Bad Training Sessions

 

"Had a bad night tonight.
Still made progress though."


"How does that work? If you have a bad night surely you go backwards?"

"That's because you don't understand the concept of long-term progress.
The idea comes from my days as a salesman. The concept is thanks to Tom Hopkins, the real estate agent come motivational speaker from the United States.
He talks about averaging the income over all his sales presentations. He realised that for every two presentations, one would say no and one would say yes. The yes is worth $100 and the no is worth nothing."
He averaged it out in his mind so when someone would say no, he would say, "Thanks for the 50 bucks."

The law of averages at play.

Optimism at work also.

And it saves your sanity.

Knowing this, your training can benefit from the same attitude. You see, improvements never seem to be linear. There are days when everything goes right and you get it. Other days you have two left feet and seem to be practicing bad skills.
By the law of averages all these sessions are important. If you don't persevere through the bad session, you will never get to the good session.

"Excellent! Now I don't need to be frustrated when I have a bad day."

"Yes you do."

"Hey?"

"The frustration is necessary as it creates the platform for you to adapt and improve."

"I get it. That's a bit like my first girlfriend. I had to go through the frustration of a bad relationship to create a good one."

"Well done grasshopper."

 

 

 

 

  

This is what I learnt in the last decade.

A solder in Woolwich hacked to death.

A father kills his wife in an argument.

A boy is imprisoned for life because he kills with one punch.

What we need, the world, your customers, your students, is another solution.
To defeat the enemy without anyone being hurt.
So does this mean the karate block and counter punch doesn't work? There is no doubt that it works. As a student progresses, the ability to defend himself increases to the point where incredible power is wielded.
But the result is what is questionable. Combating violence with violence.
It means we have to think of something better.

                                             Non-Violence.
Aikido is a good for example. Cat like movement, reliable defence skills, an ability to control an attacker.

Only problem is that it takes many many years to become proficient.

We haven't got many years.

We need an answer now.

As a martial arts instructor, you are needed to think of ways to empower your students to defeat the bully with out anyone getting hurt. Hurting others is easy. To hurt no-one, to be completely calm amidst violence and not respond is the step out of the neanderthal reaction.

As an instructor, your challenge is to step up and use every bit of intelligence you have.

Every bit of enthusiasm you possess.

To put all of your life experiences together and create something that will change those who are listening.

Change.

It has to start somewhere.

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

The Martial Arts Marathon

Joe Hyams personally helped me get through my second dan.

And we have never met.

But he talked me through each round.
I remember after the 2nd round of sparring, there was a call, “That’s round two, new opponent!” I remember thinking, “Round TWO! I am tired now and there are twenty eight rounds to go!”
The second dan is 30 rounds of sparring, each opponent fresh.

I am here typing this now, so I got through. Mostly due to the strong voice in my head. I would like to claim ownership of the advice but it wasn’t mine. It was Joe Hyams from the book, ‘Zen In The Martial Arts’. It was his words in my head.

When I was tiring in the seventh round, he said, “Nothing is impossible to a willing mind“ (page 21).

In a round in the early teens I was up against an opponent who was scoring easily with the same technique, Mr Hyams whispered, “Although most expert martial artists have spent years mastering hundreds of techniques and movements, in a bout, or kumite, a champion may actually use only four or five techniques over and over again. These are the techniques which he has perfected and which he knows he can depend on.” 
 
There was a point in the last ten rounds that I stopped blocking, not with any force anyway. I was just too tired. I found it easier to use the advice of Bruce Lee as told to Mr Hyams on Page 59, “You and your opponent are one. There is a coexisting relationship between you. You coexist with your opponent and become his complement, absorbing his attack and using his force to overcome him.”

In the last few rounds, I reached a point where I wasn’t mentally struggling any more. “One learns to go with the flow”, Mr Hyams said between my ears.

Then came the last round, or so I thought it was. I gave my all and really excelled but found it was the 29th round. Because of my flurry of activity, a higher grade and full contact fighter was sent in for my 30th and final round. I swallowed. “The less effort, the faster and more powerful you will be”, was the advice (page 109).

Acceptance of a difficult situation is the first step towards dealing with it. The advice of teachers that have come before you, like Joe Hyams, will give you the edge.

Click the link below to get the book.

A letter from the UNHCR to us...

 

Here is a letter that I recently received from the United Nations High Commission on Refugees. As you probably know, our little club stands for helping those less fortunate and for, amongst other things, racial and religious harmony. I believe that announcing that you stand for something is all well and good. But it all comes to nought if nothing is done.

Hence our commitment to supporting the UNHCR. Here is their letter:

Hi Sean Allen,

With so much happening over the next few weeks in the lead up to Christmas, we wanted to update you as soon as possible with December’s news.

Last week we launched a special Christmas Appeal to build more homes for refugees in the world’s second largest refugee camp, Dollo Ado in Ethiopia. ABC radio presenter Adam Spencer will also be hosting a special Raise the Roof for Refugees fundraising event for us on 5 December in Sydney (tickets still available).

UNHCR has helped hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced people during the year all around the world, making sure they get the protection and assistance they need. As the end of the year draws closer, UNHCR still faces significant funding shortfalls as they struggle to respond to multiple emergencies in South Sudan, the Sahel region of West Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria. This work will continue into the New Year and beyond.

At a time when we reach out to our family and friends, you are making it possible for UNHCR to continue to provide vital support to vulnerable refugees across the globe.

Thank you for your support and best wishes of the festive season to you and your loved ones.

Naomi Steer
National Director

I hope you let your child know that some of their fees saves lives.

Sean Allen

Sean Allen's fifth degree grading.

Fifth degree grading video .....

from the archives.

 

Here is an old video of my fifth degree grading in Zen Do Kai.
Kata - Seipai then freeform and demonstration of technique applications on a partner using 8 angles of attack.

Ladies Self Defences Courses

 

Recently (in Australia) there was a highly publicised rape and murder of a young girl. Shortly afterwards I was contacted by several groups who asked me to do a ladies self-defence course. This is the result. The martial arts industry is in a great position to be able to create real value and answer the needs of the community when it is needed.

This is not about taking advantage of a truly devastating situation.

It is all about looking at what you can do to help your local community and create value for your business at the same time.

Visionary martial arts looks like fun.

 

VMA is many things but most of all it is designed to be fun whilst teaching practical self defence and creating leaders.
Students meet twice a week and classes centre around fitness and self defence drills. Quite often the class will be stopped when an instructor notices an opportunity to teach a character development lesson. These moments are carefully chosen so that students can learn about being successful. These talks often cover:

• Staying focused when being distracted, 
• Planning long-term, 
• Why showing respect is important,
• How to overcome difficulties, and
• Showing genuine caring and concern for other people's feelings.

The school is differentfrom others as it is limited to 25 students. (7 places left as at the date of this post)
Students are accepted from 6  to 15 years of age.

Location - Beaumaris Community Centre,  Constellation Drive, Beaumaris

Phone 0433 246123 for more details.