In this issue of the Academy E-News, we will explore another of the eight principles of the true martial artist-gratitude.

Time to head back to school is here!! It is a busy, exciting, and hectic time. During all the chaos don't forget to take time to be thankful.

Be Thankful and have an "Attitude of Gratitude"

"It is important for people to know that you appreciate what they did for you, but it's more important that you learn how to express appreciation." It's a fascinating thing to me that children of all ages have to learn how to say "thank you." It seems to me that something so vital would come as easy and naturally to us as crying and laughing, but the truth is that gratitude, both the feeling of it and the expression of it, has to be learned.

As in anything else, some people have more trouble learning to say "thank you" than others. Indeed, for whatever reasons, some folks seem to be unable to get the words unstuck either from their hearts or their throats.

I've noticed the habit of being grateful doesn't have much to do with how much you do or do not have. Some people who live in abundance are bitter and resentful because they don't have more, while others who have little are full of gratitude about what they do have.

There is a sense in which being grateful requires a degree of humility in that the one who expresses appreciation is acknowledging someone has done something for him or given something to him that has helped him or enhanced his life, but there is a big difference between humility and humiliation. Being grateful is an expression that all of us are dependent on others to one degree or another. We do not live in isolation, and all of us receive gifts and blessings we did not earn and might, in fact, not deserve.

We should be thankful for the life we live, the country we live in and all the simple pleasures of this world. No matter what our present challenges or obstacles everyone has many things to be thankful for. It is easy to forget that despite a slow economy and difficult time for many people, we still live in the most prosperous and productive country in the world. In fact, if you have a color t.v. and your own vehicle you are wealthier than 90% of the planet.

It seems to me that saying "thank you" is something a child must learn in order to be polite and respectful, but learning to be grateful from the heart is a spiritual process that is learned over a lifetime of gains and losses, victories and defeats, achievements and failures.

Cultivating an "attitude of gratitude" is a vital and profound component of recovering from addictions and managing the challenges of living in a complex world.

Being appreciative, giving thanks and expressing gratitude are ways of loving life and other people. Focusing on the blessings and gifts in every day life is a powerful attitude adjuster, and I know for sure that giving thanks to the source of all that is, changes the way I feel about myself and my place in the world. So, I come again to the important practice of counting my blessings and giving thanks in specific ways because, as my mother taught me, giving thanks is good for me.

Time goes by quickly and our busy lives make it easy to forget how fortunate we all are. So take some time to reflect on all that you are thankful for. As always myself and the staff are very thankful for the wonderful group of people we are training at the Academy. Enjoy being back on your journey of knowledge and personal growth both at school and here at the Academy.

Good Reasons to Keep Your Child Training in the Martial Arts
By Joseph Galea & Bert Casiano

There are many reasons to enroll your children and keep them training in the Martial Arts. Martial Arts builds self confidence and teaches discipline which will provide a solid foundation from which your children will develop strong character. While studying the Martial Arts is fun, children will be learning important lessons in values and respect that will shape how they view the world around them. And even though we teach to avoid confrontations, if the need arises, your children can be secure in their knowledge of how to defend themselves from physical harm. This is the power derived from the Martial Arts.

..........Martial Arts builds self-confidence. It is a physical and demanding "sport." Children who participate and progress in the Martial Arts will develop a positive attitude that they can take with them to help accomplish other important tasks and face other challenges. Our school is dedicated to making your children feel accepted as well as motivated. We focus on providing children with a positive atmosphere where they can build their confidence, even after a bad day at school or playing a sport. It's a place where they'll find support when they feel down or discouraged. We are ready and able to give your children the additional support to face life's challenges and stay on the right path.

..........In addition to the structure you provide at home, Martial Arts also provides your child with discipline. This involves coming to class on time and following school rules and policy. It also concerns learning to respect themselves and others, which is an important goal that we strive to instill in our students. We teach children not to feel that they can't complete a task because it's too hard or because they've failed the first time. Instead we teach them to relax, regroup and give 100 percent effort again. The discipline that they learn helps them to stay focused and work hard to accomplish their goals.

..........Martial Arts is a tool that can help your children in other sports, as well as keeping them in shape and healthy. Many drills that we practice enhance skills they will need in other extracurricular activities. For example, proper balance and hand-eye coordination are skills that are essential in sports such as baseball, football, gymnastics and soccer. Martial Arts training can give your children the competitive edge.

Knowing that they can defend themselves if a problem arises is another benefit that your children derive from Martial Arts training. Martial Arts does not just teach kids how to defend themselves physically, but more importantly, how to avoid dangerous situations. Avoiding the situation rather than being in a physical confrontation is an important concept that instructors teach both indirectly and directly.

Give Unhealthy Eating the Boot!

This month everyone will be heading back to school, getting back in the swing places an intense schedule adjustment on everyone. We are reminding everyone as you go back to school to get back to healthy eating or if you haven't strayed over the summer to take the extra effort to stick with your healthy choices while you adapt to this major schedule change.

Back to school means children may be eating pocessed school lunches or taking lunches from home requiring parents to pay more attention to reading labels in order to make healthy choices. Eating right is not just about what you eat but also when you eat, college students often fall into the trap of a hagarred meal schedule while trying to keep up with class requirements and social interests. In the fray of keep ing kids on track parents also sometimes short themselves of both eating the right things and eating at the right times as they struggle to keep the family on it's demanding schedule.

A local grocer has a new philosiphy that can help. That's why American Black Belt Academy (A-B-B- A) is joining Earth Fare in giving unhealthy foods "The Boot" !

Earth Fare has started --- The Boot Patrol
They are committed to keep unnatural ingredients off the shelves so you can eat healthy without reading every label!

To support this effort A-B-B-A will provide information about what products and ingredients you and your family shouls avoid to keep yourself in top Black Belt shape.
We'll be posting information on our bulleting board, in our newsletter, and on our website about eating right.

Join us in giving unhealthy ingredients ......."The Boot" !

This Month's Boot Patrol Tips are ...........

• Lose weight by giving up High Fructose Corn Syrup.
• Improve your cholesterol by giving up trans-fatty acids and eating more Omega-3s.
• Get your child off Ritalin by eliminating artificial colors from their foods.

LOST & FOUND

We have a number of items that have accumulated over the summer months.
Please check the lost & found bin at the Academy to see if you or your child has anything that has been left in it.
Unclaimed items shall be deemed abandoned and will be donated to a charitable organization. We will be donating ALL unclaimed items by OPEN HOUSE and would hate to give away anyone's possesions but simply can't continue to store the abandoned items indefinitely.