From looking at cool martial arts silhouettes in the Yellow Pages as a kid, to earning multiple black belts and teaching Tae Kwon Do, Mr. Olmstead lives and breathes martial arts. He’s also a professional graphic designer, a webmaster and all around fun guy. Listen to why he feels there’s value in taking a hit and how he’s always striving to improve as a black belt.

Do you glow when you become a ninja [See the movie “The Last Dragon”]? Can you learn from your kids? What can your kids teach you? Here’s the perspective of a real-life Karate Dad when it comes to training with your kids in the martial arts.

A degree in Psychology. An affinity for world cultures and languages. Black belts in traditional Korean and Japanese martial arts. Author with an office full of swords. These are just a few aspects describing Master Jan Lappin, founder and master instructor of Middleburg Martial Arts in Florida. She has a lot to say about how martial arts impacts the life success of kids and adults, and how it inspires people to achieve their goals. Why practice martial arts as a kid? Why practice martial arts as an adult? How to use a cane for self defense? It’s all here on the Ripple Effect Martial Arts podcast. Listen in.

Dreams come true. That’s what earning a black belt, in some measure, means to the lot of us. Just ask Mr. Bobby Verant, recently promoted to head instructor of the Ripple Effect Martial Arts Johnstown School. If you’re into trivia, listen up: What’s Mr. Bobby’s stage name? Do Tonka Trucks come from a lake community just outside the Twin Cities? And how did Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso influence Mr. Bobby to move out to Colorado and start his Black Belt journey? Find out the answers to all these and more in the latest podcast.

Amanda Olson, aka “Master Mom,” is Master Instructor of Olson’s Martial Arts Academy in Johnson City, Tennessee. She’s also an author and a frequent guest on television, radio and other media, answering questions from parents about how to raise kids and inspire obedience, respect and focus at school and home. Want some advice on parenting kids in a crazy world? Ask Master Mom.

Lara Lauritz’ karate autobiography could be called “Momma Needs to Kick Stuff: Why a School Psychologist Wants to Earn Her Black Belt”. Ms. Lauritz has been a karate student for four years and will soon test for certified Black Belt with her youngest son. She’s also been working with elementary-age kids for more than 25 years and has many personal and professional insights into the connection between martial arts and effective learning for kids. And just to spice things up, she talks about how karate combinations are like water slides. Seriously. Tune in for some thoughts from a karate mother like no other.

Mr. Julius Tabert is a black belt of the old school. Member of the German National karate competition team in the 1980s, he grew up grinding the proverbial 12 miles uphill (both ways) to train in traditional martial arts. He went on to win international kumite championships, and has since become an American citizen and raised two kids through to black belt. Mr. Tabert continues to embody the spirit of a karateka in family, business, and life philosophy.

2nd-degree black belt and Ripple Effect Martial Arts instructor Mr Ben Stott gets personal on his own Black Belt journey. He talks about what it’s like to train as a family, how he got a feel for karate as a (once) “unathletic” white belt, sparring against other styles, and how he gained confidence through the martial arts. And Cobra Kai. And historic Cameros. Dive in!

Master Maggie Messina, Brooklyn native, 7th degree black belt, and founder of TaeCole Taekwondo in Albertson, New York, shares her thoughts on martial arts competition, women in the marital arts, teaching kids who’ve become Harvard grads, and the importance of clean bathrooms.

Mr Joel Thompson is a 3rd-degree Black Belt under the Jhoon Rhee system of American Freestyle Taekwondo. He’s also a college student studying education, and a self-taught drummer and musician. We talk about what it was like to grow up with marital arts, the lineage of Grandmaster Rhee, and what to do if you burst into tears on the karate tournament floor.