Jeff Geesling-Brown Belt
Jordan Julian-Black
Belt
Friday, March 22, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
March 2013 Newsletter
Black Belt Test
Saturday March 23, 2012 at American Karate & Martial Science.
Breathing: In My Opinion-Think About It
What is the importance of proper breathing in your kata performances and fighting? Would it have anything to do with blood flow, oxygen, power, muscle contraction, muscle relaxation, faintness, relaxation, or blood pressure? Ponder that for a moment.
I have seen karatekas, weight lifters, runners, people hyper-ventilating, etc not properly breathe while executing their particular exercise. I want to focus on the karateka in my expression/this thought/this observation about breathing. It is very important to breathe, and not hold your breath while performing your training routine, whatever, the activity. By holding your breathe in the performance of kata, you could faint, and increase your blood pressure with the off and on of improper breathing sequences. Remember proper breathing does help your blood flow with the exchange of oxygen flowing in and out through your lungs and veins, which most of you are familiar with, but should you learn how to do ‘deep belly’ breathing expect a completely new experience in your techniques, posture, stamina, executions.
Not breathing properly can cause injury to you. Proper breathing sync with the particular technique adds power and speed to your technique upon execution. You the karateka have to determine the inhale/exhale sequence that work for you. Remember, to thrust a punch/kick, you must contract the muscle and relax it to get the best action from it. However, adding good breathing to your techniques can accelerate and produce great power upon making contact to an imaginary opponent, attacking opponent, and tournament opponent (with control). Don’t forget to be in a good stance to compliment your technique while breathing correctly. In the event you have any comments, feel free to contact me at www.youngsankarate.com (on the feedback form) or h.james@youngsankarate.com.
Master H. James Young
Bushido Virtue #7 Chugi
In America today, loyalty can be seen in many forms. The most blatant example might be avid sports fans. Even when a beloved team is having a terrible season, a loyal fan will still cheer them on, hope for the best; and even attend games where a loss is expected.
When the going in life gets rough, however, do we stay the course? Do we remain focused on our path and our goals and refuse to allow what’s around us drag us off course? The last of the traditional Bushido tenets, loyalty, or chugi in Japanese, seems to be the epitomal manifestation of the previous six tenets in a samurai’s life.
Judging from the origins of the word according to Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, its meaning is rooted in “allegiance to the sovereign or established government of one’s country”. Over time, loyalty has come to embody allegiance to just about anything. Dictionary.com defines loyalty as “faithfulness to commitments or obligations” and gives fealty, devotion, constancy, and fidelity as synonyms. Inherent in all of these descriptions is that loyalty comes from a choice.
So, first and foremost, to what are we loyal? Our dojo, sensei, fellow karate-ka? Our family, friends, country? Our faith? Bushido itself? Ourselves? Secondly, how deeply are we loyal? On a scale of 1 to 10, what is your loyalty to your martial arts training? To the study of Bushido? To striving for excellence not only during class but every second of every day?
If you ask a black belt, your spouse, a co-worker what their honest appraisal of your loyalty is, would you truly honestly be willing to hear what they say? Even better, what would you do with what they say?
Ultimately, the choice is up to you. Loyalty springs from understanding and choosing to follow the previous virtues of Bushido. The path lies before you, clear and well-traveled for centuries. Many travel it now and you will not be alone when the going gets tough. Will you stay the course?
Cristine Warring
Self Esteem-Part 1
What Is Self-Esteem?
To understand self-esteem, it helps to break the term into two words. Let's take a look at the word esteem (say: ess-teem) first. Esteem is a fancy word for thinking that someone or something is important or valuing that person or thing. For example, if you really admire your friend's dad because he volunteers at the fire department, it means you hold him in high esteem. And the special trophy for the most valuable player on a team is often called an esteemed trophy. This means the trophy stands for an important accomplishment. And self means, well, yourself! So put the two words together and it's easier to see what self-esteem is. It's how much you value yourself and how important you think you are. It's how you see yourself and how you feel about your achievements. Self-esteem isn't bragging about how great you are. It's more like quietly knowing that you're worth a lot (priceless, in fact!). It's not about thinking you're perfect — because nobody is — but knowing that you're worthy of being loved and accepted.
Why Self-Esteem Is Important?
Self-esteem isn't like a cool pair of sneakers that you'd love to have but don't have to have. A kid needs to have self-esteem. Good self-esteem is important because it helps you to hold your head high and feel proud of yourself and what you can do. It gives you the courage to try new things and the power to believe in yourself. It lets you respect yourself, even when you make mistakes. And when you respect yourself, adults and other kids usually respect you, too. Having good self-esteem is also the ticket to making good choices about your mind and body. If you think you're important, you'll be less likely to follow the crowd if your friends are doing something dumb or dangerous. If you have good self-esteem, you know that you're smart enough to make your own decisions. You value your safety, your feelings, your health, your whole self! Good self-esteem helps you know that every part of you is worth caring for and protecting.
How Kids Get Self-Esteem
As children get older, they can have a bigger role in developing their self-esteem. Achievements like getting a good grade on a test or making the All-Star soccer team are things children can be proud of. So are having a good sense of humor or being a good friend. A child’s family and other people in his or her life like coaches, teammates, and classmates also can boost his or her self-esteem. They can help a child figure out how to do things or notice his or her good qualities. They can believe in the child and encourage him or her to try again when something doesn't go right the first time. It's all part of a child’s learning to see themselves in a positive way, to feel proud of what they've done, and to be confident that there's a lot more they can do.
Tommy Williams, Chief Instructor
TIME AND EFFORT
We often talk about dedication to the martial arts. But the martial arts is about more than kicks, punches, racking up trophies or points in a sports karate magazine or constantly adding stripes to your belt as if it would earn you more respect. It is about that journey to perfection through excellence and dedication to yourself, your friends, your family, your job and your craft. Dedication often comes with long hours of study, training and some pain. Quality time in training hones your character. It earns you respect from your peers and superiors as well as your subordinates. There is no easy road. Today we want everything easy. Today we chase rank and achieve master level rank at an alarming rate.
Korean Grandmaster, instructor, author and actor Hee Il Cho wrote this in a recent magazine article. "I was ten years old, and I simply joined a class. Not a proper kind of training - just coming in, cleaning the place and helping out. By 13, I made black belt. Natural talent? No matter how good your coordination, how much natural talent, even so, you must put in time and effort."
It is time for some of us to put in some "time an effort" and stop chasing that which you don't know what to do with when you catch it. In everything there is a time and a season. Let the evolution of your seasons come and go with the natural order of things.
TOURNAMENTS
WICHITA OPEN KARATE TOURNEY
Cancelled due to weather-TBA
Army National Guard Armory
3617 South Seneca Wichita, KS
CONTACT: Mickey Gomez 316-8383-8210
MID CONTINENT OPEN
Saturday March 9th, 2013
Andover Central Middle School
903 90th St. Andover, KS 67002
CONTACT: 316-733-2298 aircapitaltkd@cox.net
SEIBUKAN KARATE INVITATIONAL
Saturday March 23, 2013
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
600 N. Greenwich Road Wichita, KS
CONTACT: John Goertz 316-516-4101 ksseibukan@yahoo.com
MID AMERICA KARATE TOURNAMENT
Saturday March 30th, 2013
Christ the King Church
25th and Wannamaker Topeka, KS
CONTACT: Pam Johansen 785-844-0050 pam@midamerica_karate.com
KARATE TOURNAMENT
Saturday March 30, 2013
El Dorado 4H-Building
200 N. Griffith El Dorado, KS
CONTACT: Dave Estes 316-320-5425
AMERICAN KARATE PHOTO DAY
Saturday, April 6th will be our annual photo day at American Karate. Wheeler Photography will be at the school from 9:00 am to 10:30 am to do a group class photo and individual photos. There will be more details as this date grows closer.
WOMEN'S SELF DEFENSE
Crime Victims Awareness Month
Our Women's Self Defense Workshop is scheduled fro Saturday, April 27th. This is a FREE workshop for ladies ages 13 and over. This event will be from 9:30 am until 2:00 pm.
If you or your employer would like to make a donation to the school to help purchase equipment or help a disadvantaged youth take martial arts lessons please fill out this form or pick one up at the school.
Saturday March 23, 2012 at American Karate & Martial Science.
Breathing: In My Opinion-Think About It
What is the importance of proper breathing in your kata performances and fighting? Would it have anything to do with blood flow, oxygen, power, muscle contraction, muscle relaxation, faintness, relaxation, or blood pressure? Ponder that for a moment.
I have seen karatekas, weight lifters, runners, people hyper-ventilating, etc not properly breathe while executing their particular exercise. I want to focus on the karateka in my expression/this thought/this observation about breathing. It is very important to breathe, and not hold your breath while performing your training routine, whatever, the activity. By holding your breathe in the performance of kata, you could faint, and increase your blood pressure with the off and on of improper breathing sequences. Remember proper breathing does help your blood flow with the exchange of oxygen flowing in and out through your lungs and veins, which most of you are familiar with, but should you learn how to do ‘deep belly’ breathing expect a completely new experience in your techniques, posture, stamina, executions.
Not breathing properly can cause injury to you. Proper breathing sync with the particular technique adds power and speed to your technique upon execution. You the karateka have to determine the inhale/exhale sequence that work for you. Remember, to thrust a punch/kick, you must contract the muscle and relax it to get the best action from it. However, adding good breathing to your techniques can accelerate and produce great power upon making contact to an imaginary opponent, attacking opponent, and tournament opponent (with control). Don’t forget to be in a good stance to compliment your technique while breathing correctly. In the event you have any comments, feel free to contact me at www.youngsankarate.com (on the feedback form) or h.james@youngsankarate.com.
Master H. James Young
Bushido Virtue #7 Chugi
In America today, loyalty can be seen in many forms. The most blatant example might be avid sports fans. Even when a beloved team is having a terrible season, a loyal fan will still cheer them on, hope for the best; and even attend games where a loss is expected.
When the going in life gets rough, however, do we stay the course? Do we remain focused on our path and our goals and refuse to allow what’s around us drag us off course? The last of the traditional Bushido tenets, loyalty, or chugi in Japanese, seems to be the epitomal manifestation of the previous six tenets in a samurai’s life.
Judging from the origins of the word according to Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, its meaning is rooted in “allegiance to the sovereign or established government of one’s country”. Over time, loyalty has come to embody allegiance to just about anything. Dictionary.com defines loyalty as “faithfulness to commitments or obligations” and gives fealty, devotion, constancy, and fidelity as synonyms. Inherent in all of these descriptions is that loyalty comes from a choice.
So, first and foremost, to what are we loyal? Our dojo, sensei, fellow karate-ka? Our family, friends, country? Our faith? Bushido itself? Ourselves? Secondly, how deeply are we loyal? On a scale of 1 to 10, what is your loyalty to your martial arts training? To the study of Bushido? To striving for excellence not only during class but every second of every day?
If you ask a black belt, your spouse, a co-worker what their honest appraisal of your loyalty is, would you truly honestly be willing to hear what they say? Even better, what would you do with what they say?
Ultimately, the choice is up to you. Loyalty springs from understanding and choosing to follow the previous virtues of Bushido. The path lies before you, clear and well-traveled for centuries. Many travel it now and you will not be alone when the going gets tough. Will you stay the course?
Cristine Warring
Self Esteem-Part 1
What Is Self-Esteem?
To understand self-esteem, it helps to break the term into two words. Let's take a look at the word esteem (say: ess-teem) first. Esteem is a fancy word for thinking that someone or something is important or valuing that person or thing. For example, if you really admire your friend's dad because he volunteers at the fire department, it means you hold him in high esteem. And the special trophy for the most valuable player on a team is often called an esteemed trophy. This means the trophy stands for an important accomplishment. And self means, well, yourself! So put the two words together and it's easier to see what self-esteem is. It's how much you value yourself and how important you think you are. It's how you see yourself and how you feel about your achievements. Self-esteem isn't bragging about how great you are. It's more like quietly knowing that you're worth a lot (priceless, in fact!). It's not about thinking you're perfect — because nobody is — but knowing that you're worthy of being loved and accepted.
Why Self-Esteem Is Important?
Self-esteem isn't like a cool pair of sneakers that you'd love to have but don't have to have. A kid needs to have self-esteem. Good self-esteem is important because it helps you to hold your head high and feel proud of yourself and what you can do. It gives you the courage to try new things and the power to believe in yourself. It lets you respect yourself, even when you make mistakes. And when you respect yourself, adults and other kids usually respect you, too. Having good self-esteem is also the ticket to making good choices about your mind and body. If you think you're important, you'll be less likely to follow the crowd if your friends are doing something dumb or dangerous. If you have good self-esteem, you know that you're smart enough to make your own decisions. You value your safety, your feelings, your health, your whole self! Good self-esteem helps you know that every part of you is worth caring for and protecting.
How Kids Get Self-Esteem
As children get older, they can have a bigger role in developing their self-esteem. Achievements like getting a good grade on a test or making the All-Star soccer team are things children can be proud of. So are having a good sense of humor or being a good friend. A child’s family and other people in his or her life like coaches, teammates, and classmates also can boost his or her self-esteem. They can help a child figure out how to do things or notice his or her good qualities. They can believe in the child and encourage him or her to try again when something doesn't go right the first time. It's all part of a child’s learning to see themselves in a positive way, to feel proud of what they've done, and to be confident that there's a lot more they can do.
Tommy Williams, Chief Instructor
TIME AND EFFORT
We often talk about dedication to the martial arts. But the martial arts is about more than kicks, punches, racking up trophies or points in a sports karate magazine or constantly adding stripes to your belt as if it would earn you more respect. It is about that journey to perfection through excellence and dedication to yourself, your friends, your family, your job and your craft. Dedication often comes with long hours of study, training and some pain. Quality time in training hones your character. It earns you respect from your peers and superiors as well as your subordinates. There is no easy road. Today we want everything easy. Today we chase rank and achieve master level rank at an alarming rate.
Korean Grandmaster, instructor, author and actor Hee Il Cho wrote this in a recent magazine article. "I was ten years old, and I simply joined a class. Not a proper kind of training - just coming in, cleaning the place and helping out. By 13, I made black belt. Natural talent? No matter how good your coordination, how much natural talent, even so, you must put in time and effort."
It is time for some of us to put in some "time an effort" and stop chasing that which you don't know what to do with when you catch it. In everything there is a time and a season. Let the evolution of your seasons come and go with the natural order of things.
TOURNAMENTS
WICHITA OPEN KARATE TOURNEY
Cancelled due to weather-TBA
Army National Guard Armory
3617 South Seneca Wichita, KS
CONTACT: Mickey Gomez 316-8383-8210
MID CONTINENT OPEN
Saturday March 9th, 2013
Andover Central Middle School
903 90th St. Andover, KS 67002
CONTACT: 316-733-2298 aircapitaltkd@cox.net
SEIBUKAN KARATE INVITATIONAL
Saturday March 23, 2013
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
600 N. Greenwich Road Wichita, KS
CONTACT: John Goertz 316-516-4101 ksseibukan@yahoo.com
MID AMERICA KARATE TOURNAMENT
Saturday March 30th, 2013
Christ the King Church
25th and Wannamaker Topeka, KS
CONTACT: Pam Johansen 785-844-0050 pam@midamerica_karate.com
KARATE TOURNAMENT
Saturday March 30, 2013
El Dorado 4H-Building
200 N. Griffith El Dorado, KS
CONTACT: Dave Estes 316-320-5425
AMERICAN KARATE PHOTO DAY
Saturday, April 6th will be our annual photo day at American Karate. Wheeler Photography will be at the school from 9:00 am to 10:30 am to do a group class photo and individual photos. There will be more details as this date grows closer.
WOMEN'S SELF DEFENSE
Crime Victims Awareness Month
Our Women's Self Defense Workshop is scheduled fro Saturday, April 27th. This is a FREE workshop for ladies ages 13 and over. This event will be from 9:30 am until 2:00 pm.
If you or your employer would like to make a donation to the school to help purchase equipment or help a disadvantaged youth take martial arts lessons please fill out this form or pick one up at the school.
Friday, February 1, 2013
February 2013 Newsletter
PROMOTIONS
CAYDEN DEETZ, ZACH PERRY, ELIJAH MENDOZA, ALYSSA FRANCIS, ESTRELLA MENDOZA, ANNIE FRANCIS AND GABRIEL McCASKEY
TOURNAMENTS
MID CONTINENT OPEN
Saturday March 9th, 2013
Andover Central Middle School
903 90th St. Andover, KS 67002
CONTACT: 316-733-2298 aircapitaltkd@cox.net
SEIBUKAN KARATE INVITATIONAL
Saturday March 23, 2013
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
600 N. Greenwich Road Wichita, KS
CONTACT: John Goertz 316-516-4101 ksseibukan@yahoo.com
MID AMERICA KARATE TOURNAMENT
Saturday March 30th, 2013
Christ the King Church 25th and Wannamaker Topeka, KS
CONTACT: Pam Johansen 785-844-0050 pam@midamerica_karate.com
RANK ADVANCEMENT
The martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practices, which are practiced for a variety of reasons such as self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental, physical, and spiritual development. The term martial art has become heavily associated with the fighting arts of eastern Asia. The term martial arts are ultimately derived from Latin, and means "Arts of Mars," where Mars is the Roman god of war. Some martial arts are considered 'traditional' and are tied to an ethnic, cultural or religious background, while others are modern systems developed either by a founder or an association.
Various forms (kata) and sparring are commonly used during testing and tournaments. Some competitions pit practitioners of different disciplines against each other using a common set of rules. Rules for sparring vary between art and organization but can generally be divided into light-contact, medium-contact, and full-contact options, reflecting the amount of force that should be used on an opponent. The intent of competition is to serve as a pop quiz for the student as a way of testing skills or experimenting with their tools in a “controlled” environment. Testing or evaluation is important to martial art practitioners of many disciplines who wish to determine their progression or own level of skill in specific contexts. Students within individual martial art systems often undergo periodic testing and grading by their instructor in order to advance to a higher level of recognized achievement, such as a different belt color or title. In order for a student to advance he/she must set goals and reinforce learning through shake downs and competition. It is not about winning or losing in competition. It is about the experience and affirmation from testing your skills.
GOALS
Typically, the beginning of a new year is the time for renewal and commitment, with many of us setting goals for the coming weeks and months ahead. Perhaps the bigger challenge is maintaining those goals! Recently I added two intentional thoughts that I say to myself as I consider my goals and whether I'm moving forward or not:
Something is better than nothing; and My pace is the right pace for me.
What often stops me from meeting a goal is an unrealistic expectation (which usually seemed perfectly realistic when I set the goal). Now when I work on a goal and feel like I am coming up short, I ask myself, "Is there something I could do, however small, to make progress today?" Because something is always better than nothing.
I'm also learning to be kind to myself when I look at progress. I like this advice from Jon Acuff: Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle. There will always be someone who is faster, better, stronger, or who started the process months ago. They are working at their pace; I am working at mine.
According to Wikipedia, goal setting involves establishing specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-targeted (S.M.A.R.T ) goals. Work on the theory of goal-setting suggests that it's an effective tool for making progress by ensuring that participants in a group with a common goal are clearly aware of what is expected from them.
Within our dojo, Mr. Williams has set clear expectations for his students. It is up to each of us to bring our best level of participation to each class period in order to see growth, and ultimately meet our goals.
Wikipedia also states: Goal-setting theory was developed by Edwin A. Locke in the 1960s. His work laid the foundation for goal setting theory and established the positive relationship between clearly identified goals and performance. Additional studies have shown that specific and high goals lead to a higher level of performance than easy or general goals. As long as the individual accepts the goal, has the ability to attain it, and does not have conflicting goals, there is a positive linear relationship between goal difficulty and task performance.
There are a variety of motivational goal-setting quotations that I would offer to end this essay. Perhaps one will resonate with you and give you the motivational “nudge” that you have been needing to set new personal goals for 2013 (and beyond!).
Quotes:
You can find inspiration from others but determination is solely your Responsibility. ~Dodinsky, www.dodinsky.com
The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher. ~Thomas Henry Huxley, An Address to the Students of the Faculty of Medicine in University College, London, May 18, 1870, On the Occasion of the Distribution of Prizes for the Session (Thanks, Paul)
The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me. ~Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead
Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein. ~Life's Little Instruction Book, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr
When I was a Boy Scout, we played a game when new Scouts joined the troop. We lined up chairs in a pattern, creating an obstacle course through which the new Scouts, blindfolded, were supposed to maneuver. The Scoutmaster gave them a few moments to study the pattern before our adventure began. But as soon as the victims were blindfolded, the rest of us quietly removed the chairs. I think life is like this game. Perhaps we spend our lives avoiding obstacles we have created for ourselves and in reality exist only in our minds. We're afraid to apply for that job, take violin lessons, learn a foreign language, call an old friend, write our Congressman - whatever it is that we would really like to do but don't because of personal obstacles. Don't avoid any chairs until you run smack into one. And if you do, at least you'll have a place to sit down. ~Pierce Vincent Eckhart
Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another. ~John Dewey
"In My Opinion-Think About It"
Training: Tournaments, Street; The Difference? for February 2013
Training is essential in any sports, activity, discipline, however, call it what you want. The Martial Arts students must be aware of some of the differences in their training routine with the understanding in the dojo one trains hard to defend themselves and/or others, get in condition, learn philosophy, and practice many techniques/routines. This is all good, outstanding, and great! However, the things a student learns, and execute in tournaments will not always work on the streets. Therefore, the student must know the difference in the point-fighting techniques, have different effects on the streets. The mentality of tournament preparation, and street preparation must always be on the mind of the student, and distinguish between tournament technique applications and street execution. In the event of the student’s main goal of being in the martial arts to only prepare for tournament execution, with the thought of not ever getting involved in a street situation (is something to avoid if possible) is admirable, however, not too practical, but admirable. The ‘street’ and “tournament” applications are very different. Student’s must keep this in the fore-front of their thinking. Will you know and do the difference?
If you or your employer would like to make a donation to the school to help purchase equipment or help a disadvantaged youth take martial arts lessons please fill out this form or pick one up at the school.
CAYDEN DEETZ, ZACH PERRY, ELIJAH MENDOZA, ALYSSA FRANCIS, ESTRELLA MENDOZA, ANNIE FRANCIS AND GABRIEL McCASKEY
TOURNAMENTS
MID CONTINENT OPEN
Saturday March 9th, 2013
Andover Central Middle School
903 90th St. Andover, KS 67002
CONTACT: 316-733-2298 aircapitaltkd@cox.net
SEIBUKAN KARATE INVITATIONAL
Saturday March 23, 2013
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
600 N. Greenwich Road Wichita, KS
CONTACT: John Goertz 316-516-4101 ksseibukan@yahoo.com
MID AMERICA KARATE TOURNAMENT
Saturday March 30th, 2013
Christ the King Church 25th and Wannamaker Topeka, KS
CONTACT: Pam Johansen 785-844-0050 pam@midamerica_karate.com
RANK ADVANCEMENT
The martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practices, which are practiced for a variety of reasons such as self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental, physical, and spiritual development. The term martial art has become heavily associated with the fighting arts of eastern Asia. The term martial arts are ultimately derived from Latin, and means "Arts of Mars," where Mars is the Roman god of war. Some martial arts are considered 'traditional' and are tied to an ethnic, cultural or religious background, while others are modern systems developed either by a founder or an association.
Various forms (kata) and sparring are commonly used during testing and tournaments. Some competitions pit practitioners of different disciplines against each other using a common set of rules. Rules for sparring vary between art and organization but can generally be divided into light-contact, medium-contact, and full-contact options, reflecting the amount of force that should be used on an opponent. The intent of competition is to serve as a pop quiz for the student as a way of testing skills or experimenting with their tools in a “controlled” environment. Testing or evaluation is important to martial art practitioners of many disciplines who wish to determine their progression or own level of skill in specific contexts. Students within individual martial art systems often undergo periodic testing and grading by their instructor in order to advance to a higher level of recognized achievement, such as a different belt color or title. In order for a student to advance he/she must set goals and reinforce learning through shake downs and competition. It is not about winning or losing in competition. It is about the experience and affirmation from testing your skills.
Thomas Williams, Chief Instructor
with excerpts from Wikipedia
GOALS
Typically, the beginning of a new year is the time for renewal and commitment, with many of us setting goals for the coming weeks and months ahead. Perhaps the bigger challenge is maintaining those goals! Recently I added two intentional thoughts that I say to myself as I consider my goals and whether I'm moving forward or not:
Something is better than nothing; and My pace is the right pace for me.
What often stops me from meeting a goal is an unrealistic expectation (which usually seemed perfectly realistic when I set the goal). Now when I work on a goal and feel like I am coming up short, I ask myself, "Is there something I could do, however small, to make progress today?" Because something is always better than nothing.
I'm also learning to be kind to myself when I look at progress. I like this advice from Jon Acuff: Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle. There will always be someone who is faster, better, stronger, or who started the process months ago. They are working at their pace; I am working at mine.
According to Wikipedia, goal setting involves establishing specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-targeted (S.M.A.R.T ) goals. Work on the theory of goal-setting suggests that it's an effective tool for making progress by ensuring that participants in a group with a common goal are clearly aware of what is expected from them.
Within our dojo, Mr. Williams has set clear expectations for his students. It is up to each of us to bring our best level of participation to each class period in order to see growth, and ultimately meet our goals.
Wikipedia also states: Goal-setting theory was developed by Edwin A. Locke in the 1960s. His work laid the foundation for goal setting theory and established the positive relationship between clearly identified goals and performance. Additional studies have shown that specific and high goals lead to a higher level of performance than easy or general goals. As long as the individual accepts the goal, has the ability to attain it, and does not have conflicting goals, there is a positive linear relationship between goal difficulty and task performance.
There are a variety of motivational goal-setting quotations that I would offer to end this essay. Perhaps one will resonate with you and give you the motivational “nudge” that you have been needing to set new personal goals for 2013 (and beyond!).
Quotes:
You can find inspiration from others but determination is solely your Responsibility. ~Dodinsky, www.dodinsky.com
The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher. ~Thomas Henry Huxley, An Address to the Students of the Faculty of Medicine in University College, London, May 18, 1870, On the Occasion of the Distribution of Prizes for the Session (Thanks, Paul)
The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me. ~Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead
Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein. ~Life's Little Instruction Book, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr
When I was a Boy Scout, we played a game when new Scouts joined the troop. We lined up chairs in a pattern, creating an obstacle course through which the new Scouts, blindfolded, were supposed to maneuver. The Scoutmaster gave them a few moments to study the pattern before our adventure began. But as soon as the victims were blindfolded, the rest of us quietly removed the chairs. I think life is like this game. Perhaps we spend our lives avoiding obstacles we have created for ourselves and in reality exist only in our minds. We're afraid to apply for that job, take violin lessons, learn a foreign language, call an old friend, write our Congressman - whatever it is that we would really like to do but don't because of personal obstacles. Don't avoid any chairs until you run smack into one. And if you do, at least you'll have a place to sit down. ~Pierce Vincent Eckhart
Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another. ~John Dewey
Jean Gaeddert, 5th Dan
"In My Opinion-Think About It"
Training: Tournaments, Street; The Difference? for February 2013
Training is essential in any sports, activity, discipline, however, call it what you want. The Martial Arts students must be aware of some of the differences in their training routine with the understanding in the dojo one trains hard to defend themselves and/or others, get in condition, learn philosophy, and practice many techniques/routines. This is all good, outstanding, and great! However, the things a student learns, and execute in tournaments will not always work on the streets. Therefore, the student must know the difference in the point-fighting techniques, have different effects on the streets. The mentality of tournament preparation, and street preparation must always be on the mind of the student, and distinguish between tournament technique applications and street execution. In the event of the student’s main goal of being in the martial arts to only prepare for tournament execution, with the thought of not ever getting involved in a street situation (is something to avoid if possible) is admirable, however, not too practical, but admirable. The ‘street’ and “tournament” applications are very different. Student’s must keep this in the fore-front of their thinking. Will you know and do the difference?
H. James Young, 5th Dan
If you or your employer would like to make a donation to the school to help purchase equipment or help a disadvantaged youth take martial arts lessons please fill out this form or pick one up at the school.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Promotions
CAYDEN DEETZ, ZACH PERRY, ELIJAH MENDOZA, ALYSSA FRANCIS, ESTRELLA MENDOZA, ANNIE FRANCIS AND GABRIEL McCASKEY
Jan 19, 2013
GOLD BELTS:
Elijah Bruch
Estrella Mendoza Jr.
GREEN BELTS:
Cayden Deetz
Zach Perry
Alyssa Francis
Annie Francis
Gabriel McCaskey
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
January 2013 Newsletter
HAPPY NEW YEAR
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We want to thank everyone for the gifts and cards. Now is the time to start thinking about your short term and long term goals for the New Year. It may be an additional stripe on your belt or a promotion to a higher rank. You may want to plan on how many tournaments you want to attend this year. This is your martial arts journey. Make it a special and better year for you!
STUFF THE BUS
I want to thank everyone who donated toys, supplies and food to the Stuff The Bus program for Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Center and Shelter. Thomas Williams
PROMOTIONS
Damian Hurt-Lil' Dragon Black Stripe
Charly Daugherty-Lil' Dragon Black Stripe
Maryland based martial artist and AKMS affiliate school owner, H. James Young was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Master Young has been in the martial arts for over 35 years. His background includes styles in Jujitsu, Kenpo, Kung Fu, Gung Fu, Judo, Jeet Kune Do, Aikido, and Hapkido. Also, some of the weapons he has trained with are nunchuckus, baton, long staff, samurai sword, and sai. He is trained to use almost anything as a weapon from a rolled up newspaper or magazine, to chopsticks, or from a fountain pen case to a man’s pant belt to use in self defense. Congratulations Mr. Young!
MARTIAL ARTISTS THAT PASSED IN 2012
There were many passings during 2012. Here is a list of the few that I knew personally or came in contact with at martial arts events around the nation.
Tom Kelly-Ed Parker Kenpo Black Belt student, competitor and instructor
Joe Lewis-Tracy's Karate student and full contact pioneer, instructor
George Pesare-Rhode Island Kenpo pioneer and instructor
Jesse Glover-Bruce Lee's first student and JKD Instructor
Jerry Poteet-Bruce Lee first generation student and JKD Instructor
Parker Shelton-Martial arts pioneer, competitor and instructor
"IN MY OPINION-Think About It"
What Style/System Is Better? for January 2013 a) There are many styles in the Martial Arts, which many men, women, boys and girls of different races have involved themselves in practicing, living, teaching, learning, growing, pursuing. Many have always questioned which style or system is better than the other. It draws contention from many that their system/style is better than another style/system. I don’t think any style/system is better than the other. All have different strengths, and deeper strengths than the other. However, it is the person, who makes that particular technique in that style/system what it is. In a conversation with Al Dacascos in West Germany during one of his tours in the middle 1970's while touring that weekend with him, I asked him about his Kung Fu side kick. Mr. Dacascus told me and Daryl ‘Golden Boy’ Tyler, that was Al Dacascus side kick, I just happen to practice Kung Fu, which amplifies the style/system. So, I remembered this from then to now, and interpreted it’s meaning to me, the person perfects the technique of the particular style/system, and makes all look strong and good. Think about it?
BUSHIDO VIRTUE #6 MEIYO
Politicians and celebrities using the media to downplay the shame of their misdeeds. Fathers killing their children for choosing a different point of view. Our culture’s understanding of honor – meiyo in Japanese – is seriously distorted and sullied. It seems today that if we can get away with something or “sincerely apologize” if we get caught, then it’s ok to do whatever we want. Our reputation, our family name, our honor doesn’t matter much anymore. On the other hand, much arrogance and selfishness has been perpetrated in the name of one’s “honor”. So what is it really?
This is the 6th virtue of Bushido. Wikipedia states that honor is “a perceived quality of worthiness and respectability that affects both the social standing and the self-evaluation of an individual or corporate body such as a family, school, regiment or nation. The key word is perceived. From multiple definitions of the word comes the idea that my honor is only as good as what other people see it to be. But is this what honor means for us in the martial arts?
In “Bushido: The Soul of Japan”, Nitboe explains “A good name—one's reputation, the immortal part of one's self, what remains being bestial—assumed as a matter of course, any infringement upon its integrity was felt as shame, and the sense of shame was one of the earliest to be cherished in juvenile education.” Here lies the difference. My honor does not depend on what others think. It *does* take into consideration what others have taught me. It *does* heed what my mentors, my fellow karate-ka, and my sensei says. But ultimately, my own personal honor is judged from within. And without the previous 5 tenets of Bushido, my judgment will be skewed.
This is why I am glad I feel ashamed if I do not drop for pushups if I miss cadence during class.
But, what about when I am insulted? What about when I am accused of something I did not do? Nitobe reminds us that we must temper and balance these outward perceptions of our honor with magnanimity and patience. Rather than fly into a rage at a perceived insult, we must rely on the previous 5 tenets of Bushido and respond from them.
This is where it gets tough. From the beginning, following the tenets of Bushido transforms us from inside out. Honor is where what is inside us shows itself to the outside world. What will others see? Will they become hungry for what we have? Will they see a life lived so differently than everyone else around them that they ask?
As said previously, gi points the way for us, yu kicks us in the pants to move, jin keeps us mindful of others on the same journey, rei is how we act toward everyone on the same path (including ourselves) – and makoto keeps us on the path. Meiyo either repels or draws others to join us on our journey. Would others want to join you?
MEMBER SOLUTIONS
All of our student tuition accounts are with Member Solutions Billing Company not American Karate & Martial Science. When you enroll with us your account is handled by them. You are required to satisfy your contract without interruption. When your initial contract has been satisfied your account goes to a month to month contract with a thirty (30) day cancellation notice required to Member Solutions not American Karate. This is an important reminder as there have been a few accounts that have failed to contact Member Solutions and they have continued to get billed. Some accounts have ended up in collection from an outside agency.
If you or your employer would like to make a donation to the school to help purchase equipment or help a disadvantaged youth take martial arts lessons please fill out this form or pick one up at the school.
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We want to thank everyone for the gifts and cards. Now is the time to start thinking about your short term and long term goals for the New Year. It may be an additional stripe on your belt or a promotion to a higher rank. You may want to plan on how many tournaments you want to attend this year. This is your martial arts journey. Make it a special and better year for you!
STUFF THE BUS
I want to thank everyone who donated toys, supplies and food to the Stuff The Bus program for Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Center and Shelter. Thomas Williams
PROMOTIONS
Damian Hurt-Lil' Dragon Black Stripe
Charly Daugherty-Lil' Dragon Black Stripe
 |
| Damian Hurt |
 |
| H. James Young - Inducted |
MARTIAL ARTISTS THAT PASSED IN 2012
There were many passings during 2012. Here is a list of the few that I knew personally or came in contact with at martial arts events around the nation.
Tom Kelly-Ed Parker Kenpo Black Belt student, competitor and instructor
Joe Lewis-Tracy's Karate student and full contact pioneer, instructor
George Pesare-Rhode Island Kenpo pioneer and instructor
Jesse Glover-Bruce Lee's first student and JKD Instructor
Jerry Poteet-Bruce Lee first generation student and JKD Instructor
Parker Shelton-Martial arts pioneer, competitor and instructor
"IN MY OPINION-Think About It"
What Style/System Is Better? for January 2013 a) There are many styles in the Martial Arts, which many men, women, boys and girls of different races have involved themselves in practicing, living, teaching, learning, growing, pursuing. Many have always questioned which style or system is better than the other. It draws contention from many that their system/style is better than another style/system. I don’t think any style/system is better than the other. All have different strengths, and deeper strengths than the other. However, it is the person, who makes that particular technique in that style/system what it is. In a conversation with Al Dacascos in West Germany during one of his tours in the middle 1970's while touring that weekend with him, I asked him about his Kung Fu side kick. Mr. Dacascus told me and Daryl ‘Golden Boy’ Tyler, that was Al Dacascus side kick, I just happen to practice Kung Fu, which amplifies the style/system. So, I remembered this from then to now, and interpreted it’s meaning to me, the person perfects the technique of the particular style/system, and makes all look strong and good. Think about it?
H. James Young
BUSHIDO VIRTUE #6 MEIYO
Politicians and celebrities using the media to downplay the shame of their misdeeds. Fathers killing their children for choosing a different point of view. Our culture’s understanding of honor – meiyo in Japanese – is seriously distorted and sullied. It seems today that if we can get away with something or “sincerely apologize” if we get caught, then it’s ok to do whatever we want. Our reputation, our family name, our honor doesn’t matter much anymore. On the other hand, much arrogance and selfishness has been perpetrated in the name of one’s “honor”. So what is it really?
This is the 6th virtue of Bushido. Wikipedia states that honor is “a perceived quality of worthiness and respectability that affects both the social standing and the self-evaluation of an individual or corporate body such as a family, school, regiment or nation. The key word is perceived. From multiple definitions of the word comes the idea that my honor is only as good as what other people see it to be. But is this what honor means for us in the martial arts?
In “Bushido: The Soul of Japan”, Nitboe explains “A good name—one's reputation, the immortal part of one's self, what remains being bestial—assumed as a matter of course, any infringement upon its integrity was felt as shame, and the sense of shame was one of the earliest to be cherished in juvenile education.” Here lies the difference. My honor does not depend on what others think. It *does* take into consideration what others have taught me. It *does* heed what my mentors, my fellow karate-ka, and my sensei says. But ultimately, my own personal honor is judged from within. And without the previous 5 tenets of Bushido, my judgment will be skewed.
This is why I am glad I feel ashamed if I do not drop for pushups if I miss cadence during class.
But, what about when I am insulted? What about when I am accused of something I did not do? Nitobe reminds us that we must temper and balance these outward perceptions of our honor with magnanimity and patience. Rather than fly into a rage at a perceived insult, we must rely on the previous 5 tenets of Bushido and respond from them.
This is where it gets tough. From the beginning, following the tenets of Bushido transforms us from inside out. Honor is where what is inside us shows itself to the outside world. What will others see? Will they become hungry for what we have? Will they see a life lived so differently than everyone else around them that they ask?
As said previously, gi points the way for us, yu kicks us in the pants to move, jin keeps us mindful of others on the same journey, rei is how we act toward everyone on the same path (including ourselves) – and makoto keeps us on the path. Meiyo either repels or draws others to join us on our journey. Would others want to join you?
Cristine Warring
MEMBER SOLUTIONS
All of our student tuition accounts are with Member Solutions Billing Company not American Karate & Martial Science. When you enroll with us your account is handled by them. You are required to satisfy your contract without interruption. When your initial contract has been satisfied your account goes to a month to month contract with a thirty (30) day cancellation notice required to Member Solutions not American Karate. This is an important reminder as there have been a few accounts that have failed to contact Member Solutions and they have continued to get billed. Some accounts have ended up in collection from an outside agency.
If you or your employer would like to make a donation to the school to help purchase equipment or help a disadvantaged youth take martial arts lessons please fill out this form or pick one up at the school.
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