10 UNIVERSAL LAWS OF THE WARRIOR CODE
Posted on | November 8, 2010 | No Comments
In reviewing some of my notes for an idea for this blog, I stumbled upon the 10 UNIVERSAL LAWS OF THE WARRIOR CODE by Dawn Callan. My first thought was to rework it a bit. But upon re-reading it, I realized that it is just great the way it is. Enjoy.
The Ten Universal Laws of the Warrior Code:
1. Pay Attention. Stay in the present. It’s the only place anything real is happening.
2. Take Responsibility. This is your life, take it back. Either you get to own it or you get to blame someone or something else for it. Choose.
3. No Kvetching (to complain persistently). No whining, no sniveling – it takes you out of the present and lets you abdicate responsibility.
4. Don’t Take Any Abuse. It’s very bad for ones self esteem to take any abuse. Stand up to your tyrants, both internal and external. The cost is too great not to.
5. Do It Anyway. Hard choices temper our strength and our integrity; they make the difference between a life of excellence and a life of mediocrity.
6. Don’t Quit. Look at what stops you, at where you give the effort up. That is the edge between becoming a victim or a warrior.
7. Keep Your Agreements. A warrior is only as good as his or her word. The way we build self-trust and trust in others is by making and keeping agreements.
8. Keep Your Sense of Humor. Otherwise what’s the point? Humor helps us to stretch beyond our own limits and ourselves.
9. Love One Another. Otherwise where’s the meaning? It’s the way we remember we’re not alone in the universe.
10. Honor Your Connection To The Source. There is a force in the universe, greater than ourselves that creates us, provides for us, cares for us, guides us, and loves us. It speaks to us from within. Trust it.
From: ”Awakening the Warrior Within” by Dawn Callan
Stump Speeches
Posted on | November 2, 2010 | No Comments
Several years ago, I went out to Ann Arbor, Michigan to visit my friend Keith Hafner’s school. As I’m sure you have heard, he runs an amazing organization. One of the things that really stood out was his ability to articulate the benefits of Martial Arts training to his students. I was so impressed that on the plane flight home, I wrote a bunch of Stump speeches (Miagi-isms) so that my staff and I could try to replicate this ability. These “Stump Speeches” discuss various benefits of Martial Arts training and could be memorized and internalized so you can call upon them when needed. Here is what I came up with:
1. Often times we feel powerless. By showing us how to dramatically increase physical power through conditioning and proper body mechanics, Martial Arts makes us feel empowered.
2. Often times we feel out of balance. By learning proper stances, efficient movement and striking skills, Martial Arts helps us to know what it feels like to be balanced. Physical balance is directly related to emotional control. “Concentrate on your balance…. Lose your upset.” “Concentrate on your upset… Lose your balance.”
3. Often times we feel very ridged. We are resistant to new ideas or change. By helping us develop more flexibility, Martial Arts teaches us to loosen up and become more open-minded and receptive to feedback.
4. Often times we feel like things are coming at us too fast and we can’t keep up. By learning how to double our speed and increase our reaction time, everything else seems to slow down and be more manageable for us.
5. Often times we feel tired and sluggish. By developing our physical stamina, Martial Arts not only increases vital energy, but also helps develop mental toughness to get through life’s biggest challenges.
6. Many people spend more time planning their vacation than planning their life. By allowing students to incrementally set and achieve short and long term goals (like tips and belts and ultimately a Black Belt), Martial Arts instills life long confidence in one’s ability to set and achieve worthy goals.
7. Often times we feel out of control, a slave to our impulses and emotions. By showing us how to control our movement & techniques and focusing our energy & emotions on the task at hand, Martial Arts develops the innate ability to stay centered and present-focused…even in the most stressful of times.
8. Often times we feel fearful or uncertain about how to respond to the environment around us. By helping us to discern the difference between unwarranted fear and real danger and then how to respond in dangerous situations, Martial Arts helps us to develop real confidence in the face of adversity.
9. Many people lack respect for themselves and those around them or perhaps feel that no one respects them. By teaching us to give and receive respect and developing a new appreciation of our body and our evolving skills, Martial Arts develops a natural feeling of respect which permeates every aspect of life. We learn to understand that in order to get respect from others, we have to give it.
10. Most of the time we know what we should be doing to improve our lives, we just lack the discipline to do it. By disciplining our body to learn and perform new skills and by sticking to a set practice routine, self-discipline arises, making all other things possible. “Someone who has self-discipline knows what to do and does it.”
Everything Matters
Posted on | October 23, 2010 | No Comments
Perhaps you have heard of the scientific hypothesis referred to as the butterfly effect? Wikipedia states that the butterfly effect refers to the idea that a butterfly’s wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that may ultimately alter the path of a tornado or delay, accelerate or even prevent the occurrence of a tornado in a certain location. The flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale alterations of events (compare: domino effect). Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different. While the butterfly does not ‘cause’ the tornado in the sense of providing the energy for the tornado, it does ‘cause’ it in the sense that the flap of its wings is an essential part of the initial conditions. Without that flap, that particular tornado would not have existed. Although this may appear to be an esoteric and unusual behavior, it is exhibited by very simple systems: for example, a ball placed at the crest of a hill might roll into any of several valleys depending on only slight differences of initial position. The butterfly effect is an often used in fiction when presenting scenarios involving time travel and with “what if” scenarios where one storyline diverges at the moment of a seemingly minor event resulting in two significantly different outcomes.
You have probably figured out where I’m going with this essay. Our actions really do matter, all of them. Every decision we make, big and small affects our future and the future of those we share our world with. That is a pretty big responsibility isn’t it? Yes it is, but I also believe it makes life simpler as well (Keep in mind that I said simpler, not easier). Being mindfully aware that everything matters helps us to shape our decisions both unconsciously and consciously. All we have to remember to do when we are faced with a challenge is to do what is right. Sure, sometimes it is hard to know what is right, but more often than not, we know. We just don’t always DO. So the next time you are faced with a difficult decision, try not to think about the easiest solution, or the quickest solution, or the solution that most benefits you. Instead try to think about what is right and then try your hardest to do it.
Because remember, Everything Matters.
How to Deal With Unhappy Students
Posted on | October 17, 2010 | No Comments
From time to time in even the best martial arts schools, there are going to be unhappy students. Sometimes things just happen and it isn’t really anybody’s fault. Other times, one party or the other could be clearly in the wrong. Regardless of who or what created the situation, it is important to understand that winning an argument doesn’t keep a customer. Here are a few basic tips that will go a long way in helping you to navigate thru challenging situations.
Be Unemotional And Non-Defensive – Hear what they have to say and see if there is any truth to it. Remember that no matter how thin you slice it, there are always two sides. Often times, if you are receptive, you will learn things that will help you avoid similar situations in the future.
Let Them Vent – Sometimes people just want to be heard and will be satisfied if you will just listen. Resist the temptation to fire counter-accusations. This can be challenging at times but it always pays big dividends.
Ask For A Solution – Once again, people will be more receptive to hearing what you have to say if they believe that you are trying to hear their viewpoint. Also, this tends to get both sides more aliened and on the same team.
Don’t Take It Personal – Just because they are giving you feedback doesn’t mean they are criticizing you personally. Remember, feelings aren’t right or wrong, they just are.
Thank Them For Their Concern – Whatever the outcome, whether you agree or disagree, thank them for their interest in your improvement.
Do What You Can To Make It Right – The technical name for this is ”service recovery”. When you have made the mistake, it goes a long way in turning an unhappy customer into a raving fan.
Understanding the Value of a Routine
Posted on | October 10, 2010 | No Comments
There is an old saying that goes, “Take care of the days and the years take care of themselves”. This quote is as true today as when it was originally written. The concept is so simple, it is often overlooked or dismissed in search of something more advanced or complicated.
In the book “The Power of Full Engagement”, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz talk about the importance of developing positive daily rituals. They refer to the fact that long-term success can be directly related to the number of positive rituals an individual has developed.
A good exercise to do is analyze your day. Do it from start to finish. What has become your routine? When do you wake up? What do you eat for breakfast? What books do you read? Do you exercise? Once you’ve done this for a day, better yet, a week, go back and decide if what you are doing is what you should be doing. If it is, keep going. If not, what can you do differently?
Option A – Imagine that our morning ritual is as follows:
- Wake up late
- Rush out the door without breakfast
- Grab a donut on the way to the office while listening to talk radio.
Option B – Now let’s imagine instead that our morning ritual is to:
- Wake up early
- Enjoy a tall glass of water
- Have a brisk workout
- Take time to read some positive literature while enjoying a nutritious breakfast.
How will the rituals of Option A versus Option B affect our lives if repeated over the course of ten years? Ask yourself these questions:
- Physically - how different will I look?
- Emotionally - how will I feel different?
- Professionally, where will I be?
- Spiritually, how centered will I be?
Chances are you can see how different your life would be by just developing a positive morning ritual. Now let’s magnify this concept by imagining a full day ruled by positive rituals. What would it look like?
Write out, in detail, your ideal day. When would you exercise? What would you read? What would you eat? Whom would you spend time with? Where would you live? How would you treat the people around you? The more detail, the better. When you are done, read it daily and do your best to make your perfect day become a reality.
How To Resolve Challenges And Give Feedback To Teammates
Posted on | October 5, 2010 | No Comments
In pretty much every group or organization, there is inevitably going to be a difference of opinion from time to time. As a leader (or participant), you may be called upon to keep everyone on the same page in order to continue to act as a cohesive unit. Here are a few tips that might come in handy when this happens:
Be Unemotional – Logic and emotion are like oil and water…they don’t mix. If you speak calmly and logically, chances are the other person will respond in turn.
Have A Solution In Mind – Go into the discussion already having a potential solution that the other person will hopefully see the value of. But be flexible and also willing to adjust.
Try To See The Other Person’s View Point Before Expressing Your Own (Seek First To Understand And Then To Be Understood) – This is important! People can sense when you are trying to understand how they feel and are therefore much more receptive to understanding your views, opinions and ideas. Secondly, you just might see the validity of what they are doing.
Don’t Be A Nit Picker – Avoid bringing up unrelated stuff that is not necessary. It tends to make people defensive and never helps to resolve anything.
Resist The Temptation To Argue – If you are not sure what to say or how to respond, say nothing.
Be Sensitive To Other Peoples Needs – To a hammer, everything is a nail. Each situation is different, each person is different, and so each situation and person should be treated accordingly.
Keep It Impersonal – Discuss the actions that you are concerned with, not the person. In conversation, use “feel”, “felt” or “found” whenever possible.
Restate Their Value And Strengths – People are much more receptive to input when they know you appreciate their other qualities. In other words, remember to praise, correct, praise.
Agree To Disagree – Sometimes it is okay to have a different viewpoint, as long as there is mutual respect and a way to work around it.
Who is the boss of YOU?
Posted on | September 1, 2010 | No Comments
Chances are, sometime in your life you have heard a child say “You’re not the boss of ME!! I am”.
I’m not debating whether or not this is an appropriate comment, as it probably depends on the context. For me this comment raises an interesting question and that is, are you really the boss of you? Your first response is probably similar to what mine was. Which is, of course I’m the boss of Me. Who else would be? But there’s more to it than that. The truth is, most of us let our urges, impulses and emotions run our life a little more than we should. I believe that being the boss of Me means that the very best of who I am is in control, the part of Me that is patient, compassionate, disciplined. This is easier in theory than it is in reality but with a little work I think we can all improve.
I believe the easiest way to gain better control of your life is to mindfully work on your self-discipline. Self-discipline is merely doing what you should do, regardless of if you want to do it or not.
I once heard a story of a gentleman who, upon finally realizing that he wasn’t in control of his life, decided to do an experiment. He committed to getting up every morning at 4 AM for one year to go out in his backyard to move a pile of rocks from one place to the other. The next day he would get up again and move the rocks back to their original location. The point of this exercise was to try to develop a higher level of self-discipline. His reasoning was that if he could get himself to follow through with this somewhat meaningless and difficult exercise then he could get himself to do just about anything.
Well, in case you’re wondering, the experiment was a success. At the end of the year this man’s level of discipline and the level of control that he had over his life had increased tenfold.
So the question I have for you and I is….. what (metaphorically speaking) is your pile of rocks? What personal discipline can you practice that will help you, the best you, be in control of your life? Once you decide what it is, commit to it. I’m sure you will love the results.
HOW TO BE A TEAM PLAYER
Posted on | August 25, 2010 | No Comments
There are few things more important to the long term success of a martial arts school than having a cohesive team. When a team is working well together, more gets done and the process is more enjoyable. In essence, everybody benefits.
Following are some general guidelines that will help you keep your team in the flow.
Be Loyal To Those Not Present – No one likes to be talked about behind their back and we should not tolerate people talking bad to others in our presence.
Do More Than Your Fair Share – We all appreciate working with someone that doesn’t say, “That’s not my job.” Develop a reputation for being someone that will do “Whatever it takes” to get the job done.
I Remain Calm Even in Challenging Situations
Posted on | July 22, 2010 | No Comments
Years back, I was taping a series of four ½-hour instructional videos for MAIA. Each video was made up of a combination of martial arts drills, skills, teaching tips and a huddle discussion for kids. I had just finished the third video and was feeling great about the quality and content. Experience had shown me that in front of the camera, some days I had it and on others… not so much. This happened to be a day that I had it and now I had only one more video to go. YES!!!
The third video was about the concept of self-control and how a mighty person is someone who has control of their emotions. During the break, Sue, my producer, asked to speak with me. We stepped away from the crew and then she quietly told me that, due to technical difficulties, we would have to reshoot the first three videos. Instantly, a wave of indignation enveloped me. I thought to myself, “How could this happen? Why didn’t you fix the problem after the first episode? Didn’t you see how good those takes were?” I was livid and just about to give Sue a verbal spanking when it hit me…”Who is a mighty person?” If I really believed that a mighty person has control of their emotions, then this was a great opportunity to practice.
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Internal Referrals
Posted on | July 15, 2010 | No Comments
Few people would argue that the best source of referrals is word-of-mouth from existing students. Of course, people are only going to talk up your school when they are excited about training. So remember, the number of potential referrals is in direct relationship to the quality of your program. If you are having a hard time getting referrals from your existing students, re-evaluate your program and see where you can improve yours service.
Following is a good outline to use when developing referral strategies:
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About Dave Kovar
Mr. Kovar has been teaching Martial Arts professionally since 1978. Dave is a multi-style Black Belt who has been committed to ever-improving his Martial Arts skills. He updates this blog to provide tips and insights to martial arts instructors around the country. To learn more, click here.
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