No Airs, No Graces

In today’s society too many people want a free ride, Allan Jones was saying that during his trips to China whenever he takes a taxi he is asked where he comes from and when he replies Australia, the drives says “oh that’s the place where you don’t have to work and you still get paid, very special place”. Whilst I don’t mind people being given a hand up I am not too fussed on the handouts.

What is it with all of the excuses why people can’t make training? Whilst I have no problems with people having lives of their own surely they can’t expect to grade if they have not done the work. Recent events have had me thinking about the lack of understanding of the martial arts from those who train and those that don’t.

So here it is – Martial Arts are about self improvement and that comes in a variety of packages but they can only be achieved through consistent training, it’s that simple. No airs, No graces just simple hard consistent disciplined training.

There are many fitness programs which say work at your pace and you’ll see the results – RUBBISH. This is one of the biggest lies marketers put out there to get people in. You are already working at your pace and this is why you come to training because working at your pace isn’t working. Guess what training is hard, fair but hard and yes we will push you physically, mentally and emotionally because we want YOU to IMPROVE.

How will you know if you are improving? well apart from having a look in the mirror we also hold gradings where you get to perform under pressure? And no you can’t get ready for a grading in 2 weeks it takes months and years to be ready for a grading which is where the consistent part comes in.

Will two nights a week do? Sure if you don’t want to improve, but I suggest that if you want to improve then you will have to train 24 hours a day for a long time. WHAT? I hear you say, yep you will have to eat healthy, get enough sleep, practise what you were taught in class, think positively throughout the day, work towards improving your entire life, research and document various ways of training to improve your flexibility, endurance, strength etc.

Finally there are two words which you will have to learn to love – Sacrifice and Sweat for without these you will never achieve your full potential.

So there it is, the martial arts are hard and demanding.

See you next week at training.

Kyoshi Brad

2009 SENJO & PRESENTATION DINNER

Hi All,

Well everything is looking good for Senjo and the presentation Dinner. Renshi Bruce and Kyl have put together a fabulous weekend for us all. I have included a pdf with all of the information required. Please note there is a change of venue for the grading with the new location being the kawana community hall located near the kawana shopping centre.

BLACK BELTS -please note you are required to be at the hall by 8:00am to help with the set up and we will be having a full Senjo bow in so bring your swords and hakamas.If you do not own a sword or hakama yet then its time to invest in your future. Hakamas (clubshop) are around $90 and I can get a pair of swords for around $250 a good Iiado sword is around $475.00 (Nami by Hanwei). If you want to purchase a sword through me let me know asap as there are some delays with frieght.

Any further information can be seen on the website www.zendokai.wordpress.com or via email to either Bruce, Kyl or myself.

2009 SENJO BROCHURE

 Regards,

Kyoshi Brad Ross

Maryborough Q 4650
P: 41233132

M: 0401509949
E: bross35@eq.edu.au

E:bross35@dodo.com.au

Master and the Apprentice

I have just returned home after playing in the annual masters soccer weekend. I once again played with my beloved Doonvilla team of over 35 yr olds. Whilst we didn’t win the weekend we did win 3 games, draw one and lose one. I spent a whole 15 minutes  off the field out of the 5 games and every injury I have ever had are rearing their ugly heads.

The good part is i got to play with many of the people I played with to win the 1st division final back in 1997 and some have lost alot of their form but many are still playing regularly and that shows.

The interesting thing for the weekend was playing against not only my former team mate in senior soccer but he was also my under 14 coach which took us through to a grand final win many years ago. Bernie is his name and he hasn’t lost his keen eye for reading the play, unfortunately he ran into one of our tough players and spent the rest of the game on the side line.

I too showed glints of my previous form in heading just about every ball anyone kicked, running over people when they got in my road and generally being a nuisance to the opposing side in a nice way.

So I am now wrapped up in ice and hoping to be walking without a limp by tomorrow ready for the start of a new school term and the final 6 wks before Senjo.

Brad

Take Stock

What is important?

These three words often have people baffled for a few minutes before they start to talk about their family, work, hobbies and sport. These are all important items in our life but how many of us truly understand what is important. I am reading a book called “Tuesday’s with Morrie” which is an incredible story about a dying professor.

Ok I know straight away that many of you will tune out because of the word DYING, thats unfortunate because Morrie says “You can’t begin to live until you have faced up to death”.

I wonder how important mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, working long hours, sport, an expensive car or boat and the million other things we cram into our lives will be when we have days left on this earth.

I know you are probably saying but we have to work and if we do it good then other people will look at us and know we have achieved a lot in our life time and we can buy the expensive jewellery and cars and boats. This is an interesting concept because I doubt you could tell me who started Telstra or Woolworths and I would bet most people don’t even know who started McDonald’s and that he was more interested in property than burgers and yet these businesses are worth billions of dollars.

The plain truth is when you are staring death in the eyes you won’t be thinking about the money you made or the cars you bought or the expensive holidays overseas you will be wishing you spent more time with your family and that you took the time to be in the moment, to talk to your friends and to listen to the birds in the trees and the crashing of the waves. Nature and family will be more important to you than anything else.

It’s interesting that our culture is one set up to reduce the human species to nothing. Polution, over eating, disease, waste and many other man made problems are slowly crippling us. We should NOT buy into this culture we SHOULD create our own culture which cherishes family and nature, which takes time to smell the flowers and listen to the birds which understands what ARE the important things in life.

I could go on forever about this but instead buy “Tuesday’s with Morrie” and read it for yourself make up your own mind of what is important before it’s too late.

Kyoshi Brad

New Kata Videos

I have uploaded Tensho and Sanchin by Kyoshi Steve Nedelkos for you to use as a training aid.

Kyoshi

Iron Horse

I have attached a utube link to Shihan Peter Keogh’s Iron Horse flow drill. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIdismI5We8

I will also load this into our video section.

After training with Kyoshi Patrick McCarthy and being influenced by Kyoshi Steve Nedelkos quite a few years ago, I started to put together flow drills for Tensho, Seinchin, Saifa and the rest of the higher rank kata. These were futher influenced by Taira Sensei from Okinawa and my martial arts history study.

I showed Kyoshi Billy Manne’ my Tensho flow drill a few years back and have only taught it to a select few. All Zen Do Kai Brotherhood students should learn the Iron Horse flow drill and I will post my Tensho one soon.

Kyoshi brad

A Tragic Loss

It is with great sadness that I post this message. The recent tragic plane crash in Papua New Guinea claimed the lives of thirteen people, one of them being Dr June Canavan from the Sunshine Coast.

Dr Canavan (June) was my doctor since the late 90’s and the lady responsible for getting me back on my feet on many occasions. In 1998 I sufferred a severe back injusy which left me largely incapacitated. After seeing many doctors and specialist surgeons who all told me there was nothing they could do except operate. It was June that organised for my MRI which uncovered the herniated discs in my lower back.

June along with Paula (my physio) spent a week on me initially to get me back walking properly not to mention being able to go to the toilet without the help of my wife, Dee. June continued to help me make a recovery which has allowed me to train through to 6th degree black belt, BJJ blue belt and it was her inspirational outlook which allowed me to re-invent myself as a school teacher.

June assisted in my knee reconstruction when I totally wrecked it and along with Paula helped with my recovery. She has been there through all of my major health issues not to mention improving my fathers 30+ yr old chronic back injury.

This lady was respected by all that came into contact with her. However it wasn’t the many Olympic and other professioonal athletes that looked to her for answers that made me respect her. It was the help that she offered everyone regardless of who they were.

June you are and always will be a shining example of how to live your life, how to treat people. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and wish you were still here with us. Although my heart feels heavy I will continue to drain every last drop out of life just as you did.

Brad Ross

Kyoshi, Rokudan

State Head Instructor

Bob Jones Martial Arts

Zen Do Kai QLD Senjo & Ball

I have just returned from another great weekend in Toowoomba with Kyoshi’s Jim, Ron, Geoff, Rob and the rest of the crew. Saturday started with a formal Senjo full colour bow in and I was graciously put into the roll of Yamabushi (Blue). After the formal bow’s a young girl came forward and sang the Australian Anthem accompanied by some very average but nonetheless patriotic martial artists and crowd members. Following this there were numerous presentations of crosses, ranks and titles. Then came the 7 probationary 4th degrees ready to perform 3 weapons and two empty handed kata. I was priveliged to sit with the other Kyoshi’s on the grading panel to discuss and grade these martial artists through to full 4th degree with Renshi titles as well. The day continued with 4 3rd degrees, 2nd degrees and the list went on, over 200 in total.

I cannot point out any one particular persons excellence as I have come to understand over time that each person attempting a new rank have sacrificed something special to be there. Needless to say i was once again impressed by the friendship and brotherhood displayed by all.

That night my wife and I attended the Qld Ball along with 150 other people. We were lucky enough to be seated next to Tammy Dickens who kept my wife and I happily amused with her antics and made us feel at home.

The next day Kyoshi Jim invited us up to his home for a tour and chat. What a place and what a collection of special items he has. My wife and I were once again left with a feeling of belonging. Thank you Kyoshi Jim you are a truly wonderful brother.

Qld Kyoshi's

Kyoshi Brad

Toowoomba Grading

This Saturday 1st of August Soke Bob will be in Toowoomba for the Qld State Senjo being held at the Salo Centre in Rome Street. Senjo starts at 10am so everyone has to be there before 9am.
Anyone wanting more information contact Kyoshi Brad

Senjo 2009

Sunday Training

Pleasently suprised today to see 13 people turning up for a 2hr session at Ululah park. We started out with a 100 or so squats followed by a few basic self dfence applications. We learnt how to sprawl and the associated defences. The rest of the session was aimed at learning some new kata and discussion surrounding the various applications.

I finished the day off by displaying a bo kata, sai kata and some tonfa applications.

Can’t wait for the next one.

Kyoshi Brad