All Journal Entries (393)

While leaving Sacramento was an easy decision for me in many ways, being more than 500 miles away from the Dojo was almost a deal breaker for me.  In an attempt to mitigate this, I am going to train here in Oregon, and log my training efforts.

My Three Goals: 

1)  Increase my fitness level and maintain my knowledge of Isshinryu. 

2)  Be prepared mentally and technically for the September belt testing.

3)  Find training partners to encourage and be…

Having recently read the book, Karate-Do My Way of Life by Gichin Funakoshi, I was both fascinated and inspired by Funakoshi's lifetime dedication to the art of karate. I was especially inspired by the overwhelming acts of kindess, humility and selflessness displayed by Master Funakoshi.

My favorite chapter in the book was titled, "Training For Life."  Within this chapter, I found that the sections "Win By Losing" and "The Danger of Pride" resonated deeply within me.  These…

So I've been on my training plan for a good 6 weeks now. And I'm learning A LOT. I've adjusted my workout schedule according to my body's demands. 

These are the changes I made:

• I replaced one sprint workout with a jump-rope workout. I do the same increments with the jump-rope as I did with the sprints except I've cut the rest times in half.
• I still do three crossfit workouts, but I moved Wednesday's crossfit to Satruday. 
• On Sundays I do a long run/ride…

Isaac Hull, a Tiny Tiger black belt candidate

at our dojo, is hoping to help local children

who have come from violent homes by

collecting toys to donate to the Sacramento

Children’s Home. The Home’s current wish

list includes toys, games, puzzles and

books for boys and girls ages 0-7 that are

non-violent in nature. Please help Isaac

with his Out of the Dojo project by bringing

a new, unwrapped item to the Dojo by April

24, 2012.

Let’s all do…

So I went to my favorite recipe website, Two Peas and Their Pod to get the Quinoa chili recipe that I mentioned in an earlier post... but then I realized that it's not really chili weather anymore. So... I found a new recipe to try, for Quinoa Salad. I will be testing this…

I was recently asked to share my thoughts about the movie "Bully" in a Land Park News interview. The following article is in the April 5th, 2012 issue of Land Park News. You can also download a PDF of the complete issue.

Controversial documentary “Bully” comes to Tower Theatre

By CORRIE PELC, Valley…

In order to test for Brown belt, we have to meet certain requirements. One of them being to work towards a personal goal. This is my personal goal, in writing.

I am going to train/prepare for the the World Oyama Karate Organization's 2012 Fighters Cup. The tournament takes place at Mercy High School in San Francisco on June 3rd. The tournament…

Our efforts in Alabama were recently spotlighted in the Inside the City and Inside East Sacramento magazines. You can view the complete April issue over at Inside Publications or download the PDF. Thank…

I made this 7-page guide to help students and families that are working on leadership and community projects. It's designed to walk you through a project from start to finish. It also describes how a student can earn star patches to put on their karate uniforms by successfully documenting their project.

I wish that someone had given me a guide like this when I was a child to help with planning all of those school projects. My wish is that students find this guide useful for any…

One of the core philosophies of our dojo is "Out of the Dojo and Into the World" - i.e. taking what is taught in the dojo and applying it to our daily lives.  I believe the most important value taught in the dojo is that of respect.  Treating people with respect, both in and outside of the dojo, helps lead to positive interactions, and creates situations where we can appreciate and learn from others.

I see respect in the Dojo stem from Mr. Oliver's respect of the students and…

Recently, I have been directing weekly lessons to all of the assistant instructors at the school--things that we can all work on as teachers to make us better, our classes more engaging, and our dojo stronger. This is much like the training that my teachers, gave me. I thought I would share a recent lesson with the entire dojo to give you an idea of the kinds of things my "staff" of volunteers and I are working on:

The Core…

Reading “Karate-Do, My Way of Life” aloud to my girlfriend, while she painted, was of utmost pleasure to us both, and I could go into great length of reflection. In a number of chapters, for instance, Gichin Funakoshi describes the growth of a Karate novice, about the clearing of mind and about attaining a love for the process of personal growth and challenge, rather than a love of any subsequent accomplishment. I believe I have discussed these aspects to some length with you in person, so I…

Kaylee, a young student at our school, was recently featured in the latest newsletter for the Down Syndrome Information Alliance. The article is below, and discusses the work that she did.

Spotlight on Local Advocates: Kaylee Dinh and Sensei Oliver at Zen Martial Arts

Mr.…

The beginning of the new year is always a great time for reflection. This last week in particular has been full of meditation.

Looking back on the last year, specifically the UBBT, I took on too much and too little at the same time. What I mean is I was capable of everything I committed to, but I was overconfident in my response to the unexpected life challenges. It was a big year last year. Just a few of the life changes: committed to UBBT Team 7, scheduled my life around the…