Martial Arts Life

A couple of weeks ago, I injured my right shoulder. It got to the point where I couldn't rotate my arm or even lift anything. Since we are 26 days out from graduation, I was proactive and went to get it looked at.  I already knew that the doctor was going to tell me not to do any physical activate or anything too straining with my shoulder. However, that is not very easy, as the conditioning and grading day are fast approaching. So needless to say, I will try and take it easy on my shoulder for the time being. A major damper on injuring my shoulder is not being able to perform my open form the way I designed it. And that made me so sad, I've come to love this form and the thought of not being able to perform it the way I created it to be is kind of heartbreaking. However, I was talking with Teacher Lia at the last belt test and she reiterated the fact that I need to take care of my injuries and focus on recovering. So with that, I thought about my open form and was trying to fi...

Virtual Training - training that exists within the virtual reality of my brain :). Fighting pain can be stressful enough but when you feel you have done everything you can to heal it and nothing is working, your itching to do everything you did a couple of months ago, the test is coming,  and your told to REST. THAT'S PAIN!!! There is NO time for that right now.  I have forms to rep out, exercises to do, pull ups, push ups and punches to throw!  Yes I can do my forms at 75% with a Mack truck tied to my waist.  75% is not a percentage I can sustain. I want to rep them out at 110% but then I hurt worse. I can do a push up but they are not my best. I haven't attempted a pull up in months and I try to hold back when punching but again it would be easier if my arms were tied to a Mack truck. I try to mask the pain mentally and with medicine, it's not working! The other night when I couldn't sleep I began what I now call virtual training. I began to rep out my forms in m...

October 24, 2019 WOW #1 Cleaning the studio On May 10th Michele, Ami, My mom, and I went to the studio to clean and prepare it for DMA’s 2-year anniversary party that was on the 11th. Michele patched up the walls with paint which she did an amazing job of. My mom and I Preparing for the anniversary party involved blowing up a lot of balloons and put them up around the studio. We also put a sign up under the DMA logo that said celebrate. To get it up there Ami and I may or may not have gotten on top of two of the big Wavemaster bags. We also set up the picture area by the front door using some of the balloons that were blown up. One of the things Ami did was put up new signs in the bathrooms that were laminated. All of this was done in about 3 hours. WOW #2 Grades On 10/18/2019, I got 100% on my algebra test at school. I have been extra help with my school work. Since April 2018, my parents have paid Judy Davis to tutor me every other Saturday. Being tutored and extra studying h...

One of the testing requirements was to perform a WOW for each Dan of the rank you are testing for. For me, that would be three. A WOW is something that simply makes someone say "WOW". At the beginning of the test, I had no clue how I was going to get one WOW done let alone three. Between wrapping up the current school year, work,  summer internships, firefighting camp, FBI camp, starting my Senior year of High School, applying for scholarships and colleges along with interviews,  I didn't think it was possible. Well, six months later, I'm here to let you know that it wasn't easy carving out the time in my very 'open' (BUSY) schedule, but I did it. It took vigilant planning but with the help of my teammates, I was able to complete my WOWs. For me, helping and serving others something I enjoy, something that comes naturally. So when it came down to my WOWs it was simply waiting and listening, listening for KJN to mention something he'd want to do but did...

October 20, 2019 So this weekend I was at a band camp up at, Camp Arrah Wanna. The first day was Friday after school so we got up there a little after 5 o'clock. At about 7:45 Pm we tried starting a fire in the fireplace, but no one thought they brought a lighter. So after about 5 minutes of trying to start the fire with a Magnesium Pocket Flint that someone had brought, someone else went out to their car and found out they had a little lighter in their car. Then we were supposed to watch a movie but we thought no one brought any movies but someone ended up bringing a box of movies in their car. Then the next day (Saturday) we woke up to a power outage which had started about 20 minutes earlier. So we had no power, no water because there was an electric pump, no heat, no, and no light. Not many people came prepared for that kind of situation, so after about 6 hours of no power, the band teacher made the call that because of no power he would not be staying another night because ...

A WOW is something you do that makes people say “wow, that is amazing that you did that!” This part of the test has been difficult for me.  I do things because I want to.  I have always had the desire to have a positive impact on others peoples lives.  What might seem like a WOW to others is a "I wanted to help, I saw a need and I did it."  I don't want kudos or a “wow, that is amazing that you did that!”  It's a natural thing for me that I do often and it doesn't feel special, it feels right.  Here are a few things I did this year because, it felt right... #1 - Before our two year anniversary celebration at the studio a couple of my teammates and I were listening to things KJN Jeremy was talking about wanting to get done at the studio. We made a list to divide and conquer to help check off some of those things on the list.  Some of the things he wanted was to clean the walls, touch up paint that had peeled and repair a couple of holes. We had a gr...

Yesterday I had "That Moment" that I wrote about in my last blog.  Today after sleeping on "That Moment" I woke up different.  Different then I had ever in my life woken up after a "That Moment".  I took a look down that path that I didn't want to go down. The one that I had dug my heels into and took my first step forward.  I had to and I did it with the confidence to fight whatever this path threw at me.  For the first time in my life I am the one that is strong, the one that they are looking to for strength. Today I said to my family  "It's ok to show your feelings and it's ok to let him show his.  He needs to know it's ok to be human, to let his emotions be what they are so he can work through them just as we are working though ours.  He needs to know he doesn't have to protect us from what is. We can't change it and we have to accept it.  We don't know the outcome so why waste time on what if's, lets focus on what ...

 As we go through life we will have those times where in one moment our path in life is changed forever.  In that moment we are reminded how important it is to not take for granted those in our life.  The moment when all the things we may have complained about before that moment isn't as important anymore. The moment when we would take all those useless things we have been stressed about, worried about, angry about or sad about back to change that one moment.  That moment that turns us in another direction that we don't want to go because we can't see where it leads.  That moment that makes us look down a path where we only see pain, sadness and uncertainty.  Our heels are dug in because it's not where we want to go, but we don't have choice.  The beautiful thing in that moment is that along the edge of that path, like spectators in the Boston Marathon, are those who love and care about us and will be there for us if that path becomes too difficult, to...

By definition, leadership is "the action of leading a group of people or an organization." Pretty simple if you think about it; anyone can be a leader.  However, what does it mean to be a good leader, and more specifically, what does it mean to be a leader at DMA?  I'm posing this question because there are times when I see missed opportunities for leadership, and perhaps a misunderstanding as to the values and mindset of what it means to be a leader at DMA.  When we put on our uniforms and belts, no matter the color, we are immediately put into the spotlight as a leader.  When we step off the mat, that leadership role remains.  The way we behave, the conversations we have with others, and the simple things we say in passing or in front of classes can and will be an example to others.  I personally have caught myself complaining, and kinda whining, about sparring in front of others at DMA, and every single time I find myself regretting that behavior....

Here it comes...the performance anxiety.  Saturday the 19th, during belt testing, is when we're supposed to perform our open forms if we're doing one, and let me tell you, the palms are sweating!  I've been working on my stick combos and tricks, and I never drop them when I'm alone, but as soon as I perform for someone, the sweat comes on, and I drop my left stick. :/  It happened when I showed Nick last week, and last Saturday, and just a bit ago when I showed SBN Jeff.  Maybe I should chalk up before I do it next Saturday...ha ha. I did, however, get some great feedback from both Nick and Jeff.  Nick mentioned continuing my practice run through even if I make a mistake, so I know how to handle a mistake during the actual performance.  I did that today with Jeff, and it actually felt like the form went well...even with the little things I messed up, and I didn't drop my stick the second time through! I think the form is done; not allowing myself to mak...

When it came to choosing my affirmation, I wanted it to be something that meant a lot to me while also being something that people got a kick out of. 'Do or Do Not, There is No Try' is a famous Yoda quote, for many it is just a saying and doesn't mean a thing. For me, however, it is more than a saying, it's a reminder that we must always put forth our best foot even in the tough times. There is always more left in the tank even when we think it's empty. I like to think of our energy as the gas in a gas tank, you can go and go from miles, hundreds of then but eventually, your run low, once you hit those last few gallons of gas, what pops-up? The low gas or 'idiot light' as I've been told all of my life. This light does not mean there's nothing left, it means you've simply run low gas but have enough to finish what you are doing and get to the gas station. In terms of our energy, we expend energy all throughout the day, however, eventually, you get...

October 12, 2019 It’s up to us, how we respond. If you adapt to the change then you will grow and expand your knowledge. If you don’t adapt to the change then you will just be stuck in the same place. Changes can be hard, but if it doesn't challenge you then it won't change you. If you confront your challenge then chances are it has changed you. But if you don't then it won't change you. Change will happen whether you want it to or not the only thing we can do is accept it and move on with our lives. Nathan Minor 2nd Degree Black Belt Candidate 2019

Today I stepped out of my comfort zone, WAY OUT!  One of the requirements for our black belt test is to do a community service project.  Picking my focus was easy.  I wanted to do something to serve my community that centered around mental health.  I did a lot of research, talked with my teammates regarding some of my ideas and built a plan to invite people to the studio where we could talk openly about our stories and have resources available to them.  During my research I stumbled across NAMI’s website.  NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans and their families affected by mental health conditions.   I saw that they did FREE presentations for students, families and staff.  The presentations had all the things in it that I wanted to do.  So why reinvent the wheel?  As I was emailing back and forth for more information and explaining my...

October 7, 2019 As a 2nd degree black belt I am one of the people the other students look up to and is an expert at the basics. Also, Black belts are white belts that never quite. As a 15-year-old, I am a freshman in high school just trying to find where I fit in within a school of 1,500 people. Nathan Minor 2nd Degree Black Belt Candidate 2019

October 7, 2019 As a 2nd degree black belt I want to lead by example and help others improve themselves. As a 15-year-old, I want to get passing grades in all of my classes and make new friends along the way. Also as a student, I want to always be bettering myself and others. Nathan Minor 2nd Degree Black Belt Candidate 2019

At special training on Saturday, KJN posed the question: What is this test for you?  I've been thinking about that a lot in the last day, and I think it's definitely a multi-faceted answer.  Martial arts has been a part of my life for 12 and a half years now.  However, since having my first child a few years ago, I haven't been as active with training.  This test has definitely served as a way to re-commit to being a martial artist, albeit in a different capacity.  I have had to re-define what being a martial artist means to me as a mother; my priorities have shifted as my identity has evolved, and there have been multiple times during this test that I've stayed home instead of going to train because of the kids. At the same time, this test is also a way for me to be independent from my children.  Don't get me wrong, I feel like martial arts is an activity that families can enjoy together, and someday we will, but as a mother of young children, I need t...

It was about 6:30am in Kauai, and people were gathered on the beach watching the sunrise.  Little crabs were popping out of their burrows, only to disappear again once they realized they were being watched.  The smell of the ocean was on the breeze, and the waves were crashing into the sand. I began with Sochin, and soon realized that this moment, while beautiful, would also be hilarious.  No matter how hard I tried, I could not keep my balance as the sand shifted under my feet with every movement I made.  I have done forms on wet sand before, but never on dry sand, and it was a challenge I was not expecting.   Rather than move to the wet sand, I decided to continue to rep out forms on the dry sand.  It took some time, but eventually I made my way through Sochin, Choomo 4, and Palgwe 7, 6, 4, and 2.  My stances were terrible, and I nearly fell down a couple times, but I continued with laughter until I was finished.   Afterward...

The other day I went on Facebook.  As you may know Facebook will often show pictures of your memories from years past.  The memory that showed up was a picture from the last night of the closing of our previous studio. In the picture we were all sweaty from our last ever workout together.  I remember the tears, the hugs goodbye, and not wanting to leave so the doors couldn't be closed. We couldn't stop what was going to happen though many of us would have done anything to keep what we had come to know and love for years alive.  I remember standing outside when the the lights were turned out and the doors were locked never to open again.  I felt so lost.  I had spent 12 years with this family, my son grew up in that studio, there were so many happy times, great friends, amazing instructors and just like that...GONE.  For me the first year after the closer life was so empty, we lost our home.  Master McWilliams was so amazing, he committed to put to...

PAIN!!!!  We have all experienced it and it can be frustrating when it interferes with your training.  It not only can be physically painful but it can play a mental game.  The last few weeks I have been physically fighting with my desire to put out 110%.  I have had to hold back the tears of frustration that I can't do the things I want to do or perform at the level I set for myself. I LOVE kickboxing, I LOVE forms, I want to create an open form, I want to do push-ups and pull-ups and attend every class I can and do all the things I could do a few months ago but physically I just can't and if I do it anyway...PAIN. With testing only a short distance away the tears and frustration hit it's max last night. Today I had to have a conversation with myself and here is how it went... Self... YOU  CAN decide to work hard where you can, pull back when you need to, adjust your training that causes you pain and still succeed. You are taking the steps to care for your pa...

Martial arts for me is not just a sport but a hobby and something I thoroughly enjoy. It's been a big part of my life for the last 10 years and something I couldn't see my life without. Having spent 4/5 days a week at the studio for the last 10 years, your classmates, teammates and instructors become apart of your family or a second family to support you. You spend so much time together and get to know each other as if you really are family. And I do consider each and every one of my teammates and classmates family. They are always there to pick you up when you're down and support you through it all. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to get to call you all my family and know that you're always by my side and will always have my back.  Thank you all for all you do and have done.  - Ami Minor 2019 3rd Degree Black Belt Candidate