ninjanurse

Welcome!

Sounds good to me! Welcome!

Welcome!!!!

Welcome! You'll like TKD and so will your son!

Welcome!

Welcome to the forums! Enjoy!!

Welcome!

Welcome!!

Welcome to the forums! Glad to have you here!

Well....I "made" my kids stick to it when they were"bored" of TKD because I knew what the prize was and realized that they were too young and immature to understand. They have all thanked me, on numerous occasions, for not letting them quit because the lessons they learned and the challenges they overcame made them the confindent and successful youg people they are today. I am hopeful that they will return the favor to their kids one day.

I like it!

I can't agree more! Since I work in emergency medicine I get the opportunity to see people and their illnesses/problems first hand. There is a DEFINITE coorelation with diet and type/number of illnesses and medications taken by Americans. A great majority of disease can be prevented by simply changing your diet and lifestyle but people aren't willing to change when there is a little pill they can take to "fix" the problem. I will stop there to avoid my growing impulse to get on my soapbox! As far as GMO's go, I don't want to put anything mutated or chemically altered in my body-especially when you don't quite know what exactly it is. Besides, factory farming damages the nutrients in the soil making crops less nutirious in the long run; and the antibiotics and hormones fed to food animals get passed on to people when they eat them. Yuck! Someone mentioned the athletes now being bigger, etc....well, did you know that since dairy farmers have been allowed to give additional estrogens to dairy cows the average age of pubery in the US has been dropping? And, in countries that have limited access to cow's milk and/or use organic farming methods, the age of puberty has remained the same! I imagine that the growth hormones in our poultry and beef have the same body altering effects!! Enough, enough!!!!

Sounds like it could be a Tailors Bunion. They can stay inflammed for quite sometime. Of course, if you think you broke something you should see a doctor to make sure, but if it's a bunion it will "calm" down if you wear soft wide shoes, no high heels, etc.

I'm pretty big on the nurtition thing with my students but I don't preach. Years ago I was required to follow a special diet for several months prior to a black belt test and the benefits were quite obvious during the test. I encourage students to invetigate these things and to give thought to what they put into their bodies.

Kwan Zu!!! Master your own destiny by overcoming your doubts/fears and kickin' butt!

Punk Rock baby!!!

Howdy!

Welcome!

Welcome!!!

Welcome! I was there myself once! Glad you found a new dojo!

Welcome!! Nice to have you in the ranks!

Some people just aren't meant do do the splits. I have been stretching for 24 years and still don't have them.

Thanks for the positive comments. I appreciate them .

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community. "Black Belt is a symbol of excellence in the martial arts, however the true excellence is not in the belt but what kind of person you become in the process" (1). It represents who you are and sets a standard by which you live and judge yourself in the future. In the beginning of the process it is our ego that drives us - the need for status, recognition, attention, etc. - but in the end it is our ego that we learn to overcome thus removing the obstacles that keep us from achieving wisdom and maturity. I suspect that the ancient martial arts masters knew this as throughout history the role of the warrior has been primarily one of protector and traditionally warriors have been people who put self-interest second to the needs of the community. It seems then that their paths were not just directed towards mastery of physical skills and martial techniques but towards self development as well. Many start on the path for a variety of reasons and not all reach the finish but those that remain on course undergo many psychosocial changes throughout the process. What motivates one to stay on the path? Abraham Maslow, a noted psychologist, developed a theory of human development which attempts to explain what motivates people and leads them to the ultimate goal of self-actualization and transcendence, that point where a martial artist overcomes his own ego and gains an understanding of humility and its place in the warrior ethic. His theory of human needs provides a framework for discussion on how the study of martial arts can lead one though this process and what motivates them to attain that ultimate goal. We begin by outlining Maslow’s theory. He based his "hierarchy of human needs" on two types of needs, those that are basic to human existence (basic needs) and those that can be pursued depending upon a persons wants or circumstances (growth needs). A need higher in the hierarchy will become the motivator of behavior as long as the needs below it have been satisfied. The first of the "basic needs" are Physiological. These include the needs we have for oxygen, water, food, sleep and exercise. Once these needs have been met our focus turns to Safety. We become interested in finding protection, stability and order in our lives. The third level of "basic needs" are Belonging and Love, which are fulfilled through establishment of relationships with friends, lovers and the community we live in. We join clubs, get married, establish a career, etc. The final level of "basic needs" are Esteem Needs, which take on two forms. The lower form being the need for respect of others: the need for status, fame, glory, recognition, appreciation, dignity and dominance; the higher form being the need for self-respect manifested by confidence, competence, achievement, mastery, independence and freedom. Once the "basic needs" are met we are ready to act on the "growth needs" of the hierarchy based on our wants and goals. Maslow called this part of the hierarchy "self-actualization" and broke it down into four distinct levels that feed our desire to fulfill our potential. At the Cognitive level, we strive for knowledge and understanding which leads us to the Aesthetic level where we learn to appreciate the beauty and symmetry of what we know and apply it to our environment. It is the beginning of being able to look outside of ourselves and seeing the beauty around us. The level of self-actualization is reached when we use this knowledge and appreciation to understand who we are and have a sense of well being through overcoming our fears and realizing our potential for success in the present and the future. Once we understand who we are we begin to look to the final level of Maslow’s self-actualization needs which is the most difficult to obtain yet the most treasured to achieve: Transcendence. This ultimate level is characterized by the struggle to transcend our own ego and enter into a life of humility which is dedicated to helping others achieve self-actualization through the same process. Maslow’s self-actualizing, ego-transcending people are wise. They focus outside of themselves and they respect each others individuality. They feel joy in others successes and possess a common set of values: wholeness, perfection, completion, justice, aliveness, simplicity, beauty, goodness, uniqueness, truth, honesty, reality and self-sufficiency to name a few. Living within these values helps them to understand and seek out reality and because of this they are open minded, flexible and receptive. The fact that they are no longer ego-attached to their present views makes them teachable, compassionate and not restricted by doing what is considered to be the social or political norm, i.e. just because something isn’t popular doesn’t mean that it isn’t the right thing to do. The path of the warrior follows the same hierarchy of needs that Maslow’s self-actualizers do, with the goal manifesting itself as humility. Gichin Funakoshi, the great master of Japanese Karate, taught his students that "to attain true proficiency the karateka (student of karate) must control his mind and conquer himself". This humbling of oneself is central to the essence of the warrior spirit and the path to achieving it through martial arts training parallels Maslow’s Hierarchy exactly. All levels of needs can be met regardless of our initial motivations and goals as the process is the same and the psychology constant. The following illustrates how martial arts training fulfills the needs of the hierarchy at each level: Physiological: Exercise, pain relief, preservation of health, better nutrition Safety: Self defense skills, awareness, discipline, structure, consistency Belongingness and Love: Association with like minded people; acceptance regardless of rank or skill; loyalty to the school, friendships Esteem: Learning to overcome physical and mental challenges; belt level progression; success at competition; recognition outside the school by family, friends and co-workers; self-confidence; teaching others Cognitive: Desire to "master" the basics; beginning to understand the theory and philosophy behind technique; exploring complex combinations and weapons; learning what motivates you (and what scares you); desire to attain higher rank and pass down knowledge Aesthetic: Maintaining the standards of the art; striving for the perfection of the smallest details; finding beauty in the form; working on physical and emotional balance; having pride in your school; becoming a role model; time management Self-actualization: Knowing who you are and what your strength's and limitations are; confidence in your skills and potential; able to move "into the zone" to achieve peak performance; not being motivated by your fears; comfortable with your role, knowing your future goals; being able to get what you want out of training Transcendence: Overcoming yourself so that you can focus on others; understanding humility and earning respect by giving it; having a deep burning desire to help others achieve their goals by sharing your knowledge, fears and experiences; taking nothing for granted and giving everything without expectation of reward From these parallels it is easy to see that Maslow’s "needs"are easily fulfilled through the study of the martial arts. However, Maslow did not have the benefit of years of tradition to provide the consistently reproducible outcomes the masters of the arts did. By following the traditions and philosophies of their arts and striving to hand them down intact, martial artists are bringing Maslow into the classroom everyday and their students are reaping the benefits. The very nature of the warrior spirit that they try to instill in their students gives rise to perpetuation of the cycle as those students then become the protectors and guides for the next generation. While martial arts was born and thrived in an environment of "kill or be killed", the warrior spirit still thrives today in a more peaceful world not because of Maslow’s theory but because of the ancient principles it is based upon: The Tao. The following is a parable told by Gichin Funakoshi: A student once asked, "What is the difference between a man of Tao and a little man?" The Sensei replies, “It is simple. When the little man receives his first dan, he can hardly wait to run home and shout at the top of his voice to tell everyone that he has obtained his first dan. Upon receiving his second dan, he will climb to the rooftops and shout to the people. Upon receiving his third dan, he will jump in his automobile and parade through town blowing the horn, telling one and all about his third dan.” The Sensei continues, “When the man of Tao receives his first dan, he will bow his head in gratitude. Upon receiving his second dan, he will bow his head and his shoulders. Upon receiving his third dan, he will bow at the waist and quietly walk alongside the wall so that people will not see him or notice him." It is plain to me that the masters have always known that Black Belt excellence is truly about who you are and the path you take rather than the belt you wear around your waist. Footnote (1) http://www.pcisys.net/~success1 References Dynamic Karate, Masatoshi Nakayama. Kodansha International, Japan. 1966 Toward a Psychology of Being. Maslow & Lowry. Wiley & Sons, NY. 1968 http://userpages.itis.com/wrassoc/articles/psychsoc.htm http://kings.edu/kdils/maslow.htm http://cop.com/tw-ch01.htm http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/maslow.htm http://www.pcisys.net/~success1 http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/regsys/maslow.htm http://www.digiserve.com/mystic/Taoist/Tao_Te_Ching/humble.htm http://www.granddynamics.com/main/archive/feb_2001.asp http://facultyweb.cortland.edu/andersmd/MASLOW/ROLES.htm http://www.deepermind.com/20maslow.htm http://www.aiki.com/sneak/highered.htm

Update on the knee!!! Saw the surgeon today and he thinks that I might actually be better off not having a reconstruction because the joint is tighter than most "normal" ACL's and fixing it might make it looser. Go figure!! My problem is that I do "extreme sports", as he puts it, and I am having instability at maximum loading forces which while not a problem for most really cramps my style!! He injected it today ( I really hate that!) and I am going to do 2 weeks of PT before he scopes it to figure out why it is cracking(?torn cartilidge that didn't show up on the MRI). While this is great news for me I won't be able to make up the lost training time to test in May and go to Korea. Bummer! Oh well...the International scene will have to wait. I'll keep ya posted! Thanks!