This weeks "Warrior Code Talk" is commitment.
Below is what the Trainers have to say:

* Commitment is one of the key ingredients in every success story.

* Commitment is saying or dreaming that you are going to do something, and then taking each step in an endeavour to reach that goal.

* A decision to act with certainty. No if, buts or maybes.You see it though and give absolutely what every it takes to get the job done.

* Commitment – sticking to your obligations to yourself and others even when it hurts.

* Committment is staying the course and getting the job done. It is keeping the promises that we make to others, and most of all to ourselves.

* Commitment makes the difference between enjoying something only for a little while and seeing it through completion, i.e. finishing the job. Commitment has helped me get through to my black belt and it makes a huge difference in the quality of everything I do in my everyday life.

* “There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”

* Commitment is choosing to do something and following it through to completion.
True commitment doesn't let anything get in the way, it doesn't give up and it doesn't make excuses.

* People recognise real commitment a mile away. They perceive it through body language, tone of voice and actions. Actions speak louder than words and commitment generally means commitment to act. There is no such thing as half commitment.
For many commitment wavers or ends when the going gets difficult, uncomfortable or tough. That’s not commitment that’s wishful thinking. That’s for the wanna be’s, the could of’s, should have’s, would have’s. These types end up in a spiral of defeat and failure, never achieving what they set out to do. Failure isn’t wrong, we meet many failures on the way, indeed many failures if the task is particularly challenging, its giving up that’s the problem.
Commitment is not particularly exciting, not like passion and drive and love. Commitment is the hard slog of day in day out dogged determination to not give up or give in.

* Commitment is being there when you say you are going to be there.

* Commitment is consistent support to others, showing by example and leading the way.

* Commitment is deep inner strength and conviction.

* Commitment is seeing the job through until the task in hand is finished.

* Commitment is keeping your eye on the goalposts and not getting distracted along the way.

* Commitment is not giving up. Ever.

Good time to discuss Leadership in class. The trainers have written some pretty good stuff below. This is what it is all about and puts in a nutshell so much of what we talk about each week. If you like please print it out and refer to it this week. Feel free to pass it on.

-ANDY-
andy@northstarmartialarts.com.au

****************
LEADERSHIP

1. Leadership is the ability to motivate and move people in a positive direction. A good leader leads by example totally committed to the cause.

2. If we can effect just one person in a positive way we have show leadership to some degree.

3. A leader is driven by values like honour, courage, honesty, service, self control and kindness. It's a lot to remember and a lot to do - but a good leader is the one who keeps trying.

4. To make it simple for the kids, leadership is about setting a good example in everything they do. If we break it down for them we can use the example of them behaving well and others observing and following. This is a form of leadership. Using this as a basis we could also point out that leaders can come from unlikely places – for example in the dojo – the leaders amongst the kids don’t necessarily have to be the Junior black belts. Even the newer students can set good examples of leadership.


5. Being a leader is a tough role. You have to offer guidance and direction. People look up to you, listen to you, admire you and rely on you and you have to leave up to the task and lead by example. There is no room for mistake.

6. A leader is someone who is not afraid to take charge of a task and do it to the best of his ability. It doesn’t have to be a huge thing for kids, they can be told that bow at the door before entering the dojo is showing leadership skills or lining up by belt colour and making sure everyone follows and do the same thing or sitting patiently and waiting for your turn quietly is being a leader.

7. Leadership is about always acting in a way that is consistent with what you believe to be right and true, with the understanding that how you behave has an effect on others around you. It is about setting a good example and treating others as you wish them to treat you.

8. Leadership is the ability to give guidance to others. It is being able to give direction to people who look for help or advice.
Leadership is doing the right thing and setting a good example for everyone around you.

9. You can show leadership in every aspect of your life, self control, manners, the sporting arena, your family and friends at work and at school.

10. Being a leader is about stepping up to the mark and taking control - firstly of yourself then leading by good example.

11. Leadership is also about making what may not always be the most popular decision and not giving in to peer pressure just to be cool and fitting in. It's about making tough choices and sticking to them.

* Champions are very enthusiastic people that have a special passion and love to share their excitement and energy for life.

* They have a contagious energy for life and they are juiced by success and achievement.

* In the dojo and in their personal as well as their professional lives.

* Their Black Belt Spirit is a powerful energy force that drives them to perform at peak levels of excellence. They have a passion that fuels their fire of desire for greatness.

* Champions have a special pep in their step and hustle in their muscle.

* They brighten up the entire dojo and the people around them, with their smile and they always bring out the best in others. They are positive, productive and hard working.

* Champions have a contagious enthusiasm.

* Many people believe that the best Black Belts are simply White Belts that never quit.

* They have an eager curiosity about the Martial Arts and their exciting journey to excellence.

* Champions are ambitious, driven and energized.

* They are positive people that influence others everyday in everyway.

* Be a Champion - Spread your Black Belt Spirit!

c/o Fari
Martial Arts Professionals

MARTIAL ARTS WARRIOR CODE

All of the topics that we discuss are great lessons. No matter how simple or how many times we hear the words it is always a timely reminder to see how we are operating.

Do a quick audit on yourself. Have you been on auto pilot, just going from one event to the next in your life, never really stopping to check in with the “present moment.” These weekly tips serve to remind us to apply the lessons in what ever is going on for us and more importantly give you a couple of moments of “time out” to just pause and give your attention to something other that work.

I know that it may be interrupting your work or your day and I know that many of you will check it out later…when ever you see “Northstar emails” try and get into the habit of immediately pausing and giving your full attention to the email. It will only take a minute or so and that little pocket of presence will just bring you back to stillness allow you to centre, re group and then move on with your day “refreshed. Try it…it’s free.

This weeks talk is “perseverance”.

***************
* Perseverance, for the kids, is "giving it another go".

* Perseverance – you are never a loser until you stop trying.

* Perseverance is the commitment to keep going when things get hard or you lose your focus. It means not giving up until you get the result you were after.

* You are determined to see your task through to the end no matter what obstacles get in your way.

* Perseverance means not giving up, but continuing with strong determination even when you are discouraged or question why you are bothering with the task at hand.

* Perserverance is about not giving up once you have set you mind to a task until you see it through to completion, no matter what gets in your way. It is about persisting no matter how hard it gets.

* Perseverance would be to have the determination to keep going in spite of difficulties, obstacles and discouragement along the way.

* Perseverance is about sticking to the task at hand, and not giving up half way through when the going gets tough. It’s about having the courage to stick to your goals and not be discouraged when easier options present themselves.

* You can have all the talent in the world but that’s not enough
You can be incredibly strong, but that’s not enoughPersistence is the key.

* Perseverance in not giving up. It sounds so simple and easy but it is what sorts out the higher class of person from another.

* With out perseverance very little can be accomplished.

* Never give up. Just keep right on keeping on. Do not dwell on failures or defeats, do not dwell in self pity of how ‘unfortunate’ or ‘unlucky’ you are. That’s for losers.
After every setback (and there will be many) get right back on the road again.

* Perseverance is to stay focused on a goal or purpose despite of setbacks, obstacles or failures.

* Perseverance is about not giving up when things get hard, to keep pushing through discouragement or failure until you reach your goals.

* Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did and about being closer today than you were yesterday.

* Perseverence: Being steadfast and determined - and remaining focused on the goal and not the obstacles along the way.

* Perseverance to me is not giving up when you feltl you have reached you limits. It’s the battle between success and failure, the extra effort to reach or goals.

This weeks "Warrior Code" is Excellence. We will be discussing this with the children during each class.

* Excellence is about doing your very best, having the right attitude and focusing on your goal - It is a superior performance.

* Excellence is not just getting over the line but trying to blast past it.
We can experience excellence in all areas of our life - sporting, in exams and school work, in our interaction with others, showing kindness and compassion to our friends and family even keeping our room organised and tidy.

* Excellence is about holding yourself accountable and measuring yourself against high standards.

* Excellence is hard to reach. Excellence is superiority and getting outstanding results in something we do. The closest we can get to excellence is practice, practice, practice.

* Achieving excellence means going beyond what you and others think is your best, so it's more than 'doing your best'. It means showing leadership and raising the bar in a way that will inspire others to follow in your footsteps.

* "Surely a man has come to himself only when he has found the best that is in him, and has satisfied his heart with the highest achievement he is fit for." - Woodrow T. Wilson

* "The principle is competing against yourself. It's about self improvement, about being better than you were the day before." - Steve Young

* Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way. — Booker T. Washington (1856-1915).

* A person achieving Excellence refers someone possessing great and valuable qualities or somebody demonstrating outstanding distinction.

* Excellence is doing your absolute 100% best when you apply yourself to what you are doing.
You can’t achieve excellence by not trying.
Even though your results may not yet be considered ‘excellent’ your quest to achieve and do your best is excellence in action.
Put excellence in action and then one day with out you even realising it, you will have outstanding results.

* Its easy to apply excellence to things we enjoy. Sometimes we don’t try properly as we don’t think we enjoy certain things. If however you apply excellence in everything you do it is surprising as you will end up enjoying the very thing you thought you didn’t. You will get much better results with having an attitude of excellence in all you do. It can be the most mundane thing, but to do it with excellence transforms it somehow.

* “That which we practice everyday is what we become” So I now try and practice excellence in everything I do, whether I perceive I like it or not….

* Excellence refers to doing your best. It also refers to going above and beyond the normal standard or exceeding the expectations in a given situation. We could talk to the kids about ways in which people can excel at sport, school work, caring for others, their chosen career, helping Mum and Dad around the house.


* Excellence is about being outstanding or doing something outstanding. That means it requires your best and something extra

* Excellence is the aspiration to exceed the limitations that we put on ourselves. It is seeking to do better.

* To be excellent at something means going that extra mile to do your absolute best, and doing it again and again. It's about putting in that extra little bit of effort to go beyond what you think you can do.

Hello Parents and welcome back. This weeks topic for the class is "Keeping your word." We will be discussing this during and at the end of each children's class. -Andy-

***************
* Keeping your word is committing to doing something then seeing it through until it is finished. This is important to do to ensure that people trust you and understand that if you say that you will do something, that it will be done. It is also about having integrity, being honest and being committed to completing your goals.

* Keeping your word - I am reminded of some quotes
"Honour is the gift a man gives himself" (from the movie Rob Roy but probably originally some one elses!)
"A man should be upright, not kept upright" (paraphrased from Marcus Aurelius - Roman Emporer/Philosopher)

* Being careful of what you say / promise and following through and doing what you say you will do.

* Honoring a commitment, Doing what you said you would do.

* Keeping your word is important because that's how people know they can trust you.

* If you want people to trust you then you must keep your word.
If you say you are going to be somewhere or do something do it. Don’t make excuses nearer the time just because you changed your mind or got a better offer or can’t be bothered when the time comes.

* Your word and keeping to it defines what kind of person you are. It is one of the few things you can control.
To this end be very careful about what you agree to do and precisely what and who you give your word to.
Your word, once given must not be rescinded

* Keeping your word is being true to what you said you will do. E.g If you say your are going for your black belt but along the way there are few issues that comes up, you tackle them but you never think once that you are going to postpone it, you find a way to keep going so that you can keep your word. There is always a way if you are true to yourself.

* Being careful of what you say / promise and following through and doing what you say you will do.

* Acting on what you say you will do. Following through with your promises.

* The thing I would want my child to consider is “think before your promise”. Keeping your word is about integrity and that means being sure before you say you will so something.

* Gratitude means to recognise what people do for you and thank them, not because you're supposed to say 'thanks', but because you really appreciate what they've done for you.

» Read More

This weeks discussion in the children's class is "Goals".

*************************
Goal is setting a target to achieve something and sticking to the hard work that comes with it.

A Goal something you set yourself to reach. Having that goal will help you work harder, especially when you get discouraged or tired, because you have something to look forward to at the end of your effort.
Goals are about setting yourself a direction and deciding what it is that you want to achieve, then going about doing everything that you can to stay on the path towards those goals to enable yourself to achieve them, not letting anything stop you. It's also about believing in and empowering yourself so that when things get tough you don't give up on your goals.

» Read More

This weeks talk in the children's class is Valour:

* Valour is about having the courage to continue on even when things get really tough and you feel like giving up. It is about standing up and showing your bravery in the face of adversity.

* Boldness or determination in facing great danger.

* Valour means courage and bravery it is about having spirit and nerve and following things right through to the end.

* No matter how difficult the task hold your head up high and tackle the task boldly and with your full attention.

* Even if you feel really scared or shy, believe you are courageous and brave
- no one will know and you will surprise yourself !

* Valour means boldness, bravery in the face of danger. I guess for kids it means not letting yourself be daunted by what looks like an impossible task. That can mean staring in the eyes of someone who's taller than you by the head and shoulders and putting your guard up, reading to do your best in sparring them, or taking on a really challenging task at home or school.
Valour is an act of courage or heroism in circumstances of extreme peril eg Soldiers going to war is an act of bravery/Valour.

* Valour’s deciding to give it a go even when you know it’s going to be really hard. When you know you are facing the biggest challenges and you
Jump in to do your best.

* Valour is representing yourself and being true to yourself, even when things are very difficult.

* Valour is the courage to face any situation you may need to deal with. It is displaying bravery regards of the task.

* Heroic courage.

Calm is this weeks "Warrior Code" Talk

* The more serious the situation the calmer you need to be.

* In the heat of the moment, breath. Make a gap if you can. But don’t think about why or how, there’s no time. Just respond with clarity, one step at a time. You know what to do.

* Remember your priorities, remember what’s important. Don’t think ahead, you may not get there. Just deal with what’s happening right now.

* Great pressure is wonderful for reminding you of this, your survival and that of others may depend on you remaining calm.

* An absence or cessation of motion; stillness. Serenity; tranquillity; peace.
“calm” is being in a state of mind that allows you to make the right decision and to respond appropriately.

* Calm is remaining level headed and even-tempered, no matter what is going on around you.

* Calm is taking a deep breath before you do something important. Then thinking. Then breathing again. Then thinking. Then doing whatever needs to be done.

* Calm - to find clarity by being still and quiet in any situation.

* Calm is what we are when we succeed in not letting pressure sending us into a panic. It means keeping a cool head when there are lots of things and people around you deliberately or unwittingly putting pressure on you.

* Calm is about being present in the moment so that you can work out what is right and true, allowing you to make an appropriate decision for the needs of the situation.

* Calm is accepting what is happening around without judgement.