Dear Students, Teachers and Parents,
Hope all those that came to the Chop and Shop had a great time. I
know my hands are sore from helping all the kids with their boards.:)
If you didn't get to place your Christmas orders for martial arts
supplies, please see Mary at the York location to ensure we can get
everything in before Christmas.
We will be closed Wednesday November 21st through Sunday the 25th for
Thanksgiving holiday. Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. We
will also be closed December 24th through December 31st for Christmas
break. We will be having a New Years Eve sleepover for the kids on
the 31st.
The Pikes Peak Karate Championships is being held at Coronado High
School on Saturday December 1st. For more information, please see
your Sensei and please get your registration forms in right away.
I have also started a discussion group for those of you that would
like to discuss different aspects of the martial arts. It will be an
open group so others besides our students can join and talk as well.
The address is to join this group is
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/classicalmartialarts.

The Lesson of the Week

The Tao – The Path of Becoming
The Tao pertains to the natural path we find ourselves on as we
pursue our goals in life. We watch and use many signs to help us
stay on this path, and try and get back on this path as soon as
possible when we notice that we have gone astray. Many times, we even
find that retracing our steps, and going back to a true place or
principle in life, is actually the fastest way of becoming in the
future. On this path the warrior becomes highly adaptable, well
suited in a wide diversity of habitats. From deep forest to mountain
cliffs; from quite times alone, to large social events; the warrior
is at one with himself and those around him. The warrior trains in
all the arts and skills necessary to obtain a wide and constantly
expanding comfort zone. In all nature there is a close relationship
between an animal's comfort zone and his ability to stay alive. The
basic rule is simple: The wider the comfort zone, the greater the
chances of survival.
The first comfort zone is the body, patterns of movement, strength,
self-defense capabilities and endurance. We also find comfort in
social, cultural, psychological and political dimensions. We surround
ourselves with people that think like we do and hold the same values.
In the mid-50's and early 60's, psychologist Abraham Maslow presented
what he believed to be the hierarchy of man's basic needs. He held
that as long as lower needs remained unfulfilled, higher needs - such
as a quest for greater knowledge - would not be pursued. One of the
most basic needs of all is personal safety. Maslow held that everyone
needed a predictable and safe world. If a child's need in this area
went unfilled, he or she would feel mistrustful and insecure.
Mistrust and insecurity would cause him or her to seek to establish,
by whatever means possible, a greater degree of security. For many,
this quest for security can lead them in a very dangerous direction.
Expanding ones comfort zone makes a warrior a successful person and a
better fighter. Ample experience allows him to tolerate higher levels
of adversity and pain. An expanded comfort zone also increases his
range of tactical options. All paths have knowledge and the true
warrior never rejects knowledge no matter what the source. A true
warrior challenges the limits of his comfort zone on a constant basis.
The only thing that we can really plan on in life is that things will
change. Many people fear change because they fear that they will be
worst off with this change than they are now. Brian Tracy identifies
fear as standing for, "False Evidence Appearing Real". An expanded
comfort zone helps the warrior accept this change that he encounters
along the path of becoming. Proactive warriors direct all change in a
positive direction by constantly setting goals and ensuring that
they "stay the course". Goal setting gives us a sense of direction
and path for any change. Being proactive by constantly reviewing and
renewing our goals establishes the reality that we are in complete
control of our own path in life. By us understanding that we are in
control, our self-esteem is higher. Successful people avoid
homeostasis and psychocyrosis (hardening of attitudes), and learn to
live and prosper outside their comfort zone on a daily basis.

Till Next Week,
Terry Bryan