Limitations

We all have limitations, an upper limit on what we can do and accomplish. We are human and therefore have limited potential.

Did that sound negative? Keep reading.

Sometimes we have a very clear picture of our limitations. I have flat feet, and if I train barefoot my plantar fasciitis flares up.

Sometimes the picture is much hazier. I was never very good at pushups (I despised pushups, so I didn't train them, so I stayed not very good at them). I always just said, "I'm lousy at pushups."

Then, I started this Ten Tigers Program, and now I'm averaging over 100 pushups per day. Now I'm pretty good at them. I can do 46 in 30 seconds, and 63 in one minute. My limitation has changed.

We all have upper limits, but we often don't really know what that upper limit is because we never test them.

I don't really know the top speed on my Toyota Camry because I've never tested it (and never will).

I have decided that I will keep gradually pushing myself to bigger and better things, to test my upper limits.

I will become stronger and fitter, I will become smarter and more emotionally healthy, I will become a better teacher of martial arts and a better leader of people.

And, I will drag as many of you as are willing along for the ride.

Thank You

To all those who have been helping with our move.  To all who have supported us through this move.  To all who have been willing, but unable to help.  

Thank you.

We are in a smaller school now, but it's big enough.

I happen to believe that bigger is not necessarily better.  I believe that too many of us have been fixated on bigger/richer/faster is better.  I believe there is a time to downsize, a time to give away wealth, and a time to slow down.  Money for money's sake is a waste of time.  Having a bigger truck/house/yard for the sake of status is a waste of resources.  Getting everything the moment we want it is detrimental to our ability to work towards a goal.

Can you make do with less?  Can you be wait for the things you want?  It's harder than it sounds.

Again, to all who have given so much in moving and remodeling and preparing for this change I cannot thank you enough.  I cannot pay all the favors back.  My plan, instead, is to pay it forward.

Self-Defense Training for The Master of the Martial Arts

Self-Defense Training for The Master of the Martial Arts

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Something New

So I have been working on close range sparring lately.  Specifically staying off the ground, while successfully sparring in extreme close range.  It's something new for me.  It is still uncomfortable for me, and I get hit more often when I do it, than when I stay in my comfort zone.

That is what happens when you step outside your comfort zone.  Things are uncomfortable, challenging, exciting, and difficult.  If they weren't, we wouldn't call it a comfort zone.

Also, when you step outside your comfort zone, you learns.

There is only so much that can be accomplished by doing the same thing today that was done yesterday, and doing the same thing tomorrow that was done today.

So my challenge for today is for you to do something outside your comfort zone, try something a little different, break your routine.  It can be a simple little thing or a whole new project, as long as it is something new and different.

What is Self Defense?

I tell the kids in my classes that self defense is "how you keep you safe".  When most people think of self defense they think of either martial arts, or a concealed carry license, or pepper spray, or some other technique or device designed to disable an attacker.  The words "self defense" conjure up thoughts of the best way to release oneself from a headlock, or a bearhug, or a choke hold.  Yes, these things are self defense.  

These things are self defense in the same sense that open heart surgery is self defense in case of a heart attack.

If I were to have a heart attack, I am glad that there is a such thing as open heart surgery, just as if I am attacked I am glad that I've spent most of my life involved with martial arts.

However,

When it comes to heart attacks, I hope to never have to resort to open heart surgery.  To that end, I am practicing self defense.  I have cut down on red meat, nearly completely replaced the grains in my diet with 100% whole grains, increased the vegetable and fruit intake in my diet, I exercise daily.  All these things are intelligent self defense against a heart attack.

So why don't more martial arts schools consider the same approach to self defense against physical assault?  Sure there are some (very rare) unavoidable situations in which one must defend oneself, but true self defense training should encompass much much more than punches and kicks.

How do you keep you safe from physical attack?  Hopefully not by waiting until the attack happens.  Be kind to people, more kindness in the world will help.  Practice anger management.  Don't react without thinking first.  Avoid situations that are likely to put you in a physical confrontation.  Defend yourself with your mind first, (don't get in a fight and I guarantee you won't get hurt in a fight), your legs second (run, run, run), and your fists absolutely last.

Goals

There are a variety of goal setting methods that have been published to maximize one's ability to meet those goals.  The basics of goal setting seem to be fairly universal.

Be positive in how the goals are phrased.  Rather than "Try to stop being so lazy" phrase it, "I will improve my proactivity."

Be precise.  Rather than saying, "I want to lose some of this extra weight." say, "I will lose 15 pounds by walking 30 minutes a day 5 days a week and not eating any more fast foods."

Record your goals and your progress.  Keep yourself honest.

Make your goals realistic and acheivable.  "I will become a better martial artist by training 30 minutes every day," is more acheivable than, "I will learn to walk through brick walls."

Set your goals, then reach for them.

Who Do You Love?

Think about the person you love most in the world.  Even if it is you, think of this person.  Now put this person in the form of a 12 month old child.  A child who has needs, but can't really meet those needs for themselves.  They need food and water.  They need loving companionship.  They need education/learning.  They need nearly total physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental support, and they need if from you.

What would you be willing to do to support this child.  Would you work two full time jobs?  Would you do whatever you could to insure they had the best education possible?  Would you do what it took to make sure they had healthcare?  What if they were starving, how far would you go to make sure they had food?  What if they were alone in the cold with no shelter?  In the middle of a war zone?  

Wouldn't it be nice, if everyone on the planet treated everyone else on the planet that way?  

Why don't we start treating everyone that way today?