If martial arts have given me anything, it is a fighting spirit; the spirit of a warrior exists in every Hwa Rang student and teacher, and this warrior is fearless and capable of the most incredible feats of strength and agility. Each new student begins at a different level of awareness of this fact, and it can often take years to fully realize what it means. These students that become warriors are brimming with confidence, as they have the power to train and fight their heart out. I was jumping out of my skin with excitement the week before Grandmaster Lee’s Midwest Seminars. We trained our hardest at class and were ready to take on new material and challenges. That morning I had woken up early to prepare myself with a good breakfast and some stretching. While I went through my morning routine, I kept in mind that it would be a long drive to Minneapolis. While pouring some milk into my cereal, my dad came into the kitchen and casually said, “don’t forget to set your clocks for daylight savings time.” My heart stopped. After a second to take it in, I understood that I was an entire hour behind schedule. After cramming the cereal down my throat, I double and triple checked that I had all my gear, printed a map to the dojang, and headed out the door. While I was driving, my mind wandered to the kinds of things people would think of me, say to me. I had been late to a class before, but this was my first seminar; I had to have it perfect. My black Hyundai has a surprisingly good engine, so keeping thirty miles per hour over the speed limit was not difficult. As I cruised down the highway, I kept music playing to calm me down and try to forget about for the time being. The screen on my cell phone was consistently li... ... middle of paper ... ...stately than with interrogation. “I am sorry for being late to class. I feel as though I have failed you.” “You have not failed me, you have failed yourself. It’s what is inside that is holding you back. You have nothing to fear but greatness and confidence.” His words were like the collapsing of a dammed river, the torrent washing away uncertainty to leave behind a cleansed mind and spirit. Grandmaster taught me that true confidence comes from within, and only I can make it happen. Every great warrior has faced their own fears and limitations to become what they want to be. Since those seminars, I have had more passion for everything I do in life. From playing music to keeping up on my training, I have confidence that has me on a straight path. Look inside, and realize that limits that exist are only there because you haven’t done anything to remove them.
As the cessation of the century approached, Rhee had accomplished more than he had ever hoped, garnering awards and apperceptions virtually too numerous to count. He had been denominated one of President George Bush’s Daily Points of Light. His ebony belt students included not only Members of Congress, but eminent figures like Tony Robbins, Jack Valenti, and Jack Anderson. He had appeared on the cover of Parade magazine with Cheryl Tiegs. And he had been designated by Ebony Belt magazine as one of the top two living martial artists of the 20th Century.
In one of the more commonly portrayed stereotypes in film, Asians are often portrayed as great martial artists. Martial arts seem to come less as a skill and more a natural ability to someone who is Asian. Somehow, it’s right in our blood. Actors who have contributed to t...
Elia, Randy. Peter Kwok’s Kung Fu Academy. Masonic Temple Lodge, Westwood, NJ. 17 March 2014. n.p.
Several individuals need to be constantly sending messages to their friends and family members with the use of a cellphone while driving. More and more drivers have the urge to use their cell phones while driving. This dangerous mixture can result to be even deadly. “As one researcher concluded, a cellphone draws attention away from the routines that would provide a good representation of the driving environment” (qtd. in Seppa 3).
This legendary man is one of, if not the most recognizable icon in martial arts cinema of the 20th century and beyond. Millions of people today would acknowledge and agree without a doubt that Bruce Lee is the greatest martial artist who has ever lived in all of history. However, Bruce's unique fighting style and realistic approach in his films is not to be looked at as the only factors of his significance. In his short life but long legacy, Bruce has changed the world by openly teaching ancient, Chinese martial arts to people who were non-Chinese, literally kicking down racial barriers within the filming industries(between Eastern-Asia and Western countries), and by being one of the 20th Century's earliest self-help gurus.
Before earning my black belt, I never saw myself as someone who could accomplish great things. I always undermined myself by not using my full potential. I rarely tried to prove myself correct when someone else shot down my statement because I did not know I had the tenacity to take action.
The cell phone however, while convenient, will often lead to many hazardous accidents and sometimes deaths. While most will admit using a cell phone while driving is dangerous, many still do it. Distracted driving as a whole should been seen as a violent act of selfishness closely related to murderous intent. The use of a cell phone behind the wheel is just like being drunk behind the wheel so it is easy to imagine thousands of people driving throughout the day “drunk”. David L. Strayer, Professor at the University of Utah in Cognition and Neural Science, reveals in his research “A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver” that “people who drive while talking on their cell phones are as impaired as drunk drivers with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 %”(Strayer). With this in mind it is no wonder Distracted driving is a common factor in collisions. This can be understood in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s article, “NHTSA Policy and FAQs on Cellular Phone Use While Driving”. In the article, the NHTSA concedes that “driving distractions, including the use of cell phones, contribute to 25% of all traffic crashes” (NHTSA.gov). The reader should keep in mind that distracted driving is closely related to cell phone
And if it is true that the lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success then I am right. This is where my path to success really begins. It is never late to start again. Small things that aren’t so small can have a big repercussion in someone's life. We as human beings need to learn how to be more loving, respectful and compassionate. I am so proud to be who I am today because of this past experiences. I believe almost everybody has had a time in their lives in which they failed, nobody is perfect. Failure indeed can be fundamental to later success, but the expectations of success are not what people think, at least for me, but I certainly know I'm not
“To conquer frustration, one must remain intensely focused on the outcome, not the obstacles.” I still remember this quote from Within I Rise by T.F. Hodge because this specific quote has helped me through my long and winding journey toward the black-belt. It started with my friend in fifth grade showing me what he learned in karate class the day before, and me asking my mother if I could join. My brother and I went to our first class and I instantly fell in love with the sparring, grappling, fighting combinations, self-defense, and of course, learning to use nunchucks. It was not long before I had my eye on the black-belt, but there were many obstacles ahead. Less than one percent of all students at my karate school end up getting to
The Warrior Ethos, by Steven Pressfield depicts the warrior’s mentality from ancient times to the present through a variety of different aspects and stories. In The Warrior Ethos, Pressfield states that men are not born with the certain qualities that make a good warrior, but instead are inculcated through years of training and indoctrination, stating at an early age. He shows how different societies have been able to instill the same or very similar ideals throughout history while maintaining their own unique characteristics. Things have changed from ancient Sparta, where parents would be enthusiastic about their children going to war, and even more elated upon learning they died valorous in battle. These days, most parents are a lot
	One of Bruce Lee’s best characteristics was his discipline. During Bruce’s teenage years he was a member of a street gang that simply went looking for fights. However, through martial arts Bruce developed discipline and was soon able to control himself. Bruce’s discipline is easily seen in this quote about problems that occurred on the set of Enter the Dragon. "Another problem was that the martial arts extras- most of whom were members of the Chinese crime syndicate, the Triads, would sometimes challenge Bruce to a real fight. For the most part Bruce would ignore it" (30). Bruce’s discipline can also be seen in the amount that he practiced his martial arts. He would practice everyday for hours, and even as a young child he was always practicing. "Bruce
Research has proven that it is difficult to concentrate on driving and talking at the same time. A recent British study showed that talking on a mobile phone while driving was more hazardous than operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Tests conducted by scientists for UK-based insurance firm, Direct Line, involved 20 subjects using a driving simulator to test reaction times and driving performance and compared this to when drivers had too much to drink. The results showed drivers' reaction times were, on average, 30 percent slower when talking on a handheld mobile phone than when legally drunk - and nearly 50 percent slower than under normal driving conditions. The tests also showed that drivers talking on phones were less able than drunk drivers to maintain a constant speed, and they had greater difficulty keeping a safe distance from the car in front.
My opponent’s name was John Doe. There were other competitors at the tournament, but they had never posed any threat to my title. For as long as I had competed in this tournament, I had easily taken the black belt championship in my division. John, however, was the most phenomenal martial artist I had ever had the honor of witnessing at my young age of thirteen. And he was in my division. Although he was the same rank, age, size, and weight as I, he surpassed me in almost every aspect of our training. His feet were lightning, and his hands were virtually invisible in their agile swiftness. He wielded the power of a bear while appearing no larger than I. His form and techniques were executed with near perfection. Although I had never defeated his flawlessness before, victory did not seem unattainable. For even though he was extraordinary, he was not much more talented than I. I am not saying that he was not skilled or even that he was not more skilled than I, for he most certainly was, but just not much more than I. I still had one hope, however little, of vanquishing this incredible adversary, for John had one weakness: he was lazy. He didn’t enjoy practicing long hours or working hard. He didn’t have to. Nevertheless, I had found my passage to triumph.
Over the last few decades, the use of cell phones has become a very common tool. Furthermore, Technology has certainly advanced, and the cell phone is becoming the most preferred mode of communication. The demand for a cell phone is growing every day. In addition, the use of wireless technology is affordable, and anyone can buy a cell phone at a reasonable price. They come in all shapes and sizes. They range from black to bright metallic white. American public use of cell phones is increasing everyday. As the number of people using cell phones increase, the use of cell phones while driving will also increase on our streets and highways. At the same rate, motorists still converse on cell phones and write text messages while driving. Motorist will also engage in other activities apart from driving. For example, drivers will text when driving, and they will dial numbers. Drivers will receive calls and converse with the recipient for long periods. Again, driving demands your full attention, and your concentration needed when talking on the phone. However, it means that the driver has to divert his attention to the conversation, which leads to less concentration on the road. On the contrary, one can therefore connect motorist’s accidents and cell phone usage while driving.
It rises even more when you start to successfully spar and win against people. Discipline comes from listening to your instructor. Asking questions such as “Do I face my fist this way or that”, questions like these are what you should listen to. By listening to and doing what your sensei says you will learn discipline. Integrity comes from showing up every day and doing your best, even win your instructor is helping someone else. Honesty comes with this as well, when you admit your mistakes on the exercise it helps you know that honesty is right. Enlightenment comes from knowing there is a higher power and following the Way. Timing is a skill that takes both mental and physical disipline. You must learn to read your opponent’ rhythm and use a rhythm they don’t expect to get in them in your critical distance line and