A little walk-about ...

I've been busy. Have been - as they say in the military - 'decisively engaged' with a number of things: volunteering my time w/in Toastmasters (serving as a district officer), have joined the Knights of Columbus (a part of my continued pursuit of things spiritual), and have several other things on my mind or dropped into the 'job jar' related to family, job, etc.

Have started another 12-week fitness challenge. Looking forward to juggling a number of commitments -and- to getting into even better physical shape.

Sometimes we stray a little from our path; go on a little walk-about. But a wise friend of mine once said, 'if the path is true, then you'll eventually find yourself upon it again.'

Shodan ... Now I'm a so-called advanced learner

Since my last post to this blog a lot of things have happened. Now these events or occurances are all for the good. Highlights include:

* Son going off to study abroad -- at the Catholic University in Lima, Peru -- a program affiliated w/ the University of Virginia's Latin American studies major. Of course my first born is also a double major so he's taking some economics too (in Spanish, of course).

* My daughter is now enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Design (a.k.a., 'SCAD') in Georgia. She's established a routine and seems to be thriving. We -- Daddio and Daughter -- are co-competing in the family category for the 2007 BFL challenge. Kelsey has found the gym at SCAD and now owns a bike to complement her strength-building workouts.

* Debbie (my wife of 20+ happy years) and I are enjoying the so-called 'empty nest'.

* I passed my aikido shodan exam and now have to learn to move while wearing those Japanese chaps (a samurai skirt). So now I'm an advanced learner. Relearning how to move while kneeling and surrounded w/ material that somehow always gets caught up on your toes.

Staying busy w/ Toastmasters-related work too. Life is good. JL

... It's time to begin serious training

Shodan literally meaning "first degree", is the lowest black belt rank in Japanese martial arts. Also frequently referred to as "first dan", it is a part of the kyu/dan system common to gendai budo. Among martial artists, the word shodan is used to describe both the rank a person holds, as well as the person himself (i.e., it is proper to say that a person possesses a shodan, and it is also proper to say, "I am a shodan in 'x' martial art").

Significance -- As the transition from white (or colored) belt to black belt, the rank of shodan often holds special symbolism for martial arts students. The particular significance attached to it has varied and does vary based on circumstance. One often-quoted summary is that a first degree black belt has a thorough grounding in basic technique.

Popular media often fails to distinguish between the various levels of black belt, and thus some have the impression that passing a shodan examination somehow qualifies the recipient as a master of the martial arts. This is considered a mistake. While an important rite of passage, it is probably more accurate to say that a shodan is ready to begin serious training.

As a black belt wearer, or yudansha, a shodan is usually assigned teaching duties of some sort. Depending on the individual martial arts school, a student may be required to be a competent instructor as a condition for promotion to shodan, or achieving the rank of shodan might mark the beginning of a student's teaching apprenticeship.

Time -- For most modern-day students, it requires between three and six years to reach the rank of shodan. This varies according to situation and other factors, such as the talent and maturity of the student, the rigor of the instructor and curriculum, and (perhaps most of all) the amount of time and energy the student spends on his or her training. For full-time, or live-in students (called uchideshi), a rare group in the modern world, a year might suffice for sufficient physical skills, but developing the correct mental attitude would remain variable.

[Source: wikipedia]

At the end of my shodan test I realized just how little I knew of aikido and had a peek at just how much I still had to learn. Yep, it's time to begin serious training. JL

Create a Personal Mission Statement / Motto

Last night I saw on television the movie, "Million Dollar Baby." This is an excellent film featuring Hilary Swank (best actress), Morgan Freeman (best supporting actor), and Clint Eastwood (best director or best film -- can't quite recall). Definitely a film worth renting at the local Block Buster, Net Films, etc.

On the wall of the "Hit Pit Gym" was a sign: "Tough is not Enough" which caught my eye. This was a personal motto that Clint's character, Franky, used with a number of his fighters. There's wisdom in this motto.

Well on the BFL guestbook and/or blog site Mike Harris recently introduced the concept of a personal mission statement or personal motto. In short he challenged everyone to take their first name and then to craft a mission statement using the letters of you name as one does in an acronym.

So after about ten minutes, I thought up the following...

J ust remember, "It's not about me."
O bey Him and do good deeds; secretly whenever possible.
H onor your promises both to yourself and others.
N ever quit trying to become better than you were just yesterday.

Now the point here is not to see if you can come-up w/ the most elegant phrasing or wording. We're not talking poetry here. Rather I think this drill helps you identify and/or align your thinking w/ your values. So if you're tracking w/ me on this one.

Why not think up your own personalized motto and/or mission statement.

Aim higher.

Aim Higher

In the long run, men hit only what they aim at.
Therefore, they had better aim at something high.
-- Henry David Thoreau

... Wrapped up my so-called 'Agatsu Challenge' and have launched a new challenge entitled: 'Aim Higher.'

... Results from my last 12-week of effort were to return to size 36 trousers (waist size) while also getting back to the weight I was before the winter holidays.

... I don't like paying twice for 'real estate' gained in the past. But that's the way it goes sometimes. So now it's time to 'aim higher'.

... My shodan test is now scheduled for July 21, 2007. Celebrated my 50th birthday by completing the 'Five Boro Bike Tour of NYC' w/ an Army buddy and neighbor, Mike Streff.

... Blackhorse Reunion will be after my daughter's high school graduation party and before a Toastmasters conference in Philadelphia. It's been a busy few months and the funny thing is I'm not sure anyone has even noticed here on the Agatsu blog.

... No matter ... I'm just going to continue to shoot for the best I can and look to set a few 'personal best' records.

All the privileges and none of the responsibility

The blog posting below comes from a friend, Russ Pendergrass, BFL Finalist 2005.
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"All the privileges and none of the responsibility."
by: Russell Pendergrass 3/7/2007
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Now, today’s blog:


I thoroughly enjoyed being at the Expo and seeing the new Champions, renewing friendships with past Champions, and meeting my readers. The time flew by.

During the 30 hours it took for me to fly home I had the opportunity to watch 10 or so movies -- mostly to just pass the time (I can’t sleep on airplanes). One of the movies was "Dream Girls" (the movie version of the rise of Barry White and Motown Records and Diana Ross and the Supremes). One of the characters is kicked out of the Dreams because she gets heady. She hits rock bottom and Danny Glover’s character picks her up to give her a second chance. As she begins climbing back into the business there’s a part where she starts to show a little attitude. Danny fires back. "That’s the problem with you, girl. You want all the privileges and none of the responsibility." When I heard this line I had a tray of airplane food in front of me with a nice
piece of carrot cake and a warm roll with butter waiting to be eaten. They were still on the tray when I turned it back to the flight attendant.

What a perfect line.

Everyone wants that perfect body. Everyone wants a six-pack or a sleek, sexy figure. Very few people are willing to make the commitment it takes to obtain their physical goals. Fewer are willing to take responsibility for getting out of shape in the first place.

"I went through a terrible divorce."
"I injured my back."
"I’m a chocoholic."
"I lost my job."
"I lost my mother."
"I lost my child."
"I had surgery."
"I got into an abusive relationship."
"The Bears lost the Super Bowl."

There are a million things you can point your finger at and blame for your physical condition. But YOU are responsible for how you spend your time in this life; and YOU are responsible for what you put in your mouth.

I grew up with an obese mother. I’ve heard all the excuses. I’ve even borrowed a few of them myself - when I let myself go. But I couldn’t run from the mirror. And when I locked eyes with that person staring back at me, the truth screamed at me -- "YOU!! YOU are responsible for what you are looking at. And only YOU can do anything about it!"

It is YOUR responsibility to say "No" when bad food is sitting in your refrigerator. It is YOUR
responsibility to roll out of bed and get to the gym. It is YOUR responsibility to hit your 10’s. It is YOUR responsibility to get enough rest. It is YOUR responsibility to drink enough water. It is YOUR responsibility to see that you have the right foods and that they are available when you need them.

So, my fellow BFLers, do the responsible things YOU need to do to get that body YOU want.

When you do, the only one you have to blame for that perfect body is YOU.

Russ

PS. So the Colts won -- get over it.

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If it is to be it is up to me. (Wisdom in a ten, two-lettered words.)

Have I created a monster?

"When one paints an ideal, one does not have to limit one’s imagination."

- Ellen Key (1849-1926) Swedish Author

... A few of you may know that my teenage daughter is headed off next fall to "a pretty cool art school." (Her words)

... So being the Dad I am, I’ve begun to look into artsy-fartsy things. Have visited or re-visited the various Smithsonian museums in DC (which are free of charge). And have occasionally been known to dig into my wallet so as to visit a few museums and galleries that charge you for the experience.

... Well I must report, "I’m definitely not an artist." I can claim to have taken a few mechanical drawing and/or engineering design courses. [Yes, I’m a recovering engineer.]

... So reading about and then doing the BFL-mindset exercises that suggest we find a champion’s photo and then substitute our face for the champion’s face is a little over the top for me. I’ve seen the movie "Young Frankenstein" and although that particular ’monster’ did attract one particular woman; I didn’t see myself re-creating my physique into one that might rival Arnold’s.

... But this ’old dog’ is trying his best to learn a few new tricks. And my daughter claims she first ’sees her art’ before she creates her art.

... So here’s to expanding our imaginations! I think I’m going to paint me an ideal self-portrait and then – like the engineer I am – construct or transform myself once and for all.

B.A.I.
JL