Neat gadget

Cool, I just found a cord I can plug into my itouch which will allow me to project my itouch screen (which is what I use to plan my classes/combos etc anyway) right onto our 30' video screen at Shinka.

That'll save me lots of time, as I won't have to write it out twice!

Plus, I can display movies to help the learning, and, if I install a wifi, I could stream some youtube vids as well!

Very cool.

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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How to multiply fishing income from $4,000 to $94,000

I really like this fellow's presentation, because he talks about saving the ocean in financial terms.

So often, you get people who spend a large percentage of their presentation on "humans are bad, we break the ocean/forest etc"

35 Billion vs 16 Billion cost to governments to make the RIGHT decision.

Fascinating.

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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Self Actualization - Maslow Style

I decided I would put this in here, randomly.  Its good stuff, and doesn't need to be paraphrased or written about any more than its already referenced in various other writings and materials presented.
SELF ACTUALIZATION"Self Actualization is the intrinsic growth of what is already in the organism, or more accurately, of what the organism is."Abraham MaslowMaslow studied healthy people, most psychologists study sick people.
The characteristics listed here are the results of 20 years of study of people who had the "full use and exploitation of talents, capacities, potentialities, etc.."
Self-actualization implies the attainment of the basic needs of physiological, safety/security, love/belongingness, and self-esteem.
Maslow's Basic Principles:

1. The normal personality is characterized by unity, integration, consistency, and coherence. Organization is the natural state, and disorganization is pathological.
2. The organism can be analyzed by differentiating its parts, but no part can be studied in isolation. The whole functions according to laws that cannot be found in the parts.
3. The organism has one sovereign drive, that of self-actualization. People strive continuously to realize their inherent potential by whatever avenues are open to them.
4. The influence of the external environment on normal development is minimal. The organism's potential, if allowed to unfold by an appropriate environment, will produce a healthy, integrated personality.
5. The comprehensive study of one person is more useful than the extensive investigation, in many people, of an isolated psychological function.
6. The salvation of the human being is not to be found in either behaviorism or in psychoanalysis, (which deals with only the darker, meaner half of the individual). We must deal with the questions of value, individuality, consciousness, purpose, ethics and the higher reaches of human nature.
7. Man is basically good not evil.
8. Psychopathology generally results from the denial, frustration or twisting of our essential nature.
9. Therapy of any sort, is a means of restoring a person to the path of self-actualization and development along the lines dictated by their inner nature.
10. When the four basic needs have been satisfied, the growth need or self-actualization need arises: A new discontent and restlessness will develop unless the individual is doing what he individually is fitted for. A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write--in short, what people can be they must be.

Characteristics of Self Actualizing People

Realistic

Realistically oriented, SA persons have a more efficient perception of reality, they have comfortable relations with it. This is extended to all areas of life. SA persons are unthreatened, unfrightened by the unknown. they have a superior ability to reason, to see the truth. They are logical and efficient.

Acceptance

Accept themselves, others and the natural world the way they are. Sees human nature as is, have a lack of crippling guilt or shame, enjoy themselves without regret or apology, they have no unnecessary inhibitions.

Spontaneity, Simplicity, Naturalness

Spontaneous in their inner life, thoughts and impulses, they are unhampered by convention. Their ethics is autonomous, they are individuals, and are motivated to continual growth.

Problem Centering

Focus on problems outside themselves, other centered. They have a mission in life requiring much energy, their mission is their reason for existence. They are serene, characterized by a lack of worry, and are devoted to duty.

Detachment: The Need for Privacy

Alone but not lonely, unflappable, retain dignity amid confusion and personal misfortunes, objective. They are self starters, responsible for themselves, own their behavior.

Autonomy: Independent of Culture and Environment

SA's rely on inner self for satisfaction. Stable in the face of hard knocks, they are self contained, independent from love and respect.

Continued Freshness of Appreciation

Have a fresh rather than stereotyped appreciation of people and things. Appreciation of the basic good in life, moment to moment living is thrilling, transcending and spiritual. They live the present moment to the fullest.

Peak experiences

"Feelings of limitless horizons opening up to the vision, the feeling of being simultaneously more powerful and also more helpless than one ever was before, the feeling of ecstacy and wonder and awe, the loss of placement in time and space with, finally, the conviction that something extremely important and valuable had happened, so that the subject was to some extent transformed and strengthened even in his daily life by such experiences." Abraham Maslow

Maslow asked his subjects to think of the most wonderful experience or experiences of their lives--the happiest moments, extatic moments, moments of rapture, perhaps from being in live, or from listening to music or suddenly "being hit" by a book or a painting or from some great creative moment. He found that people undergoing peak experiences felt more integrated, more at one with the world, more in command of their own lives, more spontaneous, less aware of space and time, more perceptive, more self determined, more playful.Effects of peak experiences:

• The removal of neurotic symptoms
• A tendency to view oneself in a more healthy way
• Change in one's view of other people and of one's relations with them
• Change in one's view of the world
• The release of creativity, spontaneity and expressiveness
• A tendency to remember the experience and to try to duplicate it
• A tendency to view life in general as more worthwhile.

GemeinschaftsgefuhlIdentification, sympathy, and affection for mankind, kinship with the good, the bad and the ugly, older-brother attitude. Truth is clear to him, can see things others cannot see.
Interpersonal relations
Profound, intimate relationships with few. Capable of greater love than others consider possible. Benevolence, affection and friendliness shown to everyone.

Democratic values and attitudes

Able to learn from anyone, humble. Friendly with anyone regardless of class, education, political belief, race or color.

Discrimination: means and ends, Good and Evil

Do not confuse between means and ends. They do no do wrong. Enjoy the here and now, getting to goal--not just the result. They make the most tedious task an enjoyable game. They have their own inner moral standards (appearing amoral to others).

Philosophical, unhostile sense of humor

Jokes are teaching metaphors, intrinsic to the situation, spontaneous, can laugh at themselves, never make jokes that hurt others.

Creativity

Inborn uniqueness that carries over into everything they do, see the real and true more easily, original, inventive and less inhibited.

Resistance to enculturation: Transcendence of any particular culture

Inner detachment from culture, folkways are used but of no consequence, calm long term culture improvement, indignation with injustice, inner autonomy and outer acceptance. Transcend the environment rather than just cope.

Imperfections

Painfully aware of own imperfections, joyfully aware of own growth process. Impatient with self when stuck, real life pain, not imagined.

Values

Philosophical acceptance of the nature of his self, human nature, social life, nature, physical reality, remains realistically human.

Resolution of dichotomies

Polar opposites merge into a third, higher phenomenon, as though the two have united, work becomes play, most childlike person is most wise, opposite forces no longer felt as a conflict. Desires are in excellent accord with reason.Maslow says there are two processes necessary for self-actualization: self exploration and action. The deeper the self exploration, the closer one comes to self-actualization.
EIGHT WAYS TO SELF ACTUALIZE

1. Experience things fully, vividly, selflessly. Throw yourself into the experiencing of something: concentrate on it fully, let it totally absorb you.
2. Life is an ongoing process of choosing between safety (out of fear and need for defense) and risk (for the sake of progress and growth): Make the growth choice a dozen times a day.
3. Let the self emerge. Try to shut out the external clues as to what you should think, feel, say, and so on, and let your experience enable you to say what you truly feel.
4. When in doubt, be honest. If you look into yourself and are honest, you will also take responsibility. Taking responsibility is self-actualizing.
5. Listen to your own tastes. Be prepared to be unpopular.
6. Use your intelligence, work to do well the things you want to do, no matter how insignificant they seem to be.
7. Make peak experiencing more likely: get rid of illusions and false notions. Learn what you are good at and what your potentialities are not.
8. Find out who you are, what you are, what you like and don't like, what is good and what is bad for you, where you are going, what your mission is. Opening yourself up to yourself in this way means identifying defenses--and then finding the courage to give them up.

SELF ACTUALIZATIONMaslow (1954), believed that man has a natural drive to healthiness, or self actualization. He believed that man has basic, (biological and psychological) needs that have to be fulfilled in order to be free enough to feel the desire for the higher levels of realization. He also believed that the organism has the natural, unconscious and innate capacity to seek its needs. (Maslow 1968)
In other words, man has an internal, natural, drive to become the best possible person he can be.

"...he has within him a pressure toward unity of personality, toward spontaneous expressiveness, toward full individuality and identity, toward seeing the truth rather than being blind, toward being creative, toward being good, and a lot else. That is, the human being is so constructed that he presses toward what most people would call good values, toward serenity, kindness, courage, honesty, love, unselfishness, and goodness." (Maslow, 1968, p. 155.)

Maslow believed that not only does the organism know what it needs to eat to maintain itself healthy, but also man knows intuitively what he needs to become the best possible, mentally healthy and happy "being". I use the word "being" because Maslow goes far beyond what the average person considers good physical and mental health. He talked about higher consciousness, esthetic and peak experiences, and Being. He stressed the importance of moral and ethical behavior that will lead man naturally to discovering, becoming himself.

"The state of being without a system of values is psychopathogenic, we are learning. The human being needs a framework of values, a philosophy of life, a religion or religion-surrogate to live by and understand by, in about the same sense he needs sunlight, calcium or love. This I have called the "cognitive need to understand." The value- illnesses which result from valuelessness are called variously anhedonia, anomie, apathy, amorality, hopelessness, cynicism, etc., and can become somatic illness as well. Historically, we are in a value interregnum in which all externally given value systems have proven failures (political, economic, religious, etc.) e.g., nothing is worth dying for. What man needs but doesn't have, he seeks for unceasingly, and he becomes dangerously ready to jump at any hope, good or bad. The cure for this disease is obvious. We need a validated, usable system of human values that we can believe in and devote ourselves to (be willing to die for), because they are true rather than because we are exhorted to "believe and have faith." Such an empirically based Weltanschauung seems now to be a real possibility, at least in theoretical outline."(Maslow, 1968, p. 206.)

Morality then is natural. If we use our capacity to think, are honest, sincere and open, we arrive at moral and ethical behavior naturally. The problem is to not destroy our ability to become ourselves.

"Pure spontaneity consists of free, uninhibited uncontrolled, trusting, unpremeditated expression of the self, i.e., of the psychic forces, with minimal interference by consciousness. Control, will, caution, self-criticism, measure, deliberateness are the brakes upon this expression made intrinsically necessary by the laws of the social and natural world, and secondarily, made necessary by the fear of the psyche itself." (1968, p. 197.)

To me, this means listening to the inner self, the unconscious, the spirit.

"This ability of healthier people to dip into the unconscious and preconscious, to use and value their primary processes instead of fearing them, to accept their impulses instead of always controlling them, to be able to regress voluntarily without fear, turns out to be one of the main conditions of creativity.""This development toward the concept of a healthy unconscious and of a healthy irrationality, sharpens our awareness of the limitations of purely abstract thinking, of verbal thinking and of analytic thinking. If our hope is to describe the world fully, a place is necessary for preverbal, ineffable, metaphorical, primary process, concrete-experience, intuitive and esthetic types of cognition, for there are certain aspects of reality which can be cognized in no other way." (p. 208)

Meditation, self-hypnosis, imagery and the like are sources of discovering our inner being. To become self-actualized, Maslow said we need two things, inner exploration and action.

"An important existential problem is posed by the fact that self-actualizing persons (and all people in their peak- experiences) occasionally live out-of-time and out-of-the- world (atemporal and aspatial) even though mostly they must live in the outer world. Living in the inner psychic world (which is ruled by psychic laws and not by the laws of outer-reality), i.e., the world of experience, of emotion, of wishes and fears and hopes, of love of poetry, art and fantasy, is different from living in and adapting to the non-psychic reality which runs by laws he never made and which are not essential to his nature even though he has to live by them. (He could, after all, live in other kinds of worlds, as any science fiction fan knows.) The person who is not afraid of this inner, psychic world, can enjoy it to such an extent that it may be called Heaven by contrast with the more effortful, fatiguing, externally responsible world of "reality," of striving and coping, of right and wrong, of truth and falsehood. This is true even though the healthier person can also adapt more easily and enjoyably to the "real" world, and has better "reality testing," i.e., doesn't confuse it with his inner psychic world." (p. 213)

Maslow has made a case for natural, human goodness. Man is basically good, not evil, he has the capacity to be an efficient, healthy and happy person. But he must nurture the capacity with awareness, honesty, introspection and maintain his freedom: to freely respond to internal and external events (values), to be himself at all costs.The knowledge that man has this capacity motivates him to realize it. It also obliges him to actively work toward self realization. We cannot not respond to the call that a value makes on us. This whole discussion shows the importance of studying Values and Ethics. We are obliged to discover the range of our possible moral behavior. If we are capable of being healthy and happy, then we are obliged to work toward that goal.

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Success in 3 minutes

If you do NOT watch TED at least once a month, please do so.  Ideas are indeed worth sharing.

Here's a quick one on success.  Not the best, but perhaps the most relevant to this blog.




Passion, do what you love
Work (translation: play)
Practice, get good at it.
Push yourself - physically, mentally, etc.
Get a good Mom, or at least, a good coach.
Serve, find large groups of people to help
Ideas, come up with good ways to help them
Persist, through everything.

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The sound of growth, in life, love, and martial arts.

There is a noise, that personal growth makes.

A noise that we all make, across cultures and languages, when we push ourselves over and past our comfort zone, shed our previous skin, and are re-invented as a stronger, better version of ourselves.

In essence, sacrificing what we were, for what we were to become.

What does "You 2.0" sound like on the manufacturing line?

Sort of like "hrrruuuUAAAAGH!"

Think about it.

Any time you've pushed yourself past what you thought you were capable of.  - I'm not talking about learning something new, or getting better at something through slow methodical practice -  I'm talking about doing something you didn't think you could do at all. 

Quantum leaps.
Huge growth.

Taking something you really didn't want to do, like your taxes, and not giving up, not stopping, and continuing on despite your mental state.


Think of a woman giving birth.  She wants to stop, she wants to give up, but if she does, the baby (and she) could die, so, she makes this noise.

A weight lifter pushing past their previous maximum makes this noise.

It is often easier to find examples in the physical realm; but make no mistake: Any time there is personal growth that increases your over all ability, this noise accompanies that growth.


When was the last time you heard yourself make this noise?

How great did you feel... Immediately afterward?
Was it worth the effort?
My guess, is yes.


Sensei's Challenge:
Find an excuse to make this noise.  Its fun, and you feel excellent afterwards.


Words to meditate on:
How you do anything, is how you do everything. 
Get better at one thing, get better at everything.


You get out of life, love, and martial arts, exactly what you put in.  Things that are of value take effort above all else.


Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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Instant Meditation, just add water?

I've recently found a really interesting piece of technology, called EquiSync, which literally bathes your brain in a specific audio frequency which, after about 15 minutes, gives you the theta waves equivalent to a high level meditation practitioner.

Talk about a shortcut!

At first, I was kind of skeptical, thinking "well, if its easy it can't be good", but, that's simply a filter that many of us see through.  The truth of the matter is, technology has allowed us to do all kinds of things faster, and, often, better than when it used to take years.

Its hard to argue that a digital camera is inferior to a stand-there-for-8-hours-without-moving-while-I-hide-under-this-cape camera.

Now, I do know that this EquiSync is based off of binaurels, which have been called the world's first "digital drug", in that, it can affect your brain and put you into a state of bliss without side effects.  My question is... how?


I'm curious, what are your thoughts on this?


(One thing that I find a liiiittle iffy is that all of their graphics are drawings, verses computer read-outs)

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
PS write down this 20% off coupon if you're considering buying!  7L8QRM

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Forgiveness vs Dead Guinea Pigs.

The art of letting go and finding forgiveness is one that is often a challenge for us to master.

The most common time this is an issue is for victims of violent or sexual crimes.

The reason being, that people often associate forgiveness with being "right/wrong" - but actually, all it is, is simply releasing a negative feeling which is damaging you, not them.

I've been fortunate enough in my life to come across several spiritual teachers who've taught me various forms of visualization for forgiveness, (see future articles) and, I also grew up in a family that forgave trespasses easily.

One viewpoint which helps me achieve this, is that:  Everyone is doing the best that they can, from where they are at the time.

And, in the case of loved ones, no, they probably didn't mean to make you feel that way, and yes, they feel bad about it, and yes, its likely you're misinterpreting.  (at least, that's what has generally been the case in my life)

Now, a very interesting study has come about, which I think further installs the need for forgiveness to be an automatic exercise we go through.


When the human body is in a state of anger or resentment, the condensation of our breath becomes toxic.  Literally.

In fact, 5 minutes of "collected resentment" (meaning breathing into a container while in a state of resentment) is enough to kill a fully grown guinea pig.

If that isn't scary enough, after one hour, it magnifies, and is enough to kill 88 fully grown guinea pigs!!!


Anger is toxic. 
Resentment is toxic.

Letting something go in your life is an excellent, healthy choice, which doesn't make the offender any less wrong, or in any way less judged by society, or the universe/karma.


All it does, is free you from hurting yourself while trying to silently and ineffectively hurt them.

(Also, if you're having trouble with letting go, join a dojo and hit a heavy bag.  Its really fun :-)

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts

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The Art of Momentum II

It can be a useful visualization if you imagine momentum, positive or negative, as a huge boulder; and yourself as a hill.

If you habitually eat McDonald's every day, you must first stop doing that; replace the habit with habitually eating salad every day, for example.

This tilts the hill.
Eventually your hill of self control, self confidence, self actualization, and ultimately positive momentum will begin turning on its axis.

Everyone has momentum. If you look at the facetious "fab 2 flab" article set, that was made to illustrate this.

Its just as hard for a non-smoker to start smoking as it is for a smoker to quit smoking.

Its just as hard for a healthy person to eat McDonald's as it is for a non-healthy person to eat a Salad.
Difficulty is subjective.

So change your point of view, rotate that hill's axis by creating positive habits, and grow as a person.

Visualize who you want to be often, and, from their eyes, view your challenges and decisions.

Sensei's Challenge:For the next three days, challenge yourself to have 100% self control in an area which is difficult for you.
For example, surround yourself with chocolate. Crave it... and don't eat it. Keep it within visual range and have it tempt you. Its a muscle. Get ripped!

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts

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The Art of Momentum

They say success breeds success, and that failure breeds failure.


They're partly right.

In the study of momentum, we find that action breeds action, and inaction breeds inaction.
Put simply, there are habits of doing, and habits of not-doing.

If you crave chocolate, and eat it, you are strengthening the habit of giving into a craving while simultaneously weakening your habit of increasing self control.

Conversely, if you crave some chocolate and decide not to have it, you are strengthening your habitual listening to and the strengthening of, your self control, while lowering your habit of giving in.

As our methods of doing any specific thing translate over to every other activity in our lives, you will thusly create a momentum of success, or a momentum of failure.

Let's look at an extreme example to help us understand:

Let's say that we have two people.


Person A:  Every time you crave chocolate, (which is often, as you work in a chocolate factory) you give in. 
Person B: Every time you crave chocolate, (which is often, as you work in a chocolate factory) you resist the temptation.

You're thinking of starting a business, and you see that you'll have to read a book that looks like it might be boring.

Who is more practiced at self discipline?  Who would make it past the first chapter, or even take the book out of the library?

Who would do more exercise, and push their limits?

Who would commit to an exercise filled lifestyle, such as martial arts?

Who would have a longer term relationship, and push through arguments or disagreements in an effort to strengthen their relationship verses run once it got difficult?


How you do anything, is how you do everything.

You are either growing, or dying, yes?

Even on a cellular level, this is true.  So, next time you are presented with a challenge, treat it as such.  Rise to the occasion.  Conquer that challenge and grow; create positive momentum.

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts

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Periods. Yep, we're talkin' about them.

Yes, back when I had a TV, I too would look at a TV ad about a plastic applicator or some winged contraption and wonder just how it made horseback riding possible, and why women seemed to have such a problem with spilling blue water everywhere.

Nobody really likes to talk about this, but, as it is Women's Health Week, I decided I'd talk a little bit about the effects of periods on the female body.


Specifically, the blood loss.

There's an old saying that says "for every drop of blood lost, you had to eat 1,000 bowls of rice to replenish it."

Now, I doubt that's specific, or accurate medical advice; but the point was made that it was precious.
One thing I will say, is that the more blood you have in your body, the better it runs.  (and yes, I can see someone making a joke about the cool-aid man, but you know what I mean: Within reason)

If you look at any athlete, they literally have more blood in their body than non-athletes.  Its good for you.  Your brain loves it.

At Shinka, some females have told me that they struggle physically with their endurance or coordination as a result of their cycles.

There are theories on severe PMS, and its relation to anemia, (basically a lack of healthy, oxygen rich blood).


If you think about it, how irritable do you get when you're hungry, or thirsty, or lacking sleep? 
Blood is no different, its fuel for our bodies to survive.

So, if you happen to be a woman, and you happen to bleed every month, you might want to consider replenishing that lost blood.

But, aside from vampirism or walking around with an IV, most people don't have too many ideas on how to do that.

One easy way, is to ingest plant blood.

What?  Plant blood?  Am I going to turn into swamp thing?  (and if so, do I get to meet Heather Locklear?)

No, I promise.  As long as you don't get lit on fire, exposed to radioactive mutagens and jump into a swamp, you should be okay.  What plant blood is called, is chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll, of which I wrote an article about (see Elixir of Immortality), mimics human blood to such a high degree that, although it does not specifically do all the tasks of blood, it does allow your blood to run at a much higher efficiency.


Basically, think of Chlorophyll as a blood-assisting-agent, which helps pick up the slack for a lack of blood.
On top of that, it also helps with radiation poisoning, allergies, digestion and more.  Check it out.  Its yummy.
(and hey, worst case, you'll meet Heather Locklear right?)

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Finding a Mentor

So, you've found your desired outcome(s), and you've decided that acquiring a mentor is right method to accelerate you towards your goals  What's the next step?


Well, you'll have to find one.

While the easy method would be to check out a website such as nightingale.com and download/purchase a mentor-in-a-can, what I would also recommend is a holistic approach to your mentor acquisition; meaning, find a mentor who can and will teach you as many aspects of what it is you want to learn as possible, while simultaneously improving your life.

These are few and far between, but, with a quick interview, you can identify one rather easily.
For example, could you find a mentor who would help you with your financial goals while also helping you with your physical ones?  Or perhaps you could combine your soul searching inner quest with that of increasing the fun in your life?

In my experience, a place such as Shinka Martial Arts can provide all of this, and more.  As an instructor there, I often find myself mentoring the students of all ages, helping them find their own definitions of greatness.

From simple adventures like retiring at a young age to complex adventures like finding inner peace or life's purpose, a good instructor will be able to ask the right questions, and point you towards the right paths. 

A good mentor won't do the work for you; providing the proverbial fish.  Their questions and recommended pathways will often require dedication and hard work to achieve.  The plus side, is that they often combine decades of experience into a few hours.

These proverbial lessons in fishing will sustain you for a lifetime, instead of through a single life's challenge.
Often, to find a mentor, the simplest questions you can ask yourself are:


1) What is it that I want?  (skills, objects, relationships, ethics etc)
2) Who currently has it?
3) What could I do for them?

Most mentor candidates are more than willing to help people find their own paths, and providing them with a segue of reciprocity is an excellent approach.

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts

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Changing your life a half hour at a time

Many of us want to change our lives.  The challenge is that our "better lives" are often abstract and undefined.  Also, many of us do not know what, exactly, needs improving, let alone how to go about it.

I challenge you to join me on a quest of life-improvement, and I'll show you what I do.


Step 1: Familiarize yourself with the 6 categories of your ultimate life.


Step 2: Get yourself an iphone, itouch, or electronic day planner, a paper day planner or at the very least, a calendar.


Step 3: On the first of every month, program/write in to FF C3GUS (which is just a nice abbreviation for fighter's focus the needs): and then your chosen need (ie "Connection" being the first "C")); dedicate a half hour of fighter's focus to make a list on how to improve that need in all areas of your life.


Step 4: On the 1st, get a piece of paper and title it FF: Connection (or Certainty etc) and make the headings "Personal", "Business", and "Self".  Next, make sub-headings under each.  For example under "Personal" you might write your spouse's names, friends, family, associates etc.


Step 5: Brainstorm and write under each one, using your fighter's focus.


Step 6: Before putting your creation away, schedule another half hour into your planner as the last step, some time as soon as possible, and definitely within the next week or so, and use that half hour to assign dates to do all the things you've come up with.

You can plan months or even years in advance, and feel free to spread out your ideas in any manner you choose.  The point is, you now know when you'll be doing all these things, and how long they'll take.

If necessary, you can split step 6 into multiple days/hours, but do try to finish it all up by the end of the month, as, next month, you move on to the next need!

This process will not only help you improve the level of love and connection in the lives of everyone around you, but as a result, it will also improve this need of yours, as well.  The more love you give, the more love there is!  The same is true for all the needs.


BONUS STEP:
If you feel up to it... Include people you dislike in this list.  How could you improve the love and connection in the lives of someone you dislike?  Or how could you help a person who is your business competitor?  Gems of ideas will be created from this line of thinking.

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts

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The Mindset of Sparring II - Sensei's Challenge

Considering the popularity of the previous article, I thought it best to extrapolate a bit upon the subject.
Projection.

One thing that I believe many, if not most of us do, is project and assume our own methodology of dealing with the world, onto each other.

What do I mean by that?

What I mean, is that thoughtful people tend to expect others to be thoughtful.  Creative people tend to expect others to be creative.

Insecure people assume they're always hurting other people's feelings.  Arrogant or caustic people always assume people are tough skinned.  Angry people tend to expect others to be angry, and so on.
We all have the same needs, of course.  Its our beliefs on how those needs are defined and met, and our projected value upon them which make us all so different.

In a nutshell, its hard for any of us to believe that everyone else isn't exactly like us.

I mean, why wouldn't they be?

We're clearly the best possible option and collection of feelings and methods of interacting with the world, right? (otherwise, why would we do them?)

And yes, we all tend to think this.  (But we can't all be right, now can we)

The other day, a student mentioned how their partner got angry with them when they were sparring, and I thought "how strange.  I've never had a partner get angry with me during sparring." and started looking at things from my perspective on what it would take for me to have an angry partner.

It was then that I was reminded of one of my favorite analogous stories, the house of mirrors.
Perhaps all those sparring sessions in which one of my partners was trying to get out of my back control weren't them simply enjoying the challenge and opportunity for growth.

Perhaps whenever I tagged someone in a game of freeze tag as a child they weren't immediately looking for a potential solution and were in fact plotting revenge.


All we have, is our own set of filters from which we view the world.  And, with considerable effort (at least at first) we can attempt to remove, or, at least temporarily replace our filters with others'.

Are they really angry at you, or are they frustrated with themselves for having fallen for an old trick?

Are they really angry, or are they loving the challenge and rising to meet it?

If you go into sparring looking for growth, looking for a lesson, then you find it; regardless of the outcome of the match, you will still grow and still find a lesson (and thus "win").

If you go into a sparring session looking to win or lose, then those are the only two outcomes.  Either one has a loser.  And who likes to lose?

Sensei's Challenge:  Play with your filters.  Everyone thinks they're right.  It is a fun and exciting challenge to see things from other perspectives.  Take the exercise in problem solving to a whole new level:  See the world through this person's eyes...  before the sparring match... after.... or even... during!

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts

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The Secret Elixir of Immortality - Part 2

Within our body runs an intricate mechanism designed to turn what we eat into healthy, vibrant cells.

If you are following steps from Elixir, Part 1, then you are on your way towards living a long life filled with energy, vitality, and health.

As amazing as our bodies are, they do even better, with a little help; especially in the area of digestion.
I've provided some links to well.ca for your convenience.  Their prices are good, and they have free shipping to Canada!

Digestive Enzymes
Ever eat something... say, a bowl of perogies, or a punch of peanut butter on some white bread, or maybe some beans or a lot of meat... and feel a little... off?

Digestive Enzymes are the answer to that particular situation.

Now, I know, with your alkaline diet you won't be eating most of those things I just listed off... but I know as well as anybody that we aren't perfect.  Despite our best intentions, there are days where our ultra-diet is compromised by convenience, stress, timing, and location.

So, plan a little ahead, grab a couple of these puppies and you're good to go.  What digestive enzymes do, is break down food that your body has a hard time digesting on its own.

Also, as we age, our body runs out of digestive enzymes.  Taking these is an excellent way to keep that "buffer" up, and our system running smooth.

Acidophilus with Bifidus
There is good bacteria in your body, and bad bacteria.
The good bacteria breaks down food, and eats the bad bacteria.  Acidophilus is a concentrated collection of these good bacteria.

Also, things like antibiotics kill all bacteria in your body (both good, and bad).  This can lead to all kinds of digestive issues, and acidophilus is, once again, to the rescue in this case.

And, the ultimate: Chlorophyll
I absolutely, positively love Chlorophyll.
For starters, its amazing for you.  Its alkaline, it streamlines your digestive system and makes it run better, it tastes good, it looks cool (green liquid), its inexpensive, and its results are very fast.


Now dig this:  Chlorophyll is an internal deodorant.  What does that mean, exactly?  It means that it makes your sweat, and your farts, not smell.


How cool is that!?
If nothing else, pick up a vial of this miracle liquid and give it to your friend.  (you know the one I'm talking about)


Sensei Ono: Shinka Martial Arts

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The Secret Elixir of Immortality - Part 1

We're all looking for the ultimate elixir of life.  Something that gives us a longer life filled with more energy and vibrancy.

It is fact, that cells do not deteriorate without harm, or inadequate lymph activity - what does that mean?  It means that if you do not damage a cell, and you drain its toxins 100%, the cell will live forever.


How can we apply this science to ourselves?

We can create as similar an outcome to 100% toxin drainage, and reduce cell damage as much as possible.
How do we do that?  Well, let's look at your body like a car.

Step 1: We make the car/body run as well as possible.

To reduce cellular damage, you'll want nice, thick, heavily oxygenated, juicy red blood cells which are the result of an alkaline diet and regular, aerobic exercise (such as martial arts)

To maximize your toxin drainage you'll want to regularly do lymphatically cleansing breathing techniques.  (some martial arts schools teach this, by the way!)

Step 2: We look more closely at the fuel we're putting in.

More than just an alkaline diet, which is an absolutely fantastic first step, let's look at some behind the scenes activity.

Digestion.  To put it bluntly, if you eat, you poop.  Its a fact of life.

So, logically, when you eat, and you don't poop, toxins run rampant in your body.

Remember, toxins must be drained in order to keep those cells happy!

If your body is toxic, or acidic, its going to want to cleanse a lot of junk out of itself in order to run at peak efficiency.  That's where part II of this article comes in.

Intrigued?  Read on!

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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Fun Fitness Found!

Fun Fitness Found at Steveston’s Best Martial Arts Center: Shinka Martial Arts!

Winner of best dojo, best facility, best instructor/coach, and most innovative curriculum, Shinka Martial Arts has been wowing its students with its evolutionary take on martial arts.

Come in for a free private one-on-one class with one of our head instructors ($100 value!) where we’ll help you discover which martial arts combination best suits your body type, your goals, and your mindset… and see what all the fuss is about! 

Our group classes are fun, you get a great workout, and you learn some awesome moves!

Let them know you found us on craigslist (or this blog) and receive a free pair of boxing gloves with your signup!

604-275-5425  (275-KICK!)

http://www.shinka.ca

That's our new "craigslist" ad.  We'll see how well it works :)

Why we over eat, and how to stop!

As a teacher at Shinka Martial Arts, I'm often asked for dieting advice.

One thing I feel I should mention, is that it is not just the obese that seek to change their emotional state via food.  Many healthy-looking individuals do this as well.

To understand the reason why, is to learn a little bit about human physiology.

First of all, not to get too technical, but, the human lymph system; that is, the sewage system of your body, has the basic job is to remove all the gross stuff from your blood; and its pretty good at it, as long as you breathe in a way that you probably don't.  (For details, check out my other article on breathing)

Due to our "modern lifestyle" that we are enjoying, breathing properly becomes less and less common, unless people are taking martial arts, or yoga.  As a result, the sludge in our blood compounds, which leads to all kinds of health issues.  Obesity being one of them.


So, what does this all have to do with over eating?

Well, if you fill your stomach to a certain capacity, your body is forced to breathe properly.

Your body's need to breathe properly will become more and more urgent over time.  In fact, if you went 2-3 days without breathing properly AT ALL, there's a fairly good chance you'd simply die.

So, once your oxygen deprived and lymphatically clogged body discovers a pleasurable way to get you to breathe properly, you better believe it goes out of its way to create that effect again.


Brain!  Emergency!  Activate craving for mashed potatoes!

And so, the urgent dilemma of needing to circulate the lymph in your body to live, is replaced with the longer term dilemma of the consequences of over eating; of which I don't plan on going into detail about.

So:  Good news:
There's a step by step way that you can both stop over eating, have more energy, and be healthier.  In my opinion, taking martial arts fulfills 3/4 steps.  Diet, of course, must be done at all times.  Find a great school that fits your mindset, body type, goals, etc.

Step 1: Breathing
Step 2: Mindset
Step 3: Diet
Step 4: Exercise

Now, those steps are interchangeable.  For example, if you up the exercise first, the breathing will happen more naturally, and, as I mentioned, martial arts will help with mindset, breathing, and exercise... and its really fun!

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts

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Transform Your Life: Taking "I should" to "I did"

There was a study done a long time ago on some graduates.  They asked the class who wanted to be a millionaire, and counted the hands (no surprise, the majority).

They then asked the same class who had a written out action plan to achieve that goal.  2% raised their hand.
To nobody's surprise, 2% of the students were millionaires when they followed up this study years later.


So, how do you create an action plan that will achieve your goals?  Well, step one is of course, finding out what your goals are. 

After that, you simply extrapolate and quantify them.  That is, take them apart into their smallest, definable components.  "be rich" for example, might have "have $15,000 coming in every month passively" as a component, which would then be broken down and specified into "from artwork" which would then have "marketed by", "purchased by" etc etc.

If there are items you do not know how to achieve, simply write "learn (blank)" and preferably from what source, or, "have partner X do activity Y for compensation Z" if you are in the mood to leverage your time.
The next step, is simply adding due dates, benchmarks and the like.  Their purpose is to let you know that you're on track, or if things need adjusting.  Don't beat yourself up over missing a deadline, but recognize the impact that missing that deadline will have, and adjust accordingly.


"So, basically, have a big to do list?"

Not exactly, no.

You want to have your passion-driven desired outcome, and an understanding that you're working towards it via these little pieces, and you want to know that you're on schedule, or, if not, how to fix it.  You'll want to know that its possible, and that it isn't hopeless (because you're right where you should be).

Also, without a plan, you will be unable to properly prioritize what you should be doing.  You'll aimlessly walk from project to project, not knowing if you should be putting in more effort into any particular one.  Should you be spending more time learning bookkeeping, or practicing your sculpture?  Should you be reading a book on Internet marketing, or researching which firm to hire for that?   Should you become an affiliate, or should you open an advertising agency?


A plan provides clarity.  Clarity provides a purity of purpose and a refined methodology.


Sensei's Challenge:
Take an abstract plan or idea of yours, and see how specific you can make it.  Be courageous!  Fear will tell you that it is a waste of time, but the real reason is because you don't have all the pieces finished, and failure is terrifying.  What if you really don't know what you're doing?

Write it all out, fear-free.

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts

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The Difference Between Caring & Stressing

As a teacher at Shinka Martial Arts, many students have come to me over the years with all sorts of personal issues, and, like most of us, there have been times where I've been caught up in a particularly heart-wrenching issue, where work has "followed me home".


Many of us tend to  confuse caring, or being a good friend, with stressing.  And, many of us equate working hard, with wrinkling our brow and looking busy.

For example, if a friend is sick, or having relationship problems, its very common to want to "feel their pain" in order to help.


While noble, this doesn't often work out too well for either party.  The sickness just becomes more overwhelming, and the relationship problem simply balloons out of proportion.


Empathy is great, stress is not. 

When people in your lives are feeling negative, and looking to you for solutions, what I find is best, is to take the necessary time to understand the situation as fully (and accurately) as possible, to ask probing questions, define absolutes (ie "everyone", "always") and to do your absolute best to understand the root of the issues verses the surface (ie "she yelled at me" vs "the past three weeks our arguments have been escalating due to my lack of involvement"), and then to make a detached-as-possible prognosis.

One of the questions that I very much enjoy asking (silently) to myself, is "what's great about this?"  Often times, no matter what the personal challenge, there is an excellent "silver lining" to the situation.

Even a small silver lining such as the person having more free time, or growing as a person due to the challenge can really help change the person's state.  If you can be grateful for the challenges in your life, it can very quickly change one's outlook.


The more positive the outlook, the more freely the solutions to the current challenge will arise, as negativity clouds judgment.

The time allocation that I would recommend is approximately 20% of the time understanding and analyzing the problem, and 80% of the time brainstorming and clarifying towards the solution.

Basic manifestation/quantum mechanics states that whatever we focus on, we increase the energy of.
This is very, very true with problems.


If one focuses on the problems in one's life, they seem to expand and balloon, until it seems very natural to be in a state of overwhelm.

Things get exaggerated and absolutes run rampant throughout your sentences.  "Everyone hates this!" or "Its all hopeless" become increasingly more likely to hear over, say, "We have two days left to turn this around, what's the best way to do that?"


Nobody who is stressed performs better than when they are not.  Many people stress themselves out as a form of "really caring".  But the reason these people went to you in the first place, one would assume, is because they want you to help change their emotional state; presumably, to improve it.

You will do them no good if you require more cheering up by the end of the conversation than they do!


Sensei's Challenge:
Find a challenge, either in your own life, or someone else's, and ask yourself:  "What's great about this?" as well as "what's funny about this?"

If you receive no immediate answers, you can always come back with "Okay, nothing is funny about this, but, if there was... what would it be?"

Giving yourself the freedom to be playful with your oh-so-serious life situation frees up your creative energy, and allows you to allocate the proper problem solving (instead of problem-magnifying) sections of your brain.
So have fun with your problems.  After all, "some day you'll look back upon this and laugh", right?  So why wait for "some day"?

ps if you're stressed... take martial arts :-D

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts

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Sensei's 10 Day Challenge: Morning Questions

What is your heart's desire?


(By the way, it isn't making more money, it isn't having more time, and it isn't freedom)
It isn't?

Nope.


Its the mental/emotional state you associate with those things.

You don't want more money, you want more of what you think that money will give you.  And that's different for everyone.  Be it adventure, safety, opportunity to give to others, or the mental state of relaxation.

Whatever your heart's desire, it is an emotional state, not a means.

Once you've established your true heart's desire, design specific questions you could ask yourself on a daily basis, that would help you come to that outcome.

For example "what are you going to do today to increase your level of compassion?" or "what are you most excited about?" or "what is the best possible way to help someone feel loved today that I could have fun doing?" etc.


Sensei's Challenge:
Come up with one question, and ask it of yourself every morning in the shower.  Your brain will answer.  Give it time.

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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How To Focus: Think Like a Fighter

People tell me in their day to day lives how hard it is for them to find focus, and I can completely relate.


Our world is filled with constant distractions and they are only escalating as our technology expands and our world shrinks.

So how then, do we focus?

One method I have found to be truly beneficial, is to brainstorm in the same manner that I would fight someone.  You'll note, I didn't say "spar" someone, but fight.

That pinpoint "If I let my guard down I'm going to get hurt" type mentality.  That fearsome mindset, that is predatorial in nature.

If you can apply that to your brainstorming, to your focus, you will absolutely astounded at the results.
You will go from "probably, maybe having an idea" to having a full fledged plan of attack with specifics, action plans, due dates etc.

And if your cell phone rang while you were fending off a rapist...  would you still check who was calling? (y'know, just in case it was important)


I personally wouldn't recommend maintaining this level of focus for more than an hour.  Often, about 20 minutes is more than enough time to extrapolate upon an idea, or to quantify a basic plan.

What I've been doing, is taking a simple need, and expanding it into all areas of my life.

That is, I put aside a half hour, and extrapolate the need of "Love & Connection" and then I think of how I could increase and fulfill that need in every conceivable area.  (ie friends/family/relationships/business/personal/society etc)

Your brain is a magnificent computer designed to answer the questions you give it.  So many of us ask the question, then leave while the loading screen is still going.


Sensei's Challenge:
Take one of the 6 human needs, find your fighter's focus and seek to increase that need in every single different "type" of person in your life.  Be they friends, family, associates, strangers, suppliers, employees, even brainstorm for enemies or competitors.  You never know what you'll come up with until you ask the question.

After your brainstorming session is over, book a time to quantify your action plan, and then use this same level of focus to do so.  Simply taking the time to book a time to quantify IS an action step.  And we all know that taking action leads to momentum.

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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Finding Your Purpose in Life

What is the meaning of your life?  To help you answer that question for yourself, let's look at it a different, less abstract way.


What is the meaning of your death?

That is, what would you want people to say about you after you died?  "Kind, generous, good at public speaking, talented chip-eater, good parent..." I don't know, that's for you to decide.

Do yourself a favor, and write it all out. 


What would you want people to say about you?

After you've tackled that challenge, study what you wrote.  Are there some common themes?  What would all these things that people said about you imply your passions were?

People?  Creativity?

Now, what you'll want to do, is highlight and circle anything vague.  That is, anything less than specific, highlight it.  (its probably most of it, that's fine!)

Then, make it specific.  Loving husband... how'd you show that love?  When?  Generous person... To who?  How much did you give, and when did you give it?  In what way?


Make everything specific.

After that, focus, make your action plan, and get started on making that life happen!


Sensei's Challenge
Take a half hour and write out your eulogy and discover your passions, your purpose to life!
(And remind yourself of that purpose every day.)

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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9 People who could change your life

These people changed my life in some form or another.  If you listen to them, that is, truly listen to them, and apply that which you've learned, I guarantee they'll have a positive impact on your life, as well.
Jack CanfieldDale Carnegie
Stephen CoveyBob ProctorBrian Tracy Dr. Deepak ChopraRobert KiyosakiSir John Templeton
Eventually, I'll write a little article on each of them, but, honestly, they do it fairly well themselves.

It will take a bit of a plunge on your part.  A bit of faith that they could make a difference.  But I promise you, after listening to just one of them, you will wonder how you managed to live a life without the amazing positive changes that they have had.

If I had to pick the cream of the crop, that is, the absolute best starting point of all of them,
I would absolutely recommend Tony Robbins.

His body of work is truly astounding.  Plus, for a limited time, one of his early works is downloadable from this website... for free.

Sensei's Challenge:  Listen to the free one.  If you don't want to listen to the rest after that...

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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Dogs in Mirrored Houses

Sensei Story

There was this dog, and he was a really cheerful dog.  His tail was always wagging, and he was constantly on the look for new and exciting sights, sounds, and especially smells!

One day, he was chasing a butterfly and ended up investigating a rather large hill of which he'd never been to before.

At the top of the hill, was a huge house that was very likely filled with people who might pet him, or even give him some delicious treats.  He decided to investigate further, and nudged his nose into the house with a big, hopeful grin on his face, and his tail wagging like crazy.

Inside, were hundreds and hundreds of dogs just like him!  They were all happy to see him, and all wagged their tales.  The happy dog barked a happy greeting and it was echoed back at him.  It was one of the most wonderful places he'd ever been!

About a week later, he met another dog, who was a bit mangy.  Its tail was between its legs, and it looked rather angry.  The happy dog convinced the angry dog to go see the house on the top of the hill, sure that it would cheer him up.

Begrudgingly, the angry dog conceded that it would at least go to look at it.

Sure enough, there was a house at the top of the hill, probably filled with some kind of trap, or other dogs who would steal from him.

Fearful of what could be inside, the angry dog prepped itself for a surprise attack or some other unknown fear, and burst through the door with its teeth barred.

There, confronting him, were hundreds and hundreds of angry dogs!  He quickly snarled at the dogs and barked angrily, and their angry barks echoed back at him.  He turned his tail and ran, vowing never to return to that horrible place.

___
The world is a beautiful and filled with lessons to learn, if that is your perception of it.  Our brains delete over 85% of our day to day lives.  Which 15% do you want to keep?

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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Video Games Good For Martial Arts?

A student of mine asked me the other day on weather or not playing UFC: Undisputed (2009) on my XBOX 360 would improve my (or their) Jiu Jitsu.


(for a good price, check out best buy. 2009 seems pretty wicked, I haven't tried 2010 yet)

____
Its an interesting premise, is it not?

On the one hand, yes, Jiu Jitsu, like all martial arts, is a combination of mental and physical.

Jiu Jitsu especially, is often compared to chess, only the rules/moves keep getting reinvented every time you play (probably why our green belts are always so happy)

If I had to assign percentages to my own ground game, I would place myself somewhere around the 70% "feel" of my training partner, and 30% planning/strategy.

Could this (rather fun, by the way) video game enhance a Jiu Jitsu practitioner's mental planning of the game via removing the physical sensations?

I say... Yes!

I know that I've gotten ideas off of it, and, the repetitive nature of the moves has perhaps helped facilitate the moves.

I've also noticed an increase in my wrestling ability from watching UFC live.

Also, when I played Fight Night, I know for a fact, that it helped improve my boxing in "move availability" and timing.

So, maybe I'm wrong - maybe it doesn't help.  I'm still a relative newbie to UFC 2009, and I could simply be projecting these results as an excuse to play!

What do you think?

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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The Zen of Problem Solving - Meditative Answers

Do you have a problem, or, more appropriately phrased, a challenge you are seeking to overcome?  Need some advice, but, for whatever reason, are unable to seek council?


This visualization exercise may be the answer. 

Its simple, its quite fun, and, with practice, takes nearly no time at all.

First, no matter how stressed you may feel about the problem, I want you to take a nice deep breath, deep into your stomach, hold it, and let it out.  Do this a few times, and relax.

Next, imagine the best person you can think of who would provide the most sage advice.

If you cannot think of anyone, get more creative.  Try thinking of a historical figure you respect.  From Bruce Lee to Buddha, to Spiderman & Mr. T.

Let your creative mind engage itself, and find the best possible person to answer your questions.

After that, I want you to close your eyes, and visualize yourself walking on a beach.  The sun is shining, the breeze is just perfect, and all is wonderful.  You take a moment to think of your latest challenge and throw a few rocks into the ocean.

The person you've chosen walks up next to you and comments on the weather.

They too, start throwing stones, and the two of you engage each other in light conversation.  You mention that you know a few things about them, and respect their opinions, and they compliment some areas of your life as well.

Eventually, they notice that it seems as though you have something on your mind, and ask what it is.


Describe the problem to them out loud.


Talk as if you were talking to them, and await a response. 

They will see the problem from their perspective, and from your descriptions only.


Be as specific as you can for them, and ask their advice.

100% of the time, this will provide some new ideas, and, often take you closer to solving the situation.

If their council isn't sufficient, ask them who you should ask for advice, and, go to see them.

Eventually, you can do this visualization process without the buildup, and, simply conjure to mind just about anyone to answer your problems.  Superman and Batman both have very unique perspectives, as do your parents & pets.

Be creative, and let them help you.


Sensei's Challenge:
Try this on your next highly emotionally charged issue.  The real test is when you're emotional about something.  Fights with loved ones, or stressing about money is perfect!  Play with your problems :-)

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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The Mindset of Sparring - Sensei's Challenge

Collaborative sparring mindset is difficult to attain, but the results are astronomically different than competitive sparring.


What do I mean by that? 
If you look at any world class athlete, they always surround themselves with people better than them, in order to learn.


The learning is often in the losing moreso than in the winning.

Being challenged and being forced to grow is a harder road, but, a much more opulent one.

Think of your own sparring (of any type).  What is your sparring mindset? 

Are you analyzing them for strengths & weaknesses and teaching them to improve, or, are you simply hoping to win?

Are you seeking to create challenging situations for yourself and them, or, are you hoping to win?


I often say that how you spar with a child, is how you should spar with an adult.

Treat it seriously, but without fear.  Challenge them, help them improve, and learn.  If the focus is on the learning, you'll always improve.

Now, does that mean that every now and then you aren't going to grunt towards a specific outcome?  Of course not.

But winning, isn't winning.

What?  No, really:  Winning isn't winning.  I've grunted towards a specific outcome, and that outcome was a student landing in side control so that they would learn that specific transition.  I talked them through it, and helped them land there, and, as a result, they learned a new transition, and I got to defend myself from side control.

That's the point that is so hard for people to understand.  The winning is in the learning.  If you believe that you, or your partner will learn something from getting tapped out, then do so.  If you want to be on the ground, someone needs to be taken down to get there.  You don't learn as much waiting for an opportunity as you do from trying one out (regardless of outcome)

Pride, and competitiveness is what holds so many of us back.

Let's take an example where you are a large person partnered up with a small person, both with moderate skill.  Let's say that the large person has the advantage due to reach.

Could they remove that advantage by imagining that their faster, smaller partner had a knife, and that one hit, blocked or not, could be fatal?

Or, in that same example, could the large person learn from the smaller person's techniques, both in how to do them, and, how to counter them?

Or, again, in that same example, could the large person observe the body language of states (ie attack/defense) or study offensive offbalancing, range, timing, fakes etc etc etc.

If the large person was simply trying to win, they might have done so.  But how much did they improve?
We must always remember, that, in a collaborative school, we aren't training to beat each other - we're training to improve each other, so that if we were ever to use our skills in the real world, there would be an increased likelihood of success on our part.


Train as though tomorrow may bring danger to you, or your sparring partner, and you want them, and yourself, to be as ready as possible.


Communicate with your partner.  Saying something simple like "how can I take you down?" or "How do I get out of this?" will open up so many windows, as well as bring down any aggressive energy that may unintentionally erupt.

On the flipside, seeking to help your partner grow "try to take me down like this, see?" will open up windows as well.

Treat each sparring session as a lesson with two teachers, and two students.  Seek to grow, learn and train, not to win or lose.


Observe and acknowledge the use of new and innovative strategies and techniques, and inquire as to how they were done.

Learn, grow, train.


Sensei's Challenge: Find someone you are afraid to spar, spar them, and communicate with them as described above.

Learn from the experience and see if you can teach them as well!

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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6 Human Needs We All Share

Tony Robbins has had a lot of influence on my life.  He actually has made available one of his earlier books for free download (both in ebook and audio forms)

He believes that there are 6 basic human needs to which we all in some form or another prioritize and seek.  I use the acronym C3GUS to remember them.

And, while we all share these same basic needs, how we fulfill them and even define them through beliefs and values is what makes us all so very unique.


If you look on the Internet for people's definition of respect or love, you'll find a diverse interpretation indeed.  So too will you find the same variety of interpretation of all of the 6 needs.

Connection
What do you need, to feel connected to people?  Touch?  Sound?  Sight?  Is there a certain recipe in order for you to truly feel connected with another being?

Certainty
What do you need to feel certain?  To feel safe, and to be able to see with relative ease far enough into the future to have a sense of calm?  Money?  Companions?  Space?  Time?

Contribution
What do you need to feel that you've contributed to the world?  To feel as though you've made a difference?  Laughter?  Love?  Money?  Teaching?  Charity?  Artwork?

Growth
When and how do you feel the most growth in your life?  Through learning?  Mastery?  Self actualization?  Listening?  Speaking?  Doing?

Uncertainty
What form of surprises and variety most excite you?  What causes you to feel alive and get the juice of life?  Interacting with people?  New adventures?  New experiences?  New skills?

Significance
What does it take for you to feel as though you've had an impact?  Your children or loved ones?  Praise?  Your artwork?  Your students?

Understanding that we all share these same basic needs, but define them so differently has greatly helped me understand people's actions. 

Next time someone does something that you don't understand, or have a hard time relating to, try looking at it through these needs.  What is their real motivation?  What really drives them and, if you defined the fulfillment of your needs as they did, how differently would you really act?

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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