March 2002 Newsletter

THE ANT PHILOSOPHY by Jim Rohn

For many  years I've been teaching children about a simple but  powerful concept - the ant philosophy.  I think everybody should study ants.

They have an amazing four- part philosophy, and here is the first part: ants never quit. That's a good philosophy. If they're headed somewhere and you  try to stop them; they'll look for another way. They'll climb  over, they'll climb under, they'll climb around. They keep looking for another way. What a neat philosophy, to never quit looking for a way to get where you're supposed to go.

Second, ants think winter all summer. That's an important perspective. You can't be so naive as to think summer will last forever. So ants are gathering in their winter food in the middle of summer. An ancient story says, "Don't build your house on the sand in the summer." Why do we need that advice? Because it is important to be realistic. In the summer, you've got to think   storm. You've got to think rocks as you enjoy the sand and sun. Think ahead.

The third part of the ant philosophy is that ants think summer all winter. That is so important. During the winter, ants remind themselves, "This won't last long; we'll soon be out of  here." And the first warm day, the ants are out. If it turns cold again, they'll dive back down, but then they come out the first warm day. They can't wait to get out.

And here's the last part of the ant philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All that he possibly can. What an incredible philosophy, the "all-that-you-possibly-can" philosophy.

Never give up, look ahead, stay positive and do all you can.

Sho Dan, First Degree Black Belt, is the starting point in a person’s study of a martial art. This seems very strange to many people inside and outside the karate world. Black belt is thought to be the top of the ranking scales.  Growth must go beyond the physical and mental repetition of basics, drills, kata, self defense, weapons and much more.  Growth must become intrinsic and emotional.  Learning to combine the Body, Mind and Spirit.

Sho Dan is a beginning point, like schooling. Each grade must be earned. Each new year brings new challenges, stresses and higher levels of learning and understanding.  UNDERSTANDING is the key to the puzzle that most karate instructors do not take the time to look at - - because they are more interested in the number of black belts in their schools and the money they make off each promotion.  Understanding TAKES TIME, EFFORT, MATURITY AND AGE.  What you put in is what you get out. Most children (and some adults) can not understand the responsibility, levels of application and abilities that must be accepted willingly with each promotion.  This is the major reason why from 1979 to today I have not promoted a child to this level.

To begin to grasp this understanding so more may be learned, one needs guidance, friendship, leadership, internal drive, a thick skin, heart and the willingness to know that there is more.  “THE BEGINNER’S MIND”  There will not be something new every day or week or even every year.  One must be able to keep friendships, loyalties and the duty to the arts separate.  In the past 24 years as being a Sensei, I have had student stop training because they thought they were more ready than they truly were.

Do you want to arrive at the first level? Look within and keep a beginner's mind.  Don't abandon ship. Black Belts are the Ants of the Karate World - - If they truly live life to the fullest.  If this is necessary for Sho Dan - - what is necessary for higher levels?

"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor."   Vince Lombardi  1913-1970, NFL Hall of Fame Coach

THE GREAT CHALLENGE OF LIFE by Jim Rohn

Here's the great challenge of life - You can have more than you've got because you can become more than you are.  Income seldom will exceed your own personal development. Once in a while income takes a lucky jump, but unless you grow out to where it is it will go back to where you are.  Somebody once said if you took all the money in the world and divided it among everyone equally, it would soon be back in the same pockets. However, you can have more because you can become more. You see, here is how the other side of the coin reads - unless you change how you are, you will always have what you've got. The marketing plan won't do it. It's a good plan but it won't work without you. You've got to work it. It is the human effort that counts. If you could send a sales manual out to recruit - wouldn't that be lovely? The major thing that makes the difference is what YOU do. In order to have more, you need to become more. The guy says "If I had a good job I would really pour it on, but I have this lousy job so I just goof off." If that is your philosophy you are destined to stay there. Some people say if I had a lot of money I would be really generous, but I don't have much so I'm not generous. See, you've got to change that philosophy or you will never have "the lots of money". Unless YOU change, IT won't change. Amazingly, however, when we throw out our blame list and start becoming more ourselves - the difference is everything else will begin to change around us.

THE MIND STRETCHED BY A NEW IDEA NEVER GOES BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL DIMENSIONS

Congratulations to the people who earned a promotion awarded during our recent March 3, 2002 training session.  Though the advancement was awarded at that time, work was done before in the dojo and at home.  With promotion comes new responsibility. It is the beginning of a new challenge to continue to improve.  One’s capabilities must be expanded and improved upon prior to the next advancement.

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