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| The Center for Humane Living Newsletter |
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Contact
Sa Bum Nim Aly Tukan
alytukan@hotmail.com
Michelle Szymanowski
Sa Bum Nim Lisa Dado |
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The Center for Humane Living is a 501c3 not-for Profit organization that produces solutions to societal breakdowns by implementing an innovative approach to martial arts education that integrates zen philosophy, life and relationship skills, and leadership development with the discipline of formal training.
Societal Breakdowns:
1. The disintegration of the family unit.
2. Out of control violence and bullying.
3. Unavailable quality leadership education.
4. Lack of personal and global accountablility.
5. Ineffective relationship/conflict management skills.
6. Disregard for preventative health and fitness.
7. Disrespect for life and the environment.
8. Persistent poverty and famine.
9. Rampant prejudice and intolerance.
10. Undisciplined behavior and social choices.
The Vision of the organization is to inspire all people to live peaceful and compassionate lives while implementing a fully humanitarian agenda.
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 Welcome to the CHL Newsletter! The Center for Humane Living Newsletter is designed to provide information about the events of CHL, as well as the activities and outside achievements of the organization's students. If you have any noteworthy accomplishments you would like published in the next issue of the Newsletter, please contact Michelle Szymanowski at chl-michelle@cox.net or Sa Bum Nim Aly at alytukan@hotmail.com. Student participation in the Newsletter Committee is welcome and encouraged, so please contact Sa Bum Nim Aly if you are interested in becoming part of the committee. Happy Reading!Sincerely,Sa Bum Nim Aly
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CHL Holiday Party Reflection
By Dave Bost
Up upon the hilltop, Dr. Andy Goldstein and Dr. Maria Colombo opened their home for the Holiday Party to all the CHL families on Saturday December 8th. As we all climbed up the driveway, we wondered what would await us. We found a beautiful home transformed to fit our entire active and festive group of holiday friends.
The party food was catered by assignments to the various colored belts, and they all delivered those delicacies in buffet style. Specially prepared family dishes and themed servings were devoured quickly by all. Advance preparation in setting up the party was effortlessly done by Santa's helpers. In the coolers, the beverages from the Black Belts seemed to have the right flow. Everyone's stance seemed strong enough to balance the evening as it went on with fun and cheer.
As the night moved on, its cheer came into high gear as our children certainly made their presence known. Not to be outdone by the chatter form the young adults, the fashionable adults were all competing for the same air space. As the air became a little thin, the disappearing acts began and we all left behind a fantastic memory.
So this year the cheer form the CHL family is to shape the present by promoting the humanitarian spirit to others. Given all our strengths as individuals, we can continue to breathe life and hope to the families in need today.
Thank you to the Goldstein/Colombo family for hosting such a special gathering, and thank you to all of those who contributed with food, drink, and good spirit to make the party a success.
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"Today is life- the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today."
~ Dale Carnegie
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Rank Advancement Test
By Stephen Brookman
I should not have been nervous for my Orange Belt test. I had just finished some brutal examinations at the end of law school and again for admission to the state bar. Still, I felt my heart trying to escape my chest when my testing group was called in to begin the first round.
Like most big things in life, the lead-up is the worst part. Once testing began, I could feel myself relaxing and regaining focus. There were only a few surprises-- the test was focused on the fundamentals I learned during my months as a White Belt student. The tricky part was keeping my composure when I made mistakes (I made plenty of mistakes). I had to continually remind myself that I needed to carry on without letting awareness of my mistakes cloud my focus on the remainder of the test. Any big test comes with challenges that will cause spikes in stress at the worst moments. Part of the Orange Belt test, and life challenges in general, is the ability to move past that stress. The best thing to do in stressful situations is to accept your temporary failures and move on. If you don't, you will waste your energy on regret instead of spending it wisely on the task at hand. I felt my heart beat even faster when I missed a step or received criticism from an instructor, but I made sure to accept the mistake, take heed of the criticism, and refocus on the next parts of the test.
For any students who are about to take their next belt test, the best advice I can give is summed up in one of my favorite quotes. I admit it isn't quite PG-rated, but it speaks volumes about dealing with stressful situations, and it kept me going during the test. This short motivational quip is often attributed to Winston Churchill: "If you're going through hell, keep going." I have many more belt tests ahead, and each one will surely bring its own stressful moments, but I know what to do. Keep going.
Congratulations to the following students who also participated in the December 8th Rank Advancement Test: Steven Adelson, Colin Clements, Steve Cooper, Ryan Cooper, Adam Cooper, Emilia Gomez, Kim Hayden, Kevin Hosner, Mitchell Hosner, Matthew Hosner, Dominick Nardone III, Doug Palmer, Alex Pissas, Alan Pissas, Emma Wright, and Robbie Wright. Great work!
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"Over every mountain there is a path,
although it may not be seen from the valley."
~ James Rogers
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New Board of Directors Member
Congratulations to Keith Kaplan for accepting a position as a member of the Center for Humane Living's Board of Directors. CHL is grateful for Keith's willingness to give back to the CHL community through the responsibilities of this role.
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Garage Sale
By Kevin, Mitch, and Emily Hosner
The Center for Humane Living Garage Sale was another successful event. There were unique treasures for everyone, designer dresses for the women, tools and handyman items for the men, and a great collection of toys and books for all. The gathering of friends assisted in setting up on that cold Saturday morning. We anxiously awaited for the sunrise to warm our bodies. The day passed quickly as many people bought and took home new treasures. As the day progressed, many CHL members helped carry the new treasures out to cars. It was fun spending time with the CHL family- talking, and sharing, and learning more about them. The fun ended after a quick clean-up. Some went to karate and others went home to take naps. Looking forward to helping next year!
A note from SBN Therese ~ Thank you to all CHL students and families who donated their time and goods to the Ninth Annual CHL Garage Sale Fundraiser. Your efforts made an impact on providing a solution to the societal breakdown of disrespect for the environment.
The bulk of the leftover goods were picked up by Upward Foundation (UF). UF is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through education, therapy, and loving care. UF provides special education and childcare for children with developmental disabilities and/or mentally fragile children. They also offer pediatric therapies to children with disabilities in five specific disciplines: Physical, Speech and Language, Occupational, Music, and Feeding and Swallowing.
The electronics were brought to Scottsdale Corporation Yard, which is a free service offered by the city to promote recycling.
Lastly, the walker on wheels was donated to Wheels for the World. This organization provides a free wheelchair, along with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to children and adults affected by disability worldwide.
Thank you again for your commitment to making the Garage Sale a success!
Ally Bolden, Carolyn Clements, Colin Clements, and Steven Adelson fashionably advertising the garage sale toys.
| SBN Therese and SBN Donna enjoying the beautiful sunshine on the day of the sale. |
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Health Article:
The Gracie Diet
By Sa Bum Nim Eric
In our last article, I introduced the "Bruce Lee Diet." In this article I continue along those lines with an introduction to the Gracie Diet, which has been called "The Secret to Royce Gracie's UFC Success" by Black Belt Magazine.
When asked, "If you had to choose between knowing jiu-jitsu and following the Gracie Diet, what would it be?" Rorion Gracie's answer was simple: "the diet, no doubt about it."
The first step in following the Garcie Diet is to "Space out one's meals." This appears to be simple enough until you realize that the only thing permitted between meals is water.
No snacks, coffee, tea, etc. The time to allow between meals is no less than 4.5 hours. The idea here is to allow for full digestion of the previous meal before consuming the next. This makes for a sound common sense rule to me, unlike the diets that encourage several small meals throughout the day. Introducing a diet, any diet that you choose in small, incremental steps also makes good sound sense as we will have better success with any diet if we first eliminate a bad habit, and then replace it with a good one.
Keep in mind as you continue forward with any lifestyle change, including diet, that if you require more than a week to establish the changes introduced as habits, it is perfectly acceptable to extend them. This will enable you to establish the change as a solid habit before introducing the next phase or step. I once heard it said that if you do anything every day for 30 days, it is easier to stick with it as you have established a daily habit or ritual.
The second step is of the Gracie Diet is to eliminate deserts and sugary drinks such as soda. It is well known that sugar, most often found in our diets in genetically modified and refined forms, is not good for us at all. In fact, sugar has been shown to be a major contributor to inflammation which is found in all disease states to one degree or another. The third step in the Gracie diet is to limit yourself to just one starch per meal. This means that if you eat bread, do not also eat chips or French fries with the same meal.
After you have taken the time to establish these three simple rules, determine if you feel better and have more energy. If you can answer yes, you will likely have established some good solid rules or boundaries for your diet that will improve your health and martial arts training.
As with any diet, including the one you may currently be on, sticking with it is the most difficult part. However, it is notable that the Gracie diet is not very restrictive at all. In an introduction to the Gracie Diet on his website, Royce Gracie writes that, "The Gracie Diet is not a quick weight-loss program. It is not a fad diet or even a restrictive one. In fact, it should not even be called a "diet" since it does not prohibit eating anything. The Gracie Diet is about education and reprogramming your eating habits. As you restructure your eating habits, a healthy diet will naturally become part of your way of life, as it has been for three generations of the Gracie family."
I believe that this is a very healthy way to approach any diet. Determine for yourself what is a good or bad food. Eliminate and/or at the very least, minimize your consumption of the bad foods, at the same time you replace them with good whole foods. The bottom line on your approach to diet in my opinion is to use a few, simple, common sense guidelines, such as those that Gracie has introduced in his family's diet, and consume the foods that help you feel more energetic and alive, while discarding those that cause you to feel tired, sick, and run down.
Sources:
The Gracie Diet - http://graciediet.com/
The Gracie Diet: The Secret to Royce Gracie's UFC Success
http://www.blackbeltmag.com/daily/traditional-martial-arts-training/brazilian-jiu-jitsu/the-gracie-diet-the-secret-to-royce-gracie%E2%80%99s-ufc-success/
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"It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it."
~ Albert Einstein
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Awesome CHL Bunko
By The Arrieta Family
The entire Arrieta family was looking forward to the CHL bunko night.
If you have never gone to bunko, let us explain... Where to begin? We recommend getting there by 5:00pm to help set up. Not only do you get volunteer hours, you get more time with friends, and a sneak peek at the prizes. The bunko committee chaired by Michelle Szymanowski did a great job with the prizes. We even won a couple. Grace and Addison are excited that they won the airplane gliders, a Cold Stone gift card, and free bowling. But Bunko isn't just about the prizes. It's a really fun game! Phil, Grace and Addison loved starting out at the head table because you get to honk the horn to start and end the game. Addison said "rolling dice is fun." She also liked having different partners and the fact that the kids and adults all play together. Grace said she "liked seeing all the people from CHL, spending time with friends, and making new friends." Oh yeah, we can't forget the food! A big thank you to Valerie for getting Chipotle at Chandler Mall to donate dinner and to everyone who brought desert. Andrea is grateful that she got one of Julie Rogers's truffles, and Addison wants to thank whoever brought the krispie cream doughnuts. YUM! But, the best part about Bunko is the people! Approximately 130 people gathered to enjoy time together. We loved being able to go as a family. The girls love that their dad is included in the CHL family even though he doesn't do karate with us. Bunko was an opportunity to get to know our CHL family better while raising money for an organization that has changed all our lives. Thanks CHL for letting our family become a part of your family! So, if you missed Bunko this year, we hope you will join us next year. As Grace said "just go because it's fun!" and Addison hopes to stay awake until the end so that we might win even more prizes next year.
 | | Diane Bolden, Zeke Bolden, Julie Rogers, Dominick Nardone, and Samantha Overlin gather around the raffle prize table. |
 | | Carolyn Clements celebrates with her new karate bear. |
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SBN Dr. Foley's Lifetime Achievement Award
Congratulations to SBN Dr. Foley for being granted the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Foley truly embodies CHL's vision to inspire all people to live peaceful and compassionate lives through his work both in and out of the dojang. He humbly shares his incredible gifts, and CHL is blessed to be able to share in his profound knowledge.
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Besides excelling in karate classes, many members of our school are also shining outside our program. Congratulations to the following students, who have shown their dedication and talent both in and out of the dojang.
The Bolden Stars
Congratulations to the Boldens for their excellence in acting! Ally was in a production of The Little Mermaid last month, and she and Ryan will be performing in Hopi's Variety Show. Way to go!
Chelissa Biegen's Musical Talent
Chelissa Biegen made first chair at regional band with her piccolo. She will be playing first chair on her piccolo and first part on her flute. Chelissa's dedication to her musical talent is admirable. Keep up the good work!
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Origami Owl Fundraiser
by Lisa and Alexa Nardone
Support CHL by making a purchase from Origami Owl, coordinated by Lisa and Alexa Nardone! All profits from sales are designated for Camp Chaos scholarships to assist those who might not otherwise be able to attend this special weekend. Our goal is to raise $1000 or more, and we will easily meet this goal with your participation.
Phase one of our Origami Owl Jewelry Fundraiser was to preview and/or create your customized locket(s) at the karate garage sale. We then sold additional lockets at Bunko, as well as providing a locket as a raffle prize. We are off to a great start and have raised $200 to date.
Phase two is where you can get behind us in a fun way and also get service hours towards your next belt promotion by hosting a Jewelry Bar at your home. All it takes is inviting several friends and/or family members, providing light refreshments (such as coffee, tea, cookies, and fruit), and leaving the rest to us! Alexa and I will show up to put out a beautiful display of the lockets and charms for everyone to enjoy. It is a great ladies event and/or mother-daughter event.
For those families not familiar with Origami Owl, it is a new direct sales company founded by a 14 year old girl from Chandler, AZ. With a dream to buy a car on her 16th birthday, she saved up her babysitting money and with the help of her parents matching her contribution, she started her own business. The signature collection is the "Living Locket," which is a glass locket that can be filled with charms to tell your story. The lockets are held together with a hinge on one side and a strong magnet on the other side so you can open them and always add additional charms later or change up the charms inside of your locket depending on the occasion. Another collection is called "TAGS," which are separate pieces that slide onto chains and are personalized and customized. Origami Owl Living Lockets and TAGS are an extension of you because every finished look is custom-designed to tell a story of your life and what is important to you.
Preview the jewelry line at http://www.origamiowl.com. If you'd like to host a Jewelry Bar or place an order, please contact Lisa Nardone at (602) 469-1196 or lan@saviar.com. Any additional profits will be donated to CHL. Thank you for your support!
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Inspirational Greeting Cards Greeting card sets embodying the tenets and principles of the members of the Center for Humane Living are available for purchase as a fundraiser for CHL. Each card is personally designed utilizing nature photography as captured by Sensei Katherine Erickson. The intent of this project is to promote the mission of CHL, while presenting an inspirational visual and verbal message to those you send them to. All cards are blank inside so they are able to serve a multi-purpose function (thank you, sympathy, just because, etc). Following a similar design pattern, each card includes a statement defining the tenet represented on the card on the top inside flap, a blank inside bottom, and the CHL logo and mission statement on the back of the card. All cards are 5"x7" in size and are sold as a set of ten cards (two of each design), with ten matching envelopes. The cost is $25.00 per set. Orders can be placed by emailing Sensei Katie Erickson at Katie.erickson@cox.net or Diana Padilla at Dianapadilla@asu.edu. All proceeds benefit The Center for Humane Living. Thank you for participating in this fundraiser!      |
Announcements and Upcoming Events Camp Committee A Camp Committee meeting was held on Sunday, February 24th to plan and discuss this year's Camp Chaos, which will address the societal breakdown of disregard for preventative health and fitness. If you did not attend the meeting but would like to be involved in Camp, please consider participating in one of the following committees: Welcoming, Icebreaker, T-Shirt Design, Team Challenge, Demonstrations, Social Hour, Little Dragons, Pine Cone Ceremony, and Contributions/Donations. All are invited to participate! Your expertise and creativity are invaluable to the success of Camp. Contact SBN Allyson at ahsapp@gmail.com with any questions. Camp Chaos 2013 Save the date! Camp Chaos 2013 will be held at Mingus Mountain Camp in Prescott Valley, Arizona from July 26-28th. This is a wonderful opportunity to bond with fellow CHL members in the beauty of nature. Registration is available on the CHL website. Please be sure to submit your paperwork by the June 1st deadline. Cost is $110 per camper. Students needing financial aid must submit their request in writing to SBN Lisa Dado at senseidado@aol.com by May 1st. Scrip Fundraiser An invaluable fundraiser for CHL, Scrip is available for a multitude of businesses. We have a wide variety of scrip on hand, and all new orders are placed regularly. You, the student, purchase gift cards from participating businesses, through your dojang representative (see below), in various denominations at the regular retail price. CHL will receive a rebate check based on the total amount of gift cards purchased by students. Please see the CHL website for a comprehensive list of participating businesses and to determine the percentage each company donates to our school. Reloadable cards are indicated on the order form. The beauty of the program is that it requires no additional spending by our students and families, yet it allows CHL a constant influx of funds to defray costs associated with facility fees, uniforms, etc. More detailed information is available on the website. Please support our school! Scrip contacts: Janice Wallitschek (Foley Dojang/24 Hr. Fitness) at dallyce@cox.net or 480.223.3326
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CHL Authors: Books Available
The Art of Humane Living: Martial Arts as a Path to Peace
Dr. Michael R. Foley, M.D.
The Art of Humane Living teaches the fight that leads to peace, that art of gentle power, and how to punch and kick and still be kind. This book follows a journey of paradoxes that ultimately show tangible, accessible ways to create peace within ourselves and with people we encounter every day. His focus is on children, the leaders of tomorrow, and how important it is to ensure that they learn the power of love and respect, beginning with themselves. With captivating photos of children of all ages practicing their forms, Dr. Foley opens the door to a fresh perspective of the martial arts. To request a copy of this inspiring book, contact Sa Bum Nim Lisa at senseidado@aol.com.
Ancient Wisdom for Life Fulfillment
Dr. Michael R. Foley, M.D.
Ancient Wisdom for Life Fulfillment by Dr. Michael R. Foley, M.D. is a book of Zen Philosophy that bridges Ancient Wisdom and western thought together, interconnecting these two seemingly unrelated worlds. Dr. Foley focuses on applying age old concepts to fully discover one's consciousness, presence, groundedness, and peace in everyday interactions, relationships, and situations. Each vignette has a message/question(s) to ponder and examine, which allows the reader to seek possibilities that liberate oneself and foster a rich, fulfilling life through consciousness. This amazing quick-read book is available for purchase by contacting Sa Bum Nim Lisa at senseidado@aol.com.
Ki Inspiring Thoughts: Developing a Generation of Honorable Warriors
Steven M. Erickson, M.D.
Ki Inspiring Thoughts was published to inspire all people to live peaceful and compassionate lives through the use of Zen stories, object lessons, martial arts philosophy, and ancient wisdom to explore universal truths and values. The goal is to inspire readers to embark on a journey of personal transformation through mindful self introspection in order to maximize personal potential. We are confident that this process will enhance relationships, improve self-esteem and mental toughness, promote leadership, and result in healthy character development. Join me on this journey. The only way I can achieve my goal of reaching more people and truly having a positive impact on the world is for all of us to be willing to live our lives more mindfully and with purpose and in turn share these thoughts and ideas with others. I challenge you today to share one or more of these messages with the people in your life whom you want to inspire. To purchase a copy visit http://kiinspiringthoughts.com/KITbook.php
The Pinocchio Principle: Becoming the Leader You Were Born to Be
Diane M. Bolden
In times of massive change, it is more important than ever for each of us to tap our inner reserves of wisdom, creativity, and resilience to rise up to the challenges and opportunities that face us as individuals, organizations, and communities. The Pinocchio Principle is a roadmap to help you get back to the basics of who you are, what you are here to accomplish, and how you can leverage your best and worst experiences to lead authentically- regardless of your vocation, title, or role. Drawing from her experience as an executive coach and using Pinocchio as a metaphor, Diane Bolden guides you through a process of learning to integrate your head with your heart, utilize your intuition, challenge your limits, and move out of your comfort zone to unearth your greatest work while inspiring others to do the same. The Pinocchio Principle blends wisdom with inspiration and humor and includes numerous stories and examples of personal and professional transformation as well as practical tips and tools that will help you become a true leader to others in the only way possible: by first leading yourself. For more information or to purchase a copy, visit www.PinocchioPrinciple.com.
How to be a Warrior of Peace
Nathan Mann
Nathan Mann wrote How to be a Warrior of Peace to inspire people to be peaceful and make the world a better place. In his book, Nathan teaches the five tenets of CHL- courage, honor, loyalty, justice, and obligation. Through Nathan's creative stories and colorful illustrations, students of all ages can understand these valuable virtues. Nathan Mann is seven years old and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. He has been practicing karate since he was 3½ years old and he loves learning about the martial arts with people of different ages. Nathan also enjoys reading adventure stories like Harry Potter and 39 Clues. He loves math, science experiments, Legos, hiking, music, and making new friends. He wrote this book for school and he is hoping to inspire other students by reading it at the CHL dojos around the valley. If you would like to order a copy of his book, you can contact Nathan through the CHL website.
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Thank you for your continued dedication and support of The Center For Humane Living!
Sincerely,
Sa Bum Nim Aly
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"You have to expect things out of yourself before you can do them."
~ Michael Jordan
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Advertisements
Would you like to have a business card or advertisement featured in the next newsletter? Contact Sensei Aly at alytukan@hotmail.com. Advertisements cost $10 per issue, and all proceeds benefit the Center for Humane Living.
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