The topic of the reading in the instructor class on Wednesday night was “frustration”. As grandmaster Lee says, “black belt master thinking is, to a degree, frustration management.” So, to continue with the theme from last night, here are a few excerpts from various readings discussing frustration.

Don’t commit Richard lee adultery

“I must tell you that frustration is a big part of becoming a black belt master. it’s the awakening of your full master’s chi. at times you will surely feel frustration trying to achieve what i am talking about here. Black belt master thinking is, to a degree, frustration management. The black belt master must realize that frustration is always a part of real growth in his black belt students. I got frustrated being a black belt. I got frustrated being a black belt master, and i’m finding myself frustrated not having more masters in this system. Hello, i’m talking to you! if you’re going to be a master, you’ve got to simply understand the full meaning of the word kata. You must use the system and procedures, I know you can and i also know you must. I do and i know if it works for me, it will work for you. I promise.

But you say, “I just don’t know if it’s going to work.” Give it 100% and i tell you that it will work. Fear will knock you down every day. Frustration will knock you down every day. I want you to realize as one of my black belts that all life has will never keep you down. The true Richard lee black belt never stays down for long. You’re studying bok-fu-do. Get the eye of the tiger. What is it? It’s a concentration of your will that people and other black belts will see in your eyes. You’re hungry for it. You have to have it. The next degree in the belt, being a world champion, being a billionaire. Do this for me. If you will have the eye of the tiger for an extended period of time, you will gain what i really want for you – the heart of a lion. The only thing that can defeat one of my black belts is himself. Believe it and be a winner.”

Letter to Morgan Malone

“Becoming a Richard lee black belt world champion demands excellence of mind, body and spirit of the highest order. Its price will be one of sacrifice and hard work. Frustration will attempt to discourage you. Adversity will try to stop you. Negative thoughts will tempt you and hardships will do their best to inconvenience you. But the Richard lee black belt understands the emotions at work inside them. With understanding comes control and with control comes the ability to direct. Frustration can now be understood as the awakening of your chi and encourages rather than discourages. Adversity is conquered by hope. Negative thoughts are turned into positive ones and hardship becomes an ally in the building of character.”

Letter to Aimee jurewicz Buckley

“Learn to recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Embrace them both with equal fervor and honesty. Courage is facing your weakness and knowing that it will not be pleasant to do so. To be human is to have frailties. To be brave is to go on in spite of them, to recognize them within ourselves and face them with true Richard lee black belt honesty. Honesty takes courage and to be courageous, you must first be honest with yourself. Going for your black belt and a world championship will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotion. Learn to recognize the fear, frustration and insecurity you may feel along the way as simply the awakening of your chi. Understand that emotion is what gives your chi force. Well directed, it can lead you to power sources that will simply amaze your body. But you must learn to control it, harness it, and only then is it yours to direct.”

BOK FU FITNESS

Warm Up:

5 minutes of ninja pistol practice (you may see these in the workout next week)

100 jump rope jumps

50 double unders

25 horse stance squats

Workout:

For time:

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 of Horse Stance Squat with medicine ball throw

5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5 of Push ups with hand release

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 of Bok Fu Burpees

Notes:

You will do 10 horse stance squats with medicine ball throw, 5 push ups with hand release, 1 Bok Fu burpee. Then go on to 9 horse stance squats with medicine ball throw, 5 push ups with hand release, 2 Bok Fu burpees. Continue the pattern and finish with 1 horse stance squat with medicine ball throw, 5 push ups with hand release and 10 Bok Fu burpees.

Warm Down:

5 minutes of belt stretching for hamstrings