Dojo Student Express
Newsletter - July 2008

Announcing Buddy Leadership Week
July 7th - 11th

Starting in June we are changing the way we host Friend’s Days at the dojo. Rather than designating one day each month for Friend’s Day, we will begin designating one week each month. We are calling it Buddy Leadership Week.

 Buddy Leadership Week gives students an opportunity to bring a friend to train with them any day during the designated week. During Buddy Leadership Week students of all ranks who would like to train with their friend will come to any of the regularly scheduled Pre-Karate (ages 4 to 6), Youth Basic (ages 7 to 14), or Adult Basic classes.
Print flyer here. 

2008 Summer Camps at the Dojo

• July 21st - 25th:
  Weapon Camp (Kama/Sickle)
  
• August 18th - 22nd:
  Weapon Camp (Shoto/Sword)
  

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Welcome to Yudansha Kai.

Fifteen years ago I was introduced to the idea of having a black belt club within the dojo. At first I was skeptical, since it did not seem to fit my idea of tradition. However, after thinking about it, I remembered that over forty years ago I, along with many Judo and Jujitsu instructors and black belts throughout our State, was a member of the Hokka Judo Yudanshakai (Northern California Judo Black Belt Association). As I thought more about it, I came to realize that forming a Yudansha Kai, Black Belt Club, within our own dojo was not only in keeping with tradition, it was an excellent idea as well.

 This summer I have decided to reform our Yudansha Kai. I am also opening up Yudansha Kai membership to all of our yellow belts, youth, adult, and even Pre-Karate students. I HIGHLY recommend that all of our students from yellow belt through the highest-ranking black belts join the newly reorganized Yudansha Kai (Black Belt Club) immediately.

 We Are A Black Belt School

 Our dojo is, and has been for many years a black belt school. That wasn’t the way it always was in the martial arts. Martial arts instructors used to brag how few of their students ever earned their black belt. It seemed that producing only a very few black belts was somehow a measure of success for a martial arts dojo. As I thought about this I realized that often the student who would benefit the most from martial arts training was the very student that was left along the wayside. About fifteen years ago a wise old instructor, one who, by the way, had changed his method of teaching, asked me, “If you were looking to enroll your child into a four year school and the principal proudly stated that less than five percent of the incoming freshman would successfully graduate at the end of the four years, would you be likely to enroll your child in that school?” Of course my answer was, “No.” He then pointed out that in our styles of martial arts the journey from white belt to black belt for older youths and adults is generally a four-year program. He went on to suggest that maybe losing such a high percentage of students during that four years was not truly a measure of quality or success for the students, the instructor or the dojo. Maybe, he suggested, the old way is wrong! Maybe it should be the instructor’s goal to raise every student’s skill and ability to black belt level. As I listened I almost dropped right off my feet! It struck me, he was absolutely right! From that day forward it became my goal to help each and every one of my students to earn their black belt. To achieve the goal of black belt excellence! Today, every member of our staff is totally committed to this concept. If they were not, they would not be teaching at our dojo.

 Why would one of our goals for our students be to help them earn their black belt? Because, after teaching martial arts for some four decades I have seen that steady martial arts training can and will have a positive impact on a person’s life. My Sensei, Master Richard Kim, taught us that as martial artists we are not just learning self-defense, we are striving to become the very best that we can be in all aspects of life. The martial arts skills and living skills that a student will develop will bring wonderful changes in life. These changes do not happen over night.  Progress in the martial arts is a step-by-step process. It always has been, and always will be. With consistent training, over a period of time, students will experience growth and advancement on their journey towards the development of personal excellence. This growth requires commitment, a commitment to consistently attend class, to practice and to improve one’s skills and abilities on a daily basis. It requires a stick-to-it-iveness.

 Things are always at their best in the beginning. Sometimes it’s hard to stick to something once we have outlived the first interest. But when it comes to commitment, you’re either in or you’re out. There’s no such thing as life in between. The development of positive habits is one of the main goals of the martial arts.  As Ben Franklin said, “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” Commitment and consistent practice develops self-discipline. And self-discipline gives us the drive to follow-through, to persevere and to never give up. It develops the life-long habit to, “Stick to it, until we do it!”  What a formula for success in life, the development of positive habits such as commitment, goal setting, perseverence and self-discipline!

 Every successful dojo I've ever opened, ran, or observed, has a powerful culture and energy that breeds excellence and achievement. I can’t tell you how important this energy is to our personal growth. And as one great author told us, “The world belongs to those with the most energy.” The Yudansha Kai brings students and instructors together to work towards a common goal, that goal can is called Kaisen, continuous improvement. They work together to help each other become their very best, not just in the martial arts, but in all walks of life. It becomes a quest for constant, never ending improvement. There is an old saying, “When you stop striving to become better, you quit being good.”  The Black Belt Club provides a support group that helps students stay on track and to keep going even when it becomes difficult to do so.

 Frank Lloyd Wright told us, "I know the price of success: dedication, hard work and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen."  We want our students to be successful. We want our students to learn to set goals. And then develop the patience, persistence, passion and indomitable spirit that they will need to successfully reach their personal goals throughout their lifetime. We want our students to begin their martial arts journey with the end in mind. And thus we encourage all of our students, even new students, to set as one of their personal goals to earn their black belt. And we encourage our existing black belts to set their sights on reaching their next level of black belt excellence.  We want Kaisen, continuous improvement, to become a way of life for all of our students. And when a student gets sidetracked, experiences a setback, or begins to lose interest, fellow Black Belt Club members will be there to help the student get back on course. That is the culture of and energy of a Black Belt School.

 So set your sights on becoming the very best you can be. And with the help of your fellow students and our staff you will come to discover that you can do it. You can do the things in life that you may have been afraid you could not do. You will learn to dream dreams that are far greater than the life you are now living. You will learn to stretch yourself beyond your history, and to live larger than you ever thought that you could. You won’t stop at the first giant hurdle that stands between you and your dreams. You will develop the passion, perseverance and persistence to change your life. You can do it now, or next week, or next month, or next year, or you can simply choose not to do it at all. It is up to you. But I encourage each of you to become an active member of the Yudansha Kai right now!

 I am ready to accept your application for membership to our Yudansha Kai, Black Belt Club, right now.

 Here Are The Qualifications For Yudansha Kai (Black Belt Club) Membership.

 1. Be willing to set reaching Black Belt (or the next level of Black Belt) as one of your personal goals.

2. Have reached a minimum rank of Yellow Belt. 

3. Commit to consistent attendance in class.

4. Demonstrate a good attitude in class, at home and towards others.

5. Be supportive of Dojo activities and functions.

6. If under 18 years old, have the support of your parents.

 Yudansha Kai Membership Will Allow You To:

 1. Proudly wear the new Yudansha Kai patch on your uniform.

2. Receive the support of other Yudansha Kai members towards the accomplishment of your

goal of reaching your Black Belt or upper levels of Black Belt.

3. Attend special monthly Yudansha Kai workouts.

4. Attend special Yudansha Kai seminars.

Karate Camp All Week (7/21 through 7/25)
Camp graduation begins Friday @ 1:30
~ Regular Morning and Afternoon Class Schedule all week. ~