Make a New Year's Resolution to Work Hard

One of Sifu's favorite authors is Harvey Mackay. He is an awesome businessman, writer and motivational speaker. This recent column of his, summarizes our feelings and experiences as well. We want all of you to be successful in all your goals - and we are here to help you!

Happy New Year from Sifu and Simou! See you all back in the dojo, ready to work, in 2009!

The 10,000-hour investment
by Harvey Mackay

For years I have preached the importance of hard work, determination, persistence and practice—make that perfect practice—as key ingredients of success. A nifty new book seems to support my theory. Malcolm Gladwell has written a fascinating study, "Outliers, The Story of Success," which should make a lot of people feel much better about not achieving instant success. In fact, he says it takes about 10 years, or 10,000 hours, of practice to attain true expertise.

"The people at the very top don't just work harder or even much harder than everyone else," Gladwell writes. "They work much, much harder." Achievement, he says, is talent plus preparation. Preparation seems to play a bigger role. For example, he describes The Beatles' rise to fame: They had been together seven years before their famous arrival in America. They spent a lot of time playing in strip clubs in Hamburg, Germany, sometimes for as long as eight hours a night. John Lennon said of those years: "We got better and got more confidence. We couldn't help it with all the experience playing all night long." Overnight sensation? Not exactly. Estimates are that that the band performed live 1,200 times before their big success in 1964. By comparison, most bands don't perform 1,200 times in their careers.

Neurologist Daniel Levitin has studied the formula for success extensively, and shares this finding: "The emerging picture from such studies is that 10,000 hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert in anything. In study after study of composers, basketball players, fiction writers, ice skaters, concert pianists, chess players, master criminals, and what have you, the number comes up again and again. Of course, this doesn't address why some people get more out of their practice sessions than others do. But no one has yet found a case in which true world-class expertise was accomplished in less time. It seems it takes the brain this long to assimilate all that it needs to know to achieve true mastery."
Two computer giants, Bill Joy, who co-founded Sun Microsystems, and Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, also were proof of the 10,000-hour theory. Their years of hard work paid off, don't you think?

As Gladwell puts it, "Practice isn't the thing you do once you're good. It's the thing you do that makes you good."

My purely unscientific observations support all that he says. Our sales reps at MackayMitchell Envelope Company seem to hit their prime after several years of hard work. And I believe it's more than getting comfortable in the job, because I've also seen sales reps that seemed like naturals at selling who couldn't peddle water in the desert. Why? They thought they could get by on their good looks, their winning personalities or their pedigrees. The notion of investing 10,000 hours didn't apply to them—or so they thought. I wouldn't know, because they aren't working for us anymore.

Consider these thoughts from successful folks in all walks of life:

"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals."—Larry Bird, basketball star turned coach/team president.

"No one can arrive from being talented alone. God gives talent; work transforms talent into genius."—Anna Pavlova, poet.

"I know the price of success: dedication, hard work and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen."—Frank Lloyd Wright, architect.

"The way to learn to do things is to do things. The way to learn a trade is to work at it. Success teaches how to succeed. Begin with the determination to succeed, and the work is half done already."—Mark Twain, writer and humorist.

"Things may come to those who wait. But only the things left by those who hustle."—President Abraham Lincoln.

Do you detect a theme here?

The abilities these people possessed were far-ranging, yet the formula for success was the same: hard work and lots of it. I don't know anyone who has succeeded any other way. Some people just make it look easy. Of course, you probably didn't see the first 9,999 hours of hard work. And you don't just have to work hard; you have to work smart too.

Mackay's Moral: Some people dream about success, and others wake up and do something about it.

To learn more go to: http://www.harveymackay.com/.

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Posted By Kajukenbo Arizona to Desperately Seeking Jennifer at 12/31/2008 02:30:00 PM

2008: An Outstanding Year for Kaju AZ!

We look back on many fond memories of 2008...

In February, Sifu began training at the PIT with Kumu John Hackleman. The PIT has added so much to Kaju AZ. Our CrossPIT classes are fun and challenging...and we keep coming back for more! Look for Sifu to visit the PIT more in 2009 and bring back even more exciting material.

We also had the pleasure of training during the year with so many masters including Professor and Sigung Lim, Olohe Solomon Kaihewalu, KSDI Masters, Dai Shihan Ted Tabura - we have learned much and are grateful for each experience.

We had four successful testing events in 2008. We are excited and looking forward to our first Black Belt Testing on March 21, 2009. MMA Black Belt Candidate Linda George is training hard and preparing for this unique event.

Sifu and the Corder family were able to visit Kajukenbo Founder, Sijo Adriano Emperado in Maui in July. What an honor to spend an afternoon with him!

Throughout the year we had the opportunity to share Kajukenbo at many self-defense clinics and seminars, as well as several demos. It is always a honor to participate and hopefully inspire others to join the martial arts.

Our dojo grew in August to 3,200 square feet and it's hard to remember the smaller dojo we were training in just a few months ago. More space has allowed Sifu, Sihing and our assistant instructors to provide more material and creative training for all of us!

Sifu, Mr. Nic and the Lim Kenpo Ohana participated in Black Belt Testing in the fall. What awesome events! The Black Belt Testing is January 24, 2009 and this will surely be a highlight for 2009!

We were blessed to add new instructors and classes to our school! Welcome to Mr. Marc Hernandez and Ms. Candace Hisatake as Black Belt Instructors, Coach Paul Nava for Jiu-Jitsu, Coach Jonathan Hedden for boxing and sparring and Coach Kyle Miller for our Strength Training Classes. It has been great to add more to our curriculum and learn from these great teachers.

We hosted Grandmaster Gary Forbach, Professor Joe Stubbs and Professor Mark Vorbau in October for a Self-Defense Seminar. It was an honor to train with them and we hope to host more events with Grandmaster in 2009.

Kaju AZ showed the generous spirit of Ohana with our MS events and Diapers for Djibouti. Following the inspiration of our student, Katie Crowder, we pulled together and raised over $6,000 for Multiple Sclerosis! We also had a campaign to help the orphans in Africa through the loyal servicemen and women stationed there. We contributed 756 diapers and 24 cans of formula!

Throughout the year some of our students participated in their first tournament ever. All participants had a great time and many came away with trophies and good memories. It was also great to see every student working past their comfort zones - getting stronger and perfecting techniques all the while becoming better human beings.

We love our Ohana! We treasure each experience and association with our wonderful instructors and students. Thank you for all your support, love and generosity and for capturing the true meaning of Ohana. We feel inspired and ready to make 2009 even better!

Sifu Kelly and Simou Jen

Welcome Coach Jonathan Hedden!

Kaju AZ is happy to welcome Coach Jonathan Hedden! Coach Jon will be teaching our Adult Sparring and Boxing/Kickboxing classes on Wednesday nights (see our new schedule). He has been training in martial for about 19 years and enjoys training in multiple styles. He is ranked in Ishin Ryu and Kajukenbo and has a 2nd Degree Black Belt with John Barrett American Martial Arts in Torrance, CA. Jon has trained in boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Kali and Muay Thai with various instructors including Richard Brasillo of IMB and Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing, boxing, and Tang Su Do with John Barrett He also taught for several years in California.

Coach Jon trained with Sifu Kelly at NAK and looks forward working with all the Kaju AZ students. Through all his varied experience, Coach Jon strives to always remain humble. His philosophy: "Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less."

Have an Attitude of Gratitude for Thanksgiving!

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."

Melodie Beattie, Author and Journalist

Welcome Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach Paul Nava to Kaju AZ!

Kajukenbo Arizona is happy to announce that we have added to our staff! Coach Paul Nava will be teaching our grappling and our new Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) class.

Coach Paul is a BJJ Nova Uniao Brown Belt and has been training for over 10 years. He is originally from San Jose and lives here with his wife of 10 years, Leslie. Coach Paul has 5 children! He also studied Muay Thai for 3 years. Coach firmly believes that hard work pays off and that students "are never too old to learn and experience new challenges." Some of his BJJ achievements include:

*2008 American Nationals, Gold (Middleweight) and Silver (Open Weight)
Medalist
*2008 California State, Gold Medalist
*2008 Pan American, Gold Medalist
*2007 Pan American, Bronze Medalist
*2006 American Nationals, Gold (Middleweight) and Bronze (Open weight)
Medalist
*2005 American International, Gold (Middleweight) Medalist
*2001 Copa Invitational, Bronze (Middleweight) Medalist

Coach Paul will be teaching from 8-9 pm on Monday nights, 7:30 - 9 pm on Wednesday nights. He will also be available for private lessons at a reduced rate for Kaju AZ Students. Our new schedule is available at www.kajuaz.com

Thank you for your support! We are excited to be adding to our curriculum and enthusiastically welcome Coach Paul!

Simou Jen

One Team, One Dream

"No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it."
H.E. Luccock

While there are exceptions, it really does take a team to carry out a vision. Such was the theme at the Final Black Belt Test Dry Run for Lim Kenpo Karate on Saturday, November 1st.

I wrote about the prior Dry Run and remarked on how it was inspirational. Saturday’s event was even more so.

Kaju AZ students Cameron Corder and Thomas Maher were asked to participate and at the time, I did not understand exactly why Professor Lim did so. It was apparent as soon as the training started.

The workout was challenging to say the least. After a couple of hours of non-stop drills including pushups, springs, mountain climbers, kicks and so much more, you could see the physical and emotional pain on each face. In one case, I saw a teenage girl squat next to a younger student who was really trying to push through the pain…and literally pushed her up to complete the spring. She offered many words of encouragement and continued to help her physically until the next break. I saw this many times over throughout the day. It was inspirational on so many levels.


No one asked them to help their fellow students, they just did it. In my experience over the past 15 years in martial arts, I know this is a rare thing. Most schools encourage self-centered students by putting them on a pedestal or promoting them to black belt without possession of a black belt attitude. Ultimately, it not only hurts the student but the dojo as well. These schools aren’t families, just glorified gyms.

The participants were partnered during some of the exercises. One exercise required that they learn five things about their partner while running their self-defense. Another involved solving a problem together and then presenting their collective thoughts to the group.

Do you know five things about each person you train with? Do you know five things about your instructor? You should.

Sometimes we are so focused on getting to class on time, getting our material for our next promotion and then rushing out to move on to the next part of our day that we forget that we are a TEAM. We forget that although we are all at different levels, we are stronger as a TEAM. We forget that we will gain so much more…for our minds, bodies and spirits…if we work as a TEAM.

Cameron and Thomas certainly know each other. They train together regularly and really exemplify teamwork in and out of the dojo. Both of them train hard and never short-change the other by going too soft but exhibit self-control at all times. Both are willing the share their knowledge, not just with each other but also with everyone. Both show care and concern about their lives outside the dojo and their family members. At the recent Brick Breaking Event for MS, Cameron inspected each brick that Thomas was about to break. Thomas carefully set up the bricks that Cameron was planning to break. Each was standing close by during their breaks as a way of protection and concern. And each was the first person to high-five and extend congratulations.


Kaju AZ has never been nor never will be a school about individuals. It was never designed for selfish students. All of us are really working toward the same thing: Black Belt Excellence in every day in every way.

The people we train with should inspire us. They should support us. They should help us be better in all areas of our lives. Allowing them to practice techniques on us is just the beginning. Each student has so much to offer the entire group.

Being a Kaju AZ Black Belt is never going to be about having the hardest punches or the highest kicks. It is always going to be about a standard of performance of material and about becoming a better person through martial arts. A Black Belt has to be willing to be part of a team, at Kaju AZ, in our community, and in our world.

As we Train Strong to Remain Strong, remember that we are also One Team with One Dream.

Simou Jennifer Corder

Kaju AZ Ohana Raises Over $6,000 for MS!

Thank you to all who made our MS events successful! Our events began with Grandmaster Forbach's Seminar on October 4th (Grandmaster and Katie are pictured above.) and ended with our Demo Team Performance, Brick Breaking and final BBQ on October 18th.

We appreciate all the generous donations, bidders and all the extra work from our students and Ohana. Katie Crowder was the real force behind our success and we are grateful for her sharing her powerful story. This is an inspirational story you should read again!

We are especially grateful for all our Lim Kenpo Ohana donations and bidders. We received bids from all over the US and even Portugal!

Our brick breakers received over $1,700 in pledges. What a great Breaking Team!

Thank you to our BBQ Experts, Derald Mullenaux and David Booth! Our lunches raised $998 and we appreciate all the families and friends that filled their plates for a great cause.

Marian Wright Edelman said, “Service is the rent we pay to be living.” We look forward to future ways to “pay our rent.”

You can still donate to Katie's Team for the MS Walk on November 8th.

Thanks again for making a difference in all our lives!

Sifu Kelly and Simou Jennifer Corder

Awesome Day at Kajukenbo Arizona!

Saturday, October 4th was a great day to be at Kaju AZ!

Grandmaster Forbach, Professor Joe Stubbs and Professor Mark Vorbau treated students from many schools with an amazing self-defense seminar. We are honored to have them in our Ohana! Grandmaster shared so many wonderful stories about Sijo Emperado and we learned so much not only from his amazing Kaju skills, but from his experiences! He is truly an inspiration to all of us!

Thank you to Grandmaster Ted Sotelo for stopping by as well as his generous donation to our auction. Kajukenbo was well represented by all the many schools who came and supported this event.

Special thanks to our Professor George Lim and Sigung Aunty Patrice Lim. Their kindness is overwhelming. Our Kaju AZ and Lim Kenpo support team - made up of students and parents - really make it easy to host a large event!

Finally, thank you to all that supported our charity BBQ events for Multiple Sclerosis and Katie Crowder! Our BBQ lunch raised $510 for MS and we received many bids in our silent auction. Don't forget that the bidding will continue until our MS Demo, Brick Breaking Event and BBQ on October 18th.

This was an inspirational and emotional day to feel all the Kajukenbo history, pride and generosity! We look forward to more events like this one in the future.

Sifu Kelly and Simou Jennifer Corder

MS Can't Keep Kaju AZ Student Katie Crowder Down!

My Journey with Multiple Sclerosis By Katie Crowder

In the summer of 2004 my left hand started to tingle. You know that feeling when you sleep on your arm funny and it “falls asleep”. But the tingle never went away. Soon it traveled up my arm and eventually the tingle also started in my toes and traveled up my leg. Within weeks I saw my primary care doctor, a hand specialist and finally a neurologist. After many tests the diagnosis came back. I had Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I didn’t even know what MS was. All I could think of was that Jerry Lewis telethon on TV, but that wasn’t MS at all. (For more detailed information about Multiple Sclerosis please visit www.nmss.org.)

When the doctor came in to give the diagnosis it went something like this. Tyler and I sat on the edge of our seats with anticipation and anxiety. The doctor flipped through my chart looking for the test results from an MRI and spinal tap. He couldn’t find them. He walked out of the room. I remember sitting there thinking, ‘Please just get this over with’. When the doctor finally returned, he looked at the results and said, “Okay, you have MS now let’s get you on some medicine”. I kid you not. No sympathy, no concern, no hope for the future, nothing. It was like I had a cold or something. Needless to say, I switched doctors fast. Luckily the new doctor, Dr. Pamela Vincent offered compassion and hope. She told me that my case was caught very early and was mild. Although, the diagnosis was devastating we were grateful it was caught so early.

Dr. Vincent told us we needed to go home and do a lot of research and then make an educated decision about which medicine to go with. At the time there were 4 “disease-modifying” treatments or medications, all given by injection. After much thought and anguish we decided to go with a medicine called Rebif. It had a little bit better track record than its counterparts, however the side effects were expected to be less than favorable. About this time the tingling sensation in my hand/arm and feet had subsided. I was able to be on Rebif for about 20 months before I stopped to get pregnant.

In April 2006, I was blessed to get pregnant. During pregnancy your immune system is suppressed and so MS tends to go into remission. Luke was born in January 2007. Typically about 6 months after giving birth you have a flare up. Therefore, it was necessary to be back on medicine within 6 months after giving birth. However, I had developed antibodies to Rebif and I could no longer be on that medication (as well as 2 of the other 4). That left me with only one of the “disease-modifying” treatment options, Copaxone. In August 2007 I started the Copaxone, which was an injection I gave to myself everyday.

In October 2007, I had a flare up. My right arm and right leg started to tingle. The right side of my face started having some sensitivity and my neck had a constant itch. Again, in December my arm started to tingle. Therefore my new doctor, Dr. Barry Hendin, put me on a steroid treatment for 5 days. While discussing these flare ups with Dr. Hendin he brought up the possibility of switching to a newer medicine known as Tysabri. He felt like it was an aggressive move to put me on the Tysabri. However, he said something that struck both Tyler and I. He said that when he looks at me (a 28 year old mother of 3 that is generally healthy) he sees what I will be in 10 or 15 years. And he stated, he wanted to see me walking without a cane or walker. (According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), “Statistics suggest that 2 out of 3 people with MS remain able to walk over their lifetime, though many of them will need a cane or other assistive device. Some will choose to use a scooter or wheelchair to conserve energy. Others will require a wheelchair to maintain mobility. The “disease-modifying” treatments mentioned earlier, and in use only since the 1990s, may favorably alter this projection.”)

Dr. Hendin said what we do now affects you very significantly in the future. He said I could continue on the Copaxone and hope it is working, but if we wait and damage occurs during that time then it could negatively affect my future. Tysabri is a relatively new drug with a much higher success rate than the other 4 medicines, but with more severe side effects. Two years previous Tysabri was pulled from the market because 2 people died while on the medication from a rare brain infection. It is considered a last resort medicine. It was reintroduced to the market and administered only when people follow strict guidelines. Tyler and I decided Tysabri was the right choice for me and I have been on this medicine for the past 8 months. I have had little to no symptoms in the last 8 months. Last week I had an MRI and I am thrilled to report that there has been no progression in the last year!!!

During the first 3 years since I was diagnosed I suffered minimal symptoms. However, I suffered fatigue almost daily. Fatigue is the number 1 symptom of MS. Exercise is one of many things that can be done to help combat fatigue. The NMSS states, “A study published by researchers at the University of Utah in 1996 was the first to demonstrate clearly the benefits of exercise for people with MS. Those patients who participated in an aerobic exercise program had better cardiovascular fitness, improved strength, better bladder and bowel function, less fatigue and depression, a more positive attitude, and increased participation in social activities.” Although I don’t experience many of these problems, I may in the future. So in order to help keep this disease at bay and do everything in my power to keep it from progressing, I’ve been searching for the right exercise program for myself. I’ve tried walking, yoga, step aerobics and weight lifting. I always felt better when I exercised, but I never felt like my body was getting stronger or healthier.

In the fall of 2005, I had the opportunity to attend a women’s self-defense seminar. This was my first experience with martial arts. I loved it! It was that initial experience that got me interested and eventually brought me to train at Kajukenbo AZ. And it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. I have been training since January 2008 and couldn’t be happier. In the beginning I did everything half-heartedly for fear of overdoing it and having increased fatigue. However, in the months since then my body has gained so much muscle and strength. My endurance has increased significantly. Martial arts have so many benefits for MS. It truly does all those things stated above: it helps with fatigue, spasticity, balance and gait problems and even memory. This is the best exercise program I have ever been apart of and the most committed I’ve ever been to exercise. That is why I am so excited to team up with Sifu, Simou and the Kajukenbo family in raising money for the MS Walk on November 8th, 2008.

The reason I share my story with you is to show you just how blessed I have been because of the NMSS. The NMSS, founded in 1946, is a voluntary health agency dedicated to ending the devastating effects of MS through providing programs and services to individuals and families living with MS and generating and funding research into the cause and cure of multiple sclerosis. With 62 Chapters across the country, the National MS Society is the leading source of unbiased information on multiple sclerosis and the largest private funder of MS research in the world.

Fifteen years ago, there were no medications for MS. There were only drugs that were used for symptom management. There was no medication to slow down the progression of MS. It is because of research supported by the NMSS and others that there are now many medicines that slow down and in some cases repair damage caused by MS. I have benefited from those medicines. It is my hope that I will not feel the adverse affects of MS. Many of you may know someone with MS and may think of someone in a wheelchair or walking with a cane. I don’t fit that profile and I hope I never do. This is why I am committed to this fundraiser and walk. The money raised will go directly to funding research, finding more effective medicines and potentially finding a cure for MS.

Please help by making a donation - large or small - to my personal Walk MS page. Or, why not join me on the day of the event? Become a participant or volunteer and side by side, as teammates, we can work together to raise the funds to make a difference.

You can also show your support by participating in the Kajukenbo AZ sponsored fundraiser to benefit the MS Walk. It will be held October 18th at 10am. It will include a FREE children’s defense seminar, brick breaking demo, katana demo and a silent auction. Silent auction items will be on display October 1-18 inside the dojo. Stop by and show your support. If you have a service or basket to donate please contact Simou. Winners of the silent auction will be announced on October 18th. Lunch will follow. All proceeds from the lunch will also go towards the MS Walk.

I love being a part of Kaju AZ and am grateful for how it has helped me in my fight with MS. Thank you all in advance for making a difference in my life and others with MS! As Sifu says "What goes around, comes around" and I know your generosity will be rewarded in the future!

Katie Crowder

A Post Script from Simou: We are so pleased to have Katie as a part of our Kaju AZ Team! She brings not only her two Kaju Dragons, but an awesome energy to the dojo. She is graceful, helpful and always gives her best. Since announcing our desire to help Katie raise funds for MS, we have learned that Grandmaster Forbach's sister suffered from MS as well as Linda George's (2009 black belt candidate) Father. Both died too early. Stephanie Koogler's (Black Belt Candidate) Mom Marilyn is also fighting the disease. MS touches all of us and we have a great opportunity to make a difference. Thank you for your support!

Go For The Gold In Everything You Do!

Sifu and I are always looking for ideas, inspiration and ways to improve our mind, body and spirit. I came across this recently and decided that the smart and inspirational Harvey Mackay said it all perfectly. Please enjoy!

Simou Jen

Lessons from the Olympics
(Courtesy of www.harveymackay.com)

I just returned from witnessing 17 days of competition at my ninth Summer Olympics. To say it was memorable is an understatement. I watched Michael Phelps win his record eight gold medals, cheered on the "Redeem Team" to basketball gold, shared the excitement of the electrifying upset win by the men's volleyball team, and witnessed the best opening and closing ceremonies in history.

What struck me throughout is what goes into making an Olympic champion—or for that matter a gold-medal winning entrepreneur or manager. Here's my short list:

Heart. I recently wrote a column on how heart trumps just about all the other senses when it comes to accomplishing the new and the unknown. There's no denying the heart of a champion. I witnessed the miracle of Rebecca Soni, who came back from heart surgery one year ago to qualify as an alternate for the U.S. women's swim team. When the opportunity arose for her to compete, she proceeded to win a gold medal in the 200-meter breast stroke in world-record time.

Determination. An athlete can have the perfect body for a competition or the best coach, but if they don't have a deep-down burning desire to achieve something, they won't accomplish it. Sometimes desire is more important than talent. Determination can turn the ordinary into extraordinary.

Dedication. The Summer Olympics happen only every four years, so for the little attention an athlete receives over 17 days of competition, there are many hundreds more days of grinding solitary workouts. There are no shortcuts in the world of sports and life.

Goals. Athletes must stay focused on their goals above all else. Truly dedicated individuals won't let anything interfere with attaining their goals. That's why so few people become champions.

Preparation. It takes a lot of sweat, sacrifice and discipline to become an Olympic champion. If it were easy to become the best, everyone would do it. No one can do it for them. Perfect practice makes perfect.

Confidence. Athletes have to believe that they can win ... that they have done everything in their power to compete at the highest level. There can be no fear of failure. Confidence enables them to perform to the absolute best of their abilities.
Concentration/Focus. I love to watch and study athletes as they are getting ready to compete. You can see them running through their races or routines in their heads. Nothing can distract them. (The lone exception was Dara Torres before one of her races when she made everyone wait because a competing swimmer had a torn suit. I guess we could add sportsmanship to the list.)

Competition. The breakfast of champions is not cereal, it's competition. It is healthy. It keeps athletes sharp, makes them better and improves quality. Athletes should not only welcome stiff competition, they should actively seek it. They'll never realize their full potential in business or sports unless they're challenged.

Mental Toughness. There are many things that can go wrong in life, so athletes must be mentally prepared for whatever happens. Sometimes they have to perform at their best when they're feeling their worst. Champions block out the pain and do what's necessary to win or get the job done.

Vision. I learned long ago that projecting oneself into a successful situation is the most powerful means there is of attaining personal goals. Vision doesn't do the planning and it doesn't anticipate the obstacles. It gives a real idea of what is possible, if only they want it badly enough.

Life is not always fair. Sometimes things happen that are out of one's control. Judging can be uneven, conditions may not be perfect and equipment can fail. Champions know how to deal with it.

Don't let age be a deterrent. Look at 41-year-old Dara Torres, who proved to be the second fastest woman swimmer in the world and lost by 1/100th of a second. Or how about Romania's Constantina Tomescu-Dita, who at age 38 won the women's marathon. And don't forget John Dane III, who at age 58, made the U.S. Olympic sailing team for the first time after trying to qualify for 40 years.

Fun. Above all, athletes have to love what they are doing to achieve gold-medal performances. It should be fun. One thing I will take away from the Beijing Olympics is the smile of Shawn Johnson from the women's gymnastics team. She showed unbridled joy, in both winning and losing.

Mackay's Moral: Go for the gold in whatever you do!

The Black Belt Attitude

Attitude is everything. But what is a black belt attitude and why would I as your instructor want you to exhibit it in the dojo and out of the dojo?

Masters in the martial arts seem to have a confidence that goes beyond the ability to hurt someone. Some of the greatest examples of a black belt attitude are exhibited by masters where it is not immediately obvious that they train in the martial arts. It could be the confident air about them. It could be the easy and efficient way they move. It could be the general good nature and positive outlook they have. It is probably all of that and more beyond. One day I hope to have that attitude and movement.

What makes a black belt so confident? Is it because they have encountered many physical and mental trials on the training floor and have overcome them? But how do they translate the training into their normal daily lives? We are complex individuals with the ability to compartmentalize portions of our lives. Many people will train hard and acquire the skills to achieve the belt, but still live their lives in confusion and disarray. Some exhibit supreme self control in their technique but lose control in their daily habits of eating, being honest, and living with integrity. Some can take the pain of a hit, but not the pain of rejection or an unkind word.

Personally, I use martial arts as well as my religious faith to help me be a better person. I also have the help of people around me that keep me in check and don’t allow me to go very far off course...thank goodness for those that care about us!

I believe that martial arts is for everyone. Unfortunately I do not believe that everyone that trains in the martial arts is a good person. Either the lessons have been compartmentalized or the lessons went over the heads of those individuals. But I feel it is our duty as martial artists to try to go above and beyond in our actions and treatment of others.

So how do I translate the mundane, day to day training into real life? That’s a tough one to answer, because I don’t know that I am fully educated in this process at this time. Instead, I will discuss aspects of martial arts and how I believe that it complements daily life.

In the dojo, we pay respect to the upper belts - we must remember to be humble in what we have and what we learned. We have never learned enough and we are never ‘done’ training. In life, we are never perfect. We must continue to educate ourselves in order to become more productive with the hope that eventually we will become more wise.

We listen and respect whomever is teaching us a technique even if we believe the technique is supposed to be done differently. This translates to open-mindedness as well as courtesy and respect for the individuals that we come in contact with. We should not always make it a point to correct others, sometimes, it is simply is not the right time or it can lead to hurting the feelings of the other individual.

No matter how many times we practice tournament technique one, we can always practice it a little more. Everything that we want to be good at takes effort and practice. If we want to be self confident, practice self confidence daily. If we want to be honest, practice living honesty daily.

Half-hearted training is useless. If you don’t put the effort into the kick, the kick will never get any higher, faster, or more powerful. You can see it in a student that has been training for years but doesn’t have a fast kick or punch. Only when we push ourselves to do better do we get better. Don’t do anything without meaning to do it. Give all of your effort to everything you do. Make every task important and pay attention to the little details. This works well in family relationships where the details do matter and your focus and attention can mean the world to the person you are spending time with.

Confidence generates success while cockiness generates contempt. Having a confident attitude allows the student to succeed as fears and doubts are minimized and placed on the back burner. The distraction of fear of failure is useless and destructive, and can cause you to lose your focus and concentration. Cockiness, on the other hand, leads to lack of preparation and potential failure. A cocky individual will not be helped by their peers and will be left alone to fail. We all need help, or might need the help of those around us. We should not taint our relationships by an arrogant attitude. We should be confident and yet humble when we interact with everyone around us.

The self-defense circle provides an opportunity for us to persevere when we become fatigued. How do we handle ourselves when we have given every ounce of our energy and yet the instructor calls out ‘30 more seconds’? Do we fall down on our face and give up? Or do we reach down deep inside and find the hidden extra reserve that the body withholds from us until we reach for it. Many don’t don’t even know it exists because they either have not encountered the fatigue or have quit before reaching deeply. How do we handle life’s difficulties? Do we fall on our face, or do we straighten our shoulders, raise our head and attack the problem?

When we train with our partners, it takes a great deal of patience and effort to give and receive the techniques. This is where selfishness can cause problems. We can’t be selfish in our training because we need our partners to help us get to the level that we are working towards. We can’t get their without also helping our partners get to their level best. We need to let our partners hit us as many times as we hit them, in fact it is better to receive than to give. Outside the dojo, we need to try to give more than we receive. Give your time, talents and energy to those around you. Everyone benefits, especially you.

Training is about balance. We have to know when to push ourselves and when to rest and heal. Some students suffer an injury yet ignore it to try to impress the instructor, only to cause the injury to become worse. Others will expend all their energy in the first 2 minutes of their test, and then have nothing left for the last 45 minutes. Others will hold on to their energies and never fully expend all their efforts for the important task. Knowing when to go all out and when to stop are very important. We must balance all aspects of our training and all aspects of our lives.

Thanks again for your time and talents. I truly feel blessed to teach and train with the best martial artists! Keep up the great work and keep training strong!

Sifu Kelly Corder

Don't Be Like An Oak Tree

(Courtesy of inspirational author Harvey Mackay's daily column. For more info, go to: http://www.harveymackay.com)

Failure is all too common in business and in life. Remember, you can't live life with an eraser. You can't anticipate every possible problem, no matter how hard you try. But you can resolve to face challenges as they arise. Keep your mind wide open for solutions, listen to those around and under you, reprogram your brain for success and dig in.

A great oak tree grew on the bank of a stream. For one hundred years it had withstood the winds, but one day a violent storm felled the oak with a mighty crash into the raging river and carried it out toward the sea.

The oak came to rest on a shore where some reeds were growing. The tree wondered how the reeds still stood after the strong winds.

"I have stood up against many storms, but this one was too strong for me," the oak said.

"That's your problem," the reeds replied. "All these years you have stubbornly pitted your strength against the wind. You were too proud to yield a little. We, on the other hand, knowing our weakness, just bend and let the wind blow over us without trying to resist it. The harder the wind blows, the more we humble ourselves, and here we are!"

It is better to bend than to break. People who can bend and not break have the gift of resiliency that let them bounce back from adversity.

Mackay's Moral: Don't let hard times turn into end times. Let them lead to your best times.

Martial Arts Made Me A Better Person

When people find out I am a martial artist I often see a surprised look on their face followed by “Wow, I would have never guessed.” My close friends think it’s an insult. I consider it a compliment.

For almost 10 years, I was the consummate Dojo Mom. I was very good at this – supporting my husband and sons, laundering gi’s, cooking for potlucks, tournaments, cheerleading, ohana events, karate movies, and so much more. Martial arts has impacted my family in such positive ways and it’s always been an honor to be a part of the experience. But I was always on the bench, never on the mat.

Sure, I had trained a little bit here and there. But I never made the real commitment to stick with it and go for black. In my mind, there was no way I would ever be THAT good at it.

Then, an instructor suggested I get off the bench and experience first hand what my family was doing.

Was he crazy? I certainly thought so! After all, I was overweight, uncoordinated, beyond non-athletic, clumsy, 37 years old and quite frankly, afraid of getting hit. I made up every excuse imaginable. He smiled and said I “owed it to my kids” to try it. “Martial arts is for everyone,” he said.

Did he not realize how safe it is on the bench? You don’t sweat when you are cheering. You don’t get taken down when carrying water bottles. You don’t feel the anxiety of testing when you are watching on the bench. It’s easier to remember techniques when it’s not you. Trust me: it’s safe on the bench.

Out of respect, I decided to try a class. I thought I would be the one student my instructor would realize he couldn’t help. We set a date and time and I invited two other friends so I wouldn’t have to go it alone.

I almost cancelled about 25 times. As I walked into the dojo I was as anxious as I was on my first date with Sifu Kelly. How many times had I entered before and not been nervous? Too many to count! The class consisted of stretching and basic warm-ups. In terms of numbers, I did not do an enormous amount of pushups (maybe 5?), crunches, squats (still don’t) and I discovered muscles I did not even know existed (still do). We learned basic self-defense techniques and before I knew it, the 45- minute class period was over.

I was hooked. I felt empowered that my mind was really able to control my body! Sweating felt great! I was able to experience a bit of what my family endured. It was awesome! My friends felt the same way. All four of us signed up.

Of that class, I am the only one that had the desire, dedication and discipline necessary to get my Black Belt. I have seen a lot of fellow students come and go.

Becoming a black belt is one of my crowning achievements. Why? Because martial arts represents EVERYTHING outside of my comfort zone. I overcame my biggest fears through my training. Are my kicks the highest in class? NO. Have I finished learning? NO. Can I knock out the most pushups in class? NO. It’s not about that.

Martial arts has made me stronger physically and mentally. I routinely push the limits of what I can do in all aspects of my life. On my knees every day, I punch the mat and announce that my mind controls my body, not vice versa. My martial arts training has made me a better person.

I used to lead the cheering during tests. Now I have my own fans.

Instead of just watching my family from the bench, I train right next to them.

I no longer just attend class, I teach it.

I hit as many times as I get hit. I can hold my own in a self-defense situation.

Boxing and karate movies are my choices on date night.

I am not just married to a black belt. My husband is too.

And when I feel like I have nothing left to give – in any life situation – I remember how I mustered up just a little more effort to finish a particularly hard training session. I think about how I relied on nothing but desire when I couldn’t get the technique right. I remember how I did not let a broken foot keep me from testing. I think about the countless times I came back to class when every single muscle hurt from the last training session. I remember how I never quit even though my body had given up during the last three minutes of my tests.

Martial arts improved my life, my thinking, my family, and my heart.

25 years ago I would have never thought I would be a Simou, working side-by-side with Sifu in our own dojo. It’s been an amazing journey that keeps on getting better. Becoming a black belt made it all possible.

So, when someone shows their surprise and disbelief at my martial arts achievements, I am happy. I know I don’t look like the “typical” martial artist. But one thing is for sure…martial arts is for everyone. Even me.

Simou Jen

CrossPit Training Starts at Kaju AZ!

With the dojo remodel 95% completed (still finishing the personal training and fitness area), Kaju AZ has started our CrossPit Training classes. Based on Sifu Kelly’s Pit Training with Kumu John Hackleman, the classes are 30-minute bursts of cardio and conditioning that blend anaerobic, aerobic, plyometric, strength training, and calisthenics.

The Pit and Kajukenbo Arizona share the “genuine family feel” that Kumu has emphasized since forming The Pit in 1986. We strive to maintain the old school toughness while keeping it upbeat and fun. Balancing our family-focused dojo with real world martial art skills and fitness is our top priority.


We offer four classes per day, Monday through Thursday, of the specialized CrossPit classes and so far the reaction has been very enthusiastic. All belt ranges can benefit from the intense training as everyone can work at their own level. Our traditional program students are required to attend a minimum of two classes per week. Our goal is for all our students to achieve peak physical fitness and continuing the mind, body and spirit connection.


We invite non-martial artists to come and try our CrossPit program. No one will be disappointed! CrossPit only memberships are available as well.

Thank you to Kumu Hackleman, his better half, Jennifer and the entire Pit Team for helping us achieve our goal of offering the very best in martial arts and elite fitness training.

Dojo Remodel Almost Done!

Thank you to all our wonderful students and supporters for all your help in this project that has been in the works for over 6 months! We have had our first classes in our new space and we love it!

We anticipate having everything in place when our new schedule kicks in on August 11th. We are on our regular schedule this week (even though everything is super dusty!)

Keep watching for updates and thanks again for all your support!

Sifu & Simou Corder

Kaju AZ Celebrates Two Wonderful Years!

(Kaju AZ students sign the mirror before the demolition!)

It’s been an emotional few days for me. Being the Head Instructor has been fun, challenging and I have loved working more closely with all our wonderful students. But I miss Sifu and Mr. Nic (and I know many of you feel the same way!). Sifu had a few minutes of cell service atop of Mt. Baldy earlier this week – his first question was how was the dojo! He expressed how much he misses not only being in class but seeing all our students in action.

August 1st marks our 2-year anniversary. It is funny that two years ago at this time we were creating the dojo over a 4-day weekend.

Sifu and I started Kaju AZ because of our passion about the positive impact martial arts has had on our lives and those around us. It continues to be a labor of love and we had no idea how much joy we would have from this adventure! We love and appreciate each of our students. Each of you brings a unique energy to the dojo. We especially love the family feel of our dojo – a true Ohana – and hope you all feel it too.

Our third year is going to be so exciting! Our 3,200 total square feet has been 6 months in the making! We have increased the number of classes, added Pit conditioning classes (for our students and the public) and specialized training classes, made personal training available and maybe most importantly – added another bathroom! We are excited that we can accommodate even more friends and families at our tests!

Our first black belt test and promotion will be during our third year. We hope to continue to focus on serving our community through self-defense clinics and seminars as well as service projects. We look forward to new training opportunities and learning and sharing more knowledge with everyone. We hope to see many new faces and students at Kaju AZ. We know that our next year will be filled with successes – as a dojo and as individuals – and it is exciting!

Allow me to take this opportunity to say: THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts – from Sifu, Simou, Mr. Nic and Cameron – for bringing joy, love and fun into our lives. It’s an honor and pleasure to work with each of you! Happy Anniversary, Kaju AZ!

Simou Jen

The Ripple Effect of Service Can Be Felt Now and Later

Sifu and Mr. Nic left this morning for Philmont scout ranch. It’s a great, often life-changing experience offered through the Boy Scouts of America, a fantastic organization. They will be hiking about 125 miles over 10 days. On some days, they change elevation in a range of 5,000 feet. They will get rain, heat, follow the strict rules of no-impact hiking, eat a lot of crackers and cheese (these items don't weigh much) and live within a bear triangle every night.

This will be the fourth time that Sifu has made this trip since 1999. The hardest part is that he is totally cut off – no phones or email – and away from his businesses and family. The leaders pay their own way and usually miss at least two weeks of work. Sifu is thrilled that he can finally take his son on this trip which often turns teenagers into men as they leave the world behind and get back to basic survival and beauty of the outdoors.

Sifu and I are often asked “Why they heck would do you do this? Why do you spend the money? How can you sacrifice your work and family time?” The answer is simple: performing a service to others has huge payoffs, both immediate and in the future. I am reminded of a title of a book I read recently (and highly recommend): “It’s Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men," and this this one of the real benefits that services to others has to offer our community.

Service to others is so important and so often ignored as we focus on ourselves and our own problems in our daily lives. Sometimes it is so hard to think about someone else and their needs when ours seem so overwhelming. This is precisely the time that we must remember to help someone else! Nothing gives us better perspective, understanding and focus than service to others.

I am not saying that one must desert your family and head to the mountains of New Mexico! Little things have big payouts too! A helping hand pulling weeds, a meal for a busy family, an hour of babysitting…these are simple things that that mean a lot to others. We receive the added benefit of feeling good about doing something good.

Kaju AZ would not be the awesome dojo that it is today without the helping hands of many people! The initial build-out, the ongoing remodeling, rides to and from the dojo, teaching in class, picking up meals, polishing the floors, our self-defense clinics and simply introducing your friends and families to Kaju AZ are all examples of service. Know that all your efforts are so appreciated and more importantly, will continue to have an impact many years into the future.

Sifu and I are driven by the positive impact that martial arts has on people. We have the benefit of seeing it in our children who have been training for many many years. We know that each of you will see the same impact on your children and yourselves in the future!

We have such an example in our dojo…Mr. David Booth, better known as Sifu’s right hand man at Redrock Software, Amber’s hubby and Alex and Ryan’s dad. David was on one of the first Philmont trips that Sifu went on. He was a typical teenage boy obsessed with himself and all things that boys like! The service of leaders on his behalf helped make him into the outstanding father, husband, employee, and citizen that he is today. And he definitely pays it forward.

The dojo is closed Thursday, July 24th – August 1st for the remodeling project. We encourage each of you, individually or as a family, to perform a little service over the break. We would love to hear about your efforts and how great it made you feel.

Thank you for your continued service and support of Kaju AZ. Our Ohana is strong and we look forward to many years together!

Simou Jen

Dojo Expansion Has Finally Begun!

We are so pleased to announce that the long awaited dojo expansion (6 months in the making) has begun! Our two neighbors have moved out and the actual tear down and rebuild has started. Thank you to all of those who have signed up to help - we will be in touch. We are excited about our our additional 1,700 square feet, new schedule and expanded offerings! Watch for more progress!

Reflections on Hawaii and Kajukenbo

WOW! The Corder family is back from a whirlwind trip to Hawaii! As I download the 862 pictures (and that was after I organized and discarded), I am having time to reflect on the many aspects of our wonderful trip.

First, thank you to all our students for their support while we were gone. Closing the dojo is always a hard thing for us to do, but this trip was important and valuable to us personally and as a dojo.

It was a real treat to visit Hawaii again. Sifu and I first visited Oahu 20 years ago for our honeymoon. My perspective on so many things changed being a parent and martial artist now, as opposed to the honeymoon-bliss experienced in 1988.


We celebrated the 61st birthday of Kajukenbo by visiting the Palama Settlement. It isn’t a spectacular building but knowing what we knew made it special to us. Sifu and I have had the privilege to visit many historical sites – sites of religious, familial and patriotic significance - all over the world. There is a certain reverence you can feel in these places and we certainly felt it at the Palama Settlement. Imagining the Black Belt Society meeting and piecing together the early material of Kajukenbo, gave us a true appreciation for all that Kaju material we practice.

We spent a day in Maui and visited with Sigung Kailani Koa and Sijo Emperado. Being with Sigung Koa is always awesome as her enthusiasm and joyful spirit spills out of her! She is dedicated to her family and Kajukenbo Ohana and sets an awesome example for all of us to follow.


We brought lunch to Sijo and enjoyed visiting outside with him. At 82 his mind is still sharp although his body aging (getting old stinks!). I am always amazed to see our Kajukenbo leaders’ hands…you can tell they have a history of hard-hitting and training. Sijo has a gentle demeanor in spite of all the hard-core training stories we have heard and read. It was truly an honor to spend time with him.

Our Hawaii visit also included Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. It’s a unique place and maybe it feels even more special to be from Arizona. It was remarkable to me that 37 sets of brothers served and died on the U.S.S. Arizona. As a mother of two brothers, I found that very emotional and I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the soldiers who died and the families left behind. Another amazing fact is that many of the U.S.S. Arizona survivors have had their remains entombed at the memorial. This desire to be with their “brothers in arms” is inspiring. What an incredible example of the Ohana spirit!


When we begin our classes, we salute the flag. This trip to the U.S.S. Arizona reminded me of exactly why this is so important – we all need to strive to show our respect and gratitude to all those who have made it possible for us to practice martial arts freely in our country. What a privilege! In early Hawaii, martial arts were not allowed and the traditions were carried on via Hula dancing. Additionally, women were not even allowed to Hula! How poignant for me to be a female black belt and be able to freely practice Kajukenbo!


Perhaps the pinnacle of our trip was our visit to the island of Kauai, known as the garden island. And that is no joke! It is absolutely beautiful and rural – no high-rises or the mass numbers of people as in Oahu. It was a perfect setting to study Lua with Ôlohe Solomon Kaihewalu. It was a great cultural event as we learned more about Hawaii and Lua and it provided a great boost to see that hard-hitting and really cool self-defense tools! I love the sound of hard hits on gi’s and plan to do more of that at Kaju AZ! (Train Strong to Remain Strong!)


Hawaii was a renewal for Sifu and I and we continue to be excited about the upcoming changes and growth at Kaju AZ! It is an honor to be a part of each of your lives and we are grateful for the opportunities and special relationships!
Humbly,
Simou Jen

Sifu + The Pit = Better Kaju AZ!

Sifu has called several times during his breaks at the Pit this weekend. He is always excited to tell me everything he has accomplished and learned, and especially grateful for the short break. He is having a blast learning new drills, nutrition info and pushing his body to the limits. He is energized and very excited to bring it all back to our Kaju AZ students.


One thing is for sure: Sifu loves The Pit! His time away from the dojo (and family and work) is hard for him but his sacrifices make Kaju AZ that much better! Watch for more updates from the Pit at http://www.thepit.tv.

Have a great week! Sifu and I look forward to sharing the details of our trip to visit Sijo, the Lua seminar and more next week!

Simou Jen

It's Not All About the Numbers!

During the black belt training with the Lim's a few weeks ago, Aunty Patrice pointed out a statement made by a student. She said, “One of my students one time made a statement that was very profound, he said, it’s not about Grab Art number one. It’s more than just the number, it’s the repetition in the training that prepares us to be ready to use the elements that we have learned.” We (the various black belts in the training) were lined up, looking forward, standing at attention. She then asked me directly if I knew who said it. I paused because I didn’t want to say it was me (what if she didn’t think it was me?). She then said, “You should know, because it was you, Corder.”

We start by teaching front grabs one and two. We introduce the student to the technique, naming it by its number. Is it any wonder that students from that point on focus on what number they have and what numbers they need for the next test? I contribute to it by asking during pre-tests, ‘What numbers do you need?’ We do need a common nomenclature to refer the techniques so that everyone is on the same page; and for this the numbers work very well indeed.

I have for a long time held the belief that our training has never been about the number itself. In real life, I will use whatever elements will work for a specific situation. The situation will depend on the distance between me and the attacker, the attacker’s size, the weapon the attacker is holding, the bystanders that I might be standing next too, etc. The variables make it so that you can’t start at number one and fast forward through the numbers looking for the one that fits the situation. Real life won’t give you the luxury of time to decide the technique that best fits the situation. Real life requires quick analysis of the situation and then action. The physical training prepares our bodies to move quickly and efficiently after we have made the determination of the course of action that is required. The physical training also prepares our minds in several ways. If we have never taken a hit, we don’t know how to handle the hit when it does come. During a real situation, we will become tired more quickly than we would in a training class. A real situation causes adrenaline and a change in breathing patterns. This gives an energy boost initially, but quickly we can become fatigued. Our training allows us to handle the fatigue. This is one of the main reasons why we train hard.

Before I continue, I would like to point that sure, there are schools that never take you to the edge mentally and physically. And there are schools that never make contact. This is not a service to the students. There are even schools that might actually be too rough...this also is not a service to the students. After all, we do want to train together tomorrow, right? Where is the balance found? I’ll discuss this is in an upcoming message.

Rigorous training allows the student to become hardened mentally and physically. Continuous activity and drilling the techniques makes the techniques second nature. Now the student is ready for the next level. This is the level where there is no such thing as numbers. This is where the student experiments with various combinations and begins to develop their own favorite combinations that fit with their unique body style. This level is only reached after previous levels have been successfully accomplished. You cannot start at this level without the mind and body having been properly prepared.

Some students will want to jump straight to this level. Instructors should caution these students to first get the basics down and make sure they have the numbers as if they are second nature. This is required first before true progression can occur.

Some students will seek the numbers as if they were awards or trophies that can be collected. Having been shown the number and being able to superficially repeat the technique does not constitute mastery of that technique. Students that are simply collecting numbers need to be redirected back to number one and prove their level of mastery of the numbers starting at the beginning with number 1.

Students that have trouble remembering their numbers fall into two categories: those that have not let the techniques take root in the physical memory portion of their brain, or that do not have a proper retrieval method for gaining access to their physical memories. This of course assumes that the student is properly practicing their material on a repeated basis in and out of the dojo (without proper practice, there are no physical memories to access).

Part of the Instructor’s job as they work with students is to help them to make up meaningful names that can be associated with the numbers. This aids in the retrieval process. But the student must still make the association between the number and the name and the physical action, which is done by repeated practice.

Instructors should teach the numbers because they are the basics of what must be mastered. In your own training, spend time contemplating your unique qualities and apply this to your training. As you work in the circle, practice your numbers and also practice just letting it flow. As I tell the Black Belts, “Do not soften your hits too much.” Doing so weakens you and your training partner. But do make adjustments for the belt level of the person you are training with.

And remember, don’t cause injury! Hit hard without damaging – but learn exactly how much force is needed to actually do damage. At the end of a session, a student should know that they have just trained with a black belt. Not just because of the power of the hits, but because of the mastery of control. Nothing says Black Belt more than a fist coming full speed that stops at the top layers of skin and doesn’t cause damage.

Students: Know your numbers. Instructors: Teach the numbers. Everyone: Do not get trapped by the numbers. Martial arts is more than just the numeric techniques we use for organized dojo training and testing. Remember: Martial Artists are leaders and are examples to everyone we meet and train with. Whether you want to be an example or not, you ARE an example. So let’s be GOOD examples.

As always, Train Strong to Remain Strong!

-Sifu Kelly Corder

Sifu's Message: Martial Arts is a GIFT!

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to train with other black belts and Professor George Lim. The training was rigorous with physical activity with some rest periods that were designed for some introspection and discussion. I used the time to open my mind up to any ideas or methods that I could bring back to our school for implementation. I did not learn any new earth-shattering techniques or concepts. And I wasn’t expecting to either. But a few thoughts did come to mind.

The first thought was how much of martial arts is a gift. It is truly not a commodity that you can walk in to any convenience store and come out with the techniques and skills of the type of martial arts that we train in. It is the culmination of experience and time spent working with students in groups and in one on one sessions. It is the sweat and tears of past experience coming forth in the present and delivered in such a way as to have the most impact and the most benefit that a person can possibly receive. Martial arts changes lives: it gives those that need confidence the tools they need to stand up straight and speak with a loud an clear voice; it generates enthusiasm for living a more fit life; it provides the means for some to be able to protect themselves or a loved one in a potentially dangerous situation.

As I was relearning a weapons form called “Staff Set” flashes of previous training sessions more than 8 years ago came into my mind. The emotions were overpowering and at several points I was choked up and nearly in tears. I could remember specific instances and the instruction that was being given to me by three different instructors on several different occasions. I could remember their exact words and tone of voice, and the patience they had with me as I was learning. I picked the form back up very quickly, but as I was repeatedly performing it on my own, the memories continued to come back. Finally, I stopped and it came to me: Staff Set was given to me with patience, and yes even love. It was beautifully wrapped and I did enjoy it. But it has sat unused in a closet for many years. After blowing the dust off and polishing it back up to a nice shine, I think I can properly make use of the gift. I believe that the best use of this gift is to 1) first show those that gave it to me how much I appreciate it by not letting it go unused, 2) gifting it to someone that will do likewise, and 3) letting my students know where the gift came from in the first place.

Instructors and students should be aware of how much this art is a gift. Your instructor is gifting you with his knowledge, time, patience, energy, and compassion. No amount of money or monthly fees can truly pay for the gifts that are given and received. Sure, a monthly fee is charged, this pays for the location to train, but hardly any more than that. The gifts of the knowledge and skills are extra special because they are so very unique to each instructor. Each individual instructor has a unique perspective and training experience in the martial arts. Much of the knowledge that we receive and pass on to students is done through many hours of sweat, and even tears. It is earned by hard work and sometimes slow progress. It is earned by humility as we put aside our existing biases and try to see through the instructor’s eyes while the instructor is trying to see through our eyes.

The word of the month for May was compassion. How appropriate! Treat your skills as the gifts they are. Remember them and be thankful. Everyone that has spent time with you in increasing your skills should be respected for that time and effort expended on your behalf. I now more fully understand why we salute our ‘elders’ in the dojo. And I appreciate all our students and their families – for allowing me to give this gift to them. I learn more than I teach and am a better person because of the impact of each of you in my life.

I would like to thank my instructors that have spent time and energy on my behalf to help me become a better martial artist:

I learned my basics from my Kenpo Professor and his wife: Professor George Lim and Aunty Patrice Lim. For the first several years all of my kata that I learned came from Aunty Patrice. I did not recognize the privilege of that at the time. Looking back and knowing how exact and dedicated she is to the perfection of the art, I now understand what a privilege it was. Professor, of course, influenced me in a lot of ways...most importantly, to relax - and sometimes I actually do.

I learned my Kajukenbo from Professor Sal Banuelos. Although I am not under the NAK umbrella, I recognize the knowledge that he taught me and recognize him as the very talented martial artist that he is. I was very fortunate to find NAK when I did, and was able to continue my training. It was through this process that I learned that I wanted to teach. And I am thankful to him for the many good memories that were made with NAK. NAK's Sihing Henry and Sifu Chava are also talented martial artists and instructors that I have had the opportunity to train with and learn from: I am thankful for that period of my training.

Kumu Hackleman's Pit training has provided me training seminars that truly help me to improve our school's MMA program in a very unique way. He has taught me so much already and I appreciate our affiliation.

Peppered throughout my classes, students will often hear statements like: 'my Kaju Professor says...' or 'Kumu Hackleman taught that...' Our recognition of where our knowledge comes from closes the circle on the gifts that we have been given.

Obviously, I have not yet perfected my art. I look forward to many more years of learning, growing and teaching. I appreciate not only all my instructors but my students as well for their willingness to accept the gifts I am now able to pass on to them.

As always, Train Strong to Remain Strong!
Sifu Kelly Corder