Giving the Gift of Martial Arts Unselfishly

We just returned from the Lim Kenpo Malama Event in Carlsbad, CA.  WOW.  What an event.  To sum it up in few words is nearly impossible, although “exhilarated, enriched and exhausted at the same time” comes to mind.

There were over 225 martial artists and family members in attendance at the Academy by the Sea.  It is truly a unique setting for a unique event.  It was a honor to meet and learn from some of the best martial artists from around the world – Portugal, Belgium, Holland, Maui, London, Wyoming, South Dakota and more.  A lot was packed into over 4 days.  We got up early and stayed up late.  We worked our bodies and our minds.  It was an honor to be there and we gained a weekend full of memories to last a lifetime.

The title “Malama” was fitting as it means “to take care of, nurture, or serve.” Our instructors really took care of us! What really stood out to me was how unselfish each instructor was. They showed up to each class with a smile and infectious attitude that clearly showed their passion for martial arts.  They freely gave of their time, talents and energies to the building up of each individual student. Keep in mind some instructors taught cumulatively for hours during the weekend which is exhausting mentally and physically. Some traveled thousands of miles at great financial expense. And yet, each class had new and exciting material, showcased individual arts and talents and not one session was boring.

With an event this large, obviously hiccups occurred and changes had to be made on the spot. Kids got tired and were tempted by the beach.  People weren’t feeling 100% or were exhausted from travel.  People were hungry or sunburnt or other common travel issues.

And yet…no complaints.  No frowns. No giving up and backing out of teaching.

The instructors did not get much time to train or experience the seminars as students but they did not seem to mind. It was obvious that they loved sharing what they knew and were not concerned with getting anything in return.  During the free time, a lot of them were available for questions and would extend the class time to cover even more topics.  They gave up resting or leisure time without complaint and showed up to teach the next session with vim and vigor!

Who hasn’t been in a situation where the instructor (in martial arts, school, church or other events) had a “personal agenda” or showed up grumpy and obviously not in the mood to teach? That really sucks the joy out of the experience for me.  And ultimately, it has to suck the joy out of it for the teacher too.

I attended a martial arts program years ago in which the instructor was going through a “grappling phase.” Every class was focused on what he wanted to learn himself…we were just merely grappling partners to serve his purpose of getting more roll time.  It made it difficult to really even want to attend class.   

I have been fortunate to train with the best of the best instructors and we have a lot of them at Kaju AZ.  What a treat it is to experience these classes.  Sigung always says “You don’t know a technique until you have taught it.” SO TRUE and when you talk to him more about what that means he will tell you: “You can’t really appreciate what you have until you give it away.”

Martial arts is a gift and I am so grateful for all the instructors willing to give me all the gifts I have in my martial arts basket.  Paying tuition or seminar fees isn’t enough to really cover how much Kaju has made me a better person.  How can you put a price on that?  How can I put a price on how it has enhanced my family?  How can I put a price on the dear and valuable relationships in my life that came through Kaju?

Good karma isn’t just received -  I believe it is created.  The more I give the more I seem to receive!  It feels good to give and I appreciate the opportunity to work with each of you.  

Be sure and check out all the pictures from the Malama weekend at http://kajuaz.smugmug.com!  

Sifu Jennifer Corder

Everything You Need to Know You Can Learn at Kaju AZ!

Well…it happened.

Our boy, who in my mind can’t be more than 5 years old, is graduating from high school this Saturday. It really has been the fastest 18 years of our lives. Granted the first six weeks seemed to last forever, but since then it has been a whirlwind. One thing is for sure, no matter what teenage angst is present (it’s my angst not his), I am positive Sibak has a bright future. He has the world in front of him and Sigung and I are very proud of him.

I may sound prayerfully confident now but admittedly, I was a nervous young mother for the first couple of years. I was so concerned that everything could potentially kill him: coffee table corners, jello, microwaves and don’t forget the almost-visit to the emergency room because he sucked breast milk up his nose (Sigung literally took the car keys away from me). OR maybe he could be scarred somehow for life: does he know we love him, the doctor called him obese, he has a lisp. OR there was the possibility he would become a crazed serial killer: is he a mama’s boy, has he eaten too many McDonald’s chicken nuggets, and not to mention he witnessed his father’s freak flaming marshmallow incident of 2001. It wasn’t easy to see far enough ahead to trust the decisions we were making. Common sense prevailed (thank you Sigung) and we were able to move along.

Honestly, we did approach child rearing in a very business like manner. We made a list of ideal attributes we wanted to see our child embody as an adult. Simple things like hard worker, compassionate, patriotic, smart, funny, adaptable, critical decision maker, good father, good husband, good citizen, respectful, disciplined. All the usual with a couple of “cancer curer” “Nobel prize winner” and “strong as Thor” ideas as well.

We also made a list of things we thought we needed to do to get him to those end goals. Quite overwhelming…Spanish tutors, abacus, violin, piano, cub scouts, boy scouts, zoo trips, science center, educational vacations, police station visits, backyard hole digging, exhaustive school searches, survival scenarios, background checks on friends, chore lists, etiquette classes, operas, practice dates, dance lessons…to only name a few. It’s been a busy and productive 18 years for all of us.

One activity that seemed to cover most attributes was “enroll in a karate program.” What transpired with that choice has certainly and obviously changed our entire family’s life forever. And perhaps, more importantly, has given him all the tools he needs to make it.

 I am not saying all his other activities and education have not shaped him to who he is. He did not develop a passion for electrical engineering or photography or how to juggle or about his family history at Kaju. But he has learned critical life skills that will be with him forever.

(Sorry Sibak but here goes.)  

Sibak is disciplined. Sigung and I have never had to remind him to do homework or stay on him to get a project done. He plans ahead and will do whatever it takes to complete a task. (Our saying - Desire, Dedication, Discipline – has major value when internalized!)

Sibak is goal-oriented. He worked for 13 years to earn his black belt. He recently made a goal to run a full-marathon (not a family inherited passion) and did it. He decided to earn his Eagle Scout Award by age 14 and did it. (What’s life without goals? Meaningless!)  

Sibak is willing to work hard, physically and mentally. As an employer, Sigung has seen the devastating effects a “lazy” person can have in a company and in their own lives. And you can’t easily fix that when you are 25 or older. (CrossPIT and physical endurance exercises have paid off!)  

Sibak can be patient and still. I credit hours spent waiting to compete in a tournaments, testing, seminars and such. He can sit still and not complain. He sees the merit of being able to be physically still for mental clarification. (I saw this trait developing in our Dragons at our last test. This is a major accomplishment).  

Sibak can overcome anxiety. Other students don’t think he is ever nervous when he performs or breaks bricks or speaks publicly. What they don’t see is how anxious he actually is! But he has the ability to overcome that, move forward to do his best. (Must be all those testing, demos and competitions!)  

Sibak is confident. Although confidence rears it is ugly side during the teenage years, we know from our own lives that he will have plenty of humbling experiences to help balance that. How many adults do you know that are disabled by lack of confidence or self-esteem issues? Sibak has seen first hand that he can accomplish so much…mentally, physically, spiritually…and even at times he may feel less-confident, we know it is inside him and he will be able to pull from that and overcome obstacles. (Kaju confidence is contagious!)  

Sibak can overcome defeat in a positive manner. He has not broken every single brick every time. He has not won in all competitions. Not all his Kaju material has come easily. He has not performed to standard on all school endeavors. Disappointments and failures happen throughout our entire lives. Kaju has given him opportunities to fail and deal appropriately and effectively. (Kicking set five may have been set up for us to learn this very skill!)  

Sibak has already experienced balance in life. He has balanced school, extra-curricular activities, martial arts, church and more already in his short life. Instead of cutting out Kaju because of his Track team participation, he learned to balance all areas and got it all done. What an awesome life skill this will be when he is balancing college life and way off in the future (we are in NO RUSH), a wife and family. (Kaju training should never take over your life, only enhance it.)

I could go on and I am certain Sibak is thoroughly embarrassed. He knows what I would say to him to his face at this very moment while he is blushing – “Suck it up and deal” – and thanks to his lifelong participation in martial arts, I know he can. It was hard to see the end value of a lifelong commitment to martial arts 18 years ago.

And there were year’s worth of “I don’t want to go to karate” or “it stinks to have parents that own a karate school” or “why do I have to do karate.”

But ask Sibak now if it was worth it. He will definitely tell you yes.

Ask Sigung or me if it was worth it and we will tearfully, gratefully and resoundingly say ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT.

Happy Graduation, son. This is only the beginning. May all your dreams come true!

Getting the Most of Your Kaju AZ Workouts

Master Motivator Zig Ziglar says: “I don’t care how much power, brilliance, or energy you have, if you don’t harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there, you’re never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants.”

Nothing feels better than a great Kaju AZ workout! Coming to class prepared to workout - ready to learn, listen, and sweat – these are just the beginning. There are a lot of things you can do OUTside of the dojo to ensure you will have a great workout Inside the dojo.

First things first: plan ahead. The class schedule RARELY changes. Leave your house with adequate time to arrive 10-15 minutes early. Have your uniform ready and your equipment packed. Don’t waste time on being rushed, walking through the door 5 minutes after class starts and scrambling for your belt. These all provide distractions that diminish your focus in class.
Second, remember that balance is key! Get your two workouts a week in – it really helps! While personal, work and school schedules can change, make your training a priority. Missing a class a week impedes your retention. It is so refreshing to be able to master basic material in class instead of reacquainting ourselves because we missed class. If your schedule is temporarily screwed up, talk to me or Sifu about coming in during other times to make up class time. We are here for your success!

Third – and perhaps MOST IMPORTANT - practice really does make perfect! Martial artists often practice more in the beginning of their training and then begin slacking off as they learn more material. Simply reviewing your material every day…from start to finish…can make a huge difference. Develop a routine that incorporates your material into a living room cardio workout! Shadow boxing rounds is a great way to practice all your “A” day material. Partners are not required to practice your self-defense! Doing your “B” day material in the air and with visualization can make you stronger without much effort. I know time is tight in our busy lives, but you have made a martial arts commitment and you owe it to yourself to make the most of it!

For my other job, I used to travel 15-18 times a year for 5-6 days at a time. It was hard to miss so much dojo time! But I made the most of it - I simply packed my jump rope, resistance bands and my material notebook and made it a habit to practice every travel day in my hotel room! I still do this at home! Many of you may think being the Sigung provides much practice time – I need extra review time too! Sifu often runs through tournament techniques while sitting at red lights or waiting for the kids. And neither of us go very far without a printout or digital copy of our material! Being stuck in a doctor’s office is a great place to read through your notes!

Some days you may have a chunk of time to review all your material from start to finish – take advantage of that! But don’t get lazy if you don’t have a 30-minute block. Start looking for those few minutes here and there – you can do a kicking set or two while waiting for your microwave popcorn to finish! You can recite your student creeds while folding towels. Try doing your kata work in the pool! There are plenty of creative ways to get your practice in – and I guarantee it will make a BIG difference in your confidence, performance and satisfaction of your Kaju AZ workouts!

It is a pleasure to have each of you in class. Kaju Az is awesome and thank you for all your support!

Sigung Kelly Corder
Train Strong to Remain Strong

Events Showcase What Makes Kaju AZ Unique

Wow, what a weekend! From a spectator’s point of view…I am exhausted! Kaju AZ students competed in two separate events this past weekend (January 14-15th, 2012) and I am one proud Sifu.

The first event was the “Tough Mudder.” One might think that is a perfect way to describe our students…and that is correct. The Tough Mudder event was unique and exciting and showed a simple truth we teach and exemplify at Kaju AZ: Teamwork.

We hear about teamwork all the time. The media spouts it, politicians, religious leaders, co-workers, etc. But sometimes it is simply all talk and no action. At Kaju AZ we practice teamwork daily in our classes and Ohana events as well as acts of service inside and outside the dojo.

The Tough Mudder showed an extraordinary effort on Team Almost There’s members: Sigung Kelly, Coach Jon, Andy, Omar, Tony, Joe, Amy, Jessica and Cindy. Watching them perform what appeared to be sometimes insurmountable obstacles was amazing…and they did it was a team. If team members arrived early to an obstacle, he or she waited until everyone was present to complete it. If a team member needed help, he or she got it. The huge “over the wall obstacles” showcased this even more. It was inspirational.

The other event was Sibak Nicolas’ marathon race. This event showed simply how the skills learned through martial arts training can help you in all aspects of your life. Not just physical skills – leadership, desire, dedication, discipline and more. Sibak has been training in martial arts virtually his entire life. About six months ago, he set a goal to run a full marathon. He researched and began training. He never quit or gave up and worked daily to prepare. When he was told he was too young to participate, he took action and wrote a letter explaining why he wanted to do this. He was granted permission. He continued to train despite an injury and a couple of illnesses. And by achieving this goal, he knows there is nothing in life he cannot do. In my opinion, that is a powerful life lesson for a 17-year old to realize and exciting to know that this is just the beginning of his adulthood.

Who knows what lies ahead for Team Almost There or Sibak Nicolas or any of us? Through our martial arts training, it is obvious we are better individuals and team members. It’s a pleasure to watch each person grow and reach his or her goals. Just a silver lining of our training, and a daily inspiration for each of us to see.

Sifu Jennifer Corder

Feeling Others' Pain Can Heal You

"When we generate compassion for the difficult people in our lives, we get to see our prejudices and aversions even more clearly. It can feel completely unreasonable to make compassionate a wish for these irritating, belligerent people. To wish that those we dislike and fear would not suffer can feel like too big a leap. This is a good time to remember that when we harden our hearts against anyone, we hurt our selves."
-- Pema Chodron

Many years ago I heard one of my teachers tell a story about compassion. In these difficult times I think it's a great reminder for all of us.

Once upon a time, while swimming along a bottom of the lake, a school of fish paused to look up to see what all the commotion was about. What they saw above them was a single fish racing, jumping and skipping in and out of the water.

One fish in the school turned to another and said, "Look at that jerk ... who does he think he is anyway, just dancing and skipping across the lake! What a show off ... he is so weird -- it's no wonder he is all alone out there."

Of course, what they didn't see was the lure and barbed hook that was painfully embedded inside the mouth of the fish as he fought and pulled with every ounce of energy he had against the nearly invisible 20-pound test line the fisherman was quickly reeling in.

At times we can be just like the school of fish in this little parable. Life is like one big lake in which we are all swimming, and sometimes someone "hooks" our attention with their peculiar or outrageous behavior, and we rush to judgment. We tend to make assumptions and reach a conclusion based on that judgment, and then we build a case to support it.

Without really knowing what possible pain might be going on inside that person's mind or body, too often we say (or think), "Oh, look at that guy, acting so moody and glum" or, "What a bum, he should just get a job" or, "What a chip he has on his shoulder -- he is really out of touch with reality" while all the time, this person may be doing the best he can to simply make it through the day.

It is quite impossible for us to know what others are going through. It's interesting to note that Don Miguel Ruiz's "Four Agreements" seem to fit in here perfectly:

"Be impeccable in your word ... Don't take anything personally ... Never make assumptions, and ... Always do your best."

The sad truth is, we often judge our loved ones even more critically than strangers. It is a curious thing, isn't it? Marcus Aurelius wrote, "If you are pained by external things, it is not they that disturb you, but your own judgment about them. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgment now."

Perhaps compassion and non-judgment would be an easier conclusion at which to arrive if we could remember that every person in our experience is serving as a perfect mirror that reflects back to us some aspect of our own character we may not choose to or can't see in ourselves. Many people avoid compassion, not because they are callous, but because of their own fear of the pain they see in others -- it reminds them of their own vulnerability.

In its purest form the word compassion means "together with feeling." This means when we enter into compassion for one another we heal all sense of separation from one another, and we allow ourselves, to the best of our ability, to enter into the others' pain -- not to fix it or heal it, or even "share in it," but simply to be there and allow the healing energy of our presence to say, "You are not alone -- I am with you." I believe this is what every person in deep pain, be it physical or emotional, truly longs for -- to know they are not alone. The spiritual truth is we are not alone because we are all one. Perhaps it's time to demonstrate that more fully in our lives. The only prerequisite for compassion is non-judgment and a willingness to share sacred space with another, if only for a few cherished moments.

Compassion heals in ways that medicine and empty words never will, at the level of the soul self. This is an amazing gift we can bring into every relationship we shall ever have, from our most intimate others to the stranger at the post office. Let today be a day when you deepen your compassion and lessen your judgments. Your presence on this planet will make a difference if you can do this one simple thing.

Courtesy of Dennis Merritt Jones (Award-winning author, Keynote speaker, spiritual mentor)

Happy 5th Anniversary Kaju AZ!

August 1st marks our 5-year anniversary of Kaju AZ and we can't be more excited about where we are and where we are going!

Sigung and I started Kaju AZ because we feel passionate about Kajukenbo and the positive impact martial arts has had on our lives and those around us. It continues to be a labor of love and the joy of this adventure permeates all aspects of our lives. We love the special sense of Ohana that we feel at both schools and anytime our Ohana gets together. Each of our students bring a unique energy and special talent to the dojo. We know this makes a very special school!



Our 6th year is going to be better than ever! We look forward to growing and expanding at our Gilbert dojo into additional space - come on new students! Our Mesa dojo's new schedule adds additional training time! Sigung will continue training at the PIT and bringing more and more material to our awesome CrossPIT programs. Look for more exciting seminars (weapons and brick breaking to name two) along with STORM/SWAT Leadership training, Parent Appreciation Night and our CrossPIT Training Day.

Allow me to take this opportunity to say: THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts – from Sigung, Sifu and all our instructors – 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!

Sifu Jen
(PS - Yes, that is Sisuk Cam in those pictures...and our first official student, Alex Booth - August 1, 2006!)

Our Kaju AZ Dojo: The Place Where you Find the Way

Thank you to Master Gary Engels of Leadership Martial Arts for sharing this awesome post!

“Dojo” means “school” in Japanese — literally, “the place where you find the Way.” And while every country has its own name for school (it’s a different word in Korean, Chinese, etc.), the important part of this statement is that your life is your school — your LIFE is the place where you find the Way.

Should you ever decide to take martial arts lessons, of any kind, I hope that you would be lucky enough to find a teacher who understands and practices the idea of my life is my dojo.

When a student is on the mat, executing punches or kicks, rolls or break-falls, leg locks or arm bars, and/or blocks and parries, all sorts of things are learned, such as the patience required to polish the maneuvers, the control you have to exercise to do it right, the teamwork it takes to participate with a partner and classmates, and the understanding of the return one gets on effort and consistency. What a shame it would be if we failed to take those lessons “out of the dojo and into the world.”

The real lessons in our school, the valuable ones, are the ones we practice on the mat, but fully understand that we’re practicing for the purpose of making something in our life work better, smoother, and with more mastery. We practice in our school, what we wish to see in our lives. That’s what we know to be the most valuable aspect of what we do in our school.

By the way, if you’re not a student, but you’d like to see what it’s like to be one, just mention this post, and we will give you a pass to come in and try classes. Every great journey begins with some small movement in a new direction, yes?

And here’s a secret: I think, “My students are my dojo.” I learn what I need to learn by helping others to do, well...all of the above.

Gary Engels
Leadership Academy Martial Arts