“I think the most important thing to me as your teacher is not so much where you are but in what direction you’re going. To become a black belt and a world champion requires a commitment to excellence of the highest order. No one, as i’m sure you realize, is going to achieve anything worth achieving by simply doing what is required of them. It is really what you do above and beyond the required effort that will always really determine your true level of greatness in anything you do.

Desire, i think, is the key to being the absolute best – a desire not just to win, but to gain all of the necessary tools in the process to win in everything you do. You’ve heard me say that you have to have a dream to have a dream come true. It seems to me where most people get stuck in this subject is that they stay dreaming, but don’t think of waking up and making their dreams happen, perhaps because that might mean a lot of work. I think you can only achieve your goals in life if you have the guts and truly dare to begin. Here is how i really see it. To dream anything that you want to dream, that is the really true beauty of the black belt mind. To do anything that you want to do, that is the true strength of the black belt will. To trust yourself, to test your limits, that is the true courage you must have to succeed as a powerful black belt. But always remember, well done is always better than well said, right?

the ultimate victory in this subject to me is derived from the inner satisfaction and knowing that you have done your absolute best and you have gotten the most out of what you have given. Many of life’s failures are men and women who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up or stopped training for some reason. I am a great believer in the mirror test. all that matters is if you can look in the mirror and honestly tell the person that you see there that you’ve done your best.

Your black belt spirit, the will to do your best and the will to excel you will find are the things that truly endure. I want you to know that these qualities are really so much more important to me as your teacher personally than the tournament or events themselves.”

Make sure to check back in tomorrow for one final post before the tournament!

BOK FU FITNESS

Warm Up:

2 times:

1 minute run in place (20 second jog/10 second sprint)

10 forward snap kicks each leg

10 rear kicks each leg

10 wheel kicks each leg

straight leg kicks up and down mat

advanced/reverse crescent straight leg kicks up and down mat

inchworms up and down mat

hardbow/broken bow lunges up and down mat

Workout:

20 Seconds on, 10 Seconds rest – 8 times each

V Ups

Push Ups with hand release

Tuck Jumps (advanced Box Jumps)

Broken Bow Jumps

Bok Fu Burpees

Notes: Your score will be your total number of reps through the entire workout. Keep a running tally as you go.

Warm Down:

5 minutes partner stretching for hamstrings and hips