Dear Students, Teachers and Friends,

Elite Training weekend is next weekend and we need everyone to
register as soon as they can so we can plan on the meals. We need to
know whether you want steak or chicken. We also have a kid's meal as
well. Registration is at the Radisson Inn North starting at 4:30 on
Friday. Testing begins at 5:30. To register on-line go to our web
site at www.americanblackbeltacademy.com and look in the special
events section on the front page.


Quotes of the Week

HELEN KELLER:
The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but
has no vision.
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.
Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life
is to keep your mind young."

*Henry Ford {1863-1947 American Entrepreneur}




Lesson of the Week

18 Postures – The Hawk

The 18 postures have been handed down for over 1500 years and are
based on the process of trying to understand the world by observing
nature. This week we will talk briefly about the hawk.

The Hawk

The hawk is a bird of prey and while some other styles use the eagle
to demonstrate the same qualities, we have continued to use the
hawk. The hawk circles in the air and has the vision to be able to
see the slightest movement of a small animal from a thousand feet
up. Once the time occurs, he folds into a projectile that strikes
like a lightning bolt and hits the target with everything he's got.
His talons and beak at work, the hawk make quick work with his quick
and efficient kill.

These attributes are at work with the martial artist as well. We
mimic the hawk by developing proper distance with our opponents,
staying just outside their range until it is time to strike. We have
also learned the use of vision, looking for all the little verbal
and nonverbal signs to indicate what our opponent is getting ready
to do. And finally we have adapted the way of the hawk into our
attacks. We have learned to never use our skills unless absolutely
necessary, but once we have decided to attack we make sure it is
precise and swift.

Maintaining proper distance in karate is where a person has to take
one step to be able to reach you with a weapon. This distance allows
us reaction time to be able to counter should we perceive and attack
coming. This allows us the time to move out of the way and yet still
be close enough to counter attack while the opponent's guard is
down. In other areas of our life, we constant learn to distance
ourselves away from business decisions and not take things so
personally. This distance is many times necessary to be able to make
the wisest decisions and not let emotion cloud the process.

Vision is also a trait developed in detail by the martial artist.
The old saying about the Shaolin monks comes into play, " When
listened for, could not be heard; when felt for, could not be
touched; when looked for, could not be seen." The other side of the
coin is also true. The true warrior trains himself or herself to see
and hear things that others do not even recognize as important, and
to be able to touch people in amazing ways. Through practice the
advanced martial artist learns to see things before they happen, not
through supernatural powers, but from learned skills.

Lastly, the martial artist learns from the hawk to resolve problems
quickly and efficiently. Postponing decisions and waiting till a
problem becomes big is not the way of the warrior. In fact most of
the time, problems are resolved before they ever develop by using
vision and proactive tactics. Wee also thank the hawk for teaching
us the A, B, C's of offense or to always Attack By Combinations. A
true warrior never underestimates his opponent, and although he
takes care not to be abusive, always makes sure he has the ability
to follow up with sufficient weapons and resources to get the job
done quickly and efficiently.

To understand what our ancestors learned from observing nature one
only has to watch a hawk for a while, doing what he does naturally.
The path of black belt excellence is covered with attributes we can
learn from the hawk.

Respectfully,

Terry Bryan