Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Be Happy Now
Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for the something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. All you have to do is know where you are going. The answers will come when you are ready to hear and learn them on their own accord. There is no way to happiness because being happy is the way.
We are never too old or to young to set new goals.
There are just these easy steps to follow:
Know what you want,
Take action,
Have daily habits towards your goal(s),
Be willing to do what’s necessary
With the attitude of gratitude and then
Enjoy the journey because its going to appear in your life.
In Tae Kwon-Do we use the term intentional excellence. This is eliminating negative thinking on purpose by being aware, and focussing our thoughts by will power to choose positive thought. When you do this it produces more natural energy through your body to achieve goal setting results faster.
The development of true will power comes from the constant repetition of correct thought patterns. These thoughts are then accepted into our sub conscious minds and become our habits which are how we create stronger true will power.
It is important to remember that what the superior Tae Kwon-Do person seeks is within his or her self. What the small person seeks is in others.
Respectfully,
Mr. Chris Rowe
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Road to becoming a Champion
At Quest Martial Arts we are preparing for our upcoming Tournament the Tae Kwon-Do Inernational Canada Western Canadian Championships to be held Aptil 28th 2012 in Kelowna BC. We will have players coming from all over to compete and test their skills against other martial artists. When we do such events they are open tournaments, meaning anyone who wishes can come and play as long as they follow the rules of the game.
The thing that I always find interesting is how some people are so lucky? They always seem to come out on top, score that last second point to win the sparring match or better yet score the first point to set the tempo.
Now maybe part of it is god given talent, not everyone can go out and be comfortable and confident while someone is through punches and kicks at them. Even though it is not a full contact game, it is still not a comfortable feeling.
But the reality is that it is not luck...those who say it is are not there when those "Lucky Guys" are there hours after everyone else has left still working on techniques, patterns, conditioning or their flexability. They are not there to see home many times they are training alone because so few people are truly dedicated to something they love that much.
Jim Fannin is a great speaker who I saw in Vancouver a couple of years ago, talks about knowing the S.C.O.R.E., for life (Great Book!) and basicly it is just that. We can use it in any arena of life at this moment it is applying to being the best martial artists you can be.
Self-Discipline - Doing what you have to whether you feel like it or not. The first step is controling your thoughts by keeping them positive, which generates a positive emotion thereby driving you to take positive actions towards the desired results. You are in total control of your desitiny, you first just have to become aware of the fact that you are where you are because of choices you have made. Harsh but true...I never chose to get into a car accident, I never chose to loose my job. True but you choose how you want to respond to those outcomes. The reality is there are very few things in this world we can truly control but ourselves.
Concentration - Focusing your mind on the end goal, having Laser Focus and being single minded. That is why so many people start in martial arts to help with focus, and self-discipline. These are traits that will help you to over come the ups and downs of training or life. My sons volleyball coach Jon Rowe (no relation) was trying to get the kids to make changes to the way the pass the ball. The results were mixed at best and frustration started to kick in. Then he told them to trust the process it will get worse before it gets better, just concentrate on the end goal and be disciplined to the form and the results will Great Advice!
Optimisim - It is hard to walk around the world with rose coloured glasses on. But it is a much happier place when we focus on looking for the positive. The reality is whatever we focus on we get more of. Have you ever noticed that when you make the deceision to buy a new red car...what do you see ever where? New Red Cars, ust like the one you are wanting. The same thing occurs in any area of life.
Relaxtion - Someitmes the best thing to do is to just take a minute and breath. When sparring it is one of the hardest lessons for new students to really grasp. Would you run the greatest sports car full out all of the time without giving it time to cool off, refuel or recharge? Probably not, if your like me you would treat it with soft mittens. So do the same things with yourself, when you get to that state where you feel tension it might be time to just take a minute and relax. Jim Fannin says "Like a palm tree in a hurricane - just go with the flow"
Enjoyment - Make sure you are enjoying what you are doing in life. When you are work enjoy being there by concentrating on that alone, so that when you go home and are with your family you can be there with your family. Here at Quest Martial Arts we say "Enjoy the Journey!"
So our future champions will use these tools, sometimes even uncontiously to improve their training for the upcoming Tae Kwon-Do championships and if they are "Lucky" they may even bring home a few medals. But the choice is ours, what are you willing to do in order to achieve your goal? Have you stated your goal, in writting? How can you achieve your goal unless you write it down...
Respectfully,
Chris Rowe
Cheif International Instructor
IV Dan Black Belt
The thing that I always find interesting is how some people are so lucky? They always seem to come out on top, score that last second point to win the sparring match or better yet score the first point to set the tempo.
Now maybe part of it is god given talent, not everyone can go out and be comfortable and confident while someone is through punches and kicks at them. Even though it is not a full contact game, it is still not a comfortable feeling.
But the reality is that it is not luck...those who say it is are not there when those "Lucky Guys" are there hours after everyone else has left still working on techniques, patterns, conditioning or their flexability. They are not there to see home many times they are training alone because so few people are truly dedicated to something they love that much.
Jim Fannin is a great speaker who I saw in Vancouver a couple of years ago, talks about knowing the S.C.O.R.E., for life (Great Book!) and basicly it is just that. We can use it in any arena of life at this moment it is applying to being the best martial artists you can be.
Self-Discipline - Doing what you have to whether you feel like it or not. The first step is controling your thoughts by keeping them positive, which generates a positive emotion thereby driving you to take positive actions towards the desired results. You are in total control of your desitiny, you first just have to become aware of the fact that you are where you are because of choices you have made. Harsh but true...I never chose to get into a car accident, I never chose to loose my job. True but you choose how you want to respond to those outcomes. The reality is there are very few things in this world we can truly control but ourselves.
Concentration - Focusing your mind on the end goal, having Laser Focus and being single minded. That is why so many people start in martial arts to help with focus, and self-discipline. These are traits that will help you to over come the ups and downs of training or life. My sons volleyball coach Jon Rowe (no relation) was trying to get the kids to make changes to the way the pass the ball. The results were mixed at best and frustration started to kick in. Then he told them to trust the process it will get worse before it gets better, just concentrate on the end goal and be disciplined to the form and the results will Great Advice!
Optimisim - It is hard to walk around the world with rose coloured glasses on. But it is a much happier place when we focus on looking for the positive. The reality is whatever we focus on we get more of. Have you ever noticed that when you make the deceision to buy a new red car...what do you see ever where? New Red Cars, ust like the one you are wanting. The same thing occurs in any area of life.
Relaxtion - Someitmes the best thing to do is to just take a minute and breath. When sparring it is one of the hardest lessons for new students to really grasp. Would you run the greatest sports car full out all of the time without giving it time to cool off, refuel or recharge? Probably not, if your like me you would treat it with soft mittens. So do the same things with yourself, when you get to that state where you feel tension it might be time to just take a minute and relax. Jim Fannin says "Like a palm tree in a hurricane - just go with the flow"
Enjoyment - Make sure you are enjoying what you are doing in life. When you are work enjoy being there by concentrating on that alone, so that when you go home and are with your family you can be there with your family. Here at Quest Martial Arts we say "Enjoy the Journey!"
So our future champions will use these tools, sometimes even uncontiously to improve their training for the upcoming Tae Kwon-Do championships and if they are "Lucky" they may even bring home a few medals. But the choice is ours, what are you willing to do in order to achieve your goal? Have you stated your goal, in writting? How can you achieve your goal unless you write it down...
Respectfully,
Chris Rowe
Cheif International Instructor
IV Dan Black Belt
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Pink T-Shirt Day
A few years ago some high schools students decided to take a stand. They were no longer going to stand by while one of their school mate was tormented for wearing a Pink T-Shirt to school. So they decided to get together with their friends and wear Pink T-Shirts in a movement of solidarity. The courage for those young men to stand up has inspired this movement that we now affectionately call Pink T-Shirt day, which occurs Wednesday February 29th.
At our academy we talk about bully prevention on a weekly basis, we talk to kids and adults alike about what to do what to say and who to talk to if you are being miss-treated. Yes, we speak to the adults as well because we all know the person in the office who seems to bull their way into getting what the want. In the adult world it might be called office politics. We do not want to make waves so we let that person do or say things that we don't like. We are trying to keep the peace but it does not make it right so more often than not we let our feelings go untold so that we keep the peace.
This is where the training we do in martial arts goes beyond punching and kicking. We learn to physically defend ourselves, so we are better equipped to mental defend ourselves. We stand up for those around us who are not able to stand up for themselves. We have courage to stand out in the crowd to help others, not to stand in the crowd afraid to help. It does not mean we do not have fear but we CHOOSE to focus on our courage rather than our fear. We choose to be the example of the community we wish to live in, rather than just complaining about where we live.
One thing that we have changed at the academy with regards to Pink T-shirt day is our focus. We are trying not to focus on what we don't want but rather what we do want. (What we think about we bring about) We are focused on the fact that people who wear Pink on February 29th are not just standing up against bullies and injustice they are standing up to be recognized as a leader in their community. Whether the train in martial arts or not they are using the lessons of Courtesy - respect myself and others, Integrity - Honesty with myself and others, Perseverance - Patience Never Never Never give up, Self Control - Controlling your Thoughts emotions actions and results, and Self Discipline - Doing what we have to because it is for the greater good.
You are invited to join us for Pink T-Shirt day on Wednesday February 29th kids and adults wearing Pink can train for free or come in wearing pink and receive a Gift Certificate for a free class, as well enter to win a MONTH of classes for free. Kids train 4:00 pm, Adults 5:00 pm.
Respectfully,
Chris Rowe
Chief Instructor
Quest Martial Arts Academy
250-869-0111
This is where the training we do in martial arts goes beyond punching and kicking. We learn to physically defend ourselves, so we are better equipped to mental defend ourselves. We stand up for those around us who are not able to stand up for themselves. We have courage to stand out in the crowd to help others, not to stand in the crowd afraid to help. It does not mean we do not have fear but we CHOOSE to focus on our courage rather than our fear. We choose to be the example of the community we wish to live in, rather than just complaining about where we live.
One thing that we have changed at the academy with regards to Pink T-shirt day is our focus. We are trying not to focus on what we don't want but rather what we do want. (What we think about we bring about) We are focused on the fact that people who wear Pink on February 29th are not just standing up against bullies and injustice they are standing up to be recognized as a leader in their community. Whether the train in martial arts or not they are using the lessons of Courtesy - respect myself and others, Integrity - Honesty with myself and others, Perseverance - Patience Never Never Never give up, Self Control - Controlling your Thoughts emotions actions and results, and Self Discipline - Doing what we have to because it is for the greater good.
You are invited to join us for Pink T-Shirt day on Wednesday February 29th kids and adults wearing Pink can train for free or come in wearing pink and receive a Gift Certificate for a free class, as well enter to win a MONTH of classes for free. Kids train 4:00 pm, Adults 5:00 pm.
Respectfully,
Chris Rowe
Chief Instructor
Quest Martial Arts Academy
250-869-0111
Willingness
You have most likely heard in class and I’m assuming from someone or somewhere that in order to succeed in life you must be “willing to do what’s necessary…with the attitude of gratitude”.
But just what does this entail? Willingness = cheerful compliance.
It means simply to act gladly and eagerly by free will to do what’s necessary. Your inner true master, your spirit within is always indeed willing, but the body is weak and we must be aware and awake to guide our bodies and mind.
When you guide your mind and body with your true master within things quickly get done, it’s a given, accepted, and you do it ungrudgingly.
The saying “Do it now, do it right and do it all” applies.
When we take this knowledge of willingness into our minds and understand that we receive a higher vibrational state (sometimes called peak state) into our hearts, we react through our bodies to create the result of openness – which is the readiness to receive, especially impressions or ideas that will come our way to help us to achieve our desires and goals. “Knowledge in my mind, honesty in my heart, strength in my body” is a message that every student should strive to know.
Next comes optimism – this is the intent and expectation to receive the best result. When you are open and willing to receive you give out optimism and attract optimistic people and circumstance into your life. By remembering that anything is possible and that circumstance does not create you, it is you who creates your circumstance you feel happy and positive. Keep these thoughts in mind.
o "The only thing I can control is my attitude towards life."
o "I always have a choice."
o "I choose to be positive in life."
When we choose to dwell on willingness it creates our natural energy to be open and optimistic in life and the result is we get a hopeful, happy and positive life view. This attracts the correct positive people and circumstance into your life.
Respectfully,
Master Dan
But just what does this entail? Willingness = cheerful compliance.
It means simply to act gladly and eagerly by free will to do what’s necessary. Your inner true master, your spirit within is always indeed willing, but the body is weak and we must be aware and awake to guide our bodies and mind.
When you guide your mind and body with your true master within things quickly get done, it’s a given, accepted, and you do it ungrudgingly.
The saying “Do it now, do it right and do it all” applies.
When we take this knowledge of willingness into our minds and understand that we receive a higher vibrational state (sometimes called peak state) into our hearts, we react through our bodies to create the result of openness – which is the readiness to receive, especially impressions or ideas that will come our way to help us to achieve our desires and goals. “Knowledge in my mind, honesty in my heart, strength in my body” is a message that every student should strive to know.
Next comes optimism – this is the intent and expectation to receive the best result. When you are open and willing to receive you give out optimism and attract optimistic people and circumstance into your life. By remembering that anything is possible and that circumstance does not create you, it is you who creates your circumstance you feel happy and positive. Keep these thoughts in mind.
o "The only thing I can control is my attitude towards life."
o "I always have a choice."
o "I choose to be positive in life."
When we choose to dwell on willingness it creates our natural energy to be open and optimistic in life and the result is we get a hopeful, happy and positive life view. This attracts the correct positive people and circumstance into your life.
Respectfully,
Master Dan
Saturday, January 28, 2012
COURAGE
To become a true master in Tae Kwon-Do one must have the courage to dream the dream and then take action.
All of our dreams can come true, if we just have the courage to pursue them and life shrinks or expands in proportion to our courage. When we use courage we can keep on going long after we think we can't. The light of courage brightens even your darkest moment.
Hope, faith and courage are often heard together but have very different meanings.
Hope is wishing something will happen. Faith believes something will happen. Courage is making
Respectfully,
Master Dan
Courage is the resistance of fear, the mastery of fear, not the absence of fear. It is the capacity for taking action despite your fear. You see fear and courage are brothers; fear has to be present for courage to exist.
Hope, faith and courage are often heard together but have very different meanings.
Hope is wishing something will happen. Faith believes something will happen. Courage is making
something happen. It's like a muscle; it is strengthened by use.
Courage is that one quality of mind and spirit that enables us to face difficulty, danger, and pain without fear.
To develop our courage is just a choice. Understanding that it gets stronger each time we choose to exercise it.
When we get the action signal of fear we need to feel it, accept it and at that moment choose to visualize a positive outcome.
The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do with courage. Life is death without adventure, adventure is nothing without risk. So if you do not risk you do not live life.
Master Dan
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Happy New Year!!!
Happy New Year everyone… There are two directions you can go this year. One is positive and the other is negative, so what is your choice. At the end of 2012 what way will you have chosen? Positive…I thought so or you wouldn’t be here right now. The first step is always a definite chief aim at your goal. What level will you be at the end of the year?
To start with we all need to know the goal setting dance. Which is - Know what you want, take action, daily habits towards your goal, be willing to do what’s necessary, with the attitude of gratitude and remember to enjoy the journey. (If you want to see the actual Dance stop by the Academy any time and I will show it to you personally!!)
When you know where it is you want to get to you will need a map to get you there. We use the acronym - M.A.P. which is a “massive action plan” Your plan must include the goal of course, but it also should include what you have to do to get it as well as things you need to do (like train 2-3 times a week) that can be broken down to 1% improvements everyday towards your goal. You cannot fail to reach your goal unless you quit.
As martial artists we must break our training down to four (4) 10 -12 week cycles throughout a training year. This puts a time limit on reaching our goal(s). You will be amazed at what you can achieve in this short time. The natural breaks allows the necessary time for your body to heal between cycles. The same thing can be used in your work place. Plan a mini vacation take and extra day off and get excited about that time for reflection and celebration of all that you have achieved up to that point. When you break your large goal(s) into daily habits you choose to always take action over procrastination and being an eager student or instructor of life and put positive energy in to the growth of our academy.
Fill out a Goal Sheet, make it into a business card that you can pin or keep anywhere. Look at the daily and reflect back to the reason WHY you wanted that goal in in the frist place. If it was to lose weight why did you want to loose weight. "I need to get healthier!' ~ "WHY do you need to get healthier?" "So that I can do more things." ~ "Like what? Be specific!" When you can attach an emotion to the goal... I need to lose 20 lbs so that I do not develope heart disease like my father, so that I can spend more times being active with my family...those reasons add leverage to the goal. You will be more likely to stay the path, even after you slip, it will power you to get back at it. When you look at your goal card daily it reminds you to just do 1% a day and you will be successful.
If your goals are “out of sight then they are out of mind!”
Respectfully,
Master Dan Zaleski
To start with we all need to know the goal setting dance. Which is - Know what you want, take action, daily habits towards your goal, be willing to do what’s necessary, with the attitude of gratitude and remember to enjoy the journey. (If you want to see the actual Dance stop by the Academy any time and I will show it to you personally!!)
When you know where it is you want to get to you will need a map to get you there. We use the acronym - M.A.P. which is a “massive action plan” Your plan must include the goal of course, but it also should include what you have to do to get it as well as things you need to do (like train 2-3 times a week) that can be broken down to 1% improvements everyday towards your goal. You cannot fail to reach your goal unless you quit.
As martial artists we must break our training down to four (4) 10 -12 week cycles throughout a training year. This puts a time limit on reaching our goal(s). You will be amazed at what you can achieve in this short time. The natural breaks allows the necessary time for your body to heal between cycles. The same thing can be used in your work place. Plan a mini vacation take and extra day off and get excited about that time for reflection and celebration of all that you have achieved up to that point. When you break your large goal(s) into daily habits you choose to always take action over procrastination and being an eager student or instructor of life and put positive energy in to the growth of our academy.
Fill out a Goal Sheet, make it into a business card that you can pin or keep anywhere. Look at the daily and reflect back to the reason WHY you wanted that goal in in the frist place. If it was to lose weight why did you want to loose weight. "I need to get healthier!' ~ "WHY do you need to get healthier?" "So that I can do more things." ~ "Like what? Be specific!" When you can attach an emotion to the goal... I need to lose 20 lbs so that I do not develope heart disease like my father, so that I can spend more times being active with my family...those reasons add leverage to the goal. You will be more likely to stay the path, even after you slip, it will power you to get back at it. When you look at your goal card daily it reminds you to just do 1% a day and you will be successful.
If your goals are “out of sight then they are out of mind!”
Respectfully,
Master Dan Zaleski
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
So this is Christmas, and What have you done?
“So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over and a new one just begun. Let’s hope it’s a good one with out any fear”…John Lennon
All year round we are pushing our selves to do more, get more and be more. Which is not always bad, but if that is our soul purpose and drive then that leads to burnout. Whether it is at work, school or in training you need time to reflect, refocus and set new goals for the coming future. During that time of reflection focus on these three areas;
Lighten the load – whenever you can help someone especially family and friends. Do this with the attitude of gratitude, then feel what this does for your energy levels. When you help others you are always helping yourself.
Count your blessings – we have all won the “lotto of life” living here in Canada. We have our health, families and TKD brothers and sisters. Take time this in this festive season to really meditate and be grateful for everything in your life. Remember that the happiest people don’t have everything they are just grateful for every thing.
It’s impossible – to feel grateful and depressed at the same time as our minds can only dwell on one thought at a time. The one lesson that you will hear in TKD over and over is that you have the power to choose your thought, why not make it a good one?
When we educate our selves to feel gratitude, it means we take nothing for granted. We will always look for and value the kind of people who stand behind their words and actions. Nothing that is done for you is by accident. Everything originated in a will for good which is directed to you. One of the most important lessons not only in Tae Kwon-Do, but in your life is to train your self to always use your thoughts, words and actions for the expression of gratitude.
From our families to yours thank you for your involvement in Tae Kwon-Do, your support of our academies and making the world a more peaceful place.
All year round we are pushing our selves to do more, get more and be more. Which is not always bad, but if that is our soul purpose and drive then that leads to burnout. Whether it is at work, school or in training you need time to reflect, refocus and set new goals for the coming future. During that time of reflection focus on these three areas;
Lighten the load – whenever you can help someone especially family and friends. Do this with the attitude of gratitude, then feel what this does for your energy levels. When you help others you are always helping yourself.
Count your blessings – we have all won the “lotto of life” living here in Canada. We have our health, families and TKD brothers and sisters. Take time this in this festive season to really meditate and be grateful for everything in your life. Remember that the happiest people don’t have everything they are just grateful for every thing.
It’s impossible – to feel grateful and depressed at the same time as our minds can only dwell on one thought at a time. The one lesson that you will hear in TKD over and over is that you have the power to choose your thought, why not make it a good one?
When we educate our selves to feel gratitude, it means we take nothing for granted. We will always look for and value the kind of people who stand behind their words and actions. Nothing that is done for you is by accident. Everything originated in a will for good which is directed to you. One of the most important lessons not only in Tae Kwon-Do, but in your life is to train your self to always use your thoughts, words and actions for the expression of gratitude.
From our families to yours thank you for your involvement in Tae Kwon-Do, your support of our academies and making the world a more peaceful place.
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