https://youtu.be/bck6VPojnLk
As a Master of Education with over 25 years of experience in the classroom and on the karate mat, I often hear parents ask, “Why can’t my child just focus?” It’s easy to blame the child, but we have to look at the math. In the 1980s—what some might call “prehistoric caveman times”—the average home had one, maybe two screens (TVs). Today, between smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and school-issued laptops, that number has easily jumped to 10 or 20.
We have 10xed the number of screens in our homes and schools, yet we wonder why focus has dropped by that same margin. Kids aren’t born “different” today; they are born into a world that is 10 times more distracting than the one we grew up in.
The “How-To” of Focus
In the Kenosha Unified School District, teachers are rightfully focused on arithmetic, reading, and history. But they rarely have the time to teach how to focus. Focus is a physical skill, not just a mental one.
At Championship Martial Arts – Kenosha, we teach our students that focus requires three specific “anchors”:
-
-
Eyes: You must make eye contact with the person speaking. In a world of “scrolling,” looking someone in the eye is a superpower.
-
Ears: Just because you’re looking doesn’t mean you’re listening. We teach students to “open their ears” and process the information, not just wait for their turn to speak.
-
Body: You cannot focus if your body is in a “slumped” position. We teach students to stand tall, keep their backs straight, and take pride in their posture.
-
The Karate Anchor
On our mat, we don’t allow slumping. We use a call-and-response method to keep kids engaged. When we ask, “Give me three ways to focus!” our students immediately chant back, “Eyes, Ears, Body, Sir!”
This physical reinforcement creates an “anchor.” When they are struggling to focus on a math test or a conversation at the dinner table, they can physically adjust their eyes, ears, and body to re-engage their brain. This is the “manual override” for a brain that has been conditioned by 10x more screen time than nature intended.
The 3-Step Action Plan (The Snippet Trap)
-
Perform a “Screen Audit”: Count every screen in your house. If you have 10+ screens, acknowledge that your child is fighting a 10x harder battle for their attention.
-
Practice the “Triple Anchor”: At dinner, ask your child for “Eyes, Ears, and Body.” Don’t start the conversation until all three are engaged.
-
Physical Pride: Encourage “Black Belt Posture” throughout the day. A tall spine leads to a focused mind.
Visit Our Southeast Wisconsin Locations
Give your child the tools to win the battle for their focus. Visit us in Kenosha or our sister locations:
-
Kenosha: Championship Martial Arts – Kenosha | 📞 (262) 288-9919
-
Racine: Championship Martial Arts – Racine | 📞 (262) 205-5929
-
Oak Creek: Championship Martial Arts – Oak Creek | 📞 (414) 250-7615