5 Health Benefits of Martial Arts

Reasons Why You Should Take Advantage of Ann Arbor Martial Arts Programs

(For a more detailed version, visit this website article.)

(Ann Arbor) Martial arts. You’ve seen it in movies, on your friend’s Facebook newsfeed, and in those “Things to do before you die” lists. Whether you have yet to cross ‘martial arts’ off your bucket list or keep a rack of black belts in your closet, here is a list of reasons why doing martial arts can benefit you today!

You Get Stronger and Lose Weight

One acronym: HIIT. High intensity interval training means doing periods of short, intense anaerobic exercise. It’s good for:

·      Athletic conditioning

·      Improving the metabolism

·      Fat-burning

Depending on your weight and the martial art, you can singe anywhere from 500-1500 calories in an hour.

Compare that to having to run 7 miles at a 10 mph pace or doing three Insanity workouts. Not only will you feel that burning calories is effortless, but doing martial arts targets your entire body, not just certain parts. It’s also fun.

Not only that, but building muscle promotes a calorie burn after you’ve stopped working out. Because martial arts involve a combination of slow and fast twitch muscle conditioning, you promote muscle development.

You Stay Younger

In a study that compared 40-60 year olds who were either martial artists or sedentary, the researchers found that training reduced aging.

This means that compared to their sedentary counterparts, middle-aged martial artists:

·      Were more flexible

·      Had better muscular strength and endurance

·      Could balance with more agility

·      Had a lower body fat percentage

Fewer of the martial artists had heart diseases. The illnesses that normally hit middle-aged people, such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, showed up in much higher percentages for the sedentary group.

You Become More Intelligent

In an article from BotBot, studies showed:

·      Improvement in memory

·      Enhanced problem-solving skills

·      Reduced risk of Parkinson’s or Alzeimer’s

The most effective types of exercises were aerobic and resistance-training methods, both of which can be found in the martial arts. What’s more, it doesn’t matter when you start. Exercise benefits your brain immediately.

Martial arts are different from other forms of exercise, because a lot of it requires tactical thinking. This means an increase the brain’s ability to learn, or plasticity. Resistance training, flexibility or coordination, and aerobic movements all add up to enhanced brain plasticity.

You Become Happy

It’s no secret that doing exercise makes you feel emotionally better. In an article released on WebMD, researchers stated that regular exercise releases chemicals called endorphins. The endorphins affect the way your brain perceives pain and act as sedatives.

Some of the benefits included:

·      Reduced stress

·      Alleviated anxiety and depression

·      Improved self-esteem

·      Better sleep

Also, in Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow, he describes how there is a state where an “optimal experience” or state of flow can happen. He cites martial arts as being a particular type of flow where a martial artist can act with lightening speed without having to think about it. 

You Meet Awesome People

As the saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” In a study that looked at how people stay happy, it was found that happy people tend to spend time with other happy people.

You’re also in an environment that often requires trusting a partner. In a study by Desteno, he found that being put under high levels of stress requires one of two responses: trust or distrust. If a group of people can trust one another, the stress augmented the working relationships that martial artists had with each other.

This is anecdotal, but anywhere you go in Ann Arbor, martial arts programs seem to attract well-balanced, like-minded people. The environment at the Japanese Martial Arts Center encourages growth, challenges the individual, and cultivates a rich working environment among its martial artists.

If you’re interested in trying traditional Japanese martial arts, consider visiting our site at http://japanesemartialartscenter.com/, OR email us at info@japanesemartialartscenter.com for more information.

 

JMAC Field Trip!

JMAC trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts to see the Samurai Exhibit on
Saturday April 26 at 3pm.


 I (Stacia Proefrock) have seen the Samurai exhibit and it is pretty cool!
Lots of swords, lots of Japanese household items, a few big tapestries
with battle scenes, some Noh Theater Kimonos, some films, some tea
ceremony stuff. In short, heaven for the Japanese Martial Arts and
culture nerd.


 We are organizing a trip for JMACers and their families and friends. If
you would like to come with us and enjoy the company and discounted
tickets that we can provide, you need only complete these few steps.
Questions? You can email stacia@cornellbox.com or call me at 734 834 5392.


 1. Give money to Kristen Seguin BY APRIL 18. Tickets are $12 for adults
and $8 for kids under 12. You can give money to Kristen at the dojo
(she's often there) or you can send her money via square cash. Go to
squareup.com/cash and send money to nicolas.n.seguin@gmail.com.


 2. Let us know if you want to come to dinner. I'm making a reservation
at Traffic Jam and Snug, which is a pub with a nice, balanced menu and
lots of choices and lots of room. Reservation will be for 5pm. Send me
an email at stacia@cornellbox.com or a text to 734 834 5392 and let me
know how many people will come for dinner. Do this by April 18 if at all
possible as well.  http://www.trafficjamdetroit.com/


 3. Get yourself to the DIA by 2:45pm on April 26. I know that's going to
be a stretch for anyone coming from Judo, so I'm willing to stay in the
front lobby and meet folks who are trying to get there from judo or who
get lost. It's normally about a 40 minute drive from the dojo to the DIA.
There is ample parking there in structures and on the street. You can
call or text if you are lost or are going to be particularly late.


 4. Kids are welcome. The exhibit takes about 60-90 minutes to get
through. Don't forget that i-96 is closed from 275 to Telegraph when
trying to get to the DIA. I-94 is the best route from the Ann Arbor area.
Hope to see you there!

The Right Fit: Martial Arts Ann Arbor Has to Offer

         Whether you are a seasoned martial artist or someone who has never been involved in martial arts, Ann Arbor provides many choices that are of high quality and integrity. It can be difficult to choose which program to start with when there is such a variety. Some questions that you might ask when picking a program are:

“Will I be taught practical self-defense?”

“Can I use these techniques in the real world?”

“Are the instructors up to par with the principles they teach?”

“Do I have to be physically fit already? Will I become physically fit with this program?”

“Is the place safe and clean?”

“Of all the different martial arts Ann Arbor affords, why choose this one?”

            You’ve heard the horror stories of people being taught half-baked techniques from McDojos. You don’t want a martial arts academy that drains your wallet and keeps you there with premature belt promotions. If practicing a martial art is anything like dating, finding the right place can be productive and happy for all parties involved. If it’s a bad fit, you find yourself miserable and poorer than where you started. You just want to find the right fit.

            If your first concern were self-defense, would it help you to know that at the Japanese Martial Arts Center a female in the Judo program successfully fended off an attacker with techniques that she learned at the dojo? You also get a chance to train with several instructors that have specially tailored seminars geared towards self-defense. At the end of the day, you want to leave with the proper skills to protect yourself.

            The benefit of finding the right dojo is being able to learn applicable self-defense techniques. It means feeling confident that what you learn in the dojo is effective and well structured, taught by instructors that are martial arts savvy. It allows you to grow as an individual in physical fitness, mental discipline, and self-efficacy. The right dojo for you will make you feel safe from disease and poor training, and respected.

            Of all the martial arts Ann Arbor presents, the Japanese Martial Arts Center meets all of your standards. The traditional Japanese martial arts can have powerful applications with devastating results. World-class instructors that have not stopped learning, competing, and growing as martial artists will teach you. We are more interested in your growth as a martial artist than using promotions as an incentive of keeping you. You will be in programs that have safe, structured curriculum, which are appropriate for all age groups, including kids, young adults, and adults.

           

            Getting started is easy. You aren’t asked to fork out cash and sign a contract when you enter the door. Instead, you are welcome to watch a class or two in the program that you are interested in. If the training looks like something that would appeal to you, then you can arrange for two FREE private introductory lessons with one of the instructors. In those lessons, you will be taught basic etiquette and enough fundamentals where joining the other students will feel effortless.

FAQs

Are the techniques effective?

Yes! We teach traditional Japanese martial arts, with rankings that are recognized by the Shudokan Martial Arts Association. We have students that go on to compete in national and state level tournaments, often coming away with medals in kata and randori divisions. We also have students that have gone on to defend themselves in life-threatening situations.

Would I be welcomed there?

Yes! It doesn’t matter where you are in your martial arts career, how physically active you are, or your personal identity. As long as you are respectful of other students’ safety, you will get the chance to work in an environment that both challenges and encourages you. We have classes for children, teens, and adults.

Is it a clean, safe facility?

Yes! The claim to fame that this martial arts Ann Arbor dojo has is the spring tatami mat, which ensures safe falls. (There are over 1400 springs in the floor, which makes it bouncy and increases your longevity as a martial artist!) The curriculum is structured with evolving, intelligent techniques and occasional conditioning to create the optimum environment for a burgeoning martial artist.

Are the instructors qualified to teach?

Yes, and then some! For example, the head instructor, Suino-sensei, has a two-generation martial arts lineage that extends to the legendary Mifune Kyuzo. He has published influential material extensively in the martial arts field, including The Arts of Japanese Swordsmanship. He holds positions in several international martial arts committees. You can view other profiles here.

Getting Started with the Japanese Martial Arts Center

            If the Japanese Martial Arts Center sounds like it might be a good fit for you, you’re more than welcome to come in to watch a class. Call us at (734) 645-6441 to arrange a time to visit, or check the schedule and come in when a class is happening. (Advanced courses are not open to the public, however.) If you feel more comfortable with email, you can message info@japanesemartialartscenter.com (or use the contact box at the top of this page) or message Kaily at kaily@japanesemartialartscenter.com.

You can also visit us at 3853 Research Park Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48108.

  

Test Day Checklist at the Japanese Martial Arts Center

Kaily here,

I'm re-posting the old test day checklist Suino-sensei published a couple of years back.

TEST CHECKLIST FOR STUDENTS 

We know how hard you have worked to get to this point. To ensure the appropriate level of seriousness and safety, please follow this checklist when preparing for your test day.

1. Uniforms: You and your uniform must be clean and tidy. Be sure your uniform is washed and unwrinkled. Sleeves and pant legs may not be rolled up – please have them tailored!

2. Jewelry: No jewelry may be worn during a formal test. Be sure to remove all earrings, necklaces, piercings, friendship bracelets, etc.

3. Be On Time: Please be warmed up and ready to go at test time.

4. Dues: Your dues must be current in order to test.

5. Techniques: It is your responsibility to know the techniques required for your test. Check with Sensei if you are not sure.

6. Visitors: Friends and family are welcome to watch!

7. Waiting: Often, the hardest part of a test is waiting for your turn to be called. Please prepare yourself for an extended period of sitting and/or waiting.

8. Uke’s Role: If you are part of a two-person kata, remember that uke’s role is critical. Uke (receiver) has the job of making tori (do-er) look his/her best. Often, uke is being evaluated on the basis of his/her skill, just as is tori.

9. Decorum: At every moment during your performance, carry yourself with confidence. A mistake is not fatal, but an inappropriate outburst may be. Never criticize other dojo members.

10. Donations: You are asked, not required, to donate $10 toward the JMAC building fund when you test.

11. Factors: Many factors are considered for promotion in traditional budo, including time in practice, attendance, dojo citizenship, positive attitude and behavior, ability, and improvement over time. Try to excel in all these areas!

12. Certificates: If you want internationally recognized certification of your promotion, consider joining the Shudokan Martial Arts Association, North America’s most prestigious general budo organization. Check with Sensei for details (JMAC students at sankyu and above are required to join SMAA).

Enjoy the moment! Getting promoted at JMAC is a major accomplishment!

Upcoming Events

Judo Camp

March 15, 2014
11am-2pm

Judo Tournament: Michigan Open

March 16, 2014
East Lansing, MI
Paperwork here.

DIA Samurai Exhibit

Field trip details TBA!

JMAC Anniversary

Celebrating our 8th year at the end of June!
Details TBA!

Merrell Down & Dirty

August 24, 2014
7:30am
Detroit, MI
More details here.

Tough Mudder

September 20, 2014
Michigan International Speedway, MI
More details here.

Japan Trip

End of February, 2015
Details TBA!

Mark your calendars!

Testing Date Reminders:
Kids Karate - March 1
Adults - April 19

Judo Camp:
March 15, 11am-2pm

Michigan Open Tournament [Judo]:
March 16, East Lansing

Upcoming Events!

Hey there JMACers,

It's time to mark your calendars again!

Kids Karate has testing on March 1, 2014.

Adults are testing on April 19, 2014.

There is also a Judo camp on March 15, 2014 from 11:00am-2:00pm.

JUJUTSU CAMP & JUDO CAMP 

Jujutsu Camp

Saturday, February 15

11:00am-2:00pm

Judo Camp

Saturday, March 15

11:00am-2:00pm

Reminder: Iaido Camp 

Special 3-Hour Event for JMAC Members and Select Members of the Public

Saturday, January 18, 2014 - 11am-2pm

"Structure in Japanese Swordsmanship"

How to align your skeleton to get the best balance, strength, and effectiveness in iaido.

How Judo Saved My Life

By Kaily: the following post describes one experience and how martial arts training affected my response. Due to the potentially controversial nature of the topic, I will avoid any discourse on whether what I did would work for everyone.

            I said, “No.”

I said it three times. If not for the verbal warnings, I was also pushing his hands from me.

            On a fall night, my junior year of college, a peer of mine attempted to sexually assault me.  He was a collegiate hockey player with an over 90 pound advantage to my 110-pound frame and at least a foot taller.

            When we met up, he kept touching my shoulders and arms, which didn’t bother me. Throughout the night, he became continually aggressive, until I told him that I didn’t want him to touch me. “Isn’t this what you want?” he asked.

            “I really f*cking don’t. Stop.”

            He shrugged it off and laughed. That should have been a red flag bigger than Belgium’s waving around in my face.

            Later on that night, he picked me up and threw me down. He got into a mount position and pinned my wrists to the floor with one hand, fumbling to undo his pants with the other. It was all happening very quickly, but my mind slowed down to assess the situation, something I had been trained to do during grappling or randori sessions.

            I stretched my arms away from his body and my head, until he was forced to let go. I clenched one arm around his neck and the other around his upper arm, wrenching my shins against his pelvis with the newly created space. He tried putting a hand against my throat to get out of my clench. I locked his thumb, shoved off again, and gained some back control, which let me dig my heels hooks into his thighs. I had his arm wrenched behind his back.

“Do that again, and I’ll kick your nuts back into kingdom come,” I spat. I felt a couple of pops in his finger before I ran out. He didn’t bother to chase me.

            The next day, he texted, “I was drunk. What happened last night?”

            I have yet to respond and never will, but I’ll say this: Judo happened that night. Judo saved my life. 

Happy Holidays!

The Japanese Martial Arts Center is closed on December 22-25 and December 29-January 1.

Make sure to come in the other days of the week for your training!

Amazing Transformation!

My 7 year old daughter and I have been JMAC family members for over year, and within this period I have witnessed an amazing transformation in my daughter.

Although she has always been an exceptional and wonderful child, as anyone would attest to, she has mild ADHD and focus and concentration have always been a challenge for her.  When we started at JMAC, I had hopes that it would help her with these problems, but it would be a gross understatement to say that it met my expectations! 

JMAC is truly a place of holistic self enhancement. All the instructors here are dedicated and professional martial artists. The children’s program is truly phenomenal.  Since my daughter has been at JMAC, her focus has quadrupled.  Her teachers at school have noticed a huge difference in her ability to concentrate, and stemming from that, her reading and math skills have gone from average to an entire grade level above. Every morning she says her affirmations that are taught in class in order to remind herself to “try my best!” 

They spend circle time every class session to discuss issues vital for today’s youth such as strangers, respect, community involvement, and bullying.  The children have a wonderful time, and it is amazing to watch the level of skill they develop in a short amount of time.  Due to the untimely death of my husband, my daughter has lacked a male role model and Sensei Suino has been a Godsend for us.  My daughter adores him and looks up to him; she takes his words very seriously and even at her tender age applies them in her life.  I cannot recommend this place enough.  Thanks JMAC!!

-Tiffanie Alexander

*We can't promise that every child will do as well as Tiffanie's daughter, but we do have a lot of success stories. Stop in or call us at JMAC - we'd love to chat about how we might be able to be a force for good in your child's life!

Martial Arts Ann Arbor - Kids Karate - Japanese Martial Arts Center

(734) 645-6441

info@japanesemartialartscenter.com

Iaido Camp 

Special 3-Hour Event for JMAC Members and Select Members of the Public

Saturday, January 18, 2014 - 11am-2pm

"Structure in Japanese Swordsmanship"

How to align your skeleton to get the best balance, strength, and effectiveness in iaido.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Japanese Martial Arts Center is closed November 28-31, 2013.

Judo Camp

November 23, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Kids classes are still on! No adult classes!

Application of forms and theories to techniques.

No cost for JMAC students. 

WHICH MARTIAL ART IS BEST?

 
 It seems that one of the most frequently asked questions on the budo forums is "Which martial art is best?" or "Which martial art is best for me?"

The truth is, there's no single best martial art. The one you should study is the one that that most suits your goals. Want to compete? Choose judo or a karate style that promotes competition. Want to develop intense focus? Choose iaido (swordsmanship) or kyudo (archery). Want to do really high kicks? Choose tae kwon do.

Whatever you do, find a school and get started. There's no better way to understand what martial arts practice is like than to practice martial arts. Or, as Randy Dauphin Sensei says, "There's only one way to know what it's like to get hit! Want to know what it is?"

But seriously, if you're in or near Ann Arbor, stop in to JMAC to watch a class or visit our website today! 

Judo Camp - Ann Arbor Martial Arts - Japanese Martial Arts Center

Ann Arbor Martial Arts
Japanese Martial Arts Center

Judo camp - Saturday July 20, 2013 - 11 am - 2 pm

1. Core movements
2. Relevance of core movements to curriculum techniques
3. Application of core movements in free practice

No cost for JMAC students. 

Japanese Martial Arts Center Ann Arbor
Judo • Jujitsu • Iaido • Kids Karate

We believe in your potential!

Samurai Qualification Battery
Thursday April 11, 2013 - 6 pm
Friday April 12, 2013 - 6 pm

For JMAC adult students only ... no adult classes on those evenings!

Kids Karate on Thursday, April 11 WILL be held!

This was a fun match. Here's the last couple of minutes. Leo's a fantastic competitor, and we loved the match up between his judo and the unique judo of Mr. Holland.

Check out Mr. Holland's unique approach to judo at the Michigan Open in Lansing last Saturday!

The Drinking Game - a new novel by Nicklaus Suino, Director of Japanese Martial Arts Center

When the young upstart Bob Santoni challenges his drinking ability, the old master, Russell Aldridge, agrees to a contest that will last for six months and end up completely changing both their lives. Filled with "fish stories," social commentary, and wry humor, THE DRINKING GAME is a character study of a man born in an age long past, when honor and dignity were valued and mastery was a way of life.

Destined to become a New York Times Bestseller?



Purchase on Amazon.com.
Visit the webpage.
Visit the Facebook page.

Iaido Fans in Hungary, take a look at the work of Sensei Tamas Nagy.

http://daitomi.5mp.eu

The Martial Arts Social Contract (Reprise)

By popular demand, we're re-posting this with a few tweaks. Thanks for asking!

Between the martial arts teachers at the Japanese Martial Arts Center in Ann Arbor and their students, there exists a social contract. The contract - mostly implied, sometimes written down - goes something like this:

As the teacher, I agree to give you, the student, the absolute best training opportunity I can give you, be it in judo, jujutsu, or iaido. I promise to offer you the complete martial art I know, including all its best aspects: physical techniques, theories of physical power, mental strategies, cultural aspects, and any spiritual benefits that are part of the art. I promise not to deceive you with martial arts mumbo-jumbo, and I promise not to try to falsely build up your self-esteem without providing any basis in real martial arts skill. I promise not to ask you to pay absurd dues rates, but will ask you to pay a fair rate in keeping with the expenses of the dojo and my need to earn a modest living. I won't give you a black belt unless you deserve it, but at the same time, I won't unnecessarily prolong your journey to black belt by making the standards impossible. I will try my best to help you develop yourself - mind, body, and spirit - so that you can excel in the dojo and in life.

As the student, you agree to attend classes as often as you can, putting forth all your effort, and practicing with energy and a positive attitude. You promise to consider the teachings I put forth, taking time outside of class to think about the relationship between my words and the techniques of your martial art. You promise to respectfully raise any issues you may have with your training, and give real consideration for my answers to your questions. You agree to practice safely to help prevent injury to yourself and other students. You agree to pay your dues on time, and agree not to take advantage of our policies to help you avoid paying a fair dues rate. You agree to work hard to learn your art, and to trust my decisions about when you are ready for promotions. You agree to commit yourself to the learning process, and to pass on the positive lessons you learn while at the Japanese Martial Arts Center.

Occasionally, a few students will come along who wish to learn what the teacher is teaching without honoring their side of the social contract. Such students may wish to learn to fight without taking part in the character development aspects of the martial art. They may train selfishly, failing to give due consideration to the needs of other students. They may try to trick the dues system by taking strategic leaves of absence, hoping to save a few dollars but still desiring all that the teacher has to offer.

We are happy to say that the vast majority of the students who have trained at the Japanese martial arts center are diligent, serious, generous, and sincere. They are quick to recognize that their teachers have given a huge portion of their time and treasure to try to master their martial arts, and are supportive in a variety of ways (offering to help with dojo events, helping newer students learn, paying their dues on time, and recommending the dojo to potential new students).

Generally, the closer students adhere to the social contract, the less formal their written contract needs to be. Those who find their dojo implementing strict written policies may consider blaming their dojo-mates who have failed to honor the implied contract.

SATO TADAYUKI & JOHN B. GAGE U.S. SEMINAR

(Reprinted from the Journal of the Shudokan Martial Arts Association, Volume 17 #2)

On August 17, 18, and 19 Nicklaus Suino Sensei, SMAA Judo Division Director, will be offering a special seminar at his Michigan dojo featuring budo experts Sato Tadayuki Sensei and John B. Gage Sensei. Both teachers are coming direct from Tokyo to the U.S., and they’ll be offering instruction in three important Japanese martial arts:

•The Kodokan judo of Kano Jigoro Sensei

•The Shodokan aikido of Tomiki Kenji Sensei

•The Nihon jujutsu of Sato Shizuya Sensei

Sato Tadayuki Sensei - Direct Student of Tomiki Kenji

Sato Tadayuki Sensei is one of the world’s leading Shodokan aikido experts. He was taught by Tomiki Kenji Sensei, founder of Shodokan aikido, in the living room of his house every Sunday before tea, and so he has an in-depth knowledge of Tomiki Sensei’s aikido system. He is also an accomplished judoka. Sato Sensei, sixth dan, was granted the position of Shihan of Waseda University Aikido club in 2007. This position has been vacant since Professor Tomiki’s death in 1979. He is an expert in his field, and in particular, the link between Kodokan judo and Tomiki-style aikido. He also teaches aikido at the Japan Police University, and he lives in Tokyo.

John Gage Sensei - Direct Student of Sato Shizuya Sensei

John Gage Sensei has been studying and teaching Japanese martial arts in Tokyo since 1986 when he joined the American Embassy Judo Club, which was lead by the late Sato Shizuya Sensei. Following the death of Sato Sensei, he became the leader of this well-established dojo, and he has been a member of the Kodokan Judo Institute since 1991. He has earned a seventh dan in Sato Sensei’s system of modern jujutsu, and he has a fifth dan in judo. He has taught seminars in judo and jujutsu in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Romania, the U.K., and the USA. 

Outstanding Opportunity

Contact Suino Sensei soon to get more details about this world-class training in world-class judo, aikido, and jujutsu. He can be reached at info@japanesemartialartscenter.com or (734) 645-6441.

The Endlessness of the Way

There is one transcending level [of study], and this is the most excellent level of all. This person is aware of the endlessness of entering deeply into a certain Way and never thinks of himself as having finished. He truly knows his own insufficiencies and never in his whole life thinks that he has succeeded. He has no thoughts of pride but with self-abasement knows the Way to the end. It is said that Master Yagyu once remarked, "I do not know the way to defeat others, but the way to defeat myself."

Throughout your life advance daily, becoming more skillful than yesterday, more skillful than today. This is never ending. - from Hagakure.

Do your (martial arts) thing!

Wouldn't you agree that fear of failure is one of the biggest obstacles to staying on track to greatness? And that patience (or a lack of it) is a close second? I think that's why a lot of people stop trying - they're not sure all the effort is going to be worth it if there's no payoff, and real success can take a really, really long time. I've read two books lately that really help sort out these two issues in a way that may help get your ass kicked back into gear.

The first is The Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson. Olson points out how most real success is the result of small, relatively easy actions done consistently over a long period of time. The payoff for those tiny actions is so distant (and invisible at the time they are done) that it's easy not to do them. There are dozens of useful insights in the book, but one point I took from it is that it's possible to study past success, figure out what those small correct actions are, and to stay on track with them even though the benefit is not easily apparent. Keep that perspective helps with all the daily jobs that may not be exciting or highly motivating.

The other book is Talent is Overrated, by Geoff Colvin. Colvin's point is that most extraordinary achievement can be explained by lengthy, concentrated work rather than by the miracle of genius. He advocates a very specific type of practice for virtually any activity that can lead to success. If the overall sequence is done correctly, incredible gains are virtually guaranteed if you keep at it long enough.

We're well into a century of achievement science, and the research is starting to stack up. The best of us are far more accomplished and our skills far more developed than most people were 100 years ago. One reason is that we understand much better how to achieve. Do your thing, do it well, do it often, and do it for a long, long time!

Nihon Jujutsu • Renaissance Judo • Tomiki Aikido

Do you know about the seminar we're hosting at JMAC in August? This is the one martial arts event of 2012 that you absolutely should not miss! You can get more info by visiting our seminar page.

Awesome Kata! - Goshin Ho II

Congratulations, Andrea on your promotion to brown belt! OUTSTANDING work!

Seminar - The Five Realms of the Martial Arts

Saturday, Feb 25, 2012
Time: 10am - 2 pm
Location: Japanese Martial Arts Center

09:30 - 10:00 am - Sign In
10:00 – 10:45 am - Jodo (4-Foot Staff) - Long Distance
10:50 – 11:35 am - Bokken (Wooden Sword) - Long/Middle Distance
11:40 – 12:35 pm - Filipino Knife - Middle/Close Distance
12:40 – 01:15 pm - San Chuan Dao (Chinese percussive striking) -Middle/Close Distance
01:20 – 02:00 pm - No gi takedowns - zero distance

$40 JMAC Students
$50 AOTKD, OHANA, KSK, ITAMA, SMAA Members
$60 General Public

16 years and older
Space is limited - visit us at Japanese Martial Arts Center - or call to reserve your spot today!

101 Ideas to Kick Your Ass into Gear

The latest numbers suggest that the average person spends sixty hours or more a week using their butt as a base of operations. That makes the objective of this book - unplanting your patootie - that much more difficult. How are we supposed to "kick your ass into gear" if you're SITTING ON IT?

Lighthearted but heartfelt, flip but functional, 101 Ideas to Kick Your Ass Into Gear is no garden variety motivational book serving up hackneyed self help ideas. Its tight and punchy chapters are perfect for reading on the plane, on the throne, or at your desk. We provide the ideas, the rest is up to you.

So what are you waiting for? Pick a chapter and put some dare in your derrière, some juice in your caboose, some whoosh in your toosh! After you’ve done a dozen or so of these activities, you’ll look back and wonder how you ever managed to spend so much time parked on your posterior. Check Out 101 Ideas to Kick Your Ass into Gear

The Success Triangle - Skills, Attitude, Effort

Today a client asked me, “how can you run a law practice and an SEO business, teach at your martial arts dojo, consult for businesses, write for several blogs, and still get any sleep?” My answer? I don’t get any sleep!

But seriously, doing that many things without a coherent system would be exhausting. Trying to do that many things well without organizing principles would be insane. So what I want to share with you today is the common vision that helps organize my approach to business. Hopefully you’ll find that this idea helps you carry out your personal mission or missions more effectively.

The vision is this – to be successful at just about anything, you have to have all three corners of what I call the “Triangle of Success” – skills, effort, and attitude. If you’re missing any one of these, it can be a lot harder to reach your goals.

Skills are the special products or services that you offer the world. If you’re a doctor – a spine surgeon for example – your skills are the abilities to diagnose and surgically treat problems with the spine. In my SEO business, my skills include the ability to diagnose websites, blogs, and social media for their effectiveness, and to recommend or take actions to make them more effective.

Effort is how hard you try to when you provide your skill to other people. Over the years, I’ve learned to be really good at looking at businesses and finding the things that are holding them back, but if I never tell anybody I can do it, I’m not making much effort. If I were to just look at a few aspects of a business that hired me and mumble some suggestions, I’d be making more effort, but nowhere near enough to be great at it.

Attitude is your belief that you can succeed and how well you can instill that belief in others. Being able to get a class of martial artists energized and sweating is not too hard. On the other hand, it takes strong conviction to convince groups of people, day in and day out, that what they are sweating for will truly change their lives for the better.

I believe three things are true about the Triangle of Success: (1) each corner is connected to the other two; (2) an equilateral triangle is the best recipe for success; and (3) taking a “learning” approach to building your triangle will really help you succeed!

When I say that each corner is connected to the other two, I mean it’s almost impossible to maintain or improve one aspect of success without employing the other two. Your skills will only improve if you make an effort to improve them, and you’ll have a lot more energy to make that effort if you believe success is both possible and desirable. Your efforts to bring your product or service to other people will be a lot more effective if your skills are obviously good and if your positive attitude shows. Your attitude will be better if you feel good about your skills and your efforts yield results.

When I say that an equilateral triangle is best, I mean your best results will come when you give similar amounts of attention to all three corners. A highly skilled salesman who is lazy and negative will never prosper. A tireless carpenter who can’t make a square joint and who swears at his customers won’t build many houses. The most positive motivational speaker in the world who goes mute in front of a crowd and doesn’t learn to control her stage fright is unlikely to reach many people. On the other hand, a slightly skilled person who gives 100% effort and has a great attitude will usually become very successful.

And finally, when I say that taking a learning approach will get you far, I’m talking about using each corner of the triangle to help improve the other corners. When you make the effort to provide the best possible service (business analysis, for example), it will become obvious when you’re lacking a skill that you need to get the job done. Use the information to go out and improve your skills, or hire someone who knows how to do the thing you don’t. Ask yourself if you have any beliefs that could hinder your ability to build business relationships, and if you do, find a way to discard them and your efforts will be far more efficient. Keep your mind open to learning and positive change, and your triangle will grow in height, width, and weight.

Now remember, don’t just go out and do something, DO SOMETHING!

You Don't Drown by Falling in the Water, You Drown by Not Learning To Swim!

Have you ever heard the saying: “You don’t drown by falling in water, you only drown if you stay there.” As far as I can figure out, it was first coined by Edwin Louis Cole, founder of the Christian Men’s Network. By the way, if you like sayings that can amuse or motivate you, check out the Ed Cole Video Library. Even if you’re not into religion, I’m sure you’ll find a few lines that’ll put a smile on your face.

People all over the world have picked up on Cole’s saying. It’s the title of a lot of blogs and personal development talks. Zig Ziglar used the saying in his motivational speeches, and you can find it in his books. One I think you ought to read, if you’re into personal development, is Embrace the Struggle: Living Life on Life’s Terms. The point of the saying is that, when life gets you down, you shouldn’t stay down. You’ve probably heard, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!” In the martial arts world we say, “Fall down seven times, get up eight.”

Anyway, with all due respect to these very accomplished guys, I don’t think the saying goes far enough. If you’ve spent as much time as I have studying the science of self-improvement, you probably realize that learning to recover from adversity is only the first step. If you want to become truly outstanding, you’ve got find a way to build personal evolution into your DNA.

So I’d change the saying to: “You don’t drown by falling in water, you drown by not getting out and learning to swim!”

Ups and downs are not just part of life, they are life. Once you’ve figured out a mindset or strategy for moving through adversity, like picking yourself up after you get by hard times, then you can start working on real accomplishment. And you don’t get it by doing the same things over and over. Like falling in the water and pulling yourself out! If you do, you’ll find yourself in the same situations over and over, and I don’t think that’s the formula for real personal achievement.

You see, every challenge has built into it the germ or seed of its own solution. “Hey,” you say, “last time I fell in the water I got out, and here I am, doing great!” But there’s an aspect of dealing with challenges that’s even more important, more profound, and probably far more life changing than just figuring out how to solve life’s immediate problems. If we think about it, each challenge can teach us the lessons we need for real, meaningful, lasting personal change.

The truth is, most of us ignore these lessons. It’s like we deliberately tune out the most profound lessons that life teaches us, virtually all the time. We suffer through some crisis, get our lives more or less back to normal, sit back and say, “whew, I’m glad that’s over,” and forget to change the fundamental behaviors or attitudes that got us into the crisis in the first place.

Now, that might be because taking the action called for by lesson is difficult, or involves some sacrifice, hard work, or change in our thinking, but it’s almost never impossible. I know this because there are always people out there who have learned the lesson we were supposed to learn. Let me give you an example.

After you fall into the water and pull yourself out a few times, even if you’re darn proud of figuring out how not to drown, you’re probably thinking, “darn it, isn’t there some other way to handle this?” And that little voice in your head might say, “hey, dummy! Stay out of the water.” And if you do that, you’re not going to fall in anymore.

But what if the water is where you really need to be? Maybe all the most exciting things are happening in the water. That’s where you learn the most, get the biggest reward, meet the coolest people. So you have a lot of motivation to get back in the water, you’re just tired of hauling yourself out. And if you look around next time you fall in, just before you pull yourself out, you pay attention to what all the other people are doing in there. They seem to be having a good time, you know, getting a lot done, making friends, learning a ton by staying in there for so long. So, you ask yourself, “what are they doing that I’m not doing?” And darn it, that voice in your head answers you again. “Hey slowpoke, they’re swimming!”

So, the point is, don’t just keep pulling yourself out, learn to swim! If you find something you absolutely, positively need to do, but you keep doing belly flops when you try it, don’t you think it’s time to do more than just pull yourself out? Look around and figure out what the really successful people are doing. Learn to do what they’re doing. And the surprising thing is, most of them are happy to give you some tips. And when you get good at swimming, you can go in the water anytime you want, and get all kinds of work done there.

Visualize your goal, plan your mission, and don’t just do something, DO SOMETHING!

Friends of JMAC!

We've heard that a friend will lend you their pickup truck, but a real friend will show up to help you move. If that's true, JMAC has some OUTSTANDING friends! Thank you! For effort above and beyond the call of duty, special shout out to The Carbon Unit, Spengular, Mike K., Pat G., and Kerns, the guys who have been there day in and day out and who really made our move possible. That's budo spirit at work.

Everything DOESN'T Happen for a Reason!

Hi, Suino Sensei here! I want to talk to you for a few minutes about a saying I’m sure you’ve heard many times. Maybe you even use it yourself from time to time. I just heard a guy say it in an interview on NPR, and it struck me that what you think when you say it can make a huge difference in your approach to life.

The saying is “everything happens for a reason.”

People say it when something bad happens to them. Keith Miller was the guy being interviewed on NPR. He’d been a professional football player, and he’s now actually a very successful opera singer! That’s an extreme change, right? He had played for five years in the European and the Arena Football leagues, both of which no longer exist. When the leagues went out of business, he found himself without a job. He was a fan of opera, and he went on to study it and is now one of most celebrated bass-baritones on stage. He’s singing Madame Butterfly with the Washington National Opera.

When he said “everything happens for a reason,” he meant basically the same thing we mean when we say “when one door closes, another opens.” If we’re wired for success, we should re-write both of these phrases to get them out of the passive voice. We should say them this way:

“Everything doesn’t happen for a reason, I choose the reason.”

and:

“When one door closes, I open another.”

If we’re really going to excel in life, we need to stop thinking in terms of when something is going to happen to us, and start thinking in terms of making things happen. Which mindset you choose can make a gigantic difference to what you get in life. It made a difference of epic proportions in Keith Miller’s life, and that’s because he chose to make things happen. Here’s what he said, and if you get chance to read the whole interview, I recommend it, because he’s a very articulate guy and his story is a fascinating one. The show is in the NPR archives for March 2, 2011. Anyway, here’s what he said:

“It’s the one thing I’ve learned, is everything always happens for a reason You know, the biggest losses that we’ve suffered, I mean, in personal life, professional football, you know, when you lose something, you have to go back and diagnose. You’re more apt to go back and diagnose the things that you did wrong, what you can improve upon. And when things go well, you don’t really at the end of the night you know, you just say, oh well, you know, thanks, that was great. You don’t take the time to really evaluate.

“So you really need to have speed bumps in your life to kind of say, hey, what – you know, make some adjustments, fine tune things or just, you know, change the transmission completely.”

I don’t know if he’s studied success systems, but that’s a great way to explain the benefit of adversity in our lives. When bad things happen, we should reflect on what happened, consider whether we could have done something better or could do something better in the future, and then make adjustments to our actions. The adjustments may just be fine tuning, or we may need to completely change the transmission! It’s as though he’s been reading my journals. Look at steps three through seven from my last talk “Don’t Just Do Something, DO SOMETHING!”

3. Do something!

4. Pay attention to your results

5. Multiply your successes

6. Modify or discard your failures

7. Do something else!

The people who fail, who don’t grow, are often people who, when they experience a failure, either keep doing the same things that caused the failure or simply stop trying. That leads to paralysis. Soon they feel like they can’t do anything, and that can lead to a pretty miserable life.

The people who succeed recognize that, as Zig Ziglar says, “failure is an event, not a person.” And how they think about that event makes all the difference in the world. They recognize that they can learn from failures.

When you try to do something great – that’s step three: Do something! – and you don’t succeed, you can “go back and diagnose the things you did wrong” – that’s step four: Pay attention to your results. Steps five and six are what Keith called making “some adjustments, fine tune things or just …. change the transmission completely.”

What a great lesson! No wonder people who do really well say that it’s not about winning and losing. It’s about doing! If you DO SOMETHING with your goal clearly in mind, then the failures will be lessons clearly written out for you to modify your actions in the future. If we could go through life enthusiastically doing things without worrying about whether we instantly succeed or fail, think how much we could learn! What a great mindset to teach our children. “When one door closes, I open another.”

You know what, I’m going to go share this idea with my daughter right now. Everything doesn’t happen for a reason, you choose the reason. And if the reason is to teach you what you need to do to succeed, you can be as wildly successful as any human being can ever hope to be.

Don't Just Do Something, DO SOMETHING!

The other day I was having coffee with my friend Ian, and we were talking about what each of us could do to help people become more effective. I was telling him that one thing I can do is help people get in the right state of mind to take action. That’s something I’d love to talk more about, but he pressed me to list some of the key principles of achievement.

Now, before I share my ideas of how you can achieve success, I want to tell you a little about Ian. He’s a true friend of mine, and we’ve known each other for over 30 years. I get a little emotional talking about it, because we’ve been through some extraordinary experiences together. At one point, we formed a band together and wrote some really amazing songs. I remember getting some real interest from recording agencies. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look how our futures developed, Ian and I and the other members of the band had a lot of growing to do at that time, and the band basically self-destructed.

Anyway, the reason I’m going on about Ian is that he’s one of greatest facilitators I know. What I mean is that he has a gift for bringing out the most creative, powerful parts of your personality. This gift comes from a life lived through a lot of adversity. He’s got a profound energy that has to be experienced to be appreciated, and if you ever get a chance to talk with him, I encourage you to do it!

So, back to our conversation about the key principles of achievement. I was very inspired by Ian’s leading questions, so I rattled off seven of them. Here’s what they were:

1. Clearly identify your goal

2. Learn the path others have taken to reach similar goals

3. Do something!

4. Pay attention to your results

5. Multiply your successes

6. Modify or discard your failures

7. Do something else!

If you follow success systems at all, you’re going to hear a lot of echoes in my talks of the big players in success coaching, like Napoleon Hill, Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, Deepak Chopra, and others like them. That’s because over the past ten years, I’ve consumed their writings and teachings. I’ve compared them to the wisdom of the ancient teachers of Asia, and found that they have a LOT in common. If you can afford it, I encourage you to go to seminars taught by these great motivators. If you can’t afford it, go anyway!

So, after that long digression, let me get back to the one thing I really want to share with you today. I’m sure you’ve heard to the old expression, “Don’t just stand there, do something!” If you study leadership at all, you’ve probably heard of the book by Marvin Weisbord and Sandra Janoff called Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There! My suggestion to you is a little different. If you want to real a goal, don’t just do something, DO SOMETHING! What I mean by that is that when you have a powerful idea, the most effective way to bring it into existence in the real world is to take action, take big action, and take it now!

Small results are hard to measure. If you do something right, but it’s very, very small, you may need a microscope to figure out if it helped you get closer to your goal. But if you do something big, you’re going to know if it worked or not. And if it didn’t, you’ll be able to see what didn’t work about it.

Now, I’m not saying you should just willy nilly do something huge and crazy just to be doing something! You have to clearly identify your goal and learn what the path is that will take you there. I’ll share a lot more about these two steps in the future. But the point I want you to take away from today is that if you’ve clearly identified your goal and figured out the major steps needed to get there, you can work out some action to take to get you started. That’s the “something big” I encourage you to take on.

And, finally, do it now! Ideas have a shelf life, and you don’t want yours to spoil because they’ve festered too long! Take the first opportunity to act, before doubts creep in, before technology leaves your idea behind, or before you get too caught up in your everyday life to work hard on the one thing that is really important to you.

So, don’t just do something, get out there and DO SOMETHING!

Southern Michigan Self-Defense Summit!

Announcing the Second Annual…
Southern Michigan Martial Arts Summit
And why you should crawl across broken glass on your naked knees to get there!

When: October 17, 2010. 10:00 a.m – 5:30p.m
Where: Dan Vigil’s Academy of Taekwondo
235 E. Main St. Northville, MI 48167*
Cost: 89.00 (paid to your instructor in advance)
Bring: Training clothes and other protective equipment if you desire. WATER. Snacks.

*Placing this address in Google Maps, Mapquest and all Navigation systems yields incorrect directions. “Dan Vigil’s Academy of Taekwondo” is located in the “Water Wheel Building” located on the corner of Griswold and Main St. in downtown Northville. Ask your instructor for detailed directions.

This seminar is guaranteed to take your self defense skills to a higher level. Four master instructors, each experts in their field, will teach workshops dealing with combat at different ranges. From a kicking distance, to punching, to knees and elbows, to takedowns and ground work – you will benefit from the unique insights of teachers with experience in Judo, Jiujitsu, Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Krav Maga and Goju Ryu. Even better, you will have an opportunity to hear them expand collectively on each teacher’s concepts with insights of their own. Such a depth of experience is rarely found.

We have kept the cost for this seminar extremely low (normally an all day seminar of this kind goes for $250+) so that you will not only benefit from great instruction, but also from the energy and experience of numerous partners. Imagine the fun of helping eager students from another discipline master the basics of your art, and then having them return the favor as you attempt theirs. Experiencing this atmosphere of mutual respect and fun is a rare opportunity!

Even if you have no previous martial arts experience, you can benefit from this seminar. Every workshop is designed to work for someone with no experience in that particular style of fighting.

Schedule of Events

10:00a.m – 10:15a.m Welcome and Opening Ceremony

10:15a.m – 11:45p.m Workshop #1: Practical Self Defense Kicking and Footwork

(Vigil)

Unlock the closely guarded secrets of a National level Taekwondo competitor and learn how to apply them in realistic self defense situations. No jumping. No spinning. No head kicks. You will enjoy discovering the simple shifts in body weight that will add serious power to your kicking techniques, the footwork that will give you speed and move you from outer distances into a range where you are most comfortable – plus get you there with total dominance. Get a base understanding of how to read “the triangle” that telegraphs any attackers attempts to kick or punch you.

Perhaps best of all: get 90 minutes with a martial artist who has been in the trenches as a security professional applying his techniques on a daily basis. No fancy theories, just simple stuff that works when it counts.

12:00p.m – 1:30p.m
Workshop #2: Short Distance Striking, Gouges and Rips (Larioza)


In this eye-opening session, Larioza Sensei will show the serious martial arts student the intriguing link and relationship between an ancient traditional Asian martial art and an effective modern and tested self defense system. You will gain a valuable insight into how super-human power is generated in Traditional Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate and how it shares some surprising similarities and techniques with modern Israeli Krav Maga. In this follow-on to the previous seminar Larioza Sensei will use the essential skills of relaxation and slowing techniques down in order to learn then perform demanding self defense technique against an attacker armed with a hand gun. These self defense techniques will show the student the value of slow precise practice and the need for repetition in relaxed state. The hour and a half will draw from both Goju Ryu Karate and Krav Maga. …….…..a little bit of deep theory and a lot of hands on practice to immediately elevate your self defense skills and confidence.

1:30p.m – 2:15p.m LUNCH

2:15p.m – 3:45p.m Workshop #3: Takedowns and Takedown Defense

(Suino)

In this extraordinary 90-minute session, Suino-Sensei will show you how to utilize the time-tested skills of judo in self-defense. Learn how your opponent is actually helping you by punching, kicking, or grabbing you, and by exerting force against you. Learn how to avoid making the mistakes your opponent makes. Learn to dominate the center, and how to think tactically about self defense. Learn the keys to movement that will make you incredibly flexible and exceptionally strong. Don't miss this chance to study with an internationally recognized expert.

4:00-5:30.pm Workshop #4: Grappling, Submissions and Ground Striking

(Holland)

Superior position is key in the ground game, and must be established before offensive measures like striking or submissions can be effectively executed. The grappling workshop of the day will cover katame-waza — pinning techniques drawn from Judo, BJJ, Wrestling and Nihon Jujutsu that will enable you to control, immobilize, and dominate the opposition. These techniques are essential for self-defense scenarios that progress to the ground, and useful in the event that you must passively restrain an aggressor. All martial artists will benefit by adding them to their arsenal.

Fiddling with Politics and Profits While Rome Burns!

The BP oil rig that is gushing tens of thousands of gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico is the largest environmental crisis the world has faced in the 21st Century. That’s right, the world has a problem, not just BP, President Obama, or the unfortunate citizens who make (made) their living from the rich Gulf resources. All politics aside, the pathetic non-response to the problem is a tragedy more dire than virtually any governmental or business failure in the last decade.

We are not talking about the clean up, the lost jobs, or the lives lost when the oil rig exploded. Those problems will be dealt with in the way such problems have always been dealt with. The clean up will mobilize gradually and eventually wash away most visible evidence of the oil. The lost jobs will be replaced or compensated for, most likely by yet another giant financial program implemented by President Obama and his political network, at the expense of the free market and the American taxpayer. The lost lives will be paid for by insurance and legal settlements, never, of course, sufficient to ease the enormous personal loss of the surviving families.

But world leaders, including and especially our president, have supremely and repeatedly failed to take the necessary steps to solve the most pressing aspect of this problem – the leak itself. Six weeks after the leak began, a modest redirection of oil is taking place, and tens of thousands of gallons of oil are still gushing into our oceans. Instead of throwing every resource at the problem – and we mean every one, including the National Guard, the Corps of Engineers, the experts from domestic and foreign oil companies, the best engineering minds of academia, and the astute solutions offered by the public – our government and the BP corporate leaders have spent considerable time thinking about the problem, meeting about the problem, making public statements about the problem, and using the problem to leverage their political positions, all while the oil continues to spew into the Gulf.

Our opinion is this: there is one over-riding priority that dwarfs every other aspect of the problem, and it’s so critical that the rest of the issues should be immediately put in the background so that all major effort and resources can be brought to bear on it. Stop the leak now! Stop the leak now! Stop the leak now!

President Obama. BP. World political leaders. The time to take action is now. Put the ten best engineering minds in a room and don’t let them leave until they have outlined not one, but ten, or one hundred, potential solutions to the problem. As soon as they have offered one solution, immediately bring the resources of the world together to implement the solution. DO NOT WAIT to see if that solution proves to be the one that works. Instead, start preparing the know-how and technology for the NEXT solution. Implement number two the SECOND the first fails. Implement number three IMMEDIATELY when the second one fails. Don’t stop, DO NOT STOP, until the problem is solved. The leak MUST be stopped.

When the leak is stopped, and only then, you can go back to your old ways. BP can work to figure out how to generate income from the well. Politicians can talk about how the opposing party contributed to the disaster. Environmentalists can go back to washing pelicans that will ultimately die anyway from the stress and disease of being exposed to oil. World political leaders can talk about the failures of capitalism.

The human spirit is amazing. When we pull together and all work for the same goal, there is no limit to our potential for achievement. We must bring together the best aspects of human nature and solve the oil catastrophe in the Gulf. We CAN solve this crisis, and we can do it NOW.

- Nicklaus Suino Sensei
- Director, JMAC