AIR CAPITOL CLASSIC
Saturday April 13th
Wichita, Kansas
Rob McCaleb
Adult Novice Kata 3rd Place
Adult Novice Fighting 3rd Place
Alex Johnson
Youth Novice Kata 2nd Place
Youth Novice Fighting 3rd Place
WOMEN’S SELF DEFENSE
National Crime Victims Week
Saturday April 27th
This year’s advanced Women’s self defense workshop was well attended. Nineteen women worked on various tools for self defense. I want to thank our core group of Instructor/Coaches who did a great job keeping the group going.
SPIRIT WEEK
June 24th – 28th
Spirit week is upon us. This year we look forward to a great time in the martial arts. This is the week where everyone is in class together for 1-1/2 to 2 hours Monday through Thursday evening starting at 6:00 pm. Black belts go through a special training and shakedown on Friday evening. On Saturday the 29th at Rice Park is the annual karate school picnic. All AKMS students and immediate family are invited. Families are requested to bring a side dish.
TOURNAMENTS
Sam’s Summer Kick Off
June 2013-TBA
SUNFLOWER STATE GAMES
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Christ The King Church
CONTACT: Tony Melenz 785-554-4220 or
REGISTER ONLINE www.sunflowergames.com
DO I REALLY WANT THE GOLD MEDAL?
Last summer several of us watched Olympic athletes from all over the world compete in just 2 weeks to see who would go home with the gold medals. Many times, the difference between silver and gold, or between bronze and 4th place was thousandths of a second or hundredths of a point. It really drives home the realization that only ONE person wins the gold.
Even though those of us who train in martial arts aren’t necessarily running a race or trying to stick a landing or touch the pool wall first, ask yourself this: what would your journey as a martial artist look like if you WERE training for the gold medal?
Let’s redefine what the gold medal might look like for us. Is it achieving the next belt rank? Showing up at Spirit Week every night it’s held? Is it losing enough weight to get into the next lowest size uniform? Is it making it through a class without jumping cadence and doing pushups?
Although in a track event the finish line looks the same for everyone racing, our finish line is unique to each of us. It changes over time, it changes as we grow, and it changes as we hone our craft. Hundreds have run and won their race, passing on their wisdom over the years. Although we are racing with others, our race is our own. One of the coolest things about being in martial arts today is meeting people at other Dojos running with you. We also have tons of material telling the stories of the ancients running their races.
Training with purpose and focus is one of the main ways to win our respective races. Olympic and pro athletes become serious masters of self-control. They maintain self-control in how they train, how they rest, what they eat, what they drink, and how they spend their time – in essence, EVERY part of their life comes under the microscope. Everything I do in reaching my finish line must have precision and purpose or I’ll end up off track. I must focus continuously so I can eventually use the tools in my toolbox without thinking. The cost of strict self-control is so very worth the prize at the finish line.
As we progress through the colored belt ranks, we hear that we must begin to train outside the dojo. What clutter is in your track lane that prevents that? What might trip you, distract you, or injure you as you are running this race? Clear it out!
Everyone needs support and encouragement. Who is in your bleacher stand cheering you on? Who can you turn to for coaching, constructive criticism, a kick in the pants when needed? Not just in the dojo but outside? Build your personal cheerleading and coaching staff.
Many self-help gurus correctly tell us to develop a mental vision of our goal. Who has gone before you that you can use as a visual image to pull you along when it gets tough? One of my weekly affirmations lists all of the black belts I’ve known over the years that possess traits that I want. Some of them I haven’t seen since 1986. Some of them are at our dojo. Some of them have passed on. But reminding myself of their abilities and their bushido journey keeps me going when I get weary. Create a mental picture of who you strive to become.
So, lace up your shoes (put on your uniform), get to the track (go to class or your backyard), and run (train). Tweak your path as you go but never ever take your eyes off that finish line.
Cristine Warring
AKMS Black Belt
TOURNAMENT PURSES OF YESTER-YEAR AND TODAY? In My Opinion, Think About It
In the tournaments of the 70s to early 90s, the cash prizes were rather lucrative. You could win several hundreds of dollars up to a thousand or more dollars in a weekend. What happened to the big purses from that day? I won’t overlook the tournaments, which do pay out those amounts into days tournaments, but, there are not many. In the national tournament scene, the winning purses may provide those kinds of large purses. But, nonetheless, the question remains, what happen to the big purses on the local scene? It was shared with me about this question from a known promoter of mine, who conveyed that promoters attempting to make money (if, you can truly make money in tournaments, as a promoter), which I understood was hard to do.
One could contend it's the insurance and liability rates paid by the promoters limiting the big purses for the contenders? Or, perhaps, the registration fees are too much or not enough to support the expenses for the promoter? Or would you think, it's a factor of the tournament promoters being a bit greedy? No disrespect, intended for those promoters not fitting this category.
So, what happen to the money purses of yester-year for the winners, and the grand championship run-offs? In a recent training clinic with GM Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace, I presented the question to him about the absence of the big purses, and if, I heard him correctly, he mentioned the greed factor. So, I admit to you, my thought process was along these lines of my thinking concerning this question. If, you remember those times or don’t, please chime in, and give me your take on what happen. I humbly receive your comments. Provide your feedback at www.youngsankarate.com on the electronic feedback form. What do you think? And, may your path be forever fruitful.
H. James Young
Young-San Karate
