Master Turpin's Ultimate Black Belt Test Blog

May 14, 2008 - Coffee

I’m thinking coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee. Guess what I’ve given up for the month of May? I miss black, hot, steaming delicious coffee first thing in the morning and Starbucks latte with an extra shot of espresso in the afternoon.
It is 14 days and counting. I literally had a dream about drinking a latte with almond and caramel flavors topped with whipped cream over the weekend. I could taste it. Who would have thought May was such a long month? It’s only the thought of poor Chris Thorp agonizing over the lack of diet soda that keeps me going. You did start that this month, right Chris? …. Chris?

I picked a good habit to try to control. It’s such an integral part of my daily routine that I am tempted every day. The discipline of giving up something like coffee is not like changing life long poor eating habits or kicking a smoking habit, but it is practice for bigger steps. We teach students that the road to proficiency in the martial arts is through practice. We certainly don’t give them a high level black belt kata or form to master the first week. So this is another small step, my practice for bigger changes. A friend asked me why I wasn’t drinking coffee for a month and I answered, “just to prove to myself I can”. The look I got was, well let’s just say I moved up notch on his eccentric scale. I clearly understand that the benefit of this small little adjustment to my life is in the making of a commitment and following through, practice.

Will I drink coffee after May? I probably will, but I think I will drink less and enjoy it more. It’s another benefit of doing without for a while. My wife has been trying to convince me of the value of this philosophy for years.

Caffeine deficient but still smiling,

Keith

May 5, 2008 - The Better Generation

I lost my last grandparent this past week. My mother’s dad, my Grandfather Gable was 94 years old. I still have a few great aunts left of this generation, but they’re the last. It made me pause to remember all my grandparents. I was lucky to have spent a great deal of time with both sets of my grandparents as a child and kept a close relationship well into adulthood. In a word, they were tough, physically and mentally. They were loving and caring, especially to the grandkids, but tough. They never assumed anyone was responsible for taking care of them, yet they took care of their parents and any family, church member, or neighbor that needed help They made their own way in the world there was no “or”, they just kept working until it happened. If they had a headache, the flu, or a broken bone, they took an aspirin and went to work. Maybe coming from farm families on both sides established that work ethic early on. Their lives revolved around hard physical work. My grandfather Gable ran away from home at 13 because he didn’t like the hard work (for no pay) on the farm. He then proceeded to work just as hard to make his own way in the world. Both my grandfathers would work all day at their, job then come home and work in the garden for hours. My grandmothers were just as busy, and tough. All these people had an inner strength and iron discipline that came from facing real adversity and yet they were some of the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever known.

On the other hand, my generation has gone from 3 TV channels to hundreds. Most of us have never been without more than one meal (and it shows). Most of us have not had to endure hours of menial labor from early childhood on. Our bodies are not as strong, but more importantly our minds are not as tough. Many of the day to day adversities our grandparent or parents faced have been largely missing from our youth, adolescence, and adult lives. In other words we lack practice and experience in meeting and overcoming tough times. I’m a believer that human beings thrive and grow only through overcoming obstacles. There is some innate need we have to struggle against adversity. If none comes our way, we tend to create it. This can take the positive form of physical or mental challenges we create and take on. Unfortunately the negative response to that need can include: creating conflicts with others, living an overindulgent life and other destructive behaviors.

I see UBBT as an integral positive step in my growth as a teacher, leader and as a person. I’ve lived my first half century and I hope before my time here ends I can come close to the example of my grandparents. I’m seeking my own personal steel of purpose, tempered by empathy and compassion for my fellow travelers on this road. I miss my grandparents and I choose to remember and honor them by trying to emulate their best qualities. I’m hoping to learn the things I’m sure they were trying to teach me, that I only now begin to appreciate.

Fight the good fights,

Keith

April 24th, 2008 - Alabama - Wow!

What a team! What a project!
This trip affected me on more levels than I even fully understand. There are lots of firsts to describe from this past week on the Alabama trip. The challenge here will be to not write a short novel. I think only that might begin to do justice to the experience of this adventure. I’ll do my best.

I met most of my fellow teammates in person for the first time on this project. Some were exactly as I anticipated and some were even better than could be determined from journals and e-mail. Some people just shine brighter in person. I knew a few attendees personally, but most of the 55+ volunteers were strangers except for pictures and written words.

I’m a one on one kind of guy, so I spent as much time talking to other UBBT team members and alumni as possible. Heck, I even let them talk a little (: Everyone had something important to contribute, some unique knowledge, skill, or understanding to share, a truly amazing group.

While performing taxi duty from the airport, I had time to get to know Carol and Sharon a little more than some others. What can you say about Carol? She is an inspiration to all of us for showing up. If we are honest, given similar circumstances, how many of us would have that level of commitment to the Team and to people she’d never met for a week of community service work. She is truly awe inspiring. Sharon traveled from Ireland! to come and work like an indentured laborer with the rest of us. Compared to her, I felt like I could almost throw a rock and hit my home state of North Carolina. Soon she’ll be off to Bella ruse in the former Soviet Union to teach young men in a prison, all 5 foot nothing of her. She shows courage and fearlessness to go where most of us would at least hesitate to venture.

I also finally met Coach Tom in person. Always moving, always thinking of ways to make this idea of changing the world through UBBT and the 100 happen. He’s a focused teacher and motivator and certainly has no aversion kicking our hindquarters to keep us on track. His experience and credibility make him uniquely qualified to lead this band of seekers. The energy he radiates is contagious and at least every other joke he makes is pretty funny.

Pam Dorr, the leader of HERO, is a talented innovator and definitely knows how to get things moving and done. From finding funding to forming alliances with other individuals and organizations, (like us!) she is on a mission to improve the lives of people in this area of Alabama. Her staff is highly motivated and obviously cares about the kids of Youthbuild and the local residents they are trying to assist. Thank you Pam, for allowing us to walk the path with you for a while.

Last, but certainly not least, there are the young men and women participating in Youthbuild, who are working to attain their GED certification and make a better future for themselves. What an eye and heart opening experience working with them was for me. Their amazement that our group had come literally from around the world to work with them in little Greensboro, AL seemed to boggle their minds. Their intelligence and desire to learn in the tutoring sessions was obvious, as was their gratitude for our time and efforts to help them learn.

I plan to make this an annual event and to bring my son on a future project.

Thanks Coach for bringing us an opportunity like this.

Keith

April 12th, 2008 - Anticipation!

Anticipation can be the best or worst feeling in the world. I can’t count the number of times in the past I’ve dreaded a particular event, activity, or meeting anticipating conflict, rejection, failure, or just a total waste of my time. I can’t think of any that were as bad as the anticipated dire outcomes. Thankfully I’ve been developing the habit of trusting my abilities to handle “what may come” and thus have become better at doing just that. Fear of the unknown can build some huge scary dragons in the mind. (Jason G., are you reading this?)

Alabama represents the other side of anticipation, expecting an incredibly good time. I am like a little kid getting ready for a Disney trip. It’s not the cool rides and fantasy I’m looking forward to. I’m jumping up and down waiting to meet my team and coach. I’m constantly thinking “is it time yet?” about getting to work with some amazing people. I’m excited to leave my normal responsibilities behind for a few days not to trade for indulgence and sleeping in, but to help some people I’ve never met and to work with people I fully expect to become good friends.

If my flight is on-time or late, if the weather is hot or cold, sunny or rainy, if I hit my thumb with a hammer (inevitable), I am going to have FUN!!

Waiting impatiently,

Keith

March 29, 2008 - Dancin' machine

Remember what it was like to be a white belt? You’re self-conscious, mechanical, wanting to learn and wishing you could just get it right, right now. Everybody seems to be better than you. You really want to be good at this stuff, be smooth and effortless, like the experienced teacher. You wonder if you‘ll ever get it. It’s embarrassing to be a cluttz and the harder you try, the more mistakes you make. Do you hope for the best and come back for the next class or decide it’s just beyond you?

Honestly, I can say I understand, but I really can’t remember struggling that much and what it actually must feel like for a new student…until now. Welcome to beginner ballroom dancing for someone with absolutely no talent for it, at all. Fortunately, a good sense of humor and a wife who doesn’t mind having a foot stepped on occasionally, has convinced me the end result of having fun with a new skill is worth the discomfort of demonstrating I actually do have two left feet. It caught me a little off guard, that unpleasant sensation of being totally outside my comfort zone. I understand intellectually that only time and practice will change that feeling, but I really want that impatience with my own incompetence to go away ASAP.

I believe I’ll be able to better identify with new and prospective students in the martial arts because of this experience. Any of us who love the art we practice hope to be able to pass on those skills and that appreciation. Empathy improves understanding and, I hope, my teaching abilities. I’m sure I’ll “get it” if I exercise the same patience I urge my martial students to practice. Again, I’m forced to “walk the walk” or in this case “dance the dance”.

Coach Tom, what kind of sadistic taskmaster are you? By encouraging UBBT participants to find ways to step outside the box like this, are you trying to get me to improve myself, develop some new perspective, lead by example? Give a poor old comfortable karate teacher a break.

Future dancin’ machine,

Keith

March 24, 2008 - Demand Respect

Do you demand respect from your students? No not for you. Anyone who has been around the martial arts long enough has experienced or heard of those teachers who require respect from their students. In my limited experience they tend to be the younger instructors, emotionally if not chronologically. I even know of one Master who had his students line up at the end of every class, bow and thank him individually for teaching the class. To have a student spontaneously thank you for teaching is gratifying, but requiring it seems to remove most of the value. Hopefully, we all know that if you can’t earn it, you don’t deserve it, respect or anything else.

And yet, I expect respect from my students, for their other martial instructors, their parents, their academic school teachers, their friends, and maybe even those who might not be their friends. In my book, everyone deserves respect as a human being, at least until they show themselves as unworthy of that respect. If we could all approach our fellow human beings as deserving of respect, I think we might find more people making an effort to continue to earn that recognition and respect. Try being kind, thoughtful, look for the good, you know, respectful of others. Sooner or later, maybe after many disappointments, you will see your recognition change someone’s life for the better. Truly, what is more important in our time on this earth?

Demand respect from yourself!

Keith

March 17, 2008 - How many?

I need to do how many?!! That was my initial reaction to the new requirements for UBBT 2008 from Coach Tom. My very next reaction was to start calculating how I was going to accomplish 100,000 pushups and 100,000 crunches in the remainder of my 13 months. Then, after I laid out my plan, I realized it was 100,000 total which I’m already on track for.

The moral of the story is, I’ve already changed in my outlook towards challenges. Before starting the UBBT, if I had been handed such a huge task, I would have grumped about it for at least a day and contemplated the unfairness of such a request, before getting to work to get the job done. Have I completely achieved the state of mind I am seeking in how I want to approach the rest of my life? Not even close, YET. I like that word, yet. A small word, but it says a lot. It says “I’m working on it”. It says “I have a goal.” It says “I believe I can.” Most importantly it doesn’t say “I’ll try” it says “I will.”

I like the UBBT changes and will be incorporating as many as I can into my test. What’s the worst that could happen? I could get even more accomplished this year than I originally planned? As Martha Stewart would say, “that’s a good thing.”

March 7, 2008 - How vs. Results

I know I’m preaching to the UBBT choir, but please indulge me as I remind myself while writing this journal. This will be my first and last journal venture into the “forbidden zone” of politics.

I think it’s an opportune time as we enter that time in the political season where the play tends to get rough, to remember a few important things.

First, there are as many ways to solve a problem, as there are people willing to think about it. If we all approached every opportunity to create a solution in the same way, how boring would that be? There is only one way to do everything?

Secondly, we all have our priorities in life shaped by our parents, teachers, mentors, and our own experiences and analysis. And we all use those priorities to direct our efforts, focus, and treasure. Again, adding texture to the tapestry of our country, communities and our lives. We need those differences.

I’ve always had a problem understanding those who become so invested in HOW to solve a problem that the positive objective gets lost in the battle of wills and power. Unfortunately, that seems to describe our political system more accurately each election.

I’d like to propose that at this time when it can become difficult to keep political disagreements in the proper perspective, we all re-dedicate ourselves to fight for those things we love and for the changes we want to see in people’s lives, in our communities and our country. Let’s make our best arguments about the how, but in the end, find that common ground and, within the bounds of honesty and good ethics, fight together for those positive end results.

It’s what we do.

Keith

March 4, 2008 - Okay...that hurt

Update for today, Re: previous post. Got it all done except for the last 100 squats. Can your thigh muscle actually detach from too many squats or does it just feel like that.

That was quite unpleasant in a satisfying kind of way. I'll pay tommorrow and Friday, but I moved forward by a "chunk" and I feel back on track mentally.

Many thanks to Dave, Chris, and Carol for the "you can do it!" e-mails. It really did help.

For my students, please ignore any muffled whimpers coming from my office for the next day or so, cause it certainly won't be me! :)

Keith

March 3, 2008 - Insidious Drift

Motoring down the river of my UBBT, my engine is sputtering. I’m drifting. I’m drifting off task with the currents headed towards the rocks or at least a sandbar. I’m getting behind on my requirements and starting to lose focus on the end goal. It’s time to jump-start. Today I went by the local 24/7 gym where a few of my adult students train and signed up. Tomorrow at dawn I’m walking 5 miles and I’ll bang out 500 each crunches, pushups, and squats over the course of the day. A physical kick start (kick in the pants) for myself.

The tendency to let ourselves shift attention away from important tasks is insidious. Pacing ourselves for the long haul can become slacking in the short run. Taking a break for a day stretches to a few days or even a week. For me only a shock to the system seems to re-orient me back to the course I truly want to follow.

Now I know, some of you who may be following my journals are thinking, “Hey wait a minute, wasn’t his last journal about tomorrow not counting?. Got me! Here’s how I’ll make it count. I’ll follow up this journal at the end of the day tomorrow and share my success in getting back on course or confess my close encounter with the shoals and start bailing. I’ve got to say, I wouldn’t mind a few e-mails with some helpful navigation suggestions, positive encouragement, or even a harsh smack upside the head.

Till tomorrow becomes today,

Keith

February 23, 2008 - Stop procrastinating, tommorrow

A little late in the week getting this posted. I had my first colonoscopy this week. The one my doctor has been trying to get me to schedule for 2-3 years. I watched the show during the procedure and it was actually pretty interesting. Before I start getting requests, DVD’s are NOT available. Everything seemed fine and as with many unwanted tasks, the anticipation was far worse than the reality. I want to add my voice to the many others encouraging anyone over 50 who has not had this procedure to stop putting it off and schedule it. It really was easy, and a no-brainer to possibly catch a problem early that left unseen could do you in. We talk about self defense and the real threats we face, the ones with a far greater probability of assaulting us than some thug, so add this to your list. Eat well, stay fit, meditate, and have the regular checkups and tests that can catch a problem early and save your health or life. No more preaching, this blog anyway.

The book I’m reading is “Getting Things Done”. How appropriate is that? The author is David Allen. The general principle and methods involve getting the multitude of “to do’s” out of your short term memory and into a dependable system that is prioritized. What I found most interesting is that our brain assigns equal priority to all the things we try to remember and anything we put in there keeps rolling around until it is handled. Anyone else out there ever wake up and have your brain crank up to hyper speed at 4 am?
How about spending so much time thinking about all the things you need to do that you are overwhelmed and end up getting nothing done? It forces you to ask the question “why?” are you doing (insert meaningless or extremely important task here). I’ll be sure to update everyone after I work the system for a few months.

Tomorrow doesn’t count.

Keith

February 12, 2008 - Afraid? Move!

Live in the now that’s all we really have. NOW. Okay NOW. Wait a second, NOW. NOW I’m not living it, I’m thinking about it. I think about many things. Projects to start, people to call, and yes Coach C., Push-ups that need to be done along with the myriad of other tasks I’ve assigned myself for the UBBT.

What translates thinking into doing/living? I have many “kick in the pants” techniques that help me. Many of the same motivational methods that have already been so eloquently provided to us by “Charles” Sifu316@cs.com and Coach Callos and of course I’ve learned some new ones from all of you. I also have one method I use personally that has to do with the future and the past. This helps move my naturally lazy present self into action.

A little background first. Do you wish you were in better physical, financial, emotional shape? Somewhere in my past, and I can’t pin it down to a specific event or person, I developed an aversion to “wishers”. As my business partner remembers his Irish mother saying, ”you can wish with this hand and (insert unpleasant bodily function) in this hand and see which one fills up first” Nothing like a vivid image to make the point.

I can look back and remember as a teenager wanting to race cars. I made it happen in spite of my parent’s concern and initial opposition. I found phys ed classes in college to get my scuba certification and (one of the reasons I’m here today) judo and karate instruction. When I returned to college part-time right after my son was born, I was traveling and not making much money. My wife of then 3 years and I couldn’t afford it, but I got my MBA. There are other examples, and like everyone else, there are the times I didn’t pursue and achieve a goal I thought was important or failed to follow through. Sorry, I knew you were thinking I was perfect by now. Now you and I both know better.

What’s the secret motivational technique? It’s no secret, it’s FEAR. That’s it. I look back and remember all the older people I knew (who were probably younger than I am now) and some of my peers, wishing their lives away. All had potential, all with abilities, and all seemingly with the inability to initiate action. I look ahead to my future and see myself reflecting on my life and hopefully saying “I always wanted to (insert important activity here), and I did!” One of the scariest things to me is reach the end of my time here with a pocket full of unfulfilled wishes and not to have made my best effort to make a positive difference for being here. The fear of lost opportunity helps me counter the fear of risk in new action.

I thought about the UBBT for a year after being introduced to the idea by Professor McNeill, but I knew immediately after I decided that I had too much else going on a year ago, that it was a mistake. I have even more irons in the fire now, but the fear of looking back 10, 20 years from now and saying I wish I had done that UBBT thing, moved me. The fear of not getting to know and spend time with peak performers in my chosen art and in life, moved me. The fear of missing an opportunity to be a better practitioner, teacher, and human being, moved me. Maybe, if nothing else seems to work on a particular day, positive fear will help move you.

February 10, 2008 - Catch Up!

Merged posts January 11 thru February 6, 2008

1/17/08
Sorry for the delayed post. I’m at the Isshinryu Network gathering in Orange City Florida with my laptop that doesn’t like the UBBT site. (can’t get in). This journal will probably post on Sunday when I return home to NC.

I am excited about what I see happening in my schools and with my students and parents. Our monthly newsletter describing my UBBT goals and challenging students to join me in setting their own goals for the year has been prompting students and even some parents to take on their own challenges for the year. We’re working on getting everyone’s goals posted in each dojo and will be updating each month. For example, one of my karate Moms has beat me to starting on the Bill Phillips program after reading my requirements and buying the book. I guess it’s time to get my white flour, refined sugar loving rear in gear and get on with the plan. I see an interest and excitement in the schools I haven’t seen before and I’m getting a different view and ideas about motivating others.

My body is getting stronger. I can feel the difference in my movement, particularly in kata. I feel more in control, focused and precise with techniques. I have to admit, prior to taking on the UBBT, I knew I needed to be in better shape, but felt I was in relatively good condition. These requirements are kicking my butt! I am behind, but am able to do progressively more as I continue to work, maybe even Master McNeill’s “300” soon. My bike will be out of the shop next week and that will help me significantly with my mileage.

The UBBT may not be for everyone, but anyone who takes it on has got to benefit. I’m a relative “newby” and I already sense important things happening, with more to come.

January 22 2008
Just got back from my annual trip with some of my senior students to Florida for the Isshinryu Network gathering. Lots of great kobudo training and camaraderie. I marvel at the quality of people I have had the fortune to meet in the martial arts. Literally, some of the best people I know in this life are from the martial world. I’m sure we have our share of jerks, just like any other profession, but there is something, particularly about the type of people who last in the art, that makes for a better quality individual. I know I’m a better person in more ways than I can relate from my training and teaching time. I have found some great mentors martially and in living life. I try to share these people with my students as much as possible, so they can see what they could become with dedicated training. It also reminds them that they do not train under a “Sofa Sensei”. They see me learning new skills, broadening my martial understanding, training hard, teaching and hanging out with outstanding, uplifting, positive people. These are the same things I hope my students will make a habit of doing in their lives.

I’m looking forward to meeting more of those type people in Alabama in April. Be there or be square!

Keith Turpin

1/28/08
What a week! One of the many “bugs” going around from one of the 3 school systems we cover found a home in me. I call it the” no energy, feel like crap, wanna stay in bed, headachy, poor me” bug. On a positive note I’m starting to feel better and the students are doing great on their UBBT partner goals they signed up for in support of my efforts. I’ve got a bunch of student pictures to send to Million Acts of Kindness. We also have a visiting distinguished guest coming next weekend to teach a GoJu Ryu seminar. Kyoshi Frank Pogliani from Nisei Goju Ryu in New York is also a record holder breaking champion. My senior students are excited about the visit.

I have 3 stranger safety talks lined up for church and home school groups and am approaching the superintendent of one of our local school systems about a district wide Act of Kindness program for the elementary schools. Possibly the entire school system could participate. It can’t hurt to ask. What could a positive project like this for students do for the schools and the community?!(My community)

Back to the Zicam,

Keith Turpin

2/5/08
The weekend seminar was great. Feeling much better. Back on the training. Professor McNeill’s 300 challenge is more like the 225 struggle at the moment. Wow is it aggravating (motivating) to be outdone by one of my older teachers and mentors physically. My ½ century+ young body is complaining about this extra physical workload, but it is also getting stronger and more fit. It’s been a continuing issue to push hard enough to improve, but not to overdo to the point of injury. The old “work to exhaustion get a good nights sleep and do it again tomorrow” until I’m at the desired fitness level, just doesn’t work like it did when I was 29, 39, or even 45. Now for the big BUT, will I figure it out? I will or I’ll go down fighting in a flaming spiraling dive and if the crash is inevitable I’ll add some throttle just to make it a little more exciting. How’s that for a metaphor of life philosophy? Oh, and since (hopefully) it’s just a metaphor, I get to try again.

My students are working hard and their efforts motivate me to continue as an example they can follow. It’s hard to find the right words. Seeing them be inspired to make efforts beyond what’s required, to choose harder physical effort, acts of kindness, and service projects because I’m choosing to do those things honors me and humbles me. To those students, ”thank you!” for teaching me to be a better leader.

December 27, 2007

What a great Christmas! Good friends and good food. Still working on that excess food habit engrained since childhood. Training is stepped up on push-ups due to the 1000 Pushup January 1st challenge offered by Master McNeill. I may use the full 24 hours, but it will be done. Based on the weight on my hands in pushup position, I've calculated I'll be pushing up 95 tons. I'm putting the final touches on my UBBT training spreadsheet for those interested to view. 2008 is sneaking up on us, BE READY FOR A 110% YEAR!!

December 17, 2007

Today is Monday, December 17, 2007. Christmas is 8 days away. I'm not quite done shopping yet. I still have to get something special for my wonderful wife who just created this blog page for me, and who I left at the drug store yesterday.