I would like to wish all of our staff and students a very happy, healthy, and safe holiday season. Also, have a very happy new year! Good luck in 2012 and set your New Year's resolutions!

Osu!

Sempai J. Bondi

Not one of the greatest weeks. Not one of my worst, but definitely a stressful one. Major health issues throughout my entire family. Let's just say, a week I'd like to forget, but the reality of it is, I can't cause the issues are still those to be dealt with. However, I was able to escape, if not just for an hour or two a day, by walking into the dojo. My past history would have had me trying to escape in ways that would have helped no one, and probably hurt more than help. I can not thank my instructor, Muay Thai coach and friend Shidoshi Jaffer Panezai enough!  He pushed me hard, all along knowing what was going on in the back of my head. He kept pushing me and was there for me every step of the way. We can not sell short what we do here. Yes, we train to get our bodies in shape, to teach ourselves that we can when deep down we thought we couldn't. We also learn that when we train, we not only strengthen our bodies, but our mind as well. And not only by learning some new technique or fancy move. For me, that moment is when I realize I am doing all this make myself a better person. Make mistakes?? Sure do! Keep trying? YES! Did training make my problems go away?No. What it did do is allow me to momentarily escape in a healthy way so I could be more focused on the task at hand and face the issues head-on, not trying to pretend they are not there. 

Once again, this journey I started a few years ago still makes me smile at the surprises it teaches me! Even when it helps me thru a week that I had few smiles to give. 

Thank you to all those who helped me get thru a rough week! 

I was looking through YouTube and came across this, I know it is a few years old but if you

want to see Kyoshi in action, watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8veaWpK2hNI

Osu

Sempai Joe Peters

I have to echo Sempai Bondi's praise for our new Sempai's, all of the candidates exhibited

exactly what it means to be a black belt.

Not only did they put on a great show for the audience but when it came time to reach down

deep and draw on their indomitable spirit they did just that.  They were definitely in that moment,

at their best.

in·dom·i·ta·ble

    

 /ɪnˈdɒm ɪ tə bəl/ Show Spelled[in-dom-i-tuh-buh l] Show IPA  

Congrats to all of our new Sempais! You all did great today and you made this another wonderful, fun, and exciting black belt test! 

Osu!

Sempai Bondi

Good luck to all our Black Belt Candidates testing today! The growth I've seen in all of you over the few months has been truly inspiring! Go get 'em!