Knowing your past is necessary to moving towards your future.

Karate has a storied history. But, I find less martial artists truly know their roots. Shorin Ryu is an ancient Okinawan art. If you don't know much about Okinawa, karate or its history, this video provides a good foundation. It's amazing to learn that the same art we practice today shares deep roots with karate masters of the past. I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did:
http://youtu.be/s83yIq4O5Sw

If you enjoyed the video you may also enjoy seeing the lineage of our Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu organization.

http://www.malineage.com/martial-artists/Vashon-Borich?section=lineage

If you are compelled, sign up on malineage.com (it's free) and add your name to the lineage tree. The tracks each of us make may one day be a legacy. Honor your roots and make a difference in the future.

There is one word that can set me off quicker than a hungry wolf on a fat squirrel. Just a mention of the word lights a fire under me. My children have learned that if I hear them say it I will immediately stop what I'm doing and a Mom lecture will ensue. My karate students have also heard me correct them if they say it.

The word I speak of is "can't."

I believe that if a person says "I can't," it is a self defeating phrase. Once said, it puts a mental block in place that prevents improvement. It sets off a chain of negative excuses as to why you believe you "can't" do something. It restricts progress and limits possibilities.

Yes, there will be challenges in life. Yes, some things you try to do may be incredibly difficult to accomplish. Yes, it's possible you will fail once, twice or even hundreds of times. But, the fact that you didn't give up by saying "I can't" speaks volumes!

I teach my children and students this: Instead of saying "I can't", replace that with "I will, I'll try or will you help me?" By thinking in this way, suddenly you open up new possibilities in your life. The only exception would be if it's something you have no desire to do. If that is the case, then the phrase "I won't" is still better than "I can't."

By removing this word from your vocabulary you change your attitude and your life. This opens up a world of possibilities. What if you could achieve your deepest desires and dreams? What if you knew you really will succeed? In overcoming the mental obstacle you are already more than half way to your goal. You can do it!

The only difference between someone who achieves black belt in karate and someone who doesn't is the black belt never gave up. When the going got tough, the black belt said "I can" and kept going.

Change your attitude and you will succeed in ways you may never had thought possible.

    The saying, "Stress Kills" has a lot of truth to it. I believe that how we handle stress is what "kills" and causes many of our problems in life.  If you are stressed out it can constrict blood vessels, prevent restful sleep, cause indigestion issues and other health problems. It can also lead to anger and even cause depression. Stress is anything that creates mental, physical or emotional strain in our lives.
    There are always going to be things in our lives that cause stress. Unfortunately, it's not possible to eliminate stressful things from happening to us. (Wouldn't life be boring without a little bit of stress?) However, you do have control of how you react to stress. 
    Martial artists and other warriors, such as military soldiers, are often known for their calm demeanor under extremely stressful situations.  When a life or death situation occurs they must be able to quickly evaluate the threat and react instantly.  They cannot freeze, hesitate or overreact. Over reaction exerts too much energy that must be conserved to successfully finish out a battle. An experienced warrior often recalls later that, in the heat of battle, things seemed to slow down. It was as if time stopped and allowed them to see each opportunity clearly. Their breathing slowed, things came into focus and their body just naturally reacted.  The key to their reaction appeared to be how they handled their stress and specifically, how they breathed. 

Breathing
    One of the best ways that I've found to relax and reduce stress is to breathe. You may be chuckling right now thinking, "I already breathe! I'd be dead if I didn't!" True. But, there are certain breathing techniques you can use to reduce stress in your life. If you get in the habit of using breath control techniques, when stressors do come into your life you will have a method of reducing the negative effects on your body.
     There are many different methods of breathing. One of which, that we practice in the dojo, is slow meditative breathing. In this type of breathing you breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth. It is a cleansing breath that goes deep into your belly and fully exhales out. It's a way to clear your mind before class. There are other types as well, such as in the face of danger, take a quick but deep breath through your mouth and then exhale slowly through your nose. This provides additional oxygen to your muscles.Then, the slower exhale through your nose keeps the oxygen in your body longer to give you necessary energy.
    Below is a video that provides several alternative methods of breathing specifically for stress reduction. The video is produced by Sensei Roemke, who runs a dojo in Santa Cruz, California. I have no affiliation with him or his martial arts system, but I thought this particular video segment offered some excellent tips on breath control. Several of the techniques I use myself in my own personal meditations.

If you are having trouble viewing the video, you may access it directly here: http://youtu.be/ZLJ2FJnty64

I am not being endorsed by or promoting the people in this video. I have no affiliation with them. The video was screened and approved for use on this blog based solely on the benefit found in the techniques demonstrated. On January 8, 2013 the videos were found to contain appropriate content  for the topic of this blog. As the videos are linked to from YouTube, and can be changed by the owners of the videos at anytime, I am not responsible for any changes or deletions made by the owners. If you find the video no longer works or is not meaningful to this blog, please contact Vashon Borich.

    In a past blog entry I discussed exercises you can do to increase flexibility. In this entry I will discuss some basic exercises you can do to increase overall body strength. The exercises I chose have been selected for their simplicity and use of little to no training equipment. I also have narrowed it down to four main exercises that produce excellent results for overall strength in muscle groups needed for the martial arts. Finally, I've provided a work out plan for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. 

1. Push ups: start on the ground, feet apart for balance, hands positioned directly under your shoulders. Keeping your back and legs straight, push up with your arms and slowly lower yourself touching your chest to the floor for each count. 

• Beginners do a count of ten. If that is still too challenging, drop to your knees.
  
• Intermediate do a count of twenty. 
  
• Advanced, do plyometric push ups (push up like a spring and clap in between), twenty count
  

2. Air squats: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart with your toes, knees and hips in a straight line. Grasp your hands together and hold them straight out parallel to the floor. Pull your belly button toward your spine and contract your abdominal muscles. Slowly lower your body, as though you are sitting in a chair. Lower until your bottom is in line with your knees (knees at 90-degree angles). Make sure your knees are BEHIND your toes, your back is straight, and the weight is in your heels.

• Beginners do a count of ten.
  
• Intermediate do a count of twenty.
  
• Advanced, hold a weight (dumbbell, kettlebell, stone, soup cans), do a count of twenty. Increase weight enough so the last 4 or 5 reps are very challenging.
  

Air Squat demonstration video: http://youtu.be/zhGVm7IBPuY

3. Leg lifts: lay on your back on the ground with legs fully extended. Tuck palms of hands under your bottom. Keeping legs straight and together, slowly lift heels about four inches off the ground. Tightening tummy, lift legs up further to 45 degree angle. That's one count. Slowly repeat to the four inch position. Do these reps very slowly to a cadence of 3 seconds per rep.

• Beginners do 10 reps
  
• Intermediate do 20 reps
  
• Advanced, on the 45 degree, extend arms straight over head and lift your back off the ground also at 45 degrees. Hold it for a count of 5 so you are in a "V" shape with only your bottom touching the ground. Release and return for twenty reps
  

Leg Lifts demonstration video: http://youtu.be/SH0t2-GgwiQ

4. Pull ups: locate a pull up bar, kids jungle gym or sturdy rafter in your home. Grip the bar with fingers pointed away from you. Pull your body up so your chin goes over the bar.

• Beginners do 10 reps (If a pull up is not possible, utilize a chair to use a leg for leverage)
  
• Intermediate do 20 reps
  
• Advanced, pull up high enough so bar is at your waist, do 20 reps
  

Pull up demonstration video: http://youtu.be/W_vw0P8EVwQ

    After performing all four exercises, rest for one minute. That means you have completed one circuit. Repeat the circuit a minimum of twice and work up to repeating the circuit five times. Once you can repeat the beginning level five times, go ahead and bump up to intermediate. Once you can perform five circuits at the intermediate level, bump up to the advanced level. If five circuits at the advanced level is a snap for you then contact me for a new set of exercises to challenge you!
    For the best results perform all four exercises in circuits twice a week.

    It's amazing watching an experienced karate practitioner throw a beautiful high kick over their own head. How flexible they must be! Martial artists are often known for their flexibility. But, flexibility isn't just important to performing incredible karate techniques. It also helps protect your body from injury and improves the range of motion of your joints as a whole.
    I sometimes hear adults say to me, I've never been flexible, even as a child, how could I possibly increase my flexibility now? I smile as I recall that I couldn't even touch my toes as a child but today, as an adult, I can do the splits. Flexibility can be learned and achieved at any age. While some people are naturally more limber than others, a stretching routine can allow any student to make progress in personal flexibility.
    In karate, one of the most talked about indicators of flexibility are the splits. There are two different types of "splits"  -- the side splits and front splits.

• Side splits are performed by extending the legs to the left and right of the torso. They are sometimes called straddle splits, middle splits, Chinese splits, box splits or center splits. In the photo, Gavin, is demonstrating the side splits.
• Front splits are performed by extending one leg forward and the other leg to the rear of the torso. A front split is named according to the leg that is extended forward (e.g., the right leg is extended forward when executing a right split).

    To increase your limberness, start with a consistent training routine that incorporates stretching exercises into the routine.  Stretching exercises aid in joint and ligament flexibility. When you stretch the body constantly changes based on the resistance it encounters. If you stretch on a habitual basis, your body will become more limber. If you choose to lead a more sedentary lifestyle in place of stretching or exercise, the body will quickly adjust and result in a decreased range of motion and muscle loss. Many health and fitness experts recommend stretching at least three times a week to improve flexibility and to see positive benefits of a stretching routine. 
    I have included a couple of videos that demonstrate some excellent stretches specifically for performing the splits. Try utilizing these in your own personal stretching routine. Before long, you too may be doing the splits! 

If you are having trouble viewing the videos, here are the direct links to the YouTube versions:
http://youtu.be/8Yd4Iag-dEA
http://youtu.be/ywFJIdTSDIQ

    In today's martial art world, it seems the type of arts that get the most attention are the sports schools like MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), Tae Kwon Do and JuJitsu schools. I have found that although many of these schools have students (and instructors) that are technically and athletically quite good, it saddens me to see some of them have lost the essence of the martial way. I realize this isn't all martial arts schools, but I have seen a trend that has lead many martial artists away from the true meaning of karate do.
    The Martial Way, also called Budo, means "knowledge as a way to improve ones life and the life of others." Budo is a way of living and a way of dying.
    Let's look back to ancient Samurai warriors, they lived a dangerous life in which they were very aware that each day could be their last. Death was always in mind, day and night, with the understanding that with their great skill and importance as protectors of their community that they had a great responsibility. They lived each day as if it were their last day. Like the knights of the renaissance period, Samurai's followed a code of moral principals. This code of conduct or way of Samurai life was called Bushido or "the way of the warrior." Bushido tampered the violent existence of the Samurai warrior with wisdom and serenity. This code, is often unwritten and passed on verbally to be recorded on one's heart as a moral compass for living life.
    As a martial artist of today, I believe Bushido is still a vital part of our training. We are learning techniques that could severely injure, maim or even kill another human life. Without a strong moral compass to guide us, we risk being a danger to society. I believe that Bushido should still be taught in all martial arts schools. I feel so strongly on this that I believe students who do not exhibit the moral compass of Budo in their life should be restricted on what training they receive in the martial arts. The last thing an instructor wants to hear is that a student has become a trained bully or worse, a trained killer.
    If you aren't familiar with Bushido, here are the seven tenets that most martial arts circles believe were used by the Samurai:
1. Justice / Rectitude / Right Decision
2. Bravery / Courage
3. Benevolence/ Charity
4. Respect/ Courtesy
5. Honesty
6. Loyalty / Faithful / Devoted
7. Filial Piety (respect for your parents and ancestors)

I believe it is our duty, as martial artists, to ensure the Budo code isn't forgotten. We should do this not just with words, but through living out the tenets and traveling the Martial Way.

We are in the middle of an Obesity Epidemic. According to a recent article in the New York Times, "Children will be entering adulthood heavier than they've ever been at any time in human history." According to 2012 Obesity statistics, 35.7% of the U.S. population is considered obese.

In the U.S. it has been said we live in the "land of plenty." For many Americans, they have taken this to the excess and created an unhealthy body that is overweight and adopted a sedentary lifestyle. For those of us that are involved in the Martial Arts, at least we are breaking out of the sedentary lifestyle. However, that is only half the quest to being healthy and physically fit. Although I am not a nutritionists, I have researched and recently experimented in a nutrition test.

My nutrition test was a simple lifestyle change that I decided to try, orginally, for 60 days. The goal was to see if I could lose weight, improve my over all health and increase my energy level without changing anything but a few simple foods. The foods that I focused on limiting from my diet I've dubbed, "The Three White Deaths." They are: Sugar, White Flour and Dairy. Granted, these are comfort foods and the most easily accessible in the American diet. I decided rather than eliminating them completely, that I would refrain from ingesting them six days a week. On the seventh day, usually a Saturday, it was "dieters gone wild" day. On DGW day, I would eat as many of the forbidden foods as my body could stand and actually made myself a little sick. During the rest of the week my diet consisted of lean protein, vegetables and beans. Fruit was also restricted due to the high natural sugar content. A typical breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs, black beans and mixed vegetables with a douse of hot sauce. Snacks were raw nuts, like almonds, lean beef jerky and carrots. Dinners were lean meats, veggies and beans.

The results? At the end of sixty days, I had lost 22 pounds, my skin was smoother, my hair shinier, my energy level at an all-time high and I felt great! I had a physical check up before and after the 60 days. My blood pressure and cholesterol was in even healthier, normal levels. My HGH (the good cholesterol) had especially improved. My physician asked what I had been doing, I told her and she said, "keep it up!"

It was so successful, that I have continued this lifestyle change. It's become a way of life for me. Oh, and my best friend also has participated in this. She lost 52 pounds! We both agreed that reducing (or eliminating) the three white deaths has been a healthy choice for us.

You can learn more about this topic from these resources:
http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/04/06/how-to-lose-20-lbs-of-fat-in-30-days-without-doing-any-exercise/
For those of you who love your dairy, you can experience similar results by just eliminating the sugar and flour:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/287568-no-flour-no-sugar-diet-plan/
http://noflour-nosugar-works.webs.com/

* I am not financially benefiting by promoting these links. Always check with your physician before beginning any diet changes.

    The morning began earlier than most people choose to wake up on a Saturday morning. But these were no ordinary people. These were Kokoro Kaizen warriors. And, by 7 a.m. they were at my doorstep suited up and ready to push themselves to their limit in a morning full of challenges.
    After some warm-up stretches we were off to run/hike close to 4 miles on rugged terrain and up steep hills. I hoped my warriors were up for the challenge. Some ran, some walked and one even limped to the finish, but all of them completed the first challenge.
    Without much time to fully catch their breaths, we launched into a circuit of strenuous exercises that tested their mental fortitude, physical strength and tenacity. Dangling from a ribbon around their necks was a daunting punch card of exercises. Each exercise must be completed 50 to 100 times before the day was done. There were moments of frustration, exhaustion and even one who had to pause to empty the contents of his breakfast. But everyone pushed themselves to their limit. They impressed me with their spirit. They performed with the strength and passion of Samurai Warriors. Through sweat, grit and dirt they pressed on. By 11 a.m. everyone had completed their punch card and was certified as a Kokoro Kaizen warrior.
   We completed the day with a swim in the lake and a BBQ feast.
Right now, I am beaming with pride for my students. I can't think of a better way to have celebrated our dojo's two-year anniversary. Thank you to all who came out. And, thank you to the parents, siblings and friends who helped with the event. I am honored to have such a great group.

~ Vashon Borich, Sensei

You can view more photos from the 2012 Kokoro Kaizen celebration here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.492194880791920.118980.255052444506166&

    During our karate training there are certain roles we play in order to safely practice. We call these roles, Uke and Tori. The Tori is the "defender" or the person who successfully completes the technique. The Uke is the "receiver" or the person who usually initiates the attack and receives the throw, pin or lock.  Sometimes the Uke is referred to as the "attacker" however, this is not accurate. In some cases, the Tori may initiate the attack or first more, the Uke counters and the Tori completes the defense technique.
    There is an art to being a good Uke and Tori. There is an important relationship between the two partners. If one partner doesn't perform their technique properly, with enthusiasm and in the correct way it could take away from the lesson or possibly even lead to injury.
    Are you being a good Uke or Tori? Here are some tips to help you become a better Uke and Tori.

• Be enthusiastic. As an Uke when you throw the initial attack, do it with intention and excitement. This doesn't mean overly fast or hard. You want to perform the attack in such a way that it gives the Tori a fair chance to learn the technique. As the Tori, be ready to defend and do so with the same enthusiasm and speed as the Uke.
• Leave your ego at the door. Never give the impression that you know more or are better than the partner you are working with. It's okay to have pride in yourself, but don't underestimate your partner. This attitude robs yourself of learning something new. If you do something 1,000 times, does that mean you know it? No, this means you have had 1,000 opportunities to experience it. Never assume you are too great to take those first steps repeatedly. I have been taught things from white belts on their first day of training!
• Let your partner "feel" a good technique. Don't be a limp fish. Assist your partner in learning by giving them a good attack. Every attack and defense should come from the heart so you can practice being thrown, pinned, struck, kicked and taken down. With that said, you may have to adjust your speed and strength to match that of your partner. Follow your partner's lead, don't go full force and full speed if they aren't yet at the level to handle that at this point in their training.
  
• Don't be a spoiler. Nothing drives me crazier than an Uke that shows you how they can get out of every technique. Don't spoil the learning opportunity by telling them how you can get out of everything or worse actually getting out of all the techniques. Give your partner a chance to learn the motions as taught. It is perfectly fine to offer positive feedback like, "the wrist lock is loose" or "my balance is still good." A good Uke lets their partner work the motion, but always makes mental notes of the openings and opportunities.
  
• Remember both partners are learning. The Tori is learning how to properly perform an effective technique. The Uke is learning how to roll, fall and not get hurt when being taken down. The Uke and Tori relationship is really a partnership. If one of them does not do well, the other will not do well either.
  
• Practice safely. Be aware of body motion and distance from your partner. The goal is not to injure each other. Each person needs to be alert and aware of their partner. If you are going to take your partner down be aware of other students in the dojo, the edge of the mat, posts, mirrors, etc. Tori's listen to your partner! If they are tapping out, release the pressure right away. If you are the Uke, tap out BEFORE you feel pain. If you can tell they have you in the proper position and you are feeling the pressure, tap out. There is no need to be a tough guy or gal and try to see how much pain you can take.
  

    The Uke and Tori relationship is much like a dance -- It's lead and follow, listening and moving together. Keep it fresh and alive. Feel the excitement and thrill of motion as your arms circle and make contact with an incoming attack. Enjoy the beauty of doing something you love and appreciating the most basic of its movements every time, like it was the first time.

    Have you ever been pushed to your limit? I'm not talking about being tired from a hard work out or being mentally drained from a challenging day. I'm talking about mentally, physically and spiritually just barely hanging on.  Perhaps you have been in a situation where you found yourself out of breath, heart pounding, body aching, bruised, bloodied and barely standing. It's a point where you are so worn out that it takes every ounce of mental energy to focus on moving one foot in front of the other. Step by step you move, inching yourself forward with a determination to never give up even though you are completely tapped out.
    If you have ever been there, then you are one of very few people who have. Rarely do we push ourselves to our limit. 

    With this in mind, I am hosting a special challenge that coincides with a celebration. The challenge is called Kokoro Kaizen (more on this in a bit). The celebration is the two-year anniversary of the Branson branch of Seiyo-no Shorin-ryu Karate & Kobudo. Our dojo, at the Branson Sports Club, first opened it's doors on Aug. 28, 2010!
    We will host our anniversary challenge/celebration on Saturday, Aug. 25th at Sensei Borich's home. For those of you who haven't been to Sensei's home, she lives on a little acreage surrounded by woods, hiking trails and a path down to the lake. It will be a nice setting for the challenge and celebration.
    What does Kokoro Kaizen mean?
    Kokoro is a Japanese word that represents mind, heart and spirit. In the Japanese culture, there is no distinction between the three. Similar to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in Christianity, they are different, but still the same. In Japan, they often point to their heart when discussing kokoro as it represents the center or essence of a human being.
    Kaizen is a Japanese word for "improvement." Specifically, it represents a practice that focuses upon continuous improvement for the better. It's a process of continuous, gradual, orderly and never ending improvement. In karate, it means pushing yourself further each day... testing your limits.
    So, Kokoro Kaizen means "To improve the mind, body and spirit through never ending improvement."
    What will happen at Kokoro Kaizen?
    Kokoro Kaizen will test your limits. It's an opportunity to push yourself physically, mentally and spiritually. It is a series of challenges that all willing participants will be tasked to do. It will not be easy, but those who complete the challenges and push through their own limitations will be awarded.  The event starts at 7 a.m. with group exercises and then a 4-mile run/hike. Some of the challenges that you can expect are:

• Sit ups -- 100+
• Push ups -- 100+
• Kicks -- 100+
• Punches -- 100+
• Kata -- 50 x
• Blocks -- 100+

These, and other challenges, will be done outdoors in karate gi uniforms.
    For those Warriors who successfully complete Kokoro Kaizen, they will have their names emblazoned on a hand-carved hardwood Samurai totem. The Samurai totem is being crafted by Ronald Leach, Hanshi. The totem will have a permanent home in the Branson Dojo for all to see.
    The event will be followed by lunch and an anniversary celebration.
    How do I participate in Kokoro Kaizen?
    There are two ways to participate; as a Warrior or on the Support Squad. The Warriors will compete in the event. The Support Squad will assist with tracking participants, set up, clean up, food/water and general cheer leading. Cost to participate is by donation only. We will use the donations to start a karate scholarship fund for honorable students who could use help with purchasing equipment and karate tuition.  The deadline to register is Aug. 7, 2012.
    Where do I get more information and register?
Click here to Contact Sensei Borich.  She will provide information and registration documentation.


A Kokoro Kaizen warrior cannot give up. Even after he is broken, fatigued and wanting nothing more than to just give up, he must keep fighting. There may come a time when a Kokoro Kaizen warrior won't have the luxury to quit fighting, because lives may depend on it.