2009!

It's been a while since my last post -- between the holidays and building out the new dojo space, I've been a little busy. But the holidays are over, and we have completed the move to our new dojo, so I'm out of excuses for not writing. I kicked off the year with a goal of attempting 1,000 push-ups on January 1. I'm not ashamed to admit that I fell short and didn't accomplish the goal: after all, 740 push-ups in one day is probably more than most people did!

At our dojo, we're kicking off a 6-week "fitness cycle" aimed at getting everyone back in shape. Each week, we do a selection of calisthenics (push ups, sit ups, leg presses), adding repetitions or new exercises — and sometimes both — during each successive week. The fitness cycle will end on Valentines Day, when we'll get the whole dojo together for a "fitness graduation" workout.

Let the games begin!

Welcome Home

I sent the following email out to my students today:

This is just a quick note to announce that the building inspector has signed off on all the inspections, and we now have a certificate of occupancy to operate at 95 Everett Street!

So, effective immediately, all of our classes will be run in the new dojo space. Thank you for being so patient with crowded doorways, a small training floor, low ceilings, fluctuating temperatures, bathrooms way down the hall, trains passing just outside the window, and any number of other annoyances that you've quietly put up with.

But let's not forget that our old dojo was very good to us: I'm extremely grateful for the time we spent there, and I know that we'll still be telling the "dungeon dojo" stories many years from now.

There are still a few items in our old space that need to be moved across the street, but most of the heavy lifting is done. It will take us some time to get fully settled into the new place: We have furniture to assemble, mats to install, and lots of stuff to hang on the walls. (Yes, the skylights are coming. More on that later.) And of course, we have a ton of new memories to build!

Planning and coordinating this move has occupied most of my attention for the last couple of months. As you may have noticed, I've been distracted and a little out of focus lately, and the quality of our training has suffered as a result. I'm really looking forward to getting back on track with some good old-fashioned intensity!

For now, though, let's all relax for a bit and enjoy the view (unless, of course, you're testing on the 20th). We're in the process of slowing things down for the year, but the annual January workout training is just around the bend! Next month, we're really going to sweat and grind it out on the mat.

Our new, larger space will give us much greater flexibility in how we schedule and run our classes. You'll soon see some changes happening in the way we operate the dojo, but nothing too earth-shattering. I value your input and suggestions, so shortly, I'll be sending out an electronic survey to give you the opportunity to provide me with some feedback. Please keep an eye out for it!

Welcome home.

An Honor, Some Humor

I was recently contacted by Grand Master Ernest Dukes of the Black Warrior Martial Arts organization, who invited me to his Hall of Honors banquet to recognize me with a Silver Pioneer award for 25 years in the martial arts. I was surprised, honored, and flattered — after all, I kind of feel like I'm just getting started in the martial arts — but a quick look at the calendar verified the claim. I really have been at this a long time. I was unable to travel to North Carolina to receive the award in person, but I spoke with Master Dukes on the phone, and he graciously offered to send the award to me. Sheepishly, I looked forward to placing a plaque on the wall of the office of my new dojo.

The award arrived this week, and upon opening the package, I immediately discovered the following:

• Someone else's name was on the award
• The award was for a different achievement
• The award was broken

Clearly, this was a simple shipping error, but I immediately found the entire episode hilarious. I laughed out loud. And I suppose that's a good thing. For some reason, it reminded me of a story I once heard that during ancient times, when a conquering general returned to adoring and cheering crowds in Rome, a slave was assigned to continually whisper in his ear, "Remember, you're just a mortal. You're no better than anyone else."

I'm sure I can resolve this issue with a simple phone call... And, perhaps, some duct tape.

Every Little Stitch Helps

I love this picture of a knitted cap next to the weapons rack in our dojo. It was taken by my student, Linda, and it I captures, without using words or rhetoric, the power that the martial arts have to change the world. We use the bo, jo, sai, tonfa, kama, nunchaku, knife, techu, kai-bo, naginata, and other weapons at our dojo.

Now, please add knitting needles to the list.

My student Carolyn's community service project has really been taking off. She was featured in a local newspaper article just this past week. Ahh, the student becomes the teacher... how refreshing.

This month's Ode magazine features an article titled, "Every Little Stich Helps." I've ordered a copy of "Knitting for Good" to add to the dojo library. I'll place it right next to the books on weapons training.

MADDCAP

Last week, I taught my first MADDCAP class to two groups of kids during lunchtime at a local elementary school here in Boston. The group I spoke with were kids identified as being "at risk" for diabetes by the school staff — I was amazed to find that nearly 100% of the kids knew someone in their immediate family who had type II diabetes. Amazing.

I spent most of my time talking to the kids about adding color to their diet. And no, orange Powerade is NOT an orange food!

This has been quite a learning experience. I certainly now know more about the disease than I ever wanted to, but doing something about it is something that calls to me now... I briefly spoke with the principal, who was very grateful for my presentation — "It's absolutely necessary that we educate the whole child," she told me.

Healthy living as "self-defense." Planning to give more presentations to the community in 2009.

Semper Fi!

Happy Birthday to my Marine brothers and sisters — past, present, and future — for your service, courage, and dedication. And Happy Veterans Day, too.

Caps for Kids, and Other Stuff

I fanally got a hold of Last Child in the Woods at Coach Tom's suggestion. After "leafing" through it, I'm determined to take my daughter into the trees this weekend. Otherwise, I've been very busy (hey, when am I NOT busy?) planning for the new dojo opening. You can read all about the build out on our blog.

In the meantime, my students have been very busy serving the community and making me proud:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, please contact:Sensei Jason Gould
Emerald Necklace Martial Arts
Jason.gould@karateinboston.com
(617) 230 1973

Punches, Kicks — and Knitting — at Local Karate School

Boston (Allston) MA — November 5, 2008. This fall, Allston's Emerald Necklace Martial Arts is participating in a "Caps for Kids" drive: Instead of punching and kicking, Karate students are knitting children's hats, scarves, mittens, and booties that will be donated to day care centers, elementary schools, housing shelters, and neighborhood health and community centers in Boston. Caps For Kids is a 100% volunteer organization affiliated with Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

The students at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts regularly participate in community service activities as part of their Black Belt training. The "Caps for Kids" knitting project is being led and organized by karate student Carolyn Conroy.

"Doing this project allows us to provide something that's needed in our local community, and it's also an opportunity to spend time together as friends outside of Karate class," she says.

Many Emerald Necklace Martial Arts members have been holding weekly knitting circles, either in the dojo (karate school) or in local coffee shops, to work on their projects together. Other members are learning to knit, or sponsoring knitters by purchasing yarn and other supplies. The box of items to be donated that sits in the dojo is steadily growing.

Although Conroy has already surpassed her goal of collecting 50 handmade items, she will continue to lead the project through November 24. Anyone wishing to contribute to the project may contact Sensei Jason Gould at 617-230-1973, and knitted items may also dropped off at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts: 129 Braintree Street, Suite 213, in Allston MA.

More information about Emerald Necklace Martial Arts can be found online at http://www.karateinboston.com/.

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