September 2005 Newsletter

KIDNEEDS

The kick - a - thon was more than a huge success. In the week of the event, we kicked 59, 594 times. Police Associations, karate schools from across this country and soon Europe and local business owners got involved to raise funds for this non profit organization. Thursday evening a number of Hackettstown’s and Independence’s Finest shared their time with us. We learned a little about what it is like to be a bicycle patrol officer, a SWAT team member, a sergeant and patrol officer - - as these people shared their experiences with us. A big thank you to Sergeant Reilly and “Rex” from the Independence Police Dept. for coming after a long day, especially after “Rex” helped catch one of those “bad guys” in our area.

Karate Overnight

The Karate Overnight was held Friday, August 19th and Saturday, August 20th. A number of brave souls camped in the training area Friday night. Tents were set up and talks around the campfire were enlightening. The light rain held off until after our training session and our midnight stroll through the woods and back to the campsite. We were up early Saturday to do some morning stretching and training . . . followed by breakfast and a quick run to the end of the street and back. A number of training sessions were conducted during the remaining 5+ hours in the woods and on the logging trails, testing balance, strength and concentration skills. Mr. Masur, one of our black belts, has relocated from Texas to New York so he joined us for the weekend and we will see more of him as well.

Promotions

Congratulations to the people who earned promotions since our last newsletter

• Junior Green Belt #1 - Hassan White

• Junior Green Belt #2 - Rohith Vudatha

• Senior Brown Belt #2 - William Hunt

THE ART OF LIVING – Practicing Principles Matters More Than Proving Them

The life of wisdom begins with learning how to put principles, such as “We ought not to lie,” into practice. The second step is to demonstrate the truth of the principles, such as why it is that we ought not to lie. The third step, which connects the first two, is to indicate why the explanations suffice to justify the principles. While the second and third steps are valuable, it is the first step that matters most. For it is all to easy and common to lie while cleverly demonstrating that lying is wrong.

Start Living Your Ideals

Now is the time to get serious about living your ideals. Once you have determined the spiritual principles you wish to exemplify, abide by these rules as if they were laws, as if it were indeed sinful to compromise them.

Don’t mind if others don’t share your convictions. How long can you afford to put off who you really want to be? Your nobler self-cannot wait any longer.

Put your principles into practice- now. Stop the excuses and the procrastination. This is your life! The sooner you set yourself to your spiritual program, the happier you will be. The longer you wait, the more you will be vulnerable to mediocrity and feel filled with shame and regret, because you know you are capable of better.

From this instant on, vow to stop disappointing yourself. Separate yourself from the mob. Decide to be extraordinary and do what you need to do – now.

Master Duessel's New Products

 Master Duessel has created a book that has taken many years to put together - “Beyond Black Belt - How to Improve Your Training” as well as a poster demonstrating proper “bo basics” techniques. I have copies of the book and the poster. I highly recommend that all students get the book and all students working with the bo (purple belt and above) have one as well. When Sensei visits our dojo in the spring, he will sign them if you bring them to the seminars.

Join the IWKA

I WILL BE SENDING A LETTER TO MASTER SHIMABUKU BY SEPTEMBER 15TH, WORKING TO FINALIZE THE SEMINARS AND GATHERINGS FOR THE UPCOMING 2007 IWKA CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT WE ARE HOSTING IN PRINCETON. I RECOMMEND THAT ALL ADULT YELLOW BELT STUDENTS AND ABOVE AND ALL PURPLE BELT JUNIOR STUDENTS AND ABOVE REQUEST AN IWKA CERTIFICATE, YOUR IWKA I.D. REGISTRATION NUMBER. THE COST FOR THIS IS $40.00, WHICH COVER MAILING AND HANDLING IN THE USA & OKINAWA. BLACK BELTS WISHING TO OBTAIN DIPLOMAS FROM OKINAWA SHOULD SEE SHIHAN HUGHES FOR DETAILS AND COSTS.

Why The Elephants Don't Run - - Jim Donovan, Author of Handbook for a Happier Life

A number of years ago, I had the rather unique experience of being backstage in Madison Square Garden, in New York, during the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. To say the least, it was a fascinating experience. I was able to walk around looking at the lions, tigers, giraffes and all the other circus animals. As I was passing the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at any time, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not. I saw a trainer near by and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away.

"Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They think the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free."

I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they could not, they were stuck right where they were.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? How many of us are being held back by old, outdated beliefs that no longer serve us? Have you avoided trying something new because of a limiting belief? Worse, how many of us are being held back by someone else's limiting beliefs? Do you tell yourself you can't sell because your not a salesperson?

Particularly in starting or running a business, we are cautioned not to take risks, usually by well intentioned friends and family. How many of us have heard, "You can't do that?" These are the dream stealers who, due to their own limiting beliefs, will attempt to discourage you from living your dreams. You must ignore them at all cost! I am not suggesting that you should not seek advice from qualified individuals and mentors, but that you avoid like the plague, being swayed by the limiting beliefs of others, especially people who are not in their own business.

Challenge your own limiting beliefs by questioning them. If you begin to question a belief, you automatically weaken it. The more you question your limiting beliefs, the more they are weakened. It's like kicking the legs out from under a stool. Once you weaken one leg, the stool begins to lose its balance and fall. Think back to a time when you "sold" someone on yourself. We are selling all the time. You have to sell your ideas to your spouse, your children, and your employees - even your banker. Maybe, as a child, you sold Girl Scout cookies or magazine subscriptions to raise money for your school team. That was selling too!

Once you realize you are, in fact, a capable person, you have weakened that old belief and began to replace it with a new, empowering one. Look for references to support the new beliefs you want to cultivate. As in the example of the stool, you want to reinforce your beliefs by adding more and more "legs" to them. Find people who have accomplished what you want to accomplish, discover what they did and model their behavior. Remember back to times in your past when you were successful and use that experience to propel yourself forward. If your challenge is in sales, read sales books and listen to tapes or attend sales seminars. This is a critical area of your business. One that cannot be undermined by limiting beliefs.

There is a technique called "fake it until you make it" that works well. I am not suggesting you live in denial, just that you begin to see yourself succeeding. Visualize your successes. See yourself vividly in your minds eye making the sale and reaching your goals. Affirm, over and over, that you are succeeding. Write your affirmations daily. Of course, make sure you take the appropriate action. As it says in the Bible, "Faith without works is dead."

Remember that your subconscious mind does not know the difference between real and imaginary. Before you go on a sales call, take a moment and mentally rehearse the scene, just like actors and athletes do. Tell yourself, "I'm a great salesperson." Do this over and over, especially just before a sales call. See the sale being made. See and feel the success. You will be pleasantly amazed at the result. Don't take my word for it. Give it a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

It has been said throughout history that whatever you believe, with conviction, you can achieve. Don't be like the poor elephant and go through your life stuck because of a limiting belief you were given or developed years ago. Take charge of your life and live it to the fullest. You deserve the best!