Reflection: On Setting Big, Audacious, Public Goals -- And Then Failing Miserably at Acheiving Them

It's mid-November. We're in the home stretch of 2010 and heading at a break-neck pace toward the end of the year. For me, Thanksgiving usually marks the time of the year when I look back at the annual goals that I set for myself and the dojo, to check in and see how I/we have done.

Last December, I posted this blog and video, stating publicly that it was my bold intention to make Emerald Necklace Martial Arts the most well-known, well-respected, most influential community-service-oriented dojo in the city of Boston. No easy task to be sure, but I was determined and energized, and I was confident that with just a little help, I'd make the goal a reality.

So here we are, 11 months later, and I've got a mixed bag of a progress report. How to measure success here?

First, I ask, how strongly did I/we serve? In the past 11 months, our dojo has done a lot for others in need: We successfully raised more than $5,000 for the victims of the Haiti earthquake; We cleaned up the neighborhood around the dojo and planted flowers in the local green space; We launched a free community safety, self-defense, and bullying prevention resource website; We created a peace garden for the community with stones that were decorated by our members and local school children; We helped raise funds to fight blindness; And as the year comes to a close, we're making and collecting knitted gloves hats and scarves for Boston-area children in need, collecting toys for kids for the holidays, and we have a blood marrow donor registration drive in the works. Phew!

Second, I ask, how hard did I/we train? Well, I've gotten myself in outstanding shape over the past year. Gotta lead by example, right? This year, I took and passed my examination for 4th dan (fourth degree black belt), and five of my students passed their shodan (first degree back belt) tests, too. We train hard, and we are improving every day. We are a tough (but tastefully refined!) group of souls.

Third, whom did I/we influence? Well, I like to think that I'm having a significant positive influence on the students who train at the dojo. You'll have to ask them how I'm doing in that regard. As for teaching outside of the regular classes at the dojo, I personally taught character-based martial arts classes and anti-bullying classes in local elementary schools, led classes for blind and visually-impaired children at the Carroll Center for the Blind, and I served as the karate instructor at the Boston Martial Arts Academy.

Third: Who did I/we meet and connect with? This year, I chronicled my diet, shared my thoughts on healthy eating with the entire community, and featured my visits to the local farmers market; We met, trained with, and interviewed notable instructor and author, Rory Miller, and I've also interacted with authors Azby Brown (environmentalism) and Paul Chappel (peace education); We studied meditation with meditation instructor and martial artist, Richard Hubbard.


Fourth: Who noticed me/us? In the past year, the dojo has been featured in the Boston Globe, the Allston-Brighton Tab, and the Boston Bulletin. Video clips of the dojo have been featured on television. More exposure before the end of the year is on-tap through Boston Community Cable, and even possibly in the Improper Bostonian. We are in the public eye.

At least I think we are.

Yet for all the good that we've done, all the things we have accomplished, all the wonderful people we've met, and all the press we have gotten, I have to say today, November 18, that the year 2010 has been a HORRIFIC FAILURE. Because in my blog last December, I said that I would measure my/our success not only by our accomplishments as a dojo, but by our growth in membership and headcount.

So here we are. Year over year, we have NOT grown as a dojo. Many of the faces have changed, but we have not really added to our numbers in a meaningful way. We've done a lot, yes, but we have not gotten any bigger. And because we have not grown, every month it is a struggle to pay the rent and keep the lights on. The sad-but-true fact is that I've renegotiated our lease TWICE with our super-generous landlord.



And so today I check the FAIL box.

I can honestly say I'm doing everything that I can, but it's not enough. We may indeed be the most well-known, well-respected, most influential community-service-oriented dojo in the city of Boston, but if we can't pay the rent, we can't continue the MISSION — to increase the quality of life of our members and clients by teaching personal safety skills, mind/body awareness, and the self-defense mindset that generates self-confidence and a greater sense of personal empowerment, well-being, and security.


The responsibility for this tremendous failure lies with me.
 
Perhaps 2011 will be a better year.

It really, really needs to be.

Karate School to Host Bone Marrow Donor Registration Drive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOSTON (Allston), Mass., November 15, 2010

On Saturday, December 4th from noon to 4:00 pm, Boston's Emerald Necklace Martial Arts will be hosting a bone marrow donor registration drive to benefit the DKMS Bone Marrow Registry, the largest bone marrow registry in the world.

The Drive is being organized and led by Amanda Laskowski, a blue belt student at Emerald Necklace, as part of a community service project that she is completing to earn her next belt ranking at the dojo (karate school).

The inspiration behind the drive is Laskowski's yearly trip to Camp Sunshine, a camp located in Casco, ME for families who have children with life threatening illnesses. Laskowski volunteers for the Fanconi Anemia session at the Camp: Fanconi Anemia is a blood disease that results in bone marrow failure, and while there is no cure for Fanconi Anemia, a bone marrow transplant can greatly extend a patient's life.

"Sometimes you can't even tell that these kids are sick, but their disease is very real," Laskowski said. "Knowing that I can try and help them out in any way gives me hope that someday a cure will be found."

On the day of the drive, potential donors will fill out a questionnaire and undergo a cheek swab to determine if they can be added to the registry. Individuals who are unable to donate bone marrow are still strongly encouraged to come to the event to provide personnel support at the station tables and to make a financial donation.

The bone marrow donor registration drive is one of several concurrent service projects at the dojo. Karate students are also holding their annual "Toys for Tots" holiday toy collection drive, and their annual "Caps for Kids" drive to create and collect hand-knitted scarves, hats, and gloves for Boston-area children in need.

For more information on Camp Sunshine, Fanconi Anemia or the DKMS bone marrow drive please visit their websites: www.campsunshine.org, www.fanconi.org, www.dkmsamericas.org. For more information about Emerald Necklace Martial Arts or the community service projects that are being sponsored by the dojo, please visit www.karateinboston.com or contact Sensei Jason Gould, dojo Director and Chief Instructor at (617) 202-3856.

Boston Martial Artists Fight Blindness at VisionWalk 2010!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOSTON (Allston), Mass., November 3, 2010

On Saturday, October 30, a team of 18 walkers from Emerald Necklace Martial Arts (ENMA), a karate dojo in Boston's Allston neighborhood, participated in VisionWalk 2010, a 2.5 mile walk to support the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a non-profit organization whose mission is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.

The dojo team was led by Jessica Smith, an adult karate student at ENMA who also teaches the youth program for children ages 9-13. This is the second consecutive year that Smith has organized a walking team for the dojo.

"Personally, I am walking to support my cousin Maggie, who has gradually lost her sight over the last twenty years," Smith said. "Vision research is vastly underfunded, and our efforts can make a huge difference."
To date, the team has successfully raised more than $800 in donations. Additional contributions to the team’s fundraising effort can still be made at this link.

The students at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts regularly participate in community service projects as part of their Black Belt training program. For more information about the dojo, please visit www.karateinboston.com.

Watch Me Train

Didn't want to miss blogging; entering this post w/ my Blackberry.

I'm in the hospital with my daughter; been here for 2 days. No sign of going home yet.

Nasty stomach virus + T1 diabetic 4 year old equals a trip to the ER.

I'm trying to practice mindfulness and kindness despite the parental instinct to lash out in anger at everyone who I think isn't doing enough or moving fast enough.

It's good training.

Martial Artists Create "Peace Garden" in Boston's Allston Neighborhood

On September 21, the students of our karate dojo, along with members of the local community, spent time together commemorating the International Day of Peace with a number of activities. I read books about peace to young children; we created "peace rocks" as an art project, and then planted the rocks in the "peace garden" I created next to the dojo. Into the evening, adults at the dojo spent time discussing approaches to peacemaking, and we concluded the evening's events with a 30-minute period of silent meditation and contemplation.



Building the peace garden was a lot of work, but it was also a fun and enjoyable — and hopefully long-lasting — project. The stones we used were donated by The Stoneyard in Littleton, MA. I picked them up last week, then took them home to clean them up before the event. I purchased outdoor paints, sealant, and brushes at a local art supply store, and picked up two bags of mulch and some weed barrier at the local home improvement outlet.

Before the rock-decorating event, I went out next to the dojo to the are we call "the Black Belt Garden." Members of our dojo cleaned up the area and planted trees and flower during several of our previous community projects. There, I dug out a five-foot by five-foot hole, lined it with weed barrier, and then filled the hole with mulch.

          

     

A number of my adult karate students, our "little dragons," and even other youngsters from the neighborhood who were not members of the dojo came to decorate the stones, which I laid out to dry overnight at the dojo. (I'd created a few samples in advance.)

When the stones were dry, I covered them with a protective sealant. Then I placed them in the garden in the form of a peace sign.

May our labors bear the fruits of peace, compassion, and wisdom.
 
 

Waging Peace

At Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, I require all of my students to complete some kind of "peace education project" as part of their training for Black Belt. The project can be almost anything: an individual may choose to learn about nonviolent communication, build interpersonal skills for negotiation and peaceful conflict resolution, or study techniques for anger management. Some may choose to read about and study the lives of peacemakers such as Gandhi, Mother Theresa, or MLK. Individual projects vary based on personal interests.

September 21 is the International Day of Peace. So this month, I'm embarking on a peace education project of my own: I've just finished reading "Will War Ever End?" by Captain Paul Chappell. Mr. Chappell will be in Boston in November, so I've reached out to him to invite him to visit the dojo when he is in town so that we might talk together about how martial artists can creatively act as peacemakers. Will see if he responds. I'll next be reading Mr. Chappell's second book, "The End of War."



I believe we martial artists have some responsibility to engage in creative ways of peacefully resolving the conflicts — large and small — that occur in our lives. After all, we spend a great deal of time studying "the arts of war," and we generally claim to put our knowledge to some positive use, So in the coming days, I'll be dropping in at my "peace dojo:" the Peace Abbey in Sherborn, MA, in order to spend some time in reflection on peace and on the true human costs of war and conflict. I'll be posting photos and video from the Peace Abbey in the next weeks.

Lastly, I'm hoping to hold a Peace Day Event at the dojo — for both my students and for members of the community — on Tuesday the 21st. More on that soon.

Fighting and Facing 40

I've not much to report this week, although I taught at the "Boston Martial Arts Academy" back on August 28. It was a fun experience, and it was good to connect with other martial arts instructors from the area. In the morning, I worked directly with Ezra Dyer, a reporter from the Improper Bostonian. (See his blog here.) Ezra was covering the event with a neat angle: he has no previous martial arts experience, so in the morning, I trained him in point sparring techniques for three straight hours. Then, at noon, we squared off for two three-point matches to see how he could perform under pressure against a more skilled opponent — me. (You can imagine the results, I'm sure, but it was fun, and Ezra was a good sport about the whole thing. I'll have to see if the article ever makes it to print.)

By the way, Ezra, if you're reading this — I've been reading your column, and I know that you and your wife just had a baby boy, too. Please tell your son Rhys that my son Caleb says hello:

All in good fun, my friend!

In the afternoon at the BMAA, I taught two physical classes and then two lectures on the origins and history of Okinawan karate. I think both were well received.

Oh, and the 29th was my birthday. It came and went without much fanfare, which is pretty much the way I prefer it. But now at 39, I'm trying to set and go after some meaningful goals that can be accomplished within the next year, so that I hit the milestone of 40 at a dead sprint and in the best mental/physical/spiritual shape of my life.

Summer is coming to an end.

Caleb, at 4 months, is almost 20 pounds.

Ava starts pre-K in another week.

For now, I'm looking forward now to some down time with family over the holiday weekend.

Eating Like A Champion, Part IV: A Trip to the Allston Farmer's Market

In the past few weeks, I've been writing a lot on my martial arts training blog about how the way we eat connects directly to our level of health and vitality.

Eating Like A Champion
Part I: Breakfast
Part II: Lunch
Part III: Dinner

You've probably heard me say at one point or another that healthy eating is self-defense. Sure, an attack from that mugger in the dark alley is a part of we train for in the dojo, but truth be told, we're much more likely to suffer pain, discomfort, and long-term physical damage as a result of what we stuff into our mouths on a daily basis. I'm learning that our diet can contribute to or prevent all manner of maladies that have an impact on our quality of life: obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, certain kinds of cancers, joint problems, type II diabetes, and more — all of these can be caused, exacerbated, alleviated or prevented all together depending in a large part on how we eat.

Well, what we eat starts with what we choose to buy and prepare for our meals, and for the meals of our families.

I've be reading a lot about diet and nutrition, and even more about being conscious about the sources of our food. In an ideal world, we'd always have access to locally grown, sustainably harvested, organic produce that's good for our bodies, our local communities, and our environment. Well, even here in the busy city, we have options available to us!

I recently dropped in to visit the Farmer's Market in my neighborhood — what an amazing and festive atmosphere! I brought my camera along for the ride, and shot some video:



While at the Farmer's Market, I took the opportunity to interview some of the local vendors. If you like, please check out the short clips I shot of the wonderful folks from Monkey Joe Roasting Company, or E.L. Silvia Farms, or Dragonfly Farms.

There were other vendors there, too: I haven't gotten all the still photos off my camera yet, but when I do, I'll add the photos here! More information about the Farmer's Market, including dates, times and featured vendors can be found here.

I was so excited by what I found at the market, that I sat down to film some of the amazing vegetables I bought:



The time at the Farmer's Market was time well spent. And the meal I prepared from the foods I picked up there was very, very tasty.



Shop locally if you can. 

Practice good self-defense, and eat for your health!

Sensei Jason Gould
Emerald Necklace Martial Arts
95 Everett Street
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 202-3856

Some Training Outside the Box

The following quote recently came to mind: "Five years from now, you'll be the same person you are today, except for the books you read, and the people you hang out with." I think it's by Brian Tracy — or perhaps I just heard Brian Tracy repeat this quote that was originally spoken by someone else. That's not important — what is important is that the quote itself came to my mind, and it inspired me to do something a little different in my karate class.

So one night last week I decided to change the format of class: I asked a group of my students to come to class with one or two of the books they are currently reading, and to be prepared to discuss what the book was about and why they are reading it. I didn't give much more guidance except to tell my students that they could NOT bring a book related to the martial arts, fighting, or eastern philosophy. Too easy.

That night, instead of training on the floor, a group of martial artists sat around a table, taking turns talking about the books they were reading. Instead of focusing on blocks, kicks, punches, chokes, traps, and take-downs, we were learning things about each other's outside interests, hobbies, pastimes, personalities, and motivations. It was a good and unusual class. There's usually not much social interaction at the dojo because we're too busy training. And I think this would have been a memorable class if we simply stopped there.

But then I changed the rules — after all, it was a martial arts class. After each of us had spoken in turn while sitting relaxed at the table, I invited each of my students to get up from the table and discuss their book while standing in front of my rolling camera, as a way of practicing their public speaking, improving their confidence, testing their spontaneous mental flexibility, and increasing their body awareness. The immediate looks of shock, fear, and panic were, in a word, PERFECT — I had challenged them in an unexpected way.

I had, in fact ATTACKED them.

My unexpected request was a good way to introduce fear and adrenal stress without even throwing a punch. It forced people to think on their feet (literally) and act quickly and spontaneously in an uncomfortable environment. And my students' responses to the assigned task were very similar, I imagine, to what their responses might have been had someone actually jumped them from behind. Confusion, resistance, mental and physical rigidity — they all showed up in spades.

So I gave them a moment to compose themselves and then turned on the camera:

An Open Letter to Mr. Azby Brown, Author of "Just Enough"

Dear Mr. Brown,

An odd series of events has just led me to your book, "Just Enough, Lessons in Green Living from Traditional Japan," which I have just ordered from Amazon.com. I'm writing to thank you for putting these pages together. As a martial artist, I've been recently expanding my definition of "self-defense" to include the concepts of environmentalism, sustainability, conscious consumption, and material simplicity. After all, if we don't take care of the planet, the planet will surely "take care" of us. So, in a very real sense, my small efforts of preserving and protecting the planet are, in a way, self-serving acts of self-defense — for me, for my family, and for my community.

Discovering the phrase, "ware tada taru wo shiru" in your book brings everything together perfectly. I know that I have much more than I need, and that my small actions and choices can make a difference to the benefit of all.

Although I've studied Japanese martial arts for decades, I had no idea that green/sustainable practices were a (necessary) part of life in Edo Japan. To tie my evolving understanding of "environmental self defense" back to my practice of martial arts, and more directly to the Japanese martial culture and period that I am most familiar with — well it's a wonderful way to continue my personal growth and development.



After reading your book, I'll be sure to take and apply many of the lessons of sustainable living in the urban environment of old Edo into my daily living here in modern-day Boston. And I'll be sure to share what I've learned with my karate students, too.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Best regards,
Jason

Sensei Jason Gould
Director / Chief Instructor
Emerald Necklace Martial Arts
95 Everett Street | Allston, MA 02134
www.karateinboston.com
mobile: (617) 230-1973 | dojo: (617) 202-3856

Eating Like A Champion, Part III: Dinner

"If we consume three meals a day for 1825 days, that’s 5475 meals, which is 5475 opportunities to eat with awareness, to look deeply at what we consume and where it comes from. The power in this idea isn’t in looking at the big picture of 5475 meals, it’s looking at each meal individually."

Above are the words of my UBBT Coach and mentor, Master Tom Callos. He's asked (practically demanded) that as part of my training and education as a martial arts "master teacher" that I master my diet. With that, I present to you, my dinner from the other night.

July 25: Broiled salmon fillet topped with mango salsa, with a side of sauteed seasonal vegetables and saffron rice. (Accompanied by a glass of red wine.)

Now, the most wonderful thing about this meal was not in the eating of it. Not even close, although the meal was absolutely delicious! The most wonderful thing about this meal was in the preparing of it: cooking with my wife in our small kitchen — chopping the vegetables, cleaning the fish, boiling the water — all in wonderful anticipation of sharing the meal in the spirit of gratitude with family (including my mother that evening) and friends (Joy invited a neighbor over for dinner).

I'd never made mango salsa before. Never even thought to. But when I saw the picture in a magazine and realized how EASY it was to make, I just had to go for it. And now I have a new tool in my cooking toolbox.

My daughter picked out the wine (yes, she's only 4) a few weeks ago by choosing a bottle that looked "good" to her. She was right! And now I have a memory of how funny it was to walk the isles of the wine shop with my four year old, and letting her be our faux sommelier for the evening.

The zucchini and the squash came from the garden of a coworker. You can't get more organic or local then getting your veggies from someone you know, who grew the veggies in their own back yard with their own hands and loving care.

The rice? Well, that came from a box. Cut me some slack — I'm still learning!

May each meal be filled with such joy, adventure, and discovery!

Coach Tom goes on to say,

"Dietary self-defense is more of an issue to personal protection than is physical self-defense. There are 1825 days in 5 years. You will sit down to at least 5475 meals in those 5 years. The very next meal you eat is an opportunity to practice the art of living as a martial artist. After the next meal you will have 5474 more training sessions. This isn't a burden, it is a gift."

Thanks, Coach, for a gift I can really use — and share with anyone who cares to sit at the table with me.

Sensei Jason Gould
Emerald Necklace Martial Arts
Boston

Eating Like A Champion, Part II: Lunch

My lunch on July 15: lemon tarragon cashew and chicken salad on a sun-dried tomato wrap with a side of carrots, which I washed down with a small pot of organic green tea. It was delicious!


Now in the interest of full disclosure, I must report that I don't eat like this ALL of the time (my lunch the day before was a chicken Parmesan sub with a side of potato chips, although I did get an unsweetened iced tea to go with it), but I am eating "healthier" much more of the time. I'm very fortunate in that the cafeteria where I work offers a wide variety of inexpensive food choices. The chicken salad wrap, for example, was only $3.95.

And at home, my daughter Ava (who turns 4 this weekend) LOVES to cook with me. I know that eating habits can become "generational," so I'm determined to set a healthy example for her in the kitchen. Ava is a Type I diabetic, so there's never any soda in the house. Snacks are generally healthy and fruit-based. Desserts are rare — and small.

I'm learning. (A quick karate analogy: I've got my white belt on.) And as I learn more about healthy eating (and healthy living), I'm coming to realize that WHAT you eat is critical, but so are the following factors (in no particular order):

• HOW MUCH you eat (portion size)
• WHEN you eat (time of day)
• HOW OFTEN you eat (the FREQUENCY of your meals)
• The ENVIRONMENT in which you eat
• The COMPANY you choose dine with
• The quality of ATTENTION, APPRECIATION, and MINDFULNESS that you bring to the experience of eating

And I'm waking up.

• I'm very lucky in that I have access to abundant healthy food choices. I realize that some people don't have the plethora of options that I usually take for granted.
• I'm even luckier that I have the means to obtain more than enough to eat. I realize that thousands die from malnutrition every day.

Yes, healthy eating is self-defense.

More to come.

An Interesting Week, Full of Interesting People

A quick post for the week: It's been an interesting week, full of interesting people.

UBBT team member Richard Hubbard came down to train with me and a group of my students — read Richard's post here.

I had the great fortune of receiving "darshan" from Mata Amritanandamayi, better known as Amma, "the hugging saint." She was conducting a weeklong retreat down the street from my day job, and I was able to drop in for the portion of her local visit that was open to the public during my lunch break. Neat.

Due to a mix up in scheduling for self-defense classes for children at the Carroll Center for the Blind (two different groups at the Center booked two different instructors for the same timeframe and in the same space), I met Erik Kondo, a parapalegic jujitsu practitioner and self-defense instructor. We made the best of the mix up, taught the class together, and promised to stay in touch for possible collaborations in the future. See Erik in action in the video below.



Lastly, I met several members of the team of martial artists who will be teaching along with me at the Boston Martial Arts Academy next month, as we all gathered together for a quick photo shoot to help promote the event. Imagine instructors from aikido, Brazilian jujitsu, kung fu, karate, hapkido, and capoeira all in one place, each wearing their traditional uniforms. We joked that we looked like a group of superheroes! Will post photos when I get them.

Fun times. I'm loving every minute, with gratitude!

Video Post: My Martial Arts Training, Summer 2010

The things I've been doing, the books I've been reading, the cool people I've been hanging out with, and the opportunities I'm taking this summer to become a better martial artist and Artist of Life.

Eating Like A Champion, Part I

Coach Tom has always encouraged us to "eat like a champion." To master our diet. I'm pleased to report that I've vastly improved my diet since first meeting Coach Tom — In fact, I fondly recall that my first live conversation with him a few years back was on my cell phone while I sat in a pizza shop eating a greasy slice or pepperoni and drinking a cola. (And as you might guess, he nailed me for it.) Well, I still like pizza, but I've learned to incorporate it into a much healthier way of nourishing my body.

Looking back, I've realized that one thing I haven't done yet is carry Coach's valuable message about the importance of diet forward in any real tangible way, so starting this week, from time to time I'll be showing you what I'm eating — not so much as a way of demonstrating my mastery of the subject (ha!), but as a way of showing you what I'm learning and how I'm growing.

So here goes.

Today's breakfast: An apple, a banana but muffin, and a mango smoothie.


More to come!

The 2010 Boston Martial Arts Academy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOSTON (Allston), Mass., July 6, 2010
Sensei Jason Gould, Director and Chief Instructor of Boston's Emerald Necklace Martial Arts will be teaching the karate section of the 2010 Boston Martial Arts Academy, the city's first ever, day-long, nationally recognized seminar for martial arts enthusiasts. The event will be held on Saturday, August 28 at the Boston Center for Adult Education.

The Boston Martial Arts Academy (BMAA) is a day-long workshop held for martial arts enthusiasts, practitioners, or simply those wishing to learn more about the many martial styles and systems available. Open to students of all levels, the academy is designed to provide information and technique sharing between the many diverse martial arts systems and their respective cultures.

The academy is comprised of both classroom lectures and hands-on demonstration classes. Taught by qualified masters in the field of Martial Arts, this year's style line up will feature lectures and technique classes in: Karate (Japanese Style), Krav Maga (Israeli Style), Capoeira (Brazilian Style), Tae Kwon Do (Korean Style), Kung Fu (Chinese Style), Jiu-Jitsu (Brazilian Style), Aikido (Japanese Style) and Tai Chi (Chinese Style).Additional details about the BMAA — including registration information — can be found here. More information about Sensei Jason Gould or Emerald Necklace Martial Arts can be found at www.karateinboston.com.


###

Always More to Learn; Always Room for Improvement

Sorry for missing a journal entry last week: I just returned from a week of training at the Zen Bei Butoku Kai International Summer Camp in Guelph, Ontario. I’ve been going to this camp, which has run annually for the last 31 years, since 1995. It’s not a vacation. It’s training, and the daily routine looks something like this:



6:00 – 7:00 Tai chi, pushing hands, and chi kung
7:00 Breakfast
9:00 – 11:30 Morning training
12:00 Lunch
2:00 – 4:30 Afternoon training5:00 Dinner
7:00 – 8:30 Evening lecture


As you can see, there’s very little down time at camp, but we still manage to have a great week, with nightly visits to the campus pub for social beverages.


Some highlights from the week:

My tai chi form has improved. In our organization, we do an offshoot of Yang style tai chi as taught by Sensei Richard Kim, who passed away back in 2001. The morning tai chi sessions at camp were led by Brian Ricci Sensei and Frank Gaviola Sensei. This year, I’m remembering the individual movements and sequences a lot better, and it takes less much concentration to flow through the entire form.

I had the pleasure of attending several training classes with Fumio Demura Sensei , who visited the camp during the week. His presence and knowledge of Okinawan history and kata bunkai (application) is amazing. I took plenty of notes. (And I iced down my thumb after he cranked me in a finger lock that I’ll never forget!)

At camp this year, I spent most of my time in the “combat room” learning jujitsu techniques from Lenore Gaviola Sensei, Rose Baldo Sensei, and Lonnie Francis Sensei, and I was promoted to yonkyu (blue belt) at the end of the week. I can’t say enough positive about my jujitsu instructors and their level of proficiency – I felt totally in awe of their effortless ability. Just goes to prove that there’s always more to learn and there’s always room for improvement.

This year, I succeeded in passing my 4th dan (4th degree Black Belt) examination. I worked hard in the months leading up to the event, so I was highly confident and in great shape when I stepped on the floor for grading. I was as prepared as I could have been, but because I missed two months of training before the test (I took an understandable break from training when my son was born back in April!), I was not as prepared as I would have liked to have been. Still we had a strong group of candidates grading for 4th and 5th dan, and it was an honor to be on the floor with them.


The most memorable highlight of the week for me was seeing five of my students grade for their shodan (first degree). Well, I didn’t actually watch them — I was grading on the floor at the same time — but to know that they all passed is a GREAT feeling!



Hats off and a deep bow of respect and thanks to my instructors Brian Ricci Sensei and Dennis Mann Sensei, who continue to teach me — on and off the mat — with patience and love. Thanks also to my family for their understanding and tolerance of my "hobby," and for all those who continue to contribute to my personal growth and development.

Attacking in all directions

Last week, I attended a conference on bullying prevention here in Boston. The event was aimed at providing anti-bullying resources and information to school administrators, community groups, and parent-based organizations. The conference was well attended — I set up a table for Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, and I also went to represent Boston Self-Defense, a growing online network of self-defense and safety information that I created after being inspired by my mentor, Coach Tom Callos.

I met and connected with a number of interesting people at the event — and I took a lot of photos video, too! Here's a quick video of Steve Daly, founder of the radKIDS children's safety and empowerment program. I initially met Steve back around 2001 when I became certified as a radKIDS instructor.


Find more videos like this on Boston Self-Defense


In the last few weeks, I've also spent time teaching karate and bullying prevention seminars at a few Boston-area schools. I'm learning a lot from the KIDS.

Beyond all of this, we've been training really hard at the dojo (will post video of our recent grueling conditioning training soon!):

I and six of my students depart this weekend for Canada for a weeklong martial arts seminar that will end with Black Belt testing on Friday, June 25. Five of my students are testing for shodan, first degree black belt. I will be testing for yondan, fourth degree.

Of course, I expect nothing short of complete success!

I'm going on a "Masters Journey." Want to Join Me?

Very soon, I'm going to start working on a 4-week "Masters Journey" of advanced personal development, leadership, goal setting, and achievement.

The "Masters Journey" is a program created and run my my UBBT friend, Gary Engles.

Gary has posted a couple of sneak-peek videos ("The Mysterious Letters" and "Celebrating Your Wins") in advance of the program launch. I encourage you to watch them here.

Now, Gary's a little over the top sometimes, but he's one of the most focused and driven people I know.

The "Master's Journey" is essentially a 4-week self-directed program of personal growth -- when it launches, Gary will be offering the entire program for $197. After watching the videos
posted here, I hope you'll decide to take the "Masters Journey"

along with me and perhaps a few other members of the dojo.

if you're interested, let me know -- and be sure to sign up using Gary's "early-bird sign-up" form, as only 100 people will be admitted to the program!

Training: Trial by Fire

This weekend was my first serious attempt at completing a complete "trial by fire" with my 15lb Clubbells. For those who do not know, a trial by fire (Created by Coach Scott Sonnon) consists of 100 continuous repetitions three specific exercises: 100 clubbell double swipes, followed by 100 mills with each arm, followed by 100 clubbell hammer throws. You can watch a video of a Trial by Fire here. To count as "official," the entire "trial" needs to be completed in under 30 minutes.

I've been working with Clubbells for some time, but I'd never attempted a complete trial before now. I've set a personal fitness goal of completing an official TBF, so I figured that I'd better get working on it.

In a word, it was TOUGH. Swinging the clubs really challenges your grip strength, particularly because the weight of the club pulls across your grip instead of into it. So, I was forced to take several short breaks to prevent "catastrophic grip failure" that would have resulted in by clubs becoming unintended projectile weapons.

I completed all 100 double swipes by doing a set of 35, followed by a set of 15, and then sets of 10 or 15 until I reached 100 repetitions. The mills were the hardest part of the trial; I switched hands often and took a few breaks to get 100 done on each side. The 100 hammer throws seemed to be the easiest part of the trial — those I completed in just two sets (one of 60 and one of 40).

My entire Trial by Fire took me 35 minutes, and the reps were not non-stop, as prescribed. So, my goal of completing a full, nonstop, continuous TBF in 30 minutes or less is within reach, but I've still got some work to do.

And oh YES -- I was really sore the next day!

Don't Just Sit There -- Do Something!

I sit here today as images from the BP oil spill come across my computer screen, and I feel absolutely powerless. I'm a "master" martial artist, a veteran self-defense "expert," and man dedicated to serving those in need with courage and compassion.

Yet still I'm feeling completely impotent about how I might serve and protect the countless animals along the Louisiana coastline that are bearing the brunt of this ecological disaster.


A quick search on Google has at least got me pointed in the right direction. Here's a link to ways you can help.

Earlier this year, members of the Emerald Necklace dojo came together and raised over $5,000 to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Today, I call on them again, along with anyone reading this post, to get creative about how to help with this incredible mess.

Team, let's put our heads together.

We'll be cleaning up this mess for years to come. When my children are old enough to understand the seriousness of what's happened in the Gulf, I don't want them to discover that all I did to help was sit back and watch the news.

So, please send me your ideas, and then we'll put some of them into action. Soon.

Why, yes -- I HAVE been training!

This is a video of last night's "Combat Conditioning" class. Sorry it's only about 30 seconds long, but I was at the "rest station" so it's all I had time to shoot.


Will write more later, I promise!

Taking On Bullying in Boston

Find more videos like this on Boston Self-Defense

I'm Baaaaackkk!!!!

Yikes, it's been a full two weeks since I've been in a gi and two weeks since I've put up a blog post of any significance. I've been away from the dojo to focus on training, and to bond with family -- especially my new son, Caleb!

Yes, he IS the coolest little dude EVER. The past 2 weeks have been amazing, but now it's time for me to jump back into the river of life with both feet, starting with going back to the 'ol grind at work.

My yondan examination is 6 WEEKS away, so you'd better believe I'll be ramping up my training, starting NOW.

EXPECT THE BEST, BE THE BEST!

Eyes on the Silver Lining!

At 1:30am on April 11 — as if we didn't have enough going on in our lives — a drunk driver rear-ended my wife's car as it was parked in front of our house. He impacted hard at the driver's side rear and then scraped down the entire driver's side. Our car was forced 10 feet forward into the car parked in front of ours: broken rear axle, smashed bumper, dented rims, torn side panel, crumpled hood, burst radiator... I could go on and on, but I'll sum things up this way: The car was totaled.

Thankfully, we were all sound asleep at the time, and no one was hurt; even the driver who hit us was unharmed: both his airbags deployed. Probably saved his life, as he must have been going about 40 mph when he hit our car.

Since the accident, our lives have been in chaos. No one needs this kind of headache right before our "latest addition" is scheduled to arrive (new baby Gould we be here on or about April 26!). The accident came right on the heels of us replacing (by necessity, not out of choice) our refrigerator, our dishwasher, and our furnace, and the purchase of some not-so-inexpensive-but-badly-needed new furniture. And now we need to go car shopping.

Sheesh.

There's other "stuff" going on in the background, too, like the broken (vandalized) mirror on MY car and our recently vandalized fence, and the gutters that need repair, etc., etc. Trying to keep a positive attitude.

On the positive side, we're about to have a new baby! We weren't IN THE CAR when it got hit. We're healthy, with all the food, clothing, and shelter that we need. Our friends and family have been fantastic.

In short, there's ALWAYS something to complain about and ALWAYS something to be grateful for. And I know that what I put my attention on will increase and expand.

Thoughts on Bullying in Boston -- And What I'm Doing About It

What happened to Phoebe Prince was an absolute tragedy. I find myself getting more and more angry as more information about the case comes to light, such as what I read today in this article. So much more could have been done. So many people failed to act or did not heed the warning signs. As a martial arts instructor, my #1 job is to give people the resources to help keep them safe. This includes my karate students, of course, but also the kids, parents, teachers, and other people in need who I'll NEVER EVEN MEET. That's one of the reasons why I'm developing the "Boston Self Defense" online community.

Please join me and other people in greater Boston who want to help develop resources and spread information about safety and self-defense.

Bullying is REAL. It happens in person, and increasingly, it's happening online in the form of "cyber-bullying." There's a ton of antibullying information readily available, and there are many instructors out there who are capable of bringing information to our community. Let's get connected. I myself will be going to a school in Sommerville this morning to speak to a group of children about bullying: what it is, how to prevent it, and (most importantly) what to DO if one is being bullied or witnessing an act of bullying.

I'll report back soon on how today's training goes. If I may be of service to you, or to anyone within your sphere of influence, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sensei Jason Gould
Emerald Necklace Martial Arts
617-202-3856

Mastery or Bust!

In just 4 weeks, my wife and I are expecting the arrival of our second child. Over the past several months, we've been very busy going to doctor's appointments, painting rooms, buying and moving furniture, replacing a few old appliances before they up and die on their own, picking up new and borrowed baby gear, lining up family support, and otherwise generally getting ready for our lives to be turned (wonderfully!) upside down. There have been bumps in the road, to be sure. I'm not getting a lot of sleep (Neither is my wife!), and I'm really, really, REALLY worn out.

And in just 13 weeks, when the new baby is just 8 weeks old, I'll be leaving home for Canada to attend a weeklong martial arts summer camp that will culminate in my test for 4th degree black belt. (Huge props to my wife for being willing to me out of her sight so I can pursue my passion!) It's a test that I need to be razor sharp for: I'll need to be absolutely at the top of my game in order to emerge from the crucible victorious! But here's my problem/challenge: I haven't been training anywhere nearly as hard as I normally would in advance of a rank test.

Because in addition to all of the baby prep mentioned above, I have a 3-year-old diabetic daughter who requires a lot of care (she's my hero!), and I work a full time job while also running the dojo and teaching classes there. I've been handling household emergencies, running seminars, renegotiating leases, and coordinating community service activities. And I'm doing everything I can to get my own students ready for their Black Belt test. So with all the things I've had on my plate, I haven't left a lot of time for my own training. Sure, I've been meditating, visualizing, and maintaining a healthy diet, etc., but I haven't had a tenth of the mat time I'd prefer to have to polish my kata.

Fear not: I'm not listing all the reasons I'm going to fail my test. I'm not trying to set low expectations or garner any sympathy here. I'm just listing all of the obstacles (real and imagined) that I'm going to overcome to succeed. Because to me, the real test is all of the things that I struggle with and overcome before I step onto the floor for the actual examination and evaluation.

I don't care if I pass the test or not. (Well, I care, but I don't CARE, if you know what I mean...) I'm simply going to step out there and leave everything I have on the floor. And I believe that my willingness to fail spectacularly actually gives me an edge.

My eyes aren't on the prize because I've already won.

Martial Artists Cleaning Up the City!

At Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, we strongly encourage all martial artists to make worthy contributions to their neighborhoods and communities. In fact, the students in our programs frequently organize and participate in community service activities as part of their Black Belt training.


Our students spent the afternoon of March 20 cleaning up trash from the Everett Street embankment in Boston's Allston neighborhood. Click here to see more projects from our online community service portfolio!

Still Here...

It's been a busy couple of weeks. Our dojo community cleanup project was absolutely fantastic. Members of our dojo — along with others from the community — spent the first beautiful day of the season picking up trash and planting wildflowers in the green space adjacent to the dojo. I can't wait to see what the area looks like later this spring and early summer when everything starts to bloom. I will post pictures from the event as soon as I can get them off my camera!

On Sunday, I led a special all-day seminar for a group of 15 dojo members. We discussed warrior virtues, martial traditions, and strategies for conflict de-escalation and resolution. We shared a wonderful lunch together. And, of course, we trained hard in empty hand kata and weapons forms.

As a look back on the weekend's events, I realize how lucky I am to have such wonderful people as part of our dojo community. THANK YOU ALL.

Karate Students Plan "Spring Cleaning" Project in Allston Neighborhood

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOSTON (Allston), Mass., March 2, 2010 -- As part of it's "Environmental Self-Defense" initiative, members of Boston's Emerald Necklace Martial Arts will be cleaning up the Everett Street embankment in Allston starting at noon on Saturday, March 20.

Please click here for a special video message from Sensei Gould.

The focus of the clean-up project will be the south side of Everett Street, from the base of the Everett Street bridge to the corner of Everett and Braintree Streets. Specifically, members of our dojo will be picking up all trash and debris from the embankment, the sidewalk, and the street. We will also do some weeding around the trees and flowers that our karate students planted last summer and fall, and we'll be seeding the area with wildflowers so that the area is in bloom all summer long.

We would like to invite the entire community to participate in improving this small section of the city. For more information, please contact Sensei Jason Gould by phone at 617-230-1973. We hope to see you at this event. Please help us to spread the word, and bring your friends to 95 Everett Street at noon on Saturday, March 20!

To learn more about the many ways in which Emerald Necklace Martial Arts uses martial arts philosophy and principles to serve the community and the world, please visit the project portfolio posted on our website.

Final Results: Boston Karate Students Help Haiti Earthquake Victims

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOSTON (Allston), Mass., March 1, 2010 -- The adult karate students of Boston's Emerald Necklace Martial Arts have successfully raised more than $5,000 to help the victims of January's earthquake in Haiti.

The students raised the funds by collecting flat donations and by receiving one-cent pledges from individual sponsors for each push-up and sit-up performed by dojo members within a 30-day period. The dojo also held a "Kickboxing for a Cause" workout on January 26 that raised a total of $700. All donations have been sent to the American Red Cross.

"The donations we received ranged in size from $8 to $225," says Sensei Jason Gould, Director and Chief Instructor at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts. "Most contributions were around $30. Little by little, the collective efforts of many people added up to a significant amount -- one that will hopefully make a difference to those in need."

One member of the dojo, Jeff Ward-Bailey, personally collected more than $1,000 in donations from family members, friends, and coworkers. He filmed every push-up and sit-up that he performed and posted it on his blog for accountability and to inspire others.

"We're especially proud of Jeff," Gould says. "He set a great example for all of us to follow."

To learn more about how Emerald Necklace Martial Arts uses martial arts philosophy and principles to serve the community and the world, please visit their website's project portfolio, or contact Sensei Jason Gould by email or by phone: 617-230-1973.

Environmental Self-Defense Service Project Planned for Saturday, March 20

OK, So I'm In Shape. Now, Back to Training!

We've just wrapped up our annual 6-week fitness training cycle at the Emerald Necklace dojo.

To get back in shape during the first six weeks of every year, we focus heavily on calisthenics, body weight exercises, and agility drills instead of the karate and traditional weapons practice that is the staple of our "normal" training. This intense training period has been a great way for me to kick off my UBBT — there's nothing like good company and the pressure of witnesses to help form a new habit.

And when disaster struck in Haiti, we quickly used our already in-progress fitness regimen as a launch pad for helping others in need by creating a 30-day push-up and sit-up drive. Donations from the drive are still coming in, but I estimate that ENMA raised somewhere in the neighborhood of $3,000 - 5,000 that will go to the American Red Cross and designated for Haiti relief efforts. When I have a grand total, I'll be sure to post our final results!

(If you sponsored me, rest assured that I did the 100 pushups and situps daily for 30 days that I promised... In fact, I'm pretty sure I did WAY MORE than that, and I have a dojo full of witnesses! If you haven't sent me your donation yet, please do! If you'll make your check payable to the American Red Cross and send it to the dojo, we'll put together a package and send everything to the Red Cross at once. THANK YOU!)

Now, it's time for us to get back to "real" martial arts training — the three K's of karate: kihon (basics and fundamentals), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring and self-defense).

My Life Has A Country-Western Soundtrack

Forgive me, UBBT friends, for not posting a blog last week. Life has been more hectic and stressful than I could have imagined, but I have endured.

We recently replaced our hot water heater. No big deal, right? But that's when we discovered that our downstairs neighbors in the condo have been using power from our house to run their washer and dryer -- for the last three years.

Then came the water main break that required emergency plumbing and a special visit to my home by the Boston Fire Department and Boston Water & Sewer: They had to shut the water off from the street to stop the flooding (Visualize me bailing out the basement at 2:00 am in 20 degree weather as the water gushed in.)

While the Water & Sewer dept. was at the house, they confirmed that we have LEAD PIPES feeding the house, so we're formulating a plan to get those replaced. ASAP.

Despite our best efforts, my daughter's blood sugar has been out of control. (She recently hit 400 on a blood glucose test. Normal range is 80-110.) That means emergency infusion set changes in the middle of the night for both me and my wife, so neither of us is sleeping much. I'm now up all the time. In fact, it's 2:30 am while I'm writing this post.

My wife is 6 months pregnant. Some stress there. Enough said.

Oh, and did I mention we have a squirrel living in our roof? Called Critter Control to catch the little bugger before it does too much damage. (Visualize a small wire cage on the roof baited with peanuts. No, I'm not joking.) And since we're talking about the roof, there's a 10 foot section of gutter missing up there that needs to be repaired immediately.

You want more? I called the vet this week because, sadly, I need to put down my dog, Pallas. She's been part of the family for almost 15 years. She was literally a mangy, flea bitten stray wandering the woods when I found her back in 1995 and patched her up. She's had a great life and we've had great times together, but now, old age is getting the best of her and she's clearly suffering.

I share all this not to garner sympathy. Truth is, I know all this stress is making me stronger. But I have to think that somewhere out there, there's a country western singer who could turn this story into a number one hit.

With all of this, there are some bright spots to consider: I haven't missed a meal. I have people in my life who love and care about me. I still have a roof over my head (squirrel and all). And through all of this, I have continued to train. Every day. No exceptions. The dojo is my sweat lodge, and karate is my medicine. If anything, these recent life events have made me train HARDER.

I imagine that some might recommend that I slow down a bit, take some time off. Nope. I refuse to be defeated by circumstances. My life is my dojo, and this is my Black Belt test.

Sit Mens Sana In Corpore Sano

A sound mind in a sound body. Of all the things we're asked/required to do in the UBBT, let's not forget to TRAIN. I believe that physical fitness brings us rewards that go well beyond physical strength, flexibility, and endurance. Hard training hones the mind and the will as surely as it builds muscle and tendon.

It is to be prayed that the mind be sound in a sound body.
Ask for a brave soul that lacks the fear of death,
which places the length of life last among nature's blessings,
which is able to bear whatever kind of sufferings,
does not know anger, lusts for nothing and believes
the hardships and savage labors of Hercules better than
the satisfactions, feasts, and feather bed of an Eastern king.
I will reveal what you are able to give yourself;
For certain, the one footpath of a tranquil life lies through virtue.

— Juvenal (Roman poet, 2nd century AD)

This week, I've done a lot of fitness training. Hundreds of push-ups and sit-ups. A high intensity cardio kickboxing workout, too (while raising $700 for Haiti relief — a two-fer!).

Here's a short clip of part of my training session from this morning:



This is my cross training. No punches, no kicks, no forms. (Rest assured, I'm working on those things, too!) When I'm not doing "martial arts," I'm focusing on my strength, joint mobility, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. I find that when I'm in great shape, somehow the rest of my life just seems to click. I'm in a better mood. I feel more confident and more energized. I smile more with my family. I sleep better. I'm more generous. The list goes on and on.

So let's train hard, inspire others, and grow in ways we've never imagined.

Five Months of Testing Every Day

Exactly five months from now, on June 25, I'm scheduled to step onto the floor to test for my 4th degree black belt under my instructor, Sensei Brian Ricci. The 4th dan examination is a demanding one; I'll need to demonstrate my proficiency in empty-handed forms and kobudo, Okinawan weaponry. There's a lot I need to know, and I've got to be on top of my game, so I've been training like a demon since the beginning of the year so that I have no excuses in terms of my physical shape or endurance, or my level of martial arts knowledge and understanding.

I seek a fourth dan not only for my own personal validation but also so that I can be the best example possible to my students. I want to be a living model of how a Black Belt should look, think, act, train, and serve.

But I want my test to stand for something more than what I can demonstrate physically.

I start this test TODAY (just as I started it yesterday) with a particular thing in mind: Just over two years ago, my daughter Ava was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. For those who do not know, Diabetes is an incurable (currently! nothing is impossible!) condition… Since my daughter's diagnosis, my wife and I have become experts on the disease. We have counted the carbohydrates in every single item of food my daughter has eaten at every meal for two years. Neither of us has slept eight consecutive hours more than a handful of times in two years. We are still here, we are thriving, and we are happy. In short, managing our daughter's illness makes taking a 4th degree Black Belt test look like a walk in the park.

So I'm setting the bar a little higher for myself: Artist of Life

“The most invisible creators I know are those artists whose medium is life itself. The ones who express the inexpressible—without brush, hammer, clay or guitar. They neither paint nor sculpt—their medium is their being. Whatever their presence touches has increased life. They see and don’t have to draw. They are the artists of being alive.”

• Today, I'm training harder and smarter than I did yesterday.
• Today, I'm monitoring my diet, and my consumption of goods, materials, and media.
• Today, I'm actively working to double the size of the dojo between now and June to increase the amount of good that our "tribe" can accomplish in the world.
• Today, I'm doing more "inner work" with meditation and by introducing deliberate periods of silence.
• Today, I'm working on keeping a positive, upbeat, and cheerful disposition — regardless of external circumstances and events.
  
• Today, I'm aiming to be a Black Belt level husband and father and friend by spending more energy focusing outward with compassion, kindness, and empathy.

I've got my work cut out for me. My "Artist of Life" test starts today. And it starts again tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that.

Tactical Time Management Is Self Defense

Last week, I attended a time management seminar to help me stay focused and organized in 2010. The seminar covered tactical (hourly) time management, desk and workspace management (man, do I need that!), and communications tracking.

Over the next couple of weeks, I hope to use and further develop the new time management skills and habits that I learned at the seminar to counter my natural tendency toward procrastination and distraction. If I can manage my priorities better -- and stay focused and organized -- I know I'll get a lot more done each day. And if I focus on getting the right things done (the things that are actually IMPORTANT), I'll surely achieve more of my goals. I only have so much time to accomplish all that I want to do in this life; I need to defend it vigorously!

First things first: As Stephen Covey says, "begin with the end in mind." I'm spending a little time today to sit down to set specific goals for the month, quarter, and year in the broad categories of Work, Family, Social, Physical, Spiritual, and Learning.

1. Define Your Purpose
2. Establish Your Goals
3. Focus Your Resources
4. Manage Your Priorities
5. Measure the Effects of Your Actions
6. Own the Performance
7. Influence the Participants
8. Continue the Improvements

Boston Martial Artists Helping Earthquake Victims in Haiti

Today, Emerald Necklace Martial Arts is embarking on a month-long project to assist the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. I've asked all of my students to join me in doing as many push-ups and sit-ups as possible in the next 30 days, and to ask their friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to sponsor them by committing to make a small donation for every exercise repetition they complete between today and Valentines Day.

So, if you were to donate a PENNY for every push-up and sit-up that I complete in 30 days,
And if I were to complete 200 push-ups or sit-ups every day of the challenge,
Then I would collect a $60 donation from you on February 14.

All donations will go to the American Red Cross' International Assistance Fund, and they will be designated for the relief efforts in Haiti.

Will you support me or one of my students?

We'll also be hosting a "Kickboxing for A Cause" party at the dojo on Tuesday, January 26: Please join us at the dojo for an exciting, high-tempo kickboxing class at 7:30PM.
Your $15 donation will also go to the American Red Cross. I'm expecting the dojo to be VERY crowded — reserve a spot in the class today!

Thank you for supporting our efforts!

Kagami Biraki

Over the weekend, we held a "kagami biraki" New Year's workout at our dojo. About 25 students showed up for the special training session, which consisted of basic techniques (lots and lots of kicks and punches), push-ups, sit-ups, and kata demonstrations by the Black Belts and senior students. The workout was an instant reminder of my need to do more abdominal work, as I felt myself tiring after the very first set of sit ups. But we all pushed through and had a great workout, which we finished with a traditional snack: with mochi cakes, tangerines, and ... sake.

I installed a new mirror in the dojo this week — 12 feet wide and seven feet high, it covers a large portion of the training deck. I hope that the mirror will be less of a distraction and more of an instant feedback tool — both for me, and for my students. Mirrors don't lie — So now, there's nowhere for any of us to hide!

To kick start my meditation practice this year, I'm reading "Turning the Mind Into an Ally" by Sakyong Mipham, and I'm planning a quick visit to the Shambhala Meditation Center here in town some time next month. Beyond pushups and situps, I'm working on a new regimen of bodyweight and joint-mobility exercises to help me with my core strength and flexibility.

2010 is going to be a wild ride: My wife, daughter, and I are happily expecting baby #2 in late April or early May. I'm scheduled to test for my 4th dan in Canada at the end of June. We're approaching the "make or break" point in terms of dojo enrollment vs. our sliding rent scale in July. Ava starts pre-K in the fall. As the saying goes, "We're surrounded. Great! Now we can attack in any direction!"