February 2003 Newsletter

This Newsletter is published monthly on this website to offer information and motivation to our readers.

Martial Arts Belt

by Joseph Galea

February 2003

Did you know that many years ago martial arts was taught in secrecy? Martial arts schools as we know them today did not exist. Students trained solely for self-defense and meditation. Unknown at that time were the multitude of benefits of martial arts training that would appeal to millions of people of all ages in the future.

Some students wore a special white uniform that allowed easy freedom of movement for the practitioner. A white belt tied around the waist completed the ensemble. These first martial artists trained hard, sometimes hours a day, learning to fight and to defend using their hands and feet as weapons. After months and years of practicing, the student’s belt,which was never washed, became soiled and noticeably darker in color. This became a visual sign of the amount of training and experience the student had and why the black belt symbolized an expert in the arts.

Most modern day martial arts schools use some form of progressive ranking system to indicate the student’s level of experience. Beginner students typically wear a white belt (or sash) and expert students wear a black belt. However, since students train indoors in a facility, belts are not exposed to elements that would automatically darken the belt with training experience. Therefore to appropriately distinguish students based on skill level, many martial arts organizations adopted a color belt system between white and black. Imitating the soiled progression of light to dark, beginner colors are usually light such as yellow and orange; intermediate colors, blue and green; advanced colors, purple and brown. The order of colors are by no means a standard. In some styles for example, the red belt, not black, is the highest rank in the system while in others, red may precede black. Although ranking systems may differ from school to school, the function of the system remains consistent: Each belt rank represents the culmination of knowledge the student has learned and also clearly defines the information that is to be learned to achieve future ranks.

 

Master Success

By Bill FitzPatrick

• There is a master inside you. It is an ideal. It is you at your best. Keep working.

• You are calm, thoughtful, patient and confident.

• You are honest, trustworthy, responsible and reliable.

• You are loyal and proud.

• You are humble and reverent.

• You are tough, self-reliant, persistent and hard working.

• You are organized, neat and poised.

• You are inquisitive and teachable.

• You are healthy, vibrant and enthusiastic.

• You are kind, friendly, helpful and generous.

• You are brave and daring.

• You are moral and ethical.

 

HealthKick: My Heath & Fitness Goals

by Jennifer G.Galea MS RD

Give yourself a Valentine’s Day present by evaluating your health and fitness goals.How does your diet “measure up?”

Do you exercise as often as recommended? Are you as healthy as you can be?

Recently, the Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board released its recommendations for better health. The last time this panel of government health advisors made recommendations, which was in 1989, the recommendations became the basis for government policy and food labeling.According to these experts, people are eating too much saturated fat, not getting enough exercise, and eating too many calories. So what are their recommendations for us to improve our health?

The first relates to fat.The panel recommends eliminating saturated fats, as well as trans fatty acids (found predominately in partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated vegetable oils).There is no biological need for either of these types of fats.These fats add only an increased risk of heart disease and empty calories (no beneficial nutrients).

The panel also warns against consuming added sugars. They recommend that these empty calories make up no more than 25% of the day’s total caloric intake. (Other health groups, such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest, criticized this goal saying that it is still too high.)

Finally, and perhaps the most significantly, this team of experts recommend to exercise at least an hour of physical activity a day. Now is the time to get into a physical activity program that is not only great for you, but also enjoyable so you can stick to it.You’ll see the results: feeling great.That will further motivate you to improve your diet to have a positive impact on all aspects of your health. So get fit, eat right and be healthy.

 

Personal Profile

By Alison Romero, Age 14

I value karate because of it’s many benefits. It has helped me reach a level of physical fitness that is above what I would be otherwise. It keeps me flexible, has increased my overall strength and stamina, and helps me stay in shape. It has sharpened my mental skills also. It has taught me to be focused. I can concentrate in crowded and noisy environments because I mentally apply myself to what I am doing and tune out the things around me. There are organizational benefits also. I manage my time so that I am able to get to my karate classes, and still get my homework done as well as the other activities I do. I have learned to prioritize my activities and then plan ahead so I can accomplish the things I have selected.

I have personally benefited from martial arts because it has helped me to learn important things that are related to every day life. Some examples of these things are: practice if you want to get better at something, pay close attention to directions, then try to remember and apply them, set goals and then make commitments, give your best effort, and believe in yourself. All of these things have made me more successive in school, and in every day life.

Allison Romero is a student at Gary Nakahama’s West Coast Martial Arts

 

Martial Arts is the Perfect Family Activity

Parents: Looking for a safe, fun, rewarding activity for your entire family? If so, then give martial arts a try!

You’ll just love the quality time you get to spend with your children, as all of you practice together as a family.

And parents, imagine how fast your child will excel when you become involved too. Fitness, focus, confidence, and self-defense—the skills we teach will benefit your family forever.

Call ASDFC for more information!