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Hang around any successful achiever and you will soon realize why they are so successful. They always strive to get better. Study the best in sports or athletic competition, study the best in business, art, leadership, or any endeavor: you’ll quickly see that they are always striving to get better. The best must always get better. Anyone that has made it to the top of their field, is likely to be highly ambitious and driven for success and achievement. You will also note that they are focused on others success as much as they are focused on their own success. They are not likely to be satisfied with being second best or accepting mediocrity in their life. They also are very focused on helping others to improve and get the best out of themselves. This philosophy is not about ego but rather about what the Japanese call “Kaizen”. In the West this is often referred to as “can’t” or constant and never ending improvement.

One of your goals should be to get better every day. Whether it is your martial arts training, your school’s progress, or your relationships, it is always best to live by the principle that the, “biggest room in the world, is the room for improvement.” As the saying goes, “Goals we set are goals we get”. Take action everyday to make yourself smarter, stronger, and more effective. Work on improving your overall health & fitness and you will simultaneously improve all the relationships in your life. If you want to be the best, and I am assuming you do, strive to improve yourself everyday in every way. Every class, become and better student of the Martial Arts. Every day become a better student of life. As I have said many times before, you must first be a great student and or follower before you can be a great leader. Use peak performance prompts to remind yourself of your goal.

One of the ways to accomplish this is to follow the 8 Paths to Enlightenment. This is sometimes also referred to as the 8 Paths of Success. That is,

1. The Right Understanding
2. The Right Thoughts
3. The Right Words
4. The Right Actions
5. The Right Livelihood
6. The Right Effort
7. The Right Mindfulness
8. The Right Concentration

Black Belt Leaders and Champions follow the above philosophy and strategy to improve everything they do.

My first teacher in the Martial Arts really made an impact on my love for the Arts as well as physical fitness. Master Charette taught me Tang Soo Do. I began my study with him at 18 years old and at age 23 I started Tang Soo Do with Master Jae C. Shin, former Grandmaster of the World Tang Soo Do Association. All these great martial artists were excellent role models for me. By the time I was 18, I was at the dojang every chance I could get. My instructor was there every day but Sunday. Rain, shine, snow, cold, hot, it never seemed to matter to him. He just loved to train and was always willing to teach me and show me a little more of whatever form or technique I was ready for. His example was always my best teacher and the example he set has had a lifelong impact. Not only has it influenced my habit of daily training, it’s influenced me to take some form of action everyday to improve my business, my relationships and my knowledge in life.

Why do I share this with you? Hopefully, I can have the same influence on others the way my teachers did on me. Training everyday and taking positive action toward your most important goals in life will insure that you are moving forward and increasing your odds of success and achievement. Plus, the more you move the better your emotion and momentum. It’s much easier to adjust your course once your moving, the hard part for most is getting started. That’s why you should train yourself to schedule your workouts and classes. Make an appointment with yourself just like you would for a haircut or a dentist appointment.

Plan your work, then work your plan. If you don’t schedule it and make it a priority, you probably won’t do it. It will get put on the back burner and then you’ll develop the habit of putting off your workouts. Think like a modern day Warrior or a World Class professional athlete, you need to schedule your training sessions, your nutrition, rest and recharges. Everyday you train is a great day, which is why you should train everyday!

As the year draws to an end, it is a good time to reflect on all of our accomplishments and personal victories. We have had many this year and it is in no small part due to all our collective efforts:

• We welcomed 12 new students (4 adults & 8 kids)
• We achieved record participation at the Black Belt Camp (29 students)
• We achieved record participation at the New England Championships (30 students)
• We promoted 2 students to Junior Black Belt, 8 to Cho-Dan, 3 to E-Dan
• We promoted our first Sam-Dans to Master

I am very grateful for everybody’s contribution and support as we continue to build Cambridge Tang Soo Do. The old saying, “together, everyone achieves more”, is surely true in this case. As a TEAM, we were able to accomplish some great things. I look forward to more of the same in 2016.

I would like to thank everyone for all your continued support, dedication and loyalty!!!  The sky is the limit and with your help we will go very far. Keep up the great work and know you are appreciated.

Tang Soo!!!

Why is this an important Fitness Tip? Because even you will have to deal with temporary setbacks and obstacles that may interfere with your fitness goals. If time is ever an obstacle, then plan in advance and perhaps going to bed earlier so you can get an earlier start to your day may be the answer.

How about injuries? If they do occur, focus on what you can do instead of what you cannot. You may need to alter your plan, but never give up or give in to the injury. There is always a way if you are truly committed.

How about soreness or fatigue? You may want to have planned rest days or even an occasional weekend of rest and recharge. Be sure you’ve earned the right to rest though. Make sure you’re not just being lazy and allowing comfort zones to rule you.

How about sickness? My belief is the moment you admit sickness and give into it, it just magnified itself and will only get worse before it gets better. More often than not, you can train yourself healthy again by filling your mind with thoughts of health, wealth and happiness.

How about stress? The excuse just became the reason you would train. Get rid of your stress by training, no better way to rid your body of tension and negativity than you train it away.

Bottom line is this, as a Champion, you can never fall prey to “Excusitis.” It is a terrible disease and is extremely common amongst normal human beings. But you and I are not normal, we are Champions and Champions defeat obstacles!