In my origins of training with my first master instructor, he emphasized heavily on self-esteem work. Mental conditioning was a HUGE part of my training and I have kept it in my training since then, and I make sure I keep a mental conditioning mentor to hold me accountable and continue to educate me, and she is one of the best psychoanalysts and teachers around! She always pushes the envelope for me. I always like to go back to the basics though.
In my original training I had read and listened and put into practice a lot. I think that was a big difference for me, not only was I learning to know and how to use it in teaching but I did it for myself as well. In order to change the world, you must master the world. In order to change the rules, you must master the rules. In order to change your self, you must master your self. I teach this every day.
There is a process though to all this self-improvement! And it does NOT start with self-esteem, it starts with self-image! YES! There is a difference. I have developed a system and creating a course actually to helping people understand and better themselves. It will also be a part of my healing practice, which it technically already is. SO, the clear image you want is first. But let's talk about self-esteem anyway.
Self-esteem in it's simplest form can be defined as IALAC: I am Loveable and Capable. That's the Mickey Mouse version, I can give you a clinical psychological version another time. But you need high self-esteem in order to function in this life. Without you, you don't.
Self-Esteem is so important and it's the bottom line to every problem anyone has ever had. When you have high self-esteem you participate in life in a way that forms miracles! I was once told of a theory called "The Poker Chip Theory" to Life. The example given is if you had 100 poker chips and I had 10 chips, who would be more willing to bet? YOU, because you can bet two chips fifty times, and I can only bet 2 chips five times. You have ten times more to bet! I have less to lose. Self-esteem works the same way. If you had MORE self-esteem in life than I, you would be willing to participate more in life than I.
You see, we need to allow ourselves to participate and function and risk take a little. I once wrote a blog about how risks ain't bad, it's the bumps. But the example I use in that blog was the golf ball. It originally used to be smooth and then the more it got hit it'd have these bumps and dinks in it and it was found to fly farther and truer. So life is the same way, the more bumps and dinks he get hit with, the further and TRUER we do soar!
So continue to allow yourself to build up your poker chips so you can participate in this beautiful life. Just Be, ask for support, and keep moving! Are we seeing the build up yet? (BOWS)
I've been writing this blog for over a year. Why haven't I finished it? Why haven't I just published what I had and built on it? Why didn't I just put it out there? Because something was missing from it. Something didn't feel right to me because I won't teach something until I fully understand it. That's anywhere. Every year for the last few years, the year presents itself with a major theme! I believe spirit keeps throwing the lessons in your face until you notice it and learn it! For most people they are blind of them and take a lifetime to learn something. I don't want to be that person (anymore).
In the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year of 2014, Sifu had said to me "Young master, my own wish for you is to learn to Just Be." DO you know how often I kept hearing that phrase? Just be. JUST BE. JUST BE!!! It kept coming up! And that year we happened to have a theme song too when Disney's Frozen overplayed the song Let It Go by Idena Menzel, LOL! But I had a whole BBQ for that very reason, the Just Be BBQ, intended to be a one time thing with the all-star cast of the Trento-verse.
Truth be told, I not only learned that lesson, but continue to practice the art of Just Being. It makes life more enjoyable, you remain clearer in the mind, and more relaxed in the body. Life falls into place better. And when challenges arise, you handle yourself with such mastery, and life begins to work for you. And yet I, and everyone else who has learned the lesson from me too, finds not to stress out as much, and life does truly move on and we can still take the time to just be and laugh and enjoy life, and NOTHING in the now can make a difference other than our own selves just BEING and enjoying this beautiful life. Without US there is NOTHING! (think about that one)
So that brings up last year. It kept coming up over and over and over and over in places I couldn't even believe! My student Thomas actually planted the seed when he would use the term. He would discuss a choice or a habit or an action and use the word "support" and it stuck out like a sore thumb. "That's not how that word is used!" I would think first, and then did a double take and ask myself "Is it?" Support comes in several several layers which is why I explored it, experienced it, and applied it.
Unfortunately, many of us are raised in a way where we are taught NOT to ask for support. That is complete and utter BULL. I had to reconfigure myself to this notion. It was HARD to accept support, whether it be emotional, financial, mental, etc. It was even HARDER asking for support. No one ever asks for the things they really need. Now there is a loophole between truly needing support, and being NEEDY! Support in MOO (My Opinion Only) is that a specific need is met outside of our own self.
This past year I have accepted support financially in a very difficult time very early on it brought me to tears. I have also given that support to others, remembering it being done to me. I have gone to events to support people whether it be a birthday party, a baseball game, a school play, a ukulele concert, or a tournament. I have given support by just being physically present, and if I just needed someone to be around me sitting not talking or doing something, I asked for the support and I received it and it felt good.
I've gone to support people and asked others to help bring support for those that I love. In Tennessee, one of the things that blew my mind was I NEVER spoke about this topic (at that time) with Grandmaster Kathy Wieczerza. The second day I was there she did a seminar on Breaking. Here's the catch: it had nothing to do with breaking, per se, but the emotionality that could help dealing with SUPPORT. I was blown away, I don't know if she noticed. I was blown away by her teaching it but I was MORE blown away that THAT was the subject matter at the core. People face and look at a board to break in martial arts, and the mental trash comes up that it's hard and fear of pain etc. But we are stronger than our perceived "problems" and the people holding, our SUPPIRT, is a lot stronger than the problem. They help us and hold our problem in place so we can break it. One person hit someone's fingers accidentally. "That's okay!" Said Master Wiz. "Sometimes in life we hurt the ones who support us, but they won't abandon you. They go right back to holding for you once they shake it off." THE SYMBOLISM!
Then a month later when Stacey came to visit New Jersey we went to Pennsylvania for a day and did a seminar with Mike Lee Kanarek. He began the seminar philosophically and discussed his theory on "The Table". One of the legs of your table for your life is SUPPORT! He went on the longest on this topic, for 20 minutes. MIKE LEE KANAREK talking about SUPPORT! God knows he has always provided a family atmosphere not only at his school but within his organization where it truly is a tribe of brothers coming together who belong! That is part of the human condition, we want to belong in a tribe. And without that feeling of support we cannot function in our lives.
Everywhere we look we can find an opportunity to show support, to offer support, to receive support, to ask for support, and to be supported. SO there is a sub-theme, like in the first year.In order to JUST BE you had to Let it Go. SO in order to SUPPORT in whatever fashion, there must be the gift of LOYALTY. What a gift! Loyalty is not respect. It goes much further and deeper. I have had people in my life, I still have have people in my life, who love me dearly. Are all of them loyal? NO. Does that make them bad people? Not at all. However, there is a large group of people, some very new in last couple of years, who are some of the most loyal people I have ever had in my entire life.
I have traveled too and far and I have seen some of the greatest masters in the world. IN the year of support I have been to the Grandmasters Society and seen Grandmaster Kang and the Kukmukwan people who have been with the Kangs for SO many years and their love for their master is untouchable, such a LOYAL group. I went to the Haganah Conference where 70-80 of Mike Lee Kanarek's Instructors and Black Belts came together, and the love for this man was undeniable, they would kill and die for this man. My students, my friends, my mentors who are currently in my life are truly the most loyal I have EVER had. It was new to experience. They really do have my back, and would follow me to the end of time, they believe in me, and I love every single one of them from the bottom of my heart. The Second Iteration of the Just Be BBQ was held last MAY, and they were there.
You may find in life people who like you. Some will respect you. Some will love you. Some will work for you. Some will work with you. Some with be friends. Some will be friendly. And then there is the WHOLE entire other group that out classes all of them, your LOYAL crew. Thank you to my most LOYAL support system who has kept life so exciting and wonderful, in good times, and better times! To quote Jimmy Stewart from It's a Wonderful Life, "No man is a failure who has friends," and I AM DOUBLY blessed to call each and one of you my FAMILY!
Striking Militia is the Official striking methodologies system to be implemented by the HagAnaH system as of 2016.
In the past, Joe Lewis Fighting Systems , was the striking curriculum Mike Lee Kanarek used in his own school in south Florida for striking and sparring purposes. Due to the passing of Joe Lewis in 2012, Kanarek's lifetime Martial Arts mentor, the affiliation between JLFS and HagAnaH was discontinued a few years ago by Kanarek.
In 2013, the S2B Muay Thai curriculum was created by Mike Lee Kanarek based on his lifetime Muay Thai experience both in Israel and in the U.S. for a handful HaganaH schools to implement in their schools for striking purposes, including his own school Warrior Strength in south Florida.
A couple years ago the Battle Ready Kickboxing curriculum was created by Mike Lee Kanarek for military purposes for selected units in the US.
Throughout the year of 2015 , the few HagAnaH schools nationwide who offered both S2B-MT and BR-KB experienced a migration trend from the majority of their students from S2B-MT to BR-KB.
Due to that migration , being right or wrong, Mike Lee Kanarek decided to Hybrid the two and create the Striking Militia curriculum for serious HagAnaH schools!"
In 2014 I interviewed one of the greatest warriors in the world, Mike Lee Kanarek, protege of the legendary Joe Lewis, founder of the HaganaH system, and previously part of the notorious Golani Brigade of the IDF as part of the Orev Golani Special Forces Unit. When interviewing Mike Lee, one of my favorite parts of the interview is when I asked him about his own mentor, Joe Lewis who was a student of Bruce Lee and undefeated Karate World Champion. Mike expressed to me in the interview that he loved Joe Lewis as his own father, and would call him "Daddy", and how karate kickboxing and muay thai was his passion,
After that interview I had become a Gen 2 F.I.G.H.T Instructor under his instruction and then attended his school months later in South Florida to become certified in Battle Ready Kickboxing. It was later I began teaching a HaganaH F.I.G.H.T program at my own school. I've done just about every certification he's done since, but recently he had reached out to a bunch of us stating he was going to be combining his Muay Thai curriuclum and Battle Ready Kickboxing curriculum together to formulate the FIRST HaganaH Striking Militia.
The first time I ever experienced Muay Thai was with Mike Lee at my mentor's school in 2014 with my student Thomas. I remember thinking "OMG this stuff is AWESOME and so practical!" I really wanted to learn it and put it on my list. This past fall I had my mentor Sam DeJesus do a Muay Thai seminar at my school for my students, which I participated in as well. So when Mike Lee said he's going to be combining elements of both Battle Ready and Muay Thai, I was super excited.
Eighteen of us met with the founder at our Titanium Status level school in Milford, Pennsylvania for this certification. As always, Mike Lee Kanarek was at the top of his game. Not only was he insightful but informative. I loved hearing about the origins of his own training and background and the history of how the material we were learning came to be. The Shin to Bone Muay Thai Instructors knew the muay thai material and the Battle Ready Kickboxing Instructors knew the Battle Ready material. But as always there was more than just fighting. We did brilliant combinations, worked on SMart principles necessary for SMart fighting. Mike had a brilliantly SMart structure behind preparing and setting up classes for us to teach, along with SMart philosophies embraced within the system. There is also layered SMart science behind developing sparring and fighting tactics based on logistics and physiological development as well.
What was most exciting was knowing this was an accumulation of several several years of experience and research and the top of the line, world class, up to date material. I look back on my training over the past 20 years and this material TRULY enhances my training and knowledge by several several degrees. Mike Lee will be continuing to enhance and build on this with the Striking Militia Instructors in October which I look forward to working with him again as well.
Mike Lee Kanarek WILL be teaching the FIRST M.A.K.O Seminar (Military Agressive Knife Objective) at my school, TMAFC on June 4. For information or to sign up call me at 201-203-0773 or email me at tmafcinfo@gmail.com or message me in Facebook! (BOWS)
Me in April 2012 to witness my first discipleship ceremony. Fourth time meeting Sifu and first time meeting Sigung.
In April 2012, a few months before my 4th Degree Black Belt test, my master Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee, had invited me to a discipleship ceremony which was the first 7th generation disciples from Wong Fei Hung. It was at this event that Sigung spoke about the importance of tradition but the equal importance of innovation. This concept is not only implemented in martial value physically, but also with our principles in life. It was a little over a year later when I tested for the first time in Kung Fu that I met Sigung again. Each time I met him, he would build on this concept.
The most intriguing lesson from him I've pondered and analyzed and studied for a long time. He said the two greatest values we most hold true is virtue and loyalty. Many people can be loyal, but this does not mean one has virtue. Well what's the difference? MOO (My Own Opinion #Wiz), loyalty is sometimes a quality that is lost in itself. I can't even imagine when you actually find loyalty in people that virtue can be absent. But the more I thought about it, it happens more often than we think.
Loyalty, always having one's back no matter what. To follow and support. Just because someone may do nice things for you, does not make them loyal. People may say one thing to you, and then another behind your back. That's not loyalty either. This is where the debate of what is respect? Respect has many different layers. Respecting other people, other people's belongings, other people's appearances, other people's beliefs, agreeing to disagree, etc. However the two are NOT synonymous either.
The flip side is people can respect you in certain ways and NOT be loyal as well. If we really analyze relationships and friendships, working partnerships etc, we could easily find situations where this occurs. Remember the golden rule? Treat other people the way you want to be treated? IT DOESN'T WORK! Because not everyone wants to BE treated the way you want. Also some people don't treat themselves well and when they treat others in the same way, how could we be mad at them if that IS exactly how they treat themselves? And yet those people can be reliable and have faith in you and be your most loyal companions in life as well.
We as a collective people need to be more mindful of these technicalities as we go along our lives as we interact with people. I used to have a lot of people around me for so long and they respected me very much, but were not loyal at all. I know people who were loyal but would follow in ways that were very wrong, not virtuous. If a master told you to do something and you KNEW it was wrong but did it anyway, that's not virtue. That is where once again, personal integrity plays a part. When those forks in the road appear, we have to make a choice. And it is not our abilities that define who we are, it is our choices, above all.
Personal integrity are the principles and values we stand upon. We know whats right and what is wrong. We follow those and are attracted most to those whose ideals mostly match our own. When there is a breach of integrity, it can grow tremendous chaos. Like a canvas that you paint on. Its strong and if you try to rip it, its hard as hell to do. But put a small tear in it, and it rips apart with ease. Breaching your integrity does the same. When we follow leaders and friends, we must keep in mind the virtue. Loyalty is great, but if there's no virtue, then integrity is lost. (BOWS)
I have always told my students that you may not always make a difference in the world, but you be sure as hell to make sure you are HEARD!
When I believe in something strongly, or I believe something is wrong and needs to be made right, I fight down to the skin of my teeth! Ask anyone who knows me well. Some will say to the point of being obnoxious. And that's fine. I don't care. Because what annoys me so much is when a majority of people bitch and moan behind closed doors and NEVER say anything when it really counts.
I believe there is strength in numbers. Sometimes actions speak louder than words, but if you ACT make sure you are also HEARD! I stand up mostly for other people than my own self sometimes, I don't know why. I don't believe I am self-sacrificing but maybe I can be a little bit, guess I have to reflect a little more on that. But what I do NOT respect is when people keep their mouths SHUT!
Sometimes you need to OPEN YOUR MOUTHS and sometimes you can't be afraid of what "could be" the repercussions. And at the same time, like I said, there is great strength in numbers sometimes. Especially people in power. I believe too many people allow others, especially of authority, to bully and to dictate to the point where the actual integrity of the person is being compromised.
If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times, EVERYTHING is based on principles. If I am doing a form in Taekwondo, if I go against a principle, it will technically be incorrect. If I am sparring and I go against my principles, I will lose. If I go against my principles in fighting, I won't survive. If I go against my principles of life, life will be followed by chaos. Most unnecessarily in MOO (My Own Opinion #Wiz).
I have taught and counseled in self-esteem work for several several years. A big factor in whether self-esteem is high or not is executing the pillar of self-esteem called personal integrity. If we go against our principles and values, it erodes from your own self-esteem. Self-esteem is the root of every problem we have in life. And its lack of self-esteem that holds people back from SPEAKING UP! I don't care who you are, you can always learn this concept, re-learn, and practice is it over and over and over again.
Little over a year ago there was an event I attended and something was not going to happen and I felt it was wrong to do. MANY others, possibly the majority of the people I was with felt the same. The entire day I kept busting chops, making comments, providing logistics, etc, again to the point of being beyond annoying and obnoxious, right to the very end until the event was about to begin. I did NOT make a difference, but I sure as hell made sure I was heard. OF course after the fact many people came up to me and said they were happy I opened my mouth, but the DIFFERENCE could have been made if they ALL opened their mouths.
Sometimes we can make a difference without even knowing it. Here is a little story I love to tell:
"Once upon a time a young boy was standing on the ocean throwing starfish into the ocean. A man walked by and asked 'What are you doing?!' The young boy said 'I'm throwing starfish back into the ocean!' and the man said 'Yes, but why?! What's the point?!' The young boy said 'Well the tide washed up all the starfish onto the beach and they need water to survive, so I need to throw them up so they can stay alive.' The man who was walking by said 'That's the dumbest thing I ever heard! First off that's nature'sway of weening out the weak, and you're interfering! And besides, there are hundreds of starfish on this beach! You can't possibly save them all! What difference is it going to make?' The boy stood there for a second, picked up a starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean, then he turned to the man and said "Made a difference for that one!'"
Sometimes the difference isn't on a grand scale, but the small wins do add up more in the long run, whether you realize it or not. Mike Lee Kanarek once told me he would rather play a big role in a small thing then a small role in a big thing, because he'll make a greater difference. I always remembered that. But I ask you all, you CAN make a difference. Make sure you are heard!! Because YOU HAVE A VOICE!
In November I went down to Florida to train at Mike Lee Kanarek's school to become certified in his Blade Warrior system. Mike Lee is an expert fighter in Israeli Tactical Knife fighting and continually enhances and upgrades his system within the HaganaH foundation he formed. Prior to this I had done a few certifications with him, but this was by far my most favorite certification so far.
I love learning. I love adding to my repertoire of knowledge. I love also seeing the value in new innovative material in the world. Many people like tradition, and being a traditionalist myself, even I can understand the value of innovation. Well learning from someone of the caliber of Mike Lee Kanarek, you can't help but be awe inspired by the material and insight of such a warrior.
It was the same day also that Paris got attacked by terrorists. Can you imagine what it was like being at the top counter terrorism instructor in the county's school while this was happening? You can bet that current affair effected what was being taught in this certification, and to hear what he had to say about it.
The best and greatest warriors, like Mike Lee Kanarek, know that it is important to stay current and to constantly evolve with the times, otherwise you become obsolete. His experience is beyond priceless and to have the opportunity to learn from someone like him is really a treasure. I am already certified in the Gen 2 knife scenarios in the F.I.G.H.T system, but that was a part of the certifications. But we also went over phenomenal principles and combatives involving knife on knife fighting, different grip scenarios, legal aspects, and even home invasion tactics.
Mike Lee is also very structured, and a master educator. He understands how to educate the ones who will be educating others. That's true leadership. The law of reproduction to to recreate other leaders with the skills to develop students who can replicate the skills needed to be effective in the real world. Even the practical application of learning with repetition and drilling, all the correct aspects of true learning, its always such a blessing to see a true master at work and a true teacher teaching.
But Mike is also a pioneer who creates. He is always evolving his system and how to make it better. Just when you think you get it, there's a wave of change he finds that makes it better! In the certification for Blade Warrior we not only learned the material but it's origins, and understanding where it came from, how it works, why it works now, what was added to it, and the understanding of why. This holds true to any system and style. But some styles of martial arts and fighting do become stagnant and out of date because the leader do not seek how to better their systems. This is where Mike Lee always has the advantage.
Three days of working and drilling, and I really couldn't get enough! Working with Mike Lee Kanarek is always motivating, inspiring, and you leave with a plethora of knowledge and insight! This certification was in November. This weekend I will be meeting with him and a group of instructors and Black Belts for the brand new "Striking Militia" certification Mike Lee to be used as the striking curricula in the system beginning this year. I am sure I will be coming back all pumped as I always do! (BOWS)
I will be doing a Blade Warrior Seminar at my school on Sunday February 28 11-1pm! email me at tmafcinfo@gmail.com to sign up and get more information!
Dojang is a term used in Korean martial arts, such as Taekwondo, Kuk Sool Won, and hapkido, that refers to a formal training hall. It is typically considered the formal gathering place for students of a martial art to conduct training, examinations and other related encounters.
The dojang is the term used in Korean arts for the training area, normally matted. When I trained under my first master, our dojang was hard floor with carpet. I remember the rug burns I used to get LOL. It wasn't until I think 2004 that we got mats for our floors. Especially when Taekwondo grew to international popularity becoming an official Olympic sport in 2000, many schools became sport only and used mats on their dojang floor.
MOST people use the more commonly term "dojo" which is a Japanese term. But traditional martial arts recognizes the training grounds for martial arts MORE than just a place to train. Before we walk onto the dojang mats, we bow. Before we leave the dojang mats we bow. In Chinese martial arts we bow to the shrine, Japanese arts we are bowing to the ancestry lineage lined up on the wall, Korean arts to the flags. But it's purpose is much deeper.
The training grounds were known to be sacred ground. Out of respect for the floor itself, you bow before and after walking upon those grounds. It is the dojang/dojo floor where we are faced with not only training our bodies but of course our minds and spirits. It is the place we push ourselves on every level to better ourselves. To face our fears, to challenge ourselves, to transform our perspectives and abilities, to be able to learn life skills such as focus, discipline, and self-confidence. We are in competition with no one but our own selves. It is a powerful place and a safe place to be able to go through this transformation. I think people lose sight of that.
Now truth be told, wherever a good teacher is, that is where the teaching can be done. Not all martial arts masters need a school to pass down these unbelievable lesson to be transmuted into life. But its the symbol of that sacred ground that holds great value. For 16 months in 2009 into 2010, I taught students privately in backyards, basements, garages, and in parks. I created a dojang wherever I could, and to this day I still have an eye for finding or creating "space" to train since I did it for so long. But when I opened my school in 2010, the biggest thrill was when the mats were being put down. THAT is when I felt a school had been created. The dojang of TMAFC was officially born.
I put down my mats when I opened TMAFC in 2010.
I bought my first set of mats the week I planned on opening the doors of TMAFC in Rochelle Park, New Jersey. I chose red and black mats for the colors, which happen to be my favorite colors and because no one else I knew used those colors, it is usually blue and red. I put the mats down alone one night in 2010 by myself. I guess a little symbolic for what those early years would be like for me at the school. SO many people had been on those mats. Students of mine who are no longer with me, best friends, mentors, old teachers, my parents, I had several black belts tests and 2nd degree black belt tests, my own 6 day 4th degree test, Master DeJesus has taught on those mats, Master Balon has taught on those mats, Master Canzoneiri taught on those mats, Charlene has taught on those mats, Sifu has been on those mats, I even had an amish farmer and his family on those mats! The first thing I ever did on those mats was a Black Belt test as well, very Trento-esque.
We moved those mats from Rochelle Park to Saddle Brook. I placed them down in my new school. For last couple of years I kept saying I wanted to get new mats. The old ones were fine, but they've taken a beating and were of lesser quality than the new ones I had in mind. Entering 2016 I new I wanted to get the new mats. I had already the healing room built, the light fixtures changed, new office built, got my mirrors up finally, rearranged the inside, it was TIME. I didn't care what needed to be done. 2015 was great and 2016 was fresh again and I knew I wanted to start with true NEW. So I bit the bullet and did it and ordered brand new mats for my school.
My best friend Jessie went to Philadelphia with me, God bless her driving this HUGE cargo van, bigger than I needed. We had a wonderful time driving down, laughing and telling stories, and then played in the martial arts store, got the new mats, packed up the truck/van, got cheesesteaks, and then drove back up. My students Nicole and Thomas came to help as well as my brother Thomas and his beautiful girlfriend Jamie. I already knew the new mats going down symbolized a greater future because of the amount of enthusiasm, support, and help I got laying down these new mats.
The brand new mats
Out with the old! In with the new!
I still have the old mats, just in case they're needed (and they will be in June when Mike Lee comes!). I placed down the first mat myself and then as a team we all placed down the brand new mats. We laughed, we had fun, we helped each other, Jessie ran around collecting garbage because she is a neat freak LOL, and we placed the mats down together. A brand new era of new was being born the new dojang of TMAFC.
Some people say I read too much into things, but I believe people don't read into things enough! SO many things have meaning and I believe people need to find those things. Our higher self is always showing us things and we need to be aware of it, appreciate it, and hold onto it. Yes, something as simple as mats mean a great deal to me. They are the place I do the very best "me". I teach on them, what I was meant to do on this planet. I train on them, pushing myself to become better at being ME. A place I invite people onto them. The first thing I ever did on them was an Official's Clinic for New Jersey, with my mentor Master Balon being on them! I had a week later my mentor Master DeJesus helping with my school's FIRST HaganaH FIGHT test on them. I had my mentor Master Bardatsos train me on them. My mentor Charlene is currently teaching on them. My students learn and train on them. TMAFC's dojang is a very special place and meaningful place. And I intend to keep it that way. (BOWS)
Thomas squared putting down the border mats.
Thomas, Jessie, Thomas, and Jamie placing the new mats down.
The whole crew helping: Thomas, Jamie, Jessie, Thomas, and Nicole.
Yours in service, MASTER A TRENTO P.S Look at my new proshop too! Selling T Shirts, gear, Advocare products, and essential oils!
Last year I said it over and over and over again: No one was looking forward to 2015 more than I! It was the truth! And it ended up being a fantastic year! I moved my school from Rochelle Park to Saddle Brook. I traveled to Georgia and Maryland four times that year, I went to Florida four times, I attended the HaganaH Conference and train with Mike Lee Kanarek, got four certifications with Mike Lee, tested twice in Kung Fu, built on my training, kept up with all my mentors, built up my programs at TMAFC, traveled to Tennessee, officiated at AAU nationals but also became the Clinical Administrator for New Jersey and also got upgraded to a higher class official, I officiated at AAU Team Trials, I had Black Belt tested my first pure bred Trento students, began a HaganaH F.I.G.H.T program, restructured our new competition team, and I have also conducted so many seminars and workshop not only in New Jersey but out of state as well.
I have also been so blessed to have some wonderful people around me to join in on the adventures and are loyal and supportive. There's a lot of love, peace, and happiness. No drama, not hidden agendas, enthusiasm and not jealousy, and everyone getting along. It's been a long long time since I really had people around like that. It's brought great value to the environment I have created.
At my center, a new healing room has been built, new office to work, new proshop, and new mats. 2015 was wonderful and 2016 is ONLY going to be BETTER! I have so much to do, but I'm on the right track. I have been training very hard and being very consistent with all my training and working with ALL my mentors since it is my testing year. January I was flawless in my schedule, having my 5th degree in mind. I also did two officials clinics, HaganaH testing, and also did my first Instructor Certification for five new instructors at my school.
For the next six months I am continuing with my mentors and training. It is also tournament season and I will be keeping up with my team competing as well as helping and supporting my friends who are directing their own tournaments. I have two new programs starting at TMAFC, Battle Ready Kickboxing and Special Needs Taekwondo. I am hosting more seminars, doing two or three more certifications with Mike Lee Kanarek, and continuing my video projects and interviews which are all set up. I hope to test a couple more times this year in kung fu.
I'm excited! My five year plan also begins in the summer that I've been talking about for a long time now. But here is another commitment I need to make. My friend Master Kathy the wiz is supposed to be testing for 8th Degree Black Belt. To help hold each other accountable, I promised to keep up with my blog while she upholds her own goals to complete before her test, which is possibly right before my own. The theme of support continues as we enter movement. Movement IS life, and life is wonderful right now. May we always continue to seek movement and continue to move in the right direction. Continue to goal set, achieve the goals, and make new ones, and keep on moving up in ways you never thought you could! (BOWS)
I began training in HaganaH F.I.G.H.T In 2012 with my mentor Master Samuel DeJesus. He did it on our Taekwondo Black Belt test and I told him I wanted him to teach it to me one day. I originally did it to challenge myself, do something I felt which was of higher level in self-defense, to better myself toward my master test, and because I believed it to be a very practical system. I never intended on necessarily becoming an instructor, ranking in it, let alone teaching it.
But you never know where you're going until you get there. Monthyl I would train with Master DeJesus and I even got to meet the founder, Mike Lee Kanarek, who I would later train with as well. Master DeJesus always opened me to new experiences, as any good mentor should do. I remember when he invited me to watch a Yellow Belt HaganaH test. I couldn't believe it! I will never forget the doubt I had in myself just WATCHING the test. I think it was a year later he said to me "Ready for your test?" My smile dropped. "I...uh...eh...um...what!?" I tested in winter time a year later.
I think it was an additional year later, Master DeJesus told me that there was going to be an Instructor Certification, first one done not by Mike Lee and in Pennsylvania. He told me I should do it. "Me?!" Yes you, he said. He told me an instructor's point of view in the system will also add benefit to my training. So of course I knew that, and so I did it. It was on the gun system of the Gen 2 F.I.G.H.T. Prior to that I had interviewed Mike Lee Kanarek for The Martial Way, my channel and for a documentary project which I am still working on. That spring Mike Lee invited me to the tenth HaganaH conference where he finished my certification on the empty hand and knife part of Gen 2 system and I became a Generation 2 F.I.G.H.T Instructor by Mike Lee Kanarek. I went to his school that following summer for his Battle Ready Kickboxing Certification. After that I had asked him if he felt I could do a program at my school, but I would only do it if the founder felt I could do it. He believed I could and TMAFC became an authorized training center.
I began the program in July 2015. It started with four students. The program has grown since then, I have done a few more certifications with MLK since, as I also continue to train with my own instructor and mentor Master DeJesus. After six months, my school was ready to hold its first testing.
Five of the students who have trained very hard and consistently were ready to test. I had consulted with MLK, my mentor, and a few HaganaH Black Belts weeks prior, asking for advice and figuring it out, since as an instructor I've never facilitated a test before, but at the same time, I wanted these guys to set a standard to uphold the integrity of the system, and also challenge them in a way that not only would they have to earn this belt, but not limit their abilities if they could do more as well.
A HaganaH F.I.G.H.T test is a testing process unlike any other I have ever seen before. I think my Taekwondo students who do both programs were shell shocked compared to what they have tested before, and my Taekwondo tests aren't easy either. The purebred HaganaH students were definitely surprised at how challenging the test was, they expected to be challenged, but they all said the same thing, they were not expecting the level of difficulty it actually was!
But these guys have great heart, and they LOVE the system. They work hard, they're focused, and they have the right mindset which is everything. You cannot get through this test without being physically ready, which the classes help you with that too, but the mind makes the body do more than what most realize. Not only did they do what was expected for a Yellow Belt, but THEN some.
My mentor, Master DeJesus was there with his student Austin. I told him "Sir, the mats are yours!" He was welcome to doing whatever he wanted and ask of the candidates whatever he wanted. After a few drills and rounds, I think he was able to get an idea of who they were and what they were able to do, then he added a flare to the test that was absolutely wonderful! I wanted these guys to get a taste of what my mentor was about, not just in a challenging way but idealistically in the lesson that was being provided.
We definitely added more to the test, but not to the point where we exhausted anything for the future, that's pretty impossible to do with this system. I hope my mentor was proud of me. If it weren't for Master DeJesus I wouldn't be doing this. I hope I upheld Mike Lee Kanarek's standards. Master DeJesus and I are two of his "ambassadors", the leadership carrying out his system. I am so proud of my students and think they did a fantastic job on their first test. I believe they set a bar that really needs to be met for all tests to come afterward. The next F.I.G.H.T test at my school will be in July. I am very excited for these guys to continue their training and for the next crew to move on up, as the program continues to grow!
Special thanks to Mr. Austin for volunteering his time and jumping in and helping with the testing. A Very special thank you to my mentor Master Sam DeJesus for contributing such a great deal to the testing. Thanks to Sifu Dave and Ed Du Plessis for their help weeks prior to the testing. And of course a special thanks to the man himself, Master Mike Lee Kanarek for the creation and development to this system that we believe in and love. (BOWS)
