SENSEI’S MESSAGE

Thanks to all that have visited by lastest blog posts: What if? and A master’s approach to streetfighting. The comments make for good reading. I try to post as much as I can to draw the relationship between everyday life and martial arts.

Grading is getting close so don’t forget to register your interest. All the trainers are excited and can’t wait to share the experience with your children. I know that it seems that we have only just had a grading, well that’s true…so with over 800 members training at Northstar we will be running grading more regularly.

Don’t forget that the children’s classes now run though the school holidays.

ANDY

andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au



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Live NOW…

For a brief moment I forgot all of my own ideas, troubles, pre –occupations, my own little world did not exist. For a brief moment the life and death struggle of another human being that I had never known or met before became the absolute focus of my life and the focus of the lives of others who were also involved.

Read more
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STAY CONNECTED.

Stay upto date with all events and news at Northstar. Join the Northstar Facebook page.

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PRE GRADING INTENSIVES.

Not quite sure of your grading requirements?
Book into the Pre Grading Intensives:

White to Blue Tip. 11th Sept 3.30pm Balmain Cost $30 (2 training credits)

Register on-line


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Andy’s quote of the week :

Spirituality cannot be compartmentalised. It is the filter through which all actions are guided. Andy

The Peace of Wild Things
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light.
For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and I am free.

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SHINBUDO-ism (a list of quotes by Andy Sensei that you may hear in class).

The technique commences the moment you enter the dojo and finishes when you leave. Everything with in the dojo is designed to keep you present. When you are present in the moment you are living now. This is the essence, this is the truth.

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“Men’s Sparring is Fighting Night”

The date has been set and it is on again. The comerarderie between men that fight is something to be experienced. Whether you are a beginner or advanced martial artist, this workshop will “enable’ you as a man.

Hi Andy, Just wanted to email you and thank you for one of the most amazing experiences of my life on Friday night. I still have a smile on my face. Whilst I have done quite a bit of martial arts throughout my life, nothing has been quite as fulfilling as Friday night. The intensity was incredible! It’s really quite amazing how easy it is to forget everything you know when you are totally exhausted. Fitness is certainly certainly something that I will working on as I noticed how progressively worse I got as the night went on. I started off like a champ and closed, in my mind, slightly defeated due to my fitness and stamina…. Anyway once again, thanks for a great night and I will be seeing you soon. Kind Regards, Mike

Places are strictly limited so register NOW….

Friday 24th September Balmain Dojo (Honbu) 7pm. Cost $30.
Click here to register…

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DAITO RYU AIKI JUJUTSU.
This is the first time that main line DAITO RYU will be taught in Australia. 6.30pm at Balmain Dojo. Cost of class is $20.

It's Monday morning and for most of us it's back to work. Monday always seems to come around so quickly especially after a great weekend.

There is a way to slow time down, in fact, we can run our lives as if time does not exist. As simple as it sounds and as much as we need time to stay organised, rather than being a slave to time, we can practice being the master of how we use it! AND it is so simple. We just forget that we can tap into the most basic and at the same time most profound and enlightening "spiritual" practice; being present, here and now.

Being present simply means that you are aware of exactly what you are doing right now with out the dialogue of what you think is happening.

Try this simple awareness exercise whenever you think of it, it will help you to make friends with the present moment, enriching the quality of all action...even things you dislike..like working on a Monday...

1. Say to yourself...I breathe.
2. Then as you breathe in say Breathe in.
3. As you breathe out say Breathe out.
4. Do this for as little or as long as you want...no time limit.

Do this when ever you think of it.

Hope this helps you day. Let me know how you go.

Andy
andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au

ps. join the Northstar Facebook group: http://bit.ly/ak7XBE

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SPIRITUALITY AND MARTIAL ARTS
Read what others say: http://bit.ly/cvbaJM

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SPARRING WORKSHOP
Great session last Friday night. Keen to get your feedback on what you thought.
andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au

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GRADING
It's time to start getting excited about the Grading Super Session on Sunday 28th March.
Check how many classes you are going to need and start planning your program to get where you want to be.

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ADVANCED CLASS GRADING PREP
I am running an advanced Grading Prep class for brown belts and above on Tuesday mornings 7am at Balmain. The focus will be on conditioning and fitness.
Commencing Tuesday 16th March.
Andy.
Email me and let me know if you can come along.

NORTHSTAR NEWS
P 02 9810 5790
E info@northstarmartialarts.com.au
Http://northstarmartialart.com.au

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It’s great to be back teaching classes again. So for this year, the energy at Northstar has been electric. We had our first grading for the year at Balmain and the first main grading for 2010 will be at North Sydney on Sunday 28th March. This will be a grading not to be missed as several students will attempt to grade to black.

The Essential Shinbudo Seminar was fantastic, we will have another one in around 6weeks. Friday Fight Night is on again on 5th March 6.30pm at Balmain, spaces still available. My “Understanding Bullying “ e-book has been downloaded over 100 times, I sincerely hope that you were able to take something valuable from it. If you have not received your copy yet please go to http://modernmartialartist.com.au/powerful-children/. Part 2 of my Bullying e-book series will soon be available.

Work consistently on improving your commitment to all that you do. Don’t give up at the first sign of difficultly, that’s were real growth occurs. As Tony Robbins says ; “struggle is built into the nature of life, the hero is the man who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen. “

In class, have fun, make new friends and develop some skills to help you cope a little better with all that may be going on for you.

Andy Dickinson
andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au

Classes that I am teaching this week.
Wednesday 6.30pm at Balmain (adults)
Friday 5.15pm at Balmain (Children adv)
Friday 6.30pm at Balmain. (Sparring workshop)
.
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LIVING TO 100
There are several hubs around the world where people live the longest. This is a great video as it shares the common points among them.
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_buettner_how_to_live_to_be_100.html

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Just because you react a particular way and you think that the reaction is “just the way you are”. Does not mean you have to live your life that way any more. Start by making a relationship with the present moment. Then see what happens from there.
Andy Dickinson

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SPARRING
The average normal person would never dream that they are capable of standing in front of another human, engaging in unarmed combat, surviving and at the same time having incredible fun. Well this is what we aim for at the Friday Sparring Workshops.
If you fear it, you MUST do it.
Friday 5th March, Balmain 6.30pm

To get the edge in sparring, download my Tips at: http://modernmartialartist.com.au/training/down-loads/

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WHAT LANCE ARMSTRONG CAN TEACH US ABOUT MOTIVATION
http://bit.ly/btXXoj

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AVOIDING NEGATIVE PEOPLE
To make the decision to let go of negative people in your life also affects all humankind, usually in unseen and uncelebrated ways. Jesus Christ said to avoid the
wolves, not out of "hate" or "spite" but out of respect for your own life, and therefore out of respect for Life itself. As you let go of spending time with negative
people, you, within yourself, will shine more light, so to speak. As the Light of your own Consciousness increases, it leaves an invisible 'track' in the field, not
unlike an imprint or a path. This then makes it easier for mankind to follow suit.

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ANDY and the HELLS ANGELS.
http://modernmartialartist.com.au/

NORTHSTAR NEWS

There is some great stuff in this newsletter, Take your time to go through and enjoy it. Don’t be put off by having to click the links, if you hesitate just ask why, its usually one of 2 things, you are too busy or you are not bothered. Ask yourself the question, am I happy? Can I improve on my situation? Do I want some motivation? First step, forgive yourself for all that you are not, and celebrate all that you are. Make a commitment to at least click on one link.

Northstar Martial Arts is booming again. If you have friends and family that are interested we would love your referral. Maybe a great first step is to pass on this email. Kids classes are filling fast, so parents if you want to sign up brothers and sisters now is the time.

-Andy-
andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au

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NORTHSTAR EVENTS:

Essential Shinbudo With Andy
Andy is presenting a 3 hour workshop on Saturday 6th February. Balmain Dojo 3.30pm. Pre registration only.

First Grading 2010.
Grading is on mid Feb. Details to be confirmed asap.

1st Term 2010: Childen.

Classes begin Monday 1st February with the last class on Saturday 10th April

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NEW BLOG POST BY ANDY
How do you stay connected in a disconnected world?

Have you seen the Movie “Into the wild?” It’s a true story about a man that spends his entire life running from people, wanting to be alone in solitude. He ends up isolating himself in an old caravan in the Alaskan wilderness. At the end of the story, trapped by the winter and sick from lack of food, just before he dies he enters a line in his journal saying that “we are not meant to be alone”.

Further reading: http://bit.ly/5uMO0o

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INSPIRING QUOTES

Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb, that’s where the fruit is. Jackson Browne

20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than the ones that you did do. So throw away the bow lines, sail away from the safe harbour, catch the trade winds in your sails, Explore, dream, discover.
Mark Twain

A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another. If these minds love one another the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one another it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden. – Buddha


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GREAT AND INSPIRING LINKS

13 of the most inspiring youtube videos of all time http://bit.ly/uBGFp
Keep this as one of your daily motivators. Watch one video per day.

Mohammad Ali; Recipe for Life.
Simple yet profound.
http://bit.ly/5NEGU

Being a Gentleman
Timely reminders guys..
http://bit.ly/T8EtA

Ladies making a difference
http://bit.ly/8AhUSD.

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Words of Wisdom
At 86 years old, Chuck Yeager (test pilot and breaker of the sound barrier) is still going strong, hunting, fishing, giving speeches and of course, flying. He doesn’t believe in slowing down in retirement. At age 62, he had this to say:
“You do what you can for as long as you can, and when you finally can’t, you do the next best thing. You back up but you don’t give up…I know too many people who have erected barriers, real brick walls, just because they have gray hair, and prematurely cut off themselves from lifelong enjoyments by thinking, ‘I’m too old to do this or that-that’s for younger people.’ Living to a ripe old age is not an end in itself; the trick is to enjoy the years remaining. And unlike flying, learning how to take pleasure from living can’t be taught. Unfortunately, many people do not consider fun an important item on their daily agenda. For me, that was always high priority in whatever I was doing…
I’m definitely not a rocking-chair type. I can’t sit around, watch television, get fat, and fade out. And there’s so much more I want to do; I’ve never lost my curiosity about things that interest me…I haven’t yet done everything, but by the time I’m finished, I won’t have missed much. If I auger in tomorrow, it won’t be with a frown on my face. I’ve had a ball.”
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THE SENILITY PRAYER: Grant me the senility to forget the people
I never liked anyway,
The good fortune to run into the ones I do, and
The eyesight to tell the difference.

NORTHSTAR
p. 9810 5790
e. info@northstarmartialarts.com.au

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* Grading
* Etiquette and Respect Reminder
* Shinbudo Video
* Northstar Christmas Party

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Did you see the sky this morning? Isn't nature incredible! If you missed it, we seemed to be closed in a sea of red and orange, just incredibly beautiful.

Below are are all the details that you need to know to get you to the end of the year. So please take the time to read and mark the relevant dates.

I am off to Japan in October to train with Kondo Sensei and to take the team of Northstar Fighters to compete in the First Asia Pacific Ju Jutsu Championships.
Very excited.

There is more to life than what we can see, hear, touch, smell and taste! Our goals in life should include the courage to be still and look inward. Take a peek sometime, you might be surprised at what you find.

Keep training, resist the urge to "want more" and just be thankful for what you have and what you can do.

Andy Dickinson

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GRADING.
Fantastic grading on Sunday! I think we were all inspired by Charlie Sullivan achieving his Black Belt! The next grading is in December. This will be a Super Session, with several children and adults going for Black. Details below.

Grading: North Sydney PCYC
Sunday 6th December.

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ETIQUETTE AND RESPECT.
Are both fundamental tenets of martial arts and are what separate martial arts from sports. Though at Northstar we have worked hard to remove unnecessary ritual and dogma, etiquette and respect are vital and our school is built upon maintaining them.

So this is what I want you to do:

Northstar is "neutral territory." Your baggage is okay, but just keep it to yourself.

1. All interaction at Northstar must be polite and with respect. (this includes parents.)
2. Bow when entering or leaving the Dojo.
3. If you arrive late to class, bow to the most senior Northstar member before commencing training.
4.If a senior shows or corrects your technique they may bow, please bow back.
5. Excuse yourself when you walk in front of some one.

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SHINBUDO VIDEO
Many of you have commented on the white belt syllabus on youtube (http://bit.ly/49wtd5) There will be more available soon.

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NORTHSTAR XMAS PARTY
Our parties are always heaps of fun. So book in Friday 11th Dec 7.30pm at the Monday Bar Balmain.

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NORTHSTAR MARTIAL ARTS NEWS. June 09

* Get your name on the GRADING register
* Northstar Children's News
* Still and Neutral
* Excellence
* When to step in.
* Northstar Contact Details.

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SET YOUR SIGHTS AND EXCEL AT MARTIAL ARTS:PLAN YOUR GRADING
With grading just around the corner its time to start planning your workout schedule.

Don't hesitate now, if you are thinking of grading now is the time to make the commitment. If you don't think that you will have enough classes then set the bar a little higher and push a little harder, nothing worth getting comes easy, going for gradings does take effort and commitment, so go for it, set your sights and aim for 21st June.

In fact if you haven't already, email me now with your name and belt level and I will put you down. andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au.

Oh and one more thing, this is a Black Belt grading with 2 adults and 1 junior going for Black....so the energy is high and its a great time to be a part of the excitement.
ANDY.

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CHILDREN'S NEWS

ADVANCED JUNIORS CLASS
If your child is purple juniors or above you should really consider the advanced class on Friday night at Balmain 5.15pm. It's a great class because it's fast and intense and the students are really taken to the next level. It's the only class of the week that allows the students to spar with contact. Andy Sensei often teaches the class so there are plenty of talks on how to apply the philosophies of martial arts. Call or email for further details.

SPACE AVAILABLE SATURDAY JUNIORS
It is rare that we have space in the Saturday juniors class at Balmain 10.40am. If you want more individual attention or just want a second class then quickly let us know as it will fill fast. If sport is rained out you can even come and have a casual class; cost $15.

NORTH SYDNEY CLASSES
At present the classes are full. We are looking into opening a Wed class. If you are interested, please let us know asap.
info@northstarmartialarts.com.au

WARRIOR CODE
Each week we publish the weeks talk. We call it the Warrior Code. The topic of the week is then discussed at the end of each class. It is presented in a way that is easy for the children to understand. It is important even for 5 and 6 year olds to realise that martial arts is far more than fighting. The "warrior code" is a strict moral code with in Northstar that reminds even parents of fundamental qualities such as respect, honour, courage and courtesy just to name a few.

TRAINING FOR MUM AND DAD
Have you thought about martial arts training? It’s a great way to get fit and healthy. Some times as parents we forget that we also need some TLC. As we get older and things just keep getting in the way, we quickly lose muscle, toning and fitness. I’m throwing you a life line....a real cheap life line and boy it’s worth the effort. On Saturdays at 2pm you can drop the children into class then join the adult’s martial arts class. It’s never too late, and it is a start. If you cant make Saturday then check out some of our other classes. Sign up and receive FREE membership, FREE uniform and 2 classes per fortnight for $32. Come in this Saturday and just "try the class".....


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EXCELLENCE
Personal development is your springboard
to personal excellence.
Ongoing, continuous,
non-stop personal development
literally assures you
that there is no limit
to what you can accomplish.

- Brian Tracy -
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p. 02 98105790
http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au
http://twitter.com/andysensei
Blog: http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog

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NEWS

* Australia v Japan

* Dojo-Autumn clean

* Kids times

* Anzac Day

* Taeko

* Grading Details

* Sempai/Kohai

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ANDY'S MESSAGE
Even a little training could save your life.
The basic training that you do could one day just be enough to get you out of a tough, maybe even life threatening situation. The lessons of the dojo stay with you for life! I often hear stories from ex-students, some that have not trained for years, that were still able to be calm and present and act in accordance with exactly what is needed in a self defence situation. It is about finding the gap, the physical gap and the mental gap, so you can act then escape...and live to tell the tale.

Your training at Northstar is important. These days with so much financial pressure it could be easy to just quit. But with the world not getting any safer, what price do we put on our personal safety and that of our family and friends. Sooner or later, something will happen. You can't live your life in a bubble! Would you know what to do? A tough question as you we never really know how we would react but even with a little training you increase your chances of a positive outcome. So don't be too quick to cancel your membership. Our overall approach to self defence and fitness for body, mind and spirit and just being around a great group of positve like minded friends is unique and valuable, and one day might be enough to keep you safe.

-Andy-

ps. An example of how your training at Northstar can stay with you long term is below

Gareth my 17 year old son was coming home with a friend last night at 2 in the morning. They were approached by 2 Lads and asked for their phones. On refusal 1 started to attack Gareth's mate. Gareth pulled him of and threw him on the Ground. He got up and started to punch. Gareth remembered what you like to do when sparring catch the punch and block. In my bedroom at 2 am he told me he responded to the need of the situation. He drew his sword but did not have to use it. Also part of multiple defence 1 came in to Play. He was aware of his surroundings and what the other person was doing

Gareth got to Green and then Quit I have tried to get him back but its his decision. Just goes to show even a little bit of training is better than none.

So at am on a Sunday morning my wife and I had a teenager pumped on adrenaline discussing Respond to the need drawing his sword and been aware of the situation.We often joke about this but its different when it really happens.

Gabriel

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AUSTRALIA v JAPAN

Sunday 31st May Balmain Dojo

Get ready to rumble.....! Sensei is taking a team over to go fight the Japanese in Tokyo in October. Email him now and let him know you’re keen. If you have that little urge, that wondering. Give it a shot. Don’t fear failure. Failure is not trying. If you feel like it just have a go then you know forever you did your best.

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DOJO
Soji. Soji is Japanese for cleaning. The Japanese are into cleaning, but it is not just physical. Even when you can’t see any dust or dirt we still clean. It's a ritual, its part of the training. I had a big promotion in Japan this visit. After three years of toilet cleaning duty I was elevated to the dizzy heights of washing the dojo floor. I was very happy. I hardly dare think this but one day in years to come, if I train hard enough I may even get my hand on a broom, but that's a long way off…… we all have to dream ; ) We had a big clean up at the Balmain Dojo this weekend. There’s not always time to clean everything as well as we would like after class. But it felt a whole lot better. Use soji to unwind from your class. Be specific in how you use the cloth, pay attention to the feel of the cloth on the mat.

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KIDS TIMES
I taught North Sydney adults on Saturday and two new parents came in with kids to try out the class. I had to turn them away. Kids come back commencing Monday 27th April. Book in so you won’t be disappointed.

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ANZAC DAY
Please note that North Sydney dojo is closed Anzac weekend. No Saturday 2pm class

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TAEKO

SAT BALMAIN 0900
Well true to my word I did Joe’s TAEKO class on Saturday morning. It was a great class and Joe worked us really hard. Blimey. I forgot how hard TAEKO is! No wonder I was as fit as a fiddle for all that fighting and sparring and those big gradings. TAEKO is so tough! Like I said, great for your techniques and fitness. It nearly killed me, but gee it was a great class. I’m there again next week. Shock my body and get challenged in a different way again. Thanks Joe, great to see you back here and fit as ever.

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GRADING
Mid term Grading Friday 8th May at Balmain. Kids 6.30pm adults 7.30pm. Blue tip and below. Work out what you need to do and make it happen.
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SEMPAI/KOHAI
Senior/Junior

There’s more to this than meets the eye, but just for now, read….

I grew up in a council estate in Manchester and South London. I didn’t realise it at the time, but it was a tough world. (Same for all of us in different ways) It was all I knew. To guide me on my way I was lucky enough to have both my parents and my brothers. My family were my world. My middle brother in particular nearly killed me. He was very tough. But, when the outside world threatened, he was on my side. Leading the way. He made me strong. Both my brothers did, in their own way. I thought they were the best and wanted to be just like them.

We all see people we admire. People we respect and well I’m sure you’ve heard it before but imitation/copying is the sincerest form of flattery. I was really lucky when I stared martial arts training because Andy Sensei was teaching a lot and on the door signing people in and well just doing all that stuff. I admired and respected him and I wanted to emulate his techinique, his way of doing things. I observed him very closly, I hung around and helped with stuff and tried to think ahead and forecast what I thought he would need or do. I did the same with Jimmy and May Lai and Darren. They were ahead of me and helped me. I paid attention to them, not just training, everything they did and they taught me heaps. I did the same thing during my sailing apprenticeship/career. The guys that were excellent, I observed and watched and copied as closely as I could, because they were brilliant at what they did. I wanted to be like them. Sharp, fast, onto it, fully engaged and really focused and ready for whatever was going on. I paid attention. They picked up on this and taught me so much. It wasn’t easy, they were tough on me. Tested me out, tested my resolve, my commitment. Only the commited get to share… So here’s a tip, pick someone you think is cool and you admire. Pick up their good habits. They are not gods but just ahead of you on the path. They have a lot they can help you with. Learn. Don’t judge, just watch and listen. If you are lucky enough to be ahead, give. Pass it along. Free of expectation. When they are ready, they will understand. When they are not, hopefully they will just trust.

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Its my pleasure and privilige to share this with you.

Have a great week. See you in class


Rach

Hello,

Firstly I would like to say a big thanks to all of you that read and enjoy these emails and blog entires. It's always good to get your feedback. The filter that I write through is always relating the martial arts practise to daily life. So what this means is, though the training is of a physical nature inside the dojo (training room), I use the lessons to constantly relate to using martial arts in everyday life and not just in the dojo. Sometimes this can be difficult to understandif you are not taking part in my regular classes, but thats okay as the information is universal and not unique to martial arts. I simply use the martial arts as a working surface to a greater awareness and understanding of "self".

- ANDY-
andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au

If one does not know to which port
one is sailing, no wind is favorable.
-Seneca-

AWARENESS AND MARTIAL ARTS
The first level of awareness in Northstar Martial Arts is the awareness that your physical body exists. The second level is the awareness of the body and its relationship to the space around it, and then the control of that space. (Gross Martial Arts). The third level of awareness is of your space in relation to others and how you can effect their space physically, mentally and spiritually. The last level is the most important and the glue that holds it all together. It is the most simple to learn but the most difficult to master. The awareness that I am. -ANDY-

Security in mostly superstition
it does not exist in nature
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run
than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing
-Helen Keller-

SERVICE TO OTHERS
Service plays a large part in Northstar Martial Arts. We understand that coming into a martial arts school for the first time can be quite intimidating and nerve wracking. We try to make the experience as comfortable as possible by having senior students take the time to meet and greet every one new. Real service can only be when there is nothing in return. Losing the "Little ME" and putting the needs of others first, makes for a conscious hub and NOT a business.


SERVICE TO THE PLANET
Have you seen the movie "An Inconvenient Truth" by ex Presidential candidate Al Gore? If you haven't, I highly recommend it. It is quite sobering. Our planet is so much more than what we can see, feel or touch. It is in intregal part of the universe of which we are all a part of. All of us need to start making better, educated choices that will start to make even a small difference, before we all start asking: "How did THAT sneak up on us." Start now by checking http://www.climatecrisis.net and see how YOU can start making a difference today.

No life ever grows great
until is is focused, dedicated
and disciplined.
- Henry Emerson Fosdick-

BOOK REVIEW
I have just finished a great book called "The Road" by Cormac Mc Carthy. it won the "Pulitzer Prize" for fiction 2007. the book may give you some insight as to how the world might be if we do not start looking out for eachother.

Hello Parents,

Many of you have approached me over the last couple of weeks, some with good stories about how your children handled the school yard bully and others wanting more information about what to do. So below is a brief outline on what we will be touching on in class this week. Check it out.

GRADING is on Sunday 30th March, 10am. 224 Falcon St North Sydney. We will have a grading register about 10 days out so we will remind you a little closer to please register. If you would like more info on the grading requirements and belt levels please email: info@northstarmartialarts.com.au

We are starting a MONDAY MIGHTY MITES CLASS at Balmain from 2nd Term, Monday 28th April 4pm. As with all of our classes, it will fill up quickly so if you want to change times, please let us know asap.

DUTY OF CARE. Please drop your children off and pick up at the scheduled class time. Though we take full care, we take no responsibility for children once the class has finished. Please make sure all appropriate medication is provided for easy access and children have water for the class. All parents other than people trying the class for the first time are to wait out side the class.
For further details please email info@northstarmartialarts.com.au

Click onto http://northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/ and stay upto date with all the latest news.

Have a great day

Andy Dickinson
andy@northstarmartiarts.com.au

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BULLYING
We will be discussing the following this week in class:

1. Ignore the bully.
As hard as it may seem, this is often your best defence. Listen but dont react. Tell yourself that there is no need "to want to get even."

2. Walk away
Don't get into it, just ignore and walk away. The bully will look somewhere else.

3. Agree with the bully.
If the bully calls you names, say "Thats right". Let the insults go.

4. Refufe to fight
The winner of a fight is the one who prevents it. Stick up for yourself but say no to fighting.

5. Call for help
Call a teacher, a friendly adult, a police officer, anyone who can help you stop a fight before it happens

6. Tell some one that cares.
Tell your parents, brother/sister or any one that you know will help and take action.

8. When to defend yourself.
When you are physically assaulted and you cant run and all else fails

Most of you have tried a little non contact sparring in regular class. It can be pretty daunting at first, someone else moving around in front of you, kicking and punching, but there is just something about it, call it primal, call it instinct, the "fight" thing is in all of us and after a while you start to enjoy or for many, its a love to hate kind of thing, but you must admit, once you are in and doing it, it is fun. Learning how to spar just brings forward something that has been dormant in all of us. It helps to define the "fight or flight" response in a framework that is not dangerous..and at the same time learn more about ourselves. "There is nothing more testing and enlightening at the same time as someone standing opposite you ready to spar.

FRIDAY FIGHT NIGHTS is about conquering the fear of confrontation, looking where that comes from, and learning to harness fear, panic, anger, and what ever comes up for you during the experience of un-armed "free" interaction" . its fun and challenging and an all round great work out. It is open for all levels, beginners to advanced, men and women.

The next FIGHT NIGHT is Friday 25th January 6.30pm at Balmain. So if you want to put on the gloves and have a go, sweat it out with like minded people then have a shower and go for a drink, do a little socialising come along.

* You will need a mouth guard (you can pick one of from your chemist)
* We have gloves, groin guards and shin protectors for sale.
* Cost is $20
* Worth 2 training credits.
let us know that you are coming.
info@northtstarmartiarts.com.au

LONG WEEK END TRAINING.
There are no changes for classes this week end. No changes to the Monday class.

GRADING DATE
The Balmain Grading will now be on Friday 22nd Feb 7.30pm- White to Blue belt only.

PCYC.
Please ensure that you update your PCYC membership is upto date. Cost $20.