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

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

COURAGE

To become a true master in Tae Kwon-Do one must have the courage to dream the dream and then take action.

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.

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

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.

Respectfully,

Master Dan

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
                                                                                            

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.

First we make out Habits then our Habits Make Us

A few good habits will carry you a long way, said the master to his top student. They’ll get you through some tough times and set you up for consistent success. They'll make you a pacesetter."

The student asked what a pacesetter is.

"Well sometimes you're in a position to lead and sometimes you're not. But you're always in a position to be a pacesetter."

When you are handed the reins of leadership, you want to take them and do well. But I'll tell it to you straight. You need to make good things happen around you whether or not you're the leader. Do that consistently and any position of responsibility you want will be offered sooner than you can imagine. Don't seek any type of advancement by looking for promotions. Seek the opportunity to make good things happen around you now, and the rewards will follow."

Every student trains hard and does good work said the master, his student was perplexed. After a moment, the master spoke again. "You need to be different in a way that doesn't detract from the others efforts, but allows you to make an even greater contribution.

Are you helping students that are junior to you, or do you volunteer to do privates for the leadership team? You must seek ways to contribute. Like Mr. Zigler says “when you help others get what they need and want, you will always get what you need, want and deserve.

The next habit I want you to internalize is First in and last out which means you put in more effort and work harder than anyone else -- and not just busy work, but a meaningful, higher level of contribution. Get to work, school-- or meetings, presentations, leadership team meeting sessions -- early, and don't be the first to leave. Those times, early and late, are often when some of the most meaningful contributions are made. When we practice Tae Kwon-Do it means being the first one to show up for practice and the last to go home. It means doing more to prepare and develop than your competition. It means putting in more meaningful effort to produce a better end result.

Say to yourself before going to bed each night the first thing out of my mouth will be something positive when I wake up. It really doesn’t matter if you are alone or not, just say aloud something positive to yourself or to who ever you see first thing in the morning.



Respectfully,

Master Dan Zaleski

The Master’s Circle

 The master’s circle is studying, practicing and teaching. Then repeating this concept in a constant and continuous improved way.  As always it is your choice to enter the master’s circle. 

Mastery is not a peak to be reached, but a plateau to be walked.

    The true master’s do not sit on their laurels waiting for others to pay homage but continue to study, practice and teach.

    So then excellent instructors should practice the master’s circle and be the example to the students. As well, the state of “jun bi” (which means ready!) is their trademark. Sharp pressed uniforms are just the outward standard they are sharp on the inside. Patience, trust and loyalty to their seniors and students and the attitude of constant and never ending improvement reveal these individuals.

    This brings us to excellent students, who must know and enter the master’s circle. You might say if you are a new student, sure I can study and practice but teach? Well unless it’s your very first day at the dojang there will be a newer student then you that will arrive. It is all students job to make the newer student feel welcome and part of the TKD family. The excellent student is ready, mindful, (of themselves and others) and loyal to the master and their academy.

    Where does personal power come from? It comes the very moment that we make a decision with our God given free will. Life is to important to leave to chance Decide now to be the best that you can be. Right this very moment you can switch (if you haven’t already) from passivity to enter the master’s circle.

 

    We have to see ourselves as masters, instructors and students in our own fields of career, school, reltionships.  Study - Practice - Teach, we are not in competition with eachother we are in creation with eachother to create the community we want to live in.

 

Respectfully,

 

Master Dan Zaleski