The AAU NJ State Championships

Last week, my competition and myself went down to Monmouth Junction, NJ to compete in the AAU New Jersey State Taekwondo Championships, directed by my mentor Master Kevin Balon. This tournament was a qualifying event for any students wanting to compete at the national tournament in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I am proud to say that out of the fifteen of us who went, thirteen qualified! But only did we get medals, but we got quite a handful of experiences as well.

Experiences can be negative or positive, but either way it contributes to our learning and development, which is a beautiful thing. I had my youngest student on the team, William, do sparring for the first time. He is only seven years old and had been curious about sparring and I knew that getting him in the ring with people OTHER than his classmates would be a great experience for him. He did great. However in sparring you want to kick the other person to get a point. It's not that William didn't kick, but when he did throw a kick, he would stop just short of making contact, not wanting to hurt the other boy. It was cute to see, but he now understands how to get a point. William received a bronze medal for his first sparring competition!

Everyone did phenomenal with their forms! Because this was an AAU tournament, my students got to see a lot of other people doing forms that they know as well! So the competition will be very good. I want them to watch and see different ways to performing the same form, see different styles, maybe learn a thing or two from the other competitors, and also shed some light on the things we talk about in class that need to be done, and how it will help them in their competing.

Some rings ran very well. Some were very chaotic. No matter what, they got experience. They see how judges score, they see what judges are looking for, they notice what other people do the same as them, they notice what others do differently, they see what works, they see what doesn't work. And of course they've been to enough tournaments by now to know that each competition is run differently. Robert and I are the two coaches for the team but at one point we had three rings of students and we were already called into the holding area!! That has never happened before, so that was an interesting experience. Here I am running from ring to ring, and also getting yelled at for leaving the holding area.

I was happy with how I sparred, I've come a long way from my first tournament in four years back in October. I won gold in sparring and silver in forms. But I think one of the biggest highlights was for Miss Erin McKenna. Erin competed in sparring YEARS ago when I still apprenticed under my old master. She was a regional champion and won silver in Providence, Rhode Island when she was eleven. That was five years ago this month. She has not competed since then, and this was her first year back in competition. Not only was it her first year back, but her first year competing as a BLACK BELT ever!

The season started out tough, as I knew it would for her. She did three tournaments at the very beginning of the season and they were very tough. Erin saw that these Black Belt girls meant business and she knew she had to get her act into gear. She never missed sparring class, came to a few seminars with me, one ran by my sparring mentor Master Bardatsos, and she went in there with the hunger to win! Her first match, she was on FIRE. She kicked and kicked and she wanted it BADLY. She won 17-10, but when the match was over, she was back to sweet little Erin and showed great sportsmanship to the opponent. And her opponent was just as gracious back.

Her final match was up against a 3rd Degree Black Belt, two belts higher than she! But Erin gave her a run for her money! It was a back and forth match. Erin was winning. The the 3rd Degree was winning. Then Erin. Then 3rd Degree. Then Erin again. But Erin was a head taller than this girl and kicked harder. Erin was winning 6-5 before the other girl threw in the towel because she could not continue. Erin's power was too much for her. I couldn't have been more proud! Erin was a double gold state champion after a long competition season! She burst into tears when she was awarded first place and the roaring cheers from her fellow students and families from TMAFC, and some strangers as well!

Another highlight was little Owen Hagmaier. My junior Black Belt who has done phenomenally in forms, but wanted to try his hands at AAU point sparring. He was up against a kid who came with an entire cheering section with T-shirts made up and everything. But his opponent's father was putting very negative instructions into the eight year old son's head. Things like "Go and kill him! Kick him in the head! You gotta prove yourself!" etc. I was stunned. Apparently he didn't do well earlier in the day and the family actually had him refuse the medal he was awarded. Owen was hearing all of this, and so did his mother who was freaking out. She didn't think Owen knew, but he did and just didn't want mom knowing what he heard.

Finally I turned around, as I sat next to Owen hearing this, and I said "Owen, just remember, you are here to have fun. And when people fight for the wrong reasons, they never do well." Well this calmed him down a little bit. Well when Owen went into the ring, he listened MAGNIFICENTLY to my coaching commands from the sideline. When I said move in he moved in. When I said move back, he moved back. When I said kick he kicked. When I said punch he punched. When I changed our strategy, he changed it immediately. He really took control of the match. At the end the opponent caught up and Owen had to do a sudden death round where the first point wins. Owen emerged victorious!

Owen went to shake the opponent's hand and the father of the other kid actually yelled "DON'T SHAKE HIS HAND!" I could not BELIEVE the poor sportsmanship and my mentor Lisa Sargese who was taking pictures, you could tell was equally stunned by the expression she had on her face. But Owen bowed politely, shook the hands of the opponent and coach, and was a class act. He represented so well. An awesome experience.

This is what you get at competitions. I only want to bring my kids to tournaments as long as they have fun and enjoy and do their best and LEARN! I have had many of my own experiences in the past where I debated whether or not it was a good idea to do competitions. But my mentor Lisa says "Competition breeds excellence." You can read her entire view on competition HERE. I am very proud of all my students. Congratulations to everyone who competed at the AAU State Championships in New Jersey and to my very own state champions!

Yours in service,

MR. ANDREW TRENTO

Dreading the Dentist

 "Dentists tell you not to pick your teeth with any harp metal object. Then you sit in their chair! And the first thing they grab is an iron hook."

-Bill Cosby, in "Bill Cosby Himself" 1982

In 1982 Bill Cosby did a stand up and had a dentist segment. You can see the whole eight minute video at the end of this blog. I laughed so hard because I think every experience he described I had. But in the past I have had terrible dentists, forgetting to do the cleaning of my teeth in appointments, insulting my intelligence, not friendly, hurt my mouth, made mistakes, etc. So long story short, I have not been t a dentist in four years.

A few weeks ago one of the women in my cardio classes who is a dental hygienist was hosting a free oral cancer screening at her office. It was a service she was providing using a brand new, up to date technology to detect any cancer in the mouth. She knew I have no dentist and haven't seen one in a long time, so she looked over my teeth for me. Now like I said, it's been FOUR years! But walking into her office, I met three of the dentists and all the hygienists and office ladies and they were so pleasant and friendly. I thought I made a mistake and went to thee wrong type of doctor's office for teeth.

But it was no mistake! I was in the correct office at Ridgewood Dental Associates  and they were as nice as they could be, they let me ask questions, took time to explain things to me, I felt they knew they were talking about, and I felt more than comfortable. We kid around, laughed, discussed, they had a genuine interest for ME the patient. Well I decided to use them as my dentist and made an appointment for my checkup which has been LONG over due.

So last week I walked in and my friend Nancy met me there and she did a wonderful job. I have to admit I was a little hesitant being it has been so long. And negative reference points in the past have made me very skeevish to anything involving my teeth. But Nancy knew right away and was as gentle as can be, even if I was wincing here and there like a little baby. Hey! Even martial arts masters can have their moments! And for not going to a dentist for four years, I had only ONE cavity! Not too shabby. I blame that period of time I lived off of cookies and cheesecake four years ago. But oh well! I scheduled a next day appointment to meet with Dr. Weinstein.

Dr. Weinstein was fantastic! Young guy, very friendly, talked me through everything. He answered questions and explained thoroughly anything I didn't understand. He, too, knew my hesitation and nervousness of being at the dentist, but did great work. Spirit knew it was enough for me to be here for a THIRD time and to have a filling put in. I kept making jokes like "Put in birthday cake filling!" Just as he finished filling in the cavity without any needles and numbness or anything, because it was a back tooth on top, he checked over all the teeth, and lo and behold, he found one more small cavity on the other side of my mouth on the bottom in the back. Dammit!

I can just see Spirit laughing it's head off at me. -_____- Well I said just take care of it! But of course this time because of nerves on the bottom, I had to get the damn needle and numbness to the point you think the sin on your face is falling off, and filled in the other side. Tippy!

And just like the oral surgeon said back in October when I hurt my jaw in my first competition in four years, I will have to have my wisdom teeth pulled. I will wait a little bit before tackling that one, but they recommended me someone who is excellent.

So I am confronting all the fears I had in the past, continuing to do so, and doing the things I have put off. This was unintentional and not on my to do list, but when you begin to conquer other small things that you make a priority in your life that lead to tackling bigger thing you make a priority in your life, all the things you say you'll do you actually do! Then without you even knowing it, Spirit will guide you to accomplishing a lieu of other things you didn't even realize you needed to get done or put off. Ain't it a wonderful thing when you are in alignment with Spirit?

Yours in service,

ANDREW TRENTO

Testing Redemption

"Only beautiful things come out of chaos."

-Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee

As I continue to train for my masters test this coming summer, I obtain the many lessons a master should receive before mastership. And we get these lessons from the most unexpected places and people sometimes. We also get our lessons from the greatest circumstances, the most stressful circumstances, even the unpleasant circumstances. We also get them from people we love, people who vex us the most, from similarities, and also from misunderstandings.

One of my mentors is a brilliant martial artist and has many leadership positions in the AAU Taekwondo. He tested me for 3rd Degree Black Belt and I planned on testing for 4th by him this summer. I go to his school and he goes over my forms and technique of Taekwondo and he truly knows his stuff, inside and out. This Sunday he will be directing the NJ AAU State Championships and the preparation is absolutely exhausting.

When we originally set up my private lessons with him, he said he'd be happy to help me with my training and he would really appreciate my support with the AAU Taekwondo program. I told him I would be more than happy to support in any way I can, as long as it does not interfere with the running of my school because I am only in my second year and have limited help and back ups.

Well about a month ago, I was trying to schedule a private lesson with him and we couldn't work out a day and my mentor had told me just to attend this officials clinic he was having and that would be the end of it. But because of my new arrangement with the Korean church in town I work with and having Robert as the only other qualified Black Belt who could go holding down the fort at TMAFC, neither of us were available for this clinic. I had called and left a message about the circumstances and seeing what else I could do? But I never heard back.

Long story short I called again AFTER the clinic was held and received an email a few days later. My mentor took my absence as a personal insult and did not receive my call and said a few things I was kind of surprised about, like my training was obviously not important enough to me if I couldn't make arrangements and things of that nature. To make a really long story short we went back and forth with emails for a while where in the end he said he would not help me with my personal goals if I would not help him with this personal favor and he would not be testing me.

I was upset, yet my response was a lot better than I normally may have been, because it as only the week before where I had my Tuina with Sifu that I remembered him saying "All beautiful things come out of chaos." So I sat back with wonderment and excitement, saying to myself "What awesome thing is going to come out of this!?"

I asked another mentor what I should do and he told me I should try to look and see if I could do the national testing at the AAU Taekwondo Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, especially since I am going already. I called the president and he said they may not be doing it this year. -____- HOWEVER, if they do it will be a very special Kukkiwon test and anyone who does not have the Kukkiwon certificate or if off by a number of years with their current Kukkiwon rank, they can receive it or update it. This is a once in a lifetime event, but of course due to politics they are unsure if it will happen. And then I was given like two other options.

The Kukkiwon is the highest honor and highest certification you can get for your Black Belt and are internationally recognized as a Black Belt. Most Taekwondo schools don't even acknowledge a Black Belt unless it is Kukkiwon certified. I was really hoping to do the national testing, but it was up in the air. I had no answer for the actual test and too many options.

Then almost a month later, out of the blue I received an email from my mentor. He acknowledged we had a misunderstanding and apologized if he misinterpreted my intentions. I went to his school a few days later to speak with him face to face. I was ready to talk all business about his upcoming tournament but he come right up front, no beating around the bush and put all that aside. Since we were face to face he wanted to formally apologize to me and explained how he was burnt in the past by new "school owners" and the stress of running the tournament took it's toll.

Honestly, at first I did not know what his motivation was to reaching out to me, but I was very happy he did. He did the right thing, he acted like a master. Our misunderstanding occurred because we are human, flawed and fragile, he is not marked because of this, his reaching out showed great character and that is a sign of a good master. The thought of no renegotiating hurt me the ost because my old master would have done that, but he did not burn his bridge. I couldn't have been happier.

We discussed the possibility of him visiting my school, things he was doing for the tournament, I got to see the medals (which look AWESOME), we talked about new training thing, the nationals etc.) Then we set up dates for my private lessons and I asked if I was still allowed to test with him. He told me I absolutely was. I came right out telling him the things I was looking into, not being sure where the testing relationship was going and that if the Special Kukkiwon test did take place I would be taking that test. He thanked me for being up front and told me if the Kukkiwon test did NOT take place I was still welcome to test with him.  It made me feel really good that I still had that option open to me. And it looks like I WILL be testing with him again anyway.

We take on all life's experiences whether they come from bliss or chaos either way. Because it is part of our growth and development as human beings, not just martial arts masters. I was happy to have had this experience because I learned a lot about how I must be as a mentor from my own mentor. I don't know what made my mentor change his mind and reach out to me, but I am very happy he did.

Yours in service,
ANDREW TRENTO

Carpe Diem

 "Life is now. There was never a time when your life was not now, nor will there ever be."

-Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now (page 41)

I watched an interview with Barbara Walters and the Dalai Lama a few years ago and thought "This is a man who GETS it! This is a man who is absolutely enlightened!" He was so cheery and giddy, and light hearted during the interview. Barbara Walters even said, she left feeling so blissful and peaceful. What living here in the United States, doesn't that seem so farfetched?

Well in all my mental training, all the techniques and philosophies I have studied, all the the greatest minds of education and psychology, all the gurus in self-help and healing all have a common factor: relaxation. You need to relax! But how do we relax in a world that is fast pace moving, hustle and bustle, and running around like a chicken without a head? With the pressures of the world on our shoulders? Money, education, family, parents, coaches, etc.

Besides all these pressure the world throws on our shoulders, there is also the pressures we put on ourselves. This leads to the result of becoming overwhelmed, in which you end up doing NOTHING, or over-thinking which keeps you moving but you end up staying in the same place, feeling stuck most of the time. Then when results don't show, we develop an illness worse than any other disease: WORRY. Worry is a disease that can lead to an even worse illness: Disappointment, or discouragement.

By over-thinking, worrying, and discouraging, we are often worried about past events and what lies for us in the future. By doing so, we end up not truly living our lives in the here and now. Because that' all there is: the NOW. We have to use the power of our minds properly. In his book The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle states "The mind is a superb instrument is used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive. To put it more accurately, it is not so much you are using your mind wrongly --you usually don't use it at all. It uses you."

This is why we torture ourselves in stead of being the the present moment, the moment that truly counts. I went to a Qigong seminar yesterday with Frankie and Lisa again. The Qi master had us to these moving meditations and the one that stood out the most for me was how we were to draw in to us our experiences from the past, redirect it away from us, then pull in what we want to keep close to our hearts, then push out the "garbage" we don't need away from us. It was very enlightening. He reminded us that there is not past or future, but the NOW that we live in. The worrying of "how" things will be done will only block the gifts and blessings that are supposed to come our way. I have taught this so much in my lifetime to others. I always said never worry about the how, just know that you WILL.

I have a challenge for one of my Black Belts who is testing for her 2nd Degree Black Belt in the fall. Every Black Belt test has a personal quest for each candidate. Because every person is different, every quest is different, which makes every test different. For her, her quest is to SEIZE THE MOMENT. Or other words most commonly referred to in Latin: CARPE DIEM. Many universities have carpe diem somewhere in their emblem because they want students to fully embrace the college experience of their lives, etc.

For this young Black Belt, it will be life changing for her to fully embrace the NOW. I first learned this when I was 18 turning 19. I was in Professor Lisa Sargese's class in college and first day of class she showed a video clip (which is at the end of this blog post). And after seeing the clip and understanding CARPE DIEM, SEIZE THE DAY, I did so. I seized every moment, made every moment count, I was on a high on life! And life was real good. And only good things came to me. The blessings that were supposed to come my way came, and the "bad stuff" were only challenges, it didn't phase me. The obstacles were opportunities in disguise.

So to my Black Belt on her quest: Seize the day! Carpe Diem!

 

Carpe Diem! Seize the day boys! Make your lives extraordinary!

 Yours in service,
ANDREW TRENTO

Me in 2016 Olympics??

I began training in Taekwondo in 1998. Taekwondo has been around for many years and has a great and long history. It is actually one, if not THE most popular martial art out there. One reason that is the case is because it is endorsed as an Olympic sport for the summer Olympic Games. It was used only as a "demonstration" sport in the 1988 and 1992 Olympic games. Then finally, in the new millennium, Taekwondo became an official sport of the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games!

I got my Black Belt in 2002 and began competing in Taekwondo for the first time. I did very well for the 2002-2003 year. Then I was in a totally, and if not one of the most difficult Black Belt divisions the following year, 14-17 year olds. That division can be a very fierce division and you need to be on your game! But not only was I entering a new division, I was entering an Olympic year. The 2004 Athens Olympic Summer Games, and everyone was coming out to compete. It was hard! But I loved every minute of it. The last time I competed (before this year) was in 2007, where I went to Providence, Rhode Island for the National Qualifier and sparred against team member Jayson Grant. It was my first tournament as an adult, and getting into the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

There was a four year gap from my competition days. In between those four years, I self-taught, learned new arts, got my 3rd Degree Black Belt, trained for my master certification, opened my own school, and training for 4th Degree. I only began competing again this year and went to three competitions. I'll be picking it up a notch because there are some competition goals I do want to meet. But one of the thrills I have in my Taekwondo training is that I get to work with two of the top coaches around, my mentor Master Peter Bardatsos, and his partner Master Richard DeGeorge. These two gentleman know all the up to date events, rules, technology, and strategies for this game.

Of course, the year I begin competing again just happens to be another Olympic year! So everyone who is everyone is coming out to compete and bring themselves to new heights. It also happens to be the year of my 4th Degree Black Belt test. -____- Talk about a full year. And of course when you come back into competition after a four year gap and an Olympic year, you get quite the experience of people coming out. I sparred Egyptian national team members, I sparred Steven Lin in my first match of my second tournament, this happened to be the year o the new rules and technology of the DATO system, so I get thrown a lot of things my way.

About a week ago, I was at Kixx Martial Arts training and Master DeGeorge was running the class. And we ended up talking for a very long time after class. He asked me why I was doing independent competitions and AAU and not so much USAT or bigger tournaments. I explained that eventually I want to have that experience, I just wanted to focus on my 4th Degree, get comfortable, and get the experience of sparring elite fighter, etc. Then he explained to me what it takes and what one would have to do to make it big and do well. I have the opportunity to see it first hand training with the Invictus Team. I see how they train, what they do, where they go, what their experiences are like, it's amazing to be right there to see it all happening and knowing what they know.

He asked me how old I was and I told him and he told me that I should be thinking about getting as much experience as I could, which Master Bardatsos told me as well, and to do more international tournaments. If I really want to get to the level I want, I need to spar people even better than me and even better than the people I spar already. He threw out all these international tournament names, some I planned on going to in a few years. NO. You go NOW or next year! he tells me. U.S Open, Canada Open, Toronto Open, Korea Open, National Qualifiers, national tournaments, collegiate tournaments, etc. Then he said "Then by the time the next Olympics come by, you should be at your prime!"

I was like WWWWWOOOOOAAAAHHHH!!! HOLD IT! Who said I was going to the Olympics? Well why not? You do what you have to do, put the time, effort, and experience in, there's no reason not to. But me? Me? Andrew Trento from New Jersey, ME? I don't know. He continues on saying and if you keep at it by the next Olympics when you're 30....

WOOOOOOAAAAHHHH!!!! Who said I was going to the Olympics TWICE? I chuckled because it was something I wanted years ago, and then thought EH, I don't know if I would make the commitment. At the same time, those days I did not think I would ever have the opportunity. But now I am working with people who do this level of competition for a LIVING. And it's the first time is YEARS someone actually thought that I would have a chance if I really wanted to. So I began thinking about it. I was telling Robert and Dawn about this and they perfectly think it's a do-able thing for me. I expected them to be like my initial reaction and think it ludicrous. But maybe now?

The next Olympics after 2012 London is 2016 Rio....also the year I test for 5th Degree Black Belt -___- always got to have a full year, eh? I began imagining it. How cool would it be just to have a chance to spar in the Olympics? I've done Junior Olympics in the 14-17 division, came out Bronze! But as an adult? What can I really do? I imagine Steven Lopez when he won Gold in Sydney and Athens and Bronze in Beijing. What will it be like when I go? How awesome would it be? Can I see myself, Trento for 2016? Seems like a fantasy, but you never know....

Steven Lopez won Gold in 2000 Sydney Olympics, 2004 Athens Olympics, and Bronze in 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Yours in service,
ANDREW TRENTO

A Godly Day in the City

Lisa and I at Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum with Elton John!

Last weekend, the holiest weekend of the year (Easter weekend), my religion professor, spiritual adept, mental training mentor, and dear friend Lisa Sargese and I spent the entire day in New York City. I absolutely LOVE going to the city, even if it's just to walk around and window shop, it's one of my favorite things to do and I don't do it as often as I used to. We decided after hearing the song Beautiful City at my uncle's Last Supper Dinner, we wanted to go see the show Godspell on Broadway and actually HEAR Hunter Parrish in person sing the song.

But Lisa had pulled a "Trento" and planned out an itinerary for the day! #I'mRubbingOffOnHer #It'sScary #SamePageDifferentParagraphs. LOL! The biggest surprise and thrill for me was our first stop to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum which is something I've been wanting to do since the new year began! We drove in and parked on 50th St. Now I want you all to remember that we had to do A LOT of walking. And remember, Lisa is trying out not one, but TWO brand new knees! And we are preparing for a trip in Disney when we go to Florida this summer. So this is AWESOME practice for her. I told her "Think of it as your brown belt test!"

We walked from 50th down to 42nd. Then up two blocks here, down two blocks there, and Lisa walked the whole thing, no complaining, no problem. And it was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day! Not one cloud in the sky, blue sky, and sun sun sun! We walked into Madam Tussaud's and we walked the ENTIRE thing. Lisa was on her feet for most of the day and I was so proud of her! She did better than I think she thought she could do. But I knew she'd be fine.

ME and Lucille Ball, a legend!

We of course played around the whole time. We were there for a couple of hours. We took pictures with EVERY SINGLE WAX FIGURE! But of course we each had our priorities too. Everyone who knows me knows of my obsession with Lucille Ball. And Lisa and I are in LOVE with Lady Gaga. I had to see the pope of Barbara Walters. And we were just plain silly! I grabbed my crotch next to Michael Jackson, Lisa screamed in Helen Keller's ear, we just had a fun time being silly! And it was sooooo much fun!

Lisa with THE Lady Gaga

After playing around in the wax museum, we walked all the up to 53rd St and then down a few more blocks to St.Thomas's for the Vigil Easter Mass, and to see one of Lisa's all time most favorite choirs. The church was absolutely beautiful! The architecture was exquisite! The statues around the church reminded me of Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame! And the mass was wonderful as well. I would like to come back next year as well for the Vigil Mass.

But I was also happy to come to this church because I knew that St Thomas's Church in the city had a great deal of meaning for Lisa. She used to always come with one of her former mentors. And every time she was at this church, she can remember a different time of her life where she sat sitting in this very church praying to God for help in her life. She remembers praying to God for better health, being in this church wishing she was better in her life, not well enough to walk, was in a wheel chair and could not stand, and now here she was WALKING into the church, able to kneel if she desired, and I knew it was such a big deal for her and I was grateful to be there with her for this moment.

Being as grateful as I was, I thought an essential oil would be appropriate. Of course I didn't have Myrrh which would have been appropriate for Easter Vigil Mass, but I did think of an even more appropriate oil for the occasion: Gratitude. I put it in Lisa's hand without showing it, and after inhaling, she looked at it, and turned with a small smile of understanding and agreement of YES. Now mind you! This is the first time in almost four hours Lisa got to sit. She was on her feet all this time and walked several NYC blocks! She was passing her brown belt test with flying colors! I know Disney is going to be a cinch!

Lisa walked almost 30 city blocks total for the day and was on her feet for almost four hours! Take that naysayers!

 Then we left the mass to go back down to 50th to the Circle in the Square Theatre to see Godspell on Broadway, which was the catalyst for this trip! We were giddy like two little children. Godspell was a very appropriate play before Easter I think! We walked in, and I have never been to a circular Broadway theatre. There not a bad seat in the house! But it also wasn't a packed theatre. We put our names in for a drawing to have a backstage tour and meet some of the cast afterwards, and of course I got my keychain souvenir and bought Lisa a CD by Hunter Parrish.

Hunter played Jesus in the play and the entire play was so well done. I really enjoyed it, and am always surprised what Broadway plays can get away with when it comes to politics and religion. At the beginning of the play, however, Lisa said jokingly in a serious tone "Hunter Parrish better sing that song to me!" Well lo and behold! When the time came toward the end of the second Act, Hunter Parrish began singing Beautiful City and walked in our direction and was looking RIGHT AT LISA! How could I miss this moment! So I illegally took out my camera to take a few picture (seven) of Hunter singing to Lisa, how could I not!? BUUUUT...that's against the rules, and it is not a packed theatre and I was caught! The Stage manager made me delete all seven pictures right in front of her. Once again, I've made my mark somewhere in the world! I tried Lisa!!!!

It was an absolutely fantastic day! It was a Godly day! I had so much fun with Lisa and I was so proud of her walking ability and just having such good company overall! Here is the song beautiful city sung by Hunter Parrish himself, and just imagine him looking straight at Lisa since I don't have a picture of it!!:

The Reverend and the business owner--high class! LOL!

Yours in service,
ANDREW TRENTO

Breaking Achieved!

A lot of people do not understand why martial artists break boards. Well Master Doug Cook explained it very well when I went to see a Black Belt test he conducted. On the physical end of training, breaking is one way a martial artist measures their power. But board breaking can also help a martial artist with a few other aspects of their training. Mechanics in your technique for example. You have to be very precise on your form of your technique, can't throw wild techniques and it forces you to be aware of your body.

But breaking is mostly mental. We face the fear of being "hurt" when breaking, and we learn to clear our minds completely in order to go through the boards. It also allows the students to set up goals for themselves. Instead of working the dominant side, maybe you work the opposite side to test your coordination, to build your confidence, etc. Maybe break multiple boards. Another big challenge is speed breaks. A speed break is held only on ONE end of the board and it's a combination of good mechanics, follow through for power, and the acceleration of your hips in order to break the board. It can be very difficult with one board, so imagine TWO or more!

Well that was the goal of one of my Black Belts, Miss Samantha Volk. She has ALWAYS loved doing breaking and she has phenomenal power. But she struggles with speed breaks, not because she doesn't have the technique, but she was afraid of getting hurt which made her body resist, hold back, and take away from her mechanics. For several months she decided she wanted to do a speed punch with two boards. And she worked hard at it.

 She is testing for her 2nd Degree Adult Black Belt this May. She only has 4 weeks to go. And she understand if she doesn't conquer her fears and challenges now, the test will be even more difficult later on. So last night in our breaking class, the last break she decided to do was her two board speed punch break. After three "misses" due to mechanics and aim, she didn't break the board. But then this feeling overcame me. I knew she was going to do it. I felt it, not only physically, because she was hitting the boards harder than I can remember her doing, but spiritually, something told me she is going to do it.

I said "Miss Volk, one last time. You're going to do it now." She did not question me, she stood in front of the boards, let out a massive KIA, and then BOOOOOOOM! A solid break! She jumped up and down like a little five year old because ONE: she was so proud and happy, and TWO: her hand stung. LOL! But she did it! That's what it's all about! I was so proud! I was really really happy for her. And it was a good sign to how her Black Belt test is going to turn out. Congratulations Miss Volk! You're on your way! That's 2nd Dan attitude!

A mere flesh wound! LOL!

Yours in service,
ANDREW TRENTO

To Think! An iPhone!!

Me: How do you turn off the computer?

Friend: Click on start..

Me: No I want to turn it off.

Friend: Yeah...click on start..

Me: Listen! I want to turn it OFF!

Friend: Then click on Start!

Me:...I have to click on Start to turn OFF the computer?

Friend: Yes..

(PAUSE)

Me: That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard!

Friend: Well what do you want from me!?

Me: Do I have to click END to turn it ON?

Friend: Of course not!

Me: Well why should I click Start to END it?!

Friend: I didn't make the damn thing! Leave me alone!

Me: Well I am starting this conversation!

Friend: What?

Me: I am starting this conversation! GOOD BYE!

 

 

I remember having this convo with someone a long time ago in eighth grade. I was, and for those who know me all too well, still am quite illiterate when it comes to technology. GRANTED! I have come a long way. But my generation is the generation of technology. But I really was stupid when it came to chords and plugs, and setting things up, etc. Mostly because it is kinda hereditary, but I wasn't put in any position to figure any of those things out, it was always such a big deal to have technology and figuring it out! So I was conditioned.

Setting up a TV? Forget it! A game system? Don't even! Hard drives and flashdrives? What happened to floppy disks? Burning DVDs and Browsing? What's a Browse? I was awful! My friends would have so much fun at my expense but I had to admit it was pretty funny how much I didn't know.

I didn't get a cell phone until I was 16 years old and until I was in my twenties, a regular flip phone was absolutely fine with me. I couldn't believe how phones had evolved from the time when I was a young teenager. You can touch the screen and it'll move! You can check your bank statements! You can watch TV! You can use a GPS! Holy cow! I couldn't believe it! I wanted to know if it could do laundry too!

I really don't see the need of having all that until I owned my own business. It's absolutely necessary to be able to check my emails, go online, watch YouTube videos if needed, text message, make phone calls, and do all these things and have it all in one place. I remember when the new "Sidekick" phones came out, Kristin got it and we thought it was the coolest thing we've ever seen in our lives! Then of course the Razor and Chocolate? Is that right?

Well about two years ago, I moved on in the world. After five flip phones, I moved on to a Samsung Intensity, which was like a regular phone, I can dial on a keypad like a regular phone OR slide it out into a keyboard. This was BIG for me. I had it for two years until a new toy DID catch my interest.

SO almost everyone we know has an iPhone! And I exaggerate you not: EVERYONE. Most people have it. I went to the cheesecake factory several months ago with Kristin, and we had such a great time. And during our conversations, if we were talking about something and couldn't remember a piece of information or wanted to share something, we whipped out her phone and researched online or showed the video we were talking about, or looked up what we wanted to know. It was awesome! I have an iTouch iPod so it is very similar, and the more I saw it, the more intrigued I became. So yes, I converted to the iPhone about a month ago.

Now you can only imagine the hilarity to most of my friends, seeing ME with an iPhone. It truly is hilarious. Think of the most illiterate person you know, most likely one of your grandparents or parents. See them, but five times worse and with an iPhone. That is me to them. Absolutely absurd. But I have come a long way. I almost kinda know what I am doing. It helps to have Kristin to ask questions to (hee hee), but I was never a person to go gaga over a new toy like this, but I must say, I am LOVING this iPhone! I've come a long way since that conversation I had in eighth grade asking how to turn a computer off. #IStillThinkClickingStartToTurnOffAComputerIsStupid!

Yours in service,
ANDREW TRENTO

Facing Fear

 F.E.A.R stands for False Evidence Appearing Real!

In January of 2011, I was teaching a martial arts class and I was teaching the students the lesson on facing your fears! I explained to them that what we think is scary really isn't. A lot of times it's our own awfulizing of a situation or object can make our fears intensified. When you focus on what you want or focus on something positive, it can help you overcome your fears and change your attitude of what you were afraid to do.

One student asked me what my fear was. I had to think because I apply this lesson so much, most of the things I am afraid of I tackle and conquer. So the first thing that came to my mind was my eyes. At the time I was still wearing glasses and said I would NEVER wear contacts! I was a big baby when it came to my eyes. I would freak out when someone touched their eyes, I couldn't do eye drops to save my life, the thought of even touching my eyes skived me. I was afraid of touching my eyes!

Well of course how do you really get a lesson to hit home to your students? You do it yourself. So always being the one to hold myself accountable, I decided that I was going to convert to wearing contacts. After all, I knew I'd like it better. When working out, I wouldn't have to worry about sweat dripping on them, I could drive and watch TV without them, I could teach a class without them, and I could take pictures without wearing them, and I always took my glasses off for pictures, liking myself a lot more without them. But I had to tackle that BIG fear of eye touching...ICK!

SO I went to the eye doctor and she did the exam and got my prescription contacts. I was there for 45 minutes total. I DID NOT leave the office with the contacts in my eyes. I remember Briana, Robert's sister, when she got contacts. She had such a hard time but she persevered and I kept thinking of her when I tried putting mine in. Those two weeks she was my hero because she was able to do it and I was not succeeding! I sat in front of my HUGE mirror at my school and for an hour and a half, I tried getting the right side contact in. I would get worked up, walked away for a few seconds, got tears of frustration, then finally I said to myself "You've been through eight Black Belt tests! You can DO THIS!" Well I jumped for joy when I got the right side in! I couldn't believe it! Then it took 45 minutes to get the left in.

The first two weeks I had EVERY experience you can imagine! Putting two contacts in the same eye, contacts falling out while I was driving, contacts put in backwards, the contact moving behind the eye, OY! But after that first two weeks, I was good. Taking out-- EASY! Putting in, sometimes I still struggle but I've been wearing contacts happily for one year and three months. And I absolutely LOVE wearing them!

Well I have a student who told me she did not want to wear contacts and was also afraid of touching her eyes. She always wore her glasses and was very happy doing so. Quite a few weeks ago, I was relaying this story of my contacts to a class she was in. Well two weeks ago she told me she was going to go ahead and try wearing contacts. Well I couldn't be happier! She is a beautiful young lady with or without glasses, but as an instructor, to have a student take on the lesson of facing your fear and going out of your comfort level as a high yellow belt is absolutely thrilling for me! I couldn't have been happier and I couldn't have been prouder for her! Well done Jenna!

Yours in service,
ANDREW TRENTO

The "Dawn" of Training

I have a very dear friend to me named Dawn. I met Dawn about nine or ten years ago. I was apprenticing under my old Master in his school in Saddle Brook. Dawn used to take the fitness classes my old master used to offer and I would work the front desk at night and enter the attendance for him. That's how we knew each other. I would enter her name in every night in the computer. Then our school moved to another town and I did less desk work and did more teaching and didn't really see her that much, but she saw me a lot because I was teaching all the classes for my master.

Then in 2006 I began taking the fitness classes my master would teach. He would do cardio kickboxing and weights classes. Dawn would be in them and she stood in the front. And of course, being the student that I was, I was front and center, wanting to be the good boy and ready to work HARD as if it were a martial arts discipline! Well Dawn would hate it when I stood next to her because I would NEVER be with the instructor or my master's count. I was going faster and stronger. And by standing next to Dawn, she would start going faster and stronger keeping up with me. She didn't mean to but she would be watching me and it made her follow. But it also gave her a better workout ;) .

For the next 3 years I would take all the fitness classes and Dawn and I were always in the front, goofing off, arguing with my master or the instructor, but still working hard and got a hell of a good workout. Then when I began teaching fitness classes myself, she would take each one. It was a lot of fun, and then a very good friendship was born. Dawn has a great sense of humor, witty and sarcastic, but she has a heart of gold. She doesn't have a bad thing to say about anyone, is very fair, and very caring. Dawn truly one of a kind and anyone would kill to be her friend.

When I left my old master at the end of 2008, she left too and she was the middle person who got my mentor, Charlene, and I in touch which later got my a job at Strive Health and Fitness gym in Saddle Brook where I began working with Charlene and had a place to train and teach and get some fitness class experience. Dawn and a few others followed me over to Strive for classes where I was for over a year from 2009 to 2010 and then I opened my own school and Dawn followed me over to where I currently am. And Dawn is the star of my fitness classes, LOL! Everyone watches her and she gets along with everyone, and jokes around with everyone. When my Aunt Karen and her take class together, its quite a sight to see. But it makes the classes more enjoyable.

She would not only take the classes I would teach but her and a few others would join me in my fitness workouts I would do during the day and we've been doing this for years. Going back a few years ago, when my old trainer named Susy and Dawn took class with me, I would bust their chops and ask when they would begin martial arts. They both jokingly said "When you open your own school, we'll start martial arts!" Well only a few years later, ta da! Here I am with my own school! Where is Dawn and Susy?! Of course they were just joking, but I still bust on them!

Well recently, the topic of trying out for the Olympics, the REAL Olympics, was brought to my attention (I will be blogging about this further soon). I thought the idea of me in the Olympics was ludicrous. I watch how it is when I spar Steven Lin, Eleni Lianos, and Simone DeVito and I wish I could spar like them, however I do enjoy working with them. Well I told Robert and Dawn this and they both look at me with blank stares and say "Well why not?" -_____- I was looking more for them to agree with me. But no. Dawn said "Why don't you try out for the Olympics?" Then began the new chop busting question: When are you going to try out for the Olympics?

So after about a week of her asking me that question I began counter-questioning her with "When are you going to start martial arts?" To which she replied, "What time are the classes for the older than dirt crowd?" -___- always has to jest! I told her at six o'clock. "How many times would I have to do it?" I told her two or three times a week. She said "Okay, I'll see you on Monday." I didn't know how serious she was being.

Yesterday at right before my 6:00 adult class started, came in Dawn for her first martial arts class. "Alright, now where is you application to try out for the Olympics!??!" Now...I have to hold myself accountable to this agreement. But I couldn't believe she really came to take martial arts class! I was also very thrilled! I have told her she would love it and would be so good at it for the last six years! And now, here she is, starting martial arts! She Kia-ed, she kicked, she did her blocks, and she learned Chongi (the white belt form). I was so happy!

Of course the ball buster that she is asked me how long it would take to be in the Olympics. I began to laugh and answered "WELL! Considering the eight qualifying phases for 2012 is over, it's going to take me FOUR YEARS before I can see if I can make it to the Olympics. The same amount of time it'll take YOU to achieve Black Belt." Her reply: "OH CRAP!" LOL!!!!!

As long as she sticks with it, so will I. =D and I know we will both do very well. But I don't think Dawn knows how important its going to become for her. Or maybe she does...

Dawn and I on our pretend birthday April 1st! Two fools! LOL

Yours in service,
ANDREW TRENTO

A Mother's Worry

"Being a full time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs....since the payment is pure love."

-Mildred B. Vermont

 

I was going to sleep in a little bit this morning before going to work since I got home late from Easter festivities the night before. But I woke up the the booming voice of Kristin's father from downstairs. I got out from under the covers to see the door to downstairs was open and I asked "What's going on?" Then up coming from the stairs was a teary and shaken Kristin answered "Sadie had a seizure."

Sometimes when we hear certain things being told to us, we hear exactly the words being said. But they don't necessarily process. Then there are times that we are told things that seem almost impossible and insane and it is even more difficult to process. Sadie can't have a seizure. That is absolutely impossibly and could never ever happen. Not to my God-dogger. No way! Then as the moments pass by and the information is processing through my brain, then the emotions set in. The emotions you don't want to show to the already worried mother. 

Kristin was visibly upset, she didn't know what to do next. When she woke up, Sadie was fine. Kristin took a shower, and was getting ready for work. When she went to her room, Sadie was violently shaking. Kristin immediately went over to her and held her close and Sadie's head was shaking and her eyes had this look in her eyes that just said "Mommy, what's happening?" 

As I write this, I begin to tear up because I can only imagine what was going through Kristin's head and the feeling of fear. Fear of the unknown. She didn't know what as going on, why it was happening to what to do. She remembered her vet saying if ever something happened to record it on her phone and show it to her as data. So Kristin did just that, she recorded it so she can show the vet, as she held her baby close to her. Her immediate thought was to bring her downstairs to her father. When she did, Sadie did not want to be carried, she wanted to walk it down herself. And she was getting better, but was still shaking. Her father noticed right away and was getting worked up with worry as well.

When I woke up, Sadie was doing just fine, but Kristin was still very worried. She had to bring her to the vet. I offered to go with her to the vet. So the three of us went to the vet, and Sadie was absolutely fine. I think that she thought she was on her way to Camp BowWow as she does once or twice a week. When we passed it she had this look on her face saying "Uhhhh...mommy you passed my school...my friends are that way...."

We got to the vet's office with no problem (thankfully school is off for Easter vacation and NO ONE was on the road or office). And of course Sadie strolls in being the loveable, sociable bundle of love greeting the receptionists and the techs with kisses and playful greetings. I saw Kristin was easing up and relaxing a little bit but I knew her worry was not going to subside until she spoke with the vet. 

The vet walked in, a very nice lady, and she took Sadie in right away. I was so proud of Sadie, she was SUCH a good patient, and even the vet said she was, and ALWAYS is "exemplary"! Well, pshh, of course! Kristin Barrett's daughter and my God-dogger, for sure! LOL! The vet watched the video and immediately identified the type of seizure and threw all these terms and possibilities of what it could be, etc. 

It was a petite seizure vs a grand seizure and is very common if hereditary under the age of six years old. It was only the focal area of the head and can be caused if she ate something toxic, could resulted from a lot of stress from an eventful weekend (it was a holiday weekend with guests and traveling), or could be hereditary from her family line which she was bred from. The doctor took blood and checked her out, and then sent us on our way home. 

I know I felt better, but I wanted Kristin to feel better. I knew after speaking to a few more people, whether it be from work or anyone else she might relay to the morning's events, she will slowly subside and relax. She didn't want to leave Sadie, and I honestly didn't want to leave her or Kristin, so am doing as much work from home until I need to go to the school.

I was beyond proud of Kristin. People don't realize, and I was once one of them, that having a dog or any kind of pet is like having another child. It IS having a child. They are a living thing that is part of your family. You care for them, you love them, you take care of them, you invest in them. If your son or daughter had a seizure, you'd flip out and worry. Same thing with your pets. When you have a pet, you are also a parent. And let me tell you this: Kristin Barrett is a wonderful mother.

It was like watching any other mother worry for their child, and I wanted to tear up and cry with her, but knew that's not what she needed. Her father did the yelling and worrying that she needed for that moment and I kept my composure too. But Kristin did all the right things and did right for her Sadie. Proud. I am oh so proud of the way she took care of her daughter. And when she does have "human" children one day, I know she will make an excellent mother, because she already is.

Yours in service,

ANDREW TRENTO

Making it Count

Eleni getting ready for her match

Last night I was at Kixx Martial Arts Academy for my sparring training. Master DeGeorge ran the class and Master Bardatsos was not in attendance this time. I had the opportunity to work with Eleni as a partner last night. I remember Eleni from many years ago when I used to go once a month to Queens to spar at Master Bardatsos's school, and I remember watching her compete. I don't know if she remembers me then, but it was awesome to watch her spar.

Eleni moves with such ease and really understands the game. She was very patient with me as a partner (which I think any of these elite fighters would need being my partner) and she is very helpful. I didn't feel uncomfortable asking her questions, she made me feel comfortable when helping and giving me a few tips or pointing out a few flaws to correct, she is top class.

She also had competed at the NY State Championships the weekend before and had badly injured her left foot. You could see the big black bruises on the top of her foot, on her toes, and the side of her foot. She was working the opposite side, but she was due to compete in Massachusetts the upcoming weekend and she made a comment to the affect that no matter what she had to do, she'll use that foot if she has to in order to win. And that's what a winner's attitude is. No matter what it takes, I'll get it done. I really admired her for that.

The last drill we did I used to cringe when I was younger. It's called "holder's choice." One partner holds the targets/paddles that we kick and for about a minute and a half the partner throws out the targets in different sequences as if we were sparring and the other partner responds quickly and kicks he paddle when it is out. You are applying different situations and drills depending on your position and set up. It takes endurance because you are constantly kicking for a minute and half, and quick minded reaction, and of course timing. Stamina, mechanics, and timing? Oy!

Well I went first and did alright, then Master DeGeorge held for Eleni. I loved watching her, even with one leg only, she pushed on, she was loud, and she made those paddles POP! But after I went the second time and was catching my breath watching her, something clicked. It didn't matter what kick she did, or how tired she was, I noticed she simply made every kick count. That was it. I was in awe as I continued to watch her kick those paddles. With modifying over an injury and being tired from all the drills, she simply did one important thing: every kick counted!

That is the key to competing as well I guess. Make every move count. Make every decision you make count. Make every kick you throw count. And that is the essence of a great competitor. So I changed my whole attitude on the third round and did my best to do just that. And that last round, I was even less tired that I was the first to rounds. I often tend to be too tense and worked up and it exerts (and wastes) a lot of energy. Making every kick count later and staying more relaxed, I performed a lot better. Eleni's foot was beginning to bother her so Master DeGeorge asked me if I want to fill in and do an extra round with no rest in between. I of course said YES SIR! And did so. I wish I could say I didn't get tired this last round, but I didn't do too bad either.

I love sparring and working with the "sparring royalty" as I call them. Even by watching them you an learn so much. I often wonder how long it will take me before I can perform at their level. Of course patience and effort are needed. But I cannot help but want to be done yesterday! But practice and patience and doing my best as I keep to my course, I hope I can one day be on the level of competition Eleni, Simone, and Steven are at. Will it ever happen? Time will tell.

Yours in service,
ANDREW TRENTO

Passion Play

Last year I missed another of my favorite Lent traditions before Easter so I did not want to miss it again this year. For about 13 or 14 years, I would go to Felician College to see the passion play of The Jesus Story. I am a Christian and do not throw my religious or spiritual views onto anyone (in fact my religious view and spiritual views differ). But I find this play to be very inspirational for anyone interested in the story of Jesus and for any practicing Christian. They modify the play a little bit each year, and one actor who played Jesus did it for 12 years!

I of course invited my mentor, Professor Sargese, who is in fact a professor of theology and psychology, and thought she would really appreciate the play. If you're not a practicing Christian, then you would probably just see it as a really cool play. If you are a practicing Christian, then you will not see it as a play at all, rather than a phenomenal attribute to Jesus Christ. It is a musical, and there is some very inspirational music that gets you into the Easter spirit. Usually the play begins with Jesus's baptism by his cousin John, but this year they actually began with the annunciation of Mary, which was surprising and went through his birth and then manhood.

But the hardest part to watch, for me, and yet I remember this the most out of the entire play was when Jesus carried his cross. The actor who plays Jesus was all bloodied up from being scourged by Pilate, and a song plays while the actor Jesus goes around through the audience getting screamed at by the Roman soldiers and whipped. There were times that they are right next to you as he walks around and you cannot help but forget that it is all just a play, and emotions build up. It is probably the most emotional thing you can witness. Below is a video of that very song as Jesus walks around the audience carrying his cross. Watch at your own discretion:

But what I do look forward to is at the end of the play, the resurrection. Depending on the year, they really can go all out on the scene of the Resurrection. One year they actually had real animals like lambs and such and everything (I do not remember what year or HOW they managed that!) but they always have the same man sing the song Arise and the audience usually goes wild at the moment Jesus walks out of the tomb and he sends the actor Satan away. For Christians, it really reminds you what Easter is all about. There are a few more performances coming up at Felician College if interested I believe on Thursday and Friday at 8PM and Saturday at 4PM.

Yours in service,
ANDREW TRENTO

A Black Belt Run

Saturday, my dear friend and fellow martial artist George Valentino of ATA Martial Arts in Springfield invited me to a mile run he was doing with his students. After I taught at the Korean church and then at my school, I drove over to Springfield to his school. I walked in and Mr. Valentino was teaching a class and his partner, Mr. Delano and his wife welcomed me, along with many of the students who remembered me. At the end of his class, he had the students turn and graciously welcome me with a bow.

Everyone got into their running gear, some stayed in their gi (uniforms) and we got into a few cars and drove over to the track. Four times around the track was one mile. We did a little warmup and stretch, I got to talk to some of the students who remembered me, and some new ones had introduced themselves to me. I was considered a "guest Black Belt instructor" and some of the parents joined in as well. Mr. Delano and I discussed some things pertaining to our upcoming testing in the summer, and a little bit of our training and preparation.

Then we began the run, and many of us were to stay with a partner so we wouldn't give up and could support each other. A young boy of about nine or ten years old was next to me and we began running at a nice easy pace. We did really well after our first lap, and did very well the second lap, then I began asking him some questions when he began to slow down, to keep his mind off of any ailments. it was a bit nippy out and rained prior to our run. I asked him what rank he was, what his training goals were, what he as most excited about testing for Black Belt, etc.

The last lap I pushed him, making short term goals. "Okay let's get to the goal post!" "Let's sprint the last half!" "Keep going! We're in this together! C'mon! You can do it!" And he kept at it! He pushed on and did awesome! He did it in 9:42! I gave him a double high five, then saw these two boys were struggling on their last lap, so I did an additional fifth lap with them and pushed them. "Come on boys! Black belt attitude!" I kept yelling. "ATA!!!!!" I kept yelling! I treated them as if they were my own kids. Encouraging them, motivating them, pumping them up, believing in them, and they showed great determination.

I have to say, and I saw this at the ATA test I judged at, Mr. Valentino and Mr. Delano's students are very well disciplined and very respectful. Even as I casually asked some what their names were, they answered with a strong "SIR" after their sentences, and that is a great attribute to their instructors. I was very proud of them as if they were my own. After that fifth lap, I waited to see how everyone else would do. Then I was told that Dilan, the young girl who came to Ms Barrett's test and tested for 2nd Degree when I judged in February, had to do 12 laps which totaled 3 miles! Well I wasn't going to let her have all the fun!

So I joined Dilan for the last six laps. And she kept at a very steady, easy pace, and controlled her breathing very well. She played her music on her phone, and just had an overall awesome attitude. Mr. Delano joined us on one of the laps and I began to sing the Eye of the Tiger song from Rocky to pump her up. We laughed and giggled as we ran around, and on the last lap I heard an upbeat song and asked her what it was and she told me it was something from Disney's Hercules. I asked her if she had the song Go the Distance and she lit up and said "OH MY GOD, what an awesome song for this last lap! Yes!" How appropriate! On that last lap we "went the distance" and sprint to the end. She did awesome and I was so proud of her!

And as for me it's been so long since I ran, I was heavily impressed with myself. Glad to see training's paying off. I felt like Goku running on snake way to get to King Kai's for training. A lot of these students were and have been running on this path to Black Belt together. I was running toward my master's test! No matter where we were running, we ran through it together, and I was happy to be a part of it.

Yours in service,
ANDREW TRENTO