How to Stay the Course B uilding P ers everance!
Transcription
How to Stay the Course B uilding P ers everance!
News F or S tudents and P arents E nrolled In F rankfort B lac k B elt A c ademy A ugus t 2011 Is s ue How to Stay the Course B uilding P ers everanc e! Fall down seven times…get up eight! - Ancient Japanese Proverb When you think back through your martial arts career, isn’t it amazing how many people you’ve passed by? These are the people who started the same time you did, but for whatever reason, took a “break” and just never got back into it? Winning T hrough P ers everanc e We always get a kick out of seeing these people around town. They almost always ask, “Are you still in martial arts?” Our answer is always “of course”. serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come. It also reminds us how well we stuck to our goals when others fell by the wayside. It’s a self-esteem booster for us. And that really is the secret to being great in any endeavor - staying the course over the long haul. Really, to be successful in martial arts, you don’t have to be the strongest athlete or the most flexible person. Or even have the toughest physical make-up. No, when you start, none of those things matter. What does matter is your ability to persevere. Because in the long run, it’s not where you start, it’s where you end up that matters. Master David Kikoen Ms Peggy Hoogheem Owners/Instructors IN T HIS IS S UE : Feature Article: Stay the Course: Perseverance! • • August 2011 Student of the Month: Dawn Layman! • Calendar of Events • Announcements • Welcome to the Family! New students and upgrading members! • Student Birthdays • Martial Arts Mania! • Referral Reward • And much, much more! Through The Ranks is published monthly by: Then we hear: “That’s awesome. I wish I had stuck with it. I would have been a black belt, too.” (They always say this with a look of regret in their eyes, too). While we’re sad they didn’t continue, it We G row A t Our Own P ac e. You’ve heard the old “Tortoise and Hare” fable, haven’t you? The Hare rushes through the race, sees the Tortoise way behind him and takes a “breather” Page 1 Frankfort Black Belt Academy 10850 W Laraway Rd. Frankfort, IL 60423 www.karatefrankfort.com For a complimentary subscription, please call (708) 288-2033 All content copyright 2011, Through The Ranks. No duplication without prior written consent. All rights reserved. (Please go to the next page) midway through the race. But not the Tortoise. He knows he’s not as fast as the hare. So he stays focused and moves at his own pace. And to everybody’s surprise, he wins. That is the essence of “perseverance”. L ife Is Not a S print. It’s a Marathon. Like any other trait, you can develop perseverance. The more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes. Here are some of the powerful ways martial arts training helps develop your perseverance “muscles”. T eac hes Y ou to Mas ter Y our E motions . It’s easy to give in to momentary impulses and derail your hard-won efforts (like the hare). Take dieting, for example. One of the biggest blunders is saying, “What the heck, this one time won’t hurt.” People give in to a momentary whim and before you know it, a snowball effect has happened. That one slice of chocolate cake turns into two pieces of chocolate cake. Then a piece the next day. And so on. Your emotions can lead you astray if you’re not careful. Learning how to master your emotions through the martial arts helps you to develop perseverance and fuels you with a willingness to carry on to reach your goals, no matter what the cost. A martial arts blogger named Logtar says that martial arts training teaches you to develop your second mental wind. “This is the part of us that determines whether or not we quit, keep going, or intensify our efforts during difficult times”, he says. Once you discover what stops you, you can then find ways to overcome those obstacles. Another benefit: when you are master of your emotions, it’s easier to avoid very dangerous whims of the moment like drinking, smoking and other risky behavior! Helps Y ou F oc us on the “ B ig P ic ture” How Martial A rts T eac hes Y ou P ers everanc e T eac hes Y ou to Mas ter Y our E motions Helps Y ou F oc us on the B ig P ic ture Ins tills a Minds et of L earning T eac hes T riumph Develops a Winning A ttitude We Will Never G ive Up On Y ou! Whenever you feel discouraged, it’s usually because you’re focused on the present moment…or the immediate challenge at hand. But when you step back and realize your current obstacle is only a tiny hiccup on the path to a bigger goal, it puts things into focus. We help you concentrate on the big picture. You then gain something very important: perspective. When you step back from your challenge and see it from a better point of view, it builds your perseverance because you can see the big picture – the forest, not just the trees. Ins tills a L ifelong Minds et of L earning and G rowing Take a look around our academy. All the higher ranks you see are people who have embraced learning and growing. They’re people who put aside their egos, learned to be humble and adopted a “beginner’s mind”. They know that every single day there is always more to discover about martial arts. You’ll meet more and more people like this the more you rise through the ranks. In fact, we would argue that you can’t make it to the rank of master without great humility as well as believing “there is always more to learn”. (we’ve also noticed most true masters in any field – not just martial arts - are humble deep down and always strive to improve themselves.) Yes, your higher ranks are an Page 2 (Please go to the next page) incredible resource for you. Talk to any of them to share your concerns and discuss your challenges. Ask for their advice and find out how they broke through their own barriers. What did they do to take it to the next level? Martial A rts T eac hes T riumph Success leads to more success. Everybody knows that. But to achieve anything great in life, you must first know what it’s like to accomplish small goals. You have to start small and work your way up. Since martial arts presents and ever-increasing series of challenges (stripes, belts, ranks, techniques, etc.), it’s a perfect way to flex your “personal victory” muscles. Every day, week and month there is something to conquer, a new technique to learn or a new challenge. You feel what accomplishment is like. It might be something simple, like a self-defense technique. Or it could be something more difficult, like winning at a big tournament. Whatever the goal, when you achieve it, it leads to greater confidence and carries you through to more success. Then, when you confront an even bigger challenge, you can say to yourself, “Sure, this seems tough right now. But so did winning my division at the last tournament. And so did earning my blue belt. In fact, those seemed almost impossible at the time. I know I can do this, too. I’m going to press on”. Small victories add up to big success. This constant series of challenges is what makes martial arts so fun. But it is also why it can be frustrating at times. It’s NOT easy. That’s why martial artists are viewed as such elite athletes. And it’s also why it’s so rewarding personally when you hit your goals. There’s no better feeling in the world. Develops a Winning A ttitude We’ve all heard the phrase “A black belt is just a white belt who never quit”. How true this is. A lot comes down to your attitude. Studies reveal those who are positive live longer, enjoy more relationships with others, have fewer health problems and enjoy more successful careers. This is one of the big reasons we help instill a “black belt attitude” in all our students – it’s a critical ingredient in developing perseverance. After all, what is a winning attitude anyway? Self-talk is a big part of it. When your internal voice is positive, it leads to greater action. On the other hand, when your self-talk is negative, you become your own worst enemy. Those with negative attitudes defeat themselves before they even get out of the gate. We show you how to turn “can’t do” into “can do”. If you do your part by attending classes regularly, practicing, listening and staying focused – we’ll do our part. We’re going to thrust you to a whole new level – physically as well as mentally. We’ll stand by your side during those tough times and never give up on you. We’ve seen it all here. Family struggles, money issues (and who doesn’t have some of those these days!), frustration, brick walls, etc. All of our higher ranks have gone through the same struggles. Just remember if one person can do it, so can another. Wis e A dvic e F rom a Higher R ank A long time ago, a higher ranked student passed along a valuable piece of advice. He said, “You have good martial arts days and you have bad martial arts days. The more you progress, though, the more the good days you’ll have. Stick with it and you’ll see”. We think that’s great advice. So this month we want you to be aware of your “perseverance muscles”. Go that little bit extra this month. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Energy and persistence conquer all things”. Practice perseverance and you’ll be amazed at the results. --- Master Kikoen & Ms. Hoogheem We Will Never G ive Up on Y ou! Page 3 (Please go to the next page) August 2011 Calendar of Special Events Sunday Monday 1 Frankfort Fall Festival Parade Sunday th Sept 4 Tuesday 2 Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 3 4 5 6 10 11 12 13 17 18 19 20 24 25 26 27 Sparring Week Meet at FBBA 12:30 7 8 9 Board Breaking Week 14 15 16 Sparring Week 21 22 23 St. Jude Run See flyers Board Breaking Week 28 29 30 31 Mock Testing th Tues Sept 6 Sparring Week Testing Friday rd September 23 Special Weapons Clinic for Tournament Sat Sept 10th Oakbrook Tournament Sept 17th Announcements – P leas e R ead! FRANKFORT LABOR DAY PARADE START WORKING ON A WEAPON We want to have a great showing for our school at this year’s Labor Day Parade! Please take the time to check your schedule and get your name on the signup sheet!! Become proficient with a weapon. Choose from Bahng Mahng EE, Sshang Joel Bahng or Mid Range Jahng Bong. We will be hosting a FREE Weapons Clinic on Sat Sept 10th for those going to Tournament FRANKFORT BLACK BELT ACADEMY IS ON COURSE TO EARN OUR OWN TOURNY! JEDI TRAINING FRIDAY SEPT 16TH We need to keep the momentum going! Please participate in the Sept 17th tournament in Oak Brook. We are shooting for 75% Participation If you are attending the tournament you may want to sleep over on Friday evening. There will be Tiny Tiger competition and Level II Jedi Training!! 6:30pm Page 4 (Please go to the next page) FREE FINANCIAL SEMINAR THIS IS OUR BUSINESS NETWORK Master Kikoen has been asked by Region 102 to present We would like to use this space in our a financial seminar at our next tournament newsletter to network and let all of our Feeling More Comfortable With Your Finances parents and students show all the others what you do! Please submit This will be presented to the instructors and school your business card if you would like to owners of our Region on Friday Sept 16th at the share your business with the other tournament site in Oak Brook. If you will be there for readers. What’s the worst that could Tiny Tigers or Jedi Training, happen? Maybe pick up another client all parents and adults are welcome to attend. Topics will include building a strong financial foundation and or refer someone you know to one of Building a Tax Diversified Retirement Income Strategy our parent’s businesses. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You THANK YOU TO THE STROCK FAMILY! The Strock’s opened up their home to host our Frankfort Black Belt Academy annual picnic and those who made it had a blast! Ping Pong, Double Water Slide, Crazy Obstacle Course and then a 20’x20’ Outdoor Movie Theater with a great video tribute to Master Kikoen created by Mrs Strock! Next year we hope even more people can make it to the annual picnic! Welcome to the Family: New S tudents and Upgrades Students Eligible to Upgrade: New Students: Sean Ash Morgan Neisler Alyssa Klawitter Nicholas Heerde Haley Kavanaugh Allen Poe Jacob Flesch John Retzlaff Upgrading Students: Nathan Grah Luke Loeffel Dean Kebschull Justin Ceroy Leadership BBC BBC BBC Leadership Leadership Leadership Leadership Leadership Leadership Leadership For those just enrolling – welcome to the family! For those upgrading – congratulations on taking the next step in your martial arts journey! And for those who are eligible to upgrade – what are you waiting for? See us to take your training to the next level! Page 5 (Please go to the next page) Student Name Overc oming C hallenges ! This month we want to highlight a student who demonstrates perseverance at our academy. Her name is Dawn Layman and she is our “student of the month”, who is now a Camo belt. Let’s congratulate her! Ms. Layman had a set back in her training this past year. Here is her story. In December of 2010 she hurt her back while running. Several months of therapy and care did not alleviate her symptoms. She later found out that she had two bulging discs and one herniated disc. It was determined that she could not run or participate in TKD. That was not acceptable in her active lifestyle. After several visits to different doctors, she underwent surgery to repair her back. After a long recovery we are glad to say that SHE IS BACK! Ms. Layman is now able to run and participate in TKD again pain free!!! Here are some interesting facts about the Layman’s that you might not know: 1.) Ms. Layman, and her Husband, Jay, and three sons, Nathan, 17; Nick 10; and Carter 8 live in Frankfort with their English bulldogs, Bentley & Winston. 2.)The Laymans spend much of their time at their lake house in Michigan and enjoy swimming, sailing, tubing, boating and fishing. 3.)Ms. Layman is a painter, currently working on a mural. She loves running, gardening and reading. And what does she like most about our programs here? Ms. Layman enjoys the physical and mental challenges of TKD, as well as the feeling of camaraderie and fellowship among her peers. They support each other in and outside of the school. She likes participating DAWN LAYMAN A ugus t 2011 S tudent of the Month together with her sons in an activity that is challenging and fun. I guess that sums it up: commitment, sacrifice and dedication. Let’s all congratulate Ms. Layman on being chosen as Frankfort Black Belt Academy’s Student of the Month for August 2011! Great work! S tudent B irthdays Here at F B B A Cara Radkay Jack Hughes 7-13 7-31 Katie Murray Daniel O’Connor Nina Palm Matthew Klawitter 8-1 8-4 8-14 8-18 A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF YOU!! Page 6 Ben Woods Dave Neisler Nadia Nolan Anila Moparthi Kayla Truesdale 8-28 8-29 8-29 8-29 8-31 (Please go to the next page) Student Name _______________________________________________________ ____ d.) None of the above According to the main article: QUE S T ION #4: S mall vic tories add up to… QUE S T ION #1: Martial arts teac hes you to mas ter: ____ a.) ____ b.) ____ c.) ____ d.) ____ e. ) ____ a.) ____ b.) ____ c.) ____ d.) Your destiny Your ship in open waters The moves that will keep you safe The people around you None of the above QUE S T ION #5: A blac k belt is jus t a white belt who… QUE S T ION #2: W hen you feel dis c ouraged, it’s us ually bec aus e you’re foc us ed on… ____ a.) ____ b.) ____ c.) ____ d.) Apathy Big success Rare skills Great depth of character ____ a.) ____ b.) ____ c.) ____ d.) How great your instructors are Your black belt test The present moment Your next tournament Learned faster than the rest Never gave up Started with superior skills None of the above Don’t forget! Any student who answers all the questions correctly (without help from an adult) wins a $5 Karate Dollar towards their next testing, something from the pro shop or tuition! (Note: one Karate dollar per purchase, please). QUE S T ION #3: Mos t mas ters in any field… ____ a.) Strive to improve themselves ____ b.) Are dedicated to the art ____ c.) Are satisfied where they are Three E as y Ways to Win a Free Month of Tuition! Want to win a FREE month of tuition? Then read on. Because there are now THREE easy ways you can WIN a free month – and they only take a couple minutes. Here they are: Method #1: Write a Review! First, go to Google Local, Yahoo Local or other local review site and review our academy. Other people will see your review – and when they do – it could influence or motivate them to join up! For every person who mentions that they were motivated to join because of YOUR review (and this happens all the time) you’ll get a FREE month of tuition. Takes only five minutes or so, we’d really appreciate it AND you may win a free month of tuition. That’s the first way. Method #2: Link to Our Website! Link to our academy on your public Facebook page, personal website, company website, blog or other permanent presence on the web. (See me for quick and easy instructions). This boosts our rank in Google, Bing and Yahoo. It also helps a person searching for martial arts in our area. So…for every person who signs up because they saw your link, you get a FREE month of tuition. Play your cards right on this one and you could have dozens of signups by the end of the year! Easy. Finally… Method #3: Refer Your Friends How? Hand this newsletter to friends and relatives. You get a free month for every person who asks about classes and signs up as a direct result of your referral. Nothing could be easier. All you have to do is tell them to see us – or call us at (708) 288-2033 and we’ll set a time for a free intro class. We promise: we’ll take the very best care of any friends or family that you refer our way! For more information about any of these three options in our new referral reward program, see us. It’s a great program where, as our way of saying “thanks” we give you a FREE month of tuition as a token of our appreciation for recommending us! Page 7 (Please go to the next page) August 2011 Special Offer for New Students! This Month Only: Two Free Private Lessons for referring a new student who signs up for Basic or BBC! From now through the end of September, we’ve arranged for a total of 10 non-students to get two FREE private lessons with one of our instructors. When you claim your two free private lessons, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get started: we’ll show you all the basic moves and get you ready for class. we will also adjust things to your pace and give you a chance to see why so many people are discovering martial arts. Again, there is no obligation to enroll - and no pressure - we promise. But - when you do decide to continue - we’ll even hand you a FREE uniform when you start! But - you have to act fast. This offer only lasts through August 31st and you know how valuable our time is. Two free private lessons is a rarity. Free Value: $200. Remember: use it or lose it! Don’t waste another minute. See us now or call (708) 288-2033 to get started! August 2011 Special Offer for New Students! Frankfort Black Belt Academy 10850 W. Laraway Road Frankfort, IL 60423 (708) 288-2033 www.karatefrankfort.com Page 8