It’s been a long year! Some of it has been great, and some of it has been hard. But, we’ve gotten through it together! That’s what counts- that we can connect with others and count on one another in good times or bad. Our training center has been
and will continue to be a beacon of light for students and parents alike. It’s a gathering place, where friendships have been forged and goals have been reached.
I heard a quote recently that said something to the effect of “don’t wish things were easier- wish you were better.” That’s one that resonates with me deeply. In martial arts, we strive for perfection that will never come. No one is perfect, but we can always strive to improve. One of the discussions we have in class quite frequently is never be afraid to mess up. Failure means that you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone and gone beyond your present capabilities- it’s a temporary set back as well as a springboard to improvement. We don’t get better unless we try- and making mistakes is part of the learning curve. Fear of failure holds many people back from improving and reaching the goals they desire.
I have yet to meet anyone who wants to be embarrassed, or made fun of. So, it’s important to encourage others for their efforts- both successful and otherwise. Sometimes praising someone’s effort-especially when they fail- can be life changing. Sometimes the person we forget to praise for those failed efforts is staring at us in the mirror.
The end of the year is a great time for re-evaluating where we are and where we are going. If you are looking at your win/loss list from the previous year, remember to praise your efforts, too. It sure makes it a lot easier to get up and dust yourself off and try again.
In poker, the saying is- all you need is a chip and a chair- to make a comeback and win it all. If your year was a boom or a bust, use it as a springboard for a bigger and better 2012. I’m in your corner rooting for you!

It’s a brand new school year and the kids are off to their new classrooms, wearing shiny new shoes and spiffy new duds. It would be great if everything about the year were new, but, for a few kids, some old baggage comes along-bullying.
We can all remember back to when we were kids and most of the memories are fond ones. But, one of the things you rarely forget is when someone has been mean to you, or hurt your feelings. It takes much longer to get over those types of encounters.
In our classes, we recite the student creed and periodically sit down and talk about each one in detail.
It’s a way to reinforce the social characteristics we want our children to cling to and it’s also an opportunity to generate some conversation about subjects that kids have to deal with. Face it, as a parent, you do the best you can and then you have to let go and let your kids figure things out for themselves. They say being a parent is like watching your heart walk around on the outside of your body for the rest of your life.
Giving kids the tools to deal with stress, confrontation, rejection and embarassment are just as important as how to deal with success, acceptance and praise. Stress is stress, whether it comes in the form of good stress or bad stress.
Bullying, name calling, getting picked on, are things every child will deal with in his or her lifetime. But, how you deal with it can affect the gravity, severity and longevity of it altogether.
As an instructor for thirty-plus years, I have seen just about every dynamic you can think of when it comes to kids. I’ve seen the smallest ones to the biggest ones, the most shy to the most outgoing. In every case, how one deals with confrontations, whether they be physical or verbal, determines the outcome to a large degree.
One of the interesting things about participating in a contact sport like Taekwondo or Judo, is that winning is not the emphasis- at least not in our dojo. It’s a personal best approach. It’s truly about the journey, not the destination that matters, even though it may seem otherwise to outsiders looking in.
When a student first begins their martial arts journey, they are given a crisp, bright, new white belt. They understand quickly that black belt is the ultimate goal, and they commence working diligently on earning stripes towards their next belt, each one closer to their goal of black belt. What they may not realize or even notice is that they are learning life skills- goal setting. Reaching a long term goal by meeting short term, more attainable goals along the way. It’s too hard to keep a long term goal in mind without seeing short term progress, thus the belt system.
What does that have to do with bullying, you say? Alot. By learning that one is capable of accomplishing what is set before them, one develops confidence and self-trust. Every class, each student experiences both triumph and defeat. Each student is asked to step out of their comfort zone and try something new, or go beyond their present ability levels in order to improve.
What’s important here is that each one is encouraged to fail. By that, I mean they are praised more for their effort than their results. If someone falls down, or makes a mistake, they aren’t subjected to ridicule and the focus is not on the mistake. The praise is on the effort- trying. Of course we all make mistakes-that’s the only way we learn- by trying and learning from our mistakes.
Once you get up, dust yourself off and try again-even if you don’t get the technique right yet or not- you have just gotten stronger. Your mental fortitude has improved. You showed yourself that you CAN get up and try again. That’s the lesson! Figure out what didn’t work, learn from it and try again in a different way.
If you know someone who has been or is being bullied-(that can happen at any age by the way…look at domestic violence, workplace harrassment, etc.) then give a little encouragement to them- even if it’s you that needs the pep talk. One of our teaching principles is to compliment the behavior you want to see more of.
I’ll be posting a series of blogs on the subject of bullying. It’s a broad subject and I’ll be breaking it down into smaller articles. If you have a question or you’d like to see a certain subject highlighted, please send me an email at info@usmatc.com.

We will once again be hosting a kick-a-thon to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Our kids have participated in this event for over ten years now and have raised thousands of dollars. One of our previous students was also a recipient of St. Jude’s care and we feel especially proud to raise funds in her memory.
Please join us on Saturday, May 21st for our kick-a-thon and feel free to make a donation for a great cause.

March started with a BANG! Or, rather, a KIAI! We have two new black belts after our exam on the 5th and one new State Champion! We were featured on Living Social as the “Deal of the Day” for March 8th and we now have 38 new Kickboxing students. Awesome.
We will be hosting a Leadership Training Workshop on the 12th, and a GET REAL seminar on the 26th. It’s a busy month! Fortunately, we have great members and terrific staff, so everyone is learning, having fun and progressing well.

Our Black Belt exam on Saturday, Dec. 11th, was the biggest and longest exam we have had to date. We now have 6 new black belts and one new 3rd Dan!
It was definitely a memorable day for these athletes, but it was inspiring for everyone in attendance. The group did a phenominal job and everyone should be very proud.
Congratulations!

Thank you to all the women who attended the GET REAL Safety Awareness Training on October 16th.  I know it’s one of the last things you want to think about, but learning safety awareness and personal protection skills should be a requirement for all women and girls.  Once you’ve done it, you realize you feel more empowered and you actually had FUN!

Way to go!

As many of you know, I have been off the mat for a couple of weeks now.  I spent a week in the hospital and am now recovering nicely at home and plan to be back on the mat next week.

In my absence, I have witnessed the teamwork, unselfishness and incredible efforts put forth by our group of instructors, parents and members.  Thank you to all of those who gave time and effort over the Labor Day weekend to come up and sweat to get the new flooring system assembled and installed.  What an amazing job and fantastic results!

As for the instructors and staff who stepped up and took over ALL the classes, including stripe testing- I cannot thank you enough.  This training center would not be here without you- literally.  I know Coach Bonner and I both have tried to cultivate an atmosphere where everyone would feel as if they were part of a larger family.  You have all done such a phenomenal job of rising to the challenge and making things go along smoothly.  You are doing a great service to martial arts as well as our training center and I am proud to be a part.

I have never been so showered with thoughts, prayers, concern and service than I have over the past few weeks.  I appreciate you all and am humbled by your generosity.

Thank you,

Master Payne

Thank you to all those who attended the O-Sensei seminar this weekend.  It was an honor to have one of our nation’s living treasures here with us.  I think everyone learned many lessons this weekend- not just about technical skills, but much, much more.

Those who have the courage to step outside their comfort zones are the ones who end up experiencing the most amazing adventures in life.  This weekend was so valuable for those who attended and the ones who missed out- truly missed out.

O-Sensei Phil Porter, at age 85, still has the mental accuity, wisdom and passion that have inspired thousands of athletes for many years.  His teaching and coaching style is amazing.  His ability to plant the seeds of inspiration in the hearts and minds of students of all ages is astounding. 

Life is made up of magical moments- those times we never forget.    Memories were made this weekend.  I’m sure it’s a weekend many of us who were lucky enough to attend will never forget.

Mark you calendars!  July 31 and August 1st O-Sensei Phil Porter will be coming to our training center for two days of seminars.  He is only one of two living 10th Dan’s in the world and at the age of 86, he has been involved in the martial arts for 66 years!

He is currently touring the country and will be making a stop, possibly for the last time, here at our dojo.  He will be teaching a variety of techniques and mixed martial arts, so no experience is necessary to attend these seminars. 

Saturday and Sunday, 9am-Noon and 2pm-pm both days.

You do NOT want to miss this event.  $50 for one day, $100 for both days.  Registration forms are available at the front desk.  Call or come by with any questions, or email us at info@usmatc.com. 

See you there!

First off, let me say that the ST. Jude’s fundraiser was a tremendous success. Thank you to all who participated. Over 1,500 kicks were thrown and the donations are still be tabulated. 100% will go to St. Jude’s. Kids helping kids- it’s a great thing.
Second, we had a black belt exam on the 12th of June and all 5 candidates really stepped up to the challenge(s) before them and came through with shining colors.
Challenges are what make us stronger. Each one of these martial artists can wear their rank with dignity and honor.