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A Black Belt is a worldwide recognized symbol that represents a high level of excellence, not just in physical skill, but also in attitude, behavior and character. Integrity is vital ingredient for any leader, in and out of the Martial Arts. Having integrity and a solid character, leads to earning the respect and trust of others. Black Belt Leaders always honor their commitments and accept their responsibilities in life. They are people that can be trusted and counted on, they are dependable and always there to back up their team, friends and family. As Leaders in our communities and as dedicated students of the Martial Arts, we must constantly remind ourselves to go beyond the physical aspects and to also practice the mental and character developing aspects of the arts. Black Belt leaders & champions live by a code of ethics and honor. They walk their talk and are value driven. Champions live by the principles of Black Belt Leadership. Being liked, trusted and respected by others is an honored position in life. To deserve this honor, we must always practice and live with Integrity.

Dear Master Klacko,

  It is with great sincerity that I thank you for your teachings and knowledge that you’ve passed down to me over the years. The promotional ceremony last night was very exciting. I feel it’s a culmination of much effort by many people. The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” certainly applies to martial arts. It takes the most senior and wizened to pass down the oldest traditions and to make sure all those under him/her who are disseminating those teachings uphold the original value. It takes juniors to learn and to challenge those above them in the process. It takes the newly interested and involved to continue growing the age old process and to ensure it never dies. It takes a personal and intimate commitment of all involved to be 100% vested in the educational, spiritual and physical growth of those around them.

  I will endeavor to do my best at upholding that commitment, to you, my peers and the federation. I humbly thank you for not only your professionalism but for your friendship and support over the years through some very trying times. I will make every effort to do the same for those above and below me in the ranks who have played such an important part already in my development.

Respectfully Submitted,
Noelle Roderick-Drewicz
E Dan

Congratulations to the following students for successfully completing the Winter 2007 testing cycle. The new promotions are:

Noelle Drewicz	2nd Dan
Daniel Maibor	4th Gup
Jason Green	6th Gup
Anthony Messina	7th Gup
Kevin Palmer	9th Gup

A warm welcome to the following students who have decided to start their journey in the Martial Arts at Cambridge Tang Soo Do:

Kevin Palmer

Traci Thorensen

We are all emotional beings and the better you are able to control your emotions, the happier you will be and the better you perform, in the Martial Arts and in life. Black Belt Leaders & Champions learn that they must control their emotions, or their emotions may control them. Training and exercise is absolutely the best way to rid yourself of stress and thoughts that lead your emotions toward the negative. Negative emotions…such as anger, depression, and sadness are often magnified by allowing tension to build up inside. Martial Arts training forces all the bad out and allows you to breath in the good.

Another great way to influence your emotions is to purposely feed your mind and body the good stuff by reading, listening and watching things that motivate and inspire you. It was Zig Zigler that said we must bath our brains daily just as we bath our bodies. Both tend to get dirty through use and exposure to the elements. By constant bathing, you tend to bring out your best emotions. If you allow yourself to constantly absorb the negatives, it’s like junk food for the brain, it can and will cause long term damage to your overall emotional well being.

Food also effects your mood. Some foods weigh you down and can make you feel like a load. Other foods, such a fresh fruits and vegetables give you energy and make you feel better. Black Belt Leaders & Champions strive to master their emotions, by programming themselves for success. Everything you see, hear and experience, influences your thoughts and emotions. Once you fully understand this, you may decide to be more aggressive on programming your thoughts everyday, by watching, listening and doing things that influence your emotions in a positive and empowering direction. This of course extends to the people you surround yourself with.

Doing this will help you to better control your anger, depression and/or those rare moments of Stinkin’ Thinkin’ that happen to us all. Positive programming leads you toward positive thoughts and emotions. Positive emotions bring you greater health, happiness and optimism toward life. Developing positive emotional control is similar to developing your confidence, it requires daily attention and regular conditioning. A healthy daily diet and taking great care of your physical body and mental input will have great influence on your emotions and attitudes. A healthy, energized body creates a more motivated state of mind. A simple smile on your face leads to happier thoughts and emotions. You must control your emotions and avoid letting them control you. By mastering your emotions, you begin to master yourself!