Emil Ramos's Journal (14)

            I never pondered the idea of getting a black belt until recently. When I started karate at 7 years old it was a distant idea. I didn’t think of it as something I would never accomplish, I just never thought of it.  It was so far away so what was the point?

            Over the 5 and ½ years since I started karate I’ve had so much support. My family has walked with me side by side in my journey. The black belt wouldn’t mean as much as it does to me…

Hi, I know I haven’t posted in so long, but the 1st has marked the end of my six months. I am happy but it’s not that exciting because I still have a lot of work to do. The reason why I didn’t post much is because I have been really busy. With karate? Nope. Well of course karate but also school, a week long field trip, and pathogens. I am proud to say I got to the top of the honor roll with a 4.0 (which is all A’s for people who haven’t gotten to middle school or high school…

Sorry, I haven’t got around to writing in a long time hopefully I didn’t lose any followers. To give you a recap I’ve finished more than half of my test and I’m at exactly four months in. I started middle school so it’s like having two jobs at once working the same hours and no holidays. It feels like everything I’ve done has been halfhearted and I’ve lost my motivation. I went searching for it; I even put up ads for lost ‘effort’. Ok, I didn’t lose it too much - maybe just a bit. But I will…

                Yeah! It’s been three months and that means I’m half way. My last month didn’t go so well, I got sick at the beginning of school like half my classmates. I love middle school - all the hundreds people - it just doubles the friends. I go to California Middle School in Land Park right behind McClatchy High School.  Of course I have still kept my friends from LDV, but I have met people from all around Sacramento. However, it has been hard keeping up with my black belt…

Reading the Book of Five Rings helped me change my perspective on the martial arts. The book was written in five scrolls, hence the name Book of Five Rings. Each scroll is named after one of the four main elements: Earth, Water, Fire and Wind. These are followed with the final scroll, The Scroll of Emptiness. Each scroll focuses on different aspects of the martial arts.

The book had many great lessons. One of my favorites was about the true science of martial arts. It means practicing…

This might not be a huge discovery that will win me a Nobel Prize but I found out it is a lot more fun running in a park than on a treadmill. My mom and I went to Curtis Park to run the other day. Curtis Park is the perfect running track because it is approximately one mile around. We walked one mile then I took off with the dog and we ran another mile around the park. It’s a lot more fun running outside and I believe it’s because you’re moving and you can see how far you ran which makes you…

For the past week, I have been on vacation in Arizona spending time with relatives. Even though I am on vacation, I still sadly don't get any days off of my black belt test. I have been adjusting to a new schedule and adapting to how the day runs smoothly here. 

The first three days were hard to manage.  It was because it was hard to stay focused and not forget I have a responsibility and not just hang all day in the pool. I spent my first day getting…

http://youtu.be/zoe7oZcTNKk

First month down five more to go! I am glad it’s over but it doesn't feel like much of an accomplishment, maybe my second or third month will. It does make me feel like I can finish the challenge, but I also have no clue how to manage my time when school starts on September 2nd.

If I learned anything during this month it would be time management. Some days were a struggle. What I found to be the hardest is writing everything I do down. I do the work but forget to tally it. I now…

Self-discipline is definitely a crucial skill of becoming a respectable martial artist and it should be practiced like any other aspect of the martial arts. Each day I have a list of stuff I must overcome and each day is similar to the last. First when I wake up (and even after sleeping in) I read and do all my chores. It’s a struggle not to pick my phone up and watch YouTube and forget about my chores. 

After I finish my acts of self-discipline I head to the gym. I start with 100…

         For my required reading the first book I chose to read is The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi. It was written in 1643 about the science of martial arts. Miyamoto Musashi broke down the book into five scrolls: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Emptiness. Each scroll represents different pieces of martial arts.

         When I read the Earth Scrolls…

         July 1^st will mark my 5^th year anniversary as a student at Zen Martial Arts. I can vaguely travel back to my first class in the Little Dragons. I can remember graduating the Little Dragon’s class and how Sensei had Luca and I break a board without any practice beforehand (I still have the board I broke). I remember learning Seuchin Kata and winning my first tournament with it. I remember Saturday classes when I was the only junior there and Ms. Scott’s…