Sifu Promoted by Grandmaster Abad

Grandmaster Abad promoted Sifu Kelly to 5th Degree Master Instructor at the Lim Kenpo Karate Black Belt Testing. The promotion was a surprise to Sifu as he was prepared for the testing and was not expecting the honor bestowed upon him.

The day was designed as a tribute to Grandmaster, with demos from many schools and several presentations to him. Grandmaster Abad has many accomplishments in martial arts throughout his life. He has touched many students through his decades of teaching and service. It was an honor to be a part of a special and touching tribute to him and hear many stories about his life and history.

Thank you to all the many schools that participated, especially all the Kaju AZ Ohana who came to support Sifu Kelly. It was awesome to see so many students take time out of their busy day to be with us! So many of our young students may not understand everything that happened, but one day they will hold these memories dear.

Mahalo nui loa to Professor and Aunty Lim for making all of our training possible, especially this unique event. It's a pleasure to be associated with them and each and every member of their Ohana. As Professor says "In Ohana There is Strength" and all in attendance could feel the love and overwhelming Aloha.

Beltmanship: One Team, One Dream

Beltsmanship is a word that represents the attitude we have to our instructors and to our training partners in the dojo. It goes a little deeper than the black belt attitude that we have talked about previously – it is more about our behavior when learning and working with a partner. Here are some thoughts regarding this at Kaju AZ:

Knowledge of Technique: Everyone will have many opportunities to share their knowledge at Kaju AZ. No one makes it to black belt without teaching.

For a higher belt demonstrating a technique, "Teaching IS Learning." Until you have demonstrated the technique and described it, you have not really learned it. Teaching a technique you have performed many, many times will allow you to take it to the next level. Different students will ask questions that will prompt you to think about the technique in a different way. It’s possible that the technique might not work exactly the same for them as it does for you because of body style, strength, balance, and other factors. If asked a question you don’t know the answer to, be direct and research it. NEVER try to BS the student or make believe that we know the answer to everything....we don’t and BS is obvious!

For younger belts, when training with an instructor or upper belt, keep in mind that person is your instructor for that session. Follow his/her direction no matter if you think you know it better or have been taught the technique differently. Maybe you don’t know it as well as you think, or maybe your are not in sync with what they are asking of you. Not every student performs techniques the same way as the black belts or instructors, and it does not necessarily mean they are wrong.

It is very disrespectful to correct a higher belt or talk over him/her. Be patient as sometimes the higher belt is teaching a technique and is nervous, can have difficultly communicating things, or can be thinking about several other important aspects. It’s not a big deal if, for that training session, tournament technique 13 looks very, very similar to 11.

Skill: One of the key components of this area is to NEVER ASSUME! Students should not think that a younger belt should pull their punches and pretend they are less skilled than you just because they are a lower belt. Many students come with a natural ability that allows them to do some things more naturally than those that have trained for years. Do not be dismayed when a younger belt shows this skill - we should be proud and happy to see that and cheer them on in their efforts to become accomplished martial artists.

Always remember that it takes more than the physical skills to make a black belt. Everyone will learn different skills at different rates. I want my students to be better than I am – all the higher belts want that too.

For the younger belts: don’t get cocky. Just because your kick is high does not mean that you can actually use it, or know when to use it. It takes time and practice to develop the practical use of a great kick. Some of us are not blessed with a high kick, but with training, we can certainly make the kick we are blessed with work for us. A younger belt must keep in mind the other non-physical aspects that come with training and remain humble – otherwise certain lessons will never be fully understood.

Energy & Encouragement: When a student cheers you on, no matter what belt level, be thankful that they feel part of the team and have the desire for everyone to succeed. We are one team in the dojo and it is everyone’s job to encourage all students. When a younger belt shouts out advice, don’t be too proud to accept it. That student might have just heard that advise from a black belt instructor and wants to pass it along to show that they were listening and have learned it. Does it "look" bad taking advice from a lower belt? Maybe, if you think that a black belt is perfect. But a black belt is NOT perfect. The fact is, we all can use encouragement when the test is tough – and we should accept it from any source and be thankful.

Younger belts' excitement and enthusiasm adds to the energy of the dojo - and we love that! Cheering and encouragement is very much appreciated, even required, at times. Be quick to praise the efforts of all fellow students that your are working with. Be respectful in interacting with an higher belt. Know that it is not proper etiquette to correct an upper belt by blurting out that they are wrong. Make the most of your training by gaining what is being offered during that training session.

Patience: In general, all students have to control their emotions and learn to become more patient when working with other students from all levels. We should try not to expect more than they are able to give us. We should help them increase their confidence in the knowledge and skills they have in order for them to be ready to gain new ones. Everyone starts at white belt...remember that you were there once.

Kaju AZ is truly one team with one dream. Keep training hard and always be humble.

Sifu Kelly

The Inspirational Journey of an Inspirational Martial Artist

Sifu and Simou Corder and Kaju AZ Ohana:

I hope this letter finds you well. I want to wish you a very prosperous and happy New Year! I am excited to inform you that I am training to hike Mount Kilimanjaro in June 2009! Kilimanjaro is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, and what makes this trip so special is that I’m doing it with a team from The Foundation for Blind Children which includes nine blind climbers! The climb will span eight nights and rely heavily on teamwork and effective communication between the sighted climbers and the blind climbers. Our team has been training since May and will continue to do so until our journey in June 2009.

To help you fully understand my commitment to this challenge, I would like to briefly share my story with you.

My name is Tom Hicks and I am 42 years old. I live in Gilbert, Arizona with my wife and seven children. I will never forget the day I first heard from an Army Opthalmologist, “Captain Hicks you are legally blind.” My first thought was, “How am I going to provide for my wife and our children?” The onset of blindness rocked our family’s world and the challenges we were presented with were, in the beginning, overwhelming. We were filled with hopelessness, fear, and uncertainty. My 13 year U. S. Army career came to an abrupt end when I was diagnosed with a progressive degenerative retinal disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and I was medically discharged. That was 11 years ago. Ironically, a blind rehabilitation counselor once told me, “For some blindness is a mountain and for others it’s a walk in the park.”

Today, I work at the Phoenix VA Medical Center as a Case Manager and serve over 800 blind or visually impaired veterans with their blind adjustment and rehabilitation. Honestly, I have yet to meet the person for whom blindness is a “walk in the park.” I can say that slowly losing more and more eyesight each day is extremely challenging and the ripple effect of blindness touches everyone in that person’s life. I can say from my personal experience and what I observe as a blind rehabilitation professional, that in the beginning living a life with blindness seems hopeless and overwhelming like climbing a mountain and never reaching the summit. For me, climbing Kilimanjaro is very symbolic and it is all about hope and inspiration and creating awareness about the many services and programs offered at the Foundation for Blind Children that positively change lives and improve opportunities for those of us who must everyday “walk by faith and not by sight.” I want to be a part of the efforts that shatter the many myths and preconceived notions held toward blindness. I want others to know the truth about living a life with blindness, “You can do it!” Together with your support we can…will…must reach the summit of Kilimanjaro!



I am asking you to partner with me in this once-in-a-lifetime challenge to inspire hope in others and demonstrate the great accomplishments people with disabilities can achieve with equal access, training, and opportunity. Reaching the top of Kilimanjaro will not only testify to the power of those with a handicap, but will also signify reaching a new apex in what blind children and adults can do with the will and support to take a risk. If you are able and would like to contribute to my journey, please visit my Team page at http://www.SeeKiliOurWay.org to donate funds online. Simply click the “Climber” link on the left and then “Team Hicks”.

Your support will help raise awareness for the blind community as well as directly affect the programs of the Foundation for Blind Children. The Foundation for Blind Children is a charitable organization which is federally classified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Donations to the Foundation may be tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

I thank you in advance for your support and hope this challenge brings as much encouragement to you as it will to me and our family.

Sincerely,
Sibak Thomas L. Hicks
(Lim Kenpo Karate Student)