The Tri-Star Podcast

In this episode of The Tri-Star Podcast, hosts Mr. Brumitt and Professor Beane explore how setting a home environment can significantly impact your children’s ability to thrive. They discuss practical strategies for creating clarity, consistency, and a structured atmosphere that fosters growth and discipline. KEY TOPICS * The importance of subjugation in parenting as described by the Greek word “h...

This episode of Tri-Star Podcast features Grandmaster Jerry Wiles, sharing his journey and insights in martial arts discipline, emphasizing the importance of testing and self-improvement through ranks. He also highlights the influence of Master Ki Yul Yu and Chuck Norris on his career. * The significance of having an instructor and testing for belt promotions * How Tang Soo Do became a lifelong pa...

Big emotions are part of being human—frustration, anger, disappointment, overwhelm. The real question isn’t whether you’ll feel them… it’s what you do next. In Episode 26 of The Tri-Star Podcast , Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane break down emotional control in a way that’s practical for parents, kids, and adults who want to lead well under pressure. You’ll hear why emotional control doesn’t...

What does real leadership actually look like? In today’s world, leadership is often confused with popularity, status, confidence, or simply being the loudest person in the room. But true leadership looks very different. In this episode, we break down how leadership begins in childhood through responsibility, consistency, service, emotional control, and setting the right example. We discuss how mar...

Last episode, we talked about identity — who you believe you are shapes how you behave. This week, we go one layer deeper: what shapes your behavior every single day (often without you noticing)?Your answer is your environment. In this episode, Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane unpack why so many families lose the battle before it starts — trying to build discipline inside a setup that’s desig...

You can want better habits. You can set better goals. But if you still see yourself as “not disciplined,” “not confident,” or “not focused,” you’ll eventually drift back to old patterns. In this episode, Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane talk about the difference between behavior change and identity change—and why identity is the deeper root that drives what you do (and what your kids do).You’...

What does it actually mean to follow Jesus? For many people, faith can feel like belief, knowledge, or tradition. However, when you look at the life of Jesus, it becomes clear that following Him is something much deeper—it’s a daily way of living. In this episode, Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane break down what it truly looks like to follow Jesus in real, practical terms. From the way we spe...

If you’re a parent trying to choose the right activity for your child, you’ve probably felt the pressure: sports, dance, music, gymnastics, STEM clubs—every option sounds good, and every option promises a benefit. But here’s the real question: Are we just trying to fill time… or are we trying to build a kid? In Episode 21 of The Tri-Star Podcast , Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane unpack the d...

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you’ve said the same thing to your kid 50 times … and nothing seems to stick? In this episode, Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane explain why that frustration doesn’t mean you’re failing — it means you’re parenting. Real growth doesn’t come from one big speech. It comes from ten thousand small conversations over time: reminders, encouragem...

Every parent wants confident kids. Every parent wants strong kids. Every parent wants happy kids. But here’s the truth: happiness comes and goes, confidence grows over time, and failure is one of the greatest teachers your child will ever have. In Episode 19 of The Tri-Star Podcast, Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane break down what “healthy failure” actually looks like (not shame, not punishme...

In this episode of The Tri-Star Podcast , Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane build on last week’s conversation about comfort—and explain the skill that grows when kids face discomfort the right way: resilience . Not toughness. Not emotional suppression. Resilience is the ability to recover—to feel disappointment, embarrassment, or frustration and still return, try again, and stay engaged. You’l...

We live in the most comfortable time in human history—and yet anxiety is rising, resilience is dropping, and frustration tolerance feels thinner than ever. In this episode, Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane unpack why comfort isn’t evil—but it is addictive. You’ll learn how the brain is wired to chase ease, why kids can feel overwhelmed by boredom, correction, or failure, and how adults fall i...

Everyone wants confidence—parents want it for their kids, adults want it for themselves—but most people chase it the wrong way. In Episode 16 of The Tri-Star Podcast, Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane break down the difference between real confidence and the fragile kind that’s built on hype, praise, or “just believe in yourself.” Because belief without skill doesn’t hold up under pressure. Re...

What happens when a kid starts martial arts at eight years old—then keeps going? Ten years later, she’s a 2nd degree black belt, a wrestler, and stepping onto pageant stages with the confidence to perform (and break a brick) in front of a crowd. In this episode of The Tri-Star Podcast, we sit down with Alexis McCullough and her mom, Cassandra, to talk about the long-term transformation that happen...

AI can feel intimidating—especially for parents. In Episode 14 of The Tri-Star Podcast , Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane break down a healthier, more creative way to think about AI at home. This episode isn’t about replacing thinking, replacing parenting, or letting a screen raise your kids. It’s about using AI as a tool —like a calculator, a library, or a notebook that never gets tired—to s...

What happens when one family brings nine kids through the same martial arts program—and every single child has a different journey? In this special interview, Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane sit down with Tri-Star parent Allison Chandler (homeschool mom and former teacher) to talk about parenting, partnership, and playing the long game. Allison shares how her family first found Tri-Star thro...

In Part 2 of this two-part Bible study on communication, Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane continue the conversation with The Prestigious Initiative by looking at communication through the example of the master communicator: Jesus. You’ll hear three powerful moments from Scripture and what they teach parents, leaders, and instructors about how to speak with clarity, dignity, and purpose: * Cal...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Professor Brumitt and Professor Beane break down why communication is more than “what you say”—it’s how you say it, when you say it, and the leadership you model through your words. Using Scripture as the foundation, they walk through four powerful biblical principles that can transform communication at home, at work, and in every relationship: * Wisdom bef...

Is your family routine more chaos than calm? In Part 2 of our Structure = Freedom series, Professors Brumitt and Beane reveal how simple, intentional family systems can turn stress into confidence and connection for everyone in your household. This episode dives deep into: - How to identify routines that need a tune-up - The game-changing power of weekly family meetings - Why letting kids help des...

Why do most habits fail—no matter how much willpower or motivation you have? In this episode, Professors Brumitt and Beane reveal the real secret: systems. Discover how simple, repeatable routines—not just good intentions—create an environment where discipline, confidence, and growth become automatic for kids and adults alike. You’ll hear why willpower fades, how decision fatigue holds families ba...

What if the secret to raising confident, resilient kids (and becoming a stronger adult) wasn’t about motivation or hype—but about a handful of simple, proven habits practiced daily? In this episode, we break down five real-world routines that help families turn chaos into character, frustration into focus, and everyday moments into opportunities for growth. No mythical 4 AM routines or cold plunge...

What if discipline isn’t a punishment, but the secret to raising unstoppable kids—and parents? In this episode, Mr. Brumitt and Professor Beane break down why “discipline” gets a bad rap, how to flip the script, and why true self-discipline equals freedom. You’ll hear real stories from the mat and the home, learn why critical thinking and accountability matter more than blind obedience, and get pr...

Parents enroll their kids in martial arts for one reason—but they stay for something completely different. In this eye-opening episode, Professor Duane Brumitt and Professor Chris Beane explore the powerful transformation that happens between a child’s first class and their black belt journey. From addressing immediate concerns like bullying, focus issues, and confidence struggles to discovering l...

At Tri-Star Martial Arts Academy, we don’t just teach kicks and punches—we intentionally develop character that transforms kids into confident leaders. In this episode, Professor Duane Brumitt and Professor Chris Beane pull back the curtain on Tri-Star’s comprehensive Character Development Program, revealing how monthly words of the month, “I AM” affirmations with hand movements, age-specific mat...

In this episode, Professor Duane Brumitt interviews Professor Chris Beane about his 26-year journey from a bullied 11-year-old who struggled with martial arts to becoming the head instructor at Tri-Star Academy in Bradley, IL. Discover how grit, discipline, and refusing to quit transformed a student who wasn’t naturally gifted into a master instructor-and why comparing your child to others misses...