Get the EDGE for Life

The great coach Vince Lombardi once said “Fatigue make’s cowards of us all”. I think that is a great place to start when considering getting the EDGE in life. When I think about the EDGE I immediately imagine having to increase my ENERGY to get what I need done. We can easily increase our energy through common sense of good food and good rest, meaning proper sleep. The one thing that some of us miss is using self control of our e-motions (energy motions) to increase our internal power, just one outburst of anger can chatter your nervous system for up to a week, which drains our energy.

One way our energy increases is when we rid our self of any thoughts of DOUBT. You are a king (or Queen) to the degree that you choose to discipline your e-motions. Meaning the one primary thought that you think is your choice to be a positive or negative one but the choice is always our own. When we doubt ourselves we impede the natural unlimited energy that flows through and around us. “I must believe to achieve”. The other great saying that comes to my mind is “Whether I believe I can or I can’t I’s right”. Our bodies and nervous systems respond to our dominate thought(s).

GENIUS is sometimes considered some un-achievable gift from above. What it really is, and how it can be part of your EDGE in life is to remember; “Constant effort and frequent lesson’s (sometimes called mistakes) are the stepping stones of a genius. Goal setting, along with continuous efforts towards your expected outcome will eventually have everyone call you a genius in your chosen goal.

This final piece of treasure for your mind to get the EDGE is EXAMPLE. Ask our self this questions -”If everyone was just like me what type of school would this be?” There is an old Spanish proverb that says “Live with the wolves and soon you will learn to howl.” I take this to mean that it is very important to regularly train and be with positive goal setting lovers of life to keep your EDGE.


                 Respectfully,
                         Master Dan

HOW TO DEVELOP PERSISTENCE

Developing persistence in martial arts is an absolute must to achieve the Black belt and beyond. The following is from the book Think and grow rich by the late Napoleon Hill. Remember what persistence can do for your life as summer approaches and calls us in all directions…stay focused.

There are four simple steps which lead to the habit of PERSISTENCE. They call for no great amount of intelligence, no particular amount of education, and but little time or effort. The necessary steps are: —

1. A DEFINITE PURPOSE BACKED BY BURNING DESIRE FOR ITS FULFILLMENT.
      (What is the next goal, belt or degree you will achieve?)

2. A DEFINITE PLAN, EXPRESSED IN CONTINUOUS ACTION.
    (What action(s) must you take, how many classes do you need, what date will it happen?)

3. A MIND CLOSED TIGHTLY AGAINST ALL NEGATIVE AND DISCOURAGING INFLUENCES.
     (Including negative suggestions of relatives, friends and acquaintances.)

4. A FRIENDLY ALLIANCE WITH ONE OR MORE PERSONS WHO WILL ENCOURAGE ONE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH BOTH PLAN AND PURPOSE.
    (Make a commitment to your self and your training partners to train regularly)

These four steps are essential for success in all walks of life. The entire purpose of the principles of this philosophy is to enable one to take these four steps as a matter of habit.

   These are the steps by which one may control one's economic destiny.
   They are the steps that lead to freedom and independence of thought.
   They are the steps that lead to riches, in small or great quantities.
   They lead the way to power, fame, and worldly recognition.
   They are the four steps which guarantee favorable "breaks."
   They are the steps that convert dreams into physical realities.
   They lead, also, to the mastery of FEAR, DISCOURAGEMENT, and INDIFFERENCE.
   There is a magnificent reward for all who learn to take these four steps. It is the privilege of writing one's     own ticket, and of making Life yield whatever price is asked

                                                                    Respectfully,

                                                                              Master Dan

The Four Agreements

      Over five years ago I read a book by an author named Don Miguel Ruiz that helped me shape an even more positive outlook on life and to understand others from a new perspective. These agreements have been adopted by Quest Academy and Tae Kwon Do International as the first four rules of our company culture and have served us well. The book is called “The Four Agreements”.


Keep these for yourself to set your mind and spirit free.

       1. Be impeccable with your word. Speak with integrity and only what you mean.

       2. Don’t take anything personally….nothing that others do is because of you.

       3. Don’t make assumptions…find the courage to ask questions and express what you want.

      4. Always do your best…your best is going to change from time to time. It will be different when you are sick as opposed to healthy. Under any circumstances simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Knowledge in your mind to add to each week’s lesson, meditate on these;

      1. On the path of least resistance…it makes all rivers and some men crooked.

       2. Everyday is my own choice to choose…love over hate…peace over war…politeness over anger and happy over sad.

       3. There are only two mistakes in Tae Kwon Do mastery. Not going all the way and not starting the journey.

      4. Do the best that you can, with what you have, where you are NOW!



Respectfully,

Master Dan

What a great message - Real meaning of Words

SOME HEART RENDERING PHOTOS THAT TRULY DO DESCRIBE THE WORDS AND THEIR REAL MEANINGS.


Love...

Sorrow...

Innocence...

Departure...

Pain...

Respect...

Compassion...

Friendship...























Patience...

Rescued...

Divine...

This year we have truly learned...

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass....

it's about learning how to dance in the rain."

Be kinder than necessary,

Because everyone you meet

Is fighting some kind of battle.

Success habits – to excel in Tae Kwon-Do

You can and are in complete control of your progression and destination in Tae Kwon-Do as well as your life to the degree that you set your habits.

The great news is that all habits are learnt and we can activate new ones and eliminate old negative habits by our desire and willpower.

“The fact is good habits are hard to form but easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to form but hard to live with”

The key to success in habits is to get into the habit of asking as much as possible about the thing you want to achieve then take immediate action on the advice you get.

The bible says “Ask and you shall receive” You must be in the habit of asking questions constantly for knowledge towards your goal(s).

The iron law of the universe is… the law of cause and effect – which simply states that for every cause there is an effect.

“If you do what other successful martial artists do you will get the same results they do. If you don’t you won’t.”

When you do things that other successful people do in the area of what you want to learn and earn, over and over again, you will eventually get the same results that they do. It is not a matter of luck, or chance, or accident. It is a matter of universal law.

The habit of self control. – We feel happy to the degree that we feel in control. There are two types of control; one is internal (controlling our thoughts, actions, and e-motions) and the other external (trying to control outside factors). We know which one we are in the habit of using by these signs. When we use our habit of creative force we are internal and we experience more happiness. When we make excuses and blame our habit is external.

Respectfully,

Master Dan

Being a complete Martial Artists.

Martial artists have a disciplined life by choice. That means “they do what needs to be done whether they feel like doing it or not.” Although often times when we hear the term "Martial Artists" our mind pictures Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan or maybe Kane (a.k.a. David Carradine) from the old Kung-Fu T.V. Series. The reality is that no matter what your situation in life everyone has the choice to be disciplined, but not everyone is disciplined to make that choice. Good for you for making that choice already, that is why you are reading this blog. Please continue to be disciplined so that you can reach any worthwhile goal you want as long as you do not break mans laws, or Gods law (You can call it Universal Law do not focus on the name).

There are five areas that must have regular and conscious effort to achieve not only physical greatness but mental and spiritual as well. The five areas that create a healthy mind and body are:

- Starting with a Positive metal attitude (one of life’s greatest riches).

- Having a Proper diet, eating properly and the right things. Understand what food can do for us as well as to us.

- Learning correct relaxation and meditation techniques.

- Exercising properly, lubricates our joints, tendons and muscles as well as creating greater flexibility, strength and proper function of our internal organs.

- Correct breathing, allows you to do a number of things from clearing your system of excess mucus to learning how to connect to your higher self by connecting to your own unlimited energy source in your solar plexus, known as (ki) in martial arts.

These techniques can only be taught properly by a certified instructor who not only talks the talk, but walks the talk by example. That is what Leaders do, we lead by example and promote good community, be the leader in all arenas of your life home, school, work, relationships and general public. 

Be the vision you see for the world.

Respectfully,

Master Dan Zaleski & Mr. Chris Rowe

Soft Leadership Vs Hard Leadership

Please don't tell me that being kind, learning to listen, taking action on your
goal(s) and things like working on your character are soft. No way! They are hard. And that's why so few of us do them.

Anyone can act tough. What takes genuine power is to be open. To care about others. To learn from those around us. To be good human beings.

It’s the same for things like listening and vision and character-building. Getting good at those things takes time and courage. Why? Because we need to develop humility and be willing to admit we are far from perfect. And that we need to change. That change is scary. Because it causes us to leave the comfort zone we have always known, and sail out into the blue oceans of life.
The new model of leadership really is all about mastering the skills people in the past judged as soft. Those leaders that cling to the old ways of being will get left behind, by the leaders willing to do what's hard.

So the soft stuff is really the hard stuff.

* Great leaders all have these things in common that we can model:
Everyone already has the privilege to be a leader, which means treating people well, developing a great culture to work in and always doing your best.

*They always have a goal, but always a bigger one than just themselves. Leaders are always readers, they read constantly.

*Leaders develop people. They are kind when they teach what they know and they constantly remind themselves and others that there are no mistakes, only lessons to be learned from every outcome.

· Discipline… of course they eat properly and get up early, but what they really know is the price of discipline is always less than the price of regret.

Perseverance…you know never, never give up not just on your goals but your integrity and moral character say to yourself, I walk my talk, I live my truth.

Never do anything that you would not want to see on the front page of your local newspaper.

It can take thirty years to build your reputation and only thirty seconds to ruin it.


Respectfully,

Master Dan