing today and see how it feels.
Quitting Is Not an Option
Why do we quit when the going gets tough? Picture yourself at the finish line instead, and believe in the potential others already see in you.
Take the Time, Live It, Love It, Share It
A former ballerina rediscovers her passion through karate, and asks: have you found what lights a fire in you? Live it, love it, and share it.
Managing Stress
Everyone deals with stress. We can't control every stressor, but we can control how we react. Five simple, healthy ways to manage stress.
Motivation Is Not Enough
Motivation is the spark that starts the engine, but it fizzles fast. Discipline is what keeps you going long after the excitement wears off.
2016
An Attitude of Gratitude
A four-year-old's “Thank you, Sensei!” prompts a reflection on gratitude as an attitude, and on the duty to do for others what was done for us.
Courtesy and Kindness, Where Have They Gone?
Rudeness seems to be catching on everywhere. Karate begins and ends with respect, and courtesy is a gift we should freely give to everyone we meet.
When You See Bullying, Don’t Stand By, Stand Up!
A ninth-grade memory of joining in on a classmate's teasing, and the reminder every child needs: never join a bully, and stand up for others.
Out of My Comfort Zone
A mom watching her son's karate class decides to try it herself in her mid-30s, and learns that life is too short to be afraid of trying new things.
What Did You Take?
It's not coffee or a pre-workout drink. Most people don't realize they have the power to make themselves feel good, but it takes practice.
2012
Building a Stronger Community
A shy three-year-old named Paul grows into a confident class leader, and shows why student growth is the reason our karate school exists.
Not Another New Year’s Resolution
Most resolutions wither within weeks. Five simple steps, from measurable goals to a buddy who holds you accountable, to make this year different.