TrueNews - Overlake
The TRUE way of the warrior is honor, strength and love.
July, 2010
Edition 39
www.tmaoverlake.com – email tma.info@tmaoverlake.com
TMA Overlake Event Schedule – July / August
Mon. July 5th
TMA Overlake Open For All Regular Classes
Sat. July 10th
Arnis Seminar - 10:00 am all ranks - No Saturday make up class
July 12th - 16th
2nd Full Day Day Camp - 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
Fri. July 23rd
Tae Kwon Do Test – 6:30 pm - No Friday night make up class
Sat. Aug. 7th
Arnis Seminar(s) - 10:00 am
and Autism Day at Jubilee Farms
Aug. 16th - 20th
TMA Overlake Day Camp
Fri. Aug. 27th
Tae Kwon Do Test - 6:30 pm
A Journey to Expert
August 1999 - Article #63 – SBN Thomas ZoppiI’m seeing a disturbing trend with some students at tests lately. What I see are students who are very good at their testing requirements, but who are not up to speed on other requirements, i.e. the requirements that they’ve tested on in prior tests. I see this as a two-headed pig, so to speak. On one hand it indicates that some students are very motivated to advance up the belt ranks, and I can’t fault the desire. We talk a lot about desire and motivation in class, and I’m happy that many are listening. But on the other hand, I wonder if some students aren’t getting a little too anxious to test. I wonder if they are getting enough review time on the lower requirements and the basics.
The basics are important. The Advanced Class students practice basics, students who win tournaments practice basics, even professional athletes practice basics. There’s certainly nothing wrong with practicing and improving on the requirements that you already know. In meetings, I tell the instructors to let students go as fast as they want. It’s a “move at your own pace system”, and I don’t want anyone held back. So, a lot of the responsibility for you student’s progress is up to you. That means that you have to make sure that you are fully prepared to move on at test time, and that you aren’t just testing because you want to “look” the part of a higher rank (higher colored belt), rather than “be” a higher rank (higher skills).
The journey to becoming an expert in the martial arts is like traveling on a road that stretches out into the horizon. Along the road are signposts. The first ones you see say- I’m a Yellow Belt, I’m an Advanced Yellow Belt, and I’m a Green Belt. These signposts are fairly close together. That’s so you’ll know you are still on the road. Later on, the signposts aren’t so close together. By then, you should know you’re on the road without needing to be reminded so often. But as you travel the road you should always remember where you’re going- you’re going to martial arts expert... not to Green Belt symbolism.
Did you know that, in most cases, you are already a Green Belt by the time you test for it? About the time you finish all your pre-tests, you’re a Green Belt, skill-wise. The test usually happens about two or three weeks later. So, you’ve been a Green Belt for two or three weeks before you test. Then you wait another week to get your belt and certificate, so now it’s four weeks. Or, maybe you miss a test and you don’t test for Green Belt until five or six weeks after you’ve become one. Bad uh? No... not bad.
Not bad because from the time you became a Green Belt in ability, to the time you actually get your Green Belt, you keep improving your skills. And about the time you test for Green, you are almost an Advanced Green, skill- wise. And remember, skill is the real measurement, not the belt. It may feel like you are waiting (to test), but as long as you keep coming to class, keep improving, and keep traveling the road to expert, you aren’t. You are only “waiting” if you stop trying in class.
Now, if you cram on the Green Belt requirements right before a pre-test, you can probably pass and appear to be ready to test. But if you haven’t practiced all the requirements enough to gain Green Belt skills, then you’ll have a problem. You, in effect, will test for Green Belt before you get to the Green Belt sign post on your journey, and at some point you are going to have to go back and re-learn the skills you’re weak on. After all, you can’t be an expert on stuff you can’t remember.
Our Black Belt tests at TMA are hard; any Black Belt will confirm that. I have to laugh at some Black Belt tests that I read about from other schools, they last 12 hours or more. If a student had to do one of our tests for 12 hours, he or she would probable dry up and blow away! But you may be surprised at why the Black Belt test is hard. It’s not hard because you have to do a lot of push-ups (well maybe you do), it’s hard because of what you are tested on... everything! Everything you learned form the day you walked into the school, until the day you test.
Getting a new belt is important; I’m not saying it isn’t. It’s important because it acknowledges that you’ve traveled past a signpost on your journey to expert. But the fact is, you can tell what real rank people are by watching them spar or do form. You don’t need to see their belts to know.
Spar with KBN David Barrett sometime, his kick to your headgear will tell you that he’s a Black Belt. Or, watch YDJN Doris Eastbury compete in form, her skill will tell you she’s a Black Belt. These people don’t need belts to prove their rank. They’ve traveled past many signposts on their journey to expert, and they’ve put in the necessary amount of practice... on all the requirements!
**** Congratulations! Student of the Month - Philip Trubee! ****
Philip continues to push himself hard and often raises the bar in class. From doing clap push ups in class, to really turning on the afterburners to prepare for his recent test to Advanced Brown, Belt Philip really demonstrates reaching for Black Belt!
We are still greatfully accepting donations that will go to SBN Dan Di Vito. The lastest update says that SBN Di Vito is responding to treatments quite well. There is also a “Thank You” to all from SBN and his family.
Congratulations to Omri Milstein for earning his Academic Achievement Patch!
Academic Achievement Patches are earned by students that have achieved a 3.5 on their grade point. Way to go Omri! That is living the Black Belt Way!
Notables
Arnis Promotions for June
Yellow Belt: Claire Engley and Bryce Rosenwald
Green Belt: Bar Ben-Zvi, Lucas Hesterly, and Zoe Kim
Blue Belt: Adi Alony, Noa Dunn, Ryan Haase, Fauzia Lala, and Jessica Leguizamon
Brown Belt: Julie Haase
Tae Kwon Do Promotions for June
Adv. White Belt: Shardul Joshi, Sharvari Joshi, and Dennis Pham
Yellow Belt: Karl Kammereck, Kai Newton, and Koumudi Phadake
Adv. Yellow Belt: PJ Snyder
Green Belt: Autumn Camp, Jared DeBruin, Kyle Jamison, Nahn Nguyen, and Alexis Villamor
Adv. Green Belt: Gali Alony, Kenzie Goan, Hannah Miller, Seth Miller, and Kunal Prasad
Blue Belt: Tyler Hammond, Maygha Puri, and Kaarina Tulleau
Adv. Blue Belt: Noa Dunn
Brown Belt: Harika Dabbara
July Birthdays
Carla Barrett, Cody Becker, Sean Ben-Zvi, Jonah Byther, Sohail Chutani, Parker Sun-Ju Collins, Jacob Davis, Stian Eng, Claire Engley, Lucas Hesterly, Katrina Kuntz, Gavin Leonard, Joseph Liu, Zahra McKee, Aine O’Toole, Kunal Prasad, Philip Trubee, and Cynthia Wessling
July Training Anniversaries
One Year: Kristiina Tulleau, Eshika Saxena, Claire Engley, Barbara Espinoza, Rudy Ma, Madison Owens, and Zack Owens
Two Years: Dylan Dawson
Three Years: Chelsea Wessling and Tyler Hammond
Four Years: Sean Ben-Zvi
Six Years: Betsy Wilson
Welcome Our Newest Students:
Sheuli Chowdhury, Scott Horchover, Amey Joshi, and Danielle Kaczmarek
If we left out your name or have the wrong information, please submit your correction to the front desk in written form so we can correct our information.