Students and visitors at the school are encouraged to pick up their pledge forms for the board breaking and punch-a-thon to help raise money, which will be sent to Riverside’s sister city, Sendai. All donations made that day will be given to the City of Riverside to be sent directly to Japan. The event is free to the public, however, donations are encouraged.

“Our goal is to have our community do 10,000 punches helping them to get stronger while raising money to help those in need at the same time. We like that our students care about the global community and wanted to do something to help those in need. Our karate tradition comes from Japan so we feel a close tie to the tragedy there,” Shihan Taylor said.

If you are interested in participating in the day’s events please call the dojo at 951.924.1955 to reserve your spot.

We’re really proud of what else our kids do outside of the dojo – and sometimes in it as well such as at a recent event we hosted in conjunction with local Girl Scout Troop 965.

A Night of A Thousand Cranes was a huge success as we joined forces to create 1,000 origami cranes to send to Japan after their recent tragedy.

Sometimes it’s about more than karate. Sometimes it’s about giving back.

There is a quote attributed to him, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

What that really means is that no matter how hard things get, how disappointed or discouraged that you become you must keep on working hard to achieve your goal.  This is a concept that is true in all parts of our lives. A young child going to school, struggling with reading and math must study harder and keep working on the concepts until they master them. An adult entering a new field has to persistently learn more and more about their job, mastering it and teaching it to others, with the hopes of rising up and making more money.

A white belt looking at the long list of belts between himself and black belt has to be dedicated to the task at hand. Persistent. Working hard. Educating themselves each and every day. These are the precepts that Martin Luther King Jr. stood for. These are the things that drove the great masters of karate, including the founder of Shotokan karate, Sensei Ginchin Funikoshi.

Training one day at a time with great passion and focus to achieve a goal. Training to achieve strength of body and spirit. Developing excellence of character.  Persistent training each step along the path to black belt. Perseverance. That is the key.

Those things worth the most in our lives take the most work. You can never give up. You must work through each adversity, gaining strength and the knowledge that you can fight through until the end. That is what has defined some of the greatest men in history. That is what defines a black belt.

But do you know the one key to becoming a black belt? What’s the secret ingredient that every black belt has? Do you know what you need to take on that journey to shodan?

Attitude. Its what gets you where you want to go both in karate and in life. A weak attitude says, “I lack confidence. I lack commitment”. A strong, positive attitude says, “Yes I can! Yes I will!”

One little word with so much power, a-t-t-i-t-u-d-e. Attitude. If you don’t believe me when you’re in the dojo the next time just watch the black belts while they are training. They practically ooze attitude. They own that word! There’s a positive, determined aura wrapped around them like their secret weapon. It shows in their eyes, up and focused, in their posture, tall, straight and confident. It shows in how they speak, with authority and understanding. If you met them on the street you’d be struck by something different about them. You’d be struck by their attitude.

Take a long, hard look at a black belt. They have two arms, just like you, right? They have two legs, just like you, right? They wear a gi just like yours, right? So what do they have that you don’t have? Maybe they’ve been training a little longer but they brought this secret weapon with them along on the road to black belt. They brought their attitude. They didn’t toss it in their karate bag. They didn’t leave it in the locker room. They used it every time they trained as well as at school and the rest of their life. Attitude.

That’s what fueled their drive and determination on the path to shodan. That’s what gave them the power. They focused. They stood tall. They tried and when they had a hard time or struggled they kept that ‘can do’ attitude right there with them.

I dare you to go right now and put your gi on then stand in front of a mirror, head up, eyes focused, standing strong and tall and proud and say with a confident voice, “I am a future black belt.”

Now that’s the attitude!

Working out is another thing that’s normally on that list. Of course, since its the New Year and you’ve just made your list of resolutions working out is probably on that list. I bet you’re even making sure your workout clothes are packed and ready to go, tossed in the trunk of the car so they’re ready after work just to grab and dash into the gym or dojo.

Let me ask you this, where will they be in a month? Crumpled up in the back of your closet? Still tossed in the far corner of your trunk just taunting you ever time you open it to put in groceries or office supplies?

The hardest part of karate is showing up. The truth is its the hardest part for both kids and adults. The actual workout is exhilarating and fun. Honestly, I find a good karate workout addicting – I can’t wait to show up again and feel the mat under my toes, arms and legs flying. Who needs stress relief? Karate offers a complete workout with an instant stress reduction. Its amazing to move at the end of a long day sitting at my desk, so what’s good for us is good for our kids as well. They sit at school all day long and have way more energy than most adults. Getting them moving is a must what better way than learning to defend themselves, increase coordination, teaching control, focus and how to handle a stranger or bully.

But there are days that we all look at the gi and have the same struggle. “I have to get changed.” The words may pass your lips but your brain is thinking, “I don’t want to change. Its too much work. I’d rather stay home and read a book or watch television”…or “I have work to do tonight, I’ll go tomorrow.”

You know what? Those struggles aren’t just for adults. Kids feel them too. Think about it – how often have you looked at your child, who has been happily training for a few months and said, “Its time to get dressed for karate. Hurry up, we’ve got to go,” only to be greeted with a groan and sigh, asking, “Do I have to go? Can’t I go tomorrow? Or next week?”

They don’t want to change. They don’t want to change their clothes and sometimes they just don’t want to change at all, they are fighting the changes that karate brings to them.

Its a good thing that they have you to keep them on track, herding them into the car.  Once they shrug on their gi and are headed to the dojo its a whole different story. Then they are excited to train, learning to think and move like a black belt.

The hardest part? Showing up.

TMA has been helping to keep people safe and training future black belts in Moreno Valley for over 17 years You can view our website at www.taylormartialarts.com. If you’d like to reach us in the office please call 951.924.1955 or you may email us at info@taylormartialarts.com.

When you look in the training mirror what do you see? A white belt, shy and insecure afraid of making a mistake? A purple belt chomping at the bit, sitting on the cusp of brown belt and thoughts that black belt are right within reach? A red belt facing the dan exam with anticipation and nerves that shake you to the core?

What you need to see is a proud confident black belt waiting to emerge. An athlete that’s training hard, secure in the knowledge that every time they tie their belt on they are training as hard as they can, eager to learn more and realizing that black belt isn’t the destination, its just the beginning of the journey.

Are you training like that guy? Or are your eyes darting around to see what others think of you, insecure about making a mistake? Or worse yet are you, you know, exhibiting signs of that “L” word? Has the lazy monster crept inside your gi with you, whispering in your ear that you don’t need to train so hard, telling you to proudly wear your green belt without any further concern about training? Is the “L” word (yes, you know its that word – LAZY with a capital L) going to stop you from becoming the black belt that you should be?

Watch a black belt train sometime and as you watch them see how they carry themselves on the floor.  They lead the class, exuding confidence, their eyes up focused on their target ready to defend themselves with a seconds notice. And you know what, sometimes they even make a mistake. They don’t shake their heads and apologize, they just keep on training, determined to master the new skill becoming stronger and more knowledgeable. Every time they throw a punch or land a kick they do it with power and strength as though their life depends upon it.

What makes them different from you? Nothing…they just train like a black belt. So should you. Don’t wait until you put the belt on. Start now. Start today.

TMA has been helping to keep people safe and training future black belts in Moreno Valley for over 17 years You can view our website at www.taylormartialarts.com. If you’d like to reach us in the office please call 951.924.1955 or you may email us at info@taylormartialarts.com.