Senjo 2009

WOW! where do I start.

Firstly thanks to everyone that helped out on the day and in the lead up. I know it takes many people for these events to happen but I wanted to mention these people especially for their contributions that I saw – Renshis Bruce and Kyl for organisng the day, Julie Maile for helping out heaps in the background, Rose and Bill Maile for keeping the troops from starving, Troy Walters and family for helping clean up the hall, Knauseders for opening the place up for friday night, Graham Maxwell for supporting us, Senseis Chris, Jono and Chris for doing whatever we asked and for being on time, Barry for helping out on the day and bring all the gear down. Last but not least thanks to my wife Dee who has supported my training and weird ways for over 20years. I know there are more and I apologise if I have left you out it is an oversight and certainly does not take away from what you did.

My special moments – Renshis Bruce and Kyl promoted to pro 5th degree (yeah I cried), Krus Bruce and Kyl sparring for 5th and 4th degree Thai ranks (yeah I loved the pain), Dai Sempais Warricks 2nd degree (yep cried again), Nick and Katherine’s Junior Nidan grading (totally proud), Xander and Kylie’s Shodan-Ho (reminded me why I train), the girls Shodan (wicked in a girly way), taking gradings, marking people, offering advice, watching people succeed, presenting crosses to students, talking to parents, watching a mum and dad present a special cross to their girl, late night drinks with friends, pizza mates and spending time with all that were present.

My not so special moments – between the hours of 4am and 7am where I stayed awake praying for the room to stop moving so I could sleep, too late time to get up.

Thanks for the moments.

Kyoshi Brad

Zen Do Kai’s 40th Anniversary 2010

Next year is Zen Do Kai’s 40th Anniversary and on Saturday the 21st of August there will be an international grading held at  the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic centre followed by a commemorative dinner at the Dock Lands new function centre.

The tables seat 10 and the dinner will cost $160 per person. Anyone wanting to attend will need to let their instructor know asap and they will in turn let me know asap. I will be setting up a bank account for you to pay $50 to secure your spot and will give you two more payment dates in 2010. In the unlikely event that you cannot attend we will endeavour to help you find someone to take it over but there will be no refunds. This will be a once in a lifetime event which you should not miss, people attending include the whos who of martial arts and entertainment industry. Black Belts wanting to grade will need to contact their instructor who will then contact me.

Any further information you require do not hesitate to contact me via email bross35@dodo.com.au or through your instructor.

Kyoshi Brad

Interesting Quote

be mindful of your thoughts, your thoughts become your words
be mindful of your words, your words become your actions.
be mindful of your actions, your actions become your habits.
be mindful of your habits, your habits become your character.
be mindful of your character, your character becomes your destiny..

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