Happy "Valentimes" Day!!! It was 19 years ago today I began my journey in Martial Arts. What an AMAZING ride it has been. I wish I could share what I have seen in words. It is AMAZING to have been able to be a part of so many lives over the past 19 years and especially with the School for the last (almost) 12 years. When the 'kids' are grown up and I ask them to reflect on their journey, and what they would tell families whose kids train. They always say it is priceless. That there is no words to describe what it has given them. Many times I wish I could take my eyes out and lend them to a parent as they look to the future of their children and what they think is best for them. If they could all see all of the examples, all of the boys and girls who went through rough times in training, all that stuck it out, all that had been allowed to stop and have come by to visit later in their life; then training would be a necessary part of their family life. Since I am unable to do that (more than once anyway) I can only share my personal experience. I can say for certain, that training is the greatest decision I have ever made for myself. My training has certainly turned out great for me, but that is not why I say this. Training has taught me an outlook on life that makes me genuinely happy! What would I give up to allow 'my' children, our students this outlook. Everything. It is an absolutely priceless feeling to know that in your worst, you have the tools to turn things around for yourself. Deep in your core, you have forge a spirit that when you lose your way, or life pushes you to a new course, you know WHAT needs to be done to get back on track and have the tools to do it. I could wish nothing better on my students than this. It is my intention to continue to share openly this art that we love, and in doing so, pass a life philosophy to as many as are willing to take part. Thank you to everyone for your part in my journey. No part is too small for me to appreciate greatly!!!!
Master Berry
R.T. Berry School of Tae Kwon Do
653 Brawley School Rd.
Moroesville, NC 28117
704-658-0544
www.rtberry.com
www.facebook.com/rtbtkd
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
"if you go, we all grow"
We just had our first tournament for the year. It was AWESOME!!! We have a saying, "if you go,we all grow." This Saturday was proof that it is not just a saying but a fact. Watching the students on Saturday was AMAZING. It is incredible the amount of improvement that has been made by those that are competing regularly.
With the 40th annual tournament coming up in West Virginia, I have been using that as a great example that if you go we all grow. Our first year there, as we watched the finals at the end of the night, we all looked at each other and realized we really weren't at the caliber of some of the guys fighting. None of us quit, we all came back to our "home" (Do Jang) with our family and began working hard. Each year, year after year, we would go and lose. Now, let's be about what is important. It is most important to me that we represent ourselves well. Win or lose. But, I also believe if you are going to go, you should give your ABSOLUTE best. And that is what we did over the years. Several years into it, you would see some of our guys placing here and there. Before long, it had been 3 years and our guys were always placing. We had become the "third group" of true contenders. And now we go again this year, but we are the defenders. We have made our place there and done so with integrity and positive attitudes. I always said that the way we act is what is most important, and it is. But to see our School win with the same grace and humility is an amazing thing. This is what we mean when we say "if you go, we all grow." Think of the character that was build through losing. Think of the spirit that was forged over many years in that training. Think of the camaraderie of those involved. Think of how this has had a part in making these people who they are, and what they give back. It is truly amazing, and I look forward to the ride going forward! It could be an incredible year in West Virginia and know that the R.T. Berry School will be well represented regardless of the outcome of matches.
Victories and defeats will come and go, but our character can last for generations.
Master Berry
R.T. Berry School of Tae Kwon Do
653 Brawley School Rd.
Mooresville, NC 28117
www.rtberry.com
www.facebook.com/rtbtkd
704.658.0544
With the 40th annual tournament coming up in West Virginia, I have been using that as a great example that if you go we all grow. Our first year there, as we watched the finals at the end of the night, we all looked at each other and realized we really weren't at the caliber of some of the guys fighting. None of us quit, we all came back to our "home" (Do Jang) with our family and began working hard. Each year, year after year, we would go and lose. Now, let's be about what is important. It is most important to me that we represent ourselves well. Win or lose. But, I also believe if you are going to go, you should give your ABSOLUTE best. And that is what we did over the years. Several years into it, you would see some of our guys placing here and there. Before long, it had been 3 years and our guys were always placing. We had become the "third group" of true contenders. And now we go again this year, but we are the defenders. We have made our place there and done so with integrity and positive attitudes. I always said that the way we act is what is most important, and it is. But to see our School win with the same grace and humility is an amazing thing. This is what we mean when we say "if you go, we all grow." Think of the character that was build through losing. Think of the spirit that was forged over many years in that training. Think of the camaraderie of those involved. Think of how this has had a part in making these people who they are, and what they give back. It is truly amazing, and I look forward to the ride going forward! It could be an incredible year in West Virginia and know that the R.T. Berry School will be well represented regardless of the outcome of matches.
Victories and defeats will come and go, but our character can last for generations.
Master Berry
R.T. Berry School of Tae Kwon Do
653 Brawley School Rd.
Mooresville, NC 28117
www.rtberry.com
www.facebook.com/rtbtkd
704.658.0544
Monday, January 21, 2013
What a School family is...
We have just celebrated our annual banquet for the top competitors from 2012. This is the students and families that took advantage of the tournament opportunities through the year last year. I am continually amazed by our School family every time we have a large event. In talking with many of the parents, you are as well. What a unique community we have, and I hope that we continue to recognize what a tool that is for all of us to grow as strong men and women. It is an excellent reminder (the banquet) of not just to keep your life in perspective, but HOW to keep your life in perspective. Our training and our School teach us a particular outlook on our lives, and those we choose to share in our lives. An outlook with a positive, and concrete result. We all lose our way or get off track at some point, but the outlook that training provides allows us to really see what is going on, and the training provides the tools to begin to move in the best direction. Can you imagine learning this as a child? It would change everything; your health, your career and jobs, your family, your marriage, your friendships, and you as a whole. It is SO difficult to put into words what training gives to so many. In talking to many at the event last weekend, it was refreshing that while none of us could put words to it, everyone could feel it. I hope that every good person at some point gets to feel it, it would make the world a better place in so many ways!!!
Master Berry
R.T. Berry School of Tae Kwon Do
653 Brawley School Rd.
Mooresville, NC
www.rtberry.com
www.facebook.com/rtbtkd
Master Berry
R.T. Berry School of Tae Kwon Do
653 Brawley School Rd.
Mooresville, NC
www.rtberry.com
www.facebook.com/rtbtkd
Thursday, January 3, 2013
2013 new years resolutions
2013 - New year - new goals
For years we have discussed our new years "resolution's" through training and with a martial mindset. It turns out, that a new month resolution is far more productive than a new YEAR resolution. We learn in our training that you must start at the first belt, and set small goals leading up to our larger goals and accomplishments. I explain this often to the younger kids by explaining how you use a ladder. The 'goal' is to get to the (let's say) 4th step. Well what is the first thing you do. Most people answer that the first thing to do is step on the first step. While that is kid of true, it does presume that the ladder is already set up. That is to say, that the environment is already set up for success. Just like we must set up our ladder before we begin to climb. Many times in our goal making, not only do we jump ahead to the big goal without breaking it down, we also neglect a good thorough thought about the environment we are putting ourselves in to accomplish the goal. This is one of the major reasons training is so good for us. It puts us in the environment to excel. For many outsiders they only see the surface of the training and it looks to them like we are all having to be the same. This is far from true. Once you dig, (or train) you can see openly what that environment is doing for you. We begin to see and learn that everyone is training THEMSELVES to be better at what THEY want to improve in themselves. It is quite a realization to watch others go through. As we all step back and set new goals or resolutions remember to prepare an environment to succeed. It is one of the most important parts of goal setting, and the least covered, discussed, and thought about!
Have an AWESOME Day...and Happy New Year!
Master Berry
R.T. Berry School of Tae Kwon Do
653 Brawley School Road
Mooresville, NC 28117
www.rtberry.com
www.facebook.com/rtbtkd
For years we have discussed our new years "resolution's" through training and with a martial mindset. It turns out, that a new month resolution is far more productive than a new YEAR resolution. We learn in our training that you must start at the first belt, and set small goals leading up to our larger goals and accomplishments. I explain this often to the younger kids by explaining how you use a ladder. The 'goal' is to get to the (let's say) 4th step. Well what is the first thing you do. Most people answer that the first thing to do is step on the first step. While that is kid of true, it does presume that the ladder is already set up. That is to say, that the environment is already set up for success. Just like we must set up our ladder before we begin to climb. Many times in our goal making, not only do we jump ahead to the big goal without breaking it down, we also neglect a good thorough thought about the environment we are putting ourselves in to accomplish the goal. This is one of the major reasons training is so good for us. It puts us in the environment to excel. For many outsiders they only see the surface of the training and it looks to them like we are all having to be the same. This is far from true. Once you dig, (or train) you can see openly what that environment is doing for you. We begin to see and learn that everyone is training THEMSELVES to be better at what THEY want to improve in themselves. It is quite a realization to watch others go through. As we all step back and set new goals or resolutions remember to prepare an environment to succeed. It is one of the most important parts of goal setting, and the least covered, discussed, and thought about!
Have an AWESOME Day...and Happy New Year!
Master Berry
R.T. Berry School of Tae Kwon Do
653 Brawley School Road
Mooresville, NC 28117
www.rtberry.com
www.facebook.com/rtbtkd
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)