Dear Students, Parents and Teachers,

Hope everyone is having a great holiday. We will be open for classes
Tuesday evening for those that want to start the year off right.

Remember that the sword seminar taught by Sensei Barrowclough will
begin Sunday the 6th of January at 6 pm. She will be teaching Plum
Blossom Saber every Sunday for the entire month.

Sensei Richardson will also be teaching a Sai seminar on the 19th at
12:30 for those that are interested in this classical Okinawan
weapon.

I am also planning on teaching a monthly seminar on a specific kata
for the lower belts. These seminars will be geared for green belts
and above and will concentrate on teaching the meaning and purpose
behind the movements in the katas. We use the Pinan kata in our
beginning and novice programs, (affectionately known as Itosu's
Greatest Hits), and many people think that since they were developed
to teach kids in school, that they are kids karate. These kata
clinics will be designed to educate our students to the fact that the
Pinan kata are "real" karate indeed. As a general rule, these clinics
are open to teenager and adult black club members that have earned
the rank of at least green belt. Other students need to get
permission from their Sensei to attend. First seminar will be January
the 12th from 2:30 – 4:00 on the kata Pinan Nidan.

Belt test for the main school students will be held at the main
school on the 12th of January. Schedule will be white belts at 9:00,
Yellow and Orange belts will test at 9:30, and green, blue and purple
belts will test at 10:00. Purple belts testing to brown should test
at 10:00 also and then come back for the brown belt testing and
workout/ seminar at 12:30. Brown belts will workout from 12:30 to
2:00. The seminar will be Kyan's classical "Seisan" and Yokosuku
kumite. From 2:30 – 4:00 we will be having the seminar on the kata
Pinan Nidan for our beginning and novice students.

As we approach the time of the year when people look into doing
something healthy with their lives, I would appreciate your telling
your friends about the martial arts and encouraging them to come in
and give it a try. We have VIP guest passes at the dojo because we
know the best advertising around is the word of mouth of our
students. Not only do we want our karate program to grow so that we
can help more people, but we have also agreed to help Gu Ping
establish a viable kung fu and tai chi program here at our school as
well. Your help would greatly be appreciated.

Lesson of the Week

Do "It" Now

This time of year encourages many of us to plan and set goals for the
coming year. High achievers accomplish their goals by planning far in
advance, but more importantly through their day-to-day activities.
The goal of becoming a black belt begins in the mind, but is
accomplished by daily sweat and training.

Through out the ages, we have watched the winners in combat and
adopted their attitudes and behaviors because we have seen the
ramifications of using the strategy and tactics of their loosing
adversaries. A warrior understands that it is easy to know how to
become successful in battle or even life. Simply watch what
successful people do and duplicate their actions.

All successful people have a unique ability to see the future through
a keen vision. They create their future one step at a time. The
actions they take in the now, are not highly evolved tactics, but
usually very basic things linked to universal truths. To understand
yourself and the world around you, you must learn to incorporate
these universal truths into your everyday life. This tactic begins
with truly paying attention to what you should be doing right here
and right now.

Have you ever noticed at a martial arts seminar, that the beginners
are working on the basics – how to stand, step, and how to deliver a
powerful technique while staying in balance. The more advanced
students are working on fancy moves, advanced techniques and
sophisticated tactics. But over in the corner, you will see the
senior instructors working on…. the basics - how to stand, step, and
how to deliver a powerful technique while staying in balance.

Standing, sitting, walking and lying down are the 4 virtues according
to Chinese thought. The civilian thinks these things easy but the
warrior knows different. Of course the warrior seeks excellence, but
achieves it through concentration of the basic things. He learns to
do the basic things very well and goes back to them often.

Nietzche once said, " The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to
those who cannot fly." The warrior does not worry about how small he
may look in someone else's eye. He is too busy right now, identifying
and working on the basics.

Happy New Year Everyone,

Terry Bryan