In this issue of the Academy E-News, we will explore four of the eight principles of the true martial artist- perseverance, integrity, modesty, self-control, gratitude, compassion, courtesy and indomitable spirit.

PERSEVERANCE. Have you heard the tale about the crow who was dying of thirst? He came upon a pitcher with very little water at the bottom, and he could neither move this pitcher, nor make his beak reach the base. So, what do you think he did? Did he give up in despair? No! He looked around him and realized that there were pebbles lying nearby. He picked these up with his beak and began dropping them one by one into the pitcher. This seemed to take the longest time, but he kept at it until the level of the water rose, and he was at last able to get a good drink.

So, you too must learn to be patient and determined. Don't forget to drop pebbles into all your pitchers every day, including your work, school, personal relationships, and your martial arts pitcher! You will see one day that the level of the water has risen and you can at last take that long drink.

MODESTY. Henry Fielding wrote in The Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great, "Thy modesty's a candle to thy merit." This means that all your good qualities will shine even brighter if you are not arrogant about them. You will also find that when you are modest, people around you will like you more. And the opposite is also true. It is very hard for people to like someone who blows his own horn.

INTEGRITY. There is an ancient Chinese saying: "To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice." In other words, you cannot be blamed if you've done something wrong without knowing it was wrong. However, when you knowingly do wrong, others will conclude that you lack integrity, since, despite knowing the difference between right and wrong, you haven't been able to stick to what is right. But if you are able to do what is right all the time, you will never be ashamed and people will look up to you.

SELF-CONTROL. This is the ability to control your own behavior. When someone is nasty to you, do you fly into a rage without pausing to think? Or are you able to stop yourself from reacting quickly? Are you able to think calmly about what your response should be? If you have self-control, you will rarely do something that you will regret later. But remember, self-control takes discipline and practice, and you must work at it all the time. The great thing about these principles are that they will help you be a better martial artist, and as you become a better martial artist, you will see that sticking to these principles becomes easier and easier! Isn't that amazing?

FORGETTING THE BASICS
by Ray Proctor

It was one week before Christmas in 2001. My son Benjamin was five years old at the time. He seemed healthy, but he had large lumps on the side of his neck; the doctor had been running blood and ultrasound tests on them, trying to determine a diagnosis. I was on a morning commuter train heading downtown for a rather important meeting about a company merger that had just been announced. My wife Toni called on my cell. I could tell immediately something was wrong. The doctor, not the doctor's office, had called. He needed to see both of us immediately. He would not tell Toni why. We both started thinking the worst .............

Gracie Diet Tip of the Month: Beverages


The Gracie Diet is a food combination concept and what many people don't realize is that although you might combine your foods perfectly, you can quickly ruin a meal by selecting the wrong beverage.

· Soda: Although soda is unhealthy regardless of what you drink it with, you will quickly multiply the damaging effect it has on your body when you drink it with Group A (cooked meal.) Because of its sweetness soda would be considered a Group C food and as a result you should avoid consuming it with foods prepared with fat.

· Milk: Milk is hyped up to be a very healthy beverage and although it does have some benefits, drinking it with the wrong meal can make it more harmful than helpful. In general milk combines only with Group B starches, bananas, milk derivatives and other dairy products.

· Fruit Juice: Fruit juices are extremely healthy. If sweet, they belong to Group C, and therefore, they do combine with Group B (starches) but should never be drunk with Group A (cooked foods).

· Vegetable Juice: Freshly squeezed Vegetable juices are the healthiest choice for a beverage to be consumed with a Group A (cooked meals.)

· Water: When in doubt, drink water - with anything, at anytime.

· Start each day with a full 12oz glass of water as soon as you get out of bed

· Drink a full 12oz glass of water just before going to bed.

· Drink lots of water

This month we will be holding our
JULY Belt Exams on the standard
split schedule;

Children: Lil Dragons & Goshin Juniors will test on
Friday 31 July 2009

Adult Martial Arts & Jiu Jitsu will test on
Saturday 01 August 2009

Please review the testing schedule, exam roster, and upcoming events to see how it may affect you by visiting our website @ http://www.americanblackbelt.org/student.html

JULY BBC DATES !!

FRIDAY 10 JULY 09

FRIDAY 17 JULY 09

FRIDAY 24 JULY 09



DON'T MISS IT !!!

KID'S KARATE' SUMMER CAMP

FINAL SESSION
13-17 JULY 2009


The American Black Belt Academy
2009 Summer Camp
will be fun & educational while
building a higher level of self
confidence in children through
personal achievement.

Our camp is for you .... Karate kids
or beginners, ages 5 - 11

** Experience not necessary
and beginners are welcome!

Call Today

+ Summer Post card Contest

Going on vacation? Taking a summer trip? Just because you're leaving the Martial Arts School doesn't mean you're leaving the Martial Arts behind. During your vacation activities take a moment to send a post card to the school and at the end of the summer you could win a prize.

SATURDAY 22 AUGUST 2009

At the Academy open House We'll be awarding prizes for the post cards you sent to include;

♦ Funniest Postcard
♦ Coolest Postcard
♦ Postcard from the greatest distance away

+ Summer Reading Contest

School's out but reading is always in. Especially about your favorite things -- like Martial arts !!

So Goshin Juniors (ages 8-12) this summer keep track of all the Martial Arts books that you read and at the end of the summer we'll be giving prizes.

+ Vacation Buddy Program ......

Hey Lil Dragons going on vacation ? This summer when you go take a special friend along. Kiai the karate fox, take him along take pictures of the two of you at exciting places having fun together and each time you bring him back, he gets promoted.

So help Kiai earn new stripes and belts while you both have lots of fun......

4TH of JULY HOLIDAY !!!

American Black Belt Academy
will be

CLOSED

Friday July 3rd & Saturday July 4th

in observance of our nation's independence

regular scheduled classes will resume on

MONDAY 6 JULY 2009