Dear Students, Teachers and Parents,
The dojo will be closed from December 23rd through December 28th for
Christmas break. I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday
break.
The next belt test is going to be held at the main school on January
4th at the following times:
8:45-9:00 – Little Dragons
9:00 – 9:30 – All Beginners (White, Yellow and Orange Belts)
9:30 – 10:00 – All Brown Belts
10:00 – 10:45 – Brown Belt Training (learning the material for the
next 2 months)
11:00 – 11:45 – Instructor Training
You will notice that there is no scheduled Novice (green, blue,
purple belt testing) at this test. The time frame for promotion at
the novice and intermediate level is two months. We are trying to set
the testing of the novice students and the intermediate students on
opposite months, with the novice students testing in February and the
Intermediate students testing again in March. We will also be adding
some additional material for the novice students to learn next year
and this additional month will give us time to pass this information
on.

Lesson of the Week
Kime – Focus

The translation for kime is focus, but in reality it also includes
the concepts of synergy or teamwork as well. The physical expression
of kime is the ability to analyze and implement several separate
motions that come together at the same time and place, creating
maximum efficiency. Successful execution of this concept allows a
small individual to deliver a technique with sufficient power to
defeat a much larger opponent. Examples of different actions that are
included in delivering maximum focus of energy in a strike include
hip rotation, forward movement of mass, snapping and rotation of the
striking limb, and the tightening of all muscles at the spilt second
of impact. Breaking down the action into individual components is a
mental exercise and each element is developed based on priority of
importance. Once each element is developed, the key becomes one of
timing, allowing all of the elements to come to bear at the same
split second.
This same process occurs when the successful person identifies what
it is they truly want and creates plans of action making it happen.
It is commonly understood that 20% of your actions create 80% of the
positive results you are trying to accomplish. By identifying which
actions will create the maximum results and focusing on them, while
at the same time minimizing or even eliminating wasteful actions, you
will be applying the concept of kime to living a successful life.
This is why people with clearly defined goals and written action
plans can achieve more in a few years, than most people do during
their entire lives. Wilfred Peterson once wrote, "Success is focusing
the full power of all you are on what you have the burning desire to
achieve."
In karate it is easy to see the power generated by the
synchronization of physical movements of a strike. It is much harder
to recognize the power of effectively identifying all the natural
mental and personal traits you have that when properly used, will
guarantee you successes beyond your wildest dreams.
The concept of kime is a key element in classical karate, and is also
a key principle of success in achieving black belt excellence in
anything you want to do, have or be.

Respectfully,
Terry Bryan