American Black Belt Academy

January 2014

In This Issue

Principles of a Martial Artist

Quick Links

KICKsite

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Bring-a-Buddy!!

Everything is more fun when you share it with your friends!

Share the love and invite your friends to our Saturday Sampler classes on
SAT, 25 January
We will also be having a special S-A-F-E Women's Self Defense class Only $29.99,
CALL NOW to register.

S-A-F-E : 10:00am

Martial Arts: 12:00pm
Jiu Jitsu: 1:00pm

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S.A.F.E.

Our next monthly S.A.F.E. class will be held on SAT,

25 January.

The next 4 week course will be 15 Feb
- 8 Mar.

Limited space available so please contact the front desk to reserve a spot!

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Welcome to our E-News Online Newsletter for the Month of -- January!

"If I had a formula for bypassing trouble, I would not pass it round. Trouble creates a capacity to handle it. I don't embrace trouble; that's as bad as treating it as an enemy. But I do say meet it as a friend, for you'll see a lot of it and had better be on speaking terms with it."

---------- Oliver Wendell Holmes

"The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work."

----------Harry Golden

Resistance Makes You Stronger!

Black Belt Champions and Hi-Achievers would never become great without the benefit of resistance. None of the greatest Masters or Senseis in the Martial Arts would become as powerful as they have without the benefit of resistance.

Motivational Speaker and Best Selling Author, Zig Ziglar, teaches we should always be grateful for our problems.

The reality is, the challenges we face everyday, really do make us stronger. If everything in life came easy, everyone would be an instant Black Belt.

In the real world, the people that solve the most complex problems, are worth the most value in society. In the Martial Arts, in school, at work, in business, we usually learn the most from the setbacks and challenges that we overcome.

The athlete that takes the easy route, partying all night and skipping practices, is not likely to be stepping onto the winner's podium. It's the Champion that puts in hours of disciplined practice that wins Gold Medals.

Pressure Creates Diamonds...

We all need resistance to become stronger. When it comes to physical strength and conditioning, we need to do push ups, pull ups, lift weights or train with some form of resistance to become stronger and stronger everyday.

Lack of resistance can actually lead to becoming weaker and losing our competitive edge. We all need resistance to become stronger.

Shihan Randy McElwee
Director
American Black Belt Academy

Principles of a Martial Artist

How Goal Setting Makes You Mentally Stronger
By Hector Cadena

Our biggest limits are those that are self imposed. Life can be a little more rewarding by setting goals and sticking to them.

If you don't care where you are going, it's easy to get there.

On the other hand, if you have a specific destination in mind, planning your route ahead of time makes the journey much more enjoyable and increases the probabilities of a successful outcome.

If you can conceive it, and you believe it, you can achieve it. There is almost nothing that once you set your mind to doing, cannot be done. The power of your mind is limitless. Our biggest limits are those that are self imposed. Everyday you can test the limits of your mind power by willing success upon yourself. I don't know why everyone doesn't do it. Perhaps at some point in their lives, they encountered some resistance and they decided that they were just not meant to succeed, so the quit. They give up and they settle for a life of less. Maybe these people need to be reminded that successful people are not those that met with little or no resistance in their lives, but rather, quite the contrary. Successful people have probably encountered more resistance than most, but rather than give up, they persevered and found out that resistance builds strength and failures are only failures if you quit.

The ironic thing about life is that more lessons are found in struggles than are found in success. It is the lessons that you learn from your failures that will propel you on your way toward eventual success. So you cannot give up at the first sign of difficulty. By setting goals, you make a commitment to yourself that no matter what difficulties you may encounter on the way, you will not give up or give in. You learn from your mistakes and you learn to not repeat them. You may make thousands of mistakes on your journey toward your goal, but as long as you don't repeat any of the same mistakes, eventually you will achieve your goal.

It's funny, but many people work hard to create a financial nest of security for our children in hopes that their lives may be a little bit better than their own. Ironically, many of the lessons that we learn in our struggles toward building a successful life for ourselves are lost on our children as we endeavor to shield them from the same struggles that tempered us and made us strong. As a result, our children may never learn how to be as resourceful as we are. Our minds are just like the rest of the muscles in our body. If you want to make them stronger, you expose them to resistance.

Goal setting will force you to challenge yourself and get you out of your comfort zone. Remember, you grow the most when you are forced to stretch. So set some goals that will challenge you beyond your limits. And once you set your goals, don't give up at the first signs of resistance. Persevere and learn from the struggles. In the end, the journey will have been well worth it, regardless or where you end up.

Golden Rules of Goal Setting

Parents' Corner

Peer Pressure

Peers play a large role in the social and emotional development of children and adolescents. Their influence begins at an early age and increases through the teenage years. It is natural, healthy and important for children to have and rely on friends as they grow and mature.

Peers can be positive and supportive. They can help each other develop new skills, or stimulate interest in books, music or extracurricular activities.

However, peers can also have a negative influence. They can encourage each other to skip classes, steal, cheat, use drugs or alcohol, or become involve in other risky behaviors. The majority of teens with substance abuse problems began using drugs or alcohol as a result of peer pressure.

Kids often give in to peer pressure because they want to fit in. They want to be liked and they worry that they may be left out or made fun of if they don't go along with the group.

The following are some tips to help kids deal with peer pressure:

Stay away from peers who pressure you to do things that seem wrong or dangerous.
Learn how to say "no," and practice how to avoid or get out of situations which feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Spend time with other kids who resist peer pressure. It helps to have at least one friend who is also willing to say "no."
If you have problems with peer pressure, talk to a grown up you trust, like a parent, teacher or school counselor.

Parents can also help by recognizing when their child is having a problem with peer pressure. The following are tips for parents to help your child deal with peer pressure:

Encourage open and honest communication. Let kids know they can come to you if they're feeling pressure to do things that seem wrong or risky.
Teach your child to be assertive and to resist getting involved in dangerous or inappropriate situations or activities.
Get to know your child's friends. If issues or problems arise, share your concerns with their parents.
Help your child develop self-confidence. Kids who feel good about themselves are less vulnerable to peer pressure.
Develop backup plans to help kids get out of uncomfortable or dangerous situations. For example, let them know you'll always come get them, no questions asked, if they feel worried or unsafe.

If your child has ongoing difficulties with peer pressure, talk to his or her teacher, principal, school counselor or family doctor. If you have questions or concerns about your child's mood, self-esteem or behavior, consider a consultation with a trained and qualified mental health professional.

Dealing with Peer Pressure: Kids
Dealing with Peer Pressure: Teens

Health Kick

Fitness programs: 5 steps to getting started

Starting a fitness program may be one of the best things you can do for your health. Physical activity can reduce your risk of chronic disease, improve your balance and coordination, help you lose weight - even improve your sleep habits and self-esteem. And there's more good news. You can do it in just five steps.

Step 1: Assess your fitness level

You probably have some idea of how fit you are. But assessing and recording baseline fitness scores can give you benchmarks against which to measure your progress. To assess your aerobic and muscular fitness, flexibility and body composition, consider recording:

Your pulse rate before and after you walk 1 mile (1.6 kilometers)
How long it takes you to walk 1 mile (1.6 kilometers)
How many push-ups you can do at a time
How far you can reach forward while seated on the floor with your legs in front of you
Your waist circumference as measured around your bare abdomen just above your hipbone
Your body mass index

Step 2: Design your fitness program

It's easy to say that you'll exercise every day. But you'll need a plan. As you design your fitness program, keep these points in mind:

Consider your fitness goals. Are you starting a fitness program to help lose weight? Or do you have another motivation, such as preparing for a marathon? Having clear goals can help you gauge your progress.
Create a balanced routine. Most adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity - or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity - a week. Adults also need two or more days of strength training a week.
Go at your own pace. If you're just beginning to exercise, start cautiously and progress slowly. If you have an injury or a medical condition, consult your doctor or a physical therapist for help designing a fitness program that gradually improves your range of motion, strength and endurance.
Build activity into your daily routine. Finding time to exercise can be a challenge. To make it easier, schedule time to exercise as you would any other appointment. Plan to watch your favorite show while walking on the treadmill, or read while riding a stationary bike.
Plan to include different activities. Different activities (cross-training) can keep exercise boredom at bay. Cross-training also reduces your chances of injuring or overusing one specific muscle or joint. Plan to alternate among activities that emphasize different parts of your body, such as walking, swimming and strength training.
Allow time for recovery. Many people start exercising with frenzied zeal - working out too long or too intensely - and give up when their muscles and joints become sore or injured. Plan time between sessions for your body to rest and recover.
Put it on paper. A written plan may encourage you to stay on track.

Steps 3-5

Need Help?

Fitness Goal Setting Worksheet

Need Motivation?

Never ever give up

Black Belt Club

BBC dates for the month of January:

10 JAN 14
17 JAN 14
24 JAN 14

** Adult BB Focus: Weapon Disarms

DEMO Team

DEMO Team dates for the month of January:

7 FEB 14