Dear Students, Teachers and Parents,

The dojo will be closed this Thursday and Friday for regular classes
due to my Shorin Ryu instructor coming to town, and to allow everyone
to attend his seminar being held at Timberview Middle School. Kyoshi
Dan Smith and Zenshin Shimabukuryo will be teaching at the seminar.
Sensei Zenshin Shimabukuryo is the son of Zempo Shimabukuryo, the
Grand Master of Seibukan around the world. Thursday night and Friday
night from 6-8 will be held at Timberview Middle School and the
seminar continues in Denver on Saturday and Sunday for those that
want to attend there. Thursday night is for all students and Friday
evening is only for Brown and Black belts. Details are on the web
site – www.americanblackbltacademy.com. Cost for the seminar is only
$30 for our students ($79 for everyone else) and I highly encourage
everyone who can, to attend. This is a mandatory seminar for brown
and black belts.

Belt test is next Saturday. 8:45 will be little dragons. White belts
will test at 9:00 and all yellow and orange belts will begin around
9:15. We will hold an instructor meeting directly after the test is
over. All brown belts are encouraged to attend the brown belt workout
that is scheduled from 1:00 to 4:00 on Saturday afternoon. This will
serve as a pretest for the next black belt test, and to go over the
new requirements at the novice and intermediate level. Current black
belts are encouraged to attend as well.

Lesson Of The Week

The Japanese phrase Jiko Sekinin basically translates as personal
responsibility. Maybe it is just me, but it seems that our modern
society is drifting further and further away from being responsible
for their actions and the consequences of those actions. People suing
McDonalds because they got fat eating their food, our got burned
because they spilled hot coffee on their lap. Give me a break.
Maybe that is why I like teaching karate. Although each instructor
takes on the duty to be the best teacher they can be, it is
understood that it is the responsibility for growth is totally up to
the student and the effort the put forth. If one trains hard and
shows great effort in their training, they will eventually become
very good at what they do. Early on the student learns that
complaining about making contact with a fellow student during
sparring because "he ran into it" just doesn't stand, I mean after
all, who is in charge of your hands and feet. Likewise, when a
complaint is issued about getting hit in the face, which is
definitely against the rules, it soon becomes crystal clear there is
only one person that is totally responsible for blocking attacks to
your face, and that is you.
It is too easy today to blame others or situations for not succeeding
in life's little challenges. The mark of the true warrior is to take
personal responsibility for their future and to become disciplined
enough to make it happen. When a loss is experienced, a winner
immediately decides what he has gained from the experience and
implements this knowledge in future tactics.
Each of us needs to take full responsibility of our actions, and the
consequences of these actions. Once a person realizes that they are
in charge, and take full responsibility for their actions, life
becomes a predictable roadmap for their future.
Understanding this principle, I hope everyone takes the opportunity
to come and train with Kyoshi Smith and Sensei Shimabukuryo this
coming week. If not, don't expect a lot of sympathy when we hear the
words, "well I was going to come but…"

Respectfully,

Terry Bryan