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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.
]]> Newsletters http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=256 Mon, 8 Mar 2010 10:46:06 +1100 http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=255 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/
]]> Newsletters http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=255 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:28:14 +1100 http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=254
For further reading : http://bit.ly/du9p53]]> Andy Dickinson's Power Talk http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=254 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:37:00 +1100 http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=253 I can really feel a great energy at Northstar this year. New decade new life. I am loving being back teaching and presenting and being involved in the back end of the dojo. After training and teaching for 30 years I still get the greatest pleasure out of the power I gain from helping others. Thankyou for giving me that opportunity.

The workshop last saturday was a great success, and really consolidated the fundamentals of the great Shinbudo system. More than just a physical exercise, Shinbudo is a philosphy that can shape every aspect of your life. The essence being: be calm, be still, and respond.

As I sit here and write, I ponder over what has helped me to overcome some very large obastables and barriers that have presented themselves over the years. Barriers that have really pulled me down yet, through it all what was it that kept me putting one foot in front of the other. I will share a couple with you.

Perseverance.
It's just too easy to give up. While others were stopping I was still moving forward. The limitations were the same as others, but I just kept picking myself up, dusting myself off and looking at new ways to approach the barrier.

Resilience.
Taking the hits is all part of the journey. We all take great hits, it's how you process it. Yes be down for a while, yes grieve the loss, yes be depressed, but find the light by taking action, any action.

Commitment
Sticking to your choice and applying perseverance and reslience. I always followed through on what I said I was going to do. If I make the choice to do something then that is what I do. I always make careful choices.

Life can be a school of hard knocks sometimes and it often appears that there is no end in sight. But all that happens will pass and the lessons learned from each experience will hopefully prepare you to better navigate what your next challenge.

Don't just give up, finish what you set out to do. Don't go looking for greeners pastures when you may have exactly what you need in front of you. So many people quit when they are so close to winning.

Hope this helps your day.

Andy
andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au]]> Andy Dickinson's Power Talk http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=253 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:14:16 +1100 http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=252
Being the beginning of term, we have space available in most classes, and these places will fill quickly. If you have friends and family that are interested don't hesitate to book them in for their trial class.

I am so happy that so many of you have downloaded my new e-book on Bullying. I hope that you have found it beneficial. If you down load the e-book, you will also be given priority on "part 2" and also my latest interview with Nick Rutledge, the Principal of Scholani Education. He gives great in-sights into steam lining extra education to improve your childs academic potential. So if you have not downloaded the e-book on Understanding Bullying, now is a good time.
http://bit.ly/4LQ1u4

As there is no charge for the e-books, my only request is that you pass the link on to friends and family so they can take advantage and learn from the great information.

Look forward to seeing you in class.

Andy
andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au

YEARLY DATES
Stay upto date with all that is going on
http://bit.ly/9aF1kQ]]> Andy Dickinson's Power Talk http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=252 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:26:38 +1100 http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=251 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.
]]> Newsletters http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=251 Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:04:02 +1100 http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=250
We are in week 2 of 2010 so it's time to set some training goals. Where do you want to be in 12 months time? Are you committed to staying on track and pushing through the hard times as they come up?

I often use this simple process:

1. Decide what it is that you want.
Probably the hardest step. Getting off the fence and deciding.

2. Take the first step immediately.
Whatever it takes this follow through step is vital. It does not allow hesitation to build up.

3. Tell as many people as you can.
This puts leverage on you as we all want to walk our talk.

So here is a challenge for you. Try the above exercise now, with your martial arts training. Email me now to tell me what your plans are, don't hesitate: andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au

If you are unsure, read the article below on "Can I really get a black belt."

Andy
spread the love by passing this email onto someone that you care about. Connecting with people and enhancing the quality of someone else's life will do you no harm...

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CAN I REALLY GET A BLACK BELT?

Every student that walks into Northstar has different strengths and weaknesses. Some are older some are younger, some really fit and strong, other smaller and less athletic. When you look at what is required further up the grades you have to realise that the syllabus and what you will be required to complete will be modified and expanded to suit YOUR particular age, fitness, gender and ability.

If you are young fit and strong and love to fight, we will shape a grading and graduation that suits that, if you are older, and more interested in Self Defence then that is how your advanced gradings will be prepared. We look at the individual and shape the advanced testing so that your strengths are enhanced and you get the absolute advantage in learning to defend yourself based on your own physical ability. So please don’t compare yourself to other students and believe that is what is expected of you, that would just be unfair.

Going for gradings at Northstar is setting short term goals and steadily working towards them based on your needs and physical capabilities. Accepting that there may be challenges along the way, not making excuses, living a moral martial arts code and overcoming mental limitations. Expecting everyone to do 50 breakfalls and 20 rounds of sparring is not a reality. Our syllabus is so comprehensive that you may not have to do any breakfalls but your multiple defence and self defence moves may be the focus of your grading.

We want you to be fit; body mind and spirit. Enjoy a fast dynamic work out of sweat and spirit, have fun and enjoy the experience and really more than anything believe that you can be really really proficient at martial arts and self defence purely based on what you are physically capable of achieving.

Andy Dickinson
]]> Andy Dickinson's Power Talk http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=250 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:47:13 +1100 http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=249
Letting go of the control and allowing life to just flow through me. It has taken many years of trying to control outcomes that have let me to pain when the outcome is not what I wanted. It does not mean that I am any less driven, it just means that I am less attached to the outcome.

I think that this is something that I have evolved to. Many modern life coaches and motivational guru's say to be really specific with your goals. That is great too but just don't be too impatient. Roll with the punches and realise that perseverance and patience are required to get you where you really want to be. The moment a challenge or a wall presents itself, then is the time to really see if you really want what you set out to get. Then is the time to really test your commitment to what it is that you really want.

Resisting the challenges as they come up is natural, but sometimes we just can't help fighting them. Life will throw many curve balls along the way and at times they will happen when they are least needed or expected. This is where real growth occurs.

In an age where anxiety and depression are symptoms of a society rife with separation from each other. 2010 is the time more than ever to nourish friendships and family and reach out to whoever is in need. The modern affliction of "okay but what's in it for me" needs to be looked at and dumped. Make this year the year of "just giving".

This is my year of kindness, generosity, commitment, trust and love.

How about you?

Andy
andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au





]]> Andy Dickinson's Power Talk http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=249 Tue, 5 Jan 2010 11:43:37 +1100 http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=248 Great article on the power of intention by Yaro Starack

What Made A Difference?
Below are adjustments to my life and my mindset that I made this year, which I consider most responsible for the significant shift in results I’ve experienced.

• Remove your roadblocks.

By choice and often in full awareness, I’ve carried roadblocks with me for years, which stop me from moving forward. This year plenty of roadblocks were eliminated. These changes required instilling new behaviors that often required facing fears. Sometimes I had to make choices not to do something I would have previously done.
The Theory of Constraints applies here. If you have something holding you back, you’re not going to move until you drop the baggage. Letting go of something is mandatory to make space for what you want.
• Solidify your belief in the power of intentions.

Although I’m open minded enough to believe that I can get what I want and the universe will even conspire to help me, it has been more conceptual for me than practical.
This year I started to believe, and I mean really believe. Consequently I started to see proof everywhere. Now I’m such a strong believer that I find myself just asking for how I want something to play out and everything unfolds pretty much that way. It’s not foolproof of course, the universe loves to remind you that mystery is still the guiding principle, but you have more power than you think you do, once you believe you do.
There’s a sense of inevitability in believing in what you ask for you will get, but it has to be pure or you’re going to get results as wavering as your belief.

• Mystery is in control, so flow with it.

Although you’re given power over your universe, the underlying force behind everything is too complex for us to understand given the limitations of our physical experience. In other words, your body and mind aren’t complete tools for interpreting the universe – most of what goes on is incomprehensible in physical form. As a result, it’s important that you surrender to the flow of events rather than try and control them.
This might sound counter intuitive to what I’ve been saying. If setting intentions and believing in your power to control outcomes results in getting what you want, how can I now say that we are not in control? That’s one of those wonderful dichotomies we operate within.
We have control in the sense that we can move towards what we want, but we have to understand that we can’t force it to come to us. Flow is absolutely critical. This is why it’s so important to live in the now, be content with what you have, work within your current reality and follow the natural pull of things. Acceptance is vital.
By Yaro Starack

http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com/2083/focus-on-what-you-really-want/
]]> Andy Dickinson's Power Talk http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=248 Sat, 2 Jan 2010 14:04:57 +1100 http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=247 MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE

It has been too long since writing to you all and I have missed not sharing my thoughts with you over the last number of months. This year has been an interesting one. For the first third of the year I decided to take my foot off the throttle and smell the roses after what had been a very very busy couple of years.
I spent time with my son Tom and helped him prepare for various scholarship and selective highschool exams. Tom did do extra study at a great coaching school (if you want the details email me) and after a great effort was actually awarded full scholarships at Newington and Trinity Grammar and also gained a place at Leichhardt Selective. Tom has trained at Northstar since he was 4 and I believe the skills learned at martial arts helped him to excel academically.

I will be writing a guide on "how to prepare your child to gain the most out of them and at the same time enjoying their child hood." If you interested in getting a copy please email me. So all of the effort that we put in as a family really helped Tom excel.

As the year went on, with the help of our great trainers team and office staff, Northstar has continued to thrive, regardless of the economy. With your help, Northstar has become a wonderful community for like minded people. It is an honor for me to be part of such a positive and supportive group. My focus is and has always been learning about life through the mode of martial arts....never about fighting.

Over the last 6 months I have felt a change happen with in me. For many years I have been hiding or rather relying on a hard supportive shell created by many years of martial arts. I originally started martial arts so that I would never be bullying, picked on or touched ever again. I learned and relied on the physical power to get control of my life and protect me. But that hard shell stopped me from growing and was no longer serving my greater good. It was another part of my ego that was stifling me personally and also how I related to others.

When there is enough pain, change will happen. I have felt the dropping away of something that has been a part of me for so long. Initially there was a resistance but now there is an acceptance, a surrendering to the notion that I really dont have that much control over anything and the univeral laws of nature or the only constants in our life. It has been a profound learning experience and I feel quite raw and emotional as I re build myself from the inside out. This has been a challenge that has tested my soul at its very depth. It was the support of great friends and family that have enabled me to feel this experience to the fullest and begin to learn a new way to live, love and relate.

I have not met many of you this year. Next year I will be back to full strength and you will once again see me around alot at class.

Take time to stop over the break, reach out and smile, contact friends even if they have not contacted you, call your family even if you have not talked for a while live every moment as if it was your last, and love like you have never loved before.

Andy Dickinson
andydickinson@optusnet.com.au]]> Andy Dickinson's Power Talk http://www.northstarmartialarts.com.au/weblog/index.php?itemid=247 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:49:24 +1100