Letter written to a USA team member for the world championships in 2003

“Most of the time obstacles are barriers built by the mind. They exist because a problem has not been addressed and with each passing day, a layer is added to the wall that begins to block your path. The bigger you let the problem become, the bigger the barrier will be. Many times, after failing to deal with the problem for a length of time, you forget what the essence of the problem ever was but the barrier still lingers. The wall is reinforced by other issues that result from never resolving the first problem. it becomes a compounding situation and soon the barrier is so enormous that it seems insurmountable. It’s funny, though, how no one else can see this wall. That’s because it isn’t real except to the person that built it. And it isn’t really the problem that’s the problem. It’s the individual that has allowed an issue to inconvenience them. They have allowed their mind to get in the way, rather than used their mind to direct their way.

See the problems you face as opportunities. a problem seen as opportunity is like a rope of hope to climb over that self made wall. The bigger the problem is, the greater the opportunity to meet the challenge and gain the wisdom that only a difficult experience can award us. life is full of problems if you choose to see them as such. the Richard Lee Black Belt recognizes problems as a test of character. They don’t meet the challenge by just trying to ‘pass the test’. They go for an a+ because that is their nature. their character has passed the test of time through years of challenges fought and won, adversities faced and overcome, failures turned success, and experience grown to wisdom.

The opportunity is now. Don’t let anything or anyone inconvenience you in this effort. Set fire to these concepts through total acceptance and internalization of these words. You can do it and you will do it.”

BOK FU FITNESS

Warm Up:
Inchworms up mat
Straight Leg Kicks down mat
Advanced Reverse Straight Leg Kicks up mat
Broad Jumps down mat
5 techniques in your belt all out
10 Horse Stance Squats
5 techniques in your belt all out
10 push ups

Workout:
AMRAP 15 minutes
5 Clapping Push Ups
10 Horse Stance Squat Jumps
15 Sit Ups with Cross Punches

Warm Down:
5 minutes of ball torture for shoulders
5 minutes belt torture for hamstrings/hips