Be Totally Committed

The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with One Single Step

When you're totally committed to your martial arts and your life, then you have the right attitude to be coached, accept responsibility for your actions, and are willing to work hard to become better. A totally committed person has the drive to overcome obstacles.

Commitment also describes a great student, one who is ready, willing and able to learn. When others recognize you as a totally committed martial artist and person then you become an example for other students. An uncommitted person expects special treatment and takes corrections as criticism. They also do not give 100% in class everyday. They usually are inconsistent in their training and expect to pass tests with little preparation and are unconcerned if they barely pass.

Those who are uncommitted to their advancement are not really improving as martial artists, and may actually be losing their skills. Take the time and effort to review your commitment to your training as well as your effort and your attitude. You may realize that you want to be committed and you may think you know what to do, but you do not act like a totally committed person. To correct your problem, you must recognize how you're limiting yourself during your training. Start with your class attendance. Consistent attendance is one of the keys to learning and advancement. You must dedicate yourself to be at every class, especially when you feel like stopping or taking a break.
Next, look at your attitude during class. There is no substitute for 100% effort. Learn to react with a positive attitude to corrections from your instructor. He or she is not criticizing you but giving you the benefits of their experience and training. Don't be afraid to recognize your weak spots and then take the necessary steps to make them strengths. You must be totally committed to learn from your mistakes and your instructor's corrective suggestions. A totally committed person embraces such opportunities to improve each and every day.

Ask your friends, family and instructors to observe your level of commitment and to tell you when they think you need to re-commit yourself totally. Their feedback is valuable and will make a difference. If you are totally committed, then you must act totally committed at all times. The rewards are endless and the feeling is priceless.

Don't "Should" your child.

At several seminars, I've heard the speakers say "Don't should all over yourself." Telling your children what they should have done is counterproductive. There is nothing they can do to change the past. Using the word should forces them to relive the negative incident by reminding them of their mistake.

When you admonish your children by telling them what they should have done, you are not giving them any options. They can not go back and change the past and you are not giving them a way to fix the future. You can teach your children a lesson at the same time punishment is given. Give them a way to take positive action and learn responsibility.

For example, if you child comes home with a failure on a test and admits that he or she did not study, simply saying "You should have studied," does nothing to help the situation. Instead of forcing them to relive their mistake by using should, decide on a punishment that helps them learn from their mistake and improve their grade. Maybe they will not be allowed out on school nights or have to study for a certain amount of time every night. When the next test rolls around and they do well, they will not only see their mistake in not studying, but will also improve their grade in the long run, tying the punishment into future accomplishment.

Another danger in using should is when telling your children what to do. Look at the difference between telling them "You should eat your vegetables," and "You must eat your vegetables." Saying should makes the order seem like a suggestion. Saying that they must eat the vegetables leaves no room for uncertainty. The decision has already been made by a wise parent. Parents need to use "must", not only when talking to children but also when talking to themselves. Don't think to yourself, "I should really get to the gym," when you are trying to get in shape. Saying should leaves plenty of room for making excuses.

If you remember to use must, there is no room to reason yourself out of it. "I must get to the gym." It doesn't become a possibility if you have time; it adds the trip to the gym to the to-do list.

Using should gives you and your children a crutch for not getting done the things you want to get done. Anything that you think you should do, you can do-if you put your mind to it. Set every goal with a must.

The Benefits of "Super Foods" In A Balanced Diet

By Jennifer G. Galea MS RD


So-called "Super Foods" have received considerable media attention. Most "Super Foods" are those fruits and vegetables that are rich in anti-oxidants; Fish, whole grains, Soy, tofu and others.

Numerous authors and companies, not to mention friends and family members, may have suggested that you eat "Super Foods" for their promise of improved health and other benefits. The downside of "Super Foods" is that too many people may restrict their diets to only those foods.

Leading researchers strongly recommend that you eat a much wider variety of foods than just those on the "Super Foods" list. Nearly everyone needs a balanced diet that may certainly include "Super Foods," but is not limited to them. Otherwise, your eating habits become obsessive and that is not good for your health. The value of "Super Foods" are realized only when they are integrated into a balanced diet. In fact, focusing on a single nutrient (or food or food group) will probably create nutritional imbalances and that will do you more harm than good. You may incorporate the following list of "Super Foods" into your well-rounded, balanced diet. Notice that most of them are food types and not specific foods. Try to select a wide variety of foods in each group, so you are able to obtain the many benefits of the complete food. Experiment with some foods that you may never have eaten. Don't worry if you don't like some of the foods on the list; there are sure to be other foods in the group that will offer the same nutrients. The key is to eat a balanced diet, composed of real foods (unprocessed foods and whole grains). Don't think that eating any "Super Food" will compensate for a day's worth of junk food, anymore than taking a multi-vitamin does.

You are what you eat-so eat healthy foods and be healthy-eat whole foods and be a whole person!

Try these "Super Foods" as part of your balanced diet: Fish Soymilk, tofu and other soy foods Nuts Whole grains Dark-green, leafy vegetables Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale) Garlic, onions and shallots Apricots, guavas, pink grapefruit, tomatoes and watermelon Blueberries and other berries Green or black tea and Olive oil (as substitute for more saturated fats)

We'd like to remind everyone
that Friday --- 7 September 2007
We will be holding our next belt exam.
Please review the testing schedule, exam roster, and upcoming events to see how it may affect you by visiting our website
@ http://www.athensmartialarts.net and clicking on the "Student Corner" icon.