Why She's The Best

Barbara Walters Exclusive Interview on 20/20 six weeks after retirement. 

Anyone who knows me well knows that I love a handful of high profiled pioneers from our culture and studied them tremendously and followed their work because I identified and aspired to have the same qualities of their work ethic, accomplishments, and success. Everyone knows how much I have always regarded highly Barbara Walters. After fifty years, the 84 year old Barbara Walters retired from working on television at all. On her last day on The View she DID say "But who knows what the future may bring!"

Well sure enough, she's at it again, not even six weeks after she retired she ALREADY had an exclusive interview. Walters was most famous for obtaining the big "gets" of news makers. She would get the majority of the FIRST interviews, sometimes the ONLY interviews, that no other journalist could get, but also was known for asking the questions no one else ever had the courage to ask. She got the first and only interview with the leaders of Egypt and Israel together, first interview with Christopher Reeve after his accident, first interview with newly elected presidents since Richard Nixon, first interview with Martha Stewart and first and only interview with her TWO HOURS after sentencing, first interview with Michael J. Fox after learning of his Parkinson's disease, first and only interview with Mark David Chapman who killed John Lennon, first interviews with murders like Robert Blake, Menendez Brothers, and Jason Grant, and the first and ONLY interview with Monica Lewsinky during the Clinton scandal which is to this day the most watched news interview in history.

So it is no surprise she is the best at what she does, that after a while people will go to HER to do the interviews. So finally she retires and is on vacation and gets a phone call from the President of ABC News saying that he thought ABC got an interview all the networks were after, the father of the shooter from the Santa Barbara rampage. However, the father had said he would ONLY do the interview with Barbara Walters. This has happened many times in her career, but even after retiring, she is still on top of her game.

Besides being on top of her game, the interview was not only about news, but the father wanted to really talk to the audience to help people understand mental illness. He did not know his son was mentally ill, he did not see signs and states there were not any obvious signs to take note of. He empathized with other parents who have children with these mental illnesses and with the parents of the murdered victims. This interview is in fact the FIRST interview ever of the PARENT of a perpetrator of a major shooting. Walters, still making history.

Besides her most recent exclusive interview, I got to read all the way through he memoir Audition. I thought it was a fantastic read, and I actually heard her voice as I read it, as if she were reading it to me. I always loved watching and reading biographies about people, especially the high profiled masters of our culture. Barbara Walters is no different. However, as I read her book, I really enjoyed some of the things she did and went through in her personal life, as well as professional life.

Besides her recounting her experiences, she was also giving advice in her book, which I thought was a great style. I don't know if she meant to do that. I know I do it in my book I'm writing too and I certainly didn't mean to. I noticed as I re-read passages. One of those things she recounted was her long time friendship to American attorney during the McCarthy era of the United States, Roy Cohn.

Roy Cohn was known to be obnoxious, not well liked, sharp tongued, yelled and screamed at subordinates, and very arrogant. Barbara, herself, would say how she really disliked him and couldn't stand him. But most people questioned, then why for so many years did you have this friendship? I think she mentioned in her book how Dan Rather once asked her "How could you be friends with him!?" She only told her answer in her book to everyone when she published it.

Although Roy Cohn had some horrible qualities in his personality, she accepted all of them and didn't mind many debates and arguments because at the end of the day he was really a harmless human being with many flaws and could do no harm. He was a good person by nature and had good intentions, although his exterior was "an acquired taste". But no action of fault could ever take away from her loyalty to him due to the great amount of help he had given to her with her father in a very troubled time. His action and concern, with the full intent of just helping because he cared and wanted to do the right thing with no expectations in return, saved her father from a horrible situation. She was forever in his debt, but only in her mind. Cohn never wanted anything in return for his action or ever held it over her head.

She explained how you have to really open your eyes and heart and see what is really important in people. Did she fight with Cohn? Yes. Were there times she thought he was arrogant? Yes. Were there times she debated on issues? Yes. regardless of ALL those flaws, none of them were great enough to break her loyalty to him because the greatest common ground was that he was a good person with good intentions. She didn't label him or read in between the lines wrongfully. She accepted all his flaws and put her loyalty before anything else, not her own needs, not her career, not her wants. That's why she's the best. Because that compassion you also see in her interview style, she practices in her life and shares that with the world. You go Barbara Walters! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

The Return of Mike Lee

Me and Haganah founder Mike Lee Kanarek

Has it been a whole year already since I first met the founder of the Haganah system, Mike Lee Kanarek? It is not everyday you get to work with the founder of a martial art. Imagine working with Bruce Lee who founded Jeet Kune Do? Imagine training under General Choi after he published the Taekwondo encyclopedia? Imagine working with the Gracie brothers who founded Gracie Brazilian Jui-Jitsu? So when an opportunity such as this comes up, you're sure as hell going to know I'm going to be there!

I first witnessed Haganah from my mentor Master Samuel DeJesus in 2009. I began learning it from him under his mentorship in 2012 training for my master test. It was that same year I witnessed a couple of Haganah tests and in 2013 got to see Ed Mastov of Rockaway Fight Center receive his Black Belt in Hanagah. A year ago I was privileged to go to Master DeJesus's school for an advanced tactical knife seminar to work with the founder himself, Mike Lee.

He is known to be rough around the edges with not much of a censorship. If I were to ask why he would probably answer "Because I don't give a f*ck." LOL! I love how direct he is, he's very real to who he is, he is fair, he is loud, and he is brilliant. The tactics and philosophy that you can read in between the lines of his system are so advanced and so well rounded, I can't begin to tell you. I really didn't know what he was going to go over in this seminar, I just knew he'd be in town and I was there!

For the first time ever, I experienced Muy Thai. It was never something I wanted to do or learn, nor did it intrigue me, but my interest was definitely sparked after this seminar! I loved the mix and drills of upper body strikes and lower leg kicks. I loved the progression of the drills, the adding on, building upon the principles, the use of repetition in different ways that made time go so fast, and the correct use of stress to help condition the muscle memory. In other words: it is always a pleasure to see a master at work, let alone a master educator do his work.

I was also happy that this year I was not alone! My student and friend, Thomas Cubby, who only began his martial art training with me this year, always jumps on the opportunity of great value when it presents itself. He is highly enthusiastic and eager to learn. As a teacher, it is also thrilling to have a student who works as hard as he. It was great to share this experience with him. Mike Lee of course busted our chops throughout the seminar, but we could take it.

Last year he called me "Trenton! The intellectual." It was more like "Trenton the intell-E-ctual!" This year my nickname was "pretty boy"! LOL! And Thomas, who did a Spartan race this year was wearing the shirt from the race. He was the "Spartan without a spear". Thomas, if Mike Lee is insulting you, your're in good standing! LOL!

We then did advance knife scenarios which was a lot of fun, and very intriguing to learn. The entire seminar was five hour long. We had a fantastic time and also learned so much. Thanks to my mentor Master DeJesus for having all of us at his school, and to Thomas Cubby for experiencing this with me!

If you want to experience Mike Lee, he is having another seminar in Hackettstown, NJ on Sept 14 on Muy Thai. If you're interested you can call Evolutionary Martial Arts at 908-850-6009. (BOWS)

My mentor Master DeJesus and I at the end of the Mike Lee seminar. 

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

My Haganah Test

Two years ago, my mentor Master DeJesus invited me to his school to see my first Haganah belt test. Haganah is an Israeli militant martial art, founded by Mike Lee Kanarek. It really is high level self-defense training, to keep it simple. But the system is absolutely brilliant with the combatives, principles, and philosophy behind the training. Mike Lee is very brilliant with a plethora of experience that he brings into his system.

I'll never forget watching that first Haganah test. Master DeJesus was helping me prepare for my 4th Degree test and I was learning Haganah for the first time. I remember thinking "Holy sh*t." LOL! Now I have been through some very crazy Black Belt tests in my time. I'm also told that my own tests are very extensive and intense. But when I saw this Haganah test, it really left an impression on me.

The candidates, Jim and Viv, did an amazing job. They really were put through the ringer. I was a spectator for the test but the entire time the adrenaline was high! But I also had two others thoughts: I really want to do this-- was my first thought. The second thought was-- I wonder if I can do this. People who knew me were saying "Ah you'd do great!" As always, we have that inner doubtful voice that says "Think again buddy." I know I can take a beating and I will push myself beyond my physical limits, as all my Black Belt tests have done in the past, but this kind of test was really something like I've never seen before.

I tested for 4th Dan that year and it's a couple years later. I continued to train with Master DeJesus each month, as I do with most of my other mentors, and I continued to practice, train, and study Haganah. Last fall Master DeJesus looked at me and said "Ready for your first Haganah test, sir!?" I started at him. "Um...what...?" "YEAH! You're testing next month! Be ready!"

Well, if the mentor says I'm testing, I'm testing. Better yet, if the mentor believes I am ready, I am ready. I have seen a few more since then, but I never participated myself. I was both excited and nervous. I knew the material, I have practiced it quite a bit, and I was intrigued at pushing myself. It was also a cool experience to test in a completely different art as I have been tested in Taekwondo under two different masters, I also tested in Kung Fu, so now this was a test in itself that was in a world of its own.

I tested with two excellent students named Christine and Vladimir. Vladimir was actually not supposed to test, he was choosing to take a little extra time. But he came to support us and participated and before he knew it, he was also testing with us! And Christine can pack a wallop of a punch! I'd feel sorry for anyone to cross her way! We did a tremendous amount of conditioning. The Haganah test is set up very much like a boot camp. The instructors were yelling at us, pushing us, hitting us, maybe throwing s few insults at us. They tried to break us, as they would do in the military.

Spectators looking in on this may think, holy crap, why the hell would they be so brutal? Why would you take such abuse? Well first things first: when you're out on the street and you're being attacked, there is no mercy from your attacker. This is militant, and high level, so when you are training and you develop a strong body, and strong and SMART mind, and you defend yourself under the most stressful circumstances, you are truly preparing yourself for what's out in the real world. There is still the aspect of building confidence in yourself, pushing your limits, and learning to defend yourself as martial arts do provide. But in any great self-defense system, you need to be training under stress because in any confrontation, you WILL be under stress. Your motor skills and thinking completely changes under those conditions. Properly training to such extremes better prepares you, and develops a level of skill that a trained warrior should have.
                                     
We did push ups constantly, burpees, squats, sit ups, planks, more push ups, at least an hour and a half of heavy conditioning. The three of us supported each other, worked together, and counted together (thats super important). We did combatives and showed strikes and blocks. We did engagement drills showing our strikes and holds, knee strikes, and take downs. The instructors would hit us while doing the drills and we had to stay super focused. One point Master DeJesus punched me so hard in the gut I fell to the ground. All you are told is "Get up or quit."

I don't remember the last time I was hit like that. It was great. Yes, you heard me right. Great. Besides it was a fantastic shot, I'd rather have a high level warrior punch me like that whom I can call friend still at the end of the day than some stranger on the street crossing the line. But you remember a strike like that and remember you don't ever want to experience that again, so you train harder and stronger. But you also know your body is only your body. There are more in your arsenal to keep going and defend yourself.

We then ran through the open hand, gun, and knife material. I've had several years of great self-defense training, so my technical conditioning was not only helpful, but because of much practice with the Haganah material, I felt this was my strongest point. The last thing we did was Haganah sparring. I've never done Haganah sparring, nor ever done boxing in any way, shape, or form. I was completely out of my element. But the objective is always the same, and your tools can always adjust. I used a lot of my Taekwondo footwork and kicks while also showing upper body strikes and tactics. I sparred both my fellow candidates. My last fight was with Master DeJesus himself.

We have sparred each other in Taekwondo of course, but I've never boxed with him in Haganah. I decided with him, I wouldn't kick at all. We've been there, done that. I was going to challenge myself and go out of my comfort zone and focus on the hands to block, evade, and strike. But I also watched him move too. He is absolutely fantastic and has phenomenal speed. I knew what I would be working to aspire to.

So many years later when I told him he would be teaching me this "Haganah stuff" to actually testing in his own school, I was very happy, and honored he felt I could do it. I was thankful for my friends John, Ann Marie, and Sensei Cara to be there to support me. I was just as proud of Christine and Vladimir, being able to watch them and work with them over the short time I worked at the school with them, they were amazing and give them all the credit in the world. I was and am thankful to the instructors at Rockaway Fight who also not only helped me and worked with me. I am also grateful to Ed Mastov for his support. And always, to a phenomenal mentor and to someone who is more than a friend but is my family, Master Samuel DeJesus, for believing I can. My first Haganah test was awesome, and I do hope to test again in the future! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

The Trento Reunion 11th Iteration

For eleven years, the Trento family from all over gather to be together. I never met some of these Trento cousins until the first gathering we had at Lake George in 2004. That first reunion had my Uncle Johnny Trento and my Aunt Theresa (Tee) Trento, my New Hampshire cousins, my Rome NY cousins, Connecticut Trentos, and all us Jersey Trentos. We went to Lake George for six years at a few different places. Then three years in Rhode Island, and last year for year ten we were in Connecticut.

Eleven years later, Uncle Johnny and Aunt Tee have passed. We have had nine new baby Trento's. We've had new significant others join the reunion. And Grandma Cyn and I are still room mates and have a blast together. But one thing that remains the same: the unconditional love. We truly look forward to seeing each other each year and some we get to see on a few special occasions during the year now.

Once upon a time there were four Trento brothers: Frank, Fred, Johnny, and Rudy. My grandfather who I never met passed in 1982, and his closest brother Frank died not too long after from a broken heart, literally. The family did not see Uncle Johnny much over the years, so it was a blessing to have him come our first year, and Uncle Rudy was the grandfather to us all to the Jersey Trentos.

My Uncle Frank always wanted a girl, to the point he wanted to adopt a girl! He had three wonderful boys who he was so proud of. If he were alive today he would have seen over a dozen granddaughters and great-granddaughters. The Jersey Trento's covered the boys. My cousin Matthew and I in particular do really look forward to our trip to seeing the Trento's and just spending time with everyone.

Grandma Cyn and I have been room mates at our reunion for several years and each year we have something new to talk and laugh about. I am very close with my grandmother and we talk about a lot together, and share much, and always have good laughs. Rooming with Grandma will be a treasure I will always be grateful for.

This year we went to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. It was beautiful and different, and we enjoyed each other's company all the same. I think our favorite moment was all together in my parent's room eating Aunt Karen's home baked desserts after our family dinner, and we danced, sang, drank, and played games. We were together as FAMILY.

But one of the funniest and most memorable things for THIS past reunion was the very first day. Before we went to the ferry, our very first event as a family for this reunion was this: FOOD SHOPPING. Food always brings family together, but this was different in it's entirety! You have to understand how funny it was for about 15 of us barging into a foreign food store, not knowing where anything was, all food shopping at the same time to bring with us to our destination. It was memorable, and a good haha!

Family is a beautiful thing. Be sure to always hug and make time for your family. Support them, enjoy them, but always laugh and communicate with family. These are the key elements that must be passed down to your family, but always pass down the love and tradition of family. We have many Trento's in heaven now, but we gather each year to remind ourselves that we are the legacy of the love that those four Trento's from once upon a time taught us in our origins. (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Remember this book? Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. I must have been in second or third grade when my teacher read it to us. It was a book I never gave a second thought. But I had a very trying week. I guess I could look up and turn it into gratitude while praying "Thank you God, for believing I needed these challenges this week!" Well I had a very trying week and I guess I could laugh at how much I REALLY am like Lucy!

Yesterday I had a VERY late start but believed I planned my day accordingly to still get all I needed to get done, done. I went to my car to leave at an appropriate time to get to work, which I normally would have been at by this time, and the car wasn't working. Something was wrong and wasn't starting. I had 40 minutes to get to work! I tried not to panic and texted and called everyone I knew who was local and possibly available. Problem was NO ONE was available.

I called about nine people before I got in touch with my dear friend Maria. She told me she was doing errands (which is code word for SHOPPING-- I know her too well!) and said she'd have no problem picking me up! Success! Or so I thought.

Here in New Jersey, just about every surrounding town had some construction going on and all major roads were blocked off and detours up the wazoo! Maria had actually passed my school not once but TWICE in trying to follow the detours to getting to my school. And people were already showing up! A master's nightmare! She finally got to my house, we went over to the school, and at the red light, we heard this ringing : ding ding ding ding ding! Are you KIDDING me?! A train!!!

We looked at each other and began to laugh our butts off. ONLY US! It was the most comical moment. And truth be told, Maria was chosen by the celestial powers that be to be there with me because anyone else would have sighed in annoyance or burst out in anger or cursed at the train. Nope. Not with Maria. We laughed and compared it to a Lucy and Ethel moment. We were in a similar situation when we saw The Lion King on Broadway and couldn't find our bus home. It was one of the best times being lost I ever had.

I made it to classes! The next day I thought will be better. Negative. I got the car working, got to work, my computer monitor wasn't working. I had a lot of computer work, printing, and emails to make. This was not good. Someone brought over an extra monitor and we found out it was not the monitor or chords. So another computer saavy friend who has a technology business came to look at it, and turns out the computer is SHOT. Damn! NOT good!

He was able to save the hard drive and will fix up a new computer. Then I checked emails on my phone and got an upsetting email. It was just one thing after another after another. I thought of Alexander from the book. So the NEXT day I traveled around with my hard drive doing stuff until right before my classes I realized I lost it! Not only was my work on it but also my book! I panicked but ended up finding it in the street. Although it was run over (what seemed like three times) it was salvaged and backed up immediately. This was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad WEEK!

But you know what? I remembered to laugh! I wanted to cry a lot, but I didn't, instead I laughed in each moment. And you know what? That means I am alive! What a gift to be alive! We all have crazy times and crazy moments, we all make mistakes, and sometimes when it rains it pours. But remember, even the water at the end of the waterfall returns to calm streams. Never lose sight of that! I almost did! And sometimes we need to remind ourselves and each other! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

The Women's Self-Defense Special

At my school I have been doing these ten week Specials of a certain class for specific topics people want to experience and learn in the short term. My first Special was a Women's Self Defense Course. I developed some very simple yet effective system that covered a little bit of everything. Self-Defense does not have to fancy, it just has to work.

Over the years I have had some great self-defense training, not only physical training but verbal training and a training in higher level of awareness of situations. I have done extensive research on all types of bullying and harassment and have been on many school counsels for policy making against bullying.

I have written many blogs about how I am a big advocate of the "woman warriors" as I have trained with many myself, and trained many as well. I think all women should learn to defend themselves. There is this misconception that women are weaker than men and are easy targets. From what I know in my field, I will always argue that. Also, it is not the strongest person who stays safe, it is the smartest. That being said, learning effective, leverage based self-defense system can be dead useful, and conditioning the body over time to build the muscle memory is all one needs to do. You don't need a Black Belt to know self-defense and to protect yourself. Many Black Belts get beat up because of this lack of understanding!

The other part is Ego. Ego has it's place in life, but the Ego can be one's worst enemy, especially in a confrontational situation. During the course we did basic hand movements for low and high level attacks, effective striking, drills to condition the body to using these strategies, drills adding stress to the situation to add an element of realism, ground defenses, gun defenses, and a few knife defenses.

The course was not only hands on but they also learned a great deal of information which they all knew through my methods of repetition in my teaching. I asked every few weeks for an assessment and they gave great feedback. I had two sessions and a great turnout and they really learned something and felt more confident and knowledgeable, and they were surprised with what they could do by the end of the ten weeks.  The only thing they felt a little eerie about was the weapon defenses, which is something I will have to adjust, that's all.

I will be doing more of these 10 week specials. Next week I am starting a 10 week Qigong Course, which will do several sets using postures, poses, and breathing methods that can help improve health, vitality, mental clarity, and spiritual enlightenment. My students LOVE it and others will as well. In September, I am doing a 10 Week Zumba class with two sessions to choose from, which is a fun dance fitness class. And in October I will be implementing Yoga and a Cardio Defense class.

Self-Defense is a major reason why people learn martial arts. I have the best mentor when it comes to self-defense training, Master Samuel DeJesus. But it's always a treat to learn from the mentor's mentor! The FOUNDER of the Haganah martial art self-defense system is coming to town this weekend at Rockaway Fight Center in New Jersey! If you're interested, call 973-983-0807. You don't need martial arts experience to do this seminar! And it's not every day you get to work with the FOUNDER of a system.

No matter what way it is being taught, it is always a good idea to learn self-defense and learn from different systems and methods to build if nothing else, confidence. THAT is your biggest line of defense. No attacker wants to attack a confident person. And if they wanted to kill you, they'd kill you. An attacker wants either information, an item, or your body. But they go after the "perceived weak" targets. Confidence is your focefield against negativity in all it's ugliness! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Aaron Coaching

Masters Aaron and Leeann Morris

This is Master Aaron Morris and his wife Master Leeann Morris, I call her MMM or "triple M" (Miss Master Morris-LOL). A couple years ago, there was a tournament coming up in Pennsylvania, and my mentor Master Balon was letting the New Jersey clubs know about it. Well! If Master Balon says it's good to go to, it's good to go to! SO I spoke to Master Morris on the phone introducing myself and told him I would love to go to his tournament, and that me and two other people from my school would be officiating at his tournament and would help him in any way we could.

So I first formally met Master Morris at Master Balon's New Jersey AAU State tournament in April 2013. He greeted me with a big warm smile and a one arm hug. I liked him immediately. So the next time we would meet was at his tournament that following month. I was still new at officiating but the New Jersey officials were very helpful with Olympic sparring division. We were so happy to help.

I kept in touch with Master Morris here and there on Facebook and the occasional phone calls. Sometimes we would see each other at the other AAU tournaments and nationals. This past year I went back to his tournament to officiate and chose his tournament to be my first competition to ever try Point Sparring which I am proud to have won Gold. I wish I got the nice Pennsylvania medal though!

I have had many coaches over the years of competition in Taekwondo. Of course I began competing right after I got my Black Belt, never color belt. For six years my original master was the only person I had in the seat. After a four year hiatus from competition, I returned to rebuild that experience, get back in the game, challenge myself as an adult since I didn't have the transition, and  to show my kids I was on the journey with them. My student and friend Robert Lisciandrello began learning to coach and would coach me.

My friend Master Crespo sat in for me once, Master Toledo once sat in for me, I even had Miss Sue coach me for my Point Sparring match! But at nationals I had no coach prepared, which was fine because I didn't have one last year and there have been just as many competitions I had been coachless as  have actually had a coach. But this year at nationals, for Olympic sparring, when Master Morris knew I didn't have a coach, he volunteered his time to come and coach me.

Master Morris knew that I have had a rough year. He also knew that I continued to push myself, probably even when I shouldn't have. But that just wouldn't have been me. But I never had a coach like Master Morris. Of course as we are sitting waiting for my division to go up, I do what I always do and here I am doing a small pre-interview with Master Morris (He'll one day get the full scale Barbara Walters one from me LOL). I enjoyed hearing about his competition experience, as we exchange the names of the people we knew from competing over the years and our own past experiences.

But I learned a lot not only as a competitor but as a coach as well. Master Morris is calm yet direct, have an excellent eye, and was able to put nerves into perspective and confidence in his directions. I was nervous, but he made me feel at ease. I watched him coach other people as well and observed him closely. He has an excellent coaching style, and I saw something else that was very clear to me. He was sparring to. He was IN the ring. Not literally, but he was channeling himself through his competitors from the chair as if he were sparring. I don't know if anyone can understand that, but I saw it as clear as day.

And honestly, that's what a good coach does. They don't just bark orders and directions. They guide, they point out opportunities, but it's in an energetic way that they are also doing the competition through you as well. And you can actually feel that. I felt very comfortable on those mats again. And another thing, I heard every thing he said. This may not seem like much, but I have always had a hard time hearing my coaches in the past. But I heard everything clearly and it's not that he has a booming voice or anything like that. He was screaming his commands. But I believe he had a great ability to connect and something about that allowed me to hear everything he said. Take it as you will, that's what I believe.

I believe Master Morris is now the Mid-Atlantic District Director for the AAU Taekwondo Program. And no wonder. I am very happy to have met Master Morris, but even happier to call him friend, as well as triple "M" (Miss Master Morris). They are good, kind people and I enjoy my time with them every time I see them. I want to personally thank Master Morris for taking the time out of his day to come coach me, as well as Mr. Austin from Rockaway Fight Center, and for his friendship =) . (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO