Reflection on 2008
Another year has passed. I often reflect at the end of 12 months what have we achieved in the martial arts. Just as important what you, as an individual, have achieved. Martial Arts training requires your concentration, patience, time, and you make sacrifices, but the benefits are really worthwhile which result in an improvement in your whole well-being, both mentally and physically.
Although our core 'business' is Karate-Jitsu we usually step outside the circle by giving students the opportunity to experience and train in other areas of the martial arts:
- Kickboxing
- Reality Based Self Defence
- Black Belt Complexes
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Mixed Martial Arts
This has shown to make training much more pleasant and challenging. It also gives the individual the chance to specialise in an area they particularly like. With the some of the best Martial Artists in the world coming over to visit us such as John Will, Richard Norton, Tino Ceberano and Grandmaster Rodel, we are very lucky to have the opportunity to train with these persons.
We are having a short break over the Holiday Season. I hope you can all share my enthusiasm because this break is just a reminder of how much I will miss my training and seeing you.
We would like to see you bring someone with you next year to take on one of the most enjoyable activities around. I wish you all a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.
We’ve heard the phrase, ‘one too many’ referring to drinking too much alcohol. This also has some significance to when you only have a very minute amount of time to react quickly and instinctively in self defence. Any more than one technique that pops up in your head will slow you right down. John Will’s recent blog, has a great article, ‘STARTLED’, which I recommend everybody read which goes into detail about reaction time being affected by having to choose from multiple responses. Richard Norton similarly talks about being ‘log jammed’ ie too many techniques, in a ‘fight or flight’ situation, is going to get you into trouble. That is the problem with Police Officers today who carry so much artillery around and have to calculate the most appropriate weapon for a situation. Too bad if they choose the wrong one. Forget ‘the more, the merrier’ in this case. Everybody has experienced the amount of time taken to decide their order from a restaurant menu. The more choices on the menu the more time wasted. Time is a luxury which we cannot afford in a crisis.
Sorry for submitting this a little late; we've had a busy week organising Richard Norton's seminars in Sydney. It was an excellent attendance this year and we all looked like one big happy family. This event is most important for everybody especially for the little ones. Every student was very special on this night and I congratulate everyone for attending.
This incident comes to mind when Richard told me about his new project. He will be starring in a martial arts movie with Hollywood’s, Lance Henriksen (see pic) scheduled to commence shooting in early 2009 . This is a story about 2 Australian Cops in tons of ‘kick ass’ action (can’t say anymore, I have been sworn to secrecy). In mid February of this year I was with Richard and his lovely wife, Judy, on our way to Steve Perceval’s gym at Penrith for a seminar. On the motorway we noticed a crazy male driver. Cops don’t worry about these things off duty unless serious. I said if only Richard and Judy were not in the car. This guy was really getting out of control so I deputised Richard and told him I needed to get close enought to get a car rego so I can at least report this guy. This guy was travelling at high speeds, overtaking people in the breakdown lane, using no indicators, chopping and changing lanes dangerously etc (where are the cops when you need them). I made sure my passengers didn’t get too uncomfortable during the ordeal but this was a once in a lifetime chance for Richard and Judy to see ‘police in action’. Now that's what you call a 'method actor'. We got a little late to the seminar with Steve waiting with his hands on hips.
We envy top athletes, including martial artists, and we wonder what it takes for them to get there. Many of us will have us believe that that we don’t have the ability. Thank goodness that is wrong because the power of volume training can help anyone do a whole lot better. What this means is not so much repetition training such as doing a punch and kick 1,000 times but reassessing as you go along; eg after 10 kicks, analyse to see what it takes to improve. Then do another 10 reps, and so on. Get it right first before you commit to 1,000 times. Most people will stop practicing a drill once they have finally put things together when this is the time they should be getting right into it. Actors, repeatedly go over their lines even though they may already know them. Practice what you have learnt; not just practice what you are trying to learn. That’s the correct way of volume training. Realistically, you are not going to achieve a 1,000 reps in one session (and you shouldn’t) but that is what it takes to get good at something in the long term.
I was at Steve Perceval’s school over the last weekend doing another BJJ seminar with John Will. I dragged the twins along with me and sacrificed them to Richard Sargeant (who was recently promoted to Brown Belt) who did some attitude adjusting (just kidding). It is really good just to see John again because I really enjoy, not only his BJJ, but his teaching skills. After that, John, Steve and I went to Rick Spain’s school in the city to do another seminar. I partnered off with Rick Spain who is well renowned and one of the most talented martial artists in Australia so it was good to ‘grab each other by the collar’. Surpise, surprise, John Will awarded him his Brown Belt (wasn’t Rick happy?). Rick Spain deserves it and he is a real gentleman. After that, John, Steve and I went to a Brazilian Restaurant in Leichhardt. John could not stop bragging about his wife’s cooking and Steve told him to not tell us anymore since he cannot offer any. I told John I am really blessed to be surrounded with people like himself, Richard Norton and Steve. John is really happy I am hooked up with Richard because he is the best martial artist in the world. Can’t wait for the next John Will seminar (next year). Next time, Portuguese cuisine!
My good friend, John Flynn, came by with Hanshi Tino and Master Rodel, at 5.30am on Sunday (12/10/08). I was starting to have second thoughts about making this trip to Melbourne (too groggy from getting up so early). When we got to the Airport the girl behind the counter suddenly transformed into a 10 year old when she realised Hanshi was the father of Kate Ceberano. 
Most of you would know Hanshi Tino Ceberano and Grandmaster Rodel (from the Philippines) had visited Sydney on Friday 10/11/08. I met up both of them and we went to Manly to see one of my very good friends, Arthur Katsogiannis, a Police Superintendent, who is now in charge of the Australian Institute of Police Management. Arthur is a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and is a former professional champion body builder. We sat in a coffee shop facing the beautiful Manly Beach. The weather was perfect and so was the conversation. After some business meetings, we went off to a Chinese Restaurant meeting up with one of my best friends, John Flynn, who has been hosting Hanshi whenever he is in Sydney (John is an outstanding guy). In the evening we all met up for a seminar at the Belmore South School where Hanshi and Master Rodel did what they do best; this time it was more about the weapons, particularly the knife. It was an excellent presentation! We had a few student from our school but there were many others including Shihans, Robert Janceski and Andrew Roubas. Also in attendance, were the Doce Pares group (the Filipino Weapons experts). We later met up with Master Fari Salievski at Strathfield for a a snack and coffee. It was a great day! I have just decided to fly down to Melbourne with Hanshi and Master Rodel after being invited, with many other senior Karate Masters, the Diploma in Sports Coaching being presented to me. I will be back in Sydney Monday afternoon.