My Black Belt Journey

Changing 200 Lives Around the World!

2011-02-16T17:59:00.000-05:00

Dear Students and Parents,

One of my main goals when teaching martial arts is to encourage my students to use the discipline, concentration and focus developed through training to make a difference in the world. Every year we put this idea into action by rallying behind a different children’s charity. This year we have had students organize Basketball Contests, Dinners Out, Bake Sales, Canning Events, Bowl-a-Thons, Book Sales and many other fundraising events. All of the funds raised this year will be donated to The Smile Train, a non-profit organization which provides free cleft pallet operations for thousands of children throughout the world. To date our students have raised almost $30,000for smile train. However we are not done yet!

I am asking every student and family to participate in and attend the Annual Martial Arts Extravaganza which will be held on Sunday, April 10th 2011. This years show will culminate with a huge board breaking demonstration. During this demonstration all of our students from age 3 to 73 will attempt to break 2000 or more boards in less then 5 minutes. If we are successful we will have raised a total of $60,000 for this worthy cause by the end of the show! What is most important is that this is enough money to provide operations to 240 children throughout the world!

Here are a few things that I am asking in order to make this a success:

• Each student will break 5 boards on stage the day of the event. Please do not worry of you think that your child is too young or that you are too old. We have age appropriate boards for the younger students and there is no such thing as too old!

• We will coach the students on exactly what they need to do in order to break the board during the weeks leading up to the event.

• Each student is encouraged to get five $20 donations / sponsors for their boards for a total of $100.

Once again, our goal is to get 100% participation in this event. Every family that raises at least $100 will be provided with as many tickets as would like for the show. We hope to see all of the 1800 available seats filled the day of the event. This event is not only about raising the funds it is about developing and demonstrating a sense of community. Please make sure that for every ticket requested there is a person in attendance.

I can promise that each and every family that participates will not only be impressed with the show but will leave with a new found sense of what is possible when a group of committed individuals join together to make a difference. What we achieve will be nothing short of a miracle.

Thank you in advance for helping to change the world… one kick.. one punch… one karate student at a time!

Bryan Klein

Battle of the What If's

2010-12-31T17:27:00.000-05:00

Battle of the What If’s

Many of you know that I will be fighting in an Amateur Full Contact Bought at the West Windsor TKD and Kick Boxing Academy on Friday, February 11th. Many of my family members, friends (and sometimes even find myself asking) the question WHY?

This to me is an excellent opportunity to not only set a goal for myself to improve as a martial artist but to really step out of my comfort zone. It would be so much easier for me to let good enough be good enough but I would always have that unanswered question of what if?

What if I faced my fears head on?

What if I challenged myself to be all that I can be?

What if I pushed it to the limits?

I once heard a quote that the way we do one thing is a reflection of how we do all things. My greatest hope is that this experience will help me to put a few more what if’s behind me and become not only a better martial artist but a better parent, teacher and person.

Looking forward to a successful 2011.

Pursuit of MASTERY

2010-04-13T10:42:00.002-04:00

When students enroll in my school I am always sure to tell them that the journey to black belt is not always an uphill ride. There are times when you are not going feel like coming to class or when you may even feel like quitting! It also always amazed me that there were actually students who gave up only months and weeks before their black belt testing.

Now that I have less then 12 days left until my test WCMA I reminded of what my students are going through during there test experience. The biggest opponent that we have to defeat is not the opponent in the ring across from us it is ourselves. The goal of our training is to build our inner strength by squashing any negativity that may stand in our way.

When we learn how to control our mental state and attitude we can truly say that we are not only Black Belts in Martial Arts but that we are Black Belts in LIFE!

12 Days to GO!

2010-04-11T21:29:00.002-04:00

There are only 12 days to go to my test in California! So for the next 12 days I am going to commit to the folowing:

1. Bring my diet to a level 10.

2. Blog / journal daily.

3. Start every day with a win.

4. Take 15 minutes a day to meditate / visualize my success.

5. Perform in front of a group at least 1 time a day for the next 12 days!

Wish me luck!

BK

Misery loves company......

2010-03-08T10:34:00.001-05:00

Misery Loves Company……

A friend of mine shared a story with me about a bucket of crabs. He told me how he would watch the crab that was on the top struggle to climb out of the bucket. The crab would fight and fight until he was just about at the top of the bucket. Just before he was about to escape the bucket another crab would reach up and pull him back in.

When we are pursuing excellence in our lives there will always be those people who try to “pull us back in the bucket.”

The fact is that if we allow ourselves to fall into the trap and do the same things as the other 99% of our friends…. we will get the same mediocre results!

This time I am choosing to say no….. strive for excellence and to leave mediocrity in the bucket!

What I have to offer my students....

2010-02-21T11:40:00.000-05:00

I began my martial arts training 32 years ago when I was just 8 years old. Team sports just were not my thing…. I tried them all but spent most of my time on the bench…. School did not come any easier either…. So finally my parents enrolled me in martial arts! I imagine that it was there hope that the training would help to develop my confidence, discipline and my self esteem.

Throughout the years I have made many friends through the martial arts. In fact since my early years training practically all of my friends were people that I have met in one way or another, through my ma training. Some of my best friends today are those very same people whom I stood next to in Karate class 30 years ago today. We have shared so much together through the years, we struggled together, we achieved together, we failed together and have grown as people together.

I often think back on the times we shared…. Our school…. The instructors and all of the great experiences.

Some of those friends are truly great martial artists. Guys who could kick straight up in the air and wow and audience with their performance. My best friend for one was always a show stopper. As a kid I could remember the frustration of working so hard… putting in so much effort and then standing next to him at testing and not even coming close to his abilities.

I can tell you from experience that it took allot to persevere when it seemed my best efforts were never good enough to win the admiration of the audience, the first place in forms trophy or the respect of the other students . Looking back on it now it was the patience of my instructor that kept me going. It was his ability to understand my abilities and reward me for my progress. He held me accountable for one thing only being the best that I could possibly be in the given moment. And he rewarded me for it…. He rewarded me with his time….. His attention….. And his belief in me and my abilities…..

I can still remember his advice to the class he would say, “IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO BE #1.… BUT IT IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO TRY! THE ONLY PERSON YOU CAN NEVER COME IN SECOND PLACE TO IS WHO…. (WE WOULD SHOUT BACK) YOURSELF SIR!”

Well here I am 32 years later, still kicking…. Still punching…. Still stretching and doing my push-ups!

So what is the most valuable thing that I have to offer my students? I have My perspective…. When I was in class I was not always the best….. It is quite possible to say that I may have never been the best…. I was never the most natural…. The most gifted or the most talented….. I did not in m opinion even come close!

However the words of my instructor kept me going. He told me let go of what you don’t have control of…and focus on what you can change and control. I took his advice… I focused on the one thing I did have control over which was My Attitude. I always tried to be the hardest worker. I always tried to control my thoughts and focus on the positive and to this day I am still striving to be the best martial artist I could be.

To me that is self defense…..

You see… for most of us it is not a kick or punch to the head that will get us…. It is the small things everyday… how do we respond to pressure… what do we choose to focus on…… how do we spend our time….. What are our beleifs, values and most importantly our attitudes.

So the greatest thing I have to offer my students is not a block, kick or punch… It is the ability to defend themselves against a lack of focus, confidence, self-esteem, mediocrity and negative self talk.

I know from experience that as the saying goes your attitude really does determine your altitude in life!

Attitude is self-defense!

The sense of it all....

2010-02-08T10:39:00.003-05:00

Lately I spend a good portion of my day kicking, punching, blocking and rolling around on the floor! When I look at how I am spending my day I have to ask myself what is the sense of it all?

I mean in a world where people have figured out how to send space shuttles to the cosmos, create artificial intelligence and clone sheap I am spending my time kicking, punching, blocking and rolling around on the floor!

Hopefully all of this activity will stand for something more. Just maybe one of our students will use the focus, pereverance, determination and discipline we are teaching on the mat to become the next great scientist, humanitarian, teacher or politician that really makes a difference in the world!

Until then you can find me on the mat!

Black Belt Diet (for the mind)

2010-01-19T18:42:00.008-05:00

The more I train the more I realize the impact my diet has on my performance. As the saying goes, "Garbage In - Garbage Out!" But what is even more surprising to me is how important it has become to have a good diet of healthy thoughts. So along with a healthy diet for my body I am focusing on the following diet of Nutrition for the Mind!

Here are the three parts to my plan:

1. Good diet of words of wisdom.
2. Daily mental relaxation through focused thought.
3. Exercise creativity on a daily basis.

Living with Black Belt Excellence means working towards your potential not just physically but mentally, spiritually and emotionally as well!

We all know that if we don't exercise our bodies on a regular basis we will lose our skills, health and fitness. It is just as important for us to incorporate daily exercise for mind into our routine to guard against negative thoughts that undermine our confidence, focus and direction in life!

The great thing is you don't have to be a Black Belt to start!

Yours in the Pursuit of Mastery,

Bryan Klein
http://www.discoveruta.com/

coming soon http://www.onetimefatguy.com/

Sat Jan 16 th

2010-01-16T16:02:00.001-05:00

Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left. ~Hubert Humphrey

Some Advice to Myself About Negative Self Talk!

2010-01-13T23:05:00.003-05:00

I had a friend e-mail today about a diet he has recently started. He told me that it cost him $500 to join a 90 day fitness challenge. He continued to explain that he was hoping that it would work for him because maybe the pain associated with loosing the money would possibly provide enough incentive to follow through.

I responded by asking him to replace the words hoping, maybe and possibly with something like this:

"I am ready to make a change and I am confident that I will attain my goal because....."

Then I thought about all of the times during my test preparation that negative thoughts began to creep into my mind:

"Am I good enough?"

"Can I loose the weight?"

"Will I ever get this split?"

I truly believe that the way we / I talk to ourselves truly determines how far we go in life. I also believe that it is not a kick or punch that will get us in life but often times it is our own limiting beliefs that due us in!

In other words; I must truly believe I will have the split, I must truly believe I will loose the weight and I must truly believe that I have the confidence to succeed! Every comunication to myself or others needs to support that beleif!

So, from this point forward I have decided to make "Mental Self-Defense" part of my test(as well as part of the test for anyone that ever tests for Black Belt under me).

Here is how it works:

1. I will make a conscious effort to notice when I express something in a negative way either to myself, out loud or in writing!

2. I will immediately re-phrase the statement in a positive manner.

3. I will continue to do this until the thought is completely replaced with a positive message that reinforces my belief in myself!

So that is my advice to myself on "Mental Self-Defense".

Yours in Black Belt Mastery,

Bryan Klein
www.discoverUTA.com
www.BlackBeltMastery.blogspot.com

PS: Please feel free to leave positive coments in the blog or pass this along to a friend as a link. It is always nice when someone enjoys what you do!

PPS: Keep an eye out for my new web site that is coming soon....
www.OneTimeFatGuy.com

What is a Black Belt? (At Least As I See It)

2010-01-11T17:34:00.001-05:00

Just a few more months to go to the test. To date I have done thousands of push-ups and sit-ups, hundreds of pull ups, countless kicks, punches and form repetitions. But what is it all worth….

· A black belt around my waist…
· Another board broken….
· Another repetition completed…

NO! I have to remind myself that this test is about so much more;

1. It is about first learning to care for myself: martial arts is a way for me (us) to optimize our health. Without our health…. nothing else matters. By optimizing our health I am (we are) defending ourselves against the things that will really KILL us in life… HEART ATACK, CANCER and DIABEETES! Optimizing our health allows us to enjoy life to the fullest.
2. It is about learning to care for my family: My kids are with me every step of the way, with every kick and punch! My hope is that they will learn through my example that we must all find our passion life and follow it! NEVER FOLLOW THE CROWD!
3. It is about learning to care for my community: All those kicks and punches have got to be good for something more then breaking boards! The focus, concentration, self-discipline, determination and perseverance must be put to good use. I will do everything I can every day to make a difference in my community not just through large projects like the 200 Smiles Project but through small daily actions.
4. It is about learning to care for my world: “People are People” there is to much us versus them and not enough of “We are all in this together”. I will strive every day to set an example for my own kids and extended family at the school that we can make a difference, not only in our own lives and the lives of those around us but in the lives of people half way across the world whom we will never meet!

So to me this test and martial arts in general is not only about kicking, punching and blocking. It is about learning to care for myself, my family, my community and my world!

Yours in Black Belt Mastery!

Bryan Klein

2010-01-03T21:51:00.002-05:00

Pushing a Bolder Up Hill!
This past week has been a tough week for training…. I have hit a plateau and progress seems non-existent.

I keep reminding myself of the advice I give my students when they are “stuck“ in their training (or any area in life).

1. Try Your Hardest!
2. Never Give UP!

I have to continue to push through towards my goal not just for myself but as an example to all of my students.

It has to get easier….. It is like pushing a 200 lb boulder up hill. It gets progressively harder until you reach the top, and then gravity takes over!

Until then Quitting is Not an Option!

Stinkin Thinkin!

2009-12-30T13:10:00.002-05:00

This is me 8 years ago at about 32 years of age. This was a stressful time in my life but no excuses. Thinking back to what my state of mind was when I was in this condition? ABS are for the young, the BMI chart is wrong, 167 is too light for me, ABS are genetic so why try. In essence I was settling for mediocrity instead of striving for excellence!

This is me 3 months ago at 190 lbs and 40 years old! When I looked in the mirror I did not see that I was overweight. I actually believed that the BMI charts were wrong and there was no way for me to weigh 167 lbs and be any healthier!

Now this is me 3 months later at 40 years young! I am now 174 lbs on my way to my ideal weight of 167! The biggest change is inside of my head. Although I am careful about what I put in my body I am equally as careful about what I put in my brain. I try to be conscientious about my thoughts keeping me focused and positive!

I realize now that the only thing that was holding me back was myself! All the reasons; work, kids, time, money, age, and whatever else were really not reasons but excuses!

I truly believe that all of this time from the age of 32 to 40 the only thing that was holding me back from better health and fitness was my Stinkin Thinkin and limiting beliefs!

See you on the other side,

Bryan Klein

"Changing the World... One Kick... One Punch... One Karate Student at a Time!"

Making a Difference!

2009-12-29T13:43:00.001-05:00

OR

Two years ago my son wanted nothing more in the world then a Nintendo Wii. As always I waited until a few weeks before the holidays to do my shopping and much to my surprise they were actually out of stock!

I tried everything, from bribing the manager to calling the official Wii store in NYC with no luck! Finally I gave in and purchased the Wii off of Ebay for $500! Looking back it is hard to believe that it took $500 and so much effort to make a 7 year old happy.

What is harder to believe is that throughout the world there are still millions of children that are needlessly suffering from diseases, deformities and lack of health care. Many of these families are so poor that they have very little prospect of ever being helped. All they can do is pray that someday, someone will help them!

This year we will be setting a goal to change the lives of 200 children who are suffering with a cleft pallet.

Introducing the “200 Smiles Project”

The Smile Train is a non-profit organization that provides free Cleft Pallet Surgeries to children throughout the world. Many of these children cannot eat or speak properly. They are not allowed to attend school or hold a job and they face very difficult lives filled with shame, isolation, pain and heartache.

The good news is every single child with a cleft can be helped with surgery that costs as little as $250 and takes as little as 45 minutes.

HERE IS HOW OUR STUDENTS CAN CHANGE A LIFE

We are asking our students to put their focus, concentration, determination and perseverance to good use, making a difference in the lives of children who are needlessly suffering with cleft pallets. We would like 200 students to make a promise to try their best to raise $250 between January 2010 and January 2011. Unbelievably each of those 200 students represents the hope for a changed life! Most importantly we will once again be proving that no matter what your age you can make a difference!

Please contact me if you would like to be a part of this life changing project!

Sometimes We Use Words....

2009-12-27T18:18:00.000-05:00

Whenever I feel like giving up on my goals. I think about my friend John LiButti. He has a saying, "We carry the message and sometimes we use words"....

Here is his picture.... notice the kicking leg.... I think the picture says enough!

Beliefs, Challenge and Friends

2009-12-26T22:20:00.000-05:00

I used to hold the belief that having your abs show was genetic. Throughout life this belief was reinforced by instructors and trainers who told me that people are either born with it or not!

Looking back it was those same instructors who were eating Big Macs and Whoppers for lunch that were giving this advice.

At some point I was fortunate to meet some new friends that challenged me to question my beliefs about health and fitness.

In three short months I managed to completely change the way I look, but more importantly I have changed the way I feel inside. Now I am challenging all my limiting beliefs allowing me to abandon mediocrity and strive towards excellence!

Here is what I have learned:

1. You become like the people you hang around! I began setting and achieving more substantial goals when I started hanging around people that challenged me to strive towards excellence and be my best.

2. I began to get rid of everything in my life that represented mediocrity! Too much TV, Too much Snack Food, Too much Negativity! I started to get rid of all the mediocrity and negativity that was holding me back! Don’t settle for mediocrity! Remember, Misery Loves Company!

3. I Challenged my beliefs! I began to identify what beliefs were holding me back and then I set out to prove myself wrong! I started by looking for people who were already achieving the results I was looking for and then following their model for success!

Here are some of my beliefs that I am challenging as part of my Black Belt Test:

Abs are genetic!

Flexibility and attaining the split is genetic!

Performing in front of groups is painful!

I will let you know how it all turns out,

Bryan Klein

Welcome to My Blog!

2009-12-24T15:58:00.000-05:00

Hello – My name is Bryan Klein and I would like to thank you for visiting my blog!

Although I am a Fifth Degree Black Belt I decided to start from white belt in a new system and work my way up to a First Degree under Master George Calderon, Sixth Degree Black Belt under the world renowned Ernie Reyes.

I am using this blog as a way to document my training and hopefuly provide an example to my students as to what it means to LIVE WITH BLACK BELT EXCELENCE!

I have some very distinct goals for my test so I am recording them here for the WORLD to see!

There is no turning back now so here are my Top Three Goals:
1. I will go to the test in the absolute best shape of my adult life, if not the best shape in my entire life! My ideal weight is 167 and will show up weighing exactly 167 no more no less!
2. I will pass the physical fitness portion of the test and meet or exceed the following requirements:Push Ups: 75Pull Ups: 10Sit Ups: 60Split: Minimum of 6 Inches from Floor
3. I will use my leadership skills to make a difference. I will kick start the 200 Smile Project and be responsible for initiating at least 100 commitments to this project prior to my test date in February.
4. I will document at least 5 of my heroes on this site for all to see. By documenting heroes I will be introducing myself and students to these individuals we will be opening our minds to think in terms of excellence and possibilities rather than mediocrity and limits.

So there it is for the world to see.... I hope you visit my blog frequently and I look forward towards sharing this journey with you.

Bryan Klein
United Taekwondo Academy
Manalapan NJ
BKTKD@aol.com
www.discoverUTA.com