Master Turpin's Ultimate Black Belt Test Blog

July 28, 2008 - I did it again

I did it again

I know what you’re thinking. Where is that guy who writes those great journals? Ok, so maybe that’s not exactly what you were thinking. Was it more like, where is that slacker guy with his journals that are nowhere to be found? Well either way, I’m back. No excuses just a blip in the journey. I worked my butt off over the weekend of 4th to do the Keep on pushin’ pushups, crunches, and squats. I did a respectable job and patted myself on the back and gave myself a few days off cause I’m not 29 anymore or 39 or 49. BIG MISTAKE.

I just learned another lesson the hard way. That builds character right? If so, after half a century+ of bumping into the obstacles of life and tripping over them, I should be about full up with character. Some people say I’m a character, but I’m not sure that’s the same thing.

I thought I was getting it, moving on a new path for the rest of my life. Heck, I thought I was already on it. My old bad habits were lurking, biding their time waiting for me to forget to renew my commitment daily. Most of you know what comes next, a day or two stretches to more. The eating habit slips to the “dark side”…etc. End result? Almost a month wasted. Now don’t get me wrong, I didn’t lie on the couch, watch TV, and eat chocolate bonbons. I was still doing katas, teaching, exercising, and running my schools, but not like the black belt master teacher I’m capable of being. One of my own students sent me an e-mail respectfully telling me to get back to journaling.

The good news is people are paying attention. One of my teachers also noted my journals were not to be found. It’s nice to have people looking out for me, gently reminding, respectfully nudging, insistently questioning, aggressively demanding, and/or if necessary smacking me around the dojo. I’m one of those people for my students and I’ve just been reminded that I’m still a student of life and need those people too.

I stumbled, but I’m not down. I’m behind, but I won’t quit. To my students, my team members, my mentors, my coach, and any other interested folks: If you don’t see my smiling face and read something useful in my journals each week I expect one of the above reminders as needed. I’ve chosen a better path for the rest of my life and UBBT is the vehicle and part of the support structure to help me make it happen.

Sometimes I just “need watchin”,

Keith

June 22, 2008 - Keepin’ up and keepin’ on

Some of you reading this may already be familiar with the Keep on Pushing’ charitable organization. For those of you who are not, it was founded by Master Dave McNeill (UBBT Team 3) as a way for people to raise money for charitable organizations of their choice in a unique way. Pushups are probably one of the most invaluable exercises for martial fitness and the challenge over the first 4 days of July is to match the year’s date with pushups. That makes 2008 this year.

I and some of my students participate each year to raise money primarily for the American Cancer Society. It is my way to help support a good organization that is in some way responsible for one of my mentors being a survivor. It is a physical challenge, so it fits right in with our UBBT philosophy. People tend to be impressed by the number, since the average person not involved with any fitness training could probably do 10 if pushed. A penny a pushup yields a $20.08 donation. I want to encourage anyone reading this journal to contact KOP at www.keeponpushin.org and join us over the 4th of July week raising funds or to donate. Some of my students have set goals for less than 2008 pushups depending on their conditioning. What matters is that it is a challenge and it’s for a good cause.

Of course, not being one to make things easy for him self or those of us privileged to train with him, Master Dave will also be doing an equal number of squats and crunches along with the pushups. That’s awesome and a little bit sneaky, ‘cause no way I’m not going to at least match that, being a few years younger, a GSWS student, and a UBBT member. So all of you 100 and UBBT members and anyone reading this journal, especially if you’re under age 50, which means younger than me, I hope I’ve created feelings of guilt, inspiration, excitement, urgency, whatever it takes to motivate you to take action doing something great for yourself and others.

Do this or something else, but commit today to do something.

Keith

June 17, 2008 - Level 3 Hike

I had the opportunity to visit Blowing Rock, NC in the mountains this weekend on a last minute family get-away. My wife and I decided to let the kids sleep in and go for a walk. We found a little park at the edge of town which led to a trail rated level 3 difficulty. I’m thinking 3 out of 10, that should be pretty mild. It just so happened to be 1.5 miles. How convenient, since I needed to walk 3 miles.

The trail marker indicated 1.5 miles out to the falls and 1.5 back, just right. My wife was wearing dock shoes. I had my regular walking cross trainers on. The first part of the trail was gravel then packed earth following the mountain stream down into the valley. It was quiet other than the stream. The temperature was middle to upper 70’s with a light breeze. It was an absolutely gorgeous day for a hike and we were chatting as the trail got a little more rugged. We starting sliding down sharp cutbacks and climbing over wet moss covered rocks, but we felt good and the more frequent 50 foot drop-offs at the edge of the now 18’ wide trail didn’t make a huge impact. We made note of the increasing difficulty as a few younger hikers breezed by.

When we finally got to the falls, there was a sharp 50-75 foot drop in the stream. Falls are like that. The trail also did a pretty good vertical mirror of the falls and reality, as well as some good sense, kicked in. Both of us decided we should forgo the last descent, realizing we would then have to climb back up. As it had already taken us as long to go 1.5 miles as we had estimated the entire round trip would take, we decided to hustle back to our start point and the car.

We began the return trek and both noticed how suddenly our legs were a little fatigued. On the walk in, the path seemed to trend down, but also with gradual uphill sections. That was an illusion. Waking back out we kept waiting for the downhill section to start. It didn’t. It was steep uphill or gentle uphill. Key word is uphill. All my walking on level didn’t properly prepare me for that. My wife was telling me she was ok, but I knew she was secretly plotting my demise for taking a perfectly simple walk in the park and turning it into a potential “Deliverance” scenario. Did I mention that cell phones didn’t work down in the deep ravine? We couldn’t call the kids to let them know we were ok, just delayed, because their mom wasn’t walking fast enough.

It ended up being a more rigorous hike then we intended, but the scenery was worth the effort. I biked and hiked often up through my college years, but fell out of the habit. I forgot how much I enjoyed the woods and the effort of a good hike. I have a very patient partner in life. I’m just not sure she’ll buy the “let’s just go a little ways and see” offer next time. That Level 3 was out of a possible 5 highest difficulty and definitely called for good hiking shoes at least.

The end result of the “big hike” is that I’m looking at trails and camp areas in the national forest areas and along the Appalachian Trail for an NC version of an Eco-Trek for my black belt candidates this fall or next spring. That, along with a good story to tell, a good workout, no broken bones, gorgeous scenery, and still being married as of the writing of this journal, made for a good day.

One step, then one more,

Keith

June 6, 2008 - UBBT at 6 Months

Am I better off today than I was 6 months ago? Let me say without reservation, yes!

Physically, I’m as strong as I’ve been in the last 10 years. I’m not sure I could do 75 pushups in a single set even in high school. My new goal is to do a set of 100 reps by the end of my test year. My weight is down 17 pounds and my cardio, while not where I hope to be, is much improved. This month I’m working towards 2000 pushups per week in anticipation of breezing through the Keep-on-pushin’ charity challenge over the 4th of July holiday. See www.keeponpushin.org. I’ll do 2008 in 3 days. It took 4 days last year and I was a sore, stiff puppy for a week afterwards.

Martial arts wise, I’m expanding my skills, focusing more intensely on what I already know and somewhere in all that effort, I believe I’m becoming a better teacher. Imagine that.

Mentally, I am generally more relaxed and most days have better focus. I attribute this to the multiple new tasks I’ve had to add to my schedule forcing me to be more organized. The meditation certainly seems to be taking the edge off the normal stresses of the day, resulting in a more creative thinking, me. We are working on totally changing the way we market and what we teach, modeling on the UBBT. My 1st Brown belts will have a big surprise when they see the requirements for black belt starting this fall. 6 month to 12 month requirements, community service, Acts of Kindness, public speaking, environmental projects, mentoring, charitable work and fund raising and more. We’re incorporating those things into our schools this year and working out the “bugs”. I’m looking forward to journaling on several potential projects in the works when we get final approval from the folks we’re working with.

The biggest change I think is in attitude. I like to think of myself as an optimist at heart and those of you who have met me know I find humor in much of what I see around me
(and in my own struggles). Yet, I’ve traveled down the negative road more than once in my life. More reading, less TV, reading journals and inspirational e-mails seems to be helping me change for the better. I catch myself sooner starting down a negative path and correct course. No problems, just opportunities to evaluate, learn, think outside the box, and improve. I have always promoted positive attitudes for my students. Now I can lead the way more consistently myself.

Wow, only halfway through and I’m already perfect! Not true now, not true at the end of this year, and will it never be true. I actually deliberately screw something up each day just so people won’t envy me. Ok, that’s not true either. I am perfectly capable of making mistakes, misjudgments, and bad decisions despite my best efforts on any particular day. The biggest difference now is that I forgive myself, learn and move on. If my motives are good and I use the brain God gave me and still mess up, well, another lesson of life. The only way I can fail is to quit.

I’ve benefited in many other ways, not the least of which has been to make some talented and inspirational new friends, but most of you will be nodding off soon. Let me say at this mid point in the process of my UBBT, I know that this was a very, very good decision. The benefit I’ve derived to date has been life changing. There is far more than what we’ve all been doing the last 10, 15, 20 years in the martial arts. For me, this has provided the missing element I’ve been seeking. I recommend the UBBT and the 100 for those martial artists who have that sense that the martial arts can be much more than it has been. Open your mind to the possibilities and you may find it here also.

Working hard, stumbling often,

Keith

June 1, 2008 - Switching Wagons

Switching Wagons

Look for a few more journals as I catch up. My creative writing and thinking just quit working for a few weeks.

It’s not as good as I remember it, coffee that is. I had a few cups with breakfast this morning and as with many things, reality can’t match the fantasy and anticipation. It was good to be able to have coffee again, if I choose to. It was even better to make the whole month of May without any, because I chose to delete that particular habit from my routine. Other than being very groggy and grumpy for the first week I did not notice any great benefit or negative as a result of leaving the coffee alone for a month.

That was my practice for my June change which I think will be very much tougher to accomplish. As with the coffee I have looked for something that is an integral part of how I function each day. This time I also am looking for something to significantly improve my overall health. For June I will not be eating or drinking anything (other than water) after 6:30 pm in the evening until breakfast next day. This is something I have tried in the past and usually lasted about 2 days before my will cracked.

I don’t like to teach or train on a full stomach. Since I usually start most evenings with one or the other around 5 to 5:30 pm I normally eat something around 3 pm. When I finish at 8:30 to 9 pm and head home, I am somewhat hungry. By the time I’ve been home for an hour, I have consumed approx. 800 to 1000 calories. Then I go to sleep.
I watched a special on Sumo wrestlers and they consume a large meal in the afternoon and then sleep to make sure it adds to their weight. I’m thinking I’ll try the opposite approach, since I’m trying to gradually reduce my overall weight this year and forever.

I’m down 16 pounds since the first of the year and I should be a little closer to 20 to be on track for a total of 40 by year end. That and I have a little side challenge going with Master Dave’s WLC to drop 15% of my body weight from May ’08 to May ’09. Making this change will kick my weight loss into high gear, (and get control of a really bad habit).

As an aside, but related to giving up something we really like, my wife read Hal’s e-mail about giving up dating supermodels and I’ve been forced to add that to my list also.

Elle, Rebecca, Heidi, Gisele, and the rest of you, don’t call me for at least a month.

Hey, it could happen (:

Keith

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 G. 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.