For those that haven`t read it, heres the latest GKR newsletter.
QUOTE
August 3rd, 2007
In This Issue
> No Regrets!
> Start The Day The Good Way
> myGKR Training Tip Sample
Have you ever felt like bunking off from your karate class? Have you ever felt a little bit under the weather and decided to miss a training session? Just the one… it won’t matter, will it?
What I’m talking about here is a situation that we have all experienced. We all feel like missing a training session from time to time. We’ve all reasoned with ourselves about how ‘it won’t matter’ or ‘it’s only the one session’. The problem is that one missed session can very easily lead to two missed sessions, then three and then, unfortunately, you risk becoming an ex-student.
The key here is to discipline yourself to put your uniform on and get to class. Just as we can all relate to the scenario above, we can also relate to the fact that once we get started at a karate class, we soon get into it and the motivation kicks in. We have to put aside our excuses about why we shouldn’t train and just get to class.
Motivation comes from activity
No one ever wants to wash the dishes on a Sunday, but once you get started you get the job done. No one ever really wants to do the ironing and cleaning, but once you get started, the job gets done.
The evidence is crystal clear. We have to get started to get motivated. We have to get to class and start training to get motivated about training. Don’t listen to the well wishing voice that says, “It’s ok, it won’t matter, you can catch up next week. Put your feet up, you deserve it”. You must get down to class to get closer to your grading goals.
You cannot feel yourself into acting, but you can act yourself into feeling
I can say with absolute confidence that I have never regretted a karate class that I have attended. But, I can say with equal confidence that I do regret every class I have ever missed.
The best advice I can give you is to just go. Get to class, cry and complain all the way there if you have to. Just go. I promise you that you will not complain on the way home. You will feel good and be one step closer to your grading goals.
Activity first… motivation second… results guaranteed!
^ top
Starting the day right is very important in our life as a whole. We all have the choice of how we react to everything we do, this most definitely includes our attitude towards others.
Below is a short list of things that have helped me in the past, try it for yourself.
Start and end each day in a positive way. Listen to upbeat music, and avoid reading or watching anything too heavy.
Take a daily 20-minute ‘time-out’ from the firing line to rest. Turn off mobile phones, switch off the mind, relax and just enjoy the peace and quiet. Life isn’t about being on a treadmill 24/7.
Accept change. Change is the one constant in life and refusing to accept change will be harmful. Embrace changes and use them as an opportunity to grow. And remember, change isn’t what causes us problems; it’s how we react to it. You can choose to react positively or negatively.
Try not to assign single negative outcomes to problems. Single negative outcomes are rarely true and will trigger the fear response. Generate multiple outcomes to problems and work towards more positive solutions. Again, rarely will a single, negative outcome be true and if you take a step back and take your time to assign a meaning, you will generate more positive solutions.
Sometimes, it’s hard to cope with life. During these times, the plate is already full. Don’t pile the plate higher by making major, life-altering decisions. Postpone changes at work, relationship commitments, house moves, etc; until the plate is less full and control has been regained.
Remember that the way you start your day will generally dictate the mood for the whole day. It's your life and your decision how you react to each and every challenge. Next time you get angry or stressed, pause, take a deep breathe and think of all the different ways you could handle the situation. Then look for the most positive way to correct it.
I have been following this 5-step day starting program for the past year or so and it has made a huge difference to my outlook on my life. You can make the same changes too. Be the guardian of your mind and start every day with a smile! You can only be affected negatively if YOU let it happen!
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know, you’re worth it!
^ top
The practice of karate is often described as an ongoing journey towards perfecting technique. This self-mastery mindset exists due to the fact that often, the slightest adjustments and modification in technique towards correct form can lead to an enormous improvement in overall ability.
Over the coming months we will be highlighting a number of training topics,
and discussing how making tiny adjustments in technique can lead to measurable progress in your karate.
Let the technique be the power source
We all want sharper, stronger and more powerful technique. In our efforts to achieve this, without doubt, one of the biggest errors people make is ‘over trying’.
While noble in their efforts, practitioners in all areas of karate (but most notably during kata), try too hard.
So what is trying too hard?
Are we not supposed to put in 100?
It can be a difficult concept to grasp, but our goal is not necessarily to put in 100%, it is to put out 100%. In other words, we should aim for a power output of 100%.
The concept can be a tricky one because often putting in 100% effort means less than 100% power. Confused? Lets examine why this is the case.
When we start karate, our entire focus is put into the technique. Really, we don’t have room in our brain to focus on much else. Over time we become competent and soon we are able to perform our technique without thought. Suddenly our minds are free to roam and from here three things may happen.
Despite knowing the technique subconsciously, we continue to focus on the finer points to ensure we follow true form and do not pick up bad habits.
We start to daydream – thus ensuring we pick up bad habits.
We start to look for new ways to make the technique more powerful.
It is this point three that we are examining today.
When our minds are free to explore our bodies follow soon after. What was once a clean technique suddenly has extra hip movements, superfluous arm movements and extra muscles being used.
Students start trying to gain extra power through their muscles:
They become over tense in the muscles used - which detracts power.
They use new muscles in the technique, which interrupts the smooth co-ordination of the technique – hence less power again.
It is important to always remember this, “Let the technique be the power source”. Anything beyond this and you start to detract power.
Furthermore, if you predominantly use your muscular strength for power – as opposed to clean technique, what happens if someone stronger than you ever attacks you? And what happens if you grow older and your muscles deteriorate, how then do you get power?
This is just a small sample of the countless articles found online in the myGKR Members Area.
Not only does myGKR upload numerous new articles EVERY SINGLE week, it stores ALL old articles categorically.
So why not register today and access an endless supply of education and inspiration?
Apology
GKR would like to make note that April 2007’s edition of the myGKR Newsletter contained an error.
The article titled, ‘The Prize Divides’ was listed with the incorrect author. The actual author of the article was John Hackett, Chief Instructor, Authentic Shotokan Karate Australia.
In This Issue
> No Regrets!
> Start The Day The Good Way
> myGKR Training Tip Sample
Have you ever felt like bunking off from your karate class? Have you ever felt a little bit under the weather and decided to miss a training session? Just the one… it won’t matter, will it?
What I’m talking about here is a situation that we have all experienced. We all feel like missing a training session from time to time. We’ve all reasoned with ourselves about how ‘it won’t matter’ or ‘it’s only the one session’. The problem is that one missed session can very easily lead to two missed sessions, then three and then, unfortunately, you risk becoming an ex-student.
The key here is to discipline yourself to put your uniform on and get to class. Just as we can all relate to the scenario above, we can also relate to the fact that once we get started at a karate class, we soon get into it and the motivation kicks in. We have to put aside our excuses about why we shouldn’t train and just get to class.
Motivation comes from activity
No one ever wants to wash the dishes on a Sunday, but once you get started you get the job done. No one ever really wants to do the ironing and cleaning, but once you get started, the job gets done.
The evidence is crystal clear. We have to get started to get motivated. We have to get to class and start training to get motivated about training. Don’t listen to the well wishing voice that says, “It’s ok, it won’t matter, you can catch up next week. Put your feet up, you deserve it”. You must get down to class to get closer to your grading goals.
You cannot feel yourself into acting, but you can act yourself into feeling
I can say with absolute confidence that I have never regretted a karate class that I have attended. But, I can say with equal confidence that I do regret every class I have ever missed.
The best advice I can give you is to just go. Get to class, cry and complain all the way there if you have to. Just go. I promise you that you will not complain on the way home. You will feel good and be one step closer to your grading goals.
Activity first… motivation second… results guaranteed!
^ top
Starting the day right is very important in our life as a whole. We all have the choice of how we react to everything we do, this most definitely includes our attitude towards others.
Below is a short list of things that have helped me in the past, try it for yourself.
Start and end each day in a positive way. Listen to upbeat music, and avoid reading or watching anything too heavy.
Take a daily 20-minute ‘time-out’ from the firing line to rest. Turn off mobile phones, switch off the mind, relax and just enjoy the peace and quiet. Life isn’t about being on a treadmill 24/7.
Accept change. Change is the one constant in life and refusing to accept change will be harmful. Embrace changes and use them as an opportunity to grow. And remember, change isn’t what causes us problems; it’s how we react to it. You can choose to react positively or negatively.
Try not to assign single negative outcomes to problems. Single negative outcomes are rarely true and will trigger the fear response. Generate multiple outcomes to problems and work towards more positive solutions. Again, rarely will a single, negative outcome be true and if you take a step back and take your time to assign a meaning, you will generate more positive solutions.
Sometimes, it’s hard to cope with life. During these times, the plate is already full. Don’t pile the plate higher by making major, life-altering decisions. Postpone changes at work, relationship commitments, house moves, etc; until the plate is less full and control has been regained.
Remember that the way you start your day will generally dictate the mood for the whole day. It's your life and your decision how you react to each and every challenge. Next time you get angry or stressed, pause, take a deep breathe and think of all the different ways you could handle the situation. Then look for the most positive way to correct it.
I have been following this 5-step day starting program for the past year or so and it has made a huge difference to my outlook on my life. You can make the same changes too. Be the guardian of your mind and start every day with a smile! You can only be affected negatively if YOU let it happen!
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know, you’re worth it!
^ top
The practice of karate is often described as an ongoing journey towards perfecting technique. This self-mastery mindset exists due to the fact that often, the slightest adjustments and modification in technique towards correct form can lead to an enormous improvement in overall ability.
Over the coming months we will be highlighting a number of training topics,
and discussing how making tiny adjustments in technique can lead to measurable progress in your karate.
Let the technique be the power source
We all want sharper, stronger and more powerful technique. In our efforts to achieve this, without doubt, one of the biggest errors people make is ‘over trying’.
While noble in their efforts, practitioners in all areas of karate (but most notably during kata), try too hard.
So what is trying too hard?
Are we not supposed to put in 100?
It can be a difficult concept to grasp, but our goal is not necessarily to put in 100%, it is to put out 100%. In other words, we should aim for a power output of 100%.
The concept can be a tricky one because often putting in 100% effort means less than 100% power. Confused? Lets examine why this is the case.
When we start karate, our entire focus is put into the technique. Really, we don’t have room in our brain to focus on much else. Over time we become competent and soon we are able to perform our technique without thought. Suddenly our minds are free to roam and from here three things may happen.
Despite knowing the technique subconsciously, we continue to focus on the finer points to ensure we follow true form and do not pick up bad habits.
We start to daydream – thus ensuring we pick up bad habits.
We start to look for new ways to make the technique more powerful.
It is this point three that we are examining today.
When our minds are free to explore our bodies follow soon after. What was once a clean technique suddenly has extra hip movements, superfluous arm movements and extra muscles being used.
Students start trying to gain extra power through their muscles:
They become over tense in the muscles used - which detracts power.
They use new muscles in the technique, which interrupts the smooth co-ordination of the technique – hence less power again.
It is important to always remember this, “Let the technique be the power source”. Anything beyond this and you start to detract power.
Furthermore, if you predominantly use your muscular strength for power – as opposed to clean technique, what happens if someone stronger than you ever attacks you? And what happens if you grow older and your muscles deteriorate, how then do you get power?
This is just a small sample of the countless articles found online in the myGKR Members Area.
Not only does myGKR upload numerous new articles EVERY SINGLE week, it stores ALL old articles categorically.
So why not register today and access an endless supply of education and inspiration?
Apology
GKR would like to make note that April 2007’s edition of the myGKR Newsletter contained an error.
The article titled, ‘The Prize Divides’ was listed with the incorrect author. The actual author of the article was John Hackett, Chief Instructor, Authentic Shotokan Karate Australia.
Comments?
Tom.
