Mary Moments!

If you haven't read my blog about my dear friend Mary, then click HERE. Read it first then you can truly enjoy and understand the rest of this blog. I was in Florida for the AAU Taekwondo Nationals, but you cannot begin your week in Florida without a visit from my dear friend Mary Scrit and her son Franco.

I went to a bunch of meetings for the AAU Taekwondo Officials on Monday and when I returned to my condo I was picked up by Franco and Mary to go out to dinner. Right from the get go, the laughing began. Mary and I have so much history, the two of us together was just hilarious. Everyone from the ladies in the parking lot to our server in the restaurant we left them with pangs in their sides from laughing.

"I'm always looking for a good time!" says Mary. "I take them in lumps!" She also says she is 21 years old. Or at least in her right foot. I took a few videos but I couldn't upload them to the blog, which would have been awesome for you! Oh well. She was cursing in Italian and cracking herself up.

I asked her if she liked her dinner. "Ohhhhhhh, veddy good!" she joked in her fake Italian accent. I asked her what her favorite part was. "I got it for nuthin!" And she cracked up! And so did I. She continued to curse in Italian, cracking herself up. Her favorite phrase of the day: Tutti-a-bull-a-shit! She repeated several times that her mother in law would say it all the time. Little does she realize, so does she.

We went back to their home for dessert where the laughing continued. She at one point said "Va Caca Shcul (sic)!" However you spell it. I laughed and said "What the hell did you say!?" She side glanced a smile and said "Ohhhhhh that's a beauty!" She then burst into that cackle high pitch laugh. "It means go sh*t in the dark!" She burst out laughing!

I continued to take videos of her and we laughed and she sent a whole bunch of messages to our relatives back in Jersey. And of course I have taped the Pastafasoul story, which is all we heard the rest of the night. But I am glad I have it archived.

Seeing Mary was such a treat. She's living with her son, Franco, and visiting them was such a highlight. Her dementia has done nothing to her wit, her humor, and the love and laughter she shared with us and all the strangers we ran into. We need more people like Mary in our lives who will only bring to us more laughter and love. Thank you to Franco and Mary for a wonderful evening! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

 

 

 

 

The Magic Power of Forms

 "“To me, the extraordinary aspect of martial arts lies in its simplicity. The easy way is also the right way, and martial arts is nothing at all special; the closer to the true way of martial arts, the less wastage of expression there is.”
― Bruce Lee

In the martial arts there are patterns of movements and techniques performed in a sequence, simulating fighing called forms. In Japanese arts like karate it is called katas, which is pretty popular to hear. In Chinese arts you'll hear kuen, meaning fist or set. In Korean arts the term is poomse, or traditionally hyungs. The traditional Taekwondo forms were known as tuls. Regardless of the terms, they are all known as forms.

The benefits of forms vary greatly, and in ways that the common person, or even the beginner student couldn't fathom. But training in forms develops coordination, memory retention, breath control, focus, structured thinking, detail attention, develops muscle memory, synchronized breathing, and  endurance. Although some of the techniques in which they are performed are not the way you would actually apply perhaps in a fighting situation, you are still developing the muscle memory and body functions to do so.

Some people do not understand, nor appreciate the work the forms can do for the student. But there are a great deal of benefits. Some of my best training comes from the work I do in my forms. From drills challenges, applications, and just the repetitions themselves bring so much to my training. Some of my favorite mentoring times is when I work with my mentor Master Balon. The plethora of knowledge he has in forms I emulate so much and love working with him. He challenges me and pushes the envelope every time we do forms.

I have been training for sixteen years, and some of these forms I have done for just that much time in itself. So the forms mean a great deal more to me in fact. Believe it or not, my forms are a time machine for me. Doing my forms can bring me back into time. I have performed some of these forms for so many years, I can remember key moments in my last sixteen years doing some of these forms, competing with some of these forms, teaching all of these forms for so many years. Sometimes doing the forms can bring me back to that very moment when I first learned it. I can remember the feel of the time, what was going on in my life at the time, who was in my life at the time, the periods of time I taught a particular student and what successes they have had with a form.

You can imagine how many times and to the thousands of students I have taught the white belt form, Chon-Ji. This is an easy way I have passed on my teaching and lessons to my students. The underlying lessons within each form, the story and history behind each form, the work my students continually will put into their forms, the legacy goes on.

I remember learning Yul Gok, I was ten years old, I remember the feel of that time, who my instructors were, what my school was like, who I was training with. I also remember the feelings of times I taught certain students this form. I remember being a Black Belt and learning Po Ehn, the first form I received a gold medal with. I remember learning Koryo and competing against Dr. Reznik's top student's Keumkang at his tournament when I was 15 years old. I remember KoDang, the last form my first master taught me. I remember learning Juche, the first form I ever taught to myself. I remember the days with no job, in my first apartment learning the 8 Taeguek forms in my dining room. I remember Master Balon teaching me Moon Moo, the first form taught to me for five years and first gold medal I received at a national level.

I remember teaching Gaebeck to Samantha Volk, I remember teaching Taeguek 3 to William Stiehl, I remember teaching Choong Jang to Andrew Kranich, I remember teaching Hwa Rang to Andrea Malik, I remember teaching Kwan Gae to Frankie Peracchio, I remember teaching Amanda Vignali Choong Moo, I remember teaching Jackie DeRocher Taeguek 6, I remember teaching Owen Hagmaier Po Ehn, I remember teaching Jason Labarbera Joon Gun, I remember teaching Suh Chong El Hyung to Ethan Levy, I remember teaching Dan Gun to Rebecca Wright, I can go on and on.

But the forms themselves are like people. All people are different. Each form is different. Each has certain qualities that makes it unique, yet have similar principles that it stands on. Just like people! When you can really hone in on what makes each form THAT form, a greater and deeper understanding of the form is ingrained within you. What that form is teaching becomes clearer. Just like in people. Each person comes into your life with a lesson and you grow.

The other beautiful thing is that you can always improve. I am a 4th Degree Black Belt and I am STILL making my Chon-Ji better! Isn't that amazing? The sky is the limit! As such is with our own personal growth. Do you believe I get this from forms? It is possible! And it is something I absolutely love teaching and passing on. I personally know over 70 martial arts forms from four styles of Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Karate, and Tang Soo Do. My thirst for learning forms, discovering style and technique as well as new grace is a wonderful quest. It is also a great tradition to be passing on.

To me, learning forms is a magic in itself. It i a great gift as a master to be able to pass on these forms and use them as a tool to teaching greater and deeper lessons. As the students enhance their training, and they move on in years they can learn more and more, benefit beyond measure, and really appreciate them on a different sense. And I am so grateful to have that opportunity to learning and teaching forms.

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO



(forms are like people)

(forms going through time)

(purpose of forms, benefits of forms)

Respect in the Name

I have many teachers from grammar school, middle school, and high school that I have always kept in touch with. I was friends with them even as a student. I visit many in their homes, social events, family get togethers, many in my own home or my parents' home, lunches and dinners, and I did all this during my time with them as a student and to this very day.

But there is one thing I have always done also: Call them by their last name. To me, this is a great mark of respect you must always give to the ones you hold in highest regard. My art teacher, Richie Fuchs, when he retired said to me "Call me Richie." He still says this every time I am on the phone with him. I know he really wants me to, but I always and WILL always call this man Mr. Fuchs.

I am in touch and on a constant basis for years with my Spanish teacher, Senora TenHoeve. Never once have I ever called her Donna. She will always be Senora TenHoeve as that is my sign of deep respect for her. I am friends with Dawn Schwarts and Cherie Kline. They are Ms Schwarts and Senorita Kline always. Mrs. Verost will never be Cindy, Mr. Sheridan will never be Mike, Mrs. Campbell will never be Callie, and Mrs. Sears will never be Sharon.

This goes ESPECIALLY for my masters and mentors. When I speak to Master DeJesus, it is Master DeJesus. He likes Sam sometimes, and once in a while he gets it, but I respect him so much I always refer to him by his last name. Same goes for Master Balon, Master Bardatsos, Master Williams, Mr. Ward, Mr. Checkley, Mr. Duke.

It also, to a degree sets a boundary, and it is a necessary boundary. Maybe boundary is the wrong word, but to me, it always provides that level of respect knowing in what high regard you hold for those people. Even as my friends, the position of someone I respect so much will always take priority.

Now my friends who I call by first name, does that mean I respect them any less? Absolutely not. I have friends who are so dear and special to me, some who have taught me so much and done so much for me too, I respect them just as much, some more or less than others. But just like love, there are different levels and categories of respect. Even my landlady, a greater term of endearment is not her last name but calling her "Nonna".

Always keep in mind respect in a name. It goes a very long way and is something that needs to be remembered and reminded. For the teachers and mentors in your life, always keep the respect in the name itself. (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

I Love My Students

Me teaching my students at my school.

You know when I am at my best? When I am on the mats. When I am training I am at my best. In Korean, the room with the training mats called the dojang. On the dojang, you are training your true essence of "self". You face your insecurities and fears, develop your strengths and inner spirit, and you are in competition with no one other than your own "self". Martial arts training is a personal journey and means something different for everyone. But the quest is always the same.

I am really happy to be back on track with my training. I love having schedules and routines, and pushing myself. I love planning my workouts, logging them, taking notes on everything I do, working with mentors and asking them questions, and I also the studying I do. I read so many books, just about every single day, and I take notes and read them, observe them, put them into practice, and analyze them. This is what I believe a true master does, so I do it.

The other time I am on those mats are when I am teaching. I am on this earth to do just that. And I will use every avenue I can to do just that: teach. My subject matters have a great variety and range, but true teachers know that the subject matters are tools for a greater, bigger picture for life. Recently I have had a surplus of energy and my classes have been even better. I feel even greater.

But one thing that has always been strong is that I absolutely LOVE my students. I am so proud to see any of my students grow. Some are with me for years. Some are only with me for a few months. But I do not need a grand amount of time to make a difference in someone's life. They get just what they need from me in the time they have me. This is something I will do for the rest of my life, for as a martial arts master, I will be teaching and training for life.

My students playing a prank on me, which involved me getting very wet.

I love when I see my preschoolers learning to share and work together, and play and be supportive by clapping for each other. I love it when they memorize their blocks and smile when they can balance on one leg or learn to catch a ball. I love seeing my little kids learn a form they struggled with and see the confidence boost. I love when a kid is able to do a drill or an exercise that was once difficult and now a piece of cake. I love it when I see the kids building friendships that I know will last for life and support each other in their training and outside of the martial arts (as I see over the years more and more).

I love when my teenagers learn to problem solve with other friends and teachers, and even their own parents. I love when they learn to communicate effectively or become ambitious on a project they believe in. I am proud of my adult students who lose weight, or get in better shape, or have the courage to open their minds to new thought processes and perspectives, breaking the "old dog" and "new tricks" theory.

It's always about my students. In the past, even though I was being paid pennies compared to if I went to another school to teach, I loved my students. I chose my college to be closer to my original school to stay with my students. When my friends left our school, I continued to stay with my students. When I had to make difficult decisions and the hard choices, I thought what decision would I make that would teach my students about making choices. 

My students taking a selfie with me at a Movie Night a our school.

The only way I would have ever left my students when I was apprenticing under my old master is if I was made to leave, and that's what happened. I love my students more than anything else. I love being a part of their lives and them being a part of mine. I love seeing them grow up, I love seeing them grow. Unlike a traditional school setting, I don't only have a student for one grade and watch them in the hallways. I don't just have them for four years of high school. I have had some of my students from grammar school through college. It is an honor and privilege to be able to do that.

One thing that has remained as a constant is that for the last sixteen years, I have ALWAYS and continue to LOVE my students oh so much. I must have taught a couple of thousand of students over the years, and no joke I am in touch with many of them. I might be bold enough to say MOST. They stay in touch with me, they visit me, I always made it a point to know what's going on in their lives, and I am always happy to hear their martial arts helped them in some way in their lives, even to this day.

I know my students and their parents know how much I love my students, and my love for them only continue to grow. I am so blessed to do what I do, and am s lucky to do what I do. But what my students must know, they don't only learn from me. EVERY DAY THEY ARE TEACHING ME TOO. I learn from my students every day as well. And I thank them all. They are the greatest trophies than any medal and award I will ever have. To all my students, past and present, and my future ones even, I LOVE YOU ALL! (BOWS)

Me with one of our youngest.

The older kids vs the younger kids in dodge ball!

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Master Gives Student Blessing

"To add growth, lead followers. To multiply, lead leaders."

-John C Maxwell

I trained under my first master for ten years. Although we have no contact currently, there is not a day he does not enter my mind. And that's how it should be. How could I not? He provided such great origins for me in my martial arts training and a solid foundation that allowed me to grow and move on my own. He gave me the opportunity to be well rounded, teach all ages, and learn to be creative and independent in my own training.

I had a fantastic apprenticeship under him at his school for those ten years. I trained in traditional Taekwondo, got well rounded knowledge in self-defense training, learned a great deal and competed in sport Taekwondo, exposed to fitness classes that I later began to teach myself, and I also had a great deal of training in self-esteem and psychology training that greatly impacted my training.

I also taught all of the classes at our school. I tried to be him in the early years of my training and found greater success when I began being myself and making my own in my teaching style. But I learned a great deal dealing with early childhood, secondary, and adolescent levels of teaching. I learned how to provide for kinesthetic learners, visual learners, and audio learners of all ages.

In my training there were many times I found myself alone and limited to particular "tools" and "equipment" and learned how to use around me and create simulations to  supplement in my training when I had no one but myself, or not have the objects others would have to train with. I learned how to master time when teaching and using it when training. These skills are with me every day.

Me teaching at a Black Belt test at my original school in 2007.

But above all, my first master trained me how to be a great martial artists practitioner and teacher. He will always be a part of me. Unfortunately, our parting was bitter, but to this day I give him all the respect for providing me with such a great foundation. I refer to him, his teachings, and supplement them to my own lessons that I teach my own students today. He will always be a part of me and nothing will ever change that. When it comes to my training and teaching, I always speak highly of my first master, and honor him in the respect he provided me to move on in the world as a martial artist on my own.

I hope he is flattered knowing I can move on in the world because it is a great attribute to him that I am able to do this. A good teacher guides their students to be able to stand on their own two feet and go out into the world to continue teaching such a wonderful thing. The martial arts, as I always say, is a tool used to teach the greater lessons of life itself. That's what we teach life. I am, whether I like it or not-- and whether he likes it or not, am a legacy to my first master as I continue to do what I do, and make my own. That is what any good master would want; for their students to be better than themselves and go on their own, standing on their own two feet.

Me teaching former students from my original school in 2005.

When a student of mine goes on their own to teach on their own, it is the highest form of flattery. A part of me in in each of my students, especially the ones who make it to Black Belt and pass on the knowledge professed by me. Just as my first master with me, I will always be a part of them. I will always be in their hearts and their mind, in every technique they perform, every move they show, every lesson they provide, every thought to their art, they have no choice but to think of me. I am always inside them, as my first master is with me.

Unless you truly train in the martial arts, you will not understand the sacredness of the master-student relationships that comes with the thousand years of tradition in spirit that comes with the martial arts. The closest thing that can compare that I have witnessed was with my own mother and her choir director, Mr. Broadhurst. After four years of great musical training, she was able to go out on her own and continue singing and learning. My own choir director, Mrs. Verost, also a student of Mr. Broadhurst, was able to go out on her own to teaching music as he did, and eventually in the very same school he did.

It is an honor to have a legacy pass down itself, especially in the sacred teachings of the martial arts.  To add growth in the world, lead followers. To multiply, you lead leaders. A great friend of mine, Susy Peron, taught me a lot about educational leadership. A true teacher does not need recognition or to be the center of attention, nor do they seek it or want it. Is it wrong to want those things? No. But only great teachers and educators have those attributes, which is part of servant leadership. I will have students carrying on the martial arts tradition, and I do not need to be a part of it. That's the job of a teacher. That's what every GOOD teacher wants. Susy is a servant leader. She loved making a difference in the classroom, but as an administrator she teaches the teachers, which, to her, makes a difference to ALL the students on a grander scale. And she does oh so well.

Carol Burnett would talk about her personal idol who mentored her, Lucille Ball. Burnett would tell people how Lucy did not need to be the center of the show. Whatever work she did, she did one hundred percent regardless of the role. She guested on Burnett's show several times, and others, and she did not need to run the show. She just added whatever it was she was meant to ask. After starring several times on Lucy's show, she offered Burnett a show with Desli, which Burnett declined to go in a different direction. Lucy was not at all disappointed or offended, she even guested on the special that would get Burnett to have her own show. Carol Burnett took a lot from Lucy and if you observe you'll see it, but also made great contributions of her own. That's true mentorship. That's a true legacy.

Me teaching years later at my own school in 2013

So it is a great comfort to know that my students who carry on the martial arts teaching I have passed down will always think of me. I am flattered that any student of mine loves the martial arts enough to continue teaching on their own. And it brings great joy knowing I was able to teach another to do the same and hopefully they will make their own of it. I've already had the experience when I parted with my old master, my first protégé did a great job continuing to teach, and I was always told she looked like a miniature me, from the words she spoke, to my mannerisms. I'm sure I have many from my original.

I have always gave credit to my first master. I often think about him, not a day goes by that I don't. I wish I could tell him what I'm up to now, and even ask him what he thought about a few things I have in store, like my mother did with Mr. Broadhurst. And I hope my students who go out on their own also know my doors are always open and I love to hear what they're up to and how they carry on the martial arts tradition.

I sound like a broken record, and all my students hear this from me, especially the ones who have been with me since my apprenticeship, never forget your origins. Never forget where you came from. Never forget your roots. In my Hung Ga training, we are always paying tribute to our ancestors and the lineage of the Hung Ga tradition and teaching. I myself am so proud to be learning under a new master, probably the best in the world (no exaggeration) and continuing to grow myself.

It is a thrill to have students love the martial arts so much to make it a part of their lives, but have yet to find someone who has it as their passion. Many are passionate, yet I have not found any one yet to have it as their passion. The guidelines for that, only my mentors and master can outline for you. But passion is martial arts not a part of your life, but is your life. It is in every single thing you do in your life. That's why the boundary in personal and business is extremely gray because the martial arts is a personal experience.

I am proud to pass on the gospel of my first master, and am privileged to carry on my new master's gospel, as I believe I already am. And I am proud and flattered to have any alumnus of my own to continue preaching the gospel of Trento to a newer crowd on a grander scale. And that's true lineage. That's true multiplication. That's true leadership. That's true service. That's true legacy. (BOWS)

Me teaching the next generation of servant leaders.

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Curse of Text Messaging

Like anything, there are pros and then there are cons. This blog is just one of my rants on something we all do in our daily lives but how the cons seem to outweigh the pros at times. I have written a blog a couple years ago on why text messaging can be damaging. You can read it here.

So the pros. I definitely DO text message. I'm not gonna lie. I use it constantly. When I am not looking to have an all out conversation with someone, or need to keep active (as I usually am) but continuing a discussion, I text message. If I have a quick question for someone, I will text. If I need information and need to remember it, I know having on a text instead of writing it in a note pad can be a helpful reminder.

But there's an entire other side that scares me. In our society, people are becoming a little TOO comfortable hiding behind these phones. The loss of social skills is alarming. People do not know how to communicate. People do not know how to express. Or people wait to say things until they are behind a machine because they feel they can say what they want to say, but never learn to listen to others. Those people will flip it around and say that they're the ones not heard, but it goes both ways.

People don't know how to talk any more! it's ridiculous! It's SAD. I am with a group of people, we are all sitting waiting for something. I am the only one without my face in the phone. I sit at a table in a diner, everyone's phone is out, checking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and emails. I find it rude, insulting, and socially inappropriate.

Now I am not excluding texting all together. If you're conversing with people and still send a few texts here and there, that's okay. But if you're completely isolated from the people you are with, WAKE THE HELL UP! At my house, I have a little basket where you drop your phone in. If you're visiting me, you're visiting ME. I want your attention, and you have mine. There is NOTHING that important, unless you're waiting for something urgent you know about ahead of time.

If it's important, you pick up the damn phone and CALL. The last few years, and this is my favorite, people just KNOW exactly HOW the person is speaking on the other side of the phone when they text. (I am being sarcastic here). People read text messages and put emotions that are NOT there. The above picture says it best: Text messaging is a great way to miscommunicate how you feel, and how to misinterpret what other people mean. The DANGEROUS thing about that is people will take their own interpretations and let their imaginations run off with it! The decisions and actions made and acted upon afterwards are what causes the drama and stupidity to follow.

The really really sad thing to me is when grown adults do it. Unbelievable. UNBELIEVABLE! I am ashamed to say I fell off the band wagon and began doing just this also. But when I saw grown adults do it, it snapped me back to reality quite a bit. I am holding firm on my original roots and certainly not going to fall for that, what I will call societal trap! If you have something to say, pick up the phone, especially when it is important enough and SPEAK. When you are with people, learn to TALK. Express appropriately, communicate effectively, and learn to intro people's eyes.

That's my rant! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

The End of an Era at SBHS

Me and Mr. Michael Sheridan and Kelli Smith of Saddle Brook High School at their retirement dinner.

Last Thursday night, I went to the retirement dinner for two of Saddle Brook High School's finest teachers, Michael Sheridan and Kelli Smith. I was very proud of be a student at Saddle Brook High, most of my family had attended there. I also had most of the teachers my mother and aunts and uncles had. These teachers were superb and if you ask any alumnus of this school, they will tell you how these teachers were like legends to the students. These two teachers were no expcetion.

My mother was the oldest of five and of those five, four married their high school sweethearts from Saddle Brook High, so the Saddle Brook spirit is ingrained in my family. My grandfather also worked in the school system for several years. I believe every year from 1974 to 2007 someone in my family was in that school, and the relationships with the same teachers lived on all those years to the point where some of these teachers were more like family! But what was great for all the alumni was the feeling that the teachers within themselves were a family, and that was a key element to their success as master educators. Many of them were at the retirement dinner and it was a complete honor to be in their presence. 

I met Kelli Smith in middle school when the middle school classes would rotate quarterly with elective classes with high school teachers. At that time she was the Foods class teacher. But she contributed a great deal more to the school than just Foods class as she had single-highhandedly developed curriculum and programs in the school that went beyond home economics. Her foods class was only part of a greater picture. Ms Smith also incorporated classes dealing with family planning to leadership classes that all pertained to what was called "Life Skills" classes. 

Ms Smith also was very involved in other departments, particularly with the music department and band program. Former band director, Robert Kaplan, gave a great tribute to Ms Smith, acknowledging her tremendous support and participation in the program. This past year the district cut her program. Things like this anger me and scare me. It's our country continues to cut programs such as "Life Skills" away from the schools, the other academics like reading and writing will be useless, since our future students will have nothing to read or write about! Our towns need to stand up and find a way to keep these programs alive! Kelli Smith made a phenomenal contribution to Saddle Brook High through these classes and it is a tremendous loss for the district to have her go. I wish her well on her future endeavors and thank her for her contributions to a school I loved so much.

On a personal note, this guy above here who always stood at his desk with one leg up as I am imitating in the picture above, I had for three years. I can say with full confidence, and with no worry about any retribution for making this statement as it is agreed upon by not only the student body but the faculty that has come and gone through the district over thirty years: Mike Sheridan was the greatest teacher Saddle Brook High School ever had!

This man knew EVERYTHING. One of the most intelligent people I have ever met, Mike Sheridan not only had a plethora of knowledge of a scope of topics so vast, it's a wonder where he keeps this date stored in that brain of his, but was also one of the greatest master educators I have ever come across. I began teaching very young and when I was going through school, I was very keen on observing educator's teaching styles, the structure of their curriculum, their use of repetition and association, how they presented the information and topics, their ability to answer questions -- I don't know, I guess I am just weird that way. But Mr. Sheridan was a class act.

One of the teachers used to called him Yahweh, or God. One of the teachers who gave tribute to him at the dinner actually referred to him as "Michael Sheridan, a.k.a GOD"! She followed up with a chuckling "I'm really sick of hearing that Mike!" But it was so true! Because just about everyone would make that joke about him! I had Mr. Sheridan for sophomore year's AP U.S History, and junior and senior years AP English classes on World Literature and American Literature. I don't remember ever writing and reading so much in ANY class I have ever taken, not even college.

But this is my personal account for Mr. Sheridan. I was an A/B student. But I could never get past a C+ on my essays with him. It got to a point where I just felt his expectations were impossible. No matter what I did, I couldn't get past that C+. I worked harder and harder to the point where I felt like why bother! I got the As and Bs because of tests and participation, but the big essays were a block for me. But there was much more to his madness that I didn't figure out until my senior year of high school, and it stayed with me forever. 

My senior year of high school, I took four college courses at Montclair State University. In those classes and major exams, I had FULL MARKS on all my writing assignments and essays. I couldn't believe it! And it occurred, Mr. Sheridan never set a bar for his students. He knew he would be doing injustice to his students by limiting us, and as any great educator and mentor would do, he continued to push the envelope and have us tap more and more into our potential. We were "trained" so to speak to never be satisfied and always find a way to get better and better.

More than history or literature, Mr. Sheridan taught me to be a great teacher. For this is something that I always used for myself as a student, and as myself as a teacher. I always kept the standards high and placed them higher and higher as my own students progressed and as a teacher, I couldn't believe what I was able to get out of my students. To this day I use this philosophy in my teaching. Mr. Sheridan has a tremendous influence on me as a teacher and a huge impact on me. Years ago, I went to college originally to become a history and English teacher because I wanted his job. But those who know my story, life took me in a few different turns, but today I still get to teach what I love to teach most. And I thank Mr. Sheridan for all he has taught us.

There are even a few Sheridan-isms I stil have and sayings that have become my own through my years of teaching. The catch phrases of "It's EXCITING!" and "I KNOW!" or the one leg up on the table or chair like in the above picture where I am imitating him. Everyone knew that Sheridan pose, including a picture below of a fellow teacher, Ms Reedy imitating him, HAHA.

Ms Reedy imitating Mr. Sheridan's standing pose

Mr. Sheridan's signature stance!

One of the presenters mentioned in her speech that she was once called the Michael Sheridan of Biology. I have a similar story, where one of my students who had Mr. Sheridan also told ME that I  was the Michael Sheridan of martial arts. To be called the Michael Sheridan of anything is a HUGE compliment. His son-in-law asked during his speech if anyone remembered who won best actor in their senior year of high school, or who won MVP in the world series, and no one could remember. Then he asked if anyone could remember if anyone could remember a teacher who had an impact on them. Everyone's hands went up.

It's true. It's our teachers who are our real heroes and the one's who have the greatest impact on our lives. Kelli Smith and Mike Sheridan were two wonderful examples of that. This is the end of the long term teachers from SBHS. I was so blessed and am so grateful to have experienced these master educators. It was a huge honor to be in the presence of most of them last week, and I thank them all for the many years of teaching and service they have given to us, the students and alumni of Saddle Brook High School. I wish Ms Smith and Mr. Sheridan the very best in their retirement and hope they receive all that they deserve. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (BOWS)

The SBHS Legends: Jack Impomeni, Helen Hymanson, Jeff Weiss, Ida Luteran, Seta Basmadjin, Dottie Filipek, Mike Sheridan, Mr. Bukowski, Debbie Anaya, Bill Schmaltz, Stanley Yarosz, Pat Heany, Pat Dolan, Robert Kaplan, Barbara Yarosz, and Paul Bachman.

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

The Parent Coach

Each year I get more and more involved with the AAU Taekwondo. The AAU Taekwondo Program is a fantastic organization and has taken care of me for many years. In 2009 I was training on my own and looking for a way to get all my certifications and to grow my training. It was then when I met my current mentor, Master Kevin Balon, who was and still is today the New Jersey District Director of the AAU Taekwondo. I was able to receive my national and international certifications and tested for 3rd Dan Black Belt.

When I opened my school, I then got my Black Belts certified in the AAU. The following year I began bringing my students to AAU tournaments. The next year I began officiating in the AAU. The NEXT year my school and all my members became members of the AAU. So each year, little by little, I got more and more involved. This past year I officiated more than I have in a long time and am feeling more and more comfortable with it and feel I am really honing in on those skills and add new value than I had before in this new role.

But sometimes, it's not all fun and lollipops. In April, I officiated at an AAU competition. In the AAU, there is a coaching certification program for those who want to coach students at competitions. Without this certification, you cannot coach your students. Not only martial artists can get certified but parents who pass the test can also coach and become certified which can be a great help if there are many athletes competing from your school.

So I was officiating a younger age Black Belt division. According to the rules, only the coach in the chair can coach the competing athlete, no one on the outside. There is a big difference between cheering and rooting the athlete on like "Go go go!" or "You can do it!" vs coaching like "Kick to the open side on the left!" or  "Strong check then side step to the right!" BIG DIFFERENCE.

This happened where the father of one of the athletes who was in the blue coaching shirt was coaching on the side while the student already had a coach in the chair. I politely said the first time, :"Sir, only one coach please." The man nodded and turned away quietly. But then it happened again. I stopped the time and verbally warned the parent coach that only the coach in the chair can do the coaching. He nodded again. But by the third time I said it to him he began mouthing off a bit in dismay. After the round I said to the coach in the chair that the parent coach needed to restrain himself or I would have to give a warning. It's the rules! Truth be told, I probably should have given the warning after the second time.

But no need to worry because of what happened next. In Taekwondo, there is a 30 second break between rounds. When that time is up I call both competitors back up for round two. "Chung!" (Blue) or "Hung!" (Red). Well as the thirty second break was ENDING, the parent coach THEN decided to bring his son water. The time is up and the other competitor is already up, so I called a second time to the red player "HUNG!"

As the parent coach walked by he nastily said "Let the kid get a drink!" At that point, I turned to the red player and gave a half point warning. The parent coach began mouthing off. After a few seconds I once again turned to the red player and gave yet another half point deduction warning. I then turned to face the parent coach with my finger pointed up. The parent coach continued to mouth off. I shook my head and then gave a full point deduction warning to the red player. It was only after that did the parent coach get quiet. Two other mentors were there present. One was snickering and one was laughing. They couldn't believe how this parent coach could not keep his mouth shut.

I felt bad at first, not wanting to ruin the experience for the kid. But the kid had a face on that said "Yeah, dad does this." I can't understand how parents get involved to the point where they end up ruining the experience for their children. I went by the book, and I understand where rules can be lenient, but this situation was so black and white there was no avoiding it.

As an official, I felt I did my duty and made fair call. There were a few higher class officials who felt the same, and I felt I commanded the ring well. I am sure it won't be last time dealing with a difficult parent, or a difficult coach for that matter. If you're going to be involved in something, know the rules inside and out and abide by them. Make sure you know the rules, the expectations, the roles of all parties involved, and know the equipment needed. That's all half the battle. But there's another thing in martial arts that is taught and that is sportsmanship!

I believe everyone in uniform showed phenomenal sportsmanship and humility, regardless of age, and it was an excellently run tournament. I have faith in the values of tradition we teach in our students above all else that allow great events like these to be run in the first place. And I am proud to be a part of the AAU Taekwondo Program!

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO