Responsibility

I have always said every blackbelt has two ranks, the one indicated by their belt and certificates, let's call that the "official" rank, and the one that is inside the person, the "practicing" rank.
Our system, PaSaRyu, is identified by its philosophy, (the four meanings of SUN), and its kata. It would seem to me to be incumbent upon every blackbelt to be proficient in both the philosophy and the kata up to his/her level and upon every Master to be proficient in...EVERYTHING! It is not only the "requirements", it is your responsibility.
The rank you wear represents the past work you have accomplished in our system. It is honorable and worthy of respect. Endeavor to maintain your inner rank at least at that level. You owe it to the students, our system and most of all, to yourself.

5 Health Benefits for Adults in the Martial Arts

If you are an adult who is looking for a way to lose weight, strengthen your body and otherwise get healthy, you might want to consider signing up for our martial arts classes.

Not only do our martial arts help you gain more confidence, learn self-discipline and become better prepared for self-defense, but they offer a wide variety of health benefits as well.

Here is a look at just a few of the health benefits adults who take our martial arts classes enjoy.

Build Strength

When you pursue martial arts training with us, you are certain to increase your muscle strength while also improving your musculoskeletal health. This increased strength will help prevent injury from normal day-to-day activities while also reducing your risk of experiencing aches and pains as you grow older.

Increase Endurance

Our martial arts will also help you increase your endurance in a number of ways. Not only will the regular training sessions increase your aerobic cardiovascular endurance, but your muscles will build more endurance as well. As a result, you will be able to engage in physical activities for longer periods of time without becoming winded or developing sore muscles.

Improve Flexibility, Speed and Balance

As you master the moves you are learning in your martial arts class, you will experience increased flexibility, speed and balance. All of these things together will help to improve your functional strength while also helping your body become better prepared physically-demanding tasks.

Reduce Risks of Obesity

Martial arts burns a significant amount of calories while also increasing the metabolic rate and making the body stronger. As a result, you are likely to lose weight after you start taking martial arts classes. Or, if you are already at your ideal body weight, you will be better able to maintain your weight. By reducing your risk of obesity, you also reduce your chances of developing obesity-related conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Exercise the Heart

The exercises and routines you perform in your martial arts class will force your heart to get to work. As you reaching your target heart level and continue to engage in physical activity, your heart will grow stronger and better capable of working for longer periods of time. As your heart grows stronger and healthier, your risk of developing heart disease decreases.

Start improving your health today by taking our Adult martial Arts Classes. You’ll be glad you did!

Karate Kids: The Benefits of Martial Arts

With a bloodcurdling cry, your 6-year-old leaps into the air in a karate kick, raising your hair and blood pressure simultaneously. Before you panic and pad the walls, try channeling this urge into a martial arts class.


Activities like PaSaRyu, (kung fu & karate) and Hapkido are a fun way for both boys and girls to achieve fitness and focus. Some parents may think they also promote violence, but that's a myth, according to experts. The martial arts actually help teach self-discipline and socialization skills. In fact, many parents whose children have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) report great success with these programs because self-control and concentration are exactly the skills underdeveloped in ADHD kids.


A typical hour-long class begins and ends with a bow to the teacher, or master. After a warm-up, students practice the art's particular skills, which may include kicks, punches, and blocks. Each requires concentration and strict attention.


Progress is often marked by the belt system, which takes the beginner from a white belt through a variety of colors until black. Testing for each new level, generally every three months, is a good exercise in setting and achieving goals.

But, say experts, it's the respect kids learn, whether from bowing or standing still and waiting for the next command, that can be the most important benefit: It often carries over into school, helping to improve behavior and even grades, according to recent research.


"Ages 4 to 6 is usually a good age to start classes," says Dave Pryga, a Master of the Martial Arts and owner of Sun Martial Arts in Concord North Carolina. By that time a child should have enough muscle control to punch and turn properly and safely  -- essential to getting a real kick out of the martial art he chooses.

Class options
The American T'ai Chi Associates recommends looking for a school that adheres to the original principles of the martial art it offers, rather than one that dilutes them by, say, pairing jujitsu with kickboxing: The purer the teaching, the more your child stands to gain. Here's a quick guide to help you choose the right class for your child.

PaSaRyu (Korean & American) A rigorous and physical form of karate that involves more fluid movements than its Japanese cousin, making it easier on joints. It's fast-paced, so kids get an aerobic workout.

Hapkido (Korean) Uses many of the same movements as jujitsu but is gentler and noncompetitive. It, too, is an excellent discipline for teaching children how to work with a partner.

Goals

Goal: noun. – the result or achievement toward which effort is directed.

Goals are valuable tools to help individuals measure progress toward a greater achievement. Attaining a diploma, receiving the rank of Eagle Scout, Black Belt, or educational distinction are all good examples. Goals are most effective when created in succession, smaller goals achieved get us closer to a larger goal or objective. Most published lists of “Highly Successful People” include ‘goal oriented’ as a necessary trait. Goal setting is important in both personal and professional growth.

What we have to be guarded against is what kind of goal are we setting for ourselves. For instance, a goal to become a Black Belt is a common goal for most martial art students. I hear this from new students of all ages and encourage it as an overall objective. Just like with any goal, we need to be careful to understand what the goal entails or what we’re placing value upon. Is getting a Black Belt the goal or is it the knowledge, philosophy, and experience it represents? Is earning a college degree the goal or is it the mastery of the material learned along the way? A real goal isn’t a diploma (paper), or dark colored belt (cloth), or a pin (metal) on a Boy Scout’s sash – these are symbols. We must ask ourselves (and our students); “Is our goal symbolic or substantive?” Is it simply framed recognition of time spent or is it the culmination of lessons learned?

Successful people also have enthusiasm for the process. Our goals should not be focused on the symbolism of an achievement but on the substantive knowledge and experiences gained as we march toward an objective. Think of this next time you set a goal for yourself or assist students in goal-setting exercises. Is your goal substantive or symbolic? What is it you are really looking to achieve, learn, or experience?

My $.02

SUN!
Mr. Dragon