Longoria's Black Belt Academies

Keep going. Even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. 💪

This week in Leadership class, our students are exploring what actually gets in the way of living intentionally — because starting strong is the easy part. Staying the course is where it gets real.

They are working through what we call the Growth Gap Traps — the sneaky reasons people stop being intentional even after a solid start. Things like:
😤 "It's not the right time yet."
😰 "I'm afraid of making mistakes."
😔 "I just don't feel like it right now."
🔄 "Others are already further ahead than me."

Sound familiar? Every one of us has a trap that hits closest to home.

The big idea this week: being intentional doesn't mean everything goes right. It means you don't stop.

Parents and trusted adults — this week's conversation starter:
👉 "What's your Growth Gap Trap right now — what's getting in the way of you keeping going?"

Then share one of your own. A time you almost quit something and didn't. That story might be exactly what they need to hear this week. 🙌

Hard weeks don't mean the wrong path. They often mean exactly the right one.

Every week you get exactly 168 hours. What are you doing with yours? ⏰

That's the question our students are discussing in Leadership class this week — and it's a good one for all of us.

168 hours. Sleep takes some. School takes some. Practice takes some. But what about the rest? Are you drifting through it, or are you choosing on purpose?

Being INTENTIONAL doesn't mean scheduling every minute — it means being aware enough to make your hours count toward something that matters.

Parents and trusted adults — this week's conversation starter:
👉 "You learned about 168 hours this week — where do you think your time is actually going?"

Don't be surprised if it sparks a bigger conversation than you expected. That's kind of the point. 🙌

This is the work our students are doing every week in LTMA Leadership — and it's built for life, not just the mat.

Leadership begins in the bathroom. 🪥

No, really — ask your student about it.

This week in Leadership class, our students dove into what it means to be INTENTIONAL. And it starts smaller than you might think — like how you brush your teeth in the morning.

Are you just going through the motions? Or are you choosing to show up for yourself, even in the little things? Because how you do the small things is how you do everything.

Parents and trusted adults — here's your conversation starter this week:

👉 "Hey, I heard leadership begins in the bathroom — what does that mean?"

Then just listen. You might be surprised what they share. 🙌

This is the work happening inside our LTMA leadership classes — and it doesn't stop at the mat. We love when it follows students home.

You've seen them around the school - if you still need a Baby Rudy shirt we're placing one more order - let the front desk know by the 21st!

Our current leadership tenet: Intentionality. 🎯
Living intentionally doesn't happen by accident — it starts with knowing what you stand for.
When your values are clear, your decisions get clearer. How you treat people, how you show up to practice, how you respond when things get hard — all of it flows from what you believe matters most.
That's what we're challenging our students to think about this month. Not just going through the motions, but choosing on purpose. Every day. On the mat and off.
What's one area of your life where you want to be more intentional? Drop it in the comments. 👇

🥋 IT'S OFFICIAL — Registration is OPEN for the 9th Annual Board Break-a-thon! 🥋
Our students are hearing about it in class this week and now it's time to make it real: register today and start gathering sponsors for a great cause.

📅 Sunday, September 20 | 1 PM
📍 Gateway Mall, Lincoln, NE

This year our goal is $10,000 to support su***de & bullying prevention in our community — and every student has a part to play. Once you're registered, it's time to start reaching out to family, friends, and neighbors to sponsor your break!

👉 Register now at www.longoriastacticalmartialarts.com/boardbreakathon or see us in class for details.

Let's Be The One who breaks the silence. 💥

8/12/56 HAPPY 70th BIRTHDAY GM LONGORIA. ⭐️🎉🎂

🎉 Happy Birthday, Grand Master Daniel Longoria!

Today we celebrate our Director of Training, Grand Master Longoria! Thank you for your leadership, knowledge, and dedication to developing martial artists throughout GTMA.

Wishing you a fantastic birthday and a great year ahead!