March 2013
CONGRATULATIONS to the students who earned promotions since our last newsletter. Andrew Stroessenreuther, Mckayla Brown – Junior Yellow Belt, Kristyn Wheeler – Brown Belt #1, Anthony Curcuruto – Second Degree Black Belt
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, March 9 – Hanshi’s Seminar in Pittsburgh – – Adults if interested see Kyoshi
Sunday, March 10 – King’s Tournament – Newton H.S. – – Forms at the dojo
Sunday, April 28 – Our 28th Benefit Tournament – Hackettstown H.S. – – Forms at the dojo
Our dojo will be producing an advertisement for the 2013 IWKA tournament booklet. If you would like your name on it please add $20.00 to your March dues and let Kyoshi know so he will make a notation.
Thinking Like a Farmer by Jim Rohn
One of the difficulties we face in our industrialized age is the fact we’ve lost our sense of seasons. Unlike the farmer whose priorities change with the seasons, we have become impervious to the natural rhythm of life. As a result, we have our priorities out of balance. Let me illustrate what I mean:
For a farmer, springtime is his most active time. It’s then when he must work around the clock, up before the sun and still toiling at the stroke of midnight. He must keep his equipment running at full capacity because he has but a small window of time for the planting of his crop. Eventually, winter comes when there is less for him to do to keep him busy.
There is a lesson here. Learn to use the seasons of life. Decide when to pour it on and when to ease back, when to take advantage and when to let things ride. It’s easy to keep going from nine to five year in and year out and lose a natural sense of priorities and cycles. Don’t let one year blend into another in a seemingly endless parade of tasks and responsibilities. Keep your eye on your own seasons, lest you lose sight of value and substance.
The concepts related in the above article relate directly to our karate training. We have no off-season. The training we do at the dojo during the warmer months of late spring, into summer and autumn have activities that may be done outside at the dojo or at my home. This training, often on uneven terrain or in the Pequest River, forces the student to focus attention not only on proper technique, but also on maintaining balance. Dojo training does have benefits but the training done outside causes the student to work a bit harder. The occasional vacation with family and friends away from the dojo often finds the student re-energized upon return. Hanshi has said that we must train our bodies and minds like a military person to be physically and mentally ready to do what is necessary during dojo training, competition or self-defense situations.
Lead by Example – Mac Anderson
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I’ve always been fascinated with the qualities and characteristics of great leaders. History has identified many qualities and characteristics of great leaders, and, of course, no person embodies them all. But the great leaders I’ve known, or read about have one simple thing in common: They have developed their leadership styles around their personalities and their values, and in the end, their actions are consistent with what they truly believe. The goal of many leaders is to get people to think more highly of the leader. However, the goal of a great leader is to help people to think more highly of themselves. John Maxwell said there are three keys to becoming a great servant leader: Let go of your ego. Become a good follower first. Give your power away. |
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Rule #1…………..Think Serve…Not Lead
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We have four (4) of Hanshi Duessel’s books remaining @ $15.00 and a number of his DVD’s demonstrating all the Isshin-ryu hand and weapon’s kata @ $40.00. If interested – see Kyoshi.
