Thursday, August 1, 2013

August 2013 Newletter

NEW CLASSES FOR SEPTEMBER
Starting in September there will be two new classes. On Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 there will be a class for those interested in competing in Team Kata at tournaments and Musical Kata. These two classes replace the Lil’ Dragon program. This class is open to all ages and ranks. This class is for the serious competitors. You must be willing to work hard and stay on top of your basics.

Also in September on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 we will start a formal weapons class. This class is for purple belts and over. This is an “Add On””program which will be an upgrade to your current monthly tuition. It will cost an additional $10.00 per month. Being the appropriate rank is not enough! You must have sound basics!!! A weapon is an extension of your hands. If you struggle maintaining your basics within your empty hand kata, this class is not for you.

Mr. Williams, Instructor

KANSAS STATE GAMES RESULTS
Saturday, July 13th, 2013
Alex Johnson
1st Place - Kata Novice 6-7
1st Place - Novice Sparring: 6-7
Chance Barr
2nd Place - Kata Novice 6-7
3rd Place - Novice Sparring: 6-7
Shayla Johnson
2nd Place - Intermediate Weapons 10 & Under
1st Place - Kata Intermediate 8-9
2nd Place - Intermediate Sparring: 8-9
Dakota Douglas
1st Place Kata 9-11 Intermediate
1st Place Sparring 9-11 Intermediate
Nolan Clarke
3rd Place Kata 12-14 Advanced
1st Place Sparring 12-14 Advanced
Lisa Johnson
3rd Place - Kata 18-34 Advanced Female
2nd Place - Advanced Sparring 18-34 Advanced Female

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS
KARATE TOURNAMENT
Saturday August 24th
4-H Building 200 N. Griffith
El Dorado, Kansas
CONTACT: Dave Estes 316-320-5425

HOW TO PASS YOUR NEXT BELT TEST
OK, so you've stuck with your karate training for a couple of months already. You enjoy learning all of the punches, kicks and blocks, you've learned your first form and you also know some basic partner work drills. It's time to try for your next belt and for some reason it feels like a wave of fear has suddenly come over you that is threatening your future in the martial arts.

You know you have to take a belt test (also called promotion test or grading) to get the next belt and you want to be successful, but suddenly your previous fear of public speaking seems insignificant compared to the prospect of demonstrating your karate prowess in front of your instructor and fellow club members. Can you do it? Will you pass? How do you get past your fears and take the first step to success and progress up the belt ladder?

The fear of taking a karate test is a real one, but don't make the mistake of blowing the test out of proportion. Remember this is just a test and whether you pass or fail, it does not have to be the beginning or end of your karate practice. Let me give you some simple tips for dealing with the pressure and anxiety of your first belt test.

Tip #1: Put things into perspective. If you look at your progression from white to black belt in karate as a journey, then your individual belt tests are simply checkpoints or layovers.

Tip #2: Find out what you will be tested on this is crucial. You must know what you will be tested on. Knowing what the required content is for the next belt is like buying a map and planning your route from one destination to the next.

Tip #3: Start preparing for your test in advance. Give yourself the best chance possible by writing your test date on your calendar, finding out the requirements of the test and then practicing the things that you need to practice.

Tip #4: Get a good night's sleep before your test and do something relaxing on test day Do whatever it is that calms you down and helps you to focus your mind.

Tip #5: Don't take yourself too seriously. You are taking your gold belt test (or your green..., or your black belt.) If you do your best and do what you do in class, with the extra intensity that comes with adrenaline, then you will more than likely pass your test.

Don't create any more unnecessary obstacles for yourself. You fulfilled the minimum time requirement, you know the material to be tested, you have prepared in advance, you got a good night's sleep, and your instructor thinks you have the ability to pass. So don't take yourself too seriously. Get your uniform on, tie your soon-to-be-old belt and get to your karate school!

Good luck on your belt test. Believe it and you will achieve it!

Author Unknown

DEALING WITH A SIDELINING INJURY
As I enter the third week of nursing a strained ankle / Achilles tendon or something in that area (don’t really know exactly what), I am humbled by what I just read in Bruce Lee’s “Wisdom for the Way”.

“Realizing that my emotions are both positive and negative, I will form daily habits which will encourage the development of the positive emotions and aid me in converting the negative emotions into some form of useful action.”

One of my most effective daily habits of dealing with negative emotions is a good hard bag-kicking workout. I’m having to accept (and not so gracefully as you can imagine) that for now I need to switch gears and find another habit that will allow my ankle to heal. It seems that I get stuck in overdrive and forget that there are other things in life that can achieve the same effect. In other words, I hyperfocus and become rigid in my thinking. For most of my life, I’ve always thought the only way to deal with negativity was to work out to the point of utter exhaustion.

What I’m discovering is I’ve ignored the other side for too long. Here are some daily habits I am playing with now. All have proven to be habits that I should incorporate even after I heal up.

Yoga – I’ve played with this for a long time but not on a consistent basis. I’ve discovered this week just how much flexibility I’ve lost in my lower back, which is a possible contributing factor to my injury and necessary for overall healing. I’m learning from yoga to be gentle with myself not only with the healing process but the progression of mastery. This is converting the negative emotions of frustration, impatience, defeat, and anger into positive channels of gentleness, kindness, patience, and peace.

Simplifying – I started trying to cull unneeded activities & possessions from my life over 18 months ago. I haven’t stayed on course with the process until the last 2 weeks. I’m looking at everything in my life and asking – what is the purpose? What benefit do I gain? Why am I doing this? Am I willing to let it go? Although I am a self-confessed adrenaline junkie, I’ve also learned that clutter (from being over involved) produces negative emotions for me. So … the cleansing continues. And it produces serenity and calm.

Study – I have 8-10 books on martial arts that are scholarly and deep. I have not yet studied them, there always seems to be something else to do. Well, I have plenty of time now. I am amazed at the depth, wisdom, wealth of profound truths, and just how similar the author’s discoveries mirror mine. At the deepest level, karate, for me, is a journey of spiritual revelation and revolution. It has and will continue to turn me inside out and teach me a better way to live my life. Studying these nuggets of wisdom has dragged me out of self-pity over my injury and taken me into battle against myself to unearth the negativity and replace it with vision and purpose. No sparring match can compare to this!

Self care – This one is tough. I’ve still not fully accepted that I’m no longer 18. I’ve only had a few minor injuries that messed with me before and they did not necessitate a “no training” period. The negatives in this are denial, justification, rationalization, and pride. I’m little by little replacing those with good self-care habits that force me to accept that I am 46 and injured. My body can no longer perform at the level I want it to without me supporting it with what it requires. In time, I will see where I truly am, not where I once was – generating self-acceptance, confidence, and truth.

Cristine Warring AKMS Black Belt

SAMURAI AND TWO SWORD STRATEGIES
The Samurai is and was a unique individual. They performed as servants to the Imperial Emperor in Japan for hundreds of years before, they, the Samurai did not exist. These elite warriors were very skillful with weapons, however, the sword, or long sword, or katana was the main weapon of choice in battle or duals.

History has it the Samurai served the Emperor, but later begin to serve themselves due to their acquire power through their great skills with the sword.

There was one Samurai who become well known for his strategies used in battle and in duals. He is known for his cunningness in out-thinking his opponent, used as an advantage to engaging the opponent with his sword. Miyamoto Musashi is that Samurai.

I won’t address his beginning and exploits to his renown fame, you should take the opportunity to research this remarkable man’s history.

Musashi Sensei was not of the elite in his beginning exposures to the art of sword fighting and battle strategies. However, over the years of training, developing technique, challenging other Samurai outright, etc he became the foremost recognized Samurai of all times. Musashi Sensei it is said, he had over 200 duals without a loss of his life. This is quite an impressive resume for a young Sumurai. You can definitely attribute his longevity by the different things he wrote, practiced, and applied in his fighting Strategies. His book titled “The Book of Five Rings” provides his insights on fighting with two swords.

There are five scrolls or areas described in his simple illustrations about the scrolls titled Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Emptiness (Void) from Musashi Sensei’s great knowledge on the use of two swords in his fighting strategies. However, in this writing, I will share with you about ‘The Fire Scroll’.

Musashi indicated in his military science of the individual Two Sword school, that combat is thought of as fire. He indicated, this pertained to victory and defeat in combat. It pertains to fighting five or ten people single handedly and individual duals, especially, with your life on the line.

There are many facets to just this ‘Fire’ concept, however, I will address in the following interpretations.

In your combat environment, always make an assessment of your opponent’s knowledge and tactics, his weak and strong techniques, and find a way to beat your opponent by means of character and knowledge of the military science of sword fighting. This science is his design.

It is important to establish your strategy towards victory upon your opponent by your “Positioning’. Remember, to keep the sun (outside) or light (inside) to your back. In the event you aren’t able to keep this positioning, then maneuver to keep this particular positioning to your right (sun/light). If, it is at night during your fight, keep your opponent where you can see them, then position yourself where any fires (if no barn fires, I interpret this as super bright lights) are to your back or rear and any other lights to your right.

Also, try to stand from a higher ground (outside), even if it is only a slight elevation. If, you are inside take advantage of the stage or elevated podium area. In battling your opponent chase him or them to your left. Ask yourself, why to the left? Think about it? Your long sword is in what hand to commit the most damage? And, any obstacles in the area are to their rear. Don’t let them realize or have time to see the obstacles behind them by pressing your attack on them without relief to them. Push them, hard! These obstacles can be anything; drop-offs, loose rock/gravel/dirt/etc, stuff laying on the ground, door sills, tables, doors, anything that can be considered an obstacle to give you an advantage. Do this, whether, you are inside or outside, as a fighting strategy.

So, the next time you get into combat or a fight scene use this military science of the two swords to your advantage. Your comments are welcomed at www.youngsankarate.com on the Feedback tab.

H. James Young, Chief Instructor, Young San Karate.