The first book I completed is called Happiness and it was written by Thich Nhat Hanh. This book mainly talks about the different types of meditation like breathing, walking, sitting, bowing, eating, and so on. It also talks a lot about bringing yourself into the present moment so you can enjoy life as much as […]
Written by Elizabeth Clark
Originally, this started out as my Black Belt essay with a little twist…. Towards the end I decided to change it. So now, this is my challenge to you all, for empathy training and random acts of kindness. As a child, I was never proficient in any sport. I was athletic enough to make it […]
Written by Lucas Grant
I passed my black belt test! I am so grateful to be a part of this amazing community and had the privilege to participate in such a test. Out of the 13 months there were some ups but there definitely was their fair share of downs. The test itself was brutal, I’ve never been too […]
Written by Elizabeth Clark
Video 2 Ummmm… apparently I need to figure out how to post these videos the correct way lol If you click “Video 2”, I think it should play……😅
Written by Matt Nedresky
Ringing in yet another year! This year will be truly unique for myself and my fellow black belt candidates. We are all going through significant physical, mental, and spiritual changes. I view this as a great opportunity for growth. Personally, I want to commit to better health and wellness. Eat healthy, get adequate sleep, keep […]
Written by Brody Hocking
On January 13th Lucas and Cooper had successfully completed their Black Belt test which included doing kata for a hour and sparring for a hour. I think I learned a lot about what I have to complete at the end of my test just from observing. Now I know that I really need to work […]
Written by Cooper Riegel
Twelve Video Entries From My Test. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DP2YNWiLL52LDC4KXykxLsv5n0_MT65w?usp=sharing
Written by Elizabeth Clark
While rummaging through a box of random pictures and notes at home, I found this calendar page. It is from January 10, 1998. That is when I tested for my junior black belt. (Apparently, I had a basketball game that day too, we won 29-15 and I scored 6 points. And yes, I was wearing […]
Written by Elizabeth Clark
A little over a month into the challenge now. I feel good with where I am at. I struggle sometimes when I can’t schedule things or stick to a schedule when something unexpected pops up. But, I am on track! I feel like these winter months will be the hardest. It’s hard to get up […]
Written by Phillip Debord
In the early days of my Isshinryu journey, it was fairly common to hear references to Yin and Yang energy. For example, “Joe is aggressive, he has a lot of Yang energy.” Or, “Susan is very calm, she has a lot of Yin energy.” There’s more to the concept of Yin and Yang than I […]
