This weeks "Warrior Code Talk" is commitment.
Below is what the Trainers have to say:

* Commitment is one of the key ingredients in every success story.

* Commitment is saying or dreaming that you are going to do something, and then taking each step in an endeavour to reach that goal.

* A decision to act with certainty. No if, buts or maybes.You see it though and give absolutely what every it takes to get the job done.

* Commitment – sticking to your obligations to yourself and others even when it hurts.

* Committment is staying the course and getting the job done. It is keeping the promises that we make to others, and most of all to ourselves.

* Commitment makes the difference between enjoying something only for a little while and seeing it through completion, i.e. finishing the job. Commitment has helped me get through to my black belt and it makes a huge difference in the quality of everything I do in my everyday life.

* “There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”

* Commitment is choosing to do something and following it through to completion.
True commitment doesn't let anything get in the way, it doesn't give up and it doesn't make excuses.

* People recognise real commitment a mile away. They perceive it through body language, tone of voice and actions. Actions speak louder than words and commitment generally means commitment to act. There is no such thing as half commitment.
For many commitment wavers or ends when the going gets difficult, uncomfortable or tough. That’s not commitment that’s wishful thinking. That’s for the wanna be’s, the could of’s, should have’s, would have’s. These types end up in a spiral of defeat and failure, never achieving what they set out to do. Failure isn’t wrong, we meet many failures on the way, indeed many failures if the task is particularly challenging, its giving up that’s the problem.
Commitment is not particularly exciting, not like passion and drive and love. Commitment is the hard slog of day in day out dogged determination to not give up or give in.

* Commitment is being there when you say you are going to be there.

* Commitment is consistent support to others, showing by example and leading the way.

* Commitment is deep inner strength and conviction.

* Commitment is seeing the job through until the task in hand is finished.

* Commitment is keeping your eye on the goalposts and not getting distracted along the way.

* Commitment is not giving up. Ever.

Must admit, I am really looking forward to my grading next weekend. I fly out on Friday, grade on Sunday, arrive home Monday morning. This is a significant grading. It marks a milestone for me as I set a belief in place some time ago that I would never be able to grade to 2nd Dan in Daito Ryu. The highest grade "non Japanese" is only 3rd Dan Black Belt, so to get a 2nd Dan is no easy task.

In a world where there are 20th dan Ninjitsu students and 10th dan Taekwondo students, it just re confirms the honor that I have to be an inside student of the Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu under Kondo Sensei. I truly believe Kondo Sensei is one of the last true masters of traditional Japanese Martial Arts. This is not a "bang for bucks" system; to gain knowledge in this martial art takes years and years of dedicated and consisitent training. I have been a Kondo Sensei's student for over 20 years.

I have been steadily working towards this test for weeks, not over doing it, slowly building it up, working with in my limitations, not expecting too much, yet celebrating when I break new ground. I am almost ready...I am excited at the possibility of progressing further. In many ways the essence of Daito Ryu is the glue that holds the Northstar Martial Arts together. Though we use the Shinbudo System...(which is not really a system rather a philosophy), it is the spirit of Daito Ryu that gives us support and a deeper connection. With out such a connection we would be like a building with out foundations.

I can feel an energy building with in me. This time I am stronger, this is my 7th Black Belt grading. This time I feel different, I have had the gift of meditation to back up my physical preparation. The meditation has enabled me to not get too caught up in wanting to acheive and allowed me more presence and peace of mind to enjoy each step of the process. I have been able to control fear of the unknown and negative self talk and a whole range of other ego driven, results orientated outcomes.

Committing to anything takes dedication and effort, physically, mentally and spiritually. Each time you commit and truly follow through you strengthen your ability to disciminate truth and that power grows like a muscle that is constantly worked. Your power to consistantly follow through on your commitment will leave it's mark on you. Strong, powerful and committed people never leave their post, they understand their word is law.

I know that many of you are preparing for your own grading and it has been great sharing this process with you. Join me know and commit to your grading on 7th December and lets celebrate the strengthening of our ability to dig a little deeper, go that little bit further and enter a place we never thought possible.

-ANDY-
andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au
andy@tvmartialarts.com

Just letting you know that we will be making regular video blog posts on our new youtube channel TVMARTIALARTS. Each week there will be a new 3-5 minute video clip addressing new ideas, interviews, techniques and other fun stuff for everyone to view. You can check out all the latest on our website homepage when it is up and running. If you have a particular technique or move that you need help with, please put it forward and we will consider it for the show. Andy

Check out the first episode of TVMARTIALARTS. Morio Yokohama, Brazilian Ju Jitsu Expert explains the best way to move when some one has you pinned to the ground.

Go directly to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv1tpOCo_5Y
or type http://www.youtube.com/user/tvmartialarts directly into your browser.

TVMARTIALARTS is for anyone interested in Martial Arts, self defence, fitness and motivation.

Episode 2 will take you through another fun, easy to learn kickboxing set. So stay tuned and don't forget to leave your comments.

-ANDY-
TVMARTIALARTS

Very good workshop with Kevin Secours on the weekend. Always really interesting to get another perspective. The one thing that keeps coming back to me about the Systema is it is a really good system once you have a really good understanding of the basics.

The average martial arts student is not interested in MMA and has no idea of even wanting to compete. They really just want a martial arts experience that they don’t have to think about too much. In martial arts as in anything, a really good foundation in basics is an absolute priority..first up. How to do good techniques and combinations and still maintain your own balance (physically and mentally); how to kick, punch, throw, fall, take basic control on the ground, all a must to be able to call on, fall back to, when all else fails. We are not the military, we are not mixed martial arts fighters, but we may have to defend ourselves one day, but probably not a life/death situation. Solid basics that anyone can learn...quickly, no floss, no tricks.

Once you have these basics, (usually after Black) you can then add to them, more throws, more ju jitsu, more ground control, then once you have them (which is really on going) then you can add more aikido, aiki ju jitsu then may be some systema. There is nothing wrong with trying it now, but I really believe that if you go directly to these arts you are missing a very important part of a necessary process. The Northstar/Shinbudo process is well thought out. It may appear simple, though you will see once you have been doing it for a while how easily you can learn and assimilate techniques from other systems.

-ANDY-

Good time to discuss Leadership in class. The trainers have written some pretty good stuff below. This is what it is all about and puts in a nutshell so much of what we talk about each week. If you like please print it out and refer to it this week. Feel free to pass it on.

-ANDY-
andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au

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LEADERSHIP

1. Leadership is the ability to motivate and move people in a positive direction. A good leader leads by example totally committed to the cause.

2. If we can effect just one person in a positive way we have show leadership to some degree.

3. A leader is driven by values like honour, courage, honesty, service, self control and kindness. It's a lot to remember and a lot to do - but a good leader is the one who keeps trying.

4. To make it simple for the kids, leadership is about setting a good example in everything they do. If we break it down for them we can use the example of them behaving well and others observing and following. This is a form of leadership. Using this as a basis we could also point out that leaders can come from unlikely places – for example in the dojo – the leaders amongst the kids don’t necessarily have to be the Junior black belts. Even the newer students can set good examples of leadership.


5. Being a leader is a tough role. You have to offer guidance and direction. People look up to you, listen to you, admire you and rely on you and you have to leave up to the task and lead by example. There is no room for mistake.

6. A leader is someone who is not afraid to take charge of a task and do it to the best of his ability. It doesn’t have to be a huge thing for kids, they can be told that bow at the door before entering the dojo is showing leadership skills or lining up by belt colour and making sure everyone follows and do the same thing or sitting patiently and waiting for your turn quietly is being a leader.

7. Leadership is about always acting in a way that is consistent with what you believe to be right and true, with the understanding that how you behave has an effect on others around you. It is about setting a good example and treating others as you wish them to treat you.

8. Leadership is the ability to give guidance to others. It is being able to give direction to people who look for help or advice.
Leadership is doing the right thing and setting a good example for everyone around you.

9. You can show leadership in every aspect of your life, self control, manners, the sporting arena, your family and friends at work and at school.

10. Being a leader is about stepping up to the mark and taking control - firstly of yourself then leading by good example.

11. Leadership is also about making what may not always be the most popular decision and not giving in to peer pressure just to be cool and fitting in. It's about making tough choices and sticking to them.

* Champions are very enthusiastic people that have a special passion and love to share their excitement and energy for life.

* They have a contagious energy for life and they are juiced by success and achievement.

* In the dojo and in their personal as well as their professional lives.

* Their Black Belt Spirit is a powerful energy force that drives them to perform at peak levels of excellence. They have a passion that fuels their fire of desire for greatness.

* Champions have a special pep in their step and hustle in their muscle.

* They brighten up the entire dojo and the people around them, with their smile and they always bring out the best in others. They are positive, productive and hard working.

* Champions have a contagious enthusiasm.

* Many people believe that the best Black Belts are simply White Belts that never quit.

* They have an eager curiosity about the Martial Arts and their exciting journey to excellence.

* Champions are ambitious, driven and energized.

* They are positive people that influence others everyday in everyway.

* Be a Champion - Spread your Black Belt Spirit!

c/o Fari
Martial Arts Professionals

When you come to class you can really feel the difference when the group is focused on the work out. Sometimes the energy may be flat and it’s interesting to see how that then influences the group. It seems to carry over to the group and as a unit that flat feeling perpetuates it’s self. A couple of things will enhance and improve your energy and then in turn the collective energy of the group.

Make sure that you consciously make the effort to release from what ever is going on for you before you enter the class. This way you can enter the dojo with a clean slate and get ready to indulge fully.

Your renewed energy will then help to lift the energy of the people around you. Have no doubt as to how easily you can affect the group in a positive or negative way. So if you want to have an awesome class, check your attitude and be aware how that can influence the attitude of the group.

Use the Northstar experience to disconnect with your habitual patterns of thought and enter the stillness of the dojo with an open heart ready to receive and more importantly contribute to the over all energy of the class.

MARTIAL ARTS WARRIOR CODE

All of the topics that we discuss are great lessons. No matter how simple or how many times we hear the words it is always a timely reminder to see how we are operating.

Do a quick audit on yourself. Have you been on auto pilot, just going from one event to the next in your life, never really stopping to check in with the “present moment.” These weekly tips serve to remind us to apply the lessons in what ever is going on for us and more importantly give you a couple of moments of “time out” to just pause and give your attention to something other that work.

I know that it may be interrupting your work or your day and I know that many of you will check it out later…when ever you see “Northstar emails” try and get into the habit of immediately pausing and giving your full attention to the email. It will only take a minute or so and that little pocket of presence will just bring you back to stillness allow you to centre, re group and then move on with your day “refreshed. Try it…it’s free.

This weeks talk is “perseverance”.

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* Perseverance, for the kids, is "giving it another go".

* Perseverance – you are never a loser until you stop trying.

* Perseverance is the commitment to keep going when things get hard or you lose your focus. It means not giving up until you get the result you were after.

* You are determined to see your task through to the end no matter what obstacles get in your way.

* Perseverance means not giving up, but continuing with strong determination even when you are discouraged or question why you are bothering with the task at hand.

* Perserverance is about not giving up once you have set you mind to a task until you see it through to completion, no matter what gets in your way. It is about persisting no matter how hard it gets.

* Perseverance would be to have the determination to keep going in spite of difficulties, obstacles and discouragement along the way.

* Perseverance is about sticking to the task at hand, and not giving up half way through when the going gets tough. It’s about having the courage to stick to your goals and not be discouraged when easier options present themselves.

* You can have all the talent in the world but that’s not enough
You can be incredibly strong, but that’s not enoughPersistence is the key.

* Perseverance in not giving up. It sounds so simple and easy but it is what sorts out the higher class of person from another.

* With out perseverance very little can be accomplished.

* Never give up. Just keep right on keeping on. Do not dwell on failures or defeats, do not dwell in self pity of how ‘unfortunate’ or ‘unlucky’ you are. That’s for losers.
After every setback (and there will be many) get right back on the road again.

* Perseverance is to stay focused on a goal or purpose despite of setbacks, obstacles or failures.

* Perseverance is about not giving up when things get hard, to keep pushing through discouragement or failure until you reach your goals.

* Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did and about being closer today than you were yesterday.

* Perseverence: Being steadfast and determined - and remaining focused on the goal and not the obstacles along the way.

* Perseverance to me is not giving up when you feltl you have reached you limits. It’s the battle between success and failure, the extra effort to reach or goals.

How is your grading preparation going?

With the end of year grading only 6 weeks away it is important to start committing and working out your schedule in order to achieve your next belt.

I am going for my next grading on Sunday 23rd November in Japan. This will be for my 2nd Dan Black Belt in Daito Ryu Aiki Jujitsu. It is an honor to be accepted to grade by the famous Kondo Sensei. If successful I will be one of only a handful of "non Japanese" students to achieve this grade.

The hardest part of the grading was making the decision to grade. Actually choosing to have a go. It was not a choice that I have taken lightly as I am fully aware of the work that it is taking to get up to the required level. But with out these "stretches" we can fall into a "non growth" period where by we just plod and that then spills over into other areas of your lives.

This week in class we have been discussing "excellence". Bringing excellence into our lives requires constant improvement in every aspect of our lives. it does not mean changing it all over night. I try to improve all aspects of my life 1% at a time. The Japanese call this "Kaizen"; constant and never ending improvement.

So choose to grade and commit to excellence.
At the same time work on improving the following, 1% at a time:

* Add in an extra class to improve focus and fitness.

* Improve your diet, however you see fit.

* Look for the stillness with the movement.

* Be less judgemental...cut some slack.

* Offer service...just help out with out being asked.

* Monitor your thoughts...do they serve my destiny

I am excited about grading again. It has been over 10 years. I can feel the energy of my preparation spilling over into all other areas of my life. Getting a 2nd Dan in Daito Ryu is very very difficult, but it's where I am at, it's my next challenge.

Maybe your challenge is going for Yellow. Maybe its Black. Sieze the moment and celebrate the process.

Looking forward to sharing the path with you.

- ANDY -
andydickinson@northstarmartialarts.com.au

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NORTHSTAR GRADING
Sunday 7th December. North Sydney

This weeks "Warrior Code" is Excellence. We will be discussing this with the children during each class.

* Excellence is about doing your very best, having the right attitude and focusing on your goal - It is a superior performance.

* Excellence is not just getting over the line but trying to blast past it.
We can experience excellence in all areas of our life - sporting, in exams and school work, in our interaction with others, showing kindness and compassion to our friends and family even keeping our room organised and tidy.

* Excellence is about holding yourself accountable and measuring yourself against high standards.

* Excellence is hard to reach. Excellence is superiority and getting outstanding results in something we do. The closest we can get to excellence is practice, practice, practice.

* Achieving excellence means going beyond what you and others think is your best, so it's more than 'doing your best'. It means showing leadership and raising the bar in a way that will inspire others to follow in your footsteps.

* "Surely a man has come to himself only when he has found the best that is in him, and has satisfied his heart with the highest achievement he is fit for." - Woodrow T. Wilson

* "The principle is competing against yourself. It's about self improvement, about being better than you were the day before." - Steve Young

* Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way. — Booker T. Washington (1856-1915).

* A person achieving Excellence refers someone possessing great and valuable qualities or somebody demonstrating outstanding distinction.

* Excellence is doing your absolute 100% best when you apply yourself to what you are doing.
You can’t achieve excellence by not trying.
Even though your results may not yet be considered ‘excellent’ your quest to achieve and do your best is excellence in action.
Put excellence in action and then one day with out you even realising it, you will have outstanding results.

* Its easy to apply excellence to things we enjoy. Sometimes we don’t try properly as we don’t think we enjoy certain things. If however you apply excellence in everything you do it is surprising as you will end up enjoying the very thing you thought you didn’t. You will get much better results with having an attitude of excellence in all you do. It can be the most mundane thing, but to do it with excellence transforms it somehow.

* “That which we practice everyday is what we become” So I now try and practice excellence in everything I do, whether I perceive I like it or not….

* Excellence refers to doing your best. It also refers to going above and beyond the normal standard or exceeding the expectations in a given situation. We could talk to the kids about ways in which people can excel at sport, school work, caring for others, their chosen career, helping Mum and Dad around the house.


* Excellence is about being outstanding or doing something outstanding. That means it requires your best and something extra

* Excellence is the aspiration to exceed the limitations that we put on ourselves. It is seeking to do better.

* To be excellent at something means going that extra mile to do your absolute best, and doing it again and again. It's about putting in that extra little bit of effort to go beyond what you think you can do.