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.
John Maxwell says: “It takes a strong team to build a big dream.”
When it comes to the achievement of worthwhile and important goals, I’m sure you would have to agree with that statement. If I looked back at any of the truly magical moments and greatest victories in my life, I can quickly relate to the power of a strong team.
Based on the “Chopstick Theory”, which simply states that one chopstick is very easy to break, it may even be easy to break three or four. However, when you put several together, they become more and more difficult to break. Eventually, you can put enough chopsticks together to form an unbreakable bond.
If you are always there for your friends and team mates, your friends and team mates will always be there for you. Most people, not all, believe in reciprocity.
Law of Significance stresses that One is too Small a Number to Achieve Greatness. Your greatest victories and achievement usually happen when working together with others toward a common goal or objective. It strengthens your power and gives you someone else to share the joys of winning and overcome the setbacks. Working together – leads to winning together as a team!