A bridge to far

We use martial arts and fitness as a tool to become better human beings, and we do it In an enviorment that cultivates strong relationships with ourselves, and a community of empowered people around us.

    One of the best Christmas messages I got this year was from one of my black belts Dustin. I was 'going through it' over the holidays and he reminded me what loyalty and dedication is.

He said, "I'd jump off a bridge for you sensei."

Of course I never asked him to do that. I, like Joe Lewis asked of me, ......asked him only for 11 minutes, to fight with all his heart not quit. My promise to him in return was that I would teach him for life.

Loyalty and dedication are rare commodities Dustin has both. So many nowadays fall short,there is no love, joy or passion without pain. The path to wisdom is paved by mentors and pain, we provide both.

Cornelius Ryans' book A Bridge Too Far gives an account of Operation Market Garden, a failed Allied attempt to break through German lines at Arnhem in the occupied Netherlands during World War II. The title of the book comes from a comment made by British Lieutenant General Frederick Browning, deputy commander of the First Allied Airborne Army, who told Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery before the operation, "I think we may be going a bridge too far".

In today's world so many attributes we claim to aspire to come with an expiration date, how far is to far when it comes to Honor, Commitment, Love and Respect of a relationship or a goal?

Whether it's dieting, fitness or love, life constantly puts temptations in front of us to test our resolve, loyalty or respect. Discipline and honor to commitment are the basics of self respect. Stick to basics and enjoy life with dignity.

  Set your goals, listen to your coach, portion your meals ,train regularly .....join our journey learn the difference https://fearlessfamilymartialarts.com/classes/primal-fitness-kickboxing/

State of Grace

Theology describes perseverance as a continuing state of grace until death.

 

 Success is no accident it's hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all a love of what your doing or learning to do. 'Heart' is that extra something that separates the achiever from the rest, it's the passion and stamina that makes dreams reality despite adversity.

 

 

Spiderman has an indomitable will that gives him the determination to accomplish all his goals. He grew up with two very moral and righteous people who taught him to always do the right thing, and more importantly, to never give up. His Aunt May and Uncle Ben instilled the virtues of perseverance, determination, willpower, a moral compass, work ethic, and kindness. Spiderman is relentless in his pursuit of justice for all, and his alter ego, Peter Parker, is just as relentless in his goals of making his own way and succeeding both in school and life.

 

 

An occasional Team Fearless student, Connor Hood shares a lot of the same attributes as the web slinger. The day before his first indoor track meet Connor could hardly left his leg after a 'slip and fall'. We worked on a few stretches in an effort to regain some of his flexibility so he could still compete. HE DID IT !!!

 

 

The most important things in your life may never be seen they can only be felt by the heart. The sacrifice, the pain and the overcoming it even in the smallest acts is the secret to success and happiness.

 

Have passion for what you do. Pursue tirelessly your dreams because without a fighters heart your life will be like a sunless garden, full of dead flowers.

 

Train on ! See you in class, Join our journey........... 

Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/pele737774.html?src=t_perseverance

Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/perseverance.html

Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/perseverance.html

Is Good Enough the New Perfect

True happiness...

 is not attained through self-gratification,

 but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.

-Helen Keller-

Who can create anything when only perfect is good enough ?

Once you acknowledge you aren't perfect and that your life isn't perfect after all

it becomes acceptable to simply be you in all your glorious imperfection.

Embracing imperfection is a kinder gentler way to live.

I haven't given up on my quest for excellence but...

 I'm a strong believer that going for 'good enough' leads to

 alot more  happiness than going for 'perfect'.

Being a commission sales person and a perfectionist is potentially lethal...LOL

Perfection is not attainable,

but if we chase it we can attain excellence.

-Vince Lombardi-

Have you ever tried to repair a glass vase or something equally precious that had fallen and smashed on the floor? Those hundreds of bits and pieces form an almost impossible puzzle and it is only through hours of patience and determination that you can almost repair the vessel. Once repaired, it is never the same as it was before. Water leaks through the cracks, edges are rough and uneven. This is because you are trying to restore the broken item to its original state which is impossible. The good news is that with a little creativity you can do so much more! Each little piece, when examined alone is seen for its own unique beauty. Together they can be used to build a new work of art, different to the first. I've seen beautiful art works where bits of glass were used to make mosaics, collages, mirrors, picture frames, and much more. Who could even tell what their original purpose had been?

 Would I have been that impressed with the glass chip when it was still part of a plate or window?

 Yet I marveled at its beauty as it hung proudly on a gallery wall.

In the past 24 months, I've had to pick up the pieces of a shattered life and recover from a some of the most painful moments in my life. One by one I held broken pieces up to the light, trying to figure out where they belonged. Turning them this way and that, I struggled to fit them back into their original places to restore the person I once had been. Every now and then I'd spot a glint of sunlight reflecting off a sharp shard and I'd throw it away. Then at times, I'd find a piece that was different and I'd realize that this little piece was lovely. After almost a year of fruitless effort, I've come to the realization that the person I once had been can never be restored to his original state. But God has blessed me with a unique opportunity to take all these lovely little pieces and to build someone new. Little bits and pieces of me, that were invisible in the past, are now given a chance to shine.

It is painful to have your life shattered and it may seem impossible to pick up those pieces. Sometimes we don't even know where to start. Any form of repair and reconstruction is a long process. But friends, know that it is also an opportunity to re-invent yourself to become the person you would like to be. It is a unique opportunity to look closely at the beautiful bits of you. To hold them up to the light and appreciate the way they shine. Don't waste time trying to rebuild the past, rather appreciate this wonderful gift and build a whole new future! One that you would proudly hang on a gallery wall.

-John Hall-

Blinded by our Passion

 

In our desperation not to face our challenges
 we tend to hide behind people and things

 all the while knowing
 it's much easier to face them head on
 than to run and hide.

We were given hearts to love and be loved,

 sometimes they break.

 

Over time they mend,

the way to mend a broken heart is to love more than ever.

There are people who touch our lives trying to break us down,

but everyone who touches our lives is a teacher.

Trust, like respect is earned not just given.

 The road back to trust and respect is not an easy one.

 It is paved by taking chances, letting someone in,

 giving them a chance to love the hurt away

and reignite our passion.

Some will hurt or disappoint us anyway.

We need the courage to persevere, 

taking every chance to find our passion.

One day someone or something will touch our life,

 inspiring us with their willingness to give us more love,

 more passion than we ever thought we had to give in return.

-Denise Lora Webster Davis-

 ('Sissy') holding her daddy Joe Lewis' hand as he died. 

 

Our passion is sometimes 'birthed' in tragedy.

 

People are always blaming their circumstances,

for what they are.

 

 I don’t believe in circumstances.

 

The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want,

and if they can’t find them, make them.

 

 ~George Bernard Shaw-

 

Find mentors and get advice when pursuing your dreams.

Mentors and pain birth your dreams.
-Dr Mike Murdock-

 Don’t place too much value on family and friends advice.
 Though  well intentioned they're
 advice is more often than not.....wrong for you. 

Draw the line with friends or with an ex
 who's too emotionally needy.

 Professional/personal setbacks feel like the end of the world.
 They don't mean you’ve failed.

 It  means you’re forging a new path.

Joe Lewis said,

 We need to sense whether we've  been motivated by fear

or by confidence.

 One will lead you to being the martial artist you admire,

 the other will lead you to avoid challenges

 by allowing you to continue to hide in fear of being exposed.

 

Feelings are the keys to our motivation and our desires.

 Our spirit is our energy and our pathway.

 Our mentors and/or instructors are our guides and our escorts.

 

 

 

 

 

Heffalumps Revisited....

Some story's just beg for a sequel.........

(in case you missed part one)


http://fearsltd.blogspot.com/2012/08/heffalumps-and-woozles.html

 

Is it REALLY our failure as a coach when a client quits,

loses there passion

 and let's their (BB&T) grow out of control ? 

It is never too late to be
 who you might have been.
 -George Eliot -



Excuses are like body parts: some stink, some don't.

We all have the same number of hours in each day.

 We all have the potential to use them to do what we want.



I've returned to Maine to fulfill my responsibility
 to my students, my clients and to Team Fearless.

A former client,
 who had suffered signifigant weight gain since quitting training pulled in at a gas station,
recognized my vehicle, saw me, u-turned and sped off.

Fear of judgment and negative body image are not an easy burden to bear.

 You're not disappointing me.....

The only person you let down when you fail at fitness...
is YOU !
True courage and self esteem don't come from first time successes but from failing or falling and getting back up and never , never , never quitting !

Running from the mirror and hiding from the world behind your sunglasses and keyboard will not solve your problems.

Don't Fear the Mirror

What we can do is decide that our dreams are important

 and then leverage our passion to honor them.

It may be that the satisfaction I need depends on my going away,
 so that when I've gone and come back,
I'll find it at home.
-Rumi-

 Following the death of my mentor and friend Joe Lewis,
I returned from Ft Lauderdale, Florida
to reestablish my Fearless Fitness / Martial Arts
Northeast Training Centers.

One cannot avoid problems in this life.

 No sooner is one resolved, than another one presents itself.

The solution is not found by focusing on the problem!

 Focus on the desired outcome.

The Solution

As a trainer, you must count rep speed for your clients.

Varied rep speed creates muscle confusion
 and better results.

To trigger muscle building and lose fat,

use a greater time under tension.

 To increase strength and target the central nervous system,

use explosive motion  (less than 20 seconds under tension.)

That's the Body,
Now the Mind and the Spirit...

Calmly and consciously,
give yourself the opportunity to express what needs to be expressed without hiding or holding back.

It’s scary sometimes.
 Take lots of deep breaths!
When we share our thoughts and feelings,
whether it's negative body image, fear, hate or jealousy,
 we experience a sense of,

“Clarity and Self Love"

Mentor , Master, Friend....

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,

while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

-Lao Tzu -



 I first met Joe Lewis at a seminar in 1984.

 Joe asked my instructor why I had been a brown belt for 6 years.

 (I was tested for Shodan a month later.)

While teaching at Karate College, John Maynard, Ian Marshal, Mike Allen and I

discussed the concept of forming an association of Joe Lewis Black belts.

   

 Joe Lewis said,

 'The purpose of creating Joe Lewis Fighting Systems Black belt Association

was too dignify the student’s efforts and pursue a common vision based on courageous leadership. Happiness as a martial artist is not attained with self-gratification

 or the greedy pursuit of ego centered values, but through fidelity of a worthy purpose.'

We simply wanted to share a weekend with our mentor, coach and friend sharing his philosophy, wisdom, tactics and strategies without the encumbrances of style,traditional secrecy and the political agendas prevalent in other Martial Arts associations establishing

a 'Fellowship of Valor' for future generations wishing to share Joes' vision.

'The Monkey Dance'

  Following the 1991 death of Kanei Uechi,

 son of Uechi-ryu founder Kanbun Uechi there was an organizational split.

 The directors of the Okinawa Karate-Do association officially created the name Shohei-Ryu,

 their organization's version of the style.

Upon the death of Bruce Lee on 20 July 1973

 there was a split between Lee's direct students.

Some used the JKD and Bruce Lee names for marketing and commercial purposes.

The two main divisions are Original/Jun Fan JKD and JKD Concepts.
 Proponents of both branches include Lee's direct students.

 Have we learned nothing from these lessons of history..?

 Associations fragment upon the death of their founders...!

and so it begins.....

( I received this email the other day.....)

Mr. Buckland:
I understand you are trying to promote your business and know fellow Joe Lewis Black Belts will continue to support your endeavors.
  However, it would seem appropriate to avoid promoting on the Joe Lewis Fighting Systems Facebook page or using Mr. Lewis' name to assist in these promotions.

I thank you for your time and consideration as I am speaking for my self and not on behalf of the JLFS Association.

Of course you don't speak for the association.

 We are a 'Fellowship of Valor".

 We promote the philosophy,
tactics and strategies of our friend, mentor and teacher

Joe Lewis

and

WE DO IT IN HIS NAME !!!

Tomorrow I fly to see my Friend and mentor Joe Lewis for what is probably the last time.
 His courage, integrity, wisdom and friendship will live within me forever.

 I will take him with me to every class I teach or attend.

I will continue to honor his memory all the days of my life. 

I am who I am today because of his inspiration.
 Through me he will continue to inspire the hearts and minds of all who's lives I touch.

He asked us to
 'Innovate not Immitate'.....
That's what I will do !!

My mentor and friend Grand Master Joe Lewis,
 passed away peacefully at 10:45am on Friday, August 31st,
 with his family at his side as I sat on the runway in Portland, Oregon to go see him.

Mr. Lewis fought a valiant 13 1/2 month battle with brain cancer. 

His vision will live on in the hearts and minds of all whose lives he touched.

Good Bye and God Speed Joe Lewis
we love you Rest in Peace. 

.



Here Comes the Judge

Here come the Judge...

Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge,  you will be judged; and with the measure you use,  it will be measured back to you. - Matthew 7:1 - When I was first starting to compete.  I never went to a tournament just to win I went to leave an impression.  I wanted everyone to remember I was there  and hope I wouldn't  return.

- Joe Lewis -

The real reason one fights is to preserve and to dignify those values representing that for which he stands.
 We fight to demonstrate the standard of excellence all black belts should subscribe to:
  physical conditioning
  an indomitable will
  impenetrable defense
 undetectable pain tolerance

  the two “essential components” of high self-esteem...... a high level of SELF-RESPECT and SELF-EFFICACY.

 In life as is in the ring the good guy doesn't always win...............

Fear Of Judgement

In the world of relationships,
 martial arts and fitness there is alot of ego and insecurity
It’s taken me years to realize,
 but now I choose not to assume that people are judging me

or thinking they’re better than me.

 I can assume people see the best in me,
 as I’m able to see in them when I stop obsessing about myself.

'Someone I used to know'  would say,
 "It's not always about you !"

I realize now that when people do feel superior or judge

 they’ll be standing behind their own heap of insecurities,

 wanting to feel more assured but knowing no other way to do it.

 Courage is not the absence of fear, it's the judgment that something else is more important than fear

 - Ambrose Redmoon -