Mental Focus: Balance

How do we respond to the stressful feeling of having “too much stuff to do”? Whether you are a student nearing the end of the semester, trying to meet a project deadline at work, or under pressure in other ways, there are times when tasks can seem to build up to the point where we feel like we just can’t do it all. While it is good to have some stress and to push ourselves to excel in what we do, it is important that we don’t let having “too much to do” prevent us from giving ourselves and others what is needed. In other words, we need to try to find a balance by knowing what is really important, understanding our limits and being mindful of how our “being too busy” may be affecting us those close to us. For ourselves this might mean taking the time to eat well, get enough sleep, exercise, spending some time relaxing or going out to enjoy a beautiful spring day, even if for just a few minutes. For those close to us, it means making sure we are not neglecting our friendships and relationships by making time for them, because at the end of the day it is these experiences that are the most fulfilling.

See you in class,

Tom

Mental Focus: Reflection
Yesterday was the belt test, a fun and exciting event, a time where everyone has an opportunity to learn and grow as well. Take this week to reflect on what you learned, from yourself as you were testing as well as on the comments given to you. What stood out to you the most during the test? Did you surprise yourself in some way? And as you reflect, focus not only what it means in the doe-chang, but also in everyday life outside of it. Try and translate this growth into your life outside of the doe-Chang.

Sun: Isometric kicks, Forms, Group Work
Mon: Advanced Kicks with targets, blocking combos
Tues: Lateral Step Exercises, 3′s and 1′s, Free Sparring
Thurs: Blocks, Color Belt Techniques, Group work

Mental Focus: Preparation
With the belt test less than one week away, many of us are working on preparing ourselves for the big day. How do you prepare yourself for challenges? Do you get anxious, remain calm, or become focused? Memorizing the number of movements in a form, developing favorite techniques, etc – these are some of the things we do to prepare ourselves. Although all these things are important, I encourage you to focus on a larger goal: sharing yourself. Whether you’re free sparring or partnering up for 3′s and 1′s, just remember to give yourself, and everything else will follow.

Sorry for being late, here are the themes for the rest of this week:

Tuesday: basic kicks with targets (if we can access them), 3s and 1s, forms
Thursday: kicking combinations, color belt techniques, group work

Mental Focus: giving love and affection

I would like to share something Master D’Amico said this past weekend with all of you for the benefit of those who were not there and to invite those who were there to revisit what he said. He talked about poverty and starvation and how a person can starve not only from a lack of food, but from a lack of love and affection as well. In friendships, relationships, and among family, daily interactions can easily become routine, and we can neglect to have the courtesy (the willingness and generosity) to give love and affection where it is needed to those close to us.

I invite you to explore relationships with friends, family, and others close to you (don’t forget yourself) with this in mind to see what comes up. It is important to do this without judgment, however, as we may discover times when we did not receive what we needed, or did not give what was needed to someone else. At the same time, make sure to appreciate those situations where the love and affection that was needed was given to you or you gave it to someone else.

Perhaps there is a situation where we are not giving someone what is needed; a way to work on this is to apply what Master Alonso often offers us during class about doing each technique like it is the last one you will ever do. If we bring this focus into our relationships, and approach each interaction in this way, we can help prevent ourselves from going on ‘autopilot’.

Have a great week and see you in class

Tom

The Promotion test for Spring 2012 will be held on April 28th, 2012.

Please make sure to be available for the entire day. After the test, there will be an all-club dinner.

We are honored to have Master D’Amico join us for this test.

-Ty

Here are the themes for this week,

Sunday: 3′s and 1′s, Group Work, Basic Kicks with TargetsMonday: Jump Kicks, Lateral Steps, Punching Exercises
Tuesday: .Forms, Isometric Kicks, Group Work
Thursday: Partner Stretches, Basic Blocks, Free Sparring

Mental Focus: Indomitable Spirit

How does someone have an indomitable spirit? Throughout our lives obstacles occur, we are pushed down, or brought up. It is what happens afterward that defines the spirit. When we are pushed down, the ability to come back, and preserve who we are-with some new knowledge of that idea makes our spirit truly indomitable. People can go through so much, there are moments where the world can seem likes its crashing down. These events define us, how do you handle yourself when something goes wrong? When someone you love is hurt or gone? Through these experiences, so much is going on around that rarely do we take the time to focus on ourselves, but when you do have the chance, what do you see? For me, after such an event, I see changes within who I am, some growth, but also a little back tracking in places where I had been growing. My spirit is still in the progress of coming back, but I feel that I have kept intact my core self. What does having an indomitable spirit mean to you? I encourage you to think of how you have kept your core self, while also taking a moment to cherish the experiences you have grown from.

Have a great week!
Caroline

Mental Focus: Integrity

What is integrity? What does it mean to act with integrity? Several ideas come to mind. Being honest, adhering to your morals, and always trying to do the right thing. And while it sometimes is difficult and certainly takes courage to do the right thing, it can be even harder to know what the right thing is. In one of my classes, we’ve been talking a lot about ethical dilemmas and going over a lot of difficult situations. Putting myself in these situations, there is never any doubt of my intentions to act with integrity, but there are often times when there is no correct solution, and I’m not sure what the right thing to do is. I encourage you to think about a time or even area in your life right now where you didn’t know or don’t know what to do, and if/how you figured out a way to resolve the situation with integrity.

Mental Focus: Perseverance

What’s the difference between stubbornness and perseverance, other than negative and positive connotations? Stubbornness usually centers on oneself–getting one’s way, proving one is right, refusing to give in. It is generally a posture that looks defensively at everyone and everything around, a stance that is intent on protecting territory; it is like a brick wall. Perseverance, on the other hand, does not try to control and contain. The posture of the heart leans more towards trusting in the process and outcome, even if it is uncertain. A person who perseveres is open to changing circumstances and can flex with them; rather than quit when things aren’t going exactly his/her way or refusing to engage, the person who perseveres is open to being changed even as he or she presses on towards his/her goal. In your life, where are the places you are being stubborn? Consider shifting your stance to persevering; perhaps the path to your goal will be different than you imagined, but rewarding nonetheless.

Here are the themes for the week.

Sunday: Blocks, Forms, Group Work
Monday: Hapkido, Advanced Kicks with Targets
Tuesday: Color Belt Combos, 3s & 1s, Kicks with Targets
Thursday: Lateral Step Exercises, Jumping kicks

Focus: Awareness. Many of us walk through our day with blinders on. We’re so focused on the task at hand, or perhaps on our own feelings, that we forget about everyone and everything around us. Sometime during the day, take a second to stop and remind yourself to expand your awareness and take in all that the day has to offer. There’s always a lot more there than you’d think.

Sunday: Basic kicks with targets, Forms, Free sparring – 1,2,3+ techniques in a row
Monday: Jump kicks with targets, Hapkido, Free sparring – speed/quickness
Tuesday: 3′s and 1′s, Free sparring – controlling level of contact
Thursday: Blocking combos, Free sparring – lateral step

Mental Focus: Identifying areas of stress in your life. With the demands of a life full of classes, work, family, and community, we often go through much of our daily life with our bodies and mind under stress. It may even be so common that it feels like your “normal” state. Check in with how relaxed or stressed you feel right now. On a scale of 1-10 what do you feel? This week, take notice of times when something causes you to become more or less stressed. Identify those actions or events that cause you to get worked up. Conversely, what relaxes you (slows down your heart rate, breathing, etc)? What is the your balance between these two states of being? Explore these ideas without judging what you learn as good or bad. Take this week to understand.

Have a great week!
Alexa