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!"

2010, I Am Here to CRUSH You

Here we go! I'm looking to get in great shape this year, especially as we head toward June: Beyond the UBBT and Live Like A Champion, I'll be testing for my 4th dan with Sensei Brian Ricci in Canada in just six months.

Oddly, I'm hoping to gain some weight this year -- in the form of lean muscle.

I have trouble meeting that goal mainly because of my schedule. Teaching 8 classes a week in addition to my own personal training AND training with Sensei Ricci... Well, I burn a lot of calories. Chasing around my 3 year old, holding down a full tme job, and averaging 5 hours of sleep a night keeps my metabolism pretty high, too. Maybe for me 2010 will be a year for BALANCE.

My new favorite "training toy" is the Clubbell. Here's my January 1 workout: