Master B's Web log

This past weekend I was the best man for a longtime friend. Steve Best and I have known each other since we were 18 years old. He is one of the hardest working Black Belts I have ever seen. He has inspired me to always do better than I think I can and to always do the right thing as a friend. At age 31, while doing forms at a graduation he suffered a major stroke. He was at deaths door but somehow found the strength to fight off this challenger. That stroke changed his life and challenged him as a fighter in many new ways. He continues to do martial arts, teaching and training. He even performs in tournaments in the handi-capable division with his cane and hi-level intensity. One of my favorite saying is "When life gives you lemons; make lemonade." Here's to you Master Best!

Wow What a Black Belt class last night. It was our monthly street clothes class, where we put everything into a street combat situation. It was grueling. At the end of training and all the fights, I was tired. At age 52 I guess it may be a little tougher to hang with the twenty year olds.I will just have to train harder to overcome the aches, pains, bumps and bruises. Only one other point. I love it. I never feel more alive until after the hard and serious training with a group of people that has such a high respect for each other.A little fun tomorrow night. I will bring the advanced class to the lake for some beach training! All the best! Mr B Mike Bogdanski's Martial Arts http://www.martialart-skills.com/

Tuesday night We started a new concept in stripe testing tonight. I love the concept of continued and never ending improvement. We are working hard on some of the second degree Black Belts that are readying to grade for 3rd Dan (3rd degree Black Belt). This journey seems tough (but rewarding). I know how hard it is to learn new material. I try to learn something new every week although I am not always successful. Some days it seems like I have'nt ever trained. Backfists slow, footwork like I'm mired in mud and my muscles burning. But, all in all I'm still in the game and I always feel better whan I'm done. I always realize that this is just as much a mental conditioner as a physical one. I really need to set up the web log for the other instructors to journal their experiences. I really believe it will help all the students to see the internal workings of Black Belts.

Here is our newest addition to our web site, our instructors very own blog. Even with the worldwide popularity of the blog I never thought we might have one. One of the worlds leading innovator/instructors, a man called Tom Callos, recommended that Black Belts keep a training log to make themselves accountable to themselves and our students. Journaling is an opportunity to share gains, losses, feelings, frustrations, passions, and victories. We want everyone to look at Black Belt as a journey and not a destination and to live like Black Belts every day. This is the beginning of a new journey for Black Belts. Live every day with passion and committment, be a role model and a product of the product. We can become the modern day knights with our words, thoughts and actions. Here's to the journey! July 11, 2005 Well here it is - the truth and nothing but the truth. Sore, tired, achy and I feel great about it. After a weekend in the sun and waterskiing and tubing I admit I am a little...