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Newsletter
Character is an important martial arts lesson. It is
important that you have good character because, as a martial artist,
you are a role model and mentor. It is equally important to remember
that you must have good character to use your martial arts skills
appropriately. You’ve learned kicking and punching skills that could
be harmful to others, if you weren’t a person with
character.
Character lessons teach you to use your physical martial arts
skills for self-defense purposes only. Martial artists are respected
not only for physical skills, but also for mental skills.
You learn and teach confidence, discipline, courage, integrity and
loyalty. These are character qualities that are consistently
reinforced throughout your training.
It is very important that all martial artists embrace these
character lessons, as they are the tools that make you a better
person and the world a better place.
Study these key principles of character and apply them to your
life everyday.
• Your character is defined by your actions, not by your words.
• Good character requires that you do the right thing, even if it is
costly or risky.
• You choose the person you want to be by making choices that reveal
your good character.
• Good character gives you the strength to achieve greatness.
• When you actively work to develop good character, you become a
better person.
• It is easier to lead and inspire others through good character.
If these key principles of character are part of your life, then you
are a true martial artist.
• You have the potential to become whatever you want to be.
• People admire you and find you enjoyable company.
• People want you to be their leader.
• You help others maintain good character because you lead by
example.
• It is people like you who make the world a better place in
which to live.
Remember, good character extends beyond physical skills and
abilities. Your good character is revealed and recognized by others
when you choose to do the right thing at all times, despite
potential repercussions, which are only temporary, while character
is forever. To leave your mark on the world, follow the principles
above and watch your character shine.
The Principles of Character action principles
Applaud the Beginner
Applaud those who try because the first step is often the
toughest. You remember how intimidated you were by the first
day of martial arts class or your awkwardness learning to snow
ski or rollerblade.
Be helpful and friendly to beginners. Support their persistence
and willingness to learn.
Always welcome the newcomer.
Giving
Your Best Effort
By Joseph
Galea
Giving your
best effort means you must work your hardest at every task. More
importantly, it means you must work your hardest to achieve your
goals. People who always give their best effort are far more
successful in life than those who do not try hard at all.
It is very
important to give your best effort during your martial arts
training. Don’t limit your hard practice to the classroom; also
practice at home. Both training hard during class and practicing
hard at home will enhance your growth and development.
Black Belts
understand that they must always do their best. They have trained
for years to reach excellence. They have experienced setbacks and
persevered through those setbacks. One cannot be a Black Belt
without knowing how to put forth great effort. Black Belts
understand that the reward for hard work is well worth the great
effort required.
Use the
following tips to help you put forth your best effort during your
martial arts training.
1. Stretch
daily. Your muscles need to be flexible to withstand consistent
training. Most martial arts injuries occur when muscles are strained
beyond their reach.
2. Exercise
regularly. You should exercise your legs, abs, arms and heart daily
to build the strength necessary to maintain speed and agility.
3. Practice
your breathing. It is necessary to breathe properly while you
perform martial arts techniques. If you do not know how to breathe
correctly, your performance will suffer from a lack of energy.
4. Eat
healthfully. Fruits and vegetables give you energy. Fast food and
junk food only tire you faster.
5. Sleep a
full night. You need about eight hours of sleep each night to keep
your brain focused and your body strong. Your memory and muscles
begin to fail when your brain is tired.
Whether you
are already a Black Belt or are still reaching towards that goal,
there is no excuse for less than your best effort. Combine your
drive for excellence with the tips above and you can reach great
heights. Nobody has a bigger impact on your life than you. When you
teach yourself how to give your best effort all the time, then
you’ve taken a big step toward accomplishing your dreams and goals.
Healthkick
“Is Your Home “Screen-Lean?”
By Jennifer G.
Galea MS RD
Limiting
children’s time in front of the television is an
important issue
for parents. Many organizations have offered appropriate
recommendations. For example,
The American
Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends
that it’s best
for children to limit their “screen time” to a maximum of two hours
per day. To follow-through on this recommendation,
parents need more
information, such as the definition of “screen time,” the benefits
of this limitation and the methods for
enforcing it.
“Screen time” not
only includes television viewing, but also all other activities that
involve viewing a screen, such as movies, video games and computers.
Since many children may
need to use their
computers for more than two hours a day just to do their homework,
this restriction may be almost impossible even in the best of
circumstances. I allow my children to watch TV as “down time” during
an extremely active day. The key is to be aware the role of TV in
your children’s education and, as importantly, in their physical
activity plan.
The primary
benefit of limiting children’s screen time is to
increase their
physical activity time. Childhood obesity is a
major health
issue. In fact, three times more children are overweight than just
10 years ago. Children are overweight because they eat too many
calories and they need more physical activity to burn those excess
calories. The best way to fight this trend
Is to provide a
healthy diet and to encourage increased
physical
activity.
Enroll children
in organized programs that will entertain them and provide them with
regular physical activity, such as the martial arts. Another
strategy is to limit “screen time,” making your home “screen-lean.”
Try these “screen-lean” suggestions from Blue Cross.
1. Set limits.
Some suggestions: no TV during homework or in
bedrooms.
2. Plan your
child’s viewing. For example: tape and watch
specific
shows with a purpose, such as a nature or history
program, or
watch only those specific shows and not an
endless
evening of television.
3. Help your
child resist commercials. Many commercials en
courage
unhealthy food choices, and the time spent watching
is sedentary!
Try recording shows and deleting the
commercials,
or renting/buying taped programs.
4. Provide
children with other options. Screen viewing can be
come a habit.
Start your child moving by suggesting and
encouraging
more active entertainment, such as outside play,
sports or
even a board game.
5. Set a good
example. Be a role model and limit your screen
time and
increase your physical activity.
Martial Arts
Success Stories
Personal
Profile
By Brian
Miller, Age 12
Martial arts has
improved the strength of my mind and spirit. I’m 12 years old and am
now working toward my Second-Degree Black Belt.
Martial arts has
made me more physically fit, more disciplined and able to defend
myself. Martial arts has also developed my work ethic.
I have the
discipline to do my chores and I am more helpful to my parents.
Martial arts has
helped me overcome my fears by gaining confidence. I have no more
fear or anxiety when competing at major tournaments.
I have a good
mind, but if I think too much, my mind becomes paralyzed and I don’t
release all my energy and effort during a sparring match. At the
national tournament, I had a breakthrough and started fighting with
my heart and not just my head. I lost, but came back strong and
almost won. I’m learning to just place the match in other’s hands
and not lean on my own understanding.
Brian Miller is a student of Patrick McSweeney’s Candler Family
Martial Arts in Candler, North Carolina.
Sensei
Make each class a masterpiece by always trying to live up to the
teachers creed 1) I will teach this class as if it is the most
important class I will ever teach 2) I am patient and enthusiastic
3) I lead by example
Set your compass for your school and students in a chosen
direction and then focus your attention and efforts completely on
the journey of preparation. A successful journey becomes your
destination and is where your real accomplishment lies.
Approach every student with these three things, 1)Joy 2)Gratitude
3) Humility
Student
Adversity in training and life makes you stronger "Looking
back it seems to me, all the grief that had to be. Left me when
the pain was o'er stronger than I was before." - unknown
Perfection is what you should be striving for, but perfection is
an impossibility. However, STRIVING for perfection is not an
impossibility. Do the best you can always and you will achieve
excellence.
Approach every class with the attitude of "a rising tide
raises all ships". If you do your best, you will bring out the
best in your classmates. Enthusiasm and effort are contagious.
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