What I have to offer my students....

I began my martial arts training 32 years ago when I was just 8 years old. Team sports just were not my thing…. I tried them all but spent most of my time on the bench…. School did not come any easier either…. So finally my parents enrolled me in martial arts! I imagine that it was there hope that the training would help to develop my confidence, discipline and my self esteem.

Throughout the years I have made many friends through the martial arts. In fact since my early years training practically all of my friends were people that I have met in one way or another, through my ma training. Some of my best friends today are those very same people whom I stood next to in Karate class 30 years ago today. We have shared so much together through the years, we struggled together, we achieved together, we failed together and have grown as people together.

I often think back on the times we shared…. Our school…. The instructors and all of the great experiences.

Some of those friends are truly great martial artists. Guys who could kick straight up in the air and wow and audience with their performance. My best friend for one was always a show stopper. As a kid I could remember the frustration of working so hard… putting in so much effort and then standing next to him at testing and not even coming close to his abilities.

I can tell you from experience that it took allot to persevere when it seemed my best efforts were never good enough to win the admiration of the audience, the first place in forms trophy or the respect of the other students . Looking back on it now it was the patience of my instructor that kept me going. It was his ability to understand my abilities and reward me for my progress. He held me accountable for one thing only being the best that I could possibly be in the given moment. And he rewarded me for it…. He rewarded me with his time….. His attention….. And his belief in me and my abilities…..

I can still remember his advice to the class he would say, “IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO BE #1.… BUT IT IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO TRY! THE ONLY PERSON YOU CAN NEVER COME IN SECOND PLACE TO IS WHO…. (WE WOULD SHOUT BACK) YOURSELF SIR!”

Well here I am 32 years later, still kicking…. Still punching…. Still stretching and doing my push-ups!

So what is the most valuable thing that I have to offer my students? I have My perspective…. When I was in class I was not always the best….. It is quite possible to say that I may have never been the best…. I was never the most natural…. The most gifted or the most talented….. I did not in m opinion even come close!

However the words of my instructor kept me going. He told me let go of what you don’t have control of…and focus on what you can change and control. I took his advice… I focused on the one thing I did have control over which was My Attitude. I always tried to be the hardest worker. I always tried to control my thoughts and focus on the positive and to this day I am still striving to be the best martial artist I could be.

To me that is self defense…..

You see… for most of us it is not a kick or punch to the head that will get us…. It is the small things everyday… how do we respond to pressure… what do we choose to focus on…… how do we spend our time….. What are our beleifs, values and most importantly our attitudes.

So the greatest thing I have to offer my students is not a block, kick or punch… It is the ability to defend themselves against a lack of focus, confidence, self-esteem, mediocrity and negative self talk.

I know from experience that as the saying goes your attitude really does determine your altitude in life!

Attitude is self-defense!

The sense of it all....

Lately I spend a good portion of my day kicking, punching, blocking and rolling around on the floor! When I look at how I am spending my day I have to ask myself what is the sense of it all?

I mean in a world where people have figured out how to send space shuttles to the cosmos, create artificial intelligence and clone sheap I am spending my time kicking, punching, blocking and rolling around on the floor!

Hopefully all of this activity will stand for something more. Just maybe one of our students will use the focus, pereverance, determination and discipline we are teaching on the mat to become the next great scientist, humanitarian, teacher or politician that really makes a difference in the world!

Until then you can find me on the mat!