"A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can

learn from a wise answer."

"Use only that which works, and take it from any place you find it."

Happy Monday Everyone!

  It is a well known quote in the martial arts that "When the student

is ready, the teacher will appear".   I believe a lot of the time the

"teacher" is always there; the student just doesn't see, or chooses not

to see, the "teacher".  Every art will have something valuable for a

student at some time along their journey.  What is applicable truth to

you now in this time may not be true in ten years.  What is applicable

truth to you in your current environment may change when you step out

on the asphalt or some loose gravel.  What seems efficient for an 18

year old may not work for the 40 or 50 year old.

I have been fortunate to study multiple arts for many years and when

I started training in any one of the arts, I believed that the

techniques I was learning was the ultimate answer to fighting.  Now

twenty plus years later, I am looking at the study much differently.  I

am sure if I am fortunate enough to study for another 30 years I will

view things different then as well.

Look at your study through the eyes of universal truths.  For example,

there are set ranges in combat that do not change.  A good fighter will

educate himself in each one of these ranges.  A good fighter will have

a resistance environment for training for each of these ranges.  A true

warrior is a perpetual student, constantly striving to improve and

better himself through hard, intelligent training.

I am continually seeking and trying various methods of strength and endurance building and I like to change what I do regularly so I can keep the body guessing and growing.  I had been doing more strength training in the gym for the last 6 to 8 months, and enjoyed it, but I did notice a tremendous loss of overall functional conditioning that I had previously built up from kettlebell training.  I have tried many things but I seem to keep coming back to the kettlebell.  Over time, as I try something else out there, it makes me see just how good kettlebell training really is.  There are not many things that will develop strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular conditioning and flexibility - all in the same method of training.  Not to mention the simplicity of the bell, It does not take up much space and, unlike a gym, it can travel with you to most places.  So if you get the opportunity to pick one up, do so, it will take your conditioning to another level.

Happy Sunday & Monday Everyone!

 
A common reaction for the body when it is placed under stress is to increase the levels of tension in order to brace itself for the perceived stressful environment.  Tension in the body makes it's movements short and rigid, it shortens the breath and lowers lung capacity and it can cloud the mind.   With this in mind it is not always the best response for every situation.
 
One of the things I notice in my more advanced students is their ability to relax this natural response and stay loose when under stress.  This valuable skill is something they have developed from hours and hours of training - in and under - stress.   Once they see the benefit of the relaxed state, they make a greater effort to seek it out and improve upon it.  The benefits being greater strength, a greater aerobic capacity, better control of breathing and a clearer, more focused mind.
 
This skill is valuable inside the school for obvious reasons but it is equally valuable outside of the school.  The same principles can be applied to stressful situations in your everyday journey through life.
 
Things to Remember this month:
February 21st - AMAC Student Open Mat - 10 AM till 1 PM

Maintain Changeability – "A fighter should not overextend in Attack or Defense but maintain the ability to change, flow and adjust".

Happy Monday Everyone!

One of the universal principles of combat, regardless of the system or style, is the importance of maintaining the ability to change at any given moment in the fight. This is usually done by training the body not to overextend at any moment unless the opponent is out of position or off balance enough to deliver a finishing move.

I see this principle in use often in Jiu-Jitsu. Due to the close contact in the art, there is a high level of sensitivity developed. Your opponent has a tactile connection to you almost at all times, so if you do overextend your balance and your opponent is at a level to feel that overextension, he will have effortless control of you. So you must be able to move without overreaching your defensive boundaries.

As a student becomes an advanced martial artist, they must revisit this principle with every technique they have in their tool box and refine them to abide by it. This is one of the "always starting over" areas in the martial arts.

It's not how much you know, but how well you know what you know. It's your depth of understanding.

Physical Fitness

As most of you at the school may know, I will turn 40 in April of this year.  Part of my celebration of this event was to have a complete physical check-up.  I am told this is a very important thing to get done at the age of 40 and to do yearly after that.   It's an event for me because I don't get to do it often.  As a matter of fact, I had not had one since I was a teenager.  So off I went to get it done.  As I was going through each test, I would ask the person giving the test how I was doing.  I felt I was doing OK because I have always been very active in the martial arts but I did not expect to be told I was in "excellent" health.  I was a little taken back when the doctor told me I had the heart of an Olympic athlete.  I have chosen to share this experience to make a point.  Martial arts not only give you the opportunity to train yourself for strength just as well as aerobic fitness, it also develops the mindset to strive to improve your diet, your mental attitude and your overall outlook.  All of which combined can get you ready for the 40th, 50th, 60th birthday in good form

Happy Monday Everyone!

Have you ever noticed that the challenges you sometimes face on the class room floor or mat also contain a blessing in disguise? If not, you may not have been looking closely enough! It’s true that challenges often seem more like inconveniences when they get in the way of something you want or a goal you are training to reach. When you’re working toward goals that are important to you, the last thing you want is to face a big challenge or obstacle, because it usually means that your desired outcome will be delayed. However, if you learn to see challenges in a new light, they can easily become the best things to have happen to you.

For myself, I've had to deal with injuries that would only allow me to do limited training or only allow me to train out of one position in order to avoid making the injury worse. More often than not, this always leads to much improved knowledge and skill that I would not have discovered if I had not been forced to do the modified training.

Here are 3 questions I always ask myself whenever I find myself facing challenges:

1. What Can I Learn From This?

Too often we view challenges as annoyances, when in fact they may hold a great opportunity to learn and grow! If you start by asking what you can learn from each challenge, you’ll suddenly see them as possibilities that pave the way to greater wisdom and self-mastery.

2. How Can This Strengthen Me?

One major reason why challenges intimidate us is because we don’t feel capable of handling them. So we automatically believe that the challenge is bigger than we are. However, if you learn to see challenges as opportunities to become stronger, there’s no way they can hold you back!

3. How Can I Use This to My Advantage?

Most often we see challenges as disadvantages – but is that necessarily true? A challenge can often help you see that there are many possible ways to achieve a goal, and the one you’ve chosen may not necessarily be the best one. Asking this question can often open your mind to alternative routes that may be shorter or otherwise better in some way.

I believe a warrior's mindset will seek out challenges and obstacles in order to force personal growth and advancement both on the mat and off. After all, it is better to find out what your weaknesses are on the mat than it is on the street.

A black belt is just a white belt that did not quit!

 In training, it is not always the most talented that makes it to their goals in the martial arts. From my experience, the more talented individuals usually are the ones to drop out of their training in time.  One thing I have learned from the arts, and I see my students learn, is the ability to stick to their training no matter what comes up, no matter what gets in the way.  Like a strong warrior they learn to be tenacious in obtaining the goals they have set.

 Even though learned in the martial arts, this skill and mindset is most valuable in life outside of the school.  So remember your goal and the plan you have made to reach that goal and stick to it!   That goal will be yours if you stay focused and never stop striving for it!

A black belt is just a white belt that did not quit!

In training, it is not always the most talented that makes it to their goals in the martial arts. From my experience, the more talented individuals usually are the ones to drop out of their training in time.  One thing I have learned from the arts, and I see my students learn, is the ability to stick to their training no matter what comes up, no matter what gets in the way.  Like a strong warrior they learn to be tenacious in obtaining the goals they have set.

 Even though learned in the martial arts, this skill and mindset is most valuable in life outside of the school.  So remember your goal and the plan you have made to reach that goal and stick to it!   That goal will be yours if you stay focused and never stop striving for it!

Hello All,
 
I wanted to take this opportunity to say Happy Holidays to
everyone and thank you for making it a great year. The Monday Morning Email will
be taking a break over the holiday, so watch for us after the first of the
year!
 
Best Wishes for the New Year too!