Black Belt Leaders & Champions are achievers, in and out of the dojang. They strive to be their best in every area of their life. A true Black Belt Leader & Champion in the Martial Arts is always striving to get better and better, on and off the mat.
Why is it so common to see a Black Belt Leader & Champion become an achiever outside of the dojang as well? One of the reasons is that the Martial Arts instills the desire to become the best you can be. As a Black Belt Leader & Champion, you are always striving to grow to the next level. No matter how great of a Black Belt Leader & Champion you become, no matter how many Black Belt Degrees you hold, the biggest room in the world, is the room for improvement.
Black Belt Leaders & Champions in the dojang always strive to be Champions in life. Junior Black Belt Leaders & Champions should strive for academic excellence and to be the best they can be, at home, at school and in the dojang. Adult Black Belt Leaders & Champions should strive to be achievers and leaders in their work environment, at home with their family and in the dojang. The best must always get better and achievers are always searching for ways to improve themselves and the results they produce.
Life is so much more fun when you are excelling at it. Look at your Martial Arts training as much more than just training for another belt, losing weight or getting in better shape. Look at as a success conditioning program that is preparing you to excel in life. Here is a great affirmation to say to yourself as part of your mental conditioning program: I am a Black Belt Leader… I am an Achiever… I am on quest to be my personal best… in mind, body, and spirit… ASAH!!!
Becoming an A-Rated Black Belt Leader & Champion is much more than just earning a belt around your waist. It’s about becoming the best you can be in all aspects of life. The habits, attitudes, and skills we develop in the dojang have a powerful impact on our lives outside the dojang. Ask yourself if you are living Pyung Ahn (Peace and Calm/Confidence) in all areas of your life. If the answer is yes, congratulations and keep it up! If the answer is no…it may be time to look inside and check to ensure you are congruent with your core values, beliefs, and principles.
Hi-Achievers know you never achieve maximum results by giving minimum effort. You will never achieve a full split if you don’t stretch yourself beyond current limits. The MINIMUM vs. MAXIMUM theory teaches us that we must develop the habit of giving our best effort and energy if we want to achieve our best results. Most people develop the habit of giving their minimum everyday, doing just enough to get by. Doing just enough to get by is is one of the reasons why most people will never become Hi-Achievers. It’s not that they couldn’t… it’s just that they don’t!
Most people are simply not willing to give their best effort and energy. You are not training in the Martial Arts to be like most people. You are training to become part of the Top 5% Achievers and a Black Belt Leader & Champion, this is why you must understand and apply this simple theory of success.
“Habits we train are habits we gain“. Get in the habit of aiming to be the best you can be, always give your best effort and strive to achieve your best results. The Best Always Get Better!
Congratulations to the following students for successfully completing the Summer 2007 testing cycle. The new promotions are:
| Dr. Meetze | 3rd Dan |
| Bob Thomas | 1st Dan |
| Chris Scarpino | Cho Dan Bo |
| Kosta Livitisky | 1st Gup |
| Angelika Fretzen | 1st Gup |
| Richard Heppner | 2nd Gup |
| Daniel Maibor | 7th Gup |
| Mark Gerlovin | 8th Gup |
| Tony Messina | 9th Gup |
| Anthony Davies | 9th Gup |
We would also like to welcome the following new students
| Tony Messina |
| Antony Davies |
“The Um/Yang of New and Old Learning” by Richard Heppner
Christian Klacko : June 14, 2007 6:00 pm : newsThe First Annual Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation New England Black Belt Camp took place over the weekend of June 8. 2007. A number of black belts and red belts from Cambridge Tang Soo Do accompanied Master Klacko to far western Massachusetts for two days of intensive training, testing, learning, and camaraderie with the students and masters from other New England Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do schools. The weekend began with a general workout and a black belt test (including our own Dr. Meetze testing for Third Dan) on Friday evening. Saturday and Sunday morning were filled with training and individual clinics with masters sharing their knowledge of advanced techniques, forms, and weapons. Each evening ended with memorable and inspiring speeches from Master St. James about the history, protocol and way of Tang Soo Do.
For Cambridge Tang Soo Do, it was a weekend of firsts. As new entrants to the Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation, many of us were meeting the masters and students from the other schools for the first time. Every student in attendance saw something new and learned something for the first time, from new bong hyungs to advanced takedown techniques to self defense using a cane. It was, of course, all too short and barely an introduction to the wealth of knowledge and experience the masters had to share.
Learning new techniques is only part of what it means to advance in our art form, however. We also practiced the most basic of forms and reviewed the fundamental principles and ancient history of Tang Soo Do. Even though it was a retreat for advanced students, everyone benefited from a return to basics such as practicing forms step-by-step to the beat of a drum. Tang Soo Do is an art form where learning occurs on two levels, the introduction of new material and the continual review and refinement of what we think we already know. The First Annual Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation New England Black Belt Camp was an opportunity to do both.