Sacramento Martial Arts and Karate

All Journal Entries (393)

UBBT Day 3

I long ago learned to listen to my old injuries when they started talking. And oh man! They are talking today. Yesterday was nearly a double dose of the exercise requirements between my own ambitious morning exercises, daily activities, evening karate class, and a late night hot yoga session. The UBBT is about pushing our limits, expanding them even. Yesterday was just a little TOO much though.

So today is my first lesson in how to take a break when you need one.

The… Continue

Added by Lisa Clark on December 3, 2010 at 5:28pm — No Comments

UBBT Day 2

Balance has been a struggle since an inner ear infection at the age of one. 12 years of dance, various sports, and now karate have helped. But! Nothing felt quite right until tonight. Yoga.

A while back I told someone I was thinking about trying yoga. They responded by saying, "Yoga is for flexibility. You're already flexible. Why do yoga?" That comment is like saying karate is about fighting. Yes karate is about fighting and yoga is about flexibility. Yet karate is about discipline,… Continue

Added by Lisa Clark on December 2, 2010 at 11:00pm — 1 Comment

my second day...motivated!

My second day...I awoke to true motivation...I gave into my cup o joe, did my 15 min of meditation/breathing, streched, 70 pushups, 70 situps. Fast pacedwalked 3 miles and meet two new walking, jogging comp nions (10 min)with them. Brunch 70 more pushups and sit ups followed with my upper body basis

Added by Adren Bradley on December 2, 2010 at 11:44am — 2 Comments

Shutting Off the Pain Switch

I was the result of an interesting stumbling block in my training last night. The moment the last student left the dojo I felt a sharp pain in my foot every time I put weight on it. It wasn't the first time that I was seen lightly limping out of a musty dojo--and I know won't be the last,

I believe it was caused by the unusual amount of stress that I put on my feet. My 3 mile run earlier in the morning was done mostly barefoot and was the longest that I've run barefoot on a…

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Added by Mike Oliver on December 2, 2010 at 10:11am — 2 Comments

UBBT Day 1 part 1...

Woke up on day one of the UBBT journey and first changed my son's diaper.Once that was completed onto 15 minutes of breathing and meditation. Did 3 reps of 25 pushups and then 50 crunches followed by 25 more.

Once home tonight I will go on my 3 mile run around Burberry park by my house. Then 3 sets of my Isshinryu kata.

This is my second time starting this journey and I know that this time the end goal will be accomplished!

Added by Tai Setser-Pfleger on December 1, 2010 at 3:42pm — 3 Comments

UBBT: Letter of intent

In 2010-2011 I will be participating in the Ultimate Black Belt Test to empower my mind, body and to accomplish the requirements to be able to test for the rank

of Sho Dan.…

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Added by Tai Setser-Pfleger on December 1, 2010 at 3:19pm — 1 Comment

UBBC...started today

12/1/2010

My thoughts yesterday on doing the UBBC….was how can i…. speaking with other students and after class…I realized I can do this, just put my mind to it, work out a plan and stick to it, now today my thoughts, feelings have been flowing like the American River…all of these…

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Added by Adren Bradley on December 1, 2010 at 3:00pm — 3 Comments

UBBT- Day 1... It has begun

I've been all aflutter this last week in anticipation of today. Some nerves but mostly excitement! So when I woke up this morning, I was surprised. My thoughts did not mimic the excitement, the thrill of the challenge. No. I very negatively thought, *Oh, now I have to do ____.* My first test of motivation.

Whenever I had trouble with a report in college, or got stuck on what to bring to a potluck, I started by taking inventory of what I already had. Today was no exception. Inventory:… Continue

Added by Lisa Clark on December 1, 2010 at 11:16am — 2 Comments

My Commitment

I have decided to prove to myself that I can do anything that I set my mind to. As such I will be taking the Ultimate Black Belt Challenge. This challenge will test me mentally and physically over the span of 1 year and 1 month. In that time I will need to finish the following:

50,000…

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Added by Sid Pinkerton on November 30, 2010 at 11:51pm — 3 Comments

A day in the life of Mr. Oliver

Some of you have wondered how in the world I plan to achieve all of the goals that I laid out for myself for the coming year. 50,000 push-ups and sit ups? Run a 1,000 miles? Run every kata 1,000 times? I do it the same way we do everything. One day at a time. Here's how my day looks for tomorrow.

7:00 am - Meditate

7:15 am - 75 push-ups/sit-ups

7:30 am - breakfast

8:00 am - run 3 miles

8:45 am - 75…

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Added by Mike Oliver on November 30, 2010 at 10:04pm — 1 Comment

UBBT and My Lesson From Lisa

A few weeks ago Lisa S. wrote a journal entry about establishing a baseline. It motivated me. I've been an athlete for... ever, basically. Still, never occured to me to establish a baseline, a starting point for each new goal. So I started experimenting for what my baseline around the UBBT challenge might be. My biggest concern was around time management. Partner, two kids, work, school... blah, blah, blah, right? But... I pick a race or two or three every year to train for, so, I'm used to…

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Added by Chrissy Scott on November 30, 2010 at 11:30am — 3 Comments

UBBT: Letter of Intent

I sent this letter out today to my family and friends--everyone that I want to include in my test (the world!). This is an example of what you might use if you are on this years UBBT team as a public declaration of your goals. Post it here, e-mail it, share it on Facebook. Get the word out to as many people as you can. Hold yourself accountable.

In 2011, I will be participating in the…

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Added by Mike Oliver on November 29, 2010 at 10:24pm — 3 Comments

Aloha from the Big Island of Hawaii!

Hello, I'm Tom Callos --and I…

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Added by Tom Callos on November 29, 2010 at 12:30pm — 4 Comments

UBBT Journal 1: Why?

The closer December first gets, the more overwhelmed I feel. What did I commit to?! Can I really do this?! The real question is why should I do this.

What first attracted me to the challenge is the intensity. Lately I've felt unbalanced in my own body. The weight I carry is heavy on my thin bones so it is top priority to reach my ideal weight... only it is hard for me to lose weight. So the level of fitness required in the UBBT may be exactly what I need.

Mr. Oliver's… Continue

Added by Lisa Clark on November 27, 2010 at 7:25pm — 1 Comment

UBBT - preparing for start date

I must have spoken some words, taken some steps, to sign on for the Ultimate Black Belt Test. How did that happen? I just got here! The short answer is that I am intrigued by the physical, mental, and spiritual challenge it presents and the potential transformation.

On one level it is the least likely thing that I would do--make a commitment for over a year of intensive training requiring a significant amount of time, effort, and discipline. My mind is doing a good job of presenting me… Continue

Added by Lisa Spagnolo on November 27, 2010 at 12:49pm — 3 Comments

UBBT 2011 Team Requirements

I sent this out today the the students, parents, and affiliates of our school that have already committed to being on this year's team. I know that some others of…

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Added by Mike Oliver on November 25, 2010 at 1:21am — No Comments

UBBT- Death and Rebirth

The Ultimate Black Belt Challenge is some strenuous requirements:

50,000 push-ups

50,000 sit-ups

1,000 miles via running/walking/biking/swimming

1,000 kata repetitions

1,000 Acts of Kindness

15 minutes of daily meditation

10 short films

10 books focused on personal development or martial arts

3 Personal Goals

1 weekly online journal

1 Community Service Project…

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Added by Lisa Clark on November 23, 2010 at 3:00pm — No Comments

The Fitness "First Step", and Finding a Baseline

Regular fitness efforts have been particularly challenging for me,

most especially as an adult and parent with a lot of responsibilities

as well as a history of sedentary ways. The recent classes and Mr.

Oliver's black-belt test journey have given me inspiration to get back in gear

once again (the week of "squats of doom" was the first signal).

Since starting at the dojo in September, I have noticed increased strength in

my modified push-ups, which is… Continue

Added by Lisa Spagnolo on November 10, 2010 at 6:49am — 3 Comments

Owning a Belt Test

In Isshinryu, there are certain standards that must be attained before earning a new belt. My students know that I can be particularly picky about small details. I'm sure you have overheard me making sure that a student's stance is just right or that his posture is correct. These are standards that we all must strive to achieve--they are set for everyone. But these aren't the only requirements to earning rank in at our school.

Many…

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Added by Mike Oliver on November 9, 2010 at 11:30am — 2 Comments

Your Black-Belt Test Starts Today

We are still a very young dojo and with that comes many unique advantages and disadvantages. One advantage that we do have, is that we can set our standards as high as we would like them to be. And while it is very debatable about what it means to hold a green or brown belt in the martial, there still remains a certain mystique about the coveted black-belt. When you hear that one is a black belt in karate, what…

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Added by Mike Oliver on November 4, 2010 at 1:00pm — 3 Comments