| If you want to be a great martial artist, you must | | | | about people in need. Make a commitment to help |
| always work towards one primary objective: | | | | another person or organization once a week. |
| “Strive to be a better martial arts person and | | | | Some suggestions are: donate money to a |
| practitioner tomorrow than you are today.” | | | | charity; volunteer your time to a community |
| As a martial arts student, you learn that you | | | | group; help someone with a heavy package; be a |
| attain your black belt not only by progressing | | | | good listener to someone with a problem; help a |
| through the ranking system while developing good | | | | fellow worker or student with a project; do a |
| physical skills, but also by developing good | | | | chore around the house without being asked. Even |
| character. A martial artist must have both | | | | the smallest gesture goes a long way in |
| attributes to be great. When you focus on being a | | | | demonstrating good character. |
| better person and practitioner tomorrow than you | | | | 3. Practice At Home |
| are today, you remind yourself that there is | | | | Class attendance will provide you with the |
| always room for improvement. | | | | information needed for your next rank. Home |
| Like any other goal you set for yourself, you | | | | practice will help you solidify the techniques in your |
| must have a plan of action to help you achieve | | | | mind and bet¬ter prepare you for the next |
| your goals. It is then up to you to live by your | | | | class. Never let two days pass without doing |
| plan and make any necessary adjustments to | | | | martial arts either in class or at home. |
| allow you to stick to it. We have created a | | | | 4. Spread the Knowledge |
| sample “Plan of Action” for you to follow | | | | The martial arts is as popular as it is today |
| in your quest to be a great martial artist. Write | | | | because it is founded on the principles of learning |
| each of these points down on a piece of paper | | | | and teaching. Teachers taught students, who |
| and tape it to your bathroom mirror (or other | | | | became teachers, who spread the knowledge to |
| location where you will see it every morning). This | | | | even more students, and so on. |
| will give you an opportunity to review your plan | | | | Learning martial arts is one of the greatest gifts |
| each day, helping you to remain focused on being | | | | you can receive because it offers so many |
| the best martial artist you can be. | | | | life-changing bene?ts. As a martial artist, it is up to |
| Plan of Action | | | | you to continue the tradition of spreading the |
| 1. Attend Class Regularly | | | | knowledge by becoming a martial arts advocate. |
| The most challenging aspect of being a great | | | | Tell everyone what martial arts has done for you |
| martial artist is to attend each of your scheduled | | | | and can do for them. |
| classes. If life presents you with an obstacle, such | | | | Becoming a great martial artist requires hard |
| as sickness or a week vacation, promise yourself | | | | work and genuine caring for other people. Start |
| that you will attend the ?rst makeup class | | | | today by taking action and you will experience the |
| opportunity. | | | | innumerable rewards of being a great martial |
| 2. Become A Good Samaritan | | | | artist and a very special person!! |
| Life can keep us so busy that it is easy to forget | | | | |