Reflections on Portugal

Last week I had the honor and pleasure to travel to Portugal with Grandmaster Lim and others from our Ohana to teach at the 1^st Annual Lim Kenpo European Seminars hosted by Professor Nuno Nunes. There were many students from schools in Portugal as well as some from as far away as London. I am amazed at how martial artists from other countries and cultures have so many similarities to the martial artists that we are familiar with here. Their desire to learn and the dedication to training hard and perfecting the art were very obvious and present during all the seminars.

I especially enjoyed the training time spent in Kyoshi Pedro Porem’s session. Every time I attend one of his sessions, I feel like an enthusiastic, eager-to-learn white belt. At the end of the seminars we went back to Professor Nunes’ school in Salvaterra de Magos for another day of training with just the Lim students. What a great day of training! Not all the training was physical as there was some time spent in deep conversation about concepts related to martial arts. What a treat and a joy to listen to Professor and Grandmaster talk about their perspectives on the art!

It will take some time to digest all of what I experienced, but here I take the opportunity to share some of the feelings and thoughts that I received while spending time with the wonderful people of Portugal.

I am so impressed with the young students. They helped out in many situations, and were always respectful and caring. I watched them as they chatted happily about things while waiting for one event or another to start. I never saw an expression of boredom while waiting, or heard words of irritation at having to do something for Grandmaster Lim, Professor Nuno, or a visitor. Their cheerful way of just doing what was needed was inspiring and heart-warming.

The Luau was beautiful. There were dozens of dishes, and every single one was  Ohana. It reminded me of our potlucks after our testing. I saw the young people taking care of their instructors like our STORM and SWAT teams take care of us.

I am so grateful to the people of Portugal who opened their hearts and showed their love and appreciation of the Ohana. Their attentiveness to us was overwhelming; I am unable to repay all the kindness and service that was shown to me. I know that’s not the way it works - it’s just what you do.  I feel there is something that I need to do to be more worthy of being a part of the Ohana by experiencing all the kindness and opportunities of Portugal.

Sometimes its stressful to leave, and I could easily complain about the sacrifices these types of trip have – travel is exhausting, the financial costs, time away from work, dojo and my bride. But I always am glad and grateful. This trip I have come back refreshed and renewed (and exhausted in a good way).  I have re-committed to being a better teacher and I plan to work harder in my training. More importantly, I will try to be the best person that I can be.  Thank you Portugal for the awesome gifts of awareness and love!

-Sigung Kelly

Student of the Month Spotlight - Andrew Baghai - Kaju Blue Belt

Andrew has been training at Kaju AZ for a little more than 3 years. He is a joy to train with and is so excited when he learns a new technique.

Andrew's favorite color is red and he likes Chicken Tiki Marsala with Naan bread and Saffron Rice.

Andrew just recently graduated from ASU and is a Process Analyst at American Express Technologies. He is originally from Seattle where his parents still live. He married his lovely wife Carley in February 2012.

Outside of Kaju AZ, Andrew enjoys playing PC games, investing and hanging out with friends and family. At the dojo, he enjoys learning how to take a punch and throwing a couple in return.

His goals include getting his green belt, getting into the Masters of Science in Information Systems Management Program at ASU, and traveling.

Great job Andrew! You bring a great energy to all the classes you attend and we see you being very successful at all your endeavors in and out of the dojo.

Student of the Month Spotlight - Yesenia Arrieta - Kaju Yellow Belt

Yesenia is a ball of energy to be reckoned with at Kaju AZ. She always brings a spirit of excitement to our classes.

Yesenia likes the colors purple, pink and blue and loves Asian and Mediterranean Cuisine. 

Yesenia is a single mom, raising 2 children. Her daughter is 18 and her son Xavier is 11 years old and trains at Kaju AZ also. Being a single mom has been hard, but she has managed to make a wonderful life for her kids. They also have 2 dogs that keep them moving. Yesenia loves her family for all the hope, laughter and strength that they give her when it feels that all is lost.

Yesenia likes training at Kaju AZ because she has found something she really enjoys. At 200 pounds, the doctor told her to lose weight because her stress level was too high. After beginning her training, there were some days she was so sore she could barely move, but the instructors and students gave her the inspiration to keep going.

Yesenia's goals are to lose 30 more pounds and build better cardio. Most of all, she wants to continue creating memories with her family because she knows the teenage years will fly by

Keep up the good work Yesenia! We are so proud to have you in our Ohana!

IT'S TRUE: Martial Arts Can Improve All Areas of Your Child's Life!

IT'S TRUE.
Martial Arts can improve all areas of your child's life.

According to a new study at Oregon State University, young children who are able to pay attention and persist with a task have a 50 percent greater chance of completing college.

Tracking a group of 430 preschool-age children, the study gives compelling evidence that social and behavioral skills, such as paying attention, following directions and completing a task may be even more crucial than academic abilities.

And the good news for parents and educators, the researchers said, is that attention and persistence skills are malleable and can be taught.

Researchers also said college completion has been shown in numerous studies to lead to higher wages and better job stability. She said the earlier that parents can intervene, the more likely a child can succeed!

 At Kaju AZ, we start kids at about age 5. Our programs focus on discipline, task completion, improved self-esteem, greater attention span, focus, improved listening, character development and more.  Our kids develop a no-quit attitude and are leaders in their schools and communities.

We offer a complimentary 2-week trial period.  We have two locations to serve you (101 & Baseline in Mesa and Chandler Heights & Recker in Gilbert).

Call 480-755-3008 or email sifu@kajuaz.com for more information today!

Student of the Month Spotlight - Thomas - Junior Brown

Thomas has been a student at Kaju AZ since 2006, one of the original students. Thomas is a natural as a martial artist with great kicks and precise techniques.

Thomas likes the color blue and his favorite food is steak. In school, he enjoys computer graphics.

The Maher/George family are a very active family, always hiking, riding bikes, running and they participate in multiple school sports. They all enjoy watching and participating in Kaju activities.

Other than Kaju, Thomas enjoys football, wrestling, and being with friends. He enjoys Kaju because he stays fit and it helps him to become a person that is very disciplined and determined.

PIT Black Belt Promotion

Sigung Kelly was promoted to PIT Black Belt by Kumu John Hackleman at the PIT HQ (San Luis Obispo, CA) this past weekend. It was a surprise promotion for him, and I, Sibak Nic and Sibak Cam were honored to be able to attend.

 

Sigung began training at the PIT in February of 2008 and our school became a PIT Affiliate at that time. We are the only PIT school in Arizona and we appreciate the association with Kumu John and his Ohana. The PIT Ohana is a select group of schools.  It has added a lot to Kaju AZ and our programs.  When you get to know John you realize he is just a "regular" guy dedicated to martial arts and Kajukenbo, and doesn't let the celebrity status of his fight team affect him.

 

In the PIT system, John gave Sigung the title of "Kumu Kelly."  It is not incorrect to call him by this title, although we will also continue to call him Sigung Kelly as well. 

 

Sigung's promotion demonstrates his belief that becoming a black belt is a journey and not a destination. Continuing his training in Kaju as well as other disciplines provides so many benefits to our dojos. Please check out the pictures at our picture site: kajuaz.smugmug.com .

 

Congratulations to Sigung Kelly!

-Sifu Jen

 

Kaju AZ Military Appreciation Week - Kaju AZ Student Rick Leigh

Rick Leigh

E5P

U.S Army

I joined the Army right after high school and I really didn't understand what it meant to serve my country. I spent most of my time overseas and had the privilege of seeing many different countries(some good, some not so good). Although I was Gung-Ho and was willing to do what ever I was ordered to do, it wasn't until I completed my tour and came back home did I realize what a great honor it was to serve my country. I strongly believe the extensive training and the experience I went through has helped shape the person I am today. I am very proud an honored to have served the time that I did and I would not hesitate to do it again if called upon.

Kaju AZ Military Appreciation Week Spotlight - James Baustert

MMA Student Heather Jennings father is James P. Baustert who was a Master Sargent in the Air Force Bomb Squad from 1975 to 1998.  He is a Desert Storm veteran and loved that every day presented new ways to serve his country.  He loved being with multiple branches of the military. He is pictured with one of his bombs!  Thank you for your service Mr. Baustert!

Kaju AZ Military Appreciation Week Spotlight - Kaju Student Jeff Hall

Jeff Hall is a student at Mesa and Proud dad to Louise, one of our Dragons.

Name:  Jeffrey Hall
Rank:  Capt
Branch of Service:  United States Air Force
Dates of Service:  Active Duty, Nov 2005 - Jun 2010.  Reserve, Jun 2010 - Present

Jeff says this about his Military Service:

"My service has been my proudest professional accomplishment and also one of my proudest personal accomplishments.  What I love the most is the sense of community being part of the military family.  It is something that can only be experienced by those who have served and I am humbled and honored to be a part of our military.  I was blessed to be born in this country which provides such amazing opportunities compared to other places in the world.  Serving in the military allows me the ability to feel that I earn some of the many blessings this country has afforded me."

Kaju AZ Military Appreciation Week Spotlight - Tom George

Vietnam Veteran Tom George is Simo Linda George's brother. He proudly served as an infantryman in the Army for almost 2 years at the age of 18, beginning in February of 1968. He i
s proud to have served and was "a “grunt” and says, "I started out carrying an M60 machine gun because I was one of the bigger guys in our platoon."

During a mortar attack on his Outpost he was blown off a bunker. He earned a Purple Heart as well as the National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Dev, one Overseas Bar, Sharpshooter (Rifle M-14) and Sharpshooter (M-16).

Two of Tom and Simo's other brothers also served in Vietnam. His beloved adopted nephew and namesake is from Vietnam as well (Kaju student Thomas Maher)! Tom says "Like most people, I hate war. I do believe that we need to defend our country and our way of life, at all cost. I will always defend my country because it truly is, the best country in the world."

Thank you Tom George for your service to the United States!

Kaju AZ Military Appreciation Week Spotlight - Kaju Student Michael Riegel

Lieutenant Commander (FMFQO)
US Navy / US Marine Corps
2003 - 2012

Michael loved the Service for many reasons - he says there are too many to name! On top of adventure and excitement he enjoyed the  great responsibilities and accomplishments that could not be attained elsewhere. He especially loved the excitement of playing with trucks, tanks, guns, boats and helicopters."

"The Navy enabled me to serve and protect my homeland,proudly wear the cloth of my country, and perform my greatest honor, bringing home our wounded and sometimes fallen warriors and heroes.  We
shared a connection which embodied honor, courage, commitment, loyalty, devotion, dedication and sacrifice, often with fellow countrymen/women we may have just met.  A common, often silent bond continues to exist amongst those who serve and have served.  A bond of great importance to me."

Michael is a natural leader at Kaju AZ and we appreciate his no-quit attitude.  He continues his love for challenges inside the dojo and always exhibits respect and honor. We appreciate his military service and are honored to be associated with him and his family.

On CasEvac ready with an Australian Army/Navy team
during maneuvers in Northern Australia

On board the USS New Orleans off the coast of South
America

Mahalo to Michael for his service to our country! We are proud to call him Ohana!!!

Confidence and Overcoming Fear of Failure

In the September 2008 blog I talked about the confidence that is exhibited in the black belt attitude. Being confident in one’s technique and training can be a life-safer in a dangerous situation. Flinching or tightening up due to fear can cause the necessary actions to be too slow or too weak.  

Where does the confidence come from? Confidence is built in steps as we overcome increasingly difficult challenges utilizing resources we have acquired (skills, knowledge, strength, balance, etc.). Each time we accomplish or overcome a challenge, we grain greater confidence in ourselves and in our skills.

One of the opposites of confidence is fear; and more specifically fear of failure. Fear can hold us back from trying. And, if we do not try, how can we ever have a chance to succeed? We need to take many chances (and, yes, fail many times) to allow ourselves to grow from the experience so we can become stronger and wiser and more capable.

Fear can also make our efforts weak or misdirected. When we let fear take hold of our minds, it can distract us. It can cause us to pause too long before making an important, split-second decision. Letting fear take control of our bodies can make our movements stiff and dis-jointed.

Fear is a necessary mechanism wired into our bodies, but we must overcome it and use it as a necessary tool. Fear can help us recognize a dangerous situation. But once the fear is felt, we need to compartmentalize it and keep it from affecting our actions.

Overcoming fear of failure is important for all people, not just martial artists. I think fear of failure is probably one of the most insidious, self-damaging things that we can allow ourselves to succumb to. It keeps us from growing and becoming successful. It sometimes leads us to make excuses and even lie to ourselves. It can make us create a facade of arrogance as we pretend to others we aren’t weak or fearful. That facade of arrogance further erodes our confidence and continues to increase our fear of failure.

Remember the Back-To-School pool party at the FloRider? It was awesome! Many of us, including me, had never done it before. I knew I was going to fall many times before figuring out how to stay up. If I gave into the fear of looking goofy, I would have never had the opportunity to feel the satisfaction (and fun!) of finally being able to stay up! It took me many times to get it right. Many of the falls were spectacularly unflattering. Eventually, finally, amazingly, I was able to stay up.

To help us overcome fear, we should put down our facade of arrogance that we use as a self-defense mechanism. Quit trying to pretend we are something we are not. We know we are pretending, and guess what, many around us also know we are pretending. Be proud of who you are! Humility is an aid to overcoming false-arrogance and a tool that helps us to be able to really learn.

After accepting where we are we can move forward. The next time we are faced with the challenge that may require several tries, don't focus on what people might think. Instead, focus on the task. And each time you fail, examine why, make the adjustment and try again. Success is then finally inevitable.

In order to grow and succeed, we must forget about the minor consequences of failure. So what if you do not look perfect? Try hard, do your best, and tomorrow, do it again!      

                                                         -Sigung Kelly Corder

Kaju AZ Student of the Month - Ron Bromund

Every week we introduce you to one of our students. This week, we would like to introduce you to Ron Bromund.


Ron is a Kaju Student at our Gilbert School.  He is an Orange/Purple Belt in our Kaju System. He is a police officer, likes the color yellow and enjoys a nice juicy steak. He is married to his wife Lindsay and he has 2 children, Alexis who is 6 and Patrick who is 3. Alexis is one of our Dragons. They have a greyhound named Athena and a very unusual pet, Shelly, who is a snail.

Ron loves spending time with his family. He used to teach high school history and so he still enjoys reading about history and watching The History Channel. Ron also learned magic when he was young and still enjoys a trick or two!

Ron loves the Ohana atmosphere at Kaju AZ. He says that everyone works together and pushes each other to be the best they can be. His goal in the dojo is work harder and learn more than last year, and outside of the dojo he strives to be a good father and husband.

If you get a chance to see Ron in action, you can tell that he has prior martial arts experience. He is a fast learner and pays great attention to the detail of a technique. We sure are lucky to be able to train with Ron and look forward to many more years!

Kaju AZ Student of the Month - Meet Jessica

Each month, Kaju AZ introduces you to 4 students. This week, meet MMA Red Belt, Jessica King!

Jessica King has been training in MMA for just over 4 years. She trains with her sons, Jacob and Ben, and when her partner Robyn isn't working, Robyn trains as well. Jessica and Robyn love animals. They have 4 dogs and 1 cat and take in foster animals and strays and find them loving homes and families.

Jessica admits that besides Kaju, she loves to shop and we both agree that you can never have too many shoes in your closet. Take a look sometime at all the cute shoes she comes in the dojo with! She also enjoys spending time with her family and Aunt and Uncle on the weekends. 

Jessica has found a new passion in running and has learned that the more she runs, the more she likes it. She has decided that she likes anything that involves sweating.

Kaju AZ is a place that makes her feel better and adds a light to her day. She is grateful it is something she can do with her sons and they can help each other get better. When she comes to train, she feels like she matters and that it truly enriches her life.

Her goals for the next year are to continue training hard and become a better martial artist by learning from the teachers and black belts at the school. Outside of the dojo, she is going back to school for nursing, something she has always wanted to do.

Anybody that knows Jessica, knows that she trains hard and hits hard and with that same intensity she is always giving back to other students with a helping hand, good advice and a great smile, a smile that lights up the room when she enters!

Martial Arts to Me

When I first got into martial arts, I was about 16 years old.  I was influenced by watching Bruce Lee movies and wanted to be able to kick like Bruce Lee.  Luckily, my mother put me in Isshin-ryu karate and my martial arts journey began. 

I stayed in Isshin-ryu for a couple of years and continued doing martial arts when I went to college.  I joined the Isshin-ryu club at Ohio State and  I also trained in Aikido. After college, I moved to California and wanted to continue in martial arts training.  I wanted to stay in Isshin-ryu but it was hard to find it on the west coast so I ended up at a mixed martial arts school called John Barrett American Martial Arts.  John Barrett was a movie actor and martial artist who starred in many movies with Chuck Norris and his own.  I remember when I first started training in his style, I had trouble adapting because my “glass was half full” (with my previous experience).  I felt like I was dishonoring my prior training and didn’t want to adapt to the new style.  I suddenly realized I was holding myself back by not “emptying my cup.”  Once I did, my martial arts skills, technique and understanding of myself increased exponentially.  I also learned much more about discipline, respect, character, hard work, confidence and humility. I not only grew as a martial artist, but as a person. 

After many years in California, fate drew me to Arizona where I found Kajukenbo.  I instantly fell in love with the warmness of Ohana and the deadliness of the martial art.  Like my prior training, Kaju AZ helped me focus on my skills and the Ohana brought me back.  Today, I don’t think so much about being able to kick like Bruce Lee but what martial arts has done for me as a person both mentally, physically as well as spiritually.  People have said “I make it look easy,” but remember I have been working for years to “make it look easy.”  

Whether your focus will be martial arts or something else, by always sharpening your skills, working hard and keeping humble (your glass half empty), then you too have the same ability of achieving greatness.  I have achieved my greatness through martial arts…martial arts means everything to me!

-Sibak Jonathan Hedden

Black Belt Principle - RESPECT

This is the first in a series of six blog posts on our Black Belt Principles - RESPECT

Respect. We talk about it. We expect it. From our children. Our coworkers. Our bosses. The guy in the carpool lane next to us. But what does it mean? How do we show it to the people we know and love and to total strangers?

Respect: a relation to or concern with something specified; an act of giving particular attention; consideration.

That’s the official definition, but what does it mean and how do we show respect in our every day lives? Respect is an attitude. Respect is an action. Respect is how you treat people. People you know and people you don’t. Being respectful helps you succeed in life. If you don’t have respect for authority, your peers or even respect for yourself, it is almost impossible to succeed.

Our children may learn respect from schools, but we as parents have the most influence on how respectful our children grow to be. Until children show respect at home, it is unlikely they will show it anywhere else. What are some ways we can show respect to our children and in turn teach them how to respect others?

Be Honest - If you do something wrong, admit it and apologize.

Be Positive - Don’t embarrass, insult or make fun of your child.

Be Trusting - Let your child make age appropriate choices and take responsibility for themselves.

Be Fair - Listen to your child’s side of the story before jumping to conclusions.

Be Polite - Use “please” and “thank you”.

Be Reliable - Show your child that you mean what you say. Keep your promises!

Be a Good Listener - Give your child your full attention when they are talking to you. Put down your cell phone or laptop and look them in the eye as they speak.

Remember that children learn by watching you. Make sure that you are modeling respectful behavior. Some of the things you can do are:

Be On Time - One of the simplest ways to show respect is to be prompt. Show up to work on time, make sure your kids are at school or karate class on time, make sure you are where you say you are going to be when you say. When you show up on time, you show the person you are meeting that they are important to you.

Follow the Rules - Whether they are traffic laws or rules posted at the public pool. Rules are in place for a reason. If your child sees you break rules you see as unimportant, they will begin to pick and choose the rules they will follow by what they think is important.

Be Caring - Show concern for people, animals and the environment. Make it a point to donate your time, money or talent to those in need and explain to your childrent the importance of taking time to help others.

Avoid Poor Role Models - When you see examples of disrespect, discuss them with your child. Avoid people that show disrespect to others. They are not good role models for your family.

Explain Rules - When you set rules at home, explain why the rule is important. If your child understands why a rule is in place they will understand why it needs to be followed.

Build Their Independence - Give them responsibilities as soon as they can handle them. Even the smallest child can have chores around the house as simple as putting silverware away, folding clean towels and socks, or simply picking up after themselves.

There are so many ways to show how we feel about people in our lives. The most important thing to learn and teach is how to show love. Encourage your child and show that you believe they can succeed and they will believe they can as well.

Ms. Jessica
(adapted from teach-nology.com)

Student of the Month - Meet Kyle!

Each month, Kaju AZ introduces you to 4 students. This week meet Junior Brown Belt Kyle!

Kyle is 12 years old and has already been training in Kajukenbo for 9 years! Kyle brings a high energy to his training. He trains hard and is a hard h

itting young man, and yet, he is still very humble and kind to everyone he meets.

Kyle's favorite color is purple and his favorite food is Chinese Style Roast Pork. Kyle lives with his mom and dad and has 8 cousins, 4 aunts, 3 uncles, 2 grandmothers and 2 grandfathers. And he also has 7 koi fish as pets.

Kyle's favorite subjects in school are math and science and he also enjoys playing basketball, Boy Scouts and band.

Kyle likes training at Kaju AZ because of all the friends he has made. It helps him to reduce stress from school. And most importantly, he says kaju has helped him to become a good leader at school and in Boy Scouts.

Leaders are Successful

Ask a recent high school graduate what they want to do and invariably, one of the elements is 'I want to be successful at…'  Ask a parent what they want for their children, the answer will probably be something having to do with their child's success in life. Some questions come to mind: How do we measure success? Success of what kind? What makes a person successful or what drives success?

My definition of success is simply  'not quitting and continuous progress toward a goal.' To be successful, you have to have a goal and then you have to start moving towards it. My experience has been that most successful people have leadership attributes that aid in their success. Some important leadership qualities that aid a person in achieving their goals are:  communication, a no-quit attitude, and the ability to envision a better future for oneself.

In a typical, energetic class at Kaju AZ these elements are in prime view… You will notice an instructor encouraging students to push themselves and to work hard. You will notice students encouraging each other, lifting each other off the ground. Students will be patting each other on the back or giving high-fives for good work shown. Students that have never pushed themselves in such a way in any other activity or going beyond their assumed boundaries or even the boundaries of their parents or loved ones! Students learn that the limits are farther away than they ever thought and that more things are capable of being achieved and are within closer reach.

The various reasons why we STARTED in martial arts are not always the main benefits we receive as we CONTINUE in the martial arts. Most common reasons for starting to train are weight loss, self defense, strengthening and conditioning. Parents enroll their children for the purposes of physical activity, gaining confidence and increase in focus and attention. These are all great reasons for training and continuing to train. During the process of continuing to train and bettering oneself, something amazing happens. The increased skills build confidence in the martial artist. The confidence enables the martial artist to demonstrate and help others. Sharing the knowledge with others allows the martial artist to gain in the skills… and the cycle continues.

The skills that are refined and honed during this process are not just the physical martial arts skills. Some skills (or attitudes) that are automatically practiced during the training process are: communication skills, a take charge attitude, empathy when working with another student, the no-quit attitude, and a desire to attain one's goals. These skills are all important aspects of a leader. And a great leader combines these attributes with a goal or vision to lead others to a common goal. Or, more importantly, and on a more personal level, my estimation of the best result of leadership training is when a young person can lead him or herself to a better life by simply taking charge of their life, envisioning the future, and putting in the efforts to make that future a reality.

It is true that we need strong leaders in the world. But before that, we need people that can think for themselves, communicate with others, care about the people and the world around them. We need to be leaders of our own lives. If we can successfully lead ourselves to our own goals, then naturally, we will be able to help and encourage others on their own journeys to their own goals. Sometimes our goals overlap, and when this happens, synergy!

What's the best recipe for leadership success:  simply working hard and training hard, and helping those around you!  And like any good CrossPIT workout…repeat, repeat and repeat!

   

-Sigung Kelly Corder

Meet Hannah - October Student of the Month

Kaju AZ Student of the Month - October - Dragon Orange Belt

Meet Hannah. Hannah is a very focused young lady that comes to class every day with a great attitude. Hannah leads her classmates by being a hard worker and a great example. Hannah has begun her transition into the Juniors Program and I can't wait to see her grow as a martial artist.

Hannah's favorite color is purple and likes spicy chicken quesadillas. Her favorite subjects in school are Science and Reading. 

Hannah loves her family and they love her. She enjoys watching movies, eating meals and playing games with her mom, dad and brother Jacob. She also has a dog named Ruby, 5 cats: Morgana, Braveheart, Leo, Miss Hiss and Mama Kitty, a hermit crab named Spiderman and a tank full of fish.

Besides Kajukenbo, Hannah enjoys swimming, reading, giving her dog Ruby walks and drawing.

Hannah likes Kajukenbo AZ because she enjoys making new friends and learning how to do different defenses.

We are so proud of Hannah's accomplishments at Kaju AZ. She is a bright young lady with a great future ahead of her!

Student of the Month - Tabitha

Every week we feature on of our Students of the Month. Today, meet Tabitha...

Tabitha is one of our lady Kaju students from Gilbert. She has been training with us for almost two years and is currently a purple/blue belt. Tabitha has a true love for our art and it shows in her attention to detail in all of her training.

Tabitha likes the color black with pink coming in at a close 2nd and she loves turkey and mashed potatoes. 

Tabitha found true love at the dojo when she met her best friend Rick. They have a wonderful family of 3 kids, Brooklin, Ryder and Hunter, and a 3 pound dog named Molly. Her family is the single most important thing in her life. "They are my heart, my soul, my EVERYTHING!"

Tabitha loves training at Kaju AZ because it keeps her in shape, but also because she knows there is so much to learn. There is no end to learning which is good because she tends to get bored easily. She knows that physically and mentally she will continue to grow and she says there is no Ohana like Kaju AZ Ohana!

Besides Kaju, Tabitha enjoys interior decorating (for her house only!) But her favorite thing is spending time with her family. She looks forward to every weekend because they make big family dinners and play games. Having the whole family together in the same room is when she is the happiest.

Tabitha's goals for the next year are to continue to grow and move up in belt rank and enjoy her martial arts journey. As for her personal life, she hopes to move into her new home and settle in enough and eventually get married. AND... get all 3 kids through college along the way.

Tabitha is a great student to teach and train along side. Her attitude is always positive and she definitely has a no quit attitude in everything she does!

Student of the Month - Adam

This week we highlight our Student of the Month Adam.

Adam Smith is a Blue Belt in Kaju at our Mesa School. He has been training just over three years and is a hardworking dad and husband. HIs favorite color is blue and he likes sushi, mexican food, burgers and hot dogs.

Adam owned his own business as a faux artist and italian plaster installer years ago. Now he is an administrative assistant at a video conferencing company. He is thinking about going back into painting because it is fun to be your own boss. But.... he says it is very hard at the same time.

Adam is married to his lovely wife Megan and has 2 children and 2 dogs. They enjoy taking sudden trips around Arizona and visiting state parks. He also enjoys taking lots of pictures and seeing where the road leads. They enjoy watching movies while eating lots of popcorn and red vines and sour patch kids. He also enjoys painting, photography and digital arts, hiking and driving around the desert, playing games, cards and puzzles. He loves to go to Diamondbacks games with his daughter.

Adam loves learning new material and perfecting what he already knows. His dojo goals are to get his green belt, lose 7 pounds and have some of Sifu's Hawaiian pork (but only after he loses his 7 pounds). Outside of the dojo, he wants to finish the remodel on his house and start a new painting business while also helping his daughter reach her potential in school and martial arts as well.

Adam is a hardworking student with a great attitude. He is very relaxed and easy going and is always fun to train with.

SEE it, BELIEVE it, ACHIEVE it! 

Using Visualization in Your Training

Also known as mental imagery, meditation and rehearsal, visualization is a tool that you can use in your everyday training to improve the quality of your movement, increase the power of concentration, reduce the pressure of testing situations all while building confidence in your technique.

Generally speaking, visualization is the process of creating a mental image of what you want to see your body do (visual) and/or how you want your body to feel as you perform a technique (kinesthetic). Using your mind, you can call up these images over and over, enhancing the skill through repetition or rehearsal, similar to physical practice. While imagining these scenarios, you should try to imagine the detail and the way it feels to perform your technique.

Everyone will use visualization differently. You will find the techniques that are best for you. I will give you an example of how I use visualization when I learn a new technique.

Let’s say I am learning a new pinion or concentration in class. The first time I go over a new technique in class is by far the most difficult. Perhaps there are moves I have not performed before, or I am combining old moves together and the transitions feel uncomfortable. Whatever the case, learning and remembering are the first obstacles I have to face. So after class, I follow this routine…

First - As soon as I can, I write down my new technique, step by step with as much detail as I can remember. Hopefully I am able to jot something down before I leave the dojo. (Remember, as you practice and advance, your technique will change and you may add more details to what you have written down.)

Second - By the time I get home and have let the new technique “sit” in my mind for a while, I perform the technique again at home. Going over my notes as needed if I forget.

Third - I will make any changes to my notes if I find errors or can clarify or add details. After I have edited my notes, I will re-write the entire technique.

Last - When I go to bed, I turn the lights out and lay quietly with my eyes closed. I now go through the technique slowly in my mind as though I am looking at myself in the mirror. (I tend to imagine myself at the dojo) Not only am I envisioning what my technique looks like, I am also “feeling” what the technique feels like. What muscles am I using? How are my feet placed? What are my hands doing? I will rehearse this in my mind 2 or three times before going to sleep.

When I follow these steps the same day I learn a technique, I find that when I wake up in the morning, I can remember without having to go back to my notes.

On days that I do not learn a new technique, I use visualization for everything else. I tend to use visualization at night when I am going to bed, when the house is quiet and dark. But, you could use it at any time during the day. When you are stuck in traffic, waiting in the doctor’s office, on the tread-mill or tanning by the pool. I always try to visualize at least one part of my training. Perhaps I will run through all my pinions or concentrations. Or maybe I want to concentrate on techniques I am having a hard time with at the time, like self-defense punches. Regardless, I will use visualization every night for at least one aspect of my training.

Visualization can also be very helpful when you are injured and cannot train at 100%. Using this technique can help you “keep” your technique and not forget a skill before you can return to training.

Perhaps you have never used visualization in your day to day training. If not, I challenge you to use it the next time you learn a new skill. Or, start using it every day before class to mentally rehearse your material. There are a ton of helpful websites that can help you use visualization to improve your everyday performance.

Mind. Body. Spirit. As one.

-Ms. Jessica

Student of the Month - Trevor

This week we are highlighting our Student of the Month, Trevor...

Trevor has been training at Kaju AZ for almost 6 years!!! Trevor is 11 years old and is currently an Orange/Purple Belt in the Junior Program. Trevor is turning into a 

great leader helping with the Dragons classes and always has a positive attitude when he enters the dojo.

Trevor says his favorite color is blue, loves chips and salsa and really likes Science in school. He lives with his mom and sister and 2 dogs and also with his dad and his dad's girlfriend and one dog. He also has a sister in Michigan who he can't wait to see.

Trevor likes any sport that has a ball! He likes playing football, soccer and basketball.

He likes Jiu Jitsu the most at Kaju AZ because "it is really fun and I get to learn arm bars and chokes and I learn a lot."

Student of the Month - Maggie

Every month we feature 4 students in our Mat Chat Newsletter. We are so excited to introduce our hardworking students to you. This week, meet Maggie...

Maggie is 10 years old and is an orange belt in our junior program. She is a positive, smiley force at Kaju AZ. She enters every class with a positive attitude and gives each class 110%. She can do "spiderman" better than Spiderman himself! Maggie is always pushing herself to become "stronger and braver" in class.

Maggie's favorite color is green and she loves watermelon. Her favorite subject in school is Accelerated Reading. She says that she loves her family because they are fair, kind, and a little strict, but mostly they are caring, and they really know how to throw a great birthday party. She has two dogs, Nena and Daisy, a cat, Tumbleweed, and a bird named Buddy. When Maggie is not training at Kaju AZ, she enjoys Girl Scouts, swimming, soccer and writing.

Keep up the great work in class Maggie!

A Black Belt Attitude

This September’s test will be a special test at Kajukenbo Arizona. The testers have worked hard and have learned the techniques, and gained an attitude that will allow them to advance to the next belt level. While all of our testers are special, this time we have three unique ones. In particular, we have three black belt testers. Each of them represents Kajukenbo Arizona in a different way.

“A black belt is nothing more than a belt that goes around 

your waist. Being a black belt is a state of mind 

and attitude.” –Rick English.

As I was thinking about the black belt testers, I came to a realization that each of them exudes the black belt attitude long before their black belt test. The mindset of a black belt is a “Just do it, no quit, do it right” attitude.

“Black Belt Excellence. 

Every Day in Every Way.” 

We say that at Kaju AZ and all students can and should make this a part of their individual attitudes.

A black belt attitude just does it (to borrow a famous product slogan). When faced with a challenge, a person with a black belt attitude doesn’t freeze up and try to find away out - they find a way over! Just do It is more than a catchy slogan; it’s a call to action. You will never finish if you haven’t started!

A black belt attitude never gives up. When doing anything, giving up can cause your mindset to become weakened. Each time you quit something important, it becomes easier to quit the next important task. Eventually, it becomes a way of life. A” No-Quit” attitude is a black belt expectation and is only achieved through continuous practice. No-Quit requires all the Black Belt principles: Courage, Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Self Control and Loyalty.

A black belt attitude does 

things the right way! 

Excellence is a key ingredient in a Black Belt’s attitude. A casual attitude, a sloppy technique, doing something halfway and calling it good enough; these are not the hallmarks of a Black Belt. A Black Belt cares about the results of all their actions and is aware that all actions represent themselves, their mentors, teachers and family. Every one of us represents our parent’s upbringing and our mentors that have coached us along the road of life. Honor them by making sure all our actions are performed in excellence.

While each journey to black belt is unique, a black belt attitude is a common thread.  It binds us together as Ohana and allows us to carry forward the legacy that has been so lovingly bestowed upon us…a hard-fought legacy that we are honored to continue at Kaju AZ.

Congratulations testers! All of us, white to black, testing or not, will be rooting, cheering, and thinking about how we can improve our Black Belt Attitude!

- Sigung Kelly Corder

Plateaus

This past month I had the great opportunity to go on a hiking trek with my sons and their Boy Scout troop. It was a great opportunity to watch the boys in action. Every part of normal life required extra effort, including making dinner, cleaning up after dinner, hanging the food in bear bags, navigating the hike to coincide with water sources, etc. A lot of effort to simply hike! Yet all the boys worked together. Not a single one of our group complained, argued, or shirked from the work. The boys exhibited a great attitude about the work and the sometimes tedious aspects of hiking some rugged and strenuous trails. During some of the long, potentially boring, hikes I watched the boys talking to each other about things that were fun or that they missed from home. What great conversation! It made the time go quicker and the hike seem shorter.

I can remember one especially difficult day when our hike was to take us up 3,000 feet over a ridge line and then down 1,200 feet into a camp. We prepared the crew to expect it to be a somewhat hard day and we hiked a little extra the day before to help get us up as much of the trail as possible. The day was long and many times the trail switched back on itself in order to maintain a reasonable grade. But each time we encountered a switch back that took us in the opposite direction of our destination, it made it difficult to keep morale high. Sometimes it would look like we were nearing the crest of the ridge line only to find out there was a higher ridge just behind it. The next ridge was obscured by the close ridge due to our position and perspective. Whenever this occurs while you are hiking, it is called a false summit. Finally, after a long day of hiking the last summit, we finally reached the top of the ridge. There was no more UP. We finally reached the top! We stopped and took pictures and looked back the way we had come. It was amazing to see the amount of distance that was covered that day. It was also nice to see what we would be hiking up and over the next day.

We started our descent down towards camp with a bit more spring in our step. We had accomplished a lot that day,  and we knew that we could handle whatever we needed to do the next day.

I couldn't help but think about how our martial arts training patterns this typical day's hike. We have a plan that we know we can accomplish. We know where our destination is (black belt and beyond). We don't always know ahead of time the twists and turns that we might have to take (due to scheduling issues, injuries, job changes, etc.) . Sometimes during our training we feel like we have worked so hard to get the summit we are currently standing on and we look ahead to the next higher summit that we know we must attack next. Blue, Green, Brown and Black are each in their own way, summits preparing you for the next important summit. Take some time to enjoy the view where you are at, you earned it! But then ready yourself for the next steps. If you thought that summit was amazing, wait until you see the view from the next!

Here are some ideas of things to help make the next "climb" more enjoyable and feel less like going backwards:

If you are feeling less strong or less developed with cardio, supplement your training with biking or running to change things up a bit.

If you feel like you want to get a jump on the next set of material, schedule a private to kick start the process.

If you are feeling stressed because you put things on hold for the test you have just completed, find balance in your schedule and take care of the things that are truly important (family, school, work, etc).

If you feel bored with your material, schedule a semi-private with a friend to find more "hidden" techniques in the material you already have.

If you don't feel like coming to class, go to Class! You know you always feel better afterward!

Oh, and  while enjoying the view, look behind you.  Is there someone else struggling up the mountain you just reached that could use some encouragement? Take the  opportunities to make the hike not seem so difficult and share or help a friend along the way!

Sigung Kelly Corder

Service: What Goes Around, Comes Around!

 (NOTE: Parts of this blog were posted previously in 2008 and 2010. Names and dates have been changed to “promote” the innocent.)

A Kaju AZ contingent left this morning for Philmont scout ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. (They will be gone until July 17th.) This is a historic and inspiring event for Kaju AZ.  I am so proud of the decisions these men/boys have made to embark on this physical and emotional journey.

Philmont is a great, often life-changing experience offered through the Boy Scouts of America, a fantastic organization. They will be hiking about 115 miles over 10 days and hopefully catch a lot of fish. On some days, they change elevation in a range of 8,000 feet. They will get rain, snow, heat, follow the strict rules of no-impact hiking, eat a lot of crackers and cheese and create a bear triangle every night. There isn’t a television, Gameboy, Computer, iPod, cell phone, bubba keg, modern plumbing or can of Axe in sight.

This will be the sixth time that Sigung 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, family and passion of martial arts. For the first time, he will have both of his sons with him – a goal he had hoped to achieve from the very first time he participated.  He will be able to celebrate Sisuk Cameron’s birthday during the trip – in the past he has always missed it. The leaders pay their own way and usually miss at least two weeks of work. This is a trip, which often turns teenagers into men as they leave the world behind and get back to basic survival and commune with the beauty of the outdoors. It provides opportunities for the scouts to bond with their adult leaders and have mentoring relationships that last a lifetime. It’s quite a special event for all involved.

Sigung and I are often asked “Why they heck would do you do this? Why do you spend the money (it’s about $700 per person)? 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.

Service to others is so important and so often ignored as we focus on our own problems and ourselves 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, hours 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 for others.

Kaju AZ would not be the awesome dojo that it is today without the helping hands of many people! Rides to and from the dojo, keeping the dojo neat and clean, teaching in class, polishing the floors, building/remodeling our Gilbert school, our self-defense clinics and simply introducing your friends and families to Kaju AZ are all examples of service. Quite simply – there are too many to name! Know that all your efforts are so appreciated and more importantly, will continue to have an impact many years into the future for every single student.

Sigung 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 their entire lives. We know that each of you will see the same impact on your children and yourselves in the future!

For me, Philmont is a love-hate relationship. I hate the time Sigung is gone and the accompanying stresses, but I love the man/husband/father/instructor/leader that service has helped him become. I look forward to seeing my sons become the same service-oriented, patriotic, compassionate, hard-working dedicated men.  Having so many of our Kaju “boys” attend comes at great sacrifice but I know it will be well-worth it for each of them and for Kaju AZ.

Thank you for your continued service and support of Kaju AZ. Thank you for your understanding that things may be a little different while Sigung and the crew are gone. We will maintain our schedules with all of our awesome instructors! As Sijo Emperado said, “In Ohana there is strength” and I am grateful for all the strength I see at Kaju AZ!

Sifu Jen