Frog Lake Ribbit Ribbit

Off for the long weekend with kids and John - two cancelled trips earlier this summer mean this is our first car camping trip and it is the last weekend of the summer. So glad to have a little time with just our family. Will miss all of you! See you next week!

Busy… or soon to be

Busy… or soon to be from CGN Sarah

So as most of you probably know, I play soccer along with my martial arts. I really love being out on the field but I’m worried about being too busy. I’m going into 7^th grade next week which is going to add a whole new level to my already busy schedule with all of the home work I will be getting. And the beginning of the school year means the beginning of soccer games, tournaments, and piano which means practicing half an hour daily. It also means the beginning of the hardest part of the test and the demo prep on Saturdays (which just so happens to be the days I have soccer games and special training). With all of this going on I doubt it will leave much time for me to spend with my family and friends. I am thankful that my loved ones understand that sometimes I have to sacrifice some of their time, but I’m excited for the test to be over so that I can finally spend some more time with them.

CGN Sarah

Back to Work : (

I know when I complain about going back to work most people roll their eyes and usually say something like "it must be rough" very sarcastically. Believe me, there is no one who knows how lucky I am more than I. I get to play outside all summer and get paid for it. I've got a beautiful supportive wife, and two great kids. My job is amazing, rewarding and fun. As much as I love my job, I hate to see summer end. Summer is my time. There is so much to do, see and experience outdoors. The last few years I have really enjoyed sharing some of those experiences with my Aim High family.
Every year a couple of weeks before school starts I start to fell a high level of anxiety. LAst night I couldn't sleep and we don't even have kids this week. I don't know how Jessica puts up with me. This year may be a little worse than others because I'm teaching something new. I worry about if I'm ready. I wonder what the kids are like. I also try to think of ways to change or improve my lessons. There are a lot of what I like to call "file cabinet teachers". Those are the guys that have no worries because all they have to do is open the file cabinet and dust off old lessons. I taught the same subject for ten years and I don't think I taught the same lesson twice. Everything can be tweaked or improved. I hope that this is what sets me apart from others. I may be a little too self-conscious but I think it is what drives me to always do my best in everything I do - even Martial Arts

John

Self Reflection

We had some drama in our extended family this weekend and it has caused me to do some self reflection in the last 24 hours. In particular, evaluating the decisions we make as parents, and the kinds of lessons we want to teach our children. When we miss step, and we see it, how do we go about correcting it? I think being assertive is very important. I want my kids to be able to say what they need and at the same time be able to accept that they might not get it. As martial artists, I think they are better equipped to handle issues, emotional and physical. They understand pain, discipline, commitment. I know they are able to generalize this into their everyday lives. I'm really grateful for Aim High today. ~ Jessica

Inspiration

Inspiration...

This is the basis for my DTD project. At class Wednesday night, I announced that I would like to have all the candidates write letters to next year's testers about, well, everything. Everything you've thought or felt during the long journey. Not just all the good things or all the bad things either. I think the idea went over pretty well. By September 12, I'm hoping to have everyone's letter so that I can bind them for the testers of 2012. After class, KJN told me that I might have just started a testing tradition! I guess my project stemmed from the things I am most passionate about: writing, martial arts and teamwork. I hope everybody enjoys working on their letter, this is a chance to really speak to next year's testers and INSPIRE them to continue. Be creative and have fun with it. :)

My Wednesday

I had a great day yesterday. In the morning I went with the kids to the Columbia River. We met some family members with a boat and the kids were able to inner-tube, ride around and practice skiing. Me personally, I had my own mission. I brought my kayak and tackled the mighty Columbia in the same way Lewis and Clark did over 200 years ago. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started out. What I encountered was an incredibly large body of water that rocked like the ocean with boats and barges all around me. I was scared at first but once I told myself to stay calm, breathe and paddle through it there was no problem. Actually it was very exhilarating. There were times when the nose of my kayak would go up in the air and I would land back down with such force that water would splash all around me and get in my face. It took me almost an hour to get from the parking lot to government island and I have blisters on my hands, but it was worth it.

After that great morning and afternoon we went to Aim High where Jessica lead an amazing family class; as usual and we had the best black belt class that I can remember.

Great day even though today I'm a little tired and sore

John

time is now...

as my htc team is gearing up to take on the hood-to-coast tomorrow for the first time... motivational quotes have been texted all morning long to the team... along with some quotes being posted on their fb status's...  i thought i would share a couple, as we are coming near to our black belt journey.

"No matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of...."

“Do the things you used to talk about doing but never did. Stop rushing. Don't be intimidated to say it like it is. Stop apologizing all the time. Learn to say no, so your yes has some oomph. Spend time with the friends who lift you up, & cut loose the ones who bring you down. Stop giving your power away. Be more concerned with being interested than being interesting. Be old enough to appreciate your freedom, & young enough to enjoy it. Finally know who you are. ”

Girl's Self-Esteem Class

So this past Saturday we held the second Aim High Girl's Class (I really need to develop a title for this class)... The topic of discussion this time around was the start of a new school year. We had girls ranging in age from 8-15 years old, which gets a bit interesting when you talk about the range of the discussions. I had brought in grade school age girl's magazines for them to look through that included (reasonable) styles & fashions for the new school year, how to braid your hair, what to do about bullying, etc. As they looked through the magazines, we went over everything from how to deal with "I won't be your friend if you're their friend" types of situations that they may run into, all the way to who they feel comfortable going to if they encounter a problem, either at home or at school. I was surprised at how many of the girls are on FaceBook, though I know many (if not all) of the the parents monitor their FB profile for safety. So we went over what to do if someone posts things on your page that may not be so nice, who you can go to and feel safe about doing so. The girls asked well thought out questions and we had some fruit, veggies & cheese with juice to hold their appetites over for the hour. :) From what I'm hearing, the girls & the moms seem interested in a fast defense type of class in the future, so we'll see where that leads... The more parental input, the better this class can be... Most of all, I'd like input from the girls themselves. Think I might come up with a class evaluation form for the girls/moms to fill out after the fact. It was fun! ;)

new job + training

so started my new job this week. pretty much all i've done is sit and read the company's policies. needless to say, my brain is now mush. yesterday during kickboxing i kept forgetting who was on the offensive and who was on the defensive cause my brain's not too happy with all the info that has been thrown at me this week. i can not wait till this week is done, even if it only makes training easier to process and remember who's doing what.

Big Bird

I'm in a funny spot tonight. I find myself at home....with nothing I HAVE to do. Can't remember the last time I wasn't in between trips to somewhere....meetings, work, training. I was actually putzing for about 20 minutes wondering what to do with myself. I've played the piano. read a magazine and now am uploading pics and videos from my phone from our vacation. This one is during a kayaking trip with John in the beaver creek area. We saw what we thought was an eagle but turned out to be an Osprey. Pretty cool to get my rows in in nature.

Being taught by different people.

When you are taught by someone new, to me it feels like your whole mind opens up. When Master Dave and KJN Tom came to teach us, I learned a whole lot about payload delivery and where I should even hit. I felt greatful that I was able to learn from two new people who had a lot of wisdom and things to teach under there belts. And the things they do want me to be like them too. I think it is such a great thing that we have KJN, BKJN, and all of our instructors at Aim High, and that they give us chances to try new things and learn from new people.


Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement, nothing can be done without hope and confidence." -- Helen Keller

"Good teaching is more a giving of right questions than a giving of right answers." --Josef Albers

Avoiding Burn-out

I think we're all ready for the last several weeks of BB training. People seem a bit more grumbly (is that a word?) when they reach the end of class, but they're quick to pull it back together with a smile... They just seem really tired... Me too. I worry about the conditioning test and my open form (though thanks to Lauren, I've got a better handle on that!), but I can't stop now. I've just shut down most of everything else in my life right now, because you never know when they're going to throw something new into the mix that we need to be there for. I see people going on vacations and their pics on FaceBook and I'm envious because I want to relax in the sun and do nothing. I want palm trees and snorkeling, dolphins and fattening not-good-for-you foods. And sleep. I want sleep so badly. Out of all this, I was afraid it would be my relationship with my husband that would suffer the most. Instead, I'm learning to appreciate him more. He has dinner ready when we get home at 9:30 at night, he takes the kids to their dental and orthodontist appointments, and he's never complained about how many days I train or how late we come home. He watches movies with Adam while Holly & I are at class and has put all our vacation time on hold until October is done and I'm finally a black belt. How can I stop or give up with that kind of support? We're all tired, but we'll make it. We're unstoppable. ;)

Never Be Late Again

I really don't like being late, so when I was late for Special Training on Saturday morning, I was both embarrassed and frustrated with myself. However, I definitely paid for it...and not just because CGN Brandy made Boy Sam and I do the rope climbs and push-ups at the end. Getting there late, I didn't get the chance to warm up with the initial jog to the track and simply got on the track and started jogging at a rather quick pace for not having warmed up. Being late put a lot of pressure on me to push myself hard, and while I did take about 10 seconds off my mile, and a second off my 100 meter dash, that mile took about all the energy I had for the day and it was the first time I had ever felt nausea after a jog. The nausea continued throughout the training, but in a way I was lucky that I hadn't eaten breakfast...even if it would have helped keep my energy up. I was honestly surprised at myself for making improvements in everything except for the plank. After Special Training, I went home and took a very long nap, slept through kickboxing, and woke up more frustrated about missing that class too. Then it was time to get up and host a baby shower...feeling crappy, and if you know me well, then you know I was stressed about making sure every detail of the baby shower was right. What an exhausting day...even with the nap.

Needless to say, I will never be late again...it causes trouble.

Priorities

Making sure your priorities are in order is always important. For me, that means less vacationing and more work. Sometimes I feel bad whenever I`m away from Aim High. But thats because Aim High is my home, and I feel wierd whenever Im not there. But I think I`ve been taking time off way too much, and come september, I`ll need to be all in to working out. We only have around a month and a half to go till our test, and we all need to be in our best shape. But that also doesn`t mean that taking time off every once in a while is a bad thing. Its actually very important that we don`t overtrain ourselves so we can be ready and rested for every training. It`s great that our instructors realize this too.

No matter how much blood, sweat, and tears there are, and even when I mess up hugely like I have done in the past, I always want to move Onward.
CGN Christopher Hoskins

Wisconsin

During my time in wisconsin I got to spend time with my relatives, and get to know the people I didn`t know as well. I also got a workout just in entertaining my cousin`s children. :D The point is, I got the chance to spend time with people outside my comfort zone and create fun opportunities with them. So the next time you have a chance to do something new or meet new people, take it! The memories and friendships will always be there.

Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for one big one to come along. ~Hugh Allen

It is often hard to distinguish between the hard knocks in life and those of opportunity. ~Frederick Phillips

4th Monday again

Hi team - just a reminder that today is the 4th Monday so I have my board meeting. :-( See you all on Wednesday. LoLk (lots of love & Kiyaps!) ~ Jessica

team

back in june, i was placed on a hood-to-coast team... since then i've been trying to make the sunday morning runs (i only missed a few) with the team.  we all know the importance of 'team building' so it's been really important for me to make the group training runs these past two weeks.  the double up training has been exhausting, and last week was really hard on me.  multiple runs in one day, evening runs, and a 9pm run friday night that was along skyline and a side road that was all gravel.  i honestly didn't want to get up saturday morning for conditioning, but i knew i had too... it was important.  watching each of you improve your numbers from the last time, makes being completely exhausted worth it.  =)

the htc is this weekend.  i'm the only runner on my team that has done the htc (2x)... the rest are new b's.  it's going to be awesome to watch them go through this experience. 

and JESS, THANK YOU for giving up jits training!  we'll be rolling again real soon!!! 

Seven Weeks

It's 2:56am and I'm really really tired. I fell asleep just as my favorite show (from when I was like 8 yrs old) came on (Batman, circa 1966) and I just woke up. I started the day like the rest of our DTD team... with a 7am run to the high school for numbers day. I did pretty good and I was happy with my times, but still see room for improvement. Then (after changing into non-sweaty & disgusting clothing, it was off to grocery shopping and getting 7 days worth of life all managed in a 3 hr period. Came back to Aim High & dropped off lunch for the DTD team members and everyone who had been there most of the day not just training and teaching, but doing belt testing and doing it all with a smile. They were all tired, they were all sweaty, but they gave their all for every person that was testing and never seemed to complain. Everyone at Aim High, from the staff to the students pull together to make it happen for everyone. They're seriously dragging, you can tell only by looking at their more than slightly bloodshot eyes, but you can look at each family's faces and the photos from the testing days to see where all of their energy goes & how much the families appreciate it. I finally got home to a shower at 3:30pm and it was 92 degrees outside. But I can't complain. Not when you've spent your day seeing what everyone else goes through. After picking up Tina & Kaitlyn, off we went to the Girl's Class at Aim High. Holly was awesome enough to help me with the class after running with the DTD team in the morning, demo team practice, gymnastics and little sleep (she fell asleep on the 10 minute ride home). Tina was exhausted already, but came to our class and locked up for us. Jackie helped lead our group of girls in our group discussion and helped set up the healthy snacks for everyone. Team work now has a huge meaning to me. Thanks, guys...

control

so every time i talk to someone about my training for my bb, any 9 times out of 10, people say, "i'll remember not to piss you off then" with a laugh. which really, it's not bad, and i laugh with them.

but then, i got to thinking. maybe someone with training like ours might be better to piss off. why? well, if you think about it, we constantly, especially these last few months, have been training realism. with that kind of training, we try to get the adrenaline running. same can be said for the FAST defense that we did a while back.

during this training, we learn to control our emotions and actions. and should push ever come to shove, we've been told over and over (from the very beginning as white belts) that kicks and punches should only be used if absolutely necessary and stop once the threat is neutralized.

generally speaking, not many people have had training like that. so i wonder, maybe we martial artists are possibly the better choice to upset simply cause we've been trained to use words before punches and kicks.

just a thought.

quote

A friend had sent me a link to an article a while back, which was basically about taking a break and getting back on track.  The last paragraph really relates to me... and I'm sure it will relate to others who have realized the importance of incorporating exercise into our daily life.  

"I am reminded yet again of the catalyst that running is for me. It energizes me and clears my fog like nothing else. It is the thing I love to do that provides what I need in order to do all the other things I love to do. When it's missing, part of me is missing, too."

Intensity of Different Levels

When most of us think of intensity, we think of loud, and high energy. The truth is, there is another kind of intensity. That burning determination and energy inside your own person. For me, my intensity reflects more inward than outward. Maybe this is why, sometimes in class the intensity is or seems to be lower. Inward intensity shows more in a person's eyes than in their mouth. And yet, it is just as high energy and loud, but in a different way. Since everybody's different and reflect their emotions in different ways, the level of their intensity cannot be fairly judged simply by how loud and precise they are. I know that this is something that I do and maybe someone else can benefit from it as well. You don't have to change your personality in order to show outward intensity, you already have another kind that works. Just something to think about...

Tournament

My last week didn’t start out so well. I was sick all week and missed all the black belt trainings. But Friday I felt better and on Saturday I was able to make it to special training. And, I participated in house tournament. At the tournament, I wasn’t an instant 1st place winner, I got 3rd place in forms and CGN Taylor got 1st and Taylor B. got 2nd. CGN Taylor and Taylor B. did awesome! In breaking I got 1st place and I almost broke my hand because I broke 2 boards at the same time. This year I kicked 6’6” in the air! I never thought I could kick so high. Next year I hope I can do a flash like CGN Cy.

From CGN Sarah

Hi everyone! The Leitners are back from the beach!!!! We had such a great time! It was cool because I also got to meet all of my distant relatives like my grandpa’s brother’s and sister’s families! I think this relates to martial arts because just like it’s important to learn all of your forms and to practice, it’s important to find a balance in life and to spend time with family. If you spend too much time doing to the little things, you’ll lose track of what matters most. Anyway, that’s all for now.

CGN Sarah

Something that got me thinking

This last weekend was spent helping a good friend for her wedding. Was it a relaxing weekend? Not by a long shot. But it was rewarding to help her start a new chapter in her life and celebrate a happy occasion. Seeing how many people came to celebrate a new life, a love united was a beautiful sight to both see and be a part of.

During the reception, there were the usual toasts that are made to the new couple. And these toasts including how happy the guests were for my friend and her new husband, how perfect they were for each other, how well the compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses, etc. And throughout the night, a few lines of a song I really like kept going over and over in my mind and it went like this:

It happens in a blink, it happens in a flash

It happens in the time it took to look back

I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time

What is it I've done with my life?

It happens in a blink (x4)

Slow down

Slow down

Before today becomes yesterday

Our yesterday

-Blink by Revive-

And it made me think, how much of what we do really matters? What kind of impact do we leave on the world on a daily basis? What will be said of us at our funerals?

We all leave some kind of impact. The question is this: Is my life being used to give life, hope, and meaning to those around me? Or is it being used for my own selfish gains, to make me feel better?

How does this relate to my BB test?
It's kind of like what KJN Tom said while he was up here. This test is not about me. It's about how my test affects those around me. Whose lives are improved by my doing this?

It's not unknown that we live in a world where people want instant results with as little work done as possible. And the more I talk to people about this test, the more I realize (at the risk of sounding arrogant) how the determination and discipline cultivated through testing has been challenging and inspiring to people around me.

At first, yes, this test was all about me and my goals. But the closer I get to the end of this goal, the more I see how people have been cheering me on, wanting me to succeed. My success won't be just my own. Should I stop now (no, I'm NOT going to stop now, I'm just speaking hypothetically), the people who have been watching me this whole time will be disappointed. But more than that, they will be discouraged.

So few people in this world set a goal, and even fewer actually reach that goal. If I stop now, I'll just give those around me another reason to quit, to stop, to give up when they're 'tired', 'alone', 'confronted with obstacles', etc. But when I reach my goal, I can show those around me that no matter 'how hard', 'how long', 'how exhausting' the journey is, reaching our goals ARE possible.

Being 'tired, alone, too hard, too long' etc are just excuses. They're justifications to do the easy thing and cop out. And as we all know, nothing worthwhile comes easy. Everything good comes with hard work, determination, and support.

And honestly, this test has had a domino effect, or ripple effect, if you will. I now realize that if I can do this, then I can do whatever I choose to do. So, that being the case, I have decided to go back to school to finish my degree. Once that is gained, then I can use my degree as a tool to open doors to help others.

It's amazing how one act can change a perspective for the better.

Burnout?

Are you tired? Are you injured? Are you having trouble functioning at work or with other responsibilities? It's called burnout, and it's the reason why KJN and BKJN gave us the weekend off last Saturday. However, while I know for many of us it was a good little break (except that I jogged 5 miles), it honestly seems as though most of us are still exhibiting a lack of energy and enthusiasm.

At today's REQUIRED special training (it's been on the calendar for months), many people were absent (yes, I know some were on vacation, but others weren't), and those who were there were lacking in energy. The studio felt like a library. I have a feeling if BKJN was there to witness the apathy, we would have been doing push-ups for hours.

I know you're tired--I'm tired too, but this is not the time to let it show. I know you're frustrated, and so am I (even more so now that I made mistakes in front of parents at OGA performing Palgwe 8 and a creative kicking combo), but take that frustration and turn it into energy, drive, and determination to finish this test with a positive attitude. You should look back on this journey and be able to say "I earned this belt."

Eat regular healthy meals, go to bed on time, take naps if you need to, do some yoga, ice and stretch when necessary, meditate, whatever you need to do to get rested and motivated--we all know what it takes to be healthy and fit martial artists.

It's crunch time ladies and gentlemen!

My Saturday Off

Last Saturday, I spent the day with my younger sister Kenzie. She helped me with my requirements for that day and then we watched a movie together. Kenzie has to give up a lot while I'm testing. We spent 4 hours of the night alone in our house while our parents were at a party. It was fun and nice to relax and just have fun. She laughed a lot when I was practicing Palgwe 4 backwards (video coming soon).

Sometimes the sacrifices we have to make for our back belts effect other people- in fact, most of the time that happens. It is great to just relax and hang out with those people. Thanks to BKJN and KJN for letting the team take the day off!

Things I've Never Done Before

On Saturday morning, I jogged five miles. I was amazed when I got to the end and I wasn't exhausted! It's been a goal of mine for a while to get to the point where I can jog that far, and it's wonderful to finally accomplish it. I had some great support from CGN Brandy--she has become one of my role models, and I look up to the level of health and fitness that she maintains. I want to be there--my new goal in this area is to run 5 miles a day on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. By the end of the test, I want to be running 15 miles per week! :o)

On Saturday afternoon, I picked up Tom Koll from the airport. Tom is the National Jr. Olympic Chairman for USA Gymnastics, and he came to OGA to run a clinic for our staff. In the gymnastics industry, he is extremely well-known and respected, having served USAG and trained so many employees at gyms across the country since the 80s. Needless to say, I was terrified! Not only did I have to pick him up from the airport, but I was also playing host while he was here. I took him sightseeing (two different Rose Gardens--Peninsula Park and the one at Washington Park, and down to the Saturday Market), and we also went to dinner on both Saturday and Sunday night.

Some of you are probably wondering why I say I was nervous...

I'm not extremely sociable...I don't like being the center of attention, and I'm not that great at conversation. The thought of having to spend so much time with such a complete stranger, and more so, one that was famous among gymnastics people, scared the crap out of me. I was going to have to talk to him for HOURS! This was the first time in my professional career that I've hosted a guest in this manner. I was nervous about making mistakes, saying the wrong thing, etc.

However, it turned out to be an amazing experience. Little did I know that I am actually pretty good at holding conversation about gymnastics related business topics, basic gymnastics instruction, and even roses! Tom was actually very easy to talk to, with a genuine interest in learning about people and offers his knowledge and advice freely. One thing he said to me that stuck out the most: "My main goal is to help people." His motivation for flying all over the country to different gyms is to help as many developing gymnastics teachers and coaches in their professional journey.

I had a great time this weekend, and doing two things that I've never done before in such a short period of time increased my confidence and gave me a great idea. Before the next phase test, I plan to do 8 more things that I have never done before, and that will lead to my personal or professional development.

I challenge anyone one who reads this to set a similar goal. :o)

Saturday Off

So I actually slept in until 8am Saturday.... Then I did the usual errand running, grocery shopping & Holly drop-off to demo team practice. I was able to make it to Dougy's birthday party and watch Bcgn (is that the right abbreviation?) Bill fall into the bouncy house when he was trying to take it down. I was able to clean my house before 3 of Holly's friends descended on the house to spend the night (Adam hid in his room), we ordered dinner in for them and watched a bunch of movies with my understanding husband (his new name), which I rarely get to do lately, so that was wonderful! I helped my niece get over a broken heart by instant messaging her & ultimately convincing her to go running each time she feels sad. That it's better to run it off than to look in the mirror to see puffy eyes. :) I went shopping on Amazon.com to get my mom what (hopefully) would be the perfect birthday gift and she thought it was great. :) I let Holly & her friends take over the main TV to watch a scarey movie until 3am while Adam & I watched Die Hard 2. Sunday morning, it was back to life as we know it.... A 5.5 mile run (personal best!) after making a pot of coffee for the understanding husband, come home, shower, make a huge breakfast for 4 teenage girls, a 10 year old boy hiding from the 4 teenage girls & a hungry understanding husband. Take said girls to the mall & Starbucks, parent pick-up of said girls, then back to house cleaning, budget balancing, push-ups, sit-ups & rows. Terribly exciting life. ;)~

Saturday

CGN gSam did an awesome job Saturday morning running her very first 5 miles!!  I'm honored that she asked me to participate in a goal that she set for herself and to see her accomplish it.  It's always exciting to see a friend achieve a goal and to see the excitement in their eyes when they realized they did it.  =) 

My day off

Yesterday on my free day I went to my friend’s birthday in Garibaldi. I was happy that I could spend time with my Romanian friends. It was such a beautiful day so we went crabbing. After FIVE HOURS we only caught ONE keeper! For his birthday, I gave him a waterproof video camera so he and I tested it out. Let’s just say it was successful. I had a great time. I know yesterday was KJN’s birthday so, HAPPY BIRTHDAY KJN!

Spending Time with those you Love

Leitner's leave today for a week in Newport. We don't usually go to Newport but about this time every year we go to the beach. Meeting us there will be my 5 sisters, husbands, kids and my father. This trip used to be with my mother. She loved the beach and every year she would rent a couple of houses and we would gather in various combinations. I have only missed one year since I was born and that was the year John came home from Iraq.
We honor her memory now by keeping the tradition going. Our circle has grown quite a bit since she died - new births, weddings and such so it takes quite a few more houses to get us all in one place! *smile* I can't think of anyone better to be with on this day when we reflect on our relationships, and on the people who are impacted by our decision to test.
Hope everyone enjoys this Saturday off - and we will see you on the 15th when we return.
~ Jessica

From CGN Sarah

Class Wednesday was SUPER fun! Like my dad says, sometimes the nights that you don’t want to come turn out to be the best nights. I don’t usually like sparring much but I think that starting out slow was good. I also like it better when its light-no contact. It was really a bummer when brandy got hit :(. I’m glad it’s not more serious though. In other news, I am SO excited for our family beach trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s going to be so much fun! I’m bringing my short stick to work on lock and blocks. (I won’t forget to practice plagwe 2 backwards;) hehe…)I will be missing demo team this Saturday and nest Saturday as well as black belt training on Monday and Wednesday. I’ll be thinking of everyone while I’m gone and I’ll see you a week from Monday!!! :)

Cgn Sarah Leitner

I haven't done this in a while...

I haven 't blogged in a while so sorry. My fault I haven't been keeping up on blogger very much this summer. But I will try to keep up on this thing as much as I can. Sense I know my mom will most likely read this I might as well say something to her. Sorry for hooking up the TV I was telling jacob not to but he said I have proof of the message from yesterday on my phone so we did it any way. Sorry. Am I still getting 200 or no. Just curious..... MMMkay Thanks Bye. Lov u lung thime.

From Gold Belt Mike Mercer

Dinner with the Masters

Posted on July 23, 2011 by Mike Mercer


Kymra and I just got home from a fascinating evening with a host of new friends that included martial arts Master KwanJangNim Tom Callos and Grand Master Soke Dave McNeill. We were hosted by BuKwanJangNim Daniel Sikkens who is my head instructor along with KwanJangNim Jeremy Smith – both are becoming good friends.


KJN Tom Callos and Soke Dave McNeill. BKJN Danny Sikkens with the photo-bomb in the back.

For the sake of translation: BuKuanJangNim is the title for a fourth Dan or fourth degree black belt. KuanJangNim is 5th and above. Soke means head master of an entire system and Dave McNeill is a national treasure at age 71. He holds a 9th degree black belt in the Goju Shorei system and has been inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame, the Hawaii Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the World Sokeship Council Hall of Fame. And for those wondering how I got myself into all of this, it is my boy Sam’s fault.

I was the odd man out at this table. I wasn’t the only non-black belt, but I might as well have been. Jackie Brown was with us. She carries a Poom ranking which means that she’s actively testing for black and is quite intimidating in the gym. Kymra was there too. She’s not a black belt but she outranks everyone.

I’ve wanted to meet Master Tom Callos for some time. He is the creator of the Ultimate Black Belt Test, an ultra test for instructor advancement that doesn’t just include over the top physical requirements but more importantly requires a tester to do hundreds of hours of community service, outreach and acts of kindness. Additionally, he/she has to accomplish thousands of representative hours and acts of kindness through their school’s students as well as a full week of dedicated volunteer service with a team of black belts. He lives by the mantra, “My life is my dojo,” and encourages a martial arts lifestyle that goes beyond the punching, kicking, blocking, forms and sparring that goes on in the gym.

Callos and I have very different world views but have almost complete agreement on what the expression of our world views looks like – It looks like taking care of other people. Because my exposure to the martial arts community is limited to my own gym, I don’t know anything else where the martial arts are concerned. It is suggested that our gym’s approach and the community around Callos UBBT test and The 100 Network might not be the norm. Only now am I coming to understand that the chasing of a black belt can become an extraordinarily selfish pursuit and does for many if not most that pursue them. Callos is actively trying to change this. I have a deep appreciation for what he is doing and was more than privileged to talk with him over a number of subjects. As well, I was able to give him some good contacts for his upcoming long-term trip to Thailand and Cambodia.

Over the last couple of days I’ve also interacted with Soke Dave McNeill. He did a clinic that was nothing short of fascinating. In the clinic I was amazed by three things beyond the specifics of the curriculum that he was teaching: First, how lighting fast this 71 year old could move; it was impressive. Second, his knowledge of physiology and brain function. Much of what he showed us was principally based on the idea that the brain can only process so may physical things at once (as a male, I already knew this). And, third, the humor and simplicity with which he taught. It was kind of like listening to a chilled out old preacher. He made you want to capture every word like it was gold. And then there was the admonishment. After his demonstration of each technique before releasing the students to practice them, he would warn, “Be careful. Be very careful. Do not injure each other.” In fact, one of the moves that he taught was called the Rodriguez named after a student who suffered a dislocated elbow in a training session. He said that he did not wish to have names for any of the other moves.

Mostly, I appreciated the way Soke McNeill dug into what we were doing in Indonesia. He wanted to know exactly how we were working and asked all of the right questions. I could tell from our conversation that it wasn’t his first introduction to the subject.

Last night when we left, Soke McNeill extended his long arms from his big frame and gave me a hug. With his hands on my shoulders he repeated, “Be careful. Be very careful.”

Of course, I never imagined that I would, one night, end up having dinner with a couple of bona-fide martial arts masters – one a true legend. That said, I never really anticipated studying martial arts. It causes me to wonder how much bigger God’s bucket list for us is than the bucket list we’ve written for ourselves.

good weekend...

loved this weekend's run! it was awesome! i don't know why, but running on waterfront always seems easier. i don't know if it's because there are so many other runners that to keep you motivated or if it's the change in scenery, or both. but it feels so good to get out there and go.

If you want to succeed in the world must make your own opportunities as you go on. The man who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find that the seventh wave is a long time a coming. You can commit no greater folly than to sit by the roadside until some one comes along and invites you to ride with him to wealth or influence.

John B. Gough

found this quote today. i like it because it motivates me to keep going, no matter if i am running, testing for my bb, looking for a job, applying for school, or anything other endeavor in life.