Check Norris-the man, the myth, the legend

 

Recently, we lost Carlos Ray Norris. You may know him as the late-great Chuck Norris.

We all know his action-packed movies, his signature sidekick, and his Walker, Texas Ranger days on TV, but did you know he came from very humble beginnings? Poor. No father. Joined the football team and warmed the bench. Lost a brother in Vietnam. His way out of this tough start in life led him to the military to escape these hardships.

First, let me dispel the rumor that I sparred with Chuck. Chuck was in the golden age of competition (circa 1960-1969) in the U.S. I am in the silver age generation and was heavily involved in the 1980’s, competing nationally and internationally. 

Over the years, I have had several great teachers in many different martial arts. Although I have trained in many systems, my primary training is in Tang Soo Do, a Korean art. Mr. Norris was in my karate family tree.

Here are a few stories about my Chuck connections.

Osan Air Force Base, South Korea (late 1950’s)

After being stationed in Korea, Norris joined many young G.I.s who began martial arts training after watching a demonstration to fill their off-duty time. Mr. Shin was one of the local Tang Soo Do instructors from town who taught daily classes on base in a Quonset hut. Service members trained for several hours each night under very rigorous conditions, in very cold winter weather and very hot summer weather. The long daily classes enabled students to accelerate their progress and even achieve black belt status in 1.5 years, as was the case with my teacher, Mr. Cheezic, who received his black belt in a morning grading. Norris then received his green belt that same afternoon (Mr. Cheezic was very proud of the fact that he was Norris' senior in rank).

One of my teachers, Grandmaster Kim of South Korea, told me this Chuck story. The Grandmaster had his school just a few blocks from Osan. As a matter of fact, I had the honor of visiting this mecca of martial arts in 2010. Norris was a military policeman and had the opportunity to requisition a military jeep for travel to Seoul for advanced training. South Korea is currently a very advanced country, but after the war there, with many dirt roads and scarce streetlights, there was great suffering and poverty. While driving from the air base to the city in an open-sided jeep, trying to avoid many road hazards, a critical incident occurred when crossing a barely sustained, weakened bridge. 

The jeep lurched violently, and Grandmaster Kim was flung helplessly toward the deep abyss of the ravine below. Norris, just in time, reached over, grabbed him, and kept him from being ejected, almost certainly to a critical end. The Grandmaster used to tell us that Chuck Norris saved his life. Not his first act of heroism.

After Korea, Norris returned to California and opened a chain of karate schools in the Los Angeles area. To boost the school's enrollment, he began competing in local martial arts tournaments. With overwhelming success, he ventured out across the country and became a national champion. With these credentials, his school grew exponentially, and with his skill and good looks, he soon became the instructor to the stars and was often on many popular TV shows (you can view these on YouTube). Steve McQueen, one of his students, got him into acting. 

I was at a kickboxing show at Foxwoods casino, where Chuck was the guest of honor. He was in the crowd signing autographs. When my wife’s turn came, she (at 5’6) was surprised to see they stood eye to eye, even with his cowboy boots. Sometimes our heroes are just regular people.

Why I admired Chuck Norris.

I just loved his “good guy” image. He was easy-going, firm, and respected. He often played the part of a hero, whether as a police officer, a soldier, or a concerned mentor. In one of his movies, he enters a bar and gets beaten up by a criminal crew of 16 guys. In a post-movie interview, he was asked, why didn't you use your movie magic to defeat them all? His reply was, “That's not realistic.”

His average-Joe persona made me admire him; he was not boastful like Jean-Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal, and he carried himself with a calm, peaceful demeanor. 

For years, I heavily supported our local D.A.R.E programs, and Chuck started a program called “Kick drugs out of America.”

He was a legitimate martial artist, always learning and combining arts to make himself and his students better, and I, too, followed this path of never-ending learning. Being a lifelong student exemplifies one of his greatest qualities. I saw a photo of him training in martial arts on his birthday, just days before his passing. 

Our art emphasizes self-discipline and character, and this gave Chuck a reputation for promoting the greater good. He was filled with dignity, and there was no trash-talking or ego.

Chuck Norris memes have been popular on the internet for decades, so I thought I would close with one. 

Chuck Norris didn’t die- he got tired of being undefeated on earth.

Mike Bogdanski

Mike is a martial arts Grandmaster and anti-bully activist. 

"Navigating Screen Time: Healthy Habits for Kids"

While waiting in a long line at the grocery store, I had time to do some people-watching. Many of the patrons were moms with their kids, and what I noticed was the amount of screen time nearly every child was immersed in, watching videos or playing video games. I know, as a parent and grandparent, that the phone is an easy go-to babysitter when a child is getting restless, and you are tired and frustrated. If your child weren't using your phone, you might start scrolling to pass the time. In this column, I wanted to talk about creating healthy habits to navigate excess screen time for kids (and maybe you, too).

Screens are inevitable. With this powerful device, we can call, email, text, check the weather, track gas points, take photos, check social media, manage our appointments, place our Amazon order, pay our bills, and get the answer to any question in the universe. How did we ever manage before smartphones? And the downside- Scrolling at night ruins your sleep, helps you become sedentary, and adds to your depression. Can you imagine what it is doing to our kids during their developmental years?

It's all about balance. I think you would agree, the phone is addictive!

The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes limiting screen time based on age, prioritizing high-quality, interactive content, and avoiding screens for children under 18-24 months, except for video chatting.

Key recommendations include:

1. <18 months: Avoid digital media, except video chat.
2. 18–24 months: Limit to high-quality, educational programming.
3. 2–5 years: Max 1 hour per day of high-quality, educational, co-viewed content.
4. 6+ years: Set consistent limits to ensure adequate sleep, exercise, and schoolwork.

Different developmental stages have different needs:

∙ Toddlers/preschoolers: minimal screens, co-viewing

essential

∙ Elementary age: structured educational content

∙ Tweens/teens: social connection becomes important, and

boundaries are absolutely needed

Is it essential to be technologically literate? Yes! Technology helps us learn more, learn faster, and more efficiently. Our learning curve has been exponential because of it, and now with AI, watch out. The problem becomes the time and balance with moving your body and the emotional connections we need through relationships. I just read that Gen Z is turning to AI for counseling and companionship. Dating is down, new relationships are down, and anxiety is up. It's time to step back and take a strong look at what we are doing.

Active versus passive consumption. My wife and I are big readers, and we love getting our fix in the library. We chat with the great library staff, enjoy various programs they put on, and leave with an armful of books. If you or your kids scroll endlessly with no end in sight, you are wasting time and letting screen time become addictive.

Create Healthy Screen Habits

Having clear and reasonable rules for viewing is necessary. Let's establish clear boundaries for your kids:

∙ Screen-free zones (dinner table, bedrooms- a must)

∙ Screen-free times (first hour after waking, last hour

before bed)

∙ Tech-free family time

∙ Prioritize content quality

∙ Educational and creative apps over mindless scrolling

∙ Co-viewing and co-playing when possible

∙ Age-appropriate content

∙ Video calls with family vs. passive viewing

∙ Interactive learning vs. auto-play videos (I personally have been using Duolingo to brush up my Polish.

Model healthy behavior:

∙ Parents be role models for balanced use

∙ Emphasize active vs. passive consumption

∙ Teach critical thinking about online content

Physical activities are essential for a child's development, motor skills, emotional intelligence, and creativity are built thru through nature and hands-on play. Rather than a total digital ban, aim to integrate technology as a tool.

To maintain balance, establish a "limited screen time as a reward" system, co-create a family media plan, and designate daily "blackout" hours. Embracing unstructured "boredom/free thinking" is vital to developing your child's independence and creative spirit.

I want to warn you that the ever-present threat of cyberbullying and online predators must always be a concern. Tablet use is an open invitation to anyone in the world to hack into your child's life if you don't keep a close eye on it. Monitoring electronics is not an invasion of your child's privacy; it's your responsibility to keep them safe. Parental control apps are available to help filter content, control screen time, and generate activity reports. You can even flag mood and behavioral changes, and get bullying alerts. Never, I repeat never, let your kids take tech to bed.

Can your kids escape the screen? The answer is yes and no. To use the philosophy of moderation is the perfect answer. Having firm criteria will help you balance everything. Just like Goldilocks, there can be too much, too little, and just right. Assessing this proportional use by your child's age will be a never-ending question. If you are asking, "Is it too much?" The answer is probably yes. Be your child's guide to a healthy but guarded relationship with tech.

Mike Bogdanski is a martial arts Grandmaster and anti-bully activist.

“Navigating Screen Time: Healthy Habits for Kids”

While waiting in a long line at the grocery store, I had time to do some people-watching. Many of the patrons were moms with their kids, and what I noticed was the amount of screen time nearly every child was immersed in, watching videos or playing video games. I know, as a parent and grandparent, that the phone is an easy go-to babysitter when a child is getting restless, and you are tired and frustrated. If your child weren't using your phone, you might start scrolling to pass the time. In this column, I wanted to talk about creating healthy habits to navigate excess screen time for kids (and maybe you, too).

Screens are inevitable. With this powerful device, we can call, email, text, check the weather, track gas points, take photos, check social media, manage our appointments, place our Amazon order, pay our bills, and get the answer to any question in the universe. How did we ever manage before smartphones? And the downside- Scrolling at night ruins your sleep, helps you become sedentary, and adds to your depression. Can you imagine what it is doing to our kids during their developmental years?

It's all about balance. I think you would agree, the phone is addictive!

The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes limiting screen time based on age, prioritizing high-quality, interactive content, and avoiding screens for children under 18-24 months, except for video chatting. 

Key recommendations include: 

• <18 months: Avoid digital media, except video chat.
• 18–24 months: Limit to high-quality, educational programming.
• 2–5 years: Max 1 hour per day of high-quality, educational, co-viewed content. 
• 6+ years: Set consistent limits to ensure adequate sleep, exercise, and schoolwork. 

Different developmental stages have different needs:

∙ Toddlers/preschoolers: minimal screens, co-viewing 

essential

∙ Elementary age: structured educational content

∙ Tweens/teens: social connection becomes important, and 

boundaries are absolutely needed

Is it essential to be technologically literate? Yes! Technology helps us learn more, learn faster, and more efficiently. Our learning curve has been exponential because of it, and now with AI, watch out. The problem becomes the time and balance with moving your body and the emotional connections we need through relationships. I just read that Gen Z is turning to AI for counseling and companionship. Dating is down, new relationships are down, and anxiety is up. It's time to step back and take a strong look at what we are doing.

Active versus passive consumption. My wife and I are big readers, and we love getting our fix in the library. We chat with the great library staff, enjoy various programs they put on, and leave with an armful of books. If you or your kids scroll endlessly with no end in sight, you are wasting time and letting screen time become addictive.

Create Healthy Screen Habits 

Having clear and reasonable rules for viewing is necessary. Let's establish clear boundaries for your kids:

∙ Screen-free zones (dinner table, bedrooms- a must)

∙ Screen-free times (first hour after waking, last hour 

before bed)

∙ Tech-free family time

∙ Prioritize content quality

∙ Educational and creative apps over mindless scrolling

∙ Co-viewing and co-playing when possible

∙ Age-appropriate content

∙ Video calls with family vs. passive viewing

∙ Interactive learning vs. auto-play videos (I personally have been using Duolingo to brush up my Polish.

Model healthy behavior:

∙ Parents be role models for balanced use

∙ Emphasize active vs. passive consumption

∙ Teach critical thinking about online content

Physical activities are essential for a child’s development, motor skills, emotional intelligence, and creativity are built thru through nature and hands-on play. Rather than a total digital ban, aim to integrate technology as a tool.

To maintain balance, establish a "limited screen time as a reward" system, co-create a family media plan, and designate daily "blackout" hours. Embracing unstructured "boredom/free thinking" is vital to developing your child's independence and creative spirit.

I want to warn you that the ever-present threat of cyberbullying and online predators must always be a concern. Tablet use is an open invitation to anyone in the world to hack into your child’s life if you don’t keep a close eye on it. Monitoring electronics is not an invasion of your child’s privacy; it’s your responsibility to keep them safe. Parental control apps are available to help filter content, control screen time, and generate activity reports. You can even flag mood and behavioral changes, and get bullying alerts. Never, I repeat never, let your kids take tech to bed.

Can your kids escape the screen? The answer is yes and no. To use the philosophy of moderation is the perfect answer. Having firm criteria will help you balance everything. Just like Goldilocks, there can be too much, too little, and just right. Assessing this proportional use by your child’s age will be a never-ending question. If you are asking, “Is it too much?” The answer is probably yes. Be your child’s guide to a healthy but guarded relationship with tech.

Mike Bogdanski is a martial arts Grandmaster and anti-bully activist. 

See The Gold in Everyday

 I received so much great feedback on my last column. My focus was on the many great places and activities in Northeast Connecticut, and this second version will focus on the people who make it special. 

Several years ago, one of Northeast Connecticut's finest citizens, Ron Coderre, wrote a column that everyone loved to read (thanks, RPC). At the end of the year, he always mentioned many great local people who have given much to our area. This article will be my version.

Thank you to all the great people who make Northeast Connecticut a special place to live. I know I cannot mention all the deserving citizens, but I will do my best. 

First, family -- my wife, our children, and grandchildren, who we are blessed to have in our lives, my sister Jean, my brother-in-law Dave, and my nephew Alex Stratton. I want to thank the people who influenced me throughout my life: my generous and loving parents, and the many martial arts teachers who always held me to a higher standard. 

Gary and Karen Osbrey, who have dedicated their lives to improving our towns, have a genuine love for people and the ever-popular morning show with the illustrious John Mahon. The decades of students and members of Mike Bogdanski’s Martial Arts and Midtown Fitness, who still often mention how much they miss my old gym. Mayor Barney Seney and all he has done for Putnam (and for me personally); Putnam Town Administrator Elaine Sistare; the ever-vigilant Putnam Police Department, especially Captain Justin Lussier, a very special person to me. Michelle Lott for her senior lunches; Barbara Chubbuck for just being the very best person; Beth Markowski Roop for her contribution to the duck race. The stalwart local leadership of Maureen Nicholson, Joe Bellavance, Ed Grandelski, and Nick Donohue, who put in the time, heart, and work selflessly for residents, retired rec director Willie Bousquet, a Putnam legend, and Jimmy Callaghan, who has risen to fill these big shoes. 

Great community groups like the Chamber (Elle and Nancy) and the PBA (President Kate Cerrone), and their dedicated members who drive Northeast Connecticut energy like a racecar. 

Professor Gary Powell for his friendship and compassion, Peter Vitale for his leadership, Joe Carvalho for his vision, Arthur Fairthorne for his quiet and dedicated mentorship, and Dr. Jeff Gordon for his passion for NE. CT., Dr. Deb Campbell, for her emergency department heroism at DKH.

Mike Green, whose dad used to be Putnam’s police chief, a dedicated martial artist now fighting a serious health battle, Jeremy Goulet -- Black Belt, former Marine, and MP for your indomitable spirit and dedicated support, 

Amy Brunette and Dick Loomis and their passion for business, Dick Salvas highlighting all classic cars, Danny Goyette for getting us deals on vehicles, Sam Markely who sold me my ninja Corvette over 45 years ago, Putnam’s restaurant of the year owners Sheila and James Frost (by the way, James is my first Black Belt, starting karate at age 11)—excellent breakfasts at the Painted Baker with Monique and Jamie, Jimmy and Deb St. Jean, Tracie, Kathy, and Jen at Chase Graphics. Nicole and Julie for your artistry at the Complex, Tonya Brock, and your dedication to the Bradley Playhouse. Linda Colangelo and Laura Croscetti for too many good deeds to mention, Tim Daley, DJ, for keeping us dancing. Insurance King Matt Desaulnier, computer guru Eric Gould, the benevolent and generous Tom Borner, Dave Vitale, former restaurateur and now clean-up man, Linda Lemmon, and her Putnam Town Crier, who shows us how a small town newspaper gets built, and Mike and Krupa, who believed in Putnam enough to make Montana Nights, and now Bounce X, The Larsons, and their Sprucedale Gardens Nursery for green thumbs, and for Logee’s and their legendary greenhouses.

Great people who have passed: former Mayor and State rep Danny Rovero, Don Brown, former vice president of the frozen food aisle at Stop and Shop, Laura Gubernat, one of the greatest moms, Karissa Choquette, who went through Black Belt testing while wearing a chemo port; Laurie Champany, the most formidable cancer fighter ever; and Master Griz, who was a dedicated student and instructor right to the end. 

Valley Spring greats President Kathleen Demers, Waldo, and my buddy Danny Moulton. Moe Coderre for his warm and genuine personality. Joe Carlone, Sr., for friendship and foot switches.

Veterans Fred Ruhlemann and Bruce Hay, for their dedication to veterans and their generous food share; Rob Challinor and Hans Lowell, for keeping the veteran spirit alive at the Putnam V.F.W.

Kristen and Zak from Wonderland Comics, who provide me with my monthly Superman comics; Trent Pappas and his Quiet Corner TV project; and Robin Deary Fillmore for the most extraordinary gymnastics center in the state.

Consistently dedicated Villager letter writers, Dr. Lee Wesler and Lisa Arends. Our local historians: Bill and Terri Pearsall, John Miller, Jeanne Benoit, and Queen of the Boxcar Museum, Pat Hedenberg.

And a special thanks to Brendan Berube and Villager newspapers!

There are so many great people to mention, and I am sorry for leaving you out. 

Hoping everyone can live their dream in 2026. I plan to!

Mike Bogdanski

Mike is a martial arts Grandmaster, anti-bully activist, and newly elected Selectman

Youth is Wasted on the Young: A Second Look at the "Do-Over."

Now that I am (mostly) retired, I finally have the space to look back on where I've been and consider where I'm going. In conversations with friends, I often hear the same "retro" refrains: "If I could do it over again," "If I knew then what I know now," or "I didn't realize how good I had it."

If you've found yourself echoing these thoughts, you aren't alone. It is easy to look back and spot the wrong turns we have made in life. Let's revisit those questions with the benefit of the wisdom and knowledge we've earned.

"If I could do it all over again..."

It is human nature to look back and spot the wrong turns. However, I hope that if there were better choices to be made, you have already begun correcting your course. If not, start today. I live by the mantra: "The best time to start was yesterday; the next best time is right now."

"If I knew then what I know now..."

Forgive your younger self. Really, it's ok. At that time in your life, you simply didn't have the "software" to process the information you have today. Chances are, you likely heard good advice back then, but you lacked the maturity, time, or confidence to act on it. As Oprah Winfrey wisely said: "If I knew then what I know now, I would never have wasted even a single minute doubting my path." Your path led you to this realization; that is a victory in itself.

"I had it good, but I didn't appreciate it."

In my years of teaching, I often said, " Maturity is the day you learn to walk around the puddle rather than through it. Of course, when looking back, we would have picked different jobs, saved more money, or exercised more. But the secret to happiness is to appreciate what you have right now.

There are people in this world who envy the exact life you are living today. In past years, we compared ourselves to the neighbors; today's youth compare themselves to a global "highlight reel" on social media. It makes me realize that "appreciating what you have" is actually much harder today than it was forty years ago.

As I mentioned in last month's article, "Look for the gold in your day." You can always find one thing daily to be grateful for and maintain an "attitude of gratitude."

The Teacher Appears

We often wish we could go back and teach our younger selves to persevere, to sacrifice for the long term, and to have the courage to try new things. But there is a hurdle: the old saying, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Science tells us the human brain isn't fully developed until age twenty-five—and as many of us know, that's especially true for young men! Our younger selves might not have been ready or willing to listen.

Passing the Torch

While you cannot travel back in time to mentor your teenage self, you can share your "O.P.E." (Other People's Experience) with your children, grandchildren, and peers. Having the opportunity to mentor many over the years, I reflected on what advice could be helpful. One of the best things I ever learned personally was to ask people who are more intelligent than I am for advice. I have gotten counsel from elderly veterans to multi-millionaires and everything in between. I believe successful people are usually happy to share their map if you are willing to ask for directions.

As the saying goes: "Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk."

My Remedies for the "If Onlys"

The tragedy of life is often that we get old too soon and wise too late. But it's never too late to change your self-imposed narrative.

1. Seek Wisdom, Not Do-Overs: Don't wish for a "do-over"; make today a "do-it."

2. Keep Growing: Commit to developing mentally, physically, and emotionally, regardless of your age. I once received a desk plaque from a student: "Success is a journey, not a destination." This woman was a black belt at age 53. When she moved to Florida, she started karate at a new school and was asked to wear a white belt again. She was dismayed to think her previous hard work was for naught. With her previous experience, she accelerated through the program and got a second black belt at age 56 (enjoy the journey).

3. Find the Spark: Perhaps the goal isn't to be a teen again, but to bring "teenage" wonder and energy into our adult lives. Let's take a step forward every day. If you could sit down with your 17-year-old self for coffee today, what's the one thing you'd tell them? 

We often spend our later years wishing for a "back to the future moment," but what if the real goal isn't to be young again—it's to bring youthful inspiration into seeking the wisdom we have now.

My monthly tip- Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.

Mike is A martial arts Grandmaster and anti-bully activist