Keeping Up A Pretty Good Pace

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!

Anger Management, Meditation Centers, and the Tao

Another busy week. At Coach Tom's suggestion, I've enrolled in an online Anger Management course. It's not that I have an anger problem, but as a self-defense instructor, I have a role to play in helping people recognize when destructive anger is rising in them, and also to give them some tools to manage their anger and express it constructively. This course will help me be a better, more informed, and more empathic teacher. What a great concept! And yes, every once in a while, I get angry. Everyone does. I'm sure that through this course, I'll learn a few new skills myself!

In further exploration of meditation practices, I spent some time at The Center at Westwoods this week. It's an amazingly peaceful place dedicated to individual inner growth and healing. I sat in meditation by the "moss pond," enjoyed the cool silence of the "goddess cistern," walked the grounds and gardens, and spent some time in the library in the main hall. I'm currently reading from Wayne Dyer's new adaptation/interpretation of the Tao Te Ching, titled, "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life." I've read the TTC before — I have several different translations of it in my dojo library — but this annotated version has been extremely interesting and educational. Each of the 81 verses of the TTC is accompanied by an essay for study, contemplation, and meditation.

Next week, I begin teaching karate to 4th and 5th grade children at the Gardner Extended Services School as part of their enrichment curriculum. I'm looking forward to teaching — and learning from — the kids. The classes I'll be teaching will have a particular emphasis on building character, discipline, self-confidence, teamwork, and leadership ability. Each class will include physical instruction in traditional karate — using equipment as appropriate — as well as short, informal discussions ("mat chats") on character, self-defense, and other related subjects. I have some interesting ideas to try out, including seeking teacher and parent involvement to ensure that the behaviors and attitudes that are expected during the karate class are being satisfactorily demonstrated at home and in the classroom. Wish me luck!

Trying to grow the school, too. I've written a short article, "Learning to Punch Like a Girl," about the women who train at my dojo for a local online magazine called Misstropolis. It's already live on my "Martial Musings" blog, but I hope the additional exposure on this new website will result in some new inquiries! I've made up about 1,000 new dojo flyers and will distribute as many as I can over the weekend.

Still pushing hard on the physical side, too. I've got to total all my stats and see where things stand. On an interesting note, I bumped into my neighbor, who read about my participation in the UBBT in the local paper. She mentioned that her kids have seen me in the park in the mornings, doing my push ups, crunches, and kata repetitions in the park. Yikes, I'm being watched...!

Good! PLEASE HELP KEEP ME HONEST, EVERYONE!!!