2010 Australasian BJJ Comp

/in /by

This past weekend saw me down in Melbourne, with 3 of my guys competing at the 2010 Australasian BJJ Championships hosted by Mr John Will.  It was a fantastic weekend and a real experience for Joshua, Michael and Antoine who train with me at Belmore and the Burwood PCYC.  I also had a wonderful time catching up with fellow instructors, also friends, whom I have not seen for a long time all gathered at one location at the one time.  This sort of thing happened to me before when I visited Greece in 1999 with my cousin getting married at the time.  I got to see all relatives and friends at the one go which I would not otherwise have been able to do so.

The tournament on Saturday was quite successful with no, or very little hiccups I could see.  Congratulations to John and his wife, Melissa, for making it all happen.  My guys want to do it again and I am hoping to see a bigger team from our school attend next year.  It was really nice of Rigan Machado to greet me at the tournament and even remember my first name (that's 2 years after when I last saw him at a Sydney seminar). What a great (really great) martial artist and wonderful man!

The seminar by Rigan, on Sunday, was a real treat.  We worked very hard and there is no doubt everybody got a lot out of it.  Towards the end of the seminar Rigan drilled us with 60 armbars and 60 push-ups in between and I was up for it, I didn't miss a beat!  Must be because us Karate guys have good core strength (lol).
GA

Why are you Tired?

/in /by

We have our good days and we have our bad days.  It all depends how you feel on the day.  Human beings, in all other living things, have a biological clock which tells us when to eat, sleep and wake up.  

If you unwantingly wake up early on weekends or have ever suffered from jet lag, it's probably due the effeffects of your biological clock in your body. The understanding of these clocks can be very helpful to you, for by doing so you may be able to learn to "set" them to wake up at a prearranged time, remind you of appointments or even help you to return to your car before the time expires on your parking meter.

If someone's daily biological clock runs fast, the person will tend to get sleepy early in the evening, but will be able to wake up in the morning with little difficulty. Exposure to the day/night cycle of the outside world will help him or her to reset his biological clock each day- humans being able to do this more easily than animals- otherwise he would go to bed earlier and get up earlier and earlier each day. Because of this need to readjust his internal clock, he is continually under pressure from the external world.

 

The Martial Arts Spirit

/in /by

Just thought I would share this wonderful message I received on Facebook from a good friend and great colleague who recently left the Police Force. I believe people do notice and respect people who dedicate themselves to the martial arts and it is something like this which makes it all worthwhile doing what I do.  They say a good Martial Arts Instructor will have a positive and profound influence on students' lives but how good is it when that also extends to people outside of martial arts:

Robert H. September 3, 2010 at 5:21pm
Subject: Thanks Mate

Hey George….
Well mate …., I'm out of the Cops …., as of the 19th of Aug, 2010…, thought the day would never come. I just wanted to say to you that it was both a pleasure and experience to know you over the years I did as we were cops. You are one of those people that come into peoples lives to enrich and better them. You have made me realise how strong some people can be ….., obviously you are one of those people. You are a master at `life'…., not just being a cop, or an international defence expert ….., you're simply a person that most learn from …, whether we know it at the time or some time later ….

I have been busy and getting through all my own stuff with my marriage break up and the `job' etc …, but wanted to make sure you know that I always held and still do, you in the highest esteem.

Thanks George for teaching me about life and never giving up ….

As you always say mate …, there's too much muuuuuunchaussen !!!… lol

Cheers Mate
Bob H.

P.S. Keep on keeping on George …., love ya style …, always will.

And to top it off, I got another message from another work colleague just making sure I turn up to his wedding this Sunday:

Hi George !
 
This is Sam T.  Just a reminder  my wedding is on Sunday.  I hope to see you and your lovely wife on the day.  Paul M, Col T, Brian D & Eddy A are all coming as well.  George you have always been good to me.

I met Sam when he was 15 years old with two of his mates riding an unregistered trail bike which I chased down whilst on a police motorcycle.  That was 25 years ago!  I thought I would give them a break which I thought was a good idea at the time to see if I could do any good with these young persons.  Several years later a young rookie was sitting next to me in a Highway Patrol vehicle and he said, "You don't remember me?  But I remember you.  It's because of you I joined the Police Force."  Sam said that my attitude is what inspired him to become a cop.  People do remember things.

These are great memories!  The training I do now with prominent people and students in the martial arts will also be great memories.
GA