Tactical Time Management Is Self Defense

Last week, I attended a time management seminar to help me stay focused and organized in 2010. The seminar covered tactical (hourly) time management, desk and workspace management (man, do I need that!), and communications tracking.

Over the next couple of weeks, I hope to use and further develop the new time management skills and habits that I learned at the seminar to counter my natural tendency toward procrastination and distraction. If I can manage my priorities better -- and stay focused and organized -- I know I'll get a lot more done each day. And if I focus on getting the right things done (the things that are actually IMPORTANT), I'll surely achieve more of my goals. I only have so much time to accomplish all that I want to do in this life; I need to defend it vigorously!

First things first: As Stephen Covey says, "begin with the end in mind." I'm spending a little time today to sit down to set specific goals for the month, quarter, and year in the broad categories of Work, Family, Social, Physical, Spiritual, and Learning.

1. Define Your Purpose
2. Establish Your Goals
3. Focus Your Resources
4. Manage Your Priorities
5. Measure the Effects of Your Actions
6. Own the Performance
7. Influence the Participants
8. Continue the Improvements

Boston Martial Artists Helping Earthquake Victims in Haiti

Today, Emerald Necklace Martial Arts is embarking on a month-long project to assist the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. I've asked all of my students to join me in doing as many push-ups and sit-ups as possible in the next 30 days, and to ask their friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to sponsor them by committing to make a small donation for every exercise repetition they complete between today and Valentines Day.

So, if you were to donate a PENNY for every push-up and sit-up that I complete in 30 days,
And if I were to complete 200 push-ups or sit-ups every day of the challenge,
Then I would collect a $60 donation from you on February 14.

All donations will go to the American Red Cross' International Assistance Fund, and they will be designated for the relief efforts in Haiti.

Will you support me or one of my students?

We'll also be hosting a "Kickboxing for A Cause" party at the dojo on Tuesday, January 26: Please join us at the dojo for an exciting, high-tempo kickboxing class at 7:30PM.
Your $15 donation will also go to the American Red Cross. I'm expecting the dojo to be VERY crowded — reserve a spot in the class today!

Thank you for supporting our efforts!

Kagami Biraki

Over the weekend, we held a "kagami biraki" New Year's workout at our dojo. About 25 students showed up for the special training session, which consisted of basic techniques (lots and lots of kicks and punches), push-ups, sit-ups, and kata demonstrations by the Black Belts and senior students. The workout was an instant reminder of my need to do more abdominal work, as I felt myself tiring after the very first set of sit ups. But we all pushed through and had a great workout, which we finished with a traditional snack: with mochi cakes, tangerines, and ... sake.

I installed a new mirror in the dojo this week — 12 feet wide and seven feet high, it covers a large portion of the training deck. I hope that the mirror will be less of a distraction and more of an instant feedback tool — both for me, and for my students. Mirrors don't lie — So now, there's nowhere for any of us to hide!

To kick start my meditation practice this year, I'm reading "Turning the Mind Into an Ally" by Sakyong Mipham, and I'm planning a quick visit to the Shambhala Meditation Center here in town some time next month. Beyond pushups and situps, I'm working on a new regimen of bodyweight and joint-mobility exercises to help me with my core strength and flexibility.

2010 is going to be a wild ride: My wife, daughter, and I are happily expecting baby #2 in late April or early May. I'm scheduled to test for my 4th dan in Canada at the end of June. We're approaching the "make or break" point in terms of dojo enrollment vs. our sliding rent scale in July. Ava starts pre-K in the fall. As the saying goes, "We're surrounded. Great! Now we can attack in any direction!"

2010, I Am Here to CRUSH You

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

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

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

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

Make 2010 Your Year!

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

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

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: