June 2008 Newsletter

DATES TO REMEMBER:

SATURDAY, JULY 26 - - OUTDOOR TRAINING SESSIONS AT KYOSHI’S HOUSE - - 9:30 A.M. TO 3:30 P.M.
Numerous sessions to improve and energize your karate training - - It’s fun and educational. Students from our dojo, New York and Maine will be there. There will be a number of promotions for students who know the required materials. Remember each student is checked each class - SO practice to make sure you are prepared for each class.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH - - AOKA TOURNAMENT - - BAYONNE, NJ
See Kyoshi for more information.

A number of the black belts and I are going to Okinawa and Japan from June 19th until June 29th to train with Master Shimabuku, expand our capabilities and see the Island. Classes will be conducted as follows during this time:

•  THURSDAY, JUNE 19TH - ALL CLASSES - 5:45, 6:30 AND 8:00 P.M.

•  TUESDAY, JUNE 24TH - ALL CLASSES - 5:45, 6:30 AND 8:00 P.M.

•  WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25TH - ADULT CLASS ONLY - 8:00 P.M.

•  THURSDAY, JUNE 27TH - ALL CLASSES - 5:45, 6:30 AND 8:00 P.M.

 THERE WILL BE NO PURPLE, BROWN & BLACK BELT CLASSES - FRIDAY, JUNE 20TH

CLASSES MISSED MAYBE MADE UP AT THE MAIN STREET AND FIT HAPPENS DOJO. ALL CLASSES WILL RESUME AS NORMAL - MONDAY, JUNE 30TH

Today I Will Make A Difference - Max Lucado - On The Anvil

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stop lights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.

I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It's OK to stumble - I will get up. It's OK to fail - I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.

I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends. Today I will make a difference.

Balance

Balance is a state of equilibrium where a proportionate arrangement or relation of parts are equally distributed. It is much more than simply finding physical symmetry. It involves every aspect of the body and mind which carries over into each person’s daily life and training in Isshin-ryu karate. Understanding balance means we do not move too quickly or too slowly. We determine the correct pace and rhythm in movement, ( kata, kumite and kobudo) through appropriate practice we create a union between the mind and body. Timing is a balance of the same which involves even more such as applying the right distance and creating the opening to defend one’s self. Our personal training includes each aspect of our art, not just the ones we like the best.

As we develop balance, our health is improved by the maintaining of proper environment in which to live. We maintain a temperature that is neither too hot nor too cold and we breathe in a way that each breath is in the proper proportion to our expenditure of energy. We strive to maintain a proper weight for our size and body structure, not placing too much stress on our heart. The water and food we eat are also balanced. Knowing that many of the foods we eat do not have the nutritional value of years ago, a good nutritional supplement is often advisable.

We must also realize our natural limitations. We find balance by not underestimating nor overestimating our abilities. One’s capabilities may be enhanced by proper application of the lessons learned through life. Nature and the Universe provide us with specific balances. We are influenced as we grow by our family, friends, schoolmates and the neighborhood in which we live. We become more aware of life around us as we choose to live learning from the positive cycles that correspond equally to the negative cycles in life. Often we learn more from our struggles and failures than from our successes.

In training we have periods of mastery and then on other occasions it appears that we are returning to the beginning when we struggle with a new technique or concept. Each successful and stressful aspect is an opportunity to learn, improve and to gain balance.

Be open to new occasions for personal growth, mentally, physically and spiritually. Remember every person we meet has an impact on our lives and we affect those we meet. Strive to be the best but remember that failure also teaches a lesson about life. Liken those we meet to the currents in a stream, like the Pequest River we visit during summer karate training sessions. Some of the people are visible like the rocks and branches that stick out of the water. Some people are like the hidden rocks, and surprises that wait to trip us as we practice during the river sessions. What is easily seen above the surface of the water is not all that is to be seen. People are at times what they seem to be and at other times they hide what they do not want us to see. Be open to what awaits us each day. Be ready to make changes and improve . . . what remains the same seldom brings a great reward.