Sensei Jason Gould's Ultimate Black Belt Test

"Simple" Isn't Always "Easy."

2012-01-20T09:25:00.000-08:00

My martial arts training is back in full swing this week. On Monday, I led a tough physical workout and combined it with a kata seminar, and on Wednesday I completed three hours of pretty intense training in the dojo. (There was a wee bit of snow shovelling in there somewhere this week, too.) I took Tuesday and Thursday off from training for physical recovery. As it turns out, I did catch a little bit of the "Gould family bug" at the tail end of last week, so I've been very dehydrated and more than a little groggy.

I have no idea how many pushups, box jumps, crunches, and form repetitions I've done this week, but I know it's been an awful lot. I'm sore. Not too much so, but enough to know I that while I'm making progress, I have some work ahead if I'm to get in the kind of shape I want to be in.

I love digging an old kata "out of the vault of my mind," dusting it off, and working on it. To me, practicing a kata that I haven't done in years is like catching up with an old friend. "Well hey there! How have you been? My, you haven't changed a bit! I really miss you, old friend — You know, we really ought to hang out more often..."

My new "old friend" is Itosu Lohai Shodan — It's the first kata in a series of three versions of the kata Rohai (a.k.a. "vision of a crane") created by Itosu Anko (1831 - 1915) from the form that he learned from Matsumura Sokon, It's a very short and relatively simple form, but it's fun and full of fighting spirit. (I'll try to get it on film in the next week or so.)

Reconnecting with my long-ignored kata, I think, is a parallel for the other important connections in my life that I should re-establish and strengthen. I'm beginning to see that maintaining an important relationship is like keeping a kata sharp: If you don't put some work into it, it will deteriorate. But the more you practice your kata — or your relationships — with sincere effort, attention, and mindfulness, the more beautiful they can become.

Put effort into your forms, and your forms will improve. Put effort into your relationships, and they'll improve too. Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? In the martial arts and in life, "simple" isn't always "easy," but this is where my work lies: Just do the simple, hard things.

So my life is my new kata practice. I'm sure I won't always be perfect, but I'm working at it.

Me, Me, Me

2012-01-13T14:29:00.000-08:00

I just missed an entire week of physical training. Not because I was lazy or undisciplined. I missed out on training because my entire family — my wife, my son, and my daughter — came down with a pernicious stomach flu, and I needed to provide some direct support on the homefront.

While I somehow miraculously avoided infection and illness, I've spent the last few days cooking, sanitizing, running errands, and doing laundry. And I've had way more than my fair share of cleaning up icky messes morning, noon, and night for four straight days. And I've gotten very little sleep.

I've been feeling frustrated and beside myself because I couldn't focus on my training, because I couldn't keep up with the wonderful and intoxicating momentum that comes when one's New Year's fitness resolutions really get off on the right foot. (I was really kicking butt!) I tend to turn into a very cranky monster when I don't work out consistently… or maybe it's when I just don't get to have my way.

Me, me, me.

I'm just being selfish. Dreadfully so. I know that life is just like this sometimes, and I know that being there for my family when I'm needed should — no, MUST — trump EVERYTHING else. And spending time with family during the icky times — getting to provide comfort, compassion, and snuggling when it's needed — is far, far better than not spending time with them at all.

It's all about perspective. My situation reminds me of the story of the kid who was excited about having to shovel a giant pile of manure, because it meant that there just had to be a pony in there somewhere. So even though I've been covered with vomit on more than one occasion this week, I'm counting my blessings.

Training can wait.

Ultimate Black Belt Test Journal, Jason Gould: Nature, Morning Training, and Family Time

2012-01-08T11:35:00.000-08:00

Got in some early morning training on Saturday, January 7. Beautiful sunrise of pink, orange, and light blue. Tested out my new gloves and sported a funky hat while swinging my clubs on the back porch at 7:30 am. It was 32 degrees out that morning: chilly, but the gloves and hat were more than enough to keep me warm. The family slept while I trained. No disturbing sounds outside -- just some chirping birds, and the occasional whistle from a distant train. It was a really nice way to start the day...

On Sunday morning, Joy and I bundled up the family for a little fresh air at Callahan State Park. We enjoyed the cool air, bright sun, broad sky, open fields, and tons of friendly dogs. Temperatures were in the high 30's, but we still stopped to plop ourselves down in the brown grass for an impromptu picnic of sandwiches!

Ultimate Black Belt Test Journal, Jason Gould: Beginning Anew

2012-01-06T07:40:00.000-08:00

Friday, January 6. My first blog of the new year. I'm not "formally" participating in the Ultimate Black Belt Test this year. That is, I'm not a member of the team who is actively training and seeking a new dan ranking as part of the testing process. However, because this test, this process, this way of life is so valuable to me (and because I've formed so many friendships here in the crucible of like-minded instructors), I feel that to stop testing, to stop exploring, to stop blogging — well, that would be a monumental personal failure.

I don't have any "2012 resolutions" per se, although I do have some areas that I intend to focus heavily on — this year, and every year moving forward.

The first area for me to focus on is FAMILY. I have come to realize that FAMILY should always have been my primary focus area, but I admit here that it has not always been the case. I'm going to fix that, immediately. To me, this means more than just more "quality time" with the wife and kids. It means more genuine attention and focus, more compassionate listening, more loving speech, more hugs and smiles, more sharing of thoughts, dreams, and ideas. If I only do one thing this year, I believe that focusing more strongly on my family is the best thing I can possibly do.

I also want to focus on getting back to NATURE. I want to reconnect with the outdoors, the seasons, and the rhythms of life. This means spending more time outside — in all kinds of weather. I'll need to learn to love the cold, of course. But this year I fully intend to do more stargazing, to watch more sunrises and sunsets, to hug more trees, and to dance in the rain. As a martial artist, I've been practicing "environmental self-defense" without actually really taking sufficient time to deeply and fully appreciate nature itself. It's high time I started to stop to smell the roses every once in a while.

Physical and training goals? I have them, of course. This morning I weighed in at 181 pounds (23.9 BMI). That's actually 6 pounds lighter than I was at this point last year, and a full point lower on the Body Mass Index. So my weight is good, and I have less body fat than I did a year ago. That's a good start. This year, I want to add 10 pounds of lean, functional muscle through tactical exercises and heavy use of my clubbells while improving my flexibility and mobility through yoga and compensatory movement training. I plan to eat more mindfully and more compassionately by appreciating and savoring my meals and reducing my intake of animal-based food products.

January is a time for beginning anew. But isn't ANY time a time for such endeavors? I'm reading through Touching The Earth by Thich Nhat Hanh. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for practices that will help them to develop a deep and transforming determination to make significant and positive life changes.

Your Life is Happening Now. (So Taste Your Tea, Dammit!)

2011-11-30T07:54:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I'm a big fan of tea. Any kind of tea, really, but mostly green teas with subtle natural flavors like jasmine or mint. I find a cup of tea to be a relaxing way of curbing my cream-and-sugar-laden coffee habit.

I have a small iron teapot in my office that I use nearly every day to brew a pot of something. White ayurvedic chai is my favorite, but then there's samuarai chai mate, and snow leopard, and lung ching dragonwell... Let's just say that the folks at Peet's Tea and Teavana have my photo on their respective walls of fame.

Yesterday, while looking for a healthy snack at the local Target, I found myself stopping to pick up a box of Green Ginger tea (yes, I do realize I have a problem, thank you...). As soon as I got back to the office, I grabbed my mug, popped in a new bag of tea, and added the hot water. Seated back at my desk, I took the first sip of the brew while I jumped right back into the endless stream of emails on my screen.

And some time a few minutes later, it hit me: That sip of new and inspiring tea I took a few minutes back? I didn't event taste it.

Yikes! I was so busy doing my work, running on auto pilot, that I didn't even notice the flavor of the new fancy tea I'd just bought. I was totally distracted and unconscious!

Embarrassed, I sat back from my monitor and picked my mug back up. I took a moment to appreciate the mug, and the heat and aroma from the tea it contained. Then I took three long breaths, focused my attention, and slowly sipped my tea, savoring it first in my mouth and then feeling the warmth as it went down my throat.

Geeen tea, yes, But also strong ginger spice, lemongrass, and maybe a bit of pear.

How the hell did I miss all of that?

Pay attention. Your life is happening now.

Join Emerald Necklace Martial Arts for A Night of Healthy Living and Healthy Eating

2011-11-13T20:57:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOSTON (Allston), Mass., November 14, 2011

On Tuesday, November 22, Emerald Necklace Martial Arts will be sponsoring "A Night of Healthy Living and Healthy Eating" to celebrate the benefits of maintaining a regular fitness regimen while also raising awareness of the benefits of a plant based-diet.

The event will feature a yoga class at 6:30 PM, followed by a vegan potluck meal. At 8:00 PM, the dojo will be screening the movie, "Forks Over Knives," a documentary film that highlights the links between the foods we eat and the degenerative diseases that threaten us the most. The evening will conclude with an open discussion about the impact of our food choices and tips for establishing and maintaining healthy eating habits.

"November is a very timely month to be talking about food," says Linda Gregorio, a vegan and a black belt member of dojo who is helping to organize the event. "We're finishing off our Halloween candy. Thanksgiving is approaching. And next will come all those holiday parties at which many of us tend to mindlessly overeat. This is the perfect time to focus on how our eating habits and food choices can play a role in 'self-defense.'"

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a canned food donation to be delivered to the Greater Boston Food Bank, and healthy vegetarian or vegan dish to share. Any cash donations the dojo receives will go toward offsetting the cost of the screening and any remaining funds will be donated. Please RSVP by contacting the dojo by phone (617-202-3856) or by email.

"This is an important event," says Sensei Jason Gould, Dojo Director and Chief Instructor. "We're trying to spread the word about how what we eat may contribute to diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease -- real killers that we need to protect ourselves from. And at the same time, we can use the event as an opportunity to help those in immediate need by collecting food donations for the hungry. I'm proud of my students for being so creative and ambitious with the projects we engage in to serve the community."

Gould has been conducting traditional karate classes and self-defense programs for adults since October of 2003. The students at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts regularly participate in community service activities as part of their Black Belt training. For more information about Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, please visit their website call 617-202-3856.

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Amazing India!

2011-11-11T16:27:00.000-08:00

I've been here in India on a business trip for about a week. I've been busy, busy, busy with very little spare time, but still I've managed to do and see some interesting things.

I've been to Bangalore Palace, and I was also invited to spend some time at a local Hindu Temple devoted to Ganesha, my coworkers here have been very generous with their hospitality. I've been eating far too much, but doing some fairly intense training to balance things out!

Today I'm heading out early with two colleagues from the office on a day trip down to a place called Mysore, about 3 hours ride by car. We're planning to see Mysore Palace, the temple at Chamundi Hills, and maybe Jaganmohan Palace and St. Philomena's Church.

I leave Bangalore tomorrow to head up to Delhi and Agra where the Taj Mahal is. When I have some down time, I'll be sure to post a more detailed blog!

Boston Karate School Joins the Fight Against Blindness

2011-10-25T08:26:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOSTON (Allston), Mass., October 25, 2010

At 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 29, a team of walkers from Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, a karate dojo in Boston's Allston neighborhood, will participate in the Boston VisionWalk to benefit the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

This is the third consecutive year that Emerald Necklace Martial Arts has supported the Boston VisionWalk. The Emerald Necklace team will be lead his year by dojo member Jessica Smith, who organized her fellow students as part of her purple belt test. Under Jessica's leadership and guidance, the team has collected nearly $1,300 in donations.

"I require all of my students to demonstrate their character, compassion, leadership ability, and communication skills as part of their martial arts training," says Sensei Jason Gould, Director and Chief Instructor at Emerald Necklace. "Jessica has gone above and beyond in running a successful community service project. She has set a great example for the other members of our dojo to follow."

But to earn her purple belt, Smith had to do much more than community service. She also had to demonstrate her self-defense skills during a rigorous physical test that was held in the dojo. Read more about Smith's purple belt test here.

The dojo team will continue to collect additional donations for the Foundation Fighting Blindness throughout the week. To make a contribution, please visit the dojo's team page here.

Anyone interested in participating in the walk is welcome to meet up with and join the dojo team before the event. The team will be gathering at 95 Everett Street at 9:30 am on Saturday October 29. Directions to the dojo can be found here.

To learn more about Emerald Necklace Martial Arts and the work they do in the Greater Boston community, please visit the dojo website or contact Sensei Jason Gould at 617-202-3856.

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Gratitude for "My Marching Orders"

2011-10-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, my parents would try to encourage me whenever I was down or facing tough times by giving me a card containing a few words of wisdom and encouragement. They tended not to give me any direct advice or face-to-face lectures (I, being stubborn, wouldn't have listened to them anyway), but somehow the written or printed word always seemed to do the trick. My parents knew exactly what they were doing.

Recently, while cleaning out some boxes in the basement to prepare for our family's move to a new home, I came across a box of decades-old letters and cards — mostly unimportant junk that was long overdue for the rubbish bin. But among the debris, I found two identical cards. Gems, really: One was from Mom, and one was from Dad. Each was given to me on separate occasions.

On the front of each the card is a print of what I now lovingly call "my marching orders." My parents, while not lecturing me in person, where telling me exactly what I needed to do:

Believe in Yourself:
Dream freely
Envision excellence
Cherish your creations
Exude enthusiasm
Be inspired
Inspire others
Take pride in you
Recognize inner beauty
Draw on inner strength
Look inside your soul
Create peace
Seek truth
Spread joy
Embark on adventure
Launch new ideas
Think big
Invoke positives
Live fully
Reach out
Aim high
Find happiness
Expect the best
Be the best

Inside the card from Dad was a note hastily scrawled in his messy hand: "I hope this helps a little. Love, Dad". The note from Mom was also terse: "Hang 'tuff." You can do it. Love, Mom".

But between the words and lines, I realize, was the real and unwritten message that my parents wanted to convey: "We love you, We support you. We're here for you. Keep your chin up. You're bigger than the problem you're facing. So, trust, us — you'll get your ass through this."

Thanks Mom and Dad. I love you, too.

I was listening. Really. I have my marching orders. And I try to carry them out every day. And I'll be sure to tell my kids the same thing — in a way that will get through to them when it seems that I can not.

Ready Or Not, Here I Come

2011-10-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

Last night — coldly, calmly — I aggressively and deliberately attacked a woman with a very, very sharp knife.

My student Jess (unbeknownst to her) was testing for sanykyu, first stage brown belt, in the dojo. And in the hours before I came at her with the knife, I'd been picking at her form in the dojo all night, and challenging her to perform other self-defense techniques under pressure when I knew she hadn't practiced them in months. I picked at her stance, her body dynamics, her breathing, and her timing. I even broke up the class and asked Jess to teach a small group on her own, and then checked in on her from time to time to "kindly" point out all of her minor flaws so that she wouldn't pass them on to the junior students she was teaching.

So by the time the knife came out, I'm pretty sure I'd already made Jess a "little bit uncomfortable." The look that appeared on her face when I opened the blade to attack her was a familiar one.

Fear.

But despite her fear, Jess held her ground and faced the challenge before her. I knew she was nervous. (Perhaps "terrified" would be a better word.) But I also knew — even if she did not — that she was ready for the attacks. (At least as ready as one could be, anyway.) For we had, over the past several months, rehearsed the defensive techniques in detail dozens and dozens of times in excruciating detail. We started off slowly with a soft rubber knife, then moved on to a wooden one, then a hard plastic one. And at each stage of the progression, I had increased the force and speed of my attacks. So the full-force live blade test was actually the last step in a very logical training process.

I cannot say that Jess performed the techniques flawlessly. I don't think that would even be possible under the circumstances. But controlling her fear, working outside of her comfort zone, and dealing with a genuinely dangerous situation? That was the biggest part of the test. (Oh, and not getting cut, either.) Overall, I'd say Jess performed her knife defenses fairly well: she even inadvertently delivered a pretty strong blow to my head and nearly broke my arm while vigorously defending herself. (Good for her. Not great for me. But sometimes, that is the way of our people.)

After the live blade portion of the test was finished, I had Jess perform a few solo kata in front of a panel of Black Belts, just for good measure. The lesson there? Whatever just happened is in the past. You survived. Now, focus on the present and move forward. (And oh, yes — deal with that nasty, debilitating, adrenaline fueled chemical cocktail that's rushing through your veins, too.)

So today I'm nursing a few bruises, and I'm happy to report that Jess passed the physical portion of her sankyu examination. It was a tough test. But beyond all of these things, I'm more proud of what Jess has done off the dojo floor for to earn her new rank. To demonstrate their leadership ability, compassion, and communication skills, I require all of my students attempting sankyu to conceive of, plan, and lead a community service project. No one gets a Brown Belt from me without showing me their character. Their humanity.

For the third year in a row, Jess is leading a team of dojo members during Boston's VisionWalk to benefit the Foundation Fighting Blindness. So far this year, Jess' efforts have raised more than $1,200, far surpassing last year's accomplishment. She's set the bar pretty high for those who will follow!

Spartan Simplicity of Life and Elevation of Purpose

2011-08-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

I've recently discovered the cure for materialism: MOVING. The simple task of packing up all of your stuff into boxes is a sure-fire way to jump-start your appreciation how little you really need to live a full and happy life.

We'll be moving out of our home of nine years next week into a new home just outside the city. The new home is comparable in size to our current one: we'll be losing only 40 square feet or so of living space, but gaining so much more: A quiet street, privacy, a graffiti-free neighborhood, a driveway, a yard. My commute to and from my day job will shrink from twenty miles to just over two, and I'm already excited about gaining several hours of family time every week and the prospect of occasionally biking or running to and from the office. (Yes, a slightly smaller carbon footprint means something to me.)

As much as I'm looking forward to settling in at the new home, the packing process has revealed a lot about my unconscious habits: Even after donating a ton of things we no longer need or use, and after completely filling a junk removal truck with the clutter in the basement, we still have far too much stuff. Naturally, we're keeping a number of things that have sentimental value, and I just can't bring myself to donate some of my books (knowing fully that I'm never going to read them again). We're leaving some of our furniture behind, but there's still too much stuff!

A friend of mine recently quipped that we spend the first half of our lives acquiring junk and the second half trying to get rid of it. So perhaps this is a turning point for me. As Thoreau, would point out, it's time to simplify:

The nation itself, with all its so-called internal improvements, which, by the way are all external and superficial, is just such an unwieldy and overgrown establishment, cluttered with furniture and tripped up by its own traps, ruined by luxury and heedless expense, by want of calculation and a worthy aim, as the million households in the land; and the only cure for it, as for them, is in a rigid economy, a stern and more than Spartan simplicity of life and elevation of purpose.

I feel really good about our new house. It's not too small, and not too big. Looking at an article online today about some wildly outrageous homes in the Greater Boston area, I know for sure that we're not overdoing it. (We couldn't afford to anyway!) For now, I'm planning to use the unpacking process as a second screening: another chance to decide to give away, or toss things that have no value and serve no purpose. After all, when it's time for my final move, I can't take any of this stuff with me.

Nature

2011-08-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

A quick update this week:

As an outgrowth of my short nature-filled vacation a couple of weeks ago and my more recent exploration of environmentalism-as-self-defense in my "this I believe" essay, I've been trying to get outdoors more and spend more time enjoying nature and natural elements.

These days, I eat lunch outside whenever possible instead of at my desk; I step outside frequently to get out of the air-conditioning — even on the brutal 100-degree days. I've made it a point to look up more often — both at clouds and at stars (sometimes it's tough to even see them from my home in the city). I've decorated my office with a vase of wildflowers that I hand picked from the far edge of the office parking lot, and I take time each day to listen to the sounds of birds, rainfall, and cicadas.

It feels great.

Today, I've been reading "Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Magical stuff! Please enjoy this brief excerpt:

First, the simple perception of natural forms is a delight. The influence of the forms and actions in nature, is so needful to man, that, in its lowest functions, it seems to lie on the confines of commodity and beauty. To the body and mind which have been cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone. The tradesman, the attorney comes out of the din and craft of the street, and sees the sky and the woods, and is a man again. In their eternal calm, he finds himself. The health of the eye seems to demand a horizon. We are never tired, so long as we can see far enough.

Now go and get yourself OUTSIDE!

Spending Time in Nature Is Self-Defense

2011-07-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

Last week, we took the family on a quick vacation to the White Mountains region of New Hampshire. We did lots of touristy stuff for the kids, of course — time at Story Land, a day out with Thomas the Tank Engine, pony rides, and plenty of time in the swimming pool — but for me (and for all of us, I think), the best elements of the trip were just reconnecting with family and nature.

There were plenty of "animal attractions" at the touristy places: pigs, sheep, and goats aplenty. Not to mention an alpaca or two. But out in the wild, we saw deer, fish, and salamanders. We got bug bites. And at one point, a black bear crossed my path not 30 yards ahead of Ava and me. We saw rainbows over distant mountains and the stars at night. We smelled the pollution-free air, and we listened to waterfalls and to silence. Silence!

The effect that the woods, mountains, and fresh air had on my daughter was nothing short of amazing. Her natural curiosity came out in the form of questions like, "What do bears eat?", "Where do the deer sleep at night?" and "How do you tell the difference between a boy ladybug and a girl ladybug?"

Now, being a former Marine, I've spent a great deal of time out in nature. But it's been some time since my last outing. To be away from the city, away from the urban noises and pollution, and away from traffic and the crush of other people (even just for a few days) — well, it was restorative. And I also noticed that being out in the mountains gave my eyes and vision the chance to stretch all the way out to the real horizon instead of just to the next block of buildings. Even my gaze has softened.

We finished the trip with a quick stop at America's Stonehenge, where we walked amidst a 4,000 year old site where stones are placed to align with the movements of the sun and stars. The site was built accurately long, long before GPS "technology" existed. This was a time when man and nature were truly connected. As I stood at an ancient stone marking sunrise at the summer solstice, I knew that more time "plugging myself in" out in the woods is exactly what I need.

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This blog is part of the Ultimate Black Belt Test Program, which is an undertaking of The 100., and a part of Emerald Necklace Martial Arts in Boston, MA.

Evoking My Inner Hero

2011-07-13T04:25:00.000-07:00

If you were a Superhero...

1.What would you be “called” (Your Superhero name).
2.What attributes — physical, mental, emotional, spiritual (whatever feels pertinent) — would be your strengths?
3.What would be your greatest challenge? Your “Kryptonite”? How would you strive to overcome that?What would your costume look like?
4.And how will you apply becoming the Hero, in your own life?

I recently pondered these questions as part of an essay contest for the launch of the Clubbell Hero Evolution fitness program. My answers to the questions are below.
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I do not wish to be called Superman, or Spiderman, or Batman, or anything of the sort. Me? I choose to be FAMILY MAN:

A man with the mental dexterity to deal with the simultaneous multitasking of a thousand parental and spousal duties: cleaning the laundry, making lunches, paying the bills, and cleaning the dishes, while maintaining enough “brain matter bandwidth” and physical endurance to be present and engaged with every member of the family.
A man with the emotional and spiritual fortitude and peerless character to be an outstanding role model for his children and a rock for his wife whenever times get tough.
A man who possesses the physical strength and prowess to be the ultimate family protector, with the will and ability to vanquish any and all who dare to threaten those whom he holds dear.
A man with the vision to lead and serve in his community with compassion, vision, and creativity: helping those in need by organizing food drives, park clean-ups, neighborhood crime watches, and more.

In short, I want to be a HERO in the eyes of my family and my community. And a hero needs to have a strong PHYSICAL leadership PRESENCE that inspires CONFIDENCE in others.

FAMILY MAN is a man with the endurance and longevity to shine proudly in life’s greatest moments:

FAMILY MAN trains now — mindfully and with an intensity known only to other superheroes — so that some fifteen years from now he has ample energy to keep up with life’s ever-increasing pace. (I turn 40 this year. Ten or fifteen years from now I want to play tackle football with my son, now just one year old. I want to be able to dance with a spring in my step at my daughter’s wedding – she turns 5 this month. And I never want to “retire” from the activity I love the most: martial arts. I’ve seen too many of my martial arts seniors have to cut back due to injury, wear and tear of the joints, poor health, or just plain “old age.” THIS IS NOT THE PATH I CHOOSE.)

FAMILY MAN does not hide behind a mask, but he has costumes for every situation: cargo pants and old t-shirts for painting and spackling; shorts and a wide-brimmed hat for yard work; khakis and a button down shirt for the desk job; and sharp-looking suits for romancing the wife. FAMILY man possesses the mental, physical, and emotional flexibility to adapt to any situation.

FAMILY MAN’S greatest enemy is ENTROPY: an invisible foe who manifests as toys on the stairs and weeds in the lawn. An insidious master of disguise who unexpectedly shows himself in such ways as leaking hot water heaters, broken down cars that rob the family of vacations, aging parents, and the atrophy of bodies that don’t maintain an aggressive workout routine to build and maintain strength, endurance, and suppleness. Worst of all Entropy reveals itself in the community as neighbors who do not know or care for one another.

FAMILY MAN faces Entropy wherever it appears with grace, dignity, and humor.

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This blog is part of the Ultimate Black Belt Test Program, which is an undertaking of The 100., and a part of Emerald Necklace Martial Arts in Boston, MA.

Learn more about Sensei Jason Gould

Sleep!

2011-07-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

If you've followed my journey for any length of time, one thing I'm sure you know about me is that I'm constantly (perhaps chronically) exhausted from a profound lack of sleep. So is my wife, Joy. It's not that we have trouble getting to sleep; no, we just have trouble getting sleep. With a 14 month old son and a young Type-1 diabetic daughter who requires blood sugar checks in the middle of the night, it's tough for either of us to string together more than 3 hours of complete downtime. We know it's not healthy, but it's the job any parent would do for their children.

Whenever we can, my wife and I choose one of us to "take the bullet" and be on watch for the evening so the other can get some rest. Last night we put both kids in our bedroom with Joy, and I trotted down the hall to sleep in my daughters room. No midnight feedings, no blood sugar checks, and no glucose monitor alarms to worry about. I lay down at about 8:30 PM, and I was out in seconds. I vaguely recall Joy coming in at some point to turn off the light.

My eyes popped open at about 5:30 am, and I noticed immediately (for the first time in a long, long time) that I felt completely rested — that more sleep wouldn't do me much good. So I lay there for a few minutes, just breathing mindfully and enjoying the liminal state between sleep and total wakefulness. I reveled blissfully in a world of no distractions, no worries, and no sense of urgency. And when I felt I was ready, I sat up. Once out of bed, I read for a few minutes from Thich Nhat Hanh's "Be Free Where You Are," and then I spent a few minutes going through a comprehensive mobility drill, moving all of my joints in succession to get my blood flowing. Fully awake alert, and energized for the day — but not yet in a state of planning and preparing my list of to-do's — I went straight to the cushion and sat down for 15 minutes of alert meditation practice.

I'd love to start every day like this —

I'd be unstoppable!

The lesson for me is clear: A good night's sleep and a mindful start to your day makes a HUGE difference in my energy level, mood, and outlook on life.

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This blog is part of the Ultimate Black Belt Test Program, which is an undertaking of The 100., and a part of Emerald Necklace Martial Arts in Boston, MA.

Learn more about Sensei Jason Gould

Back in the Swing of Things

2011-07-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

A while back, I reported to my UBBT teammates that I'd somehow lost my mojo. I was exhausted, stressed out, and completely unmotivated. I was dropping weight, feeling lousy, and generally down in the dumps. I needed a break, and I took one. I dropped off the map. And now, things are different.

Maybe it's the change in the weather. Maybe it's because we're finally about to close on the house. Maybe it's because I've changed my routine at the dojo so I can spend more time with my family. Or perhaps its a combination of many factors. In any case, I like what I'm seeing:

I'm blogging more
I'm meditating daily
I don't feel as stressed
I'm sleeping a little bit better (not MORE, but better!)
I'm training harder
I'm smiling more
I'm getting more reading done

At the start of the year, I weighed in at 187.4 lbs. Four months into the year, I'd dropped below 180 lbs for the first time in a decade. (The bad news was, I wasn't trying to lose weight!) Today I checked in at 182.8. I'm slowly putting some muscle back on while focusing on joint mobility and flexibility.

I'm feeling better and better, even as the dojo enrollment continues to drop, and "staying in business" is getting trickier and trickier. Somehow, though, I'm not concerned. I'm letting go, and that feels right to me, because one of the outcomes is that I'm enjoying my time in the dojo more. I'm feeling more creative and I'm having fun teaching again.

Perhaps, as I approach my 40th birthday, I'm feeling a bit of an energy surge -- call it an "eye of the tiger moment," if you will. I don't care. I'm riding this wave all the way to the shore!

Thoughts On Leadership and Solitude

2011-06-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

With the first few spare minutes I've had in a long time, I took a few minutes to read this wonderful article on leadership and solitude. It resonates deeply with me.

Solitude and "alone time" for thinking is critically important. Having spent the last few months absorbed in far more projects, critical tasks, and personal crises than I can reasonably handle, it's easy for me to see that I've lost some of my edge, focus, vision, passion and drive as the "Chief Instructor" at the dojo. Keeping too many plates spinning has left me just spinning plates, totally forgetting why the plates are on those damn sticks in the first place, and without any sort of plan for what I'll do as soon as my current personal maelstrom comes to an end (as surely it must).

But the rain is letting up now, and the clouds are thinning. The sky is getting brighter. The sun isn't quite poking through the clouds just yet, but the "down time" forecast for next month is looking up. Perhaps then I'll be free enough from the "urgent" stuff to be more able to get some "important" work done.

Weight, Weight, Don't Tell Me

2011-04-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

"Have you lost some weight?" It's a question I've been hearing a lot lately. And while that question is usually meant as a compliment (as in, "Hey, you look great! Have you lost some weight?"), that's not so in my case. I have lost weight. My wife has noticed. My parents have noticed. (Actually, I think they're a little concerned.) My boss at work has noticed. And in a recent Skype call with Coach Tom, the first words out of Coach's mouth were, "Geez, looks like you've lost a few pounds."

I've noticed, too: I'm swimming in shirts that used to fit perfectly. In training, I feel lost inside my gi. I'm using the next-tightest hole on my belt to keep my pants up. Folks, for me, these are not good things.

Not my waistline! :)

I usually hover around 186 lbs. This is a good weight for me based on my fitness goals and the demands of my practice. I'm no bodybuilder, but I carry a little more muscle than the average person as the result of the weight training that I do. I didn't need to lose any weight at all. In fact, In the beginning of this year, in an earlier blog, I noted that I weighed in at 187.4 pounds — with the specific goal of gaining a few pounds in lean, functional muscle during the course of 2011. Reaching 195 lbs by the end of the year, I thought, would be terrific.

Well, it appears that a lengthy personal illness at the start of the year, plus a ton stress, aggressive physical training, a profound lack of sleep, and a combination of missed, skipped, and interrupted meals is really taking its toll on me: I'm running on empty, it seems. I just weighed in at 179.6 lbs — Yikes! I've lost almost eight pounds!

I haven't been under 180 lbs since 1998. Back in my U.S.M.C, days, when I used to hover at about 176 lbs, I ran 3 - 5 miles 3 - 5 days a week, with little to no strength training beyond basic calisthenics. So being about 10 lbs lighter back then made a lot of sense. These days, I'm not exactly as gaunt as a marathon runner, but I'm clearly heading in the wrong direction!

I need more rest, less stress, better eating, and smarter training. It's time to right the ship (before I disappear!).

Some Stuff I've Learned in the Last Few Weeks

2011-03-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

Some really cool stuff I've learned in the last few weeks (and you thought I was just a kurotty teacher):

From The Go-Giver:

The Law of Value: Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.

The Law of Compensation: Your income id determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.
The Law of Influence: Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interests first.
The Law of Authenticity: The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.
The Law of Receptivity: The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.

From The Instant Millionaire:

If you want to succeed in life, you have to make sure you have no choice in the matter.
True genius lies in simplicity.
Life give us exactly what we ask from it -- if you don't ask for anything, you won't get anything.
All events in life are a mirror image of your thoughts.
Expand your mental limits and you will expand the limits of your life.
When imagination and logic are in conflict with each other, imagination invariably takes over.
I refuse to die without having had the courage to do what I wanted to do.
Tranquility is the greatest manifestation of power.
You must find work that is satisfying to your heart.

Okay, I've just summarized and gift-wrapped a LOT of distilled wisdom that was hard-won by other people, over many lifetimes. What are YOU going to do with this gift?

Keeping Up A Pretty Good Pace

2011-01-30T23:19:00.000-08:00

So far this year, I've been keeping up a pretty good pace when it comes to my physical training. I'm feeling good -- and sleeping better, too! Our dojo just completed week four of our annual six-week fitness cycle, wherein we focus on bodyweight exercises, calisthenics, ab work, and aerobics. Each week, we either add exercises, increase repetitions, or lengthen the duration of the training, so that by the time we get through the end of week six, we're all in pretty good shape. The coming week will be a tough jump, but I'm ready: I've been getting in some extra training with weights and extra kata reps here and there.

I'm slowly working through my reading list and taking in all kinds of new and interesting information. One of my students pointed me to the free "peace ambassador certification course" on the Monks Without Borders website, which I completed a week or so ago. The peace education material is so wonderful, that I've decided to make completing the course a requirement for all of my adult students advancing to purple belt. At this stage in their training, I ask my students to complete self-directed work in peace education, nonviolent communication, anger management, and/or conflict resolution. The MWB course adresses all of these subjects and is a great launhing point for more study. And did I mention it's FREE? This course seems like a good warm-up for the more involved Peace Education course offered by Teachers Without Borders, which I'd like to tackle some time soon. One thing at a time!

I've started filming a series of videos for my students that I call "tokonoma-side chats." My original intent was to share these little clips only with my students at the dojo, but since I've not gotten any response or feedback from them, I've decided to share the video posts with anyone who will care to watch. I've had too many wonderful experiences in the martial arts to keep these stories to myself. Enjoy!

Training Good; Diet Bad!

2011-01-20T08:10:00.000-08:00

I've really enjoyed my workouts over the past couple of weeks. We've been training really hard in the dojo — our annual "January fitness cycle" with its focus on exercising with ever-increasing intensity and duration over a 6-week period has got me feeling pretty good. I feel stronger and more alert, and I'm sleeping better, too. All good news.

And I've been doing additional physical training, too: I teach a "combat conditioning" class one night a week, and I fit in personal sessions wherever and whenever I can. I've been stretching, hitting the heavy bag, and doing my TACFIT Warrior bodyweight exercises. (I still really need to do some planning to maximize results.)

One thing that has been really slipping over the past week, however, has been my diet. My over-hectic schedule has led me to eat poorly, in a rush, and at odd times. There's been way too much pizza on my plate in the past week, and more than once I found myself eating in the car — a BIG no-no — just to make sure that I had enough calories in my system to keep myself from being ravenous. I have a general rule to not eat after 8:00 PM to allow my body to "rest, not digest" overnight, but more than a few times lately, I've sat down to dinner at 8:30. Even worse, I've found myself eating really late at night: after 10:00 PM upon returning home from the dojo.

This simply cannot stand. I KNOW better!

I've been reading the book Savor, by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. Lilian Cheung. It's sitting here on my desk as I type this. Clearly, I need to do a better job of practicing the art of mindful eating. I went to the grocery store this week with the specific intent of grabbing some healthy, portable snacks — granola, fruit, nuts, etc. — to keep me from starving throughout the day. Just purchasing healthier food and re-establishing my mindfulness around what I put into my body really changed my attitude.

2011: Two Weeks Down, 50 To Go

2011-01-13T07:18:00.000-08:00

Time flies, whether you're having fun or not. Sheesh, where did the time go? I shot the video that's embedded below about a week ago, and it's taken me this long to get it off my camera. I've got lot's of training and "inner work" ahead this year. I've been working with the TACFIT Warrior materials while also engaging in a lot of physical training at the dojo.

So far, it's been a little tough marrying the relentless TACFIT Warrior training schedule with my LIFE and my regular dojo workout routine, so I've got to do some planning and smart thinking so I don't over- or under train. We got over a foot of snow here in Boston yesterday, so the two hours or so of shovelling that I had to do counted as yesterday's workout. Now, I need to spend some dedicated time stretching and resting as well as working hard and sweating.

Last week, I was at 187.4 lbs, with a BMI of 24.8 (healthy). So, I shot these embarrasing photos so that come June (halfway mark) and December, I'll have something to compare:

2011 -- Week 1: When you're going through hell, keep going

2011-01-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

The new year has been off to a bit of a rough start so far, but as the saying goes, "When you're going through hell, keep going."

I've been sick for the past couple of weeks (apparently the chronic lack of sleep has finally caught up with me), so it's been very difficult to train and the holidays were a little rough, but last night — my first night in a gi in a week and a half! — I taught three consecutive fitness classes as part of our dojo's annual 6-week fitness campaign. Lots of pushups and ab work. I'm pleased to report that today, I'm not feeling the after-effects too badly! Tonight, I'm running a "combat conditioning" class at the dojo — now, that should be fun!

I'm anxious to get moving on my commitment to use the TACFIT Warrior program as my primary fitness and goal-achieving platform this year. I earned myself a 3rd place in Scott Sonnon's video challenge with this entry, which earned me a refund of the purchase price of the program. I re-invested part of the refund in a new digital watch with an interval timer so I can more precisely execute my tabata sessions without needing to look up at a clock. Look for more TACFIT updates from me soon!

Outside of training, I've added to the series of videos on bullying prevention that I've committed to producing throughout the year to benefit the community with a review of Terrence Webster Doyle's "Why Is Everybody Always Picking On Me?" I posted the video on Boston Self-Defense, the community self-defense resource guide I created, and I'll be sending a link to the video to the local school principals. I also created a new series of videos that I'm calling "tokonoma-side chats." These videos will be for dojo members only, but you can see the intro segment here.

One of the main things I'd like to accomplish in the coming year is to be more mindful, and to keep myself more focused on truly experiencing the present moment. On my current personal development reading list: Savor, Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. Lilian Cheung and The Soul of Leadership by Deepak Chopra.

We've had a wee bit of "family drama" in the past month, so I've got some relationships in need of mending. But that is the work, no?

Looking forward to it all.

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

2010-11-18T11:43:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-11-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

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"

2010-08-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-29T09:09:00.001-07:00

"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

2010-07-22T11:29:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-06-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-31T07:02:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

Find more videos like this on Boston Self-Defense

I'm Baaaaackkk!!!!

2010-05-10T06:22:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-09T04:14:00.001-07:00

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!

2010-03-29T09:42:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-03-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-03-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

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

2010-03-01T08:51:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-22T11:59:00.001-08:00

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

2010-02-17T12:45:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-10T23:20:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-28T11:29:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-25T12:51:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-20T11:10:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-14T08:12:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-13T08:24:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-11T03:24:00.000-08:00

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:

Make 2010 Your Year!

2009-12-22T05:51:00.000-08:00

It's Time To Grow Or Go: Community Impact Goals for 2010

2009-12-09T10:51:00.000-08:00

As we head into the season of New Year's Resolutions, I've decided to set a big, audacious goal for myself and the dojo: In 2010, I'm aiming to make Emerald Necklace Martial Arts the most well known, well respected, most influential community-service-based martial arts organization in the city of Boston.

In short, when people need exciting fitness training, a boost in self-confidence, and a sense of belonging, I want them to come to us and enroll. When city leaders need help on an important community project, I want them to seek our member's assistance and participation. When a local school teacher or principal needs someone to speak to their students about safety, bullying, leadership, wellness, WHATEVER, I want him or her to think about contacting our school.

To be sure, to meet these goals, we need to increase our dojo enrollment. We need to grow in size to stay in business, and to do more as a community. But, I don't simply want to have the "biggest" martial arts school school in the city. It's not all that important for us to be the "most profitable" school around (although that would be nice). I simply want to be the best — on the dojo floor in terms of our physical ability and level of performance, and out there on the streets in terms of our character and the positive impact of our service.

I shot a short video on the subject this week:

Find more videos like this on The Emerald Necklace Martial Arts "Digital Dojo"

To my students: It's time to take some action.

If you aren't willing to help us grow, and thrive, and make a difference in the community/world, should you really be training here?

To the community we serve: We are here for you.

Check out our online portfolio of community service projects. I want you to challenge us. Engage us. Ask us for help. And I promise, we will rise to the occasion. (And maybe, just maybe, you'll be inspired to JOIN US.)

Conscious Consuming, Healthy Eating, and the Holiday Season

2009-12-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about raising my awareness of what I "consume" in my life, from the food that I eat to the purchases that I make, to the media that I watch and read. And of course, I've been thinking about how all of these things relate to the martial arts and "self-defense."

I recently watched the movie, "Food, Inc." A real eye opener in terms of becoming more aware of the source of our meals and the methods that are being used to produce and deliver our food to the market. And I'm becoming more and more aware of just how interconnected and interdependent we all are.

No, I don't eat local, organic, fairly-traded, healthy food all of the time. In fact, I love to eat absolute crap, but I am making small changes where I can — and when I remember to. Awareness is the key. For example, I still drink coffee, but with a growing awareness of how bad the cream and sugar are for my overall health, I'm drinking it black more frequently. (And hey, it tastes pretty good!)

With raised awareness, I'm finding myself being more mindful and grateful, too. Shot this video this morning:

This Week's Update

2009-11-20T10:20:00.000-08:00

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and last weekend was World Diabetes Day, so I ran two women's self-defense seminars at the dojo that raised about $200 for the Defeat Diabetes organization.

We've been doing some realistic training in our Black Belt Club sessions, with a goal of developing physical & mental toughness, and the willingness to engage in physical conflict if necessary. (I've still got a few bruises from the training, but I'm healing quickly!)

On my own time, I've been studying the concepts of "Verbal Judo" so that I can share them with my students though future confidence & assertiveness training seminars.

One of our dojo members is collecting food items for homeless families for Thanksgiving. The drop-off box in the dojo is filling up from student's donations, and I even have a few members from the community (not dojo members) stopping by the dojo this weekend to make additional contributions! In honor of the upcoming holiday, we discussed the quality of "gratitude" and how it relates to the martial arts between punching drills in my grade-school class this morning.

We'll be holding a "healthy foods potluck" at the dojo next week to emphasize the notion that "healthy eating is self-defense." And since we're heading into the season of excessive eating, we'll also be showing the film, "Food, Inc." to raise awareness about our food sources and our habits of consumption.

Self-Defense for a Good Cause

2009-11-12T01:59:00.001-08:00

November is Diabetes Awareness Month!

Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, located at 95 Everett Street in Allston, will be running
women's self-defense classes on Saturday, November 14 and on Sunday November 15. These 60-minute classes will start promptly at 1:30 PM on both days.

In lieu of a training fee, the dojo is collecting donations for the Defeat Diabetes organization. Suggested donation is $15, but any amount will be gratefully accepted!

Over the weekend, I'll also be refining my MADDCAP presentation, and I will be hosting informal talks on diabetes awareness and prevention at the dojo.

Self Defense and Real Life

2009-11-12T01:31:00.000-08:00

Sorry I missed posting last week; lots has been happening.

With all the community service activities and postive things we do at the dojo (leadership training, environmental projects, anger management, peace education, diabetes awareness, etc.), sometimes we forget where we come from as martial artists. The where-the-rubber-meets-the-road physical stuff — the punching and kicking — is very important, too.

I've been working on "realistic self-defense" training with our dojo's Black Belt Club members over the past couple of weeks. We're focusing on (1) conflict avoidance and verbal de-escalation skills training; (2) developing striking power under stressful conditions and dealing with adrenal stress; (3) learning escapes from grabs and holds and basic groundwork fundamentals; and (4) developing aggressiveness for defense along with physical and mental toughness (read: the willingness to engage and hit, and the tolerance for getting hit).

As part of our training, we're doing case studies of actual violent attacks, and as a group we're reading "Meditations on Violence" by Sgt. Rory Miller. And, as this month is the 234th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, we're practicing and reviewing techniques from the LINE training system of close combat.

An odd coincidence: there was a stabbibg murder in the neighborhood last week. A rare occurrence in these parts to be sure, but it happened about two blocks from the dojo — and my house. The event prompted me to write this article on self-defense against weapons.

Self Defense, Service, Safety

2009-10-29T09:06:00.000-07:00

This week, I was inspired to create "Flu Prevention Is Self Defense" cards to help prevent and/or reduce the spread of germs in what's expected to be a difficult cold and flu season. This morning, I shared the cards with my network of like-minded martial artists around the country, and as of this writing, the information is being spread (ironically like virus, no?) through martial arts schools in Washington, South Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Texas, and Washington, D.C. We'll be using these cards during mat chats in our Little Dragons classes at our dojo, and also in the enrichment classes that I teach in the Boston Public School System. Please contact me if you'd like the artwork to make a set of cards!

TokBox - Free Video Chat and Video Messaging

This past weekend, a bunch of my students and I planted 180 daffodil bulbs in the public green space just outside the dojo. We've kind of adopted the area, which used to be a wasteland of weeds, broken glass, and spare tires. Back in the spring, we held a service project to clean the area up, and with help from local agencies, we managed to plant about 15 new donated trees. Alas, the flowers we contributed and planted that day were stolen from the site within 24 hours, so hopefully the bulbs we planted last weekend will still be there for a glorious debut in the spring!

Also, I'm reminding folks to be safe this Halloween by referring then to my list of links to Halloween Safety Tips!

Busy, busy, busy!

2009-10-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

Things have been busy at the dojo, and my students have been organizing and participating in community service projects faster than I can track them: By the end of this month, we'll have completed a canned food drive, a walk to benefit the lymphoma society for cancer research, a "vision walk" against blindness, a gardening an bulb planting beautification project, and a "Caps for Kids" knitting project. Phew!It's amazing that we manage to get in any martial arts training at all!

This week, I'm starting to use my new anti-smoking self-defense cards in my kids classes. And, I'm also posting them on the dojo community board to catch the attention of my adult students that smoke.

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. THINK OF YOUR HEALTH! THINK OF THE EXAMPLE YOU'RE SETTING! I DARE YOU TO QUIT!

I Don't Need More Coffee; I Need More Sleep!

2009-10-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

Between work and the dojo, I'm plain-old worn out this week. Caffeine no longer has any effect on me, it seems, and I could really use a nap! I'm teaching classes this weekend, but the Columbus Day holiday and some quality time with family will surely recharge my batteries.

Friday morning classes with the fourth graders at the local elementary school are going well: I'm incorporating the "Peace is More Important Than Punches" cards and some other materials into the lessons. Today, for example, I gave a 30 minute lecture on the subject of RESPECT. About 20 minutes in, one of the children piped up, "When are we going to do some karate?" My response: "Hey, you might not have known it, but we ARE doing karate!" That one got a good laugh!

Finished up my Anger Management Educator certification training this week, too. Looking for ways to incorporate that material into the curriculum! Physically, I've fallen behind on my workouts a bit, but this week, I don't think I could have fit it in with a shoe horn. I'll get back on that horse next week.

We've got a cool community service project coming up: planting daffodil bulbs in the greenspace outside the dojo.

We're Just Getting Started

2009-10-06T06:38:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was our dojo's 6th anniversary: It was exactly six years ago that I first taught karate classes in the dingy basement gymnasium at one of the local high schools. We've come a long way over the years. We've held our classes in a number of places (even outdoors when we didn't have a place to work out), and while many people have come and gone, our membership has grown. And it gives me great satisfaction to know that some of the students who were there in those early days are still active members of our dojo. It's been one hell of a ride, and I'm grateful for it.

I can't help but feel, though, that for all the fun that we've had, and despite all of the good that we've accomplished as an organization, that our dojo is still very much in its infancy. I know that I have much, MUCH more to learn and give as an instructor, and I know that my students have only shown HINTS of their true potential as karate students and as martial artists committed to changing the world.

Just imagine what we could do and who we might become — as individuals and as a collective group — with just a little more focus and effort!

Keeping Busy, Always More to Learn

2009-09-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

It's been an interesting week. I've been doing even more martial arts writing, and so I've become a writer for Examiner.com. Please check out my first short article here. (You can sign up to be notified whenever I publish a new article!) I welcome your comments, feedback, and suggestions for future pieces.

I've jumped into my Anger Management Educator certification course, and I'm exploring opportunities to give MADDCAP diabetes awareness and prevention presentations at local schools.

My training has been going very well, both in the dojo (Shinkendo sword training!) and on my own with Clubbells and challenging bodyweight exercises. My diet has been improving, too, although I'm definitely not getting adequate sleep and recovery time. I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend!

And this week, I surprised even myself this week by picking up a book that has nothing to do with the martial arts: I'm currently reading Javatrekker: Dispatches from the World of Fair Trade Coffee. Who knew that coffee and coffee production was so interconnected with politics, ecology, and global culture? Well, I didn't! Color me ignorant, I guess — But the first few pages have REALLY opened my eyes. There's always more to learn, appreciate, and grow from!

Some Bullet Points for the Week:

2009-09-17T11:39:00.001-07:00

At the dojo tomorrow night, we'll be holding our very first Black Belt ceremony at the dojo for three of our adult students who have reached the rank of Shodan. The ceremony will consist of a brief demonstration, followed by belt and certificate presentations. I'm very much looking forward to the event!
Personally, I've been training hard in the mornings: While out walking the dog, I've been getting in lots of calisthenics, ab training, and weight work -- all before my first cup of coffee. I'm enjoying the solo training, and I hope to keep up the discipline when the weather turns cold.
I've been taking a weekly Shinkendo class with some of my students, fulfilling a long-standing goal of mine to learn more about the Japanese sword.
I also signed up this week to gain certification as an Anger Management Educator. I hope to offer anger management classes at the dojo and in the community, and I plan to incorporate some of the lessons about emotional awareness into our dojo curriculum.

A Walk to Remember, and Other Good Things

2009-09-14T09:14:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, September 27, members of Boston's Emerald Necklace Martial Arts will participate in the 2009 Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk, the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds to fight Alzheimer's disease. The team of karate students will be led by Sierra Koral, a Yellow Belt member of the dojo, who is collecting donations and walking in memory of her father Bill Kenney, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and passed away in 2003. To date, Koral has raised nearly $1,000 for the walk, far surpassing her original goal to collect $500.

The students at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts are required to organize and lead community service projects as part of their Black Belt training, and the dojo often sponsors several projects simultaneously: Ayisha Knight-Shaw, an Orange Belt student at the dojo, is currently running a Fall food drive to benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank. In less than two weeks, Knight-Shaw has raised enough money to provide nearly 400 meals to people in need. Donations of non-perishable food items are currently being accepted at the dojo, which is located at 95 Everett Street in Allston.

For more information about these projects or to learn more about Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, please contact Sensei Jason Gould at 617-202-3856 or visit the dojo's website, www.karateinboston.com.

Peace Is More Important Than Punches

2009-09-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

School is back in session this week, so I'm back to teaching karate to 4th and 5th graders on Friday mornings before I head off to work. Today, I taught striking basics to a group of about 20 kids for about 40 minutes: We practiced jabs, right crosses, left hooks, and uppercuts with lots of enthusiastic counting and yelling. We finished up the class with a one-minute silent meditation followed by a five-minute mat chat on the subject of PEACE using the "Peace is More Important than Punches" flash cards. It was a good way to end the lesson, and I thought the discussion was helpful in transitioning the kids out of a high-energy activity so that they could focus for the rest of the day.

And, after spending the better part of an hour showing kids the right way to punch one another, I think a few minutes of showing them how to appreciate one another was very much in order!

The Black Belt Attitude

2009-09-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

This week, the national jobless rate hit 9.7%. Nearly one in 10 Americans are out of work!

I've endured and survived a series of staff reductions at my day job (wave upon wave in and endless sea of waves, it seems). And this week, the company I work for announced across-the-board paycuts for those of us that remain. Ouch.

Now, I'm not exactly thrilled to get less for doing more (who is?) but I'm trying my best to keep my attitude in check, and I remain grateful that I can still count myself among the gainfully employed — even if it's not as "gainful" as it was last week. For many around me have lost their jobs and are still out of work — and they are finding it difficult to stay afloat. So in the big picture, I realize that I'm lucky.

People everywhere are tightening their belts. So consequently, things are tight at the dojo, too — enrollments are down; my stress level is up.

It's a call for me to remain in an attitude of gratitude. It's also a call for me to re-evaluate my needs, my priorities, and my spending and consumption habits. But most of all, today I'm inspired to redouble my efforts at "making my own luck."

The universal rule is "you must give more to get more." So today, I'm mindfully asking, "How may I serve?" and "What value can I add?" and "What more can I give?"

Speaking Our Truth

2009-08-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

This week, the local paper interviewed me for a feature article they are planning to publish on the various martial arts schools in the area. Free press is good advertising, so I was happy to speak with the reporter, show him around our dojo, and introduce him to several of my students. I felt at ease and "on my game" during the interview, and I remained conscious of hitting all of my talking points as I spoke.

But as I described our focus on community service and the environmental and peace-education components of our martial arts curriculum, I felt an unusual surge of passion and confidence: Our dojo is truly a unique place. No, these items weren't just "talking points" or a clever marketing strategy. They were evidence of the true character of our dojo. We walk our talk, and I was simply speaking our truth.

I'm grateful for the UBBT experience — it has helped to draw these elements out and bring them to the foreground. They were always there, but now they are sharp and clear.

Emerald Necklace Martial Arts To Award Its First Black Belts

2009-08-21T06:47:00.000-07:00

BOSTON (Allston), Mass., August, 2009 -- On Friday, September 18, 2009, three adult karate students at Allston's Emerald Necklace Martial Arts will receive their Black Belts during a special ceremony to be held at 7:00 PM at 95 Everett Street in Allston. The event will be open to the public.

After more than five years of consistent physical practice — and after more than a few bumps and bruises — Angela Dwyer, 40, of West Roxbury, Greg Mudarri, 28, of Andover, and Joe Polcari, 50, of Natick have each earned the right to wear the coveted Black Belt, a rank which karate instructor Sensei Jason Gould says marks "the true beginning of their martial arts training."

Dwyer, Mudarri, and Polcari are the very first students to earn Black Belts at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, which first opened its doors in October of 2003. To earn their belts, the three had to do more than demonstrate proficiency with kicks and punches: they also had to study karate history and philosophy, explore peace education and learn skills for nonviolent conflict resolution, become CPR certified, and organize community service projects to demonstrate their compassion and leadership ability.

"The study of karate is certainly a physical endeavor," says Sensei Gould, "but there are also academic, social, and spiritual aspects to our training. At our dojo, we don't want to just develop martial artists who possess skills for self-defense. That is important, but we really aim to develop Artists of Life — people who have the life skills and the will to make a positive difference in the world."

"I'm very proud of Angela, Greg, and Joe," Gould continues, "and I know that they'll continue to be great role models for others to emulate."

The evening ceremony recognizing Dwyer, Mudarri, and Polcari will consist of a brief karate and kobudo (weapons) demonstration, followed by Black Belt presentations and the awarding of Shodan (first-degree Black Belt) certificates. For more information, please contact Sensei Jason Gould at 617-230-1973 or Jason.Gould@karateinboston.com.

Today, I'm Beaming

2009-08-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

I'm only a part-time martial arts school owner. Teaching the martial arts isn't my full time job, but it IS my full-time passion. And today I'm BEAMING because two women who NEVER even would have considered taking karate have become members of my dojo, not only for what they could GET from their martial arts membership (fitness, confidence, etc.), but because their dojo membership enables them to GIVE and express and connect and participate in the world, using martial arts as the vehicle.

Our two newest members told me that our dojo's emphasis on community service and our online project portfolio truly set us apart from other martial arts schools. It's apparent that the service projects that we do as part of our training make a big difference in the kinds of people that we attract, and it's a big part of why those people stay with us.

No one seems to care too much about how our students perform at tournaments, even though we more than hold our own in competition. Because of what we do OUTSIDE of our dojo, we have a GREAT reputation in the neighborhood and the city — and man, does that feel GOOD.

So people don't join our dojo because they want to side-kick a mugger in the throat. And I'm OK with that. (Now, I'll try to teach them to do exactly that while they're here, but apparently it's not the thing that gets people to walk through the door for the first time.

I love my art. In the dojo, I'm a real stickler about tradition, etiquette, form, timing, generating power, and the proper application of technique. The stuff we do has to MEAN SOMETHING, and it HAS TO WORK. But at the end of it all, I'll take 50 students who are committed to changing the world over 50 kata & kumite champions — every day of the week, and twice on Sunday. And if I happen to make kata & kumite champs out of them along the way, well that's a bonus I can live with!

Sweet Failure

2009-08-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

OK, I'm pleased to report that my first attempt at a "trial by fire" using 15 lb. Clubbells was an absolute, total miserable, abject, and embarrassing FAILURE. I know I'm in pretty good shape, but the TBF attempt quickly pointed out some chinks in my armor – mostly my grip strength.

The mills started out OK, but after about 25 on each side (switching sides every 10 reps), I started to compensate for my weakening grip by moving my body and the Clubbells differently. This took the whole exercise out of flow, and it quickly became too painful to continue. The double swipes weren't so bad, but already being tired from the mills made doing more than 20 in a row impossible.

I didn't even try the hammer swings.

Sweet. No where to go but up, I guess!

Putting on my white belt – again.

Trial By Fire

2009-07-31T07:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything about my UBBT physical training regimen. Recently, I've been doing a lot of work with Clubbells. They're nasty little torture devices — essentially miniature iron baseball bats with a displaced center of mass. Using them is a total body workout that improves strength, grip, endurance, flexibility, mobility, and GUTS. Oh, and using them is pretty darn fun, too.

Now that I've more or less got the Clubbell basics down, I've set a goal of completing a "Trial By Fire:" One hundred single Clubbell mill swings (each arm) one hundred double swipes, and one hundred two-handed hammer swings, all using the 15 lb. Clubbell — in 30 minutes or less. I'm going to do a dry run today to asses my current Clubbell fitness level, and then I'll use the results to set a TBF goal that has a specific deadline.

Wish me luck.

My Greatest Living Hero

2009-07-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

Today is July 24, 2009. It's my daughter's 3^rd birthday. So while I joyfully celebrate a milestone today, another, darker one lurks in the background: My daughter Ava was diagnosed at just 18 months as a Type I diabetic. So today, she has been living longer WITH the disease than she has without it. I am at once heartbroken by my daughter's challenges, and overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the advances in medicine and technology that enable her to live a [mostly] normal life.

My daughter gracefully endures countless finger sticks, needle injections, and infusion set changes. She has cranky parents who NEVER sleep. We've been to more doctor appointments and specialist consultations than I care to count. In the last 18 months, there have been terrifying blood sugar highs and equally scary lows, and one or two potentially deadly equipment malfunctions. Yet, Ava takes it all in stride. She's happy, She's carefree, She's energetic, intelligent — and damn funny, too.

And, man, is she tough!

She's my hero, and my greatest teacher.

Happy Birthday, Peanut!

Where Is My Audacity?

2009-07-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

Forty years ago today, mankind first set foot on the moon. Wow.

I mean really — WOW! The whole thing is a #*$%& miracle!

This all happened before my time, mind you — for I didn't show up here until 1971. But even so, today I'm looking at the grandeur of the moon landing in all its intensity, and I'm wondering on a micro scale what MY "personal moon landing" ought to be.

Today, I'm feeling stuck in the cycle of eat, work, play, sleep, repeat. It's a pretty good life, really. I have no complaints! But what insanely daring, outrageous, and brilliantly risky thing should I be embarking upon to stretch and to learn? How am I to grow and evolve beyond my current capabilities, perceptions, and imagination?

Where is my audacity? My courage? What are my limits? How might I dare to thrust out into the unknown and put myself utterly on the line? What unexplored and alien territory of my own body/mind/spirit should I explore, and then boldly plant my flag upon arrival?

What grand, difficult, wonderful, and awe-inspiring adventure should I embark upon today?

And what will I learn from the journey?

My New White Belt

2009-07-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

In my spare time (ha!), I've been reading about the life and works of Leonardo Da Vinci. Inspired by his inquisitive mind and superior artistic ability, I recently ran over to the local art supply store and picked myself up a beginner's set of pencils and a book on pencil drawing. Ahh, a new, inexpensive, challenging hobby!

In the last two weeks, I've learned how to hold a pencil (geez, thought I'd at least have that one down!) and use an eraser (hey, there's more to it than you might think!). I've learned the difference between hard and soft leads, and how they appear on various types of paper. And although I haven't gotten all the way through the beginner-level book yet, I've gained a rudimentary understanding of the basics of line, shape, and form. I'm working on my shading and blending techniques, too.

Using pieces of scrap paper during my lunch breaks, I've managed to complete a few sketches so far, and well — I'm absolutely horrible.

How refreshing! I'm a complete beginner — a white belt — and I have NO idea what I'm getting myself into. I'm really enjoying the learning process, though, and while I'm not even close to reproducing the samples in my book, I've made some pretty remarkable progress in just a few days (if I may say so myself).

Drawing is hard. It's awkward, and my inner critic screams at me with every stroke of the pencil. But it's enjoyable and meditative, too. And already I can see myself making incremental progress for the rest of my days, so long as I have the strength to hold a pencil.

When you think about it, it's kind of like practicing the martial arts.

In My Absence, Magic Happens!

2009-07-02T13:48:00.000-07:00

As I've stated before, I was in Canada all of last week doing some intense physical training with a handful of my students and about 150 other martial artists from the Zen Bei Butoku Kai International. I can't say enough good things about the training experience, or the fine people involved in the annual Summer Camp.

But in my absence, wonderful things were happening back at out dojo in Boston, and I'd like to recognize them here:

Our Little Dragons completed a food drive project. The more than 150 pounds of non-perishable food items they collected will be donated to a local organization next week.

My students created a project – on their own initiative – and formed a dojo knitting circle to teach one another how to knit used grocery store plastic bags into reusable bags.

The community garden we planted was vandalized, and many students jumped in to volunteer to re-plant, notify city officials, contact the press, and more.

Using our private forum, students are now discussing getting ways to get a mural painted in the area by our dojo that's now covered with graffiti.

One of my students was nominated by the rest of the group to serve on the city of Boston's "Community Advisory Committee on Climate Action."

Another student invited her dojo mates to participate in the Project Place (a homeless services organization) Open Door Network.

This is so very cool. I go away for a week, and chaos ensues – in a good way! Maybe I should go away more often.

Building -- And Re-building

2009-06-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, my students and I completed an "environmental self-defense" project by planting 15 trees and a bunch of new flowers to make a "Black Belt Garden" in the green space adjacent to our dojo. We had about 20 people from the dojo participate, and a few of the city councilors also dropped in to help.

It was wonderful to see members of the dojo of all ages and ranks working together — digging holes, spreading mulch, and smiling the entire time. When we were done, the area was transformed! I'm sorry to report, though, that less than 12 hours after our planting was completed, the flowers that we put in the ground had all been torn out by vandals/thieves.

No worries, we will rebuild!

We will show the community what Black-Belt-level determination looks like!

This Week and Next

2009-06-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

This coming Saturday is our "environmental self-defense" tree planting project. (You can read the press release here.) I'm looking forward to it, even though the forecast is for steady rain! Photos and video coming after the event!

Next week, I'll be in Canada at a weeklong martial arts conference. Ahh... three workouts a day, lectures at night, and lots of good old-fashioned martial arts camaraderie. I attend this conference every year. But this year is more special than most: three of my students who are coming with me will be testing for their Black Belts at the end of the week. They're the very first students in my young dojo to test for their Black Belts, so I'm not sure who's more excited – them or me!

Healthy Eating Is Self Defense

2009-06-18T08:13:00.001-07:00

This morning, one of my students sent me a link to the website of a new movie, Food, Inc.

I'm going to check it out. But I'm already thinking of making watching this film "mandatory self-defense training" for the entire dojo.

Building A Black Belt Garden

2009-06-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a press release I sent out today:

Boston Karate Students to Help Build "Black Belt Garden" in Local Green Space

Boston (Allston) MA — June 10, 2009. As part of their karate school's "Environmental Self-Defense" initiative, students enrolled at Boston's Emerald Necklace Martial Arts will be pulling weeds and planting trees and flowers along the Everett Street embankment in Allston on Saturday, June 20. Gardening work is scheduled to commence at 10:00 am.

"This area has been in need of a serious overhaul for a very long time," says Sensei Jason Gould, Chief Instructor at the Emerald Necklace dojo (karate school). I've always wanted to do something to help improve this strip of green space, and the opportunity for my students and I to really pitch in is finally here."

Earlier this spring, the city cleared the Everett Street green space of weed trees, trash, broken glass, and spare tires. Now that the area is clear, new oak, maple, and tupelo trees for the site are being donated by the Grow Boston Greener Initiative. The Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation will be providing trash bags, shovels, rakes, and work gloves for the planting, and Braintree Street Realty has committed to assist with ongoing maintenance of the site once work is complete. In addition to providing the volunteers for the physical labor, Gould's karate school is donating flowers to be planted at the site.

"My ultimate goal is to make this area into a Black Belt garden — an extension of our dojo," Gould continues. "Using nature as both our teacher and classroom, we can learn more about leadership, project management, organic gardening, and the power of teamwork to make a positive difference in our community. I hope that we'll also learn to better respect and appreciate our unbreakable connection to the earth, and I'm looking forward to working with other members of the community to make and keep this area a pristine source of local pride long after the plantings are in the ground."

Emerald Necklace Martial Arts would like to invite all members of the Allston-Brighton Community to help with the planned cleanup and planting along Everett Street on June 20. For more information about the event, please contact Sensei Jason Gould at 617-230-1973 or Ava Chan of the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation at 617-787-3874.

More information about Emerald Necklace Martial Arts can be found online at www.karateinboston.com. More information about the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation can be found online at http://www.allstonbrightoncdc.org/.

###

Seeing With Fresh Eyes

2009-06-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

Last week I and a few of my students did a short karate demonstration at a local elementary school. The demonstration was nothing out of the ordinary: a group of students performing karate basics, dynamic striking drills, forms, and weapons in front of a noisy crowd of strangers, followed by some board breaking, Q&A, and flyer distribution.

I've done events like this one a thousand times, so when we began the demonstration I was able to exude some enthusiasm, even though I was fairly sound asleep on the inside. My students, however, showed their nervousness, and that's what woke me up: I realized that this was their very FIRST public karate demonstration!

I began to watch and run the event with curiosity and fresh eyes, and I observed more closely how my students handled the performance anxiety, the reaction of the crowd, and – of course – the little mistakes that are a part of any karate demonstration. And instead of sleepwalking through the event, I began to enjoy it vicariously through the others!

Feelin' Great

2009-05-20T12:05:00.001-07:00

The arrival (finally!) of nicer weather has revitalized my training — I hate to work out in the cold and rain. I've been working on joint mobility and overall body strength exercises, and really ramping up on my pushups and sit-ups, too. When my knee allows (I'm nursing a pesky bursitis flare-up), I've taken to going for short runs in the early mornings a few times each week before heading off to work. And as of late, my diet is way better than it usually is: I'm consciously drinking more water, eating more fresh, raw veggies, and snacking on at least two pieces of fruit a day. Tired from not quite enough sleep, and a little achy from training, but overall I feel great.

Feeding the mind, too. Currently reading "Compassion" by Christina Feldman.

Making a Difference and Setting an Example

2009-05-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I spent quite a bit of time outside in the park across the street from my house with my daughter, Ava. The weather was perfect, and she was excited to be trying out her new tricycle — a gift from her Grandmother, who was visiting for Mother's Day.

As we played in the park I found myself stopping every few feet to pick up trash: broken glass, bottle tops, burger wrappers, plastic bottles, cigarette butts and more. Ava noticed what I was doing, and she spontaneously started to help. So we spent a few minutes together just picking up trash and throwing it away. I had to keep her from touching the broken glass, but she caught on pretty quickly for a two and a half year old!

I thought to myself how horrible it was that my daughter was the ONLY other person in a park full of people who stopped to help me pick up garbage — lots of other people clearly saw what we were doing and simply went about their business. (Okay, there was one other kid in the park, about 4 years old, who came over and handed me a piece of newspaper instead of throwing it away himself. He gets a pass.)

But what a magnificent opportunity to set a positive example and teach Ava an important life lesson about making a difference!

Back to the Old Grind

2009-05-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a long-overdue family vacation — a week of dedicated family time: no work, no training, no phone, no email, no TV, no radio. No UBBT journaling, either, so I'm sorry that I missed a week! Just good meals and good times with the people I care about the most. (Okay, and some personal development reading, too.)

Ahh, so nice to get back to what really matters!

We had a great time, and as soon as I can figure out how to get pictures out of my new digital camera, I'll post some. We stayed at a beautiful and quiet condo resort, away from all the touristy stuff. Idyllic setting with nature all around. We couldn't have asked for a better place.

Right in the middle of my week of relaxation, however, I was suddenly alarmed and painfully aware of how much STUFF my family and I were mindlessly throwing away. We were cooking most of our own meals in the kitchenette, but nonetheless, we quickly and repeatedly filled the wastebasket with paper, plastic cups, plastic wrapping, straws… and well, it just started driving me crazy out of nowhere. The resort didn't recycle, either, so even our glass and plastic bottles went right down the garbage chute! The killer moment for me was at check out, when the woman at the front desk didn't take back my three plastic magnetic door keys to reprogram and reuse – "Oh, we don’t take those back" she said. "You can just toss them."

Instead, I brought them all the way back to Boston to put into the recycling here.

But back at home, my awareness of the waste continued: After a week away, the bills had piled up. Now, I hate paying bills as much as anyone else, but to see all the wasted paper statements, envelopes, ad marketing fluff going into the trash as I opened up and processed the "bad news" got me upset all over again. It's time to sign up for e-billing.

Today I rose early, did my push-ups while watching the latest video blast from Coach Tom, then went out for a short run and some ab exercises before heading out to work.

So it's back to the old grind.

But now, with some added awareness, different from before.

I Guess I Could Complain, But I Won't

2009-04-20T07:55:00.000-07:00

Just had a pretty tough and unusual week: We unexpectedly had to replace our furnace because of a gas leak. Then the dishwasher broke. Then the home phone and internet lines went out. On Friday, we had a "significant workforce reduction" at my day job, and I had to terminate members of my team. And then on Sunday, our kitchen faucet became a free-flowing waterfall.

Four days without heat reminded me to appreciate blankets and cuddle-time.
Doing dishes by hand? What an opportunity to practice mindfulness!
No incoming phone calls? Now that's a blessing in disguise!
Surviving a layoff reminded me to be thankful for my job, and to focus more on my family, my health, and my passions.
The broken sink was a call to appreciate all of the fresh, on-demand, drinkable water that I usually take for granted.

My cup runneth over. Coincidentally, so does my kitchen countertop.

I am truly blessed!

A lesson, and an apology

2009-04-14T07:05:00.000-07:00

Today, I thought I'd share a letter, written by me to all of my students, regarding an incident that occurred in the dojo last night. No worries — all is calm and forgiven now, and today I move forward with smile on my face. But I feel that sharing this story is an essential part of my education, my "Ultimate Black Belt Test." So, here goes.

--------------

There's a phrase in Japanese, "deru kugi wa utareru" which means, "the nail that sticks up will be hammered down." It is, I think, the converse of our more familiar Western saying, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease."

While the squeaky wheel and the protruding nail will both surely get some attention, grease is good and desirable. The hammer — well, not so much.

The saying is indicative of how the Japanese (and by association, those like me who have studied a Japanese art for any length of time) tend to value the group over the individual, and conformity — in its most positive sense — over self-expression. There is power in the group.

This runs completely counter to our Western sensibilities: we tend to prize individualism, independence, and non-conformity.

And therein, as they say, lies the rub.

In the dojo last night, I "knocked down a nail" a little too hard while correcting a student's behavior. I'm sure those who were witnesses to the incident know exactly what I'm talking about. There's no need to go into more detail, agreed?

Well, okay — Let's be honest here: I was brash, heavy-handed, and way, WAY over the top. And for that, I sincerely apologize. While my actions may have been unskillful, my intent was to convey, as clearly as possible, the decorum and self-discipline that should be displayed in the dojo: Pay attention. Listen more than you speak. Don't interrupt. Try your best not to stick out too much. Seek invisibility. Exercise restraint.

My harshness, however, was mostly an expression of the expectations that have been set for ME in my own training, which perhaps has been a little more severe than what is healthy...

After some reflection, I have come to realize that my outburst was also an indication of an area in which I have some room for growth. So I shall continue to explore my own humility, and I vow to cherish the individuality in each of you.

Please, let me apologize once again. I welcome your comments privately, or here in this forum.

Sensei J.

--------------

I am grateful for my experiences — even the painful ones such as this — and perhaps today I'm just a little bit wiser than I was yesterday. It seems that the nail that is me has been knocked down by my own hand. Kinda ironic, when you think abou it...

Health Week Coming in May

2009-04-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

I've been invited to participate in a number of "Health Week" activities at local elementary schools. Mostly, coordinators are requesting that I come in to classrooms to run a basic introduction to karate and self-defense — to get kids up and moving around, doing new and interesting things. Of course, this is a good thing for the kids, and a great opportunity for the dojo, so I'm happy to participate as my schedule allows.

But I'm also asking myself, what else can I do? As many as one in five (some say more) school children is obese. So why shouldn't I, as part of health week, provide kids and school staff with diabetes awareness and prevention materials? Can I come in and talk to kids about anger management? Now that's self-defense!

Some Thoughts On Mindfulness and Living With Compassion

2009-04-02T11:45:00.000-07:00

I've been taught that compassion, a sense of empathy and a genuine, caring heart, is one of the martial virtues. It's one of my dojo's "Black Belt Traits." Expressing compassion and loving-kindness for all creatures has been a cornerstone of my fledgling, UBBT-inspired meditation practice, too. Over the last couple of weeks, several coinciding events have really begun to change my thinking about what compassion really means, especially in relation to my personal habits of consumption:

Two weeks ago, I drove past a vegan group that was protesting outside of a local KFC, and I found myself silently rooting for them on the inside. The very next day, I stumbled upon Thich Nhat Hanh's letter to the CEO of KFC, asking him to consider treating chickens more humanely.

Yesterday, I was somewhat repulsed by an online article and film clip about the new Fenway Franks. Now, I've got nothing against a good hot dog (at least I don't think I do), but the insipid music that's playing in the background of the film clip while meat is being processed really stuck me as an insensitive trivialization of the fact that those "hot-dogs-to-be" are actually former cows.

On my way home last night, I listened (in disgust, to be honest) to an NPR spot on farm raised whales that are harvested for commercial use. Okay, I can appreciate using every part of the whale: after all business is business, and efficiency counts. But why the hell do the whale farmers bother to teach the captive whales to sing — and "express their individuality" (i.e., treat them as pets) — if they're going to kill them?

(Okay, that last one was a well-played NPR April Fool's joke... but my point remains.)

And today, the last straw: a student of mine sent me a link to a disturbing report on the treatment of animals at a New England poultry farm.

Now, I've already been eating less and less meat lately in acknowledgement of the health benefits of eating more veggies, legumes, and fruits, and also to do my little part to reduce the impact that the meat industry has on the environment. I've read Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and scanned "In Defense of Food," and I've learned quite a bit. But now, more and more, I'm feeling sympathy and compassion for the creatures that we meat eaters routinely ingest.

I don't think I'm quite at the point of giving up my meat habit 100%, and I'm not sure that I ever will arrive at that point, but I'm definitely becoming more conscious in my food choices, going vegetarian when I can, and purposefully and mindfully choosing cage-free / free range products. I'm making a new habit of taking a moment before I eat to really feel gratitude toward all the human, material, and animal resources that made my meal possible.

So, from this moment on, no more mindless eating. That's a start, anyway. (And no judgment, either, I promise! You can eat the way that you want, and I won't look at you sideways!) I don't really know where this particular path will lead me (and I don't know how much it really has to do with training in the martial arts), but I'm willing to follow it for a while to find out.

Greening Things Up a Bit

2009-03-25T10:22:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Joe Van Duren's recent post about plants in his dojo, and the video he mentioned about growing your own fresh air, I went out this week and picked up a few new and inexpensive floor plants for the dojo. They look great, and I'm happy to know that my design additions are adding oxygen and removing toxins from the air!

With all the CO2 we're creating in the dojo because of our training, adding more plants just makes good 'ol fashioned sense. More plants = more fresh air.

But there's more — Just seeing the plants upon entering the dojo encourages me to take a deep breath and relax. It's like having a little bit of the wild outdoors on the inside. The new plants, combined with the recently added skylights, and the dojo is starting to feel downright woodsy.

Kinda like the Emerald Necklace itself.

Nice.