Don't Wait to Enjoy!

This past fall I have gone to see two of my most favorite Broadway shows. For the record, I love going to New York City. I love Broadway musicals. I love seeing a musical over and over again, with appropriate time spans in between. Back in high school when I was in the choir with Mrs. Verost, in my junior year we went to see Wicked. I absolutely fell in love! We got to sing in a workshop with some of the cast members, and we had a nice dinner, then saw the show.

I went a couple years later again taking my best friend at the time and his mom, and two of my closest friends Jessie and Nina. The show was fantastic. It's been about four years I think, and an opportunity came along where I got two tickets, Orchestra seating for practically nothing! I got the tickets the day of!

Wicked is probably my favorite musical of them all. The story is great, the lessons in the plot are awesome, the music is fantastic and awe-inspiring, and the show itself is funny. The characters are awesome, and the spin on the behind the scenes or before hand story to the Wizard of Oz. This is my third time seeing it. It was on Labor Day.

But my most favorite part and always has been since the first time I saw it is the last scene of the first act. The song is called "Defying Gravity." The words alone, I absolutely love and relate to. The "witch" Elphaba takes flight for the first time to escape the wizard and every time I hear the song, I get goosebumps. Watch the video here, you'll love it! The talent is still phenomenal after all this time!

(TURN YOUR VOLUME UP!)

The second play I saw last month was The Phantom of the Opera. I have seen this play FIVE times! I first saw it as a birthday present from my godmother, the second time was with Mrs. Verost and the choir at the 8,000th performance!; again with Jessie, Kenny, and my friend Kristyn; then my mother and brother and I went, and now again! And each time I see it, I always leave with the music blasting in my head!

That's how you know a musical is great, when you leave with the music still in your head! I first saw the story of the Phantom of the Opera when the movie came out. I loved the story of the teacher and student, the story of love, the story of a misunderstood genius gone mad, and the music is absolutely classic!

I always get seats in the front mezzanine for this show, right under the chandelier. This is, I think, the longest running show on Broadway and it only gets better and better every time I go see it. If you haven't seen it I highly recommend the trip to the Majestic Theatre.

I may not be one to do many vacations, but I absolutely love a day-cation and if I had to choose to do anything for ME that I absolutely love to do, it's a trip in the city to eat and see a show. I love having the city so close. I love music, I love shows, and Broadway never disappoints. I hope to go and see Mama Mia again! That show has a special place in my heart for many reasons also.

Sometimes you just have to do the things that make you happy. Don't deny yourself the opportunity to do things. And don't wait around for someone else to do it with you or for you. If you want to do something and it'll make you happy, do it! No one likes doing anything alone, but if you always live your life waiting for someone else to do it for you or to even do whatever it is AT ALL, it may NEVER get done and you deprive yourself of a good time.

As human beings we always want to share. I know I am that way. Always wanting to share experiences, people, things I love, things I enjoy, but how many times have we put ourselves in situations where we deprive ourselves of our very own happiness? I promised a year ago I would do the things that made me ME and that made me happy. I would take time to do these things.

Well I am! I have seen two of my most favorite Broadway shows, hoping to see another, I have taken and organized my pictures, I train and follow my schedule and routines, I eat at the places I like to eat, I watch my movies, I start new TV shows, and some of the things I share with people. Some I do alone. There is nothing wrong with that. But I know one thing, I won't deprive myself of any experiences or good times to enjoy something just because I don't have someone who will invite me or join me. You should do the same too! BE HAPPY! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER TRENTO

Fall Training Deja Vu!

When I trained under my old master, I had developed a very keen sense of organization, created plans that were mapped out for years to come, and set goals for myself to accomplish, and create such systems and routines for myself through lists and calendars, it's no wonder people think I am neurotic! However, I am neurotic and proud of it ;) ! But you wanna know something? Everything I planned, I DID!

Every time I say I do something I do it. I have a phenomenal track record. People around me all have opinions of what I SHOULD do or SHOULD be doing or SHOULD be thinking about etc. Problem is, they are not ME. And of course later on, no one says boo about the things I do, especially when it benefits everybody else. I am very big on following through and my actions DO back up my words. I always have and will do my best to always do so. When people want to argue with me on something, unless they can back it up, just don't. That's how I feel sometimes.

I get that way especially when the topic or matter means a great deal to me. But these habits came out of my strict routine and vast planning, and my stern discipline I had to meeting these desires and expectations. I look at my training alone. When I think I can't get any better, I find another way! I am hapy that I am always getting better and better in what I am doing. This is a very good time for me. I feel very balanced, I have created some great plans, many in action, and I well well rounded. That makes me happy.

For the last 10 years especially, I have developed a training cyle for myself that I have always followed. I would assess January-June training schedule and routines, July-August, and Sept-Dec. I've done this for years! I organize my training cycles, change them around depending on the cycle, increase the level of difficulty, and it has taken years of practice, training, and trial/error, as well as new insights to really get them all down to a science. If I ever have a student to make it to the level I am now, I would expect them to follow suit in this manner. Standards have been created and it came through experience.

I also document. OH the documentation! I have notebooks upon notebooks, logs after logs or all my training. I still take them out and look over, use again at a later time, or change it up and make it more relevant or beneficial to whatever my goal is for teaching or training, etc. I was showing a student one of my notebooks and one of the dates was January 8, 2003. There was a drill in there that I only used a couple months ago on a Black Belt test (will blog soon). A few passages later there was a new lesson I discovered while sparring that just happened to be on my board from teaching sparring class just this past week.

So experience needs to be brought up through every detail of our lives as well as our beings. Some we have better control some we have to work really hard at. I reviewed some of my old notebooks and logs, getting ready for a new wave of improvements, changes, innovations, and goals for 2013, which is going to be an awesome year. I looked at my fall training logs and would see a pattern. Fall was always to build up of new momentum that would bring a great start in the winter.

Well, I have been very consistent so far this fall, with the exception of the recent weather interruptions we had. I see improvement, I lost 20 pounds, I feel good, and I find my mind working hard and the wheels of innovation are hitting me left and right. I felt exactly how I felt when I first got back to training after my 3rd Degree test, the fall was for my to build up and the winter just skyrocketed! That's my mission. I have skyrocket like never before! It's been a while since I've been at this point, but I am very excited for the new year.

We learn from our experiences, our habits, and the rules we place for ourselves in our lives. And it is important to follow through on these priorities in every aspect of our lives. Something like the habits I have with my training and the discipline I put into it carries over into my life. For ME, if I don't have all these things in my training, the other areas of my life get affected as well. I learned that by reflecting. I get Deja Vu just thinking about it! Just take the time to find what is important to you, give it your all, and then allow it to flow through the rest of your life!

Yours in service,
MASTER TRENTO

The Disease of Arrogance

Arrogance: an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions

Have you ever met someone or fell in a situation with or have a friend who no matter how wrong they are try to justify their actions and have totally disregard for other people or circumstance that could affect you or other people? We run into it a lot, and as I get older I feel like I see it more and more. I find basic arrogance begins with being ignorant to the facts, then even after discovery of truth comes inconsideration and lack of empathy toward other parties and effort in making themselves untouchable. Does this make sense? 

Ever try calling out an arrogant person?  They do something against the rule or don't agree with a law and they say "Well that's stupid!".  Disregarding that there are reasons for rules and laws. I find arrogant people believe or at least act and behave as if they are above the law. Arrogance can also come from an ego driven mind. I am not writing off ego by any means, we all have it and there is a place for it in our lives. But when our egos get o big that it makes us conceited, we need to get a grip and tone it down. The lesson of humility needs to sink in. The attitude that they feel they are owed something and have the air of indignation is exasperating.

Those egotistical arrogant people will always try to one up people or situations. "Oh did you see what little Matt did the other day?"..."Oh you should see me do that!" "Sally did such and such last week!"..."Man, I've done that twenty times and then some!" It's always about them. It's what they want an it's how they want it. 

We all have moments where we get selfish. And a lot of those people will say that about OTHER people. They will find the qualities they hold within someone else but never admit it in themselves, or choose not to see it. On the slip side to that is also how arrogant people do not have empathy.

Empathy: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.

An empathetic and considerate person who keeps their ego in check has the capacity to act accordingly to the needs of the people they care about (granted that there are no underlying alternative intentions on either side) without being explained to. Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture told a story of his mentor Andy Van Dam telling him when he was younger "It’s such a shame that people perceive you as so arrogant. Because it’s going to limit what you’re going to be able to accomplish in life."

That is because no one wants to deal with selfish and arrogant people who cannot think outside the box, who can't empathize with other people, who cannot make decisions that are right and will be beneficial to all,  and don't want to deal with people who don't make the effort to do what is right. It is a life skill to understand what people need and not put them in  position where they will be hurt, misunderstood, or done wrong. and when it happens multiple times, arrogant people show a pattern and lose trust and respect with people.

I was talking to Julie today, she came over to visit, and I discussed today's blog topic and we had a big discussion. I have two MAJOR pet peeves. One of them is when arrogant people say "I don't see what the big deal is!" AAAAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!! As Julie put it, and I agree one hundred percent with her, just because it's not important to YOU does not mean it doesn't mean something to someone else. And I add on, when someone KNOWS what is important to someone else, then they have the human obligation to be responsible to act accordingly to that person's expectations to what "the big deal" is.

The second is when people say they are "busy". Guess what, EVERYONE is busy! I am ALWAYS busy, but never do you hear me utter those words to someone. If I cannot do something, I politely verbalize what it is that prevents me from giving my full attention. But when people hear "I'm busy" most people interpret that as "you are less important right now and so are your needs so I must disregard you."

The disease of arrogance is one we will have to deal with. When the ones you love most display this behavior, it can be frustrating, and hurtful. But the cure is to learn the basic understanding of caring for other people's feeling (empathy), and acting accordingly within reasonable means. Some say arrogant people find common courtesy to be a burden. And we are all guilty of this at several times in our lives. You should not be branded if once in a while you have those moments. But when you prove to be a weekly, even a daily habit, then one should think about putting in the effort to do what is right. As Andy Van Dam said to Randy Pausch, you don't want arrogance to limit what you can accomplish in life.

Yours in service,

MASTER TRENTO

The Demo Team

Years ago when I was apprenticing under my old master, I was part of the school's Demonstration Team. The Demo team was a way to advertise and for the ego-driven students to show off their skills. But it also was a performance that the students could share and demonstrate their new found confidence of performing in front of people and sharing the work that they created together as a team.

In any team, you have to always make sure the fundamentals are in place. A team must be able to have ways where the members are learning teamwork, communication, compromise, encouragement, reliability, and responsibility. That is for ANY team. Otherwise, the team has no worth and no common goal for the betterment of any of the members. I find in any sport or activity, if these fundamentals are missing or not addressed from the beginning, the team fails. I see it all the time.

When I began my own school, I personally did NOT want any Demo team. It was stressful nerve racking, and I wanted to use my time with the students to better them as martial artists and not become egotistical showy-offs. However, I was persuaded by my very own Frankie Peracchio. Frankie was very passionate about the Demo Team. He demonstrated creativity and coordination that martial arts does provide and wanting to create a show to do so for my school. So I gave it to him to do.

We began a Demo team, and it was truly a rebuilding time. It was brand new, we had brand new students. Some made full commitments, some were wishy washy, some didn't stay. I ended up in the middle of the duration of the team got more involved, something I didn't want to do but once again got sucked into, and we formulated a nice looking show.

I am very strict, probably more strict in Demo classes than a few others because it is a show, it is a performance, it is a representation of what we do inside the dojang. I may be snippy, but it makes them sharp and good. I think of my choral director from high school. She was loud and stern, and snippy, but it made us fantastic musicians! The synchronization, the communication, the learning, the caliber of the performance is present. So we do the same with the Demo Team in martial arts.

We did a few Demos at the school for tests, the anniversary, practices, here and there. This past summer, we had a small group of the members perform for the Sunrise Assisted Living in Paramus, NJ. The older crowd absolutely enjoyed seeing the kids perform, and were happy to have something very different vs their tradition violin players come for entertainment. Well, we definitely provided DIFFERENT! LOL

I was proud because they were spot on, they performed well, and it was interactive. They talked to the elderly people, they shook hands, the older team members were polite and sociable, the younger team members were too busy being cute to the elderly members, and truly this entire performance was made by THEM, the team. I gave them all the credit, they deserved it.

So We are about to enter the year 2013. There is a huge wave of change coming ahead, but I have made a year plan for the Demo Team to take on. I have made final arrangements of our members and our routines and music. I am taking charge of uniform plans. Every month from January to June I am going to have one demo a month for them to perform. Between the June to September season I already have 9-10 demos planned for them. I have it all on paper and if it isn't written it isn't so. Then from October to December monthly demos at a few planned events, then there is a special Korean Taekwondo event where the Demo Team will perform in February that I have heard of. It will expose the students culturally to Taekwondo and other interaction of new students, and by that time, we will be changing the ENTIRE show once more for a brand new year. Plans are good!

So it gives the team direction. NOW we have a purpose. NOW we have goals to fulfill. NOW we have intention, and pure intention behind our team. And we wait to behold what the future brings! Good luck TMAFC Demo Team, and a job well done from the Demo at Sunrise Assisted Living! Well done! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO 

More Catch Up!!!

Oh my goodness! I have not blogged for a long time. One of my new years resolutions is to have a consistent blogging schedule again! I will however be catching up with all the new lessons, adventures, and thought provoking ideas and events that have occurred the past two months that I have yet to record here. But I shall catch up!

I received my 4th Degree Master level this past June and have had a very enjoyable summer. The Fall brought in a new wave of a beginning new transitory realm for me. Setting a stage for a lot of great undertakings in my life. Training, business, education, personal growth, as well as new avenues.

I began my training and have had a few posts already with my new master, Sifu Pedro Yee. The training I have done with him is absolutely magical and truly "master" level training. Although it's the basics and fundamentals of Hung Ga Kung Fu, I have already began to attain such an understanding and outlined view of what the future holds and brought so much of what I have done into my general training and other arts already.

I am also planned with what avenues with my mentors, whether they know it yet or not lol. But the candles are truly being burnt at every angle here. The next four years are going to be absolutely exhausting, and I am so excited. Goals and plans will definitely keep me busy. I think I backed away from a few things I used to do in preparation of my last test in the past year. But this fall I have gotten back on track QUITE a bit. I have SO many plans and putting them into action is motivating and exciting.

The journey of being the most well rounded martial arts master I could be is an inspiration that has always carried me and when I find ways of attaining this self-image, I get extremely motivated. But the most challenging will be my first year. EXACTLY one year starting this January. I am very strict and stern about this. Challenging yes, but all will be accomplished. I have a Plan. It's a good one. It's a great one. And many will benefit from it, not just me.

The new order shall begin. As I end 2012, I will do my best to continue giving my open and honest recollections of the journey sharing the lessons from this new young master here on this blog. Because we will always continue to do all we can and achieve the real aim in life: being a candle.

Yours in service,
MASTER TRENTO