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Featured Guest:
Dr. Roy McGriff, Jr., Ed.D. Published July 10, 2025 In this episode of Wisdom for Wannabes, host Jackie Morreale interviews Dr. Roy McGriff, Jr. Ed.D., an educator and martial artist, who shares his journey in education and martial arts. Dr. Roy discusses the importance of inspiring students, building relationships, and understanding the challenges faced by teenagers. He offers valuable advice for those pursuing graduate education and emphasizes the significance of community support. Dr. Roy also reflects on his experiences in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, his entrepreneurial journey in karate, and the impact he has made on countless students throughout his career. Listen to/watch the full podcast recording, or read the transcript below: |
Full Interview with Dr. Roy McGriff, Jr., Ed.D.:
"It's not about the belt, it's about the journey." - Dr. Roy McGriff, Jr. (Wisdom for Wannabes podcast episode 10, 24:30)
Great quotes from the interview with Dr. Roy McGriff, Jr., Ed.D.:
(More great quotes throughout the transcript in red below.)
- "It's all about mindset."
- "Lift as I climb."
- "Karate is a stress reliever."
(More great quotes throughout the transcript in red below.)
Dr. Roy McGriff, Jr. in Abu Dhabi.
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Key Takeaways:
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Interview Transcript:
Jackie Morreale (00:00): Hello, I'm Jackie Morreale, the host of Wisdom for Wannabes, a new podcast series that seeks to discover wise words in business, beauty, and betterment.
It is my pleasure to introduce our featured guest for today, Dr. Roy McGriff, Ed.D., who is here to tell us about his journey in education as well as martial arts. Dr. Roy is a University of Central Florida alum and received his Masters and Doctorate in educational leadership and special education and teaching respectively at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Dr. Roy is currently a high school science teacher at American Heritage Schools, which have been providing nationally recognized private K through 12 college prep education for many, many years. Dr. Roy has been a Dean of Students for Palm Beach County Schools and Orange County Public Schools, as well as the school-based instructional leader for Abu Dhabi Educational Council.
In his spare time, he has any of that, Dr. Roy is a sixth degree black belt in karate, as well as an entrepreneur. He is the owner and president of the Black and Gold Knights Karate Association, a training program that trains up and coming athletes in the martial arts. Dr. Roy himself has trained in karate by Sensei John Turner, a ninth-degree black belt and nine time karate champion. He attends the US ISKA open karate tournament with his Sensei John Turner every year. Other than that, Dr. Roy is a super down-to-earth, high achieving, highly motivated human being that just exudes positivity and growth in all areas of his life.
Dr. Roy, I want to be better at education. I want to learn from you. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Dr. Roy McGriff (01:39): Thank you for having me. a pleasure being here, Jackie. Thank you.
Jackie Morreale (01:47): Let's start off today if you can tell us your full name, your hometown, and your current location.
Dr. Roy McGriff (01:53): My full name is Dr. Roy McGriff Jr. I am from Fort Pierce, Florida. Currently I reside in Wellington, Florida. I've been here since 2005.
Jackie Morreale (02:03): You are Florida, born and raised. This is your hometown, your current town, where you work. You are Florida.
Dr. Roy McGriff (02:10): Hey, that is it. I know Florida, backwards and forwards. But we travel a lot. My wife and I love traveling. Try not to stay in Florida too much.
Jackie Morreale (02:17): I'm not from here, but I love living here. There's something for everybody. What do you do and what is your passion?
Dr. Roy McGriff (02:21): I am an educator, first of all. I've been with the school system a little over 20 years now. My passion is karate, martial arts. I love it. It's my peace. It's where I'm able to be myself, just to relax and be able to take in all the elements that makes me whole.
The mind, body and spirit.
Keeping that homeostasis. I teach biology as well. We need that balance.
As a sensei, you're a teacher and an educator. It all blends in and aligns together.
Jackie Morreale (02:53): I'm so happy to hear that you are able to blend the arts and sciences in this way. I have had the pleasure of seeing you in action in full karate, sixth degree black belt garb. I've seen a belt ceremony. I've seen you teaching, and you're so good at it. You really inspire all of your students around you.
Dr. Roy McGriff (03:14): Thank you. Science is incorporated into all areas, especially the body, the mind. With karate and educating, we talk about our bodies, talk about science. How we're going to keep ourself whole as one.
Jackie Morreale (03:25): What is your favorite part of your role as an educator and as a karate sensei?
Dr. Roy McGriff (03:31): Encouraging others, inspiring others, making impacts. When you're able to leave a classroom or my karate students, I leave them with something, I call it a little nugget. It's something that they can leave with to say, Hey, that's something I learned today. If that nugget can inspire you to move forward and continue to motivate yourself to do better in life, that's the ultimate goal for me.
Being a role model, to be the person that is an example. We're not all perfect, but at the same time, try to be a role model, especially in the classroom. Then I transfer that over to my karate students.
Being in the classroom is really important because you get a variety of students, some students have disabilities, some students are gifted. Being that role model and support for them, that helps. Giving them opportunities to see that regardless of where you are in your life, you can accomplish, and it's all about mindset. Giving them that platform or that nugget, it's elating to see that.
Jackie Morreale (04:25): You have been such an encouragement to me in my own journey. A couple months ago when I told you here I am, as an old lady, going back to school, you were so encouraging and said I can do anything I put my mind to.
Dr. Roy McGriff (04:37): It's all about mindset. I know that you will accomplish your goal.
Jackie Morreale (04:42): Thank you so much. I want to talk about teenagers because we're both parents. How do you bring it to these students as a role model? How do you relate to this new generation? Is this just an innate talent that you have or is there some sort of a nugget that you can share with us on the next gen?
Dr. Roy McGriff (05:00): The one thing I realized is that it's about building relationships with people and kids, getting to know them in a very comfortable setting. Once you make a person comfortable, you start to see their potential to do well. Sometimes when kids are around you, they're very tense. Everyone feels like they're being judgmental.
Allowing a student to be comfortable, building that relationship with the student, allowing them to know that it's okay to get it wrong, it's okay to fail, it's okay not to get it right. You continue to encourage them. When you support them, you see this little flower starts to grow, starts to bloom. You're able to give them the things they need to grow. In life, things are not always going to be the best. We have to learn how to deal with challenges. That's one thing that I love about karate, of the style that I teach, called Gōjū-ryū.
Gōjū-ryū means hard and soft. It means night and day. It means good and bad. In that, you have different katas that we use. Sometimes it's going to be challenging, but can start off easy. Once that challenge comes, you need to understand that you can do it by motivation. Number one thing is building relationships with students and kids, just getting to know them. That's how we network with people, just being personable, being approachable.
They might get some things wrong but allowing them to be comfortable by building those relationships with them.
Jackie Morreale (06:18): That is such a healthy way to think about building relationships with your students, or with anyone, right? Anyone is going to make mistakes, learn from them, grow. I love that you're planting not only these nuggets, but these seeds that grow.
Let's talk about some quick-fire questions just to learn some of your favorites. What is your favorite food?
Dr. Roy McGriff (06:35): I would say salmon. I do not eat red meat or pork. I don't drink sodas. There are certain things I don't do because it's just nutrition. So fish is a great thing for me.
Jackie Morreale (06:49): Now the scientist is coming out, right?
What is your favorite place in Florida?
Dr. Roy McGriff (06:54): I'll have to say the Keys. My wife and I travel abroad a lot. We've gone to various countries. So coming to Florida, Key West would be the best.
Jackie Morreale (06:58): Since you talked about going out of the country, what is your favorite place in the world that's not in Florida?
Dr. Roy McGriff (07:11): I would have to say Phuket, Thailand.
(Continued below)
It is my pleasure to introduce our featured guest for today, Dr. Roy McGriff, Ed.D., who is here to tell us about his journey in education as well as martial arts. Dr. Roy is a University of Central Florida alum and received his Masters and Doctorate in educational leadership and special education and teaching respectively at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Dr. Roy is currently a high school science teacher at American Heritage Schools, which have been providing nationally recognized private K through 12 college prep education for many, many years. Dr. Roy has been a Dean of Students for Palm Beach County Schools and Orange County Public Schools, as well as the school-based instructional leader for Abu Dhabi Educational Council.
In his spare time, he has any of that, Dr. Roy is a sixth degree black belt in karate, as well as an entrepreneur. He is the owner and president of the Black and Gold Knights Karate Association, a training program that trains up and coming athletes in the martial arts. Dr. Roy himself has trained in karate by Sensei John Turner, a ninth-degree black belt and nine time karate champion. He attends the US ISKA open karate tournament with his Sensei John Turner every year. Other than that, Dr. Roy is a super down-to-earth, high achieving, highly motivated human being that just exudes positivity and growth in all areas of his life.
Dr. Roy, I want to be better at education. I want to learn from you. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Dr. Roy McGriff (01:39): Thank you for having me. a pleasure being here, Jackie. Thank you.
Jackie Morreale (01:47): Let's start off today if you can tell us your full name, your hometown, and your current location.
Dr. Roy McGriff (01:53): My full name is Dr. Roy McGriff Jr. I am from Fort Pierce, Florida. Currently I reside in Wellington, Florida. I've been here since 2005.
Jackie Morreale (02:03): You are Florida, born and raised. This is your hometown, your current town, where you work. You are Florida.
Dr. Roy McGriff (02:10): Hey, that is it. I know Florida, backwards and forwards. But we travel a lot. My wife and I love traveling. Try not to stay in Florida too much.
Jackie Morreale (02:17): I'm not from here, but I love living here. There's something for everybody. What do you do and what is your passion?
Dr. Roy McGriff (02:21): I am an educator, first of all. I've been with the school system a little over 20 years now. My passion is karate, martial arts. I love it. It's my peace. It's where I'm able to be myself, just to relax and be able to take in all the elements that makes me whole.
The mind, body and spirit.
Keeping that homeostasis. I teach biology as well. We need that balance.
As a sensei, you're a teacher and an educator. It all blends in and aligns together.
Jackie Morreale (02:53): I'm so happy to hear that you are able to blend the arts and sciences in this way. I have had the pleasure of seeing you in action in full karate, sixth degree black belt garb. I've seen a belt ceremony. I've seen you teaching, and you're so good at it. You really inspire all of your students around you.
Dr. Roy McGriff (03:14): Thank you. Science is incorporated into all areas, especially the body, the mind. With karate and educating, we talk about our bodies, talk about science. How we're going to keep ourself whole as one.
Jackie Morreale (03:25): What is your favorite part of your role as an educator and as a karate sensei?
Dr. Roy McGriff (03:31): Encouraging others, inspiring others, making impacts. When you're able to leave a classroom or my karate students, I leave them with something, I call it a little nugget. It's something that they can leave with to say, Hey, that's something I learned today. If that nugget can inspire you to move forward and continue to motivate yourself to do better in life, that's the ultimate goal for me.
Being a role model, to be the person that is an example. We're not all perfect, but at the same time, try to be a role model, especially in the classroom. Then I transfer that over to my karate students.
Being in the classroom is really important because you get a variety of students, some students have disabilities, some students are gifted. Being that role model and support for them, that helps. Giving them opportunities to see that regardless of where you are in your life, you can accomplish, and it's all about mindset. Giving them that platform or that nugget, it's elating to see that.
Jackie Morreale (04:25): You have been such an encouragement to me in my own journey. A couple months ago when I told you here I am, as an old lady, going back to school, you were so encouraging and said I can do anything I put my mind to.
Dr. Roy McGriff (04:37): It's all about mindset. I know that you will accomplish your goal.
Jackie Morreale (04:42): Thank you so much. I want to talk about teenagers because we're both parents. How do you bring it to these students as a role model? How do you relate to this new generation? Is this just an innate talent that you have or is there some sort of a nugget that you can share with us on the next gen?
Dr. Roy McGriff (05:00): The one thing I realized is that it's about building relationships with people and kids, getting to know them in a very comfortable setting. Once you make a person comfortable, you start to see their potential to do well. Sometimes when kids are around you, they're very tense. Everyone feels like they're being judgmental.
Allowing a student to be comfortable, building that relationship with the student, allowing them to know that it's okay to get it wrong, it's okay to fail, it's okay not to get it right. You continue to encourage them. When you support them, you see this little flower starts to grow, starts to bloom. You're able to give them the things they need to grow. In life, things are not always going to be the best. We have to learn how to deal with challenges. That's one thing that I love about karate, of the style that I teach, called Gōjū-ryū.
Gōjū-ryū means hard and soft. It means night and day. It means good and bad. In that, you have different katas that we use. Sometimes it's going to be challenging, but can start off easy. Once that challenge comes, you need to understand that you can do it by motivation. Number one thing is building relationships with students and kids, just getting to know them. That's how we network with people, just being personable, being approachable.
They might get some things wrong but allowing them to be comfortable by building those relationships with them.
Jackie Morreale (06:18): That is such a healthy way to think about building relationships with your students, or with anyone, right? Anyone is going to make mistakes, learn from them, grow. I love that you're planting not only these nuggets, but these seeds that grow.
Let's talk about some quick-fire questions just to learn some of your favorites. What is your favorite food?
Dr. Roy McGriff (06:35): I would say salmon. I do not eat red meat or pork. I don't drink sodas. There are certain things I don't do because it's just nutrition. So fish is a great thing for me.
Jackie Morreale (06:49): Now the scientist is coming out, right?
What is your favorite place in Florida?
Dr. Roy McGriff (06:54): I'll have to say the Keys. My wife and I travel abroad a lot. We've gone to various countries. So coming to Florida, Key West would be the best.
Jackie Morreale (06:58): Since you talked about going out of the country, what is your favorite place in the world that's not in Florida?
Dr. Roy McGriff (07:11): I would have to say Phuket, Thailand.
(Continued below)
Dr. Roy McGriff, Jr., Ed. D. - The Early Karate Training Years
Dr. Roy McGriff (first row, white gi and white belt), training and winning Florida karate tournaments.
Dr. Roy McGriff's Sensei, John Turner, a ninth-degree black belt and nine-time karate champion, in training.
(Continued)
Jackie Morreale (07:16): I was not expecting that one. Beautiful.
What is your favorite book?
Dr. Roy McGriff (07:20): It's called The Book of Joy, by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. It talks about the things that we encounter as people and to be better in life and how to be happy.
Not worrying about things that you cannot control and worry about what you can control, and how to get to that happiness. It's very simple. We don't realize there are so many positive things that are around us, but we want to pull some things that we can't control. That helped me to see happiness. We want to be happy.
Peace is what I look for. Reading that book definitely gives me those areas to work on.
Jackie Morreale (07:56): Amazing. I'm adding it to my book list. Thank you so much.
Your favorite karate move or kata?
Dr. Roy McGriff (08:02): It's a kata called Sanchin.
Sanchin is a kata. It's called the three battles, and the three battles of mind, body and spirit. When you're doing this particular kata, the majority is dealing with the breathing, focusing, concentrating on what's going on, within what you're doing. When the student is doing the kata, they're in a very slow motion.
I'm hitting them with pads, on their legs, back, not hard, but I'm getting them to see that they do not get distracted. from the pads. Focus on the goal. Concentrate mentally on what the vision, is, the goal is to finish, and your breathing. You want to be relaxed.
When they're breathing, they're concentrating, they're not getting distracted with anything outside of what's going on. Sometimes we try to make noise in the classroom to get them distracted. The key is to stay focused, to bring you back to the present. Some instructors will have students put water in their mouth while they're doing the kata.
What that does, is helps them to concentrate on what they're doing. It's a lot of focus, breathing, meditation. Sometimes we put blindfolds on so you can't see anything. You can feel. Your mind, you know where you're going. I love it. And it's something I use.
I don't have to actually do the kata. When I'm going through something, I use it as a meditation, you know, to focus, to bring me back to where I need to be.
Jackie Morreale (09:16): If we go back to the last one about a book, I think you need to write about what you're doing, because that kata sounds so amazing. Even if you're not a sixth-degree black belt, how great is that, that you can bring your focus back just by breathing techniques and what you've learned and trained your body, mind, spirit to do for so many years.
By the way, how many years have you been practicing karate?
Dr. Roy McGriff (09:37): I've been training in martial arts with karate for 41 years.
I started at 13 years old, now I'm 54. I continue training with it and haven't stopped since. My karate instructor is my mentor. It's the same karate instructor that I had back then, he's 75 years old and he's still in good shape. It's a blessing to be able to still have my mentor and instructor there.
Jackie Morreale (09:49): Favorite singer or band?
Dr. Roy McGriff (10:10): I have to say, Bob Marley. One of the songs, Everything 's Gonna Be Alright. It's relaxed, laid back, going with the flow of things.
Jackie Morreale (10:19): Bob Marley and The Wailers are just amazing, in terms of getting that focus on the big picture.
I just called out two of your universities where you're an alum, but favorite university? It doesn't have to be necessarily one of those.
Dr. Roy McGriff (10:24): I have to say universities - two - because of my son and my daughter. University of Florida, and University of Central Florida, because my daughter is attending there, and my son, he's about to attend University of South Florida for his PhD. I'm going to say USF as well.
Jackie Morreale (10:38): The legacy continues. The degrees in the McGriff family! I'm so excited for your family and congrats to them both for following in your footsteps. Favorite sport?
Dr. Roy McGriff (10:50): Yes, it's a blessing.
Favorite sport? Of course, martial arts. Any sort of combat sport is a favorite thing to me.
Also, yoga. I like yoga because again, that brings in that peace. It's not so combative. It's more relaxing.
Also, I'm getting into golf. Golf is a pretty good thing so far.
Jackie Morreale (11:04): Good for you.
Do you have a quote, whether it's from yourself or Bob Marley or any quote, that inspires you?
Dr. Roy McGriff (11:24): Lift as I climb. What I mean by that is, bring someone else up as I go up the ladder. I have adults that consider me as their mentor. Whatever I can do, whatever I can say, to lift them and just bring them up. We all need that encouragement.
As I go up, I'm going to lift you up and give you encouragement to be better than you want to be.
I'm part of a fraternity, Omega Psi Phi fraternity. We do a lot of mentoring with kids. That was one of our kind of mottos. It continued to inspire me as well.
Jackie Morreale (11:54): Are you still involved with your fraternity?
Dr. Roy McGriff (11:55): 100%. It's a great brotherhood. We talk about whatever is going on in each other's lives. Having that community, having that support, that social network is great.
Jackie Morreale (12:06): As someone who is going back to school and trying to follow in your footsteps, can you tell us more about your education?
What was your education process like?
Dr. Roy McGriff (12:15): My education process was different because I went to college late. I started to go to college, around 19 or 20. I left to go to Louisiana. It was a school called Southern University. I went there for maybe a semester, and I couldn't afford it. I had to come back. I came back to Florida to my hometown. I ended up going to a community college and ended up getting my two-year degree from there.
Then I moved on to Orlando, to UCF. At that time, I was working in a youth facility for behavior kids. I worked overnight and then in the mornings I would go to class at UCF. So, I'm an adult in class with all these young kids, but it was okay. I eventually graduated in speech and language pathology.
Once I graduated, I ended up getting a job in Orlando at an alternative school, where the youth were having problems. With my background of working with students, it was a great opportunity for me. I jumped in there. I ended up being a supervisor, a dean there as well. Then as I kept moving up, they moved me to Palm Beach and they said, hey, we want you to open up another school. So I ended up coming to Palm Beach and that's what brought me here. We opened up another school. Then at that time, I got my master's, I was going to school and working. Then eventually, I went on and got my doctorate. It's been a journey. It's not easy.
(Continued below)
Jackie Morreale (07:16): I was not expecting that one. Beautiful.
What is your favorite book?
Dr. Roy McGriff (07:20): It's called The Book of Joy, by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. It talks about the things that we encounter as people and to be better in life and how to be happy.
Not worrying about things that you cannot control and worry about what you can control, and how to get to that happiness. It's very simple. We don't realize there are so many positive things that are around us, but we want to pull some things that we can't control. That helped me to see happiness. We want to be happy.
Peace is what I look for. Reading that book definitely gives me those areas to work on.
Jackie Morreale (07:56): Amazing. I'm adding it to my book list. Thank you so much.
Your favorite karate move or kata?
Dr. Roy McGriff (08:02): It's a kata called Sanchin.
Sanchin is a kata. It's called the three battles, and the three battles of mind, body and spirit. When you're doing this particular kata, the majority is dealing with the breathing, focusing, concentrating on what's going on, within what you're doing. When the student is doing the kata, they're in a very slow motion.
I'm hitting them with pads, on their legs, back, not hard, but I'm getting them to see that they do not get distracted. from the pads. Focus on the goal. Concentrate mentally on what the vision, is, the goal is to finish, and your breathing. You want to be relaxed.
When they're breathing, they're concentrating, they're not getting distracted with anything outside of what's going on. Sometimes we try to make noise in the classroom to get them distracted. The key is to stay focused, to bring you back to the present. Some instructors will have students put water in their mouth while they're doing the kata.
What that does, is helps them to concentrate on what they're doing. It's a lot of focus, breathing, meditation. Sometimes we put blindfolds on so you can't see anything. You can feel. Your mind, you know where you're going. I love it. And it's something I use.
I don't have to actually do the kata. When I'm going through something, I use it as a meditation, you know, to focus, to bring me back to where I need to be.
Jackie Morreale (09:16): If we go back to the last one about a book, I think you need to write about what you're doing, because that kata sounds so amazing. Even if you're not a sixth-degree black belt, how great is that, that you can bring your focus back just by breathing techniques and what you've learned and trained your body, mind, spirit to do for so many years.
By the way, how many years have you been practicing karate?
Dr. Roy McGriff (09:37): I've been training in martial arts with karate for 41 years.
I started at 13 years old, now I'm 54. I continue training with it and haven't stopped since. My karate instructor is my mentor. It's the same karate instructor that I had back then, he's 75 years old and he's still in good shape. It's a blessing to be able to still have my mentor and instructor there.
Jackie Morreale (09:49): Favorite singer or band?
Dr. Roy McGriff (10:10): I have to say, Bob Marley. One of the songs, Everything 's Gonna Be Alright. It's relaxed, laid back, going with the flow of things.
Jackie Morreale (10:19): Bob Marley and The Wailers are just amazing, in terms of getting that focus on the big picture.
I just called out two of your universities where you're an alum, but favorite university? It doesn't have to be necessarily one of those.
Dr. Roy McGriff (10:24): I have to say universities - two - because of my son and my daughter. University of Florida, and University of Central Florida, because my daughter is attending there, and my son, he's about to attend University of South Florida for his PhD. I'm going to say USF as well.
Jackie Morreale (10:38): The legacy continues. The degrees in the McGriff family! I'm so excited for your family and congrats to them both for following in your footsteps. Favorite sport?
Dr. Roy McGriff (10:50): Yes, it's a blessing.
Favorite sport? Of course, martial arts. Any sort of combat sport is a favorite thing to me.
Also, yoga. I like yoga because again, that brings in that peace. It's not so combative. It's more relaxing.
Also, I'm getting into golf. Golf is a pretty good thing so far.
Jackie Morreale (11:04): Good for you.
Do you have a quote, whether it's from yourself or Bob Marley or any quote, that inspires you?
Dr. Roy McGriff (11:24): Lift as I climb. What I mean by that is, bring someone else up as I go up the ladder. I have adults that consider me as their mentor. Whatever I can do, whatever I can say, to lift them and just bring them up. We all need that encouragement.
As I go up, I'm going to lift you up and give you encouragement to be better than you want to be.
I'm part of a fraternity, Omega Psi Phi fraternity. We do a lot of mentoring with kids. That was one of our kind of mottos. It continued to inspire me as well.
Jackie Morreale (11:54): Are you still involved with your fraternity?
Dr. Roy McGriff (11:55): 100%. It's a great brotherhood. We talk about whatever is going on in each other's lives. Having that community, having that support, that social network is great.
Jackie Morreale (12:06): As someone who is going back to school and trying to follow in your footsteps, can you tell us more about your education?
What was your education process like?
Dr. Roy McGriff (12:15): My education process was different because I went to college late. I started to go to college, around 19 or 20. I left to go to Louisiana. It was a school called Southern University. I went there for maybe a semester, and I couldn't afford it. I had to come back. I came back to Florida to my hometown. I ended up going to a community college and ended up getting my two-year degree from there.
Then I moved on to Orlando, to UCF. At that time, I was working in a youth facility for behavior kids. I worked overnight and then in the mornings I would go to class at UCF. So, I'm an adult in class with all these young kids, but it was okay. I eventually graduated in speech and language pathology.
Once I graduated, I ended up getting a job in Orlando at an alternative school, where the youth were having problems. With my background of working with students, it was a great opportunity for me. I jumped in there. I ended up being a supervisor, a dean there as well. Then as I kept moving up, they moved me to Palm Beach and they said, hey, we want you to open up another school. So I ended up coming to Palm Beach and that's what brought me here. We opened up another school. Then at that time, I got my master's, I was going to school and working. Then eventually, I went on and got my doctorate. It's been a journey. It's not easy.
(Continued below)
Dr. Roy McGriff (right) with his 11th district jujutsu colleagues, training in Abu Dhabi, wearing a white belt with three black stripes, for humility and willingness to learn.
Dr. Roy McGriff with his Sensei, John Turner, on an annual trip to the US ISKA karate champioship.
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Dr Roy McGriff and Sensei John Turner, with celebrity karate master Bill "Superfoot" Wallace
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Dr. Roy McGriff (center) with two 11th district jujutsu colleagues in Abu Dhabi.
(Continued)
JM: Jackie Morreale (13:36): You make it look easy, because you have such a great attitude about it. It's really about the growth and you're helping people as you're climbing. Wow, those kids in Orlando and Palm Beach County are so lucky to have you. I'm so glad that this is where you ended up.
You obviously have this calling to help people and kids, especially at-risk youth. So, what inspired you to study education? Did this start in Louisiana or while you were working as an adult and taking classes at UCF?
Dr. Roy McGriff (14:05): Both my parents were retired educators. It was in the blood, in the DNA. Seeing them being in education and the students and the kids that they've impacted in their lives. My dad was a baseball coach, football coach. My mom taught first grade through third grade.
Both my parents have impacted kids even today.
My dad passed away quite a years ago. My mom is in a facility right now.
People still talk about them today, how they impacted their life.
Seeing that, it geared me in that direction. Sometimes you don't realize what your path is going to be. You think it's going to be in one way, but... God's plan can take you in different direction. But you're still helping others. You're making an impact. Thanks to my parents, I'm sure that's where it started for education.
Jackie Morreale (14:50): I always tell my own children, you can never ever replace your first grade, your second grade, your third grade teacher. You can never replace that person who sparked your interest in biology, sparked your interest in karate. That person leaves a legacy, makes a difference every single day, even in little baby steps that they move towards. And even if they inspire one person to do something different, that's it. Exactly.
Dr. Roy McGriff (15:07): That's it. I'm telling you that is the key. If you can make an impact in one person's life or one kid's life, your job is done. You have fulfilled that goal and when you know that you have helped people along the way and seeing that your little nuggets have helped those move on to do better.
That's the most gratifying thing in the world.
Jackie Morreale (15:35): What advice would you give to someone looking to start a new graduate school journey?
Dr. Roy McGriff (15:40): Number one, be committed.
Be disciplined. Be consistent. Be open-minded. Be a sponge.
As I tell my kids, learn how to be malleable.
Be flexible. You have to adjust.
Don't take things personally.
Always think positive, especially when you're doing that dissertation.
That could be the beast. When you go on your dissertation and you're starting your first chapter and your second chapter. Then when you take your paper over to your chair and they say, no, I don't like this, and then they kick it back. Now you got to go back and put all these thoughts together.
Be patient.
See it through. You will accomplish the goal.
Be willing to sacrifice.
What I mean by that is sacrificing your time. There will be times you might not be able to go out with your friends. You might have to stay up a little bit later to write on that paper, because there are deadlines. You might not be able to attend certain things that you used to. Just know at the end of that journey, you would have accomplished that goal. You can't do it all. You have to sacrifice something to reach that goal. So for that person that's on that journey, just be patient.
If you're committed, that's what's going to help you start, but you got to have that discipline to stay in there.
It's good to have another group or network that are doing the same things because they could be able to help relate to you and give you little nuggets, a little advice to get you through.
Also, find some time for yourself.
If it's 10 minutes a day.
I have a ritual that I get up in the mornings now.
Just 30 minutes to myself and I meditate. That's it. It's just quiet. That old saying, the calm before the storm. Get your mind together because you know the storm is coming. That storm can be just that daily chaos of family, kids, work.
Just know you're going to have to multitask. That's where it comes into patience. Find something you enjoy, if it's 10 minutes a day, because you have got to get peace of mind. You have to write this paper, and if your mind is not clear, you're gonna be frustrated.
I'm going to be real with you, you might have the dogs barking, you might have your kids, Mom, I need to do this. Your husband might say, Baby, can you do this here for me? It's like, yes, yes, yes. That's the moment where you have to be able to stay calm and say, you know what? I need a minute to collect myself.
You have to write that paper. They only give you a certain amount of time to finish your dissertation. But I know that you will. Hopefully, the advice that I shared with those that are taking that journey, I hope that can help in any sort of way. Again, reading a book, or doing something that you enjoy doing, like I said, just having to get peace of mind to be able to get away from that paper, because that can be a very tedious thing.
Jackie Morreale (18:24): Such good advice. When you think back to your educational doctorate experience, were there any real high points?
When you think back on it with nostalgia, is it something that you would do again?
Dr. Roy McGriff (18:38): Yes, because while you're doing it, you're thinking of ways to be able to help other people. Of course, you're going to find something that you're passionate about to write about. With me, I was able to talk about students that were very low, in math. So, I knew that was an area that I would want to try to help students.
I was able to be passionate about that because I was in the classroom. I know what the kids were going through and be able to write that paper and say, hey, we need to use more manipulatives. We need to use some hands on things for kids to be able to learn how to count, learn how to do division. Yes, I was happy with it because I was passionate about what I was writing about.
If it's something that you're not passionate about writing about, it's going to be a tough journey.
If it's something you're passionate about, you can bring in your own experiences. It's a lot easier to do that.
There were a lot of great things about it. I have no regrets about it.
Whatever your dissertation is about, make sure it's something that you enjoy, and it won't be that hard to do.
Jackie Morreale (19:38): Your dissertation was focused on helping children in the classroom with different strategic, math strategies that could be more hands-on, with manipulatives to make math more accessible for different populations?
Dr. Roy McGriff (19:50): Exactly. With that, I tap in reading as well, because we know, if a kid can't read by the third grade, that kid is usually going to have some behavior problems. Research shows, if you're not really educated in that way, those kids, they're going to eventually turn out to have behavior problems. Not being able to do certain things in the classroom, kids act out.
When you give a kid an opportunity to give them confidence in something and they feel confident with it, they calm down. Because now I have something that's tangible. I can hold on to it. I can do this now. I feel confident in myself. When you don't have any confidence in an environment where others around you are performing better, that causes anger and frustration, so kids act out.
I knew that working in a behavior facility. I worked with kids like that. They had anger issues, violent issues. Level 10 programs I worked in where kids were shooting, fighting, stabbing, because they were angry. And 90 % of them could not read. These were 17, 18-year-old kids, and they couldn't read kindergarten books, very basic stuff.
It's frustration. That was my area. Just to be able to help them, to give the tools that they need, that was gratifying to me.
Jackie Morreale (21:01): I'm so happy to hear you say that. I know a little bit about the exceptional student education program. I love that your educational doctorate focuses on those special populations that have needs that haven't been addressed and the outcomes of them and how you can still change. You can leave that nugget and plant that seed to make that person's life different. They just have to want it.
It's so interesting that you're able to see that in the classroom and then act on it with your paper direction and now in the classroom and how you teach and how you're leading students.
Dr. Roy McGriff (21:37): Definitely. It all aligns together. That's why I love Karate. Those same skills and strategies I use in the classroom, I use with my karate students. These students are not in my actual classroom, but they're still kids, they're still students. I see some of the same behavior, some of the same things in them.
I've been around kids for a very long time, so can pick up various things. It's building that relationship and wanting to make a difference.
Having that support system is huge.
That little old saying, it takes a village to raise a child, and it does.
It really does.
(Continued below)
JM: Jackie Morreale (13:36): You make it look easy, because you have such a great attitude about it. It's really about the growth and you're helping people as you're climbing. Wow, those kids in Orlando and Palm Beach County are so lucky to have you. I'm so glad that this is where you ended up.
You obviously have this calling to help people and kids, especially at-risk youth. So, what inspired you to study education? Did this start in Louisiana or while you were working as an adult and taking classes at UCF?
Dr. Roy McGriff (14:05): Both my parents were retired educators. It was in the blood, in the DNA. Seeing them being in education and the students and the kids that they've impacted in their lives. My dad was a baseball coach, football coach. My mom taught first grade through third grade.
Both my parents have impacted kids even today.
My dad passed away quite a years ago. My mom is in a facility right now.
People still talk about them today, how they impacted their life.
Seeing that, it geared me in that direction. Sometimes you don't realize what your path is going to be. You think it's going to be in one way, but... God's plan can take you in different direction. But you're still helping others. You're making an impact. Thanks to my parents, I'm sure that's where it started for education.
Jackie Morreale (14:50): I always tell my own children, you can never ever replace your first grade, your second grade, your third grade teacher. You can never replace that person who sparked your interest in biology, sparked your interest in karate. That person leaves a legacy, makes a difference every single day, even in little baby steps that they move towards. And even if they inspire one person to do something different, that's it. Exactly.
Dr. Roy McGriff (15:07): That's it. I'm telling you that is the key. If you can make an impact in one person's life or one kid's life, your job is done. You have fulfilled that goal and when you know that you have helped people along the way and seeing that your little nuggets have helped those move on to do better.
That's the most gratifying thing in the world.
Jackie Morreale (15:35): What advice would you give to someone looking to start a new graduate school journey?
Dr. Roy McGriff (15:40): Number one, be committed.
Be disciplined. Be consistent. Be open-minded. Be a sponge.
As I tell my kids, learn how to be malleable.
Be flexible. You have to adjust.
Don't take things personally.
Always think positive, especially when you're doing that dissertation.
That could be the beast. When you go on your dissertation and you're starting your first chapter and your second chapter. Then when you take your paper over to your chair and they say, no, I don't like this, and then they kick it back. Now you got to go back and put all these thoughts together.
Be patient.
See it through. You will accomplish the goal.
Be willing to sacrifice.
What I mean by that is sacrificing your time. There will be times you might not be able to go out with your friends. You might have to stay up a little bit later to write on that paper, because there are deadlines. You might not be able to attend certain things that you used to. Just know at the end of that journey, you would have accomplished that goal. You can't do it all. You have to sacrifice something to reach that goal. So for that person that's on that journey, just be patient.
If you're committed, that's what's going to help you start, but you got to have that discipline to stay in there.
It's good to have another group or network that are doing the same things because they could be able to help relate to you and give you little nuggets, a little advice to get you through.
Also, find some time for yourself.
If it's 10 minutes a day.
I have a ritual that I get up in the mornings now.
Just 30 minutes to myself and I meditate. That's it. It's just quiet. That old saying, the calm before the storm. Get your mind together because you know the storm is coming. That storm can be just that daily chaos of family, kids, work.
Just know you're going to have to multitask. That's where it comes into patience. Find something you enjoy, if it's 10 minutes a day, because you have got to get peace of mind. You have to write this paper, and if your mind is not clear, you're gonna be frustrated.
I'm going to be real with you, you might have the dogs barking, you might have your kids, Mom, I need to do this. Your husband might say, Baby, can you do this here for me? It's like, yes, yes, yes. That's the moment where you have to be able to stay calm and say, you know what? I need a minute to collect myself.
You have to write that paper. They only give you a certain amount of time to finish your dissertation. But I know that you will. Hopefully, the advice that I shared with those that are taking that journey, I hope that can help in any sort of way. Again, reading a book, or doing something that you enjoy doing, like I said, just having to get peace of mind to be able to get away from that paper, because that can be a very tedious thing.
Jackie Morreale (18:24): Such good advice. When you think back to your educational doctorate experience, were there any real high points?
When you think back on it with nostalgia, is it something that you would do again?
Dr. Roy McGriff (18:38): Yes, because while you're doing it, you're thinking of ways to be able to help other people. Of course, you're going to find something that you're passionate about to write about. With me, I was able to talk about students that were very low, in math. So, I knew that was an area that I would want to try to help students.
I was able to be passionate about that because I was in the classroom. I know what the kids were going through and be able to write that paper and say, hey, we need to use more manipulatives. We need to use some hands on things for kids to be able to learn how to count, learn how to do division. Yes, I was happy with it because I was passionate about what I was writing about.
If it's something that you're not passionate about writing about, it's going to be a tough journey.
If it's something you're passionate about, you can bring in your own experiences. It's a lot easier to do that.
There were a lot of great things about it. I have no regrets about it.
Whatever your dissertation is about, make sure it's something that you enjoy, and it won't be that hard to do.
Jackie Morreale (19:38): Your dissertation was focused on helping children in the classroom with different strategic, math strategies that could be more hands-on, with manipulatives to make math more accessible for different populations?
Dr. Roy McGriff (19:50): Exactly. With that, I tap in reading as well, because we know, if a kid can't read by the third grade, that kid is usually going to have some behavior problems. Research shows, if you're not really educated in that way, those kids, they're going to eventually turn out to have behavior problems. Not being able to do certain things in the classroom, kids act out.
When you give a kid an opportunity to give them confidence in something and they feel confident with it, they calm down. Because now I have something that's tangible. I can hold on to it. I can do this now. I feel confident in myself. When you don't have any confidence in an environment where others around you are performing better, that causes anger and frustration, so kids act out.
I knew that working in a behavior facility. I worked with kids like that. They had anger issues, violent issues. Level 10 programs I worked in where kids were shooting, fighting, stabbing, because they were angry. And 90 % of them could not read. These were 17, 18-year-old kids, and they couldn't read kindergarten books, very basic stuff.
It's frustration. That was my area. Just to be able to help them, to give the tools that they need, that was gratifying to me.
Jackie Morreale (21:01): I'm so happy to hear you say that. I know a little bit about the exceptional student education program. I love that your educational doctorate focuses on those special populations that have needs that haven't been addressed and the outcomes of them and how you can still change. You can leave that nugget and plant that seed to make that person's life different. They just have to want it.
It's so interesting that you're able to see that in the classroom and then act on it with your paper direction and now in the classroom and how you teach and how you're leading students.
Dr. Roy McGriff (21:37): Definitely. It all aligns together. That's why I love Karate. Those same skills and strategies I use in the classroom, I use with my karate students. These students are not in my actual classroom, but they're still kids, they're still students. I see some of the same behavior, some of the same things in them.
I've been around kids for a very long time, so can pick up various things. It's building that relationship and wanting to make a difference.
Having that support system is huge.
That little old saying, it takes a village to raise a child, and it does.
It really does.
(Continued below)
Dr Roy McGriff at the Al Sadara School in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
|
Dr Roy McGriff with two students in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
|
Dr. Roy McGriff with students in Abu Dhabi, UAE, winning award for education.
(Continued)
Jackie Morreale (22:04): Let's talk about something that I'm dying to know more about: your own journey with karate. Why did you start at 13?
Dr. Roy McGriff (22:16): Watching movies! I used to watch Jim Kelly, Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris.
I grew up in a neighborhood where it was a little different. We played football in the street, no shoes on. There's things that we did, I think kids today, it'd be considered rough.
So being active, being distracted like that really helped me.
Being athletic and then watching those shows, it just inspired me more. I was into boxing as well. My background growing up, it's a little different, it was a little edgy. But, it taught me a lot.
It got me into karate and I felt that karate was a way for me to have another outlet. It humbled me.
I got there, I thought I was a tough guy. I can fight. Then I had to be humbled, at an early age. My instructor was ex-military. A very hardcore guy. You sparred hard. What we trained back then, I couldn't do today because it would be considered too tough.
He trained us hard. I respected that. In the environment that we grew up in, he felt we were built differently. He showed us how to be humble, strong-minded, young men and women. It taught me that you have to put the ego outside.
It's not about you, it's about learning how to defend yourself.
At the same time, know that it's something larger than you.
I thank God for it because it kept me focused. When you're going through katas and various exercises, you don't really realize what you're doing when you're young. But as you get older, you're like, Man, that taught me a lesson.
Before we used to go to competitions, he used to have me run behind him while he's riding a 10-speed on the track. We'd run about a good mile. I would have to chase behind him on the bike, and then we'd do sparring with the boxing gloves.
It really tested me. I respected that. That's why I have much respect for him today. That's what got me started.
Jackie Morreale (24:03): It sounds like you were living in your own Karate Kid movie with your sensei! He really took you guys through it.
I've seen your karate photos. This one photo that stuck out to me is when you're going to competition. You wore a white belt, the first belt to competition. Because you just said it kept you humble. Still to this day, you're wearing this white belt as a six-degree black belt.
Dr. Roy McGriff (24:20): That's right. Working out with Jujutsu guys. I had a white belt, three stripes. They were like, Wait, what? I'm like, Yeah, I want to learn.
It's not about the belt, it's about the journey.
When I realized that, I learned more. I'm not going in there with the ego. I know I'm a black belt. I don't have to share that with anybody. I want to come in and learn.
When you're malleable and you're able to adjust, you learn more. You can't go in there saying, I know more than you. No!
Having that white belt always humbles me.
It helps me to open myself up, be vulnerable.
I'm teachable. That's the way it goes.
Jackie Morreale (25:10): Tell me about this part of your journey that was in Abu Dhabi. So, you're working there, you're doing curriculum development for the schools in Abu Dhabi, and you're also working with Jujutsu, learning new things.
What was that experience like? What prompted it?
Dr. Roy McGriff (25:26): Oh man, that was wonderful feeling. I always wanted to go abroad to work in education. My wife and I love traveling. I got the opportunity to go to United Arab Emirates, I got accepted for the job. Getting over there was different. Actually living in another country is different than just visiting. I had to get adjusted quickly. I liked being able to fall into a situation that I'm uncomfortable. If I'm uncomfortable, I'm growing. I always think that way. I have to challenge myself to learn the language, the food, the people. Now I'm growing as a person. That experience was awesome. I wouldn't take it back.
It was mandatory for the students there to train in Jujutsu. It was part of their physical education. I would train with some of the students as well. They were strong. They have the largest Abu Dhabi Jujutsu tournaments in Dubai. I was going to those competitions, watching those guys and how they train. These guys I trained with were special forces with the army. They would be instructors for the special forces and train the army guys.
I kind of bumped into them because I was in one of the schools visiting and saw one of the trainers there. I saw the guy's ears. I said, You train in Jujutsu? He was like, Yes.
We got into conversation. He told me where they train. The way they trained, it was hardcore. We would train in a parking lot, underneath. They would put pads along the wall so no one would hurt themselves. It was a great experience. I opened myself up. I was vulnerable. I was willing to learn, and I learned more.
It was a great experience on the education level as well. We got an opportunity to see students from different cultures. It was a wonderful experience.
Jackie Morreale (27:10): Good for you. Had you ever done Jujutsu before this?
Dr. Roy McGriff (27:13): I had been training in Jujutsu in the United States since 2000. Okay. I always kept my white belt, always. I've always had my black belt in Gōjū-ryū. That's the thing about growth because as a martial artist, you want to grow more, to become better. Within Gōjū-ryū Karate, we have Jujutsu, we have Judo, hand-to-hand. So those things are there. I wanted to really hone in my Jujutsu, on my ground techniques. I started in 2000 in Orlando with Sensei Marcio Simas, then I continued in addition to my Gōjū-ryū Karate.
Putting those together made me a stronger person of a ground techniques as well as a stand up. I can stand up and defend. If a person wants to take me to the ground, I'm strong on the ground as well. I'm able to complete both worlds.
Going over there, I don't have to prove anything.
I knew my strengths, I knew my weaknesses.
I checked my ego at the door.
I know what I can do, but I want to find out what I can't.
Help me become a better person.
(Continued below)
Jackie Morreale (22:04): Let's talk about something that I'm dying to know more about: your own journey with karate. Why did you start at 13?
Dr. Roy McGriff (22:16): Watching movies! I used to watch Jim Kelly, Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris.
I grew up in a neighborhood where it was a little different. We played football in the street, no shoes on. There's things that we did, I think kids today, it'd be considered rough.
So being active, being distracted like that really helped me.
Being athletic and then watching those shows, it just inspired me more. I was into boxing as well. My background growing up, it's a little different, it was a little edgy. But, it taught me a lot.
It got me into karate and I felt that karate was a way for me to have another outlet. It humbled me.
I got there, I thought I was a tough guy. I can fight. Then I had to be humbled, at an early age. My instructor was ex-military. A very hardcore guy. You sparred hard. What we trained back then, I couldn't do today because it would be considered too tough.
He trained us hard. I respected that. In the environment that we grew up in, he felt we were built differently. He showed us how to be humble, strong-minded, young men and women. It taught me that you have to put the ego outside.
It's not about you, it's about learning how to defend yourself.
At the same time, know that it's something larger than you.
I thank God for it because it kept me focused. When you're going through katas and various exercises, you don't really realize what you're doing when you're young. But as you get older, you're like, Man, that taught me a lesson.
Before we used to go to competitions, he used to have me run behind him while he's riding a 10-speed on the track. We'd run about a good mile. I would have to chase behind him on the bike, and then we'd do sparring with the boxing gloves.
It really tested me. I respected that. That's why I have much respect for him today. That's what got me started.
Jackie Morreale (24:03): It sounds like you were living in your own Karate Kid movie with your sensei! He really took you guys through it.
I've seen your karate photos. This one photo that stuck out to me is when you're going to competition. You wore a white belt, the first belt to competition. Because you just said it kept you humble. Still to this day, you're wearing this white belt as a six-degree black belt.
Dr. Roy McGriff (24:20): That's right. Working out with Jujutsu guys. I had a white belt, three stripes. They were like, Wait, what? I'm like, Yeah, I want to learn.
It's not about the belt, it's about the journey.
When I realized that, I learned more. I'm not going in there with the ego. I know I'm a black belt. I don't have to share that with anybody. I want to come in and learn.
When you're malleable and you're able to adjust, you learn more. You can't go in there saying, I know more than you. No!
Having that white belt always humbles me.
It helps me to open myself up, be vulnerable.
I'm teachable. That's the way it goes.
Jackie Morreale (25:10): Tell me about this part of your journey that was in Abu Dhabi. So, you're working there, you're doing curriculum development for the schools in Abu Dhabi, and you're also working with Jujutsu, learning new things.
What was that experience like? What prompted it?
Dr. Roy McGriff (25:26): Oh man, that was wonderful feeling. I always wanted to go abroad to work in education. My wife and I love traveling. I got the opportunity to go to United Arab Emirates, I got accepted for the job. Getting over there was different. Actually living in another country is different than just visiting. I had to get adjusted quickly. I liked being able to fall into a situation that I'm uncomfortable. If I'm uncomfortable, I'm growing. I always think that way. I have to challenge myself to learn the language, the food, the people. Now I'm growing as a person. That experience was awesome. I wouldn't take it back.
It was mandatory for the students there to train in Jujutsu. It was part of their physical education. I would train with some of the students as well. They were strong. They have the largest Abu Dhabi Jujutsu tournaments in Dubai. I was going to those competitions, watching those guys and how they train. These guys I trained with were special forces with the army. They would be instructors for the special forces and train the army guys.
I kind of bumped into them because I was in one of the schools visiting and saw one of the trainers there. I saw the guy's ears. I said, You train in Jujutsu? He was like, Yes.
We got into conversation. He told me where they train. The way they trained, it was hardcore. We would train in a parking lot, underneath. They would put pads along the wall so no one would hurt themselves. It was a great experience. I opened myself up. I was vulnerable. I was willing to learn, and I learned more.
It was a great experience on the education level as well. We got an opportunity to see students from different cultures. It was a wonderful experience.
Jackie Morreale (27:10): Good for you. Had you ever done Jujutsu before this?
Dr. Roy McGriff (27:13): I had been training in Jujutsu in the United States since 2000. Okay. I always kept my white belt, always. I've always had my black belt in Gōjū-ryū. That's the thing about growth because as a martial artist, you want to grow more, to become better. Within Gōjū-ryū Karate, we have Jujutsu, we have Judo, hand-to-hand. So those things are there. I wanted to really hone in my Jujutsu, on my ground techniques. I started in 2000 in Orlando with Sensei Marcio Simas, then I continued in addition to my Gōjū-ryū Karate.
Putting those together made me a stronger person of a ground techniques as well as a stand up. I can stand up and defend. If a person wants to take me to the ground, I'm strong on the ground as well. I'm able to complete both worlds.
Going over there, I don't have to prove anything.
I knew my strengths, I knew my weaknesses.
I checked my ego at the door.
I know what I can do, but I want to find out what I can't.
Help me become a better person.
(Continued below)
Dr. Roy McGriff with students in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
|
Dr. Roy McGriff with students learning jujutsu in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
|
Dr. Roy McGriff taking a moment to sit with students in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Dr. Roy McGriff at the jujutsu training facility in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
|
Jujutsu training facility in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
|
(Continued)
Jackie Morreale (28:05): For someone who's just looking to get started, what would you say to start their martial arts learning journey?
Dr. Roy McGriff (28:23): Number one, find what style fits you. Because when we say martial arts, could be a variety of things. Everybody has different style. I love Gōjū-ryū and Jujutsu. Some people might want to do Shotokan. Some people might want to do Taekwondo. Some people might want to do Oshiro. There are so many different styles. I would say research and find out what art or style fits you.
Once you do that, just be committed.
Check your ego at the door.
Be willing to learn. Build your foundation.
Don't worry about a belt.
Focus on the journey.
When you're learning the katas, when you're learning different techniques in class, you're learning something each step of the way.
That foundation is going to help you to continue to be better. And have fun with it. It's a stress reliever. Learn. Be a sponge.
Jackie Morreale (29:11): From your perspective as a Gōjū-ryū karate guru with many years of practice under your belt, is there any practical advice that you can give to just anyone for self-defense?
Dr. Roy McGriff (29:31): Keep it simple.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
When you're out, know where you're going.
Know if you're having a gut feeling about something.
It's about being able to have a confident presence about yourself.
A lot of times you might not have to even use any sort of self-defense at all. Your presence, your strong presence, would say enough for anybody.
Use that intuition that you have.
We usually are into martial arts or self-defense because number one, we want to learn how to protect ourselves. Number two, it can be for sport or fitness. But the number one thing is to be able to defend.
I say a lot of times just being able to have that confidence in who you are, your presence, each and every step of the way. I think that's basically it, just be aware of your surroundings.
Know what you're doing at all times.
Jackie Morreale (30:15): Let's talk about entrepreneurship. When did you start your own karate studio?
Dr. Roy McGriff (30:19): I started at the age of 19. When I went on to Southern University in Louisiana, I started it in college there. I took it with me, trying to make money. I used to work at LSU cafeteria. I used to wash dishes there to try to provide. Doing karate and washing the dishes and trying to go to school with that just didn't, financially, get it.
Jackie Morreale (30:45): This is like watching your film before my eyes. This is the best Karate Kid I've ever heard of. I'm seeing you in Louisiana, washing dishes, kicking butt, taking names.
Dr. Roy McGriff (30:56): Oh, listen. I had to do what I had to do. I washed dishes at LSU. I would take the bus from Southern University. I washed dishes over there. I would teach self-defense classes three days a week on the campus at Southern University. We would do women's classes and self-defense classes. I made a little money off of that.
Then washing the dishes, it didn't always help out. I came back to Florida. Once I got back home to Fort Pierce, I started teaching at the Boys and Girls Club, and then it just continued.
Then I got to Orlando and I started teaching at the Boys and Girls Club there as well.
Then I came here. In Palm Beach, I started teaching at my community in 2008, and I've been doing it ever since.
Jackie Morreale (31:42): How many kids have gone through your karate program? I'm just curious. I know it's a lot.
Dr. Roy McGriff (31:45): I’d say, thousands.
I even had adults, I used to teach back home.
It's so gratifying to know that I made a difference in people's lives doing that.
Jackie Morreale (32:04): Has anyone come back to you as a black belt or as a karate champion of any kind and said, Wow, this is my life direction?
Dr. Roy McGriff (32:13): Yeah, I have one guy. He worked in the Sheriff's Department in Orlando. I was teaching him karate at that time. He ended up continuing. Now he's considered a self-defense instructor for the Sheriff's Department in Orlando. I taught him a lot of the take downs, choke holds, how to restrain, and things of that nature. That's one example of a person.
Jackie Morreale (32:37): Taking the knowledge that you shared and then taking it to their own organization and spreading the wealth of ideas and information. Just got chills.
Are you taking new recruits by the way?
Dr. Roy McGriff (32:43): Exactly! To think about where I'm doing it now, it's residents only. You have to be residents, whether you're adults or kids. Hey, I welcome them to come in, have a good time, learn, and go from there.
Jackie Morreale (32:57): Any shout outs to anybody who helped you along the way? That you want to talk about and say thank you?
Dr. Roy McGriff (33:09): First, I have got to give thanks to God for helping me to be where I am today.
That has been a long journey.
My parents, being educators inspired me to go into education.
My wife, she's been there along the way for the ups and the downs, we all need that support.
And my karate instructor, he's been like a father figure, mentor.
I spoke with him three days ago. Just being that ear for me and still working me through the process as a sixth-degree black belt.
I'm in the process of getting my seventh degree within the next year or so.
It's a process.
I've had other mentors. I want to give a shout out to Dr. Kenyatta Rivers. He was my mentor at University of Central Florida. He passed away about three years ago.
I try to make sure I keep a mental note of all those that inspired me, to continue my journey and not give up.
Jackie Morreale (33:55): With that ambition to get to your seventh degree. I'm so excited for you.
I just wanted to say Dr. Roy McGriff, thank you so much for your time today for sharing your insights on education, on working as an educational leader, on karate, on entrepreneurship, on giving back, on mind, body, spirit. So many insights that you brought to the table today.
I really appreciate you for me as well as for all those other kids out there and adults that are reaping the benefits of having you in their life. Thank you so much!
Dr. Roy McGriff (34:31): You are definitely welcome, Jackie. It's a pleasure being here with you. Stay humble. Take care. Bye-bye.
Want to leave a note of thanks for Dr. Roy McGriff? Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Jackie Morreale (28:05): For someone who's just looking to get started, what would you say to start their martial arts learning journey?
Dr. Roy McGriff (28:23): Number one, find what style fits you. Because when we say martial arts, could be a variety of things. Everybody has different style. I love Gōjū-ryū and Jujutsu. Some people might want to do Shotokan. Some people might want to do Taekwondo. Some people might want to do Oshiro. There are so many different styles. I would say research and find out what art or style fits you.
Once you do that, just be committed.
Check your ego at the door.
Be willing to learn. Build your foundation.
Don't worry about a belt.
Focus on the journey.
When you're learning the katas, when you're learning different techniques in class, you're learning something each step of the way.
That foundation is going to help you to continue to be better. And have fun with it. It's a stress reliever. Learn. Be a sponge.
Jackie Morreale (29:11): From your perspective as a Gōjū-ryū karate guru with many years of practice under your belt, is there any practical advice that you can give to just anyone for self-defense?
Dr. Roy McGriff (29:31): Keep it simple.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
When you're out, know where you're going.
Know if you're having a gut feeling about something.
It's about being able to have a confident presence about yourself.
A lot of times you might not have to even use any sort of self-defense at all. Your presence, your strong presence, would say enough for anybody.
Use that intuition that you have.
We usually are into martial arts or self-defense because number one, we want to learn how to protect ourselves. Number two, it can be for sport or fitness. But the number one thing is to be able to defend.
I say a lot of times just being able to have that confidence in who you are, your presence, each and every step of the way. I think that's basically it, just be aware of your surroundings.
Know what you're doing at all times.
Jackie Morreale (30:15): Let's talk about entrepreneurship. When did you start your own karate studio?
Dr. Roy McGriff (30:19): I started at the age of 19. When I went on to Southern University in Louisiana, I started it in college there. I took it with me, trying to make money. I used to work at LSU cafeteria. I used to wash dishes there to try to provide. Doing karate and washing the dishes and trying to go to school with that just didn't, financially, get it.
Jackie Morreale (30:45): This is like watching your film before my eyes. This is the best Karate Kid I've ever heard of. I'm seeing you in Louisiana, washing dishes, kicking butt, taking names.
Dr. Roy McGriff (30:56): Oh, listen. I had to do what I had to do. I washed dishes at LSU. I would take the bus from Southern University. I washed dishes over there. I would teach self-defense classes three days a week on the campus at Southern University. We would do women's classes and self-defense classes. I made a little money off of that.
Then washing the dishes, it didn't always help out. I came back to Florida. Once I got back home to Fort Pierce, I started teaching at the Boys and Girls Club, and then it just continued.
Then I got to Orlando and I started teaching at the Boys and Girls Club there as well.
Then I came here. In Palm Beach, I started teaching at my community in 2008, and I've been doing it ever since.
Jackie Morreale (31:42): How many kids have gone through your karate program? I'm just curious. I know it's a lot.
Dr. Roy McGriff (31:45): I’d say, thousands.
I even had adults, I used to teach back home.
It's so gratifying to know that I made a difference in people's lives doing that.
Jackie Morreale (32:04): Has anyone come back to you as a black belt or as a karate champion of any kind and said, Wow, this is my life direction?
Dr. Roy McGriff (32:13): Yeah, I have one guy. He worked in the Sheriff's Department in Orlando. I was teaching him karate at that time. He ended up continuing. Now he's considered a self-defense instructor for the Sheriff's Department in Orlando. I taught him a lot of the take downs, choke holds, how to restrain, and things of that nature. That's one example of a person.
Jackie Morreale (32:37): Taking the knowledge that you shared and then taking it to their own organization and spreading the wealth of ideas and information. Just got chills.
Are you taking new recruits by the way?
Dr. Roy McGriff (32:43): Exactly! To think about where I'm doing it now, it's residents only. You have to be residents, whether you're adults or kids. Hey, I welcome them to come in, have a good time, learn, and go from there.
Jackie Morreale (32:57): Any shout outs to anybody who helped you along the way? That you want to talk about and say thank you?
Dr. Roy McGriff (33:09): First, I have got to give thanks to God for helping me to be where I am today.
That has been a long journey.
My parents, being educators inspired me to go into education.
My wife, she's been there along the way for the ups and the downs, we all need that support.
And my karate instructor, he's been like a father figure, mentor.
I spoke with him three days ago. Just being that ear for me and still working me through the process as a sixth-degree black belt.
I'm in the process of getting my seventh degree within the next year or so.
It's a process.
I've had other mentors. I want to give a shout out to Dr. Kenyatta Rivers. He was my mentor at University of Central Florida. He passed away about three years ago.
I try to make sure I keep a mental note of all those that inspired me, to continue my journey and not give up.
Jackie Morreale (33:55): With that ambition to get to your seventh degree. I'm so excited for you.
I just wanted to say Dr. Roy McGriff, thank you so much for your time today for sharing your insights on education, on working as an educational leader, on karate, on entrepreneurship, on giving back, on mind, body, spirit. So many insights that you brought to the table today.
I really appreciate you for me as well as for all those other kids out there and adults that are reaping the benefits of having you in their life. Thank you so much!
Dr. Roy McGriff (34:31): You are definitely welcome, Jackie. It's a pleasure being here with you. Stay humble. Take care. Bye-bye.
Want to leave a note of thanks for Dr. Roy McGriff? Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Continued Reading, Recommended by Dr. Roy McGriff:
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World. Published September 20, 2016.
By Dalai Lama (Author), Desmond Tutu (Author), Douglas Carlton Abrams (Author). |
The Art of Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Handbook for Living. October 1, 2009.
By Dalai Lama (Author). |
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