Blog
Haste makes Waste
Haste makes waste ie 'quickly doing things results in a poor ending'. Most of us by now know learning is a relatively slow process. It typically takes years to earn a Black Belt, it also takes years to finish schooling 
and years to earn a degree etc. If you're not patient enough then you are one of those persons who will get upset if they cannot see the grass grow. If you're patient enough you will eventually get results so you shouldn't despair when things don't seem to be working out for you on partciular days whether it be in the martial arts or at regular school. The 'grass will grow' as long as you put some work in! Sometimes, if you have high expectations then expect to see the frustration set in. Some people just need a little more time than others to get to the fnish line.
Learning is a like a sinewave. It has its ups and downs. There is no such thing as a perfect day, every day, but that does not mean you don't step out of your front door if the weather is a bit cool. The same goes when you have your bad days in training; nobody's an exception. Sometimes, learning may appear to be too slow because the other 'guy' is moving faster than you, giving you the perception that you're too slow. It's just that the other guy is moving faster than you.
'Slow' is not necessarily a bad thing; Hanshi Tino Ceberano has said it many times, "Slow to learn, hard to forget". That sounds like me; I'm actually better at the things that took me a little longer to learn.
GA
Don’t Fall Head over Heels
My approach to martial arts is one of curiosity ie why we do things in a certain way and what is 
the benefit of doing them that way. I like to investigate because I am not always satisfied by some of the explanations, and there may be further reasons. For example, why do we do Jiu Jitsu rolls and breakfalls? You might expect, 'in case you get thrown on the ground', and that's great in class which gives your opponent, a number of opportunties, to practice their takedowns or throws without you getting hurt. Is that the only use?
If any martial artist believes that they can do any of these classy rolls and falls on a hard surface in real combat, they should think again! If you end up in a clinch it would be difficult to be able to do any of these especially with hands tied up. It's even more difficult when you're not expecting to take to the ground so you would be caught by surprise thus not executing the fall as you do in class. Your skills also do not guarantee you will not hit the deck if you're up against a good adversary. So the point of practicing the rolls and falls should see you better off than your opponent by taking the fall the best way possible making sure you protect your head and back.
This training helps students conquer the fear of falling down and to be better off than the 'other guy' who might not know anything at all. Anyway, you'll eventually see everything will fall into place!
GA
What a Weekend!
Another glorious weekend with Richard Norton over the last 3 days in Sydney. Our first stop was, Joe Ingrati's gym, (Friday morning), for a private, then off to my place for some good coffee and rest. The evening was a Reality Based seminar at Robert Janceski's school; This is well over my 10th seminar of this type and I am still amazed how much more I have picked up. It was great to see the really dedicated students, from my school, turn up including those who came from the ACT and Qld. Saturday was a BJJ seminar (you can see the tired look on 
people's faces after 3 hours).
On Sunday it was off to Wayne Miller's school at Wilberforce which was a first time for Richard to do a kids' seminar. He did a terrific job! A DVD of Richard's film clips was to be screened on the overhead projector but Plan A failed, so did Plan B. As it turned out Wayne had Plan C; we all went into the carpark, out in the freezing cold, and viewed the clips from the DVD player in Wayne's car. Richard kept on about over the weekend how you need back up plans (in the martial arts) if the first one fails. It appears Wayne was paying attention.
We had a lot fun and a lot of laughs. Richard was hammering me all weekend, about my blogs, and wondered how did I ever have time to turn up to the seminars! He's a funny man but he is undoubtedly the best ever martial artist on earth. At least he will make a great stand up comedian if he ever decides to give up the martial arts.
Many thanks to all those who supported and attended, especially Robert Janceski and Wayne Miller who hosted Richard at their schools. Some of us were in a little pain like Richard with his shoulder, me with my back, Robert with his knee and Damien also with his knee (awaiting for knee surgery but still came down to train). No use whinnying about it!
GA