Wednesday 27 December 2017

6 Tips For Achieving Your Goals In 2018

The end (or start) of the year is an excellent time to stop, look back, and review what you’ve accomplished before looking ahead and considering what you are planning to achieve in the next 12 months.

Given that martial arts training is a long-term activity, it's a really worthwhile and productive exercise and we’ve discussed a simple, practical approach in the past, but if you haven’t yet decided to start thinking about your goals for 2018 and beyond, here are a few quick tips:


1. Know Your Goal 

Obviously, the first priority is have a very clear idea of what you want to achieve. Know and define your end goal. While an expected answer for a Choi Kwang-Do student goal might be “become black belt”, it could also be “achieve yellow belt senior within 6 months” or “find out what’s required to become an assistant instructor by the end of the year”.


2. Create An Action Plan 

This doesn’t need to be complicated:

  • Regular class attendance (where you can be supported by instructors) 
  • Regular practise at home (where you can refer to your syllabus guide) 

Your actions will logically be guided by your overall goal and if the above 2 steps are on your action plan there is a high chance you are moving in the right direction. Your goal will also help to rationalise your actions too. If you’re aiming to achieve yellow belt senior in 6 months, and you are questioning yourself on whether you should allocate 10 minutes a day to practising your pattern and speed drill, the best answer is "yes".

Remember: action creates results! 


3. Set Realistic, Short-Term Goals 

One of my tasks over the Christmas break is to prepare and publish the schedule of dates of coloured and black belt gradings for the coming year. From this, students should be able to schedule realistic, short-term goals complete with the dates by which they can work to achieve them. For reference:

- Coloured belt gradings are roughly every 2 months for students taking 2 classes per week, and every 4 months for students taking 1 class per week.

- Black belt tag gradings are every 3 months for 1st degrees, and every 6 months for 2nd degrees.

- Black belt dan gradings are every 6 months.

As you will know, a sustainable way to achieve long-term goals is by breaking them up into smaller, more achievable, short-term goals. Thereby creating numerous successes and helping yourself stay motivated.


4. Keep Track Of Your Progress 

Write down your short-term goals and their dates. A simple wall calendar can be useful for this and will inspire you in a number of ways. Firstly, the physical act of writing them in some way brings the goal 'alive', and using a calendar will provide a visual reminder. You'll see the dates approaching and be inspired to work harder towards achieving them. In addition, not only does ticking them off feel good, you can also look back to see your previous achievements and acknowledge how far you have come. 


5. Reward Yourself 

Like many other martial arts, Choi Kwang-Do is fortunate to have reward system in place: belts. These serve as an indication to both you and your fellow students your level of expertise and/or duration of time training. They are also great for motivation as they prove to you what you can do with a little planning, execution and focus.  

Once you have achieved one of your short-term goals (and definitely when you achieve a long-term goal), reward yourself! This is will mean different things to different people - a new purchase perhaps (book, music, clothing), a meal with friends, etc.

Marking your achievements with something else you enjoy will give you something to look forward to and help you stay consistent.  


6. Re-evaluate Your Progress 

Every month or so, re-evaluate your short-term goals to make sure that you are still on track. How are you getting on? Great, or not so good? Was your goal realistic? Do you need to invest more time? Is your action plan working but not as you had hoped? Take time to assess what you need to do differently and adjust your plan or expectations. Feedback from an instructor can prove useful here. 

__________ 
Jason Wright is a 6th Degree Black Belt and Master Instructor in the martial art Choi Kwang-Do. For further information on Choi Kwang-Do classes for children, teens and adults in Ealing, West London visit www.TheMartialArtForLife.com 

Wednesday 6 December 2017

Leadership & Black Belt Training/Tag Grading - 08/12/17

Our final monthly class for the 2017 also includes our quarterly Black Belt Tag Grading. The grading list will follow by email.

7.00 - 8.00pm Children
8.00 - 9.00pm Adult Black Belt/AIs & HIs

Click here to pay Grading Fees online

After this grading there are only 2 regular classes left for 2017 at Ealing CKD - Monday 11th and Wednesday 13th so please ensure you are present to receive your results. The first class back in 2018 will be Monday 8th January.

Tuesday 28 November 2017

Black Belt Grading - December 2017

The Regional Black Belt Grading takes place this Sunday 3rd December 2017. It's a big event taking place only twice a year and this time we have around 50 students from schools across London taking park. So we're really excited to have 13 students from Ealing CKD grading for 1st and 2nd degree black belt:

1st Degree
Umair Mahmood
Julien Lee Dubuisson
Daniel Barvarz
Marko Ivanovic
Lumumba Diessa
Farshid Khorsandi 

2nd Degree
Mr Hadi Khorsandi
Mr Kasra Taheri
Mr Edis Svraka
Mr Deni Svraka
Mr Raza Mahmood
Mr Chris Wilkie
Ms Smita Shah

Family and friends are encouraged to attend to support our students and instructors. The grading will be held Wembley CKD:

Barham Primary School
Danethorpe Road
Wembley
Middx. HA0 4RQ

10.00am 1st Degree Brown
12.30pm Brown Seniors

Wednesday 1 November 2017

Leadership & Black Belt Training - November 2017

This month's session takes place on Friday 3rd November.

7.00 - 8.00pm Junior Leadership Team
8.00 - 9.00pm Assistant Instructors and Head Instructors followed by an instructors briefing

Don't forget the schedule of extra classes for Black Belts during November 2017. These have been planned to support the students and instructors preparing for the Regional Grading on 3rd December.

Sunday 29 October 2017

November 2017 Class Update

We're currently preparing a number of students for 1st and 2nd Degree Black Belt Gradings in December. Pre testing assessments have been mostly completed and to further assist these students we will be holding a series of additional preparation sessions on selected Wednesday's during November.

On Wednesday 1st, 8th 15th and 29th November class times will be amended slightly as follows:

6.00pm - 6.45pm: Children Class 1
6.45pm - 7.30pm: Children Class 2
7.30pm - 8.15pm: Brown and Black Belts (all ages)
8.15pm - 9.15pm: Teens & Adults

Please make a note of these class dates and times.

Brown & Black Belts should aim to attend all 4 preparation sessions as each one will focus on different syllabus components. Classes on Mondays will continue to take place at the usual times of 6.00pm, 7.00pm and 8.00pm - the changes above are for Wednesday classes only.

Thanks in advance to everyone for accommodating these temporary amendments to our schedule.

Wednesday 4 October 2017

Leadership & Black Belt Training - October 2017

The October Leadership & Black Belt Training session will be held on Friday 6th:

7.00 - 8.00pm Junior Leadership Team
8.00 - 9.00pm Assistant Instructors and Head Instructors followed by an instructors briefing

During this session we will continue pre testing for the Black Belt Dan Grading on December 3rd.

Tuesday 3 October 2017

Regional Black Belt Training - September 2017

I thought I would share the official photo from last month's Regional Black Belt Training. This was the 3rd event and was co-hosted by Master Chandresh Lad (Harrow CKD) and myself. It was great to see a collection of students and instructors from a variety of Choi Kwang-Do schools, some travelling from as far as Milton Keynes and even Aberdeen!

As CKD black belts we all need to train, and training in your own school is great, but sometimes training with students and instructors outside of your school is even better.

Why?

1. Different students train differently. This forces you to step outside of your comfort zone.

2. Different instructors teach differently. There's a high chance that you'll learn something new, or look at something you already know in a new way.

3. It's fun! Think of it as a reminder that we are all part of the Choi Kwang-Do family.

If you missed and would like to be kept informed when the next event is planned, join our mailing list.

Monday 11 September 2017

Leadership & Black Belt Training/Tag Grading

Our September 2017 on Friday 15th class includes our quarterly Black Belt Tag grading for those that are due. Times to attend are below:

7.00 - 8.00pm Junior Leaders
8.00 - 9.00pm Adult Black Belt/AIs & HIs

Click here to pay Grading Fees online

Wednesday 9 August 2017

Leadership & Black Belt Training - August 2017

It's summer (sort of) and Leadership & Black Belt Training continues on Friday 11th August:

7.00 - 8.00pm Junior Leaders
8.00 - 9.00pm AIs & HIs followed by an instructors briefing

Also, advance notice of Regional Black Belt Training on Sunday 24th September. Registration is open at www.CKDBBT.com

Ealing CKD Summer Schedule 2017

At this time of the year we always make some minor amendments to our class schedule by merging the children's classes to take place at 7.00pm.

7.00pm – 7.50pm Children’s Class (no 6.00pm class)
8.00pm – 9.15pm Teens & Adults

The dates for this schedule will be:

Monday 31st July & Wednesday 2nd August
Monday 7th & Wednesday 9th August
Monday 14th & Wednesday 16th August

We then have a 2 week summer break, resuming on Monday 4th September at the regular times of 6.00pm, 7.00pm and 8.00pm.

Tuesday 18 July 2017

The Martial Art For Life News - Have You Subscribed?

For regular update on what's happening at our school don't forget that we also have a school newsletter. The latest update is about the Coloured Belt Grading on Wednesday 19th July.

Subscribe for updates here or view the archive here

Wednesday 5 July 2017

Leadership & Black Belt Training - 07/07/17

This Friday 7th July we will be holding our next Leadership & Black Belt Training session.

7.00 - 8.00pm Junior Leaders
8.00 - 9.00pm AIs & HIs followed by an instructors briefing

Belt level techniques will be the focus of training for this month.

Thursday 1 June 2017

Black Belt Grading - June 2017

The first Black Belt Dan Grading for 2017 will be held this Sunday 4th June:

Wembley CKD
Barham Primary School
Danethorpe Road
Wembley
Middx. HA0 4RQ


10.00am 1st Degree Brown
11.45pm Brown Seniors

Click here to pay Grading Fees online

If you're preparing to grade in December 2017, don't forget the regional training event for all Brown Belts and above on Sunday 24th September. More information on Regional Black Belt Training here.

Tuesday 2 May 2017

Leadership & Black Belt Training - 05/05/17

This month's sessions will be held on Friday 5th May:

7.00 - 8.00pm Junior Leaders
8.00 - 9.00pm AIs & HIs

This month we will check belt level techniques. Adults are invited to arrive earlier to do their own training quietly at the back of the dojang before starting together 8.00pm.

Thursday 27 April 2017

Learning Through Teaching

Have you every offered to help someone out?

It’s good to help others, and that’s a key goal of every Choi Kwang-Do instructor. Whether that's helping students learn self defence, helping them engage in enjoyable exercise or helping them to realise more of their potential.


Why It's Good To Help Others

When we help others three things tend to happen:

Firstly, we feel good, and most of us like to feel good...don’t we?! In saying that, I mean we like to think that we have done something that we can feel good about. If that something helps someone else...even better. We have done a good deed, if you like.

Provided the intentions of helping others are sincere and genuine, and not merely in order to gain something in return, this can do wonders for a our self-esteem.

Secondly, we will have imparted some of our knowledge to someone else. For some people, one of the most gratifying aspects of learning something is having the opportunity to later share that knowledge with others. Now, this could be viewed as conceited (nobody likes a show off, do they?) but again, if it helps someone else and is done with humility – a core principle of Choi Kwang-Do, surely this is a good thing?

Thirdly, we can better ourselves. In order to teach someone else, you first have to be clear on the details of the information yourself. In the context of teaching Choi Kwang-Do, if you were teaching a punching technique, you would need be clear in your own mind how the body moves during the punch, what part of the fist is used to make contact on the striking pad, the wrist and arm position etc. etc. You would also need to be able to demonstrate the technique which is likely to involve practise too.


Teaching Benefits The Student & The Teacher

This need for clarity causes you to think more deeply about the information that you wish to give out, maybe even question the information - both with others (interpersonal dialogue with fellow students and instructors) and ourselves (intrapersonal dialogue), thus furthering our understanding.

Couple this with the simple act of fellowship experienced in class as students bond through physical training, you can understand why many Choi Kwang-Do students offer to help out at their classes, and possibly even go on to certify as an instructor.

Another side effect of teaching someone else is that you become more confident with presenting and conveying the information. Your communication skills begin to improve and your techniques - both physical execution and understanding - also develop. Not to mention the leadership and social skills you are exposed to.

So by helping others you are also helping yourself; a classic win-win scenario.

Having said all of this, personally, I think one of the best parts of learning through teaching is this:

As you become familiar with the information that you are teaching, you simultaneously appreciate that you have more to learn.

I feel very confident in saying that martial arts instructors around the world, irrespective of rank, style or number of years training...would agree that they are all still learning. So take a moment to think about learning through teaching, and if you think you know it all...think again.

__________
Jason Wright is a 6th Degree Black Belt and Master Instructor in the martial art Choi Kwang-Do. For further information on Choi Kwang-Do classes for children, teens and adults in Ealing, West London visit www.TheMartialArtForLife.com

Wednesday 12 April 2017

Ealing CKD Easter 2017

A Happy Easter to all of our students.

A reminder that there will be no classes at Ealing CKD on Monday 17th April which is the bank holiday. Classes resume on Wednesday 19th April.

Friday 24 February 2017

Maintaining Your Martial Arts Motivation - Part 1

We've recently completed belt presentations following the first coloured belt grading of 2017. Here are a few tips to keep you motivated as you start learning your new syllabus.


Keep The Habit

We are naturally creatures of habit. Therefore, the habit of your practise is one that we should strive to continue. There will always be occasions when we have to miss classes, but aim to plan them into your week and avoid missing your scheduled classes. If you train one class per week and have to miss a class, plan in advance to attend an alternative class. By maintaining class attendance as a habit (and don't forget practise at home too) in time it will become second nature.


Keep Mentally Focused

Avoid comparing yourself with others. Instead, keep your focus on your own journey and your own development in Choi Kwang-Do. Being mentally motivated is a big part, maybe even a bigger part, than just being physically ready. If helpful, make a note of the scheduled dates for coloured belt gradings and black belt gradings. These dates can help you to chart your projected progress and achievements, and assist with your mental focus and motivation.


Keep Inspired

Instead of just focusing on finding motivation, consider also finding inspiration. Motivation often comes from someone telling us we have to do something, while inspiration is an internal desire to do something. Consider what inspired you to learn martial arts or visit our school in Ealing in the first place?

Think about a student or instructor, or another individual that inspires you (Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi, the founder of Choi Kwang-Do is an obvious choice here. In fact, here's one of my personal favourite inspirational videos of Grandmaster Choi). Maybe there's a piece of music, a book or a film that gets you really inspired? Whatever works for you.


Keep The Faith

If you're a new student it can seem like there is a lot to learn. It can even be overwhelming. Have faith; by following points above, I can promise you that while Choi Kwang-Do will still be challenging, understand that it will get easier.

Read Maintaining You Martial Arts Motivation (Part 2)

__________
Jason Wright is a 6th Degree Black Belt and Master Instructor in the martial art Choi Kwang-Do. For further information on Choi Kwang-Do classes in Ealing, West London visit www.TheMartialArtForLife.com

Wednesday 1 February 2017

Leadership & Black Belt Training - 03/02/17


Our next Leadership & Black Belt Training session for 2017 takes place this Friday 3rd February:

7.00 - 8.00pm Junior Leadership Team
8.00 - 9.15pm Adult Black Belts, Assistant Instructors & Head Instructors

This month we'll be reviewing a set of patterns and speed drills.

See proposed dates for these classes during 2017

Thursday 12 January 2017

Leadership & Black Belt Training - 13/01/17


Our first of these monthly sessions for 2017 takes place on Friday 13th January at the usual times:

7.00 - 8.00pm Junior Leaders
8.00 - 9.00pm AIs & HIs

View scheduled dates for the rest of 2017 

Wednesday 11 January 2017

Leadership & Black Belt Training 2017

Please see below dates for Leadership & Black Belt Training and Black Belt Tag Gradings during 2017:

Friday 13th January
Friday 3rd February
Friday 3rd March – Black Belt Tag Grading
Friday 7th April
Friday 5th May
Friday 2nd June – Black Belt Tag Grading
Friday 7th July
Friday 11th August
Friday 15th September – Black Belt Tag Grading
Friday 6th October
Friday 3rd November
Friday 1st December – Black Belt Tag Grading

Coloured Belt Gradings 2017

Please see below proposed dates for Coloured Belt Gradings during 2017:

Wednesday 8th February
Wednesday 29th March
Wednesday 24th May
Wednesday 19th July
Wednesday 27th September
Wednesday 22nd November

Black Belt Dan Gradings 2017

Please see below dates for Black Belt Dan Gradings during 2017 to be held at:

Wembley CKD
Barham Primary School
Danethorpe Road
Wembley
Middx. HA0 4RQ



Sunday 4th June (revised date)
Sunday 11th June
Sunday 3rd December