Mental Focus: Recovery
Recovery relates directly to perseverance, steadfastness in the face of adversity, one of our five aims to achieve. There are times in all of our lives when we must recover from a situation – an exceptionally difficult exam or major project that did not go well, physical injury, or stressful times in interpersonal relationships. In any such situation, what does the recovery process involve? What must we do to bring everything back to ‘normal’? How long will the process take? The answers to those questions are unique for each individual – something to ponder for this week.

Sunday: Technique – basic kicks with targets focusing on crisp execution of techniques; forms

Monday: Fitness – keep heart rate up throughout class; long free sparring matches

Tuesday: Power – kicks with targets (preferably 2) focusing on acceleration and following through the target(s) as if it were a breaking technique

Thursday: Speed – basic kicks executed as quickly as possible while maintaining Sunday’s technique and Tuesday’s power; high tempo free sparring

Have an great week!
Charlie

Sunday: New technique/forms for new and returning students
Monday: Free sparring, high kicks, and high forms
Tuesday: Color belt combinations, forms, and threes and ones
Thursday: Combinations, group work, and free sparring

Theme for the week: Priorities. Each of us have things that we want to do, we should do, and we have to do. It is often easier to put off things we should do for those we want, and requires a certain amount of discipline to avoid deferring your responsibilities. It is a matter of choice and a choice that ultimately only we ourselves can make. While it may often feel like we never have the time to do what we want, it is often simply the case we spend too much time worrying about the lack of time than getting things done. The focus to get down to business is not so different than that we work on in class, to keep the mind present. Strengthening that focus is the result of both discipline in class as well as in the rest of one’s life.

Hi TKD,

Sunday:  Belt Test Day
Monday: target work with sliding kicks, flying side
Tuesday: 3s and 1s; front punch/back punch sequence
Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!

Mental Focus: Celebration and gratitude.  These themes are prevelant this week with both the Belt Test and Thanksgiving holiday occuring.  Take time to reflect how both of these things are so important and how they are related to each other.  Pay attention to the emotions that thinking about celebration and gratitude bring up for you.

Have a wonderful, meaningful week,
Amy F.

Hello Sir, Ma’am and TKD

Monday: free-sparring with gear, hammerfist, hapkido
Tuesday: blocking combos with low stances, color belt techniques
Thursday: conditioning class, kicks with targets, forms, group work

Mental Focus: Shim-shin talyune.  Stronger mind and body together as one.  Reflect on this concept and what it means to you.  How do classes and the exercises we do cultivate this link?

Thank you!

Alexa

Sunday: color belt combos, forms, group work
Monday: advanced kicks, advanced hand techniques, 3’s and 1’s, hapkido
Tuesday: blocks, forms, group work
Thursday: color belt combos, blocking combos, group work

Mental focus: Letting go of expectations. When you find yourself caught up in the way things are “supposed to go”, it’s easy to be disappointed when they don’t work out the way you expect them to. Letting go of what is “supposed to be” frees you up to experience what is, which might be different than what you imagined, but not necessarily bad. The journey would be boring if it were predictable.

Good Morning

This weeks themes are as follows:

Sun: basic kicks with targets, isometric kicks
Mon: advanced kicks with targets, lateral step free sparring
Tues: 3s and 1s, blocks, new technique
Thur: kicking combination’s, free sparring

Mental Focus:  The Aims to Achieve for the club are Courtesy, Perseverance, Self Control, Indomitable Spirit and Integrity. Which of the 5 aims on this list do you feel that you are the strongest and which the weakest?

Happy Halloween
Jeff

Why are only ’special’ days ’special’? Can every day be ’special’?

We all have had ’special’ days in our lives, be it our wedding, birthday, religious holiday, important exam etc. If we ask ourselves what makes these days ’special’, the answer may lie in how much we intend to have that day be ’special’. Inside this intention of making a day ’special’, we prepare ourselves mentally and physically for the special day, we make an extra effort before and during the special day to make sure that there is no mistake and everything is perfect. We sometimes go out of our way to ask for help or support to make sure everything goes smoothly. We share our joy, excitement and happiness with others and everyone becomes a part of this ’special’ day.

Now, the questions is that why can’t every days be special. Is it because if everyday was special, we may devalue our ’special’ days or it maybe because it is too difficult to make everyday a special day or we may not want to be disappointed if the special does not turn out to be ’special’ because of some mistake. Whatever reason we may have, it is important to note that it is possible to have everyday be special.

The invitation for this week is to have everyday be ’special’. We may want to ask ourselves, how can I make today special? Where and how can I put more effort? What excitement, joy or happiness can I share with people? How can I make this day perfect?
As we go during this week, we may be disappointed at times and happy at times. Whatever our experience it, let us embrace it and keep making every experience ’special’.

Sunday: Color belt techniques, group work for new/advanced kicks with targets
Monday: Conditioning, group work for new high belt techniques/forms
Tuesday: Combination blocks, group work with focus on learning new form(s)
Thursday: Review the new technique(s)/form(s) learned during the week, 3 step/1 step combinations

Every class can be a ’special’ class

Thank you
Umang

Focus: Leadership is not just about dealing with others but also knowing when to act. With the new students joining us, those of us with more experience are now in a leadership position even if it is not apparent. Leadership is not simply providing a good example, providing guidance, and answering questions, but also knowing when to take the initiative. There are times when we become aware of an issue or simply notice something. Just because we are aware of this does not mean anyone else also noticed it and it falls upon us to take the necessary action, whatever that may be.

Sunday: Instructor’s choice

Monday: High kicks with targets, high forms, focusing on fluidity and height.

Tuesday: Kicks with targets, forms, and free sparring, helping new students with aim and fluidity.

Thursday: Isometric kicks, combinations, and conditioning

Mental Focus: Be mindful of the example you set for others

With the upcoming new student class on Thursday, those of us that have been with the club for some time will have an opportunity to share and demonstrate what we have learned.  As higher belts, the new students will be looking to us for guidance.  It is important to remember that what we perceive and what others see is often different, so how crisp a particular technique feels to us may actually be sloppy when viewed by an onlooker.  Be aware of the fact that others are indeed watching and will seek to emulate that movement based on the assumption we know what we are doing.  Thus to present a good example, be mindful of your actions and consider what it may look like to others as well as yourself.

Sunday: Instructor’s choice, time for demo preparation as needed
Monday: High kicks with targets, high forms, focusing on proper technique, time for demo preparation as needed
Tuesday: Isometric kicks, forms, focusing again on proper technique, and conditioning
Thursday: New student class