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.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
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!
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!
Monday, March 22, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, March 8, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, March 1, 2010
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.
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.
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