TOURNAMENT
RESULTS
AIR
CAPITOL CLASSIC
Saturday
April 13th
Wichita, Kansas
Rob McCaleb
Adult
Novice Kata 3rd Place
Adult
Novice Fighting 3rd Place
Alex Johnson
Youth
Novice Kata 2nd Place
Youth
Novice Fighting 3rd Place
WOMEN’S
SELF DEFENSE
National
Crime Victims Week
Saturday
April 27th
This
year’s advanced Women’s self defense workshop was well attended. Nineteen women
worked on various tools for self defense. I want to thank our core group of
Instructor/Coaches who did a great job keeping the group going.
SPIRIT
WEEK
June
24th – 28th
Spirit
week is upon us. This year we look forward to a great time in the martial arts.
This is the week where everyone is in class together for 1-1/2 to 2 hours
Monday through Thursday evening starting at 6:00 pm. Black belts go through a
special training and shakedown on Friday evening. On Saturday the 29th
at Rice Park is the annual karate school picnic. All AKMS students and
immediate family are invited. Families are requested to bring a side dish.
TOURNAMENTS
Sam’s Summer Kick Off
June 2013-TBA
SUNFLOWER STATE GAMES
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Christ The
King Church
CONTACT: Tony Melenz
785-554-4220 or
REGISTER ONLINE www.sunflowergames.com
DO
I REALLY WANT THE GOLD MEDAL?
Last summer several of us watched Olympic athletes from all over the world
compete in just 2 weeks to see who would go home with the gold medals. Many
times, the difference between silver and gold, or between bronze and 4th place
was thousandths of a second or hundredths of a point. It really drives home the
realization that only ONE person wins the gold.
Even though those of us who train in martial arts aren’t necessarily running a
race or trying to stick a landing or touch the pool wall first, ask yourself
this: what would your journey as a martial artist look like if you WERE
training for the gold medal?
Let’s redefine what the gold medal might look like for us. Is it achieving the
next belt rank? Showing up at Spirit Week every night it’s held? Is it losing
enough weight to get into the next lowest size uniform? Is it making it through
a class without jumping cadence and doing pushups?
Although in a track event the finish line looks the same for everyone racing,
our finish line is unique to each of us. It changes over time, it changes as we
grow, and it changes as we hone our craft. Hundreds have run and won their
race, passing on their wisdom over the years. Although we are racing with
others, our race is our own. One of the coolest things about being in martial
arts today is meeting people at other Dojos running with you. We also have tons
of material telling the stories of the ancients running their races.
Training
with purpose and focus is one of the main ways to win our respective
races. Olympic and pro athletes become serious masters of
self-control. They maintain self-control in how they train, how they
rest, what they eat, what they drink, and how they spend their time – in
essence, EVERY part of their life comes under the microscope. Everything
I do in reaching my finish line must have precision and purpose or I’ll end up
off track. I must focus continuously so I can eventually use the tools in
my toolbox without thinking. The cost of strict self-control is so very
worth the prize at the finish line.
As we progress through the colored belt ranks, we hear that we must begin to
train outside the dojo. What clutter is in your track lane that prevents
that? What might trip you, distract you, or injure you as you are running
this race? Clear it out!
Everyone needs support and encouragement. Who is in your bleacher stand
cheering you on? Who can you turn to for coaching, constructive
criticism, a kick in the pants when needed? Not just in the dojo but
outside? Build your personal cheerleading and coaching staff.
Many self-help gurus correctly tell us to develop a mental vision of our
goal. Who has gone before you that you can use as a visual image to pull
you along when it gets tough? One of my weekly affirmations lists all of
the black belts I’ve known over the years that possess traits that I
want. Some of them I haven’t seen since 1986. Some of them are at
our dojo. Some of them have passed on. But reminding myself of
their abilities and their bushido journey keeps me going when I get
weary. Create a mental picture of who you strive to become.
So, lace up your shoes (put on your uniform), get to the track (go to class or
your backyard), and run (train). Tweak your path as you go but never ever
take your eyes off that finish line.
Cristine Warring
AKMS Black Belt
TOURNAMENT PURSES OF YESTER-YEAR AND TODAY?
In My Opinion, Think About It
In the
tournaments of the 70s to early 90s, the cash prizes were rather lucrative. You
could win several hundreds of dollars up to a thousand or more dollars in a
weekend. What happened to the big purses from that day? I won’t overlook the
tournaments, which do pay out those amounts into days tournaments, but, there
are not many. In the national tournament scene, the winning purses may provide
those kinds of large purses. But, nonetheless, the question remains, what
happen to the big purses on the local scene? It was shared with me about this
question from a known promoter of mine, who conveyed that promoters attempting
to make money (if, you can truly make money in tournaments, as a promoter),
which I understood was hard to do.
One could
contend it's the insurance and liability rates paid by the promoters limiting
the big purses for the contenders? Or, perhaps, the registration fees are too
much or not enough to support the expenses for the promoter? Or would you
think, it's a factor of the tournament promoters being a bit greedy? No
disrespect, intended for those promoters not fitting this category.
So, what
happen to the money purses of yester-year for the winners, and the grand
championship run-offs? In a recent training clinic with GM Bill ‘Superfoot’
Wallace, I presented the question to him about the absence of the big purses,
and if, I heard him correctly, he mentioned the greed factor. So, I admit to
you, my thought process was along these lines of my thinking concerning this
question. If, you remember those times or don’t, please chime in, and give me
your take on what happen. I humbly receive your comments. Provide your feedback
at www.youngsankarate.com on the
electronic feedback form. What do you think? And, may your path be forever
fruitful.
H. James Young
Young-San Karate
