Bullying

Bullying has always been around. However it seems that recently it's exploded with such an easy access to technology. Not only is there physical and verbal violence there's also cyber bullying, text bullying, and passive aggressive bullying through hateful rumors and photo shopped images. According to GLADD 13 million children are bullied each year in the United States; and 3 million students are absent each month because they feel unsafe within their school buildings. The CDC reports that roughly 4,400 deaths each year are a result of suicide among young people. 


Were you aware that in March of 2012 The Hunger Games, a fictional movie that tells the story of children put in an arena to kill each other off received a PG-13 rating while the movie Bully; a non fictional documentary about the day to day lives of 5 families who's children suffer school bullying was pegged with an R rating. I'm not bashing The Hunger Games, I'm actually a huge fan of the saga and how it portrays the effects of war on a civilization. But I think that allowing the murder of children to be watered down is wrong. Just so Hollywood could stamp a PG-13 rating to sell more movie tickets to younger children; while a factual documentary exposing the world of kids who struggle to make it through school nearly day to day was given an R. 


Last week a story surfaced about a 68 year old middle bus monitor who was verbally tormented by the children on the bus to the point of tears. There's a 10 minute video available here on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E12R9fMMtos&feature=player_embedded#! I've made several attempts to watch this video and I can't get through the first minute before I have to stop. I can't even see the screen it makes me cry so hard.

My stomach twists in agony, these kids think this behavior is acceptable. Why? Why do they feel it's ok to say vile disgusting things to someone? Is this normal for them? Do they hear things like this at home? What has such a poisonous influence on our children that it's become so popular to spit hate?


My mind keeps bringing me back to the kids in our karate school. Do they hear these things at their school? Are they victims themselves? The children in the above video made a 68 year old cry. Imagine how a 9 year old would feel. Words are just as powerful as actions, and they cut just as deeply. 


In our school respect is a huge deal, and it's not just respect for those who are older and a higher rank than you, but respect for your peers, respect for yourself. I feel like we as martial artists have an obligation to teach the younger generations that they can rise above this. That they don't have to be a bully, or be the children bullied. I want our kids to have the self confidence to remove themselves from these situations, to help change them. The kids in the video need structure, they need a clear definition of acceptable and abhorrent behavior. I am a firm believe that karate helps to shape people and the younger you're able to start the better it is; but it all depends on the teacher. 


I want to encourage our students to learn karate, and at the same time to be motivating, caring, supportive individuals that accept others and are willing to stand up for those who may need their help if that time ever comes. I never want to hear of a situation involving one of our students like the one above where they are an antagonist. I want to encourage our kids to take a stand, to bring the situation to a teacher, a parent, a coach. And I want to encourage you to do the same. Let's stand together against this epidemic; let's teach our students how to take a stand. 

Living In The Moment

I'm a huge Jason Mraz fan, not to the extent of obsessed but his music gives me happy feelings in my heart that's for sure. I'm sure you're already thinking, "What the heck does this have to do with Kenpo??" :) I'm getting there.

We opened the Academy nine months ago and it has been the greatest thing we've ever done. When at first you have something new in your life you can't help but be excited about it all the time. Then after awhile it just becomes routine, and you start to look towards the future. And with a business, the future can be scary. You start to think about the "what ifs"; What if we don't get any more new students, what if the students we have get bored and leave; what if we expect too much rank wise from our students and they leave because they feel like they're not getting anywhere? And they just keep snowballing and they get bigger and scarier.

This morning I was listening to Jason Mraz's new album LOVE (I highly recommend it by the way); and his song Living In The Moment came on. I was singing along with Jason when it hit me how applicable this song was to my life. I need to stop stressing about the future, it's not even here yet; and I need to let the past pass me by. I need to live right here in the moment, rather than be so focused on the future that I miss what's right in front of me. There's so much wonderful right here and now, we have so many students that are working their butts off and they love it. That is honestly the absolute best part, is every single student that steps onto that mat three times a week to let us share this Art with them. I love how excited they get when they learn something new. It melts my heart to see their faces when they receive a new stripe, or a new belt. Rank is not given, it is earned; and I'll be the first to tell you that karate is HARD. It honestly can be months in between stripes, it depends on the student. How much they practice, how much they remember, but when they earn their next rank you can bet they earned. :)

So, thanks to Jason Mraz I am now even more excited for the next karate class. I am so thankful for the students and parents that are now a part of my life. We've created a little Kenpo family, and it makes me so happy. Remember to live in the moment, appreciate what you have and set the example for others; you never know who's looking up to you.

Terrified but Motivated

As I prepare for my 2nd Brown Belt exam I have to admit, I am scared, no wait-scratch that, I'm terrified. As with any new obstacle, I've begun to reflect on my past 6 exams. None have evoked the terror within me that this one does. It's the first exam I've had that will have a written section. Written is something I'm good at normally; but these words, definitions and principles are things I've only just barely begun to understand. And don't even get me started on the physical portion. 7 forms, plus one of my own creation, 9 sets, and 154 techniques. Despite all the material piled in front of me that's not what is most terrifying; it's who is testing me. This is my first exam with Gene as my instructor. And I am terrified, because he knows what I have trouble with, and he's going to be incredibly picky, a hard ass. I know without a doubt that if I don't perform at the level of a 2nd Brown Belt he will have no problem failing me. And I respect the hell out of him for that. I know he's set the bar high, higher than I may even expect because let's face it, we're in a relationship and the last thing either of us ever wants is to hear someone think I was handed my rank because we live together. Thus I am terrified, in a few months I'm going to be put through the hardest exam I've ever experienced. Terrified as I am, I am excited, dying for the chance to prove myself. I plan on kicking ass in that exam; these fears and unsettling feelings in the pit of my stomach are nothing but motivation

Scholar Skills

We named our school Scholar and Warrior because training the body isn't enough you have to train the mind as well and vice versa. When we decided to open the school it happened so quickly, in a month it went from a dream to a reality and we were sprinting to keep up. We're almost six months old now, and things have slowed down and taken a very nice pace. Life has fallen into a comfortable rhythm. A few weeks ago I proposed an idea to Gene and he agreed to let me do it. :) Once a week I give the students a Scholar Skill, which is either a Kenpo Saying, or a principle definition or a part of a pledge for them to memorize. At the end of the week I pull each student aside and have them tell me the current week's skill. If they can correctly, their name goes into a drawing, and at the end of the month a name is drawn and that student is Scholar of the Month. (There's gotta be some competition there right?)

Yesterday was the first day for the students to tell me the skill. It was an easy one, Yellow Belt Saying #1: Distance is Your Best Friend." And to be honest I was nervous our students ages are 5+. And we only see them 3 times a week. Imagine my excitement when each and every student that was present in class last night was able to tell me the Skill for that week.

Our students are phenomenal, they work hard and take on new assignments with excitement, I couldn't be more proud of them and I know neither could Gene. 2012 is only going to keep getting better for SWKA; and I am so thankful to be a part of this.

Ring In 2012

2011 was nothing short of fantastic for me as a Martial Artist. I became an Advanced Student, and Gene and I opened Scholar and Warrior Kenpo Academy. As exciting as 2011 was, I have high expectations for an even more exciting 2012. In just three short months our lives have changed drastically, for the greatest! We are honestly blessed with the greatest group of students that we could ever ask for. Three months ago we didn't have a clue if this was a good idea or not, we had no guaranteed students and no idea if any would come. But we signed that contract anyway, because it felt right, and dreams aren't always gift wrapped for you sometimes you've got to plunge into them and pray they don't become nightmares. And they have not, in fact it just keeps getting better and better. This morning I observed one of our 5 year old students, who just so happens to also be the smallest, absolutely excel in class today. At five years old and only having been in class for two months he correctly executed Delayed Sword, Alternating Mace and Sword of Destruction as well as Blocking Set 1. My heart literally wanted to burst. I can't wait to see what his and everyone else's skill level will be this time next year. This is the most wonderful thing I could ever be a part of and each and every day I am reminded of how blessed we are to have this new Kenpo family. Here's to 2012, a full year of teaching and learning!

Tightrope

“Knowing isn’t enough, you have to be able to apply.” 

A few weeks ago Gene and I attended a seminar given by Mr. Richard “Huk” Planas and the above quote was his very first teaching of the day. The analogy he used was immensely powerful; everyone knows HOW to walk a tightrope. You place one foot in front of the other, you keep your balance and pray you make it to the other side. Now, DOING this is a whole different ballpark.

This is exactly why we chose the name Scholar and Warrior Kenpo Academy; you must be able to do the technique not just run through the motions. In order to make the technique work correctly you must know and understand the principles and basics behind the motion you are performing.

“The Scholar and the Warrior, come together and move forward in the battle. Fighting side by side and back to back…”

By employing only one you will only be able to perform at half of your potential. The Scholar is the wise one, the intelligence that is able to see all three points of view in the situation, the attacker’s point of view, the defender’s point of view and the outside third party’s point of view. *He is able to use these insights to take on the situation as a whole and analyze it before reacting. And this is done in a phenomenally short amount of time. The Scholar has familiarized himself with principles that the motion is founded on. The Scholar comes to you in time, you first have to be able to perform the motion somewhat before you can understand it, however you must be able to understand the principles behind the motion before you will ever be able to utilize it correctly and effectively.

The Warrior represents strength; he has no qualms about diving into the battle head first. The Warrior is obviously the physical aspect of your training and *he is who you will begin training first. In the beginning the Warrior will be clumsy and awkward but as with everything else, dedication and time will hone in his skills and make the foreign movement of before seem natural.

Mr. Planas shared so much knowledge with us that day; this is merely a snippet of what we learned in 4.5 hours. But I found this applicable not only to beginners but to Kenpoists in all stages. I know I found it very useful myself. Time to start walking the tightrope.

*He is interchangeable with she.

It Depends On You

Last Monday I had a White Belt ask me after his first class, "so do you think we have a shot at learning it?"
My response to him was this, "That depends on you. We're only with you for three hours a week. The rest of your time depends on what you're willing to put into it." Practicing outside of the class makes the biggest difference.
You wouldn't only eat three times a week, you'd be miserable, weak and pathetic. The same goes with Kenpo. You won't get very far by just practicing three times a week, you have to feed that fire. Continue to create that muscle memory, build your intensity and most importantly understand the principles and the concepts that lie within what you have learned.
Asking questions is a huge help too, I understand that after a hard class when you're drenched in sweat and all you want to do is collapse that the last thing you want to do is ask questions. That's what a notebook is good for, if you can't ask it right then, write it down and come back with the question later. Again it depends on you, I believe that every student has the potential and the ability to make it to Black Belt. However you will only get out of this Art what you put into it.