Good Morning
I just wanted share a few videos of testimonials from some of our students and parents. If you would like to do one, send me the file and I will upload it to youtube.
Master Jonathan Field
Category Kettlebells
EXERCISE VS. TRAINING
Exercise vs. Training? What is it that you do?
Some people exercise and others train. The different between the two is that when you train there is a sense of purpose why you are training.
Training requires that you have a goal or goals that may be to; lose weight, gain weight, improve cardio conditioning, improve endurance, increase muscle mass, get stronger, get more explosive, get more powerful, become more flexible, learn a new skill, and so on. Exercise is more loosey goosey. Training is more geared towards working towards a specific goal where as exercise is a little more generalized. Both training and exercising is good for you. Sometimes you exercise and other times you train. Just know the different so you can achieve your goals more easily.
Master Jonathan Field
KETTLEBELL TRAINING GREAT FOR WOMEN
Kettlebells, that bowling ball shape weight with a handle on it. Comes in all sorts of sizes and colours, and yes even in pink :$ If you would go back five years or more ago and you might not have heard much about kettlebell training but now it is everywhere. You can pretty much find some sort of kettlebell training in kettlebell classes, kickboxing classes, fitness classes, martial arts classes, sports training, and so on. You can buy various dvd programs at stores as well. There is no doubt kettlebells is a fantastic fitness and training tool. But what are the benefits of kettlebell training for women.
- Kettlebells provide a full body that allows you to work many different body parts at the same time. Unlike some other training tools that might isolate a few muscles at one time. This teaches you to use your body as one whole unit.
- Since kettlebells are compact and come in various sizes they are easy to travel to and from your classes or workout areas. They don’t take up a lot of room.
- You can get a really great and affective workout in a short time. Therefore saving you time and allowing yourself more time for other things.
- Kettlebell workouts are just plain fun. They are completely different from most other forms of training. Always a new exercise/technique to workout. No boredom!
- Compare kettlebells to traditional weights and most people will say the kettlebell looks less intimidating. Ball like shaped weights seem more friendly but don’t let their looks deceive you. You will get a great training session in with them. i.e. Results!
- Kettlebell training will help you do your regular daily activities easier.
- Using multiple muscle groups at once helps burn more fat and calories.
- Training with kettlebells will allow you to realize how strong you really are and you can improve upon that strength.
- The various kettlebell swinging exercises that are a large part of kettlebell training is good for tightening the legs, core, and glutes.
So give kettlebell training a good try with a certified kettlebell trainer so you can learn to do the moves properly and safely. Staying safe and health is key to long term health and your fitness goals. Click here for more information on our kettlebell classes.
Master Jonathan Field
5th Dan Black Belt Grading/Power Weekend
Well Hello Everyone
It appears that I have survived 43 hours of Power Weekend and my 5th Dan Black Belt grading with Kwan Jan Nim (Master) Veronica DeSantos. Well I cannot go through all the details as what happens at power weekend and grading stays there but I will give you a little something from my experience as well as what Master Joyce thought of her 5th Dan Black Belt grading and soon to be Master Richard Bernier on his thoughts about his 4th Dan Black Belt grading.
Well our weekend started Friday afternoon as we left from Richard’s house and drove to Toronto. We had a nice drive and talked about various aspects of our lives as well as Taekwondo and our dojang. We arrived at DeSantos Martial Arts Studio on Main Street in Toronto shortly after 2pm and met up with Master DeSantos. We soon were blindfolded and taken out to the streets of Toronto where we were required to complete various tasks and make it back to the dojang before 5pm. At 5pm the higher level of Black Belt grading had to do presentations on their journey to black belt and demonstrate the various aspects of our training. After this we were put through lots of fitness challenges and workouts including taekwondo basics, cardio, strength, enduracne, as well as mental challenges. We were certainly put through the ropes with the instructors such as Ian Justin, Sean Ingram, Norm MacNeil, Tuan Tran, Raphael Waugh, Luca Vaccalluzzo, Jean-Pierre Goulet, and a few others I cannot think of at this moment but I do appreciate them for pushing us to our limits. I think Tuan Tran likes to torture me but I love it!!!! For anyone that does not know, I went for 3rd Dan when Tuan went for his 4th dan. We were partners most of the time at that grading. Try keeping up to him for 40 hours. Now that was a power weekend. Anyway I want to thank Tuan Tran for pushing me and challenging me to do more. Your extra little challenges for me were awesome. Thanks.
After that we supposedly were allowed to go to bed but not really. Sir Norm took us outside to do some more training. I was now one of the instructors that got to but the students through a little “FUN!” as I have experience twice before. 🙂 That was fun for me. After that we returned to the dojang for very little sleep. I was thinking maybe 45 minutes is all we got. We were then up and at it again. Sir Luca and Sir JP put us through a wake up workout to get the blood flowing. Awesome job guys. After that I got to do the warm up for the 8:30am class on Saturday morning in case you didn’t know what day it is right now in the story. We certainly lost track of time at some point during Friday night or was it Saturday morning. Anyway after that we were outside training with the bo staff. After that I taught a class on breaking. Then we were training kicking and self defense with Ma’am Toni and Master DeSantos. I think Master DeSantos was having too much fun with some of the drills. 😉 After that we went out to the neighbourhood to do some cleaning to show respect to the community. Now it was a 2 hour break time where we ate, cleaned up, and worked on patterns and what not’s to get ready for a long night. 6pm came around and we did another “WARM UP” with Ma’am Natalie who I tested with years ago at my first power weekend.
After our “warm up” we trained with Sidoshi Cort Elliot. A grandmaster of Ninjitsu. That’s right, I got to train with a real Ninja. Awesome experience. I have seen him teach before but never got a chance to work with him in person until now. He’s a real nice and humble man. Has great knowledge of martial arts. After that we were ran through various drills relating to striking, kicking, blocking, cardio, patterns, and other techniques of martial arts and Taekwondo. We were also tested how well we knew our patterns through various mental and physical challenges. I won’t go into detail about what everyone did but will tell you one of mine. Basically I had to do my favorite pattern which is Koryo. So no biggie right? We all know by now that Koryo is my favorite pattern, right? Well before I had to do Koryo I had to perform 15 tuck jump burpees followed by 5 pistol squats. Now that is not all. I was then required to place two glasses of water on the back of my hands and perform Koryo without spilling the glasses. Okay so no problem right? All I should have to do is focus on the pattern and my balance. Well not quite. I was also required to answer various questions about Koryo while performing it. I believe this whole thing was Sir Sean’s idea. But you know what? I love it!! Thanks Sean. He also told me that they were amazed how steady my hands were through the whole thing after doing though physical challenges first.
After all of this we finished the physical training and testing for Saturday night/Sunday morning with musical patterns. For though that do not know, musical forms is when you create your own unique form to musical. Very cool. After that we were given questions to ask and discuss the power weekend process up to this point. Well this was another late evening staying up or was it an early morning when we got to bed for like 2 hours of sleep or less. With little sleep we got up and cleaned the dojang and were off to the boardwalk for a nice Sunday morning run. The 2nd Dan’s and higher were required to run 6km while the 1st Dan’s were required to run 5km. Well I ran my 6km in 32 minutes and 2 seconds. Not too bad for a guy that has not went for a run since 2004 I believe. Running really screws up my knees as I am feeling it right now. They are really bad. Hard to walk up and down the stairs. Give me a skipping rope or a kettlebell and that is the cardio that works for me. Anyway I was one of the first to complete the run. After you were done your run you had to go back out and collect the rest that graded. So some of us clocked 7, 8, 9, 10 or more km’s before it was all done. Awesome experience.
Now I have left out a lot of details about what actually happened during power weekend and for good reason. It’s no good that you can just read about our experiences. I feel everyone should experience something like a power weekend. It really challenges you spirituality, mentally, and physically. It lets you know what you are made of. It teaches you to never give up and that there is no such thing as” I can’t”. Our Black Belt grading on June 18th here at Cobourg Tae Kwon Do will be similar. Lots of challenges that will affect our students in a positive way.
During power weekend I have seen a lot. I saw people getting injured. I saw people deal with physical limitations and injuries. People struggling with various challenges and fears. I saw tears, blood, pain, and etc,. I also saw smiles. I saw hope. I say the indomitable spirit of man prevail over any and all challenges that we were faced with. As long as you have a strong will and a positive attitude you can overcome almost anything you set your mind to. I witnessed this time and time again over the weekend. Everyone was different in the way they got through the things that challenged them individually. What may have been someone else’s strength would have been another’s weakness. I see way too many times in my life people giving up way to easy because they were faced with a challenge that we thought was impossible to beat. To me that is just sad that they were not able to feel the pride of accomplishing something that was worthwhile. Remember “PAIN IS TEMPORALLY, PRIDE IS FOREVER.”
I now would like to take this moment and congratulate everyone for an awesome job at Power Weekend and accomplishing something that feel people will even dare to try or consider. I know it was tough but you did it. Be proud of yourself as I am very proud of you. I am glad I met you all. Some of you will become and are my friends.
I also want to thank all the instructors and helpers who encouraged us to never give up. Thank them for pushing us to our limits. Thanks for believing us. And Thanks for making us better people. Thanks to KJN Veronica DeSantos for everything she has done for me and my students. I cannot thank you enough for being the person you are.
I also want to thank Master Joyce and now the new Master Richard for grading with me at Power Weekend and trusting me in their training for power weekend. Thank you for supporting me during power weekend as well as all the training we did together. Power Weekend was made a little easier with you there. And finally thank you for supporting Cobourg Tae Kwon Do and what we are trying to accomplish.
And thank you to Master Gayle, Sir Jeff, Ryan, and Angela for looking after the classes at the dojang on the weekend for us. Great job everyone. And thanks to my dad for looking after the dojang as well.
Okay now I think you are getting sick of reading what I have to say so now read what Master Joyce has to say about her 5th Dan Black Belt grading at Power Weekend.
YES I DID IT !!!!!
I successfully completed and will be receiving my 5th DEGREE KWAN BLACK BELT JJJJJ
From Kwan Jan Nim Veronica De Santos. She is a TRUE leader. In 1999 Kwan Jan Nim De Santos was the first woman to be inducted in the North American Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
My main purpose for this weekend was to physically challenge myself. From 2:30 Friday afternoon till 10:30 Sunday morning believe me it was a physical and mental challenge once again. This is my second power weekend. A grading of a lifetime. Oh I actually got 4 hours of sleep for the entire weekend. Pushups, burpees, kicking, running, jumping jacks, situps, pushups (oh did I say pushups) lifting & running, blindfolded, bo staff patterns, musical form, patterns, kicking, self defense, pushups, and etc,.All done inside the dojang, at a park or by the Waterworks Dept. at the beaches in Toronto.
I met once again Masters and martial artist I already knew and lots of new martial art friends! What an awesome experience once again. Everyone and everything we do is so positive.. People from all different backgrounds.
“Can’t” is not a word in that environment !!!With all of my training I did what I set out to do. FINISH AND FINISH STRONG !
I was asked a question about me grading for the same level of a belt as Jonathan who is my master.
That was probably after midnight on Friday (since there were no clocks to look at) I wasn’t sure how I answered but what I wanted to say is:
The belt represents your journey, what you put into it is what you walk away with. The level of the belt shouldn’t mean you are any different. We all have different levels of physical and mental skills. We all respect one another, we are all there for a purpose to challenge yourself and to rise above and step up. To bring out the best in everyone around us and help to make this a better world.
We live by the tenets: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-control and Indomitable Spirit.
Not only to be a leader but a follower – and Jonathan is that!
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MY TEAM MEMBERS, I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU !
Now for Sir Richard’s take on Power Weekend and his 4th Dan Black Belt grading. Oh and 4th Dan is a Master Level in WTF Taekwondo.
Power Weekend,
Some people want to run marathons, others to write that quintessential novel. All TKD practitioners should complete a power weekend. The feeling you get that Sunday morning, the glow you still feel Monday and the pride that stays with you can never be replaced. There is no doubt that you have earned YOUR belt.
There is work involved, commitment and sacrifice. Over the last 8 months I have often heard the comment, ” jeez, I could never do something like that.” and that very hurdle is the first thing you will blast through. It looks insurmountable and at times during the weekend you think to yourself it is and yet you make it through. You are surrounded by a group of people of all ages, sizes, fitness levels, beliefs etc but they all strive for that belt and the recognition that they will have earned that belt. (Hint – if you complete a power weekend make sure the dobuk is neat and tidy.)
There is a great deal of stress during the weekend. This is by design and not out of some weird sense of cruelty. Like the steel blade of the katana, you must be stressed to make you both tough and supple. The weekend will do that to you.
You will be exposed to some of the most qualified martial artists in the world. BTW – these same instructors rave about our master(Master Jonathan).
In short, I am glad & proud to have completed the weekend. I have no doubt that I am a black belt – rank does not really seem to matter. I am proud to be from Cobourg TKD and feel exceptionally blessed to have completed the process with Sir Jonathan and Ma’am Joyce. Their support throughout the last 8 months and especially this last weekend certainly helped me through.
ps – Ask Joyce why she was crawling on her hands & knees, looking for her bed in the dark and calling my name. Let you imaginations run wild!
Richard
Well I hope you have enjoyed this long read. I enjoyed composing it but not as much as going through my third power weekend 🙂
Master Jonathan field
NOW!!!!/Expert vs. Amateur
Hello Everyone
Another blog with a few topics that I would like to talk about so let’s get right to it.
Topics #1 – The Word of the Week is ” NOW ” Now what is “Now”? The meaning is to simply do whatever it is you are doing right now. Not later, but right now. But it means more than that. We use it as a means to stay focus on what we are doing at this very present moment or every present moment in our lives. If you are training in the martial arts you need to give 100% of your focus now on what you are doing. You need to bring forth 100% of your effort NOW!!! You learn to live in the moment. Once it is over with you cannot get it back. Whatever it is that you are focusing on, make it all about that in that very moment. Don’t worry about the past as it is done and over with. You cannot change it. Don’t bother worrying about the future as you cannot do anything about it until it becomes the present. All you can do is live and focus on the present. Live your life for the present. You certainly can plan for the future by doing your best in the present. Take full advantage of the NOW!!!!
Topic #2 – “If you think experts are expensive, wait and see what amateurs cost you!” I took this off of one of my buddies’ facebook profile page. It makes sense to me. When you are looking to hire, learn from, or get an opinion from someone, take experience and wisdom into account. If you are hiring or paying someone; money, time, location, or any other little thing like that should not play a big of a factor in your decision making as things like experience, expertise, wisdom(not knowledge), reputation, and commitment into what they do.
Let’s throw out a few examples here. Would you hire a financial or business planner that was working behind the bank tell a month ago or the guy who has been working as a financial planner for 20 years and who continuously upgrades their knowledge and skill base? You probably would go with the second choice, right? Okay how about this. Would you train at a martial arts school or training faculty that was only open very part time as the instructors or trainers have to work at other jobs or would you rather go to a place where the instructor or trainer is full time and that is all they do for a living? I would guess you would go with the second choice as the second choice instructor or trainer most definitely spends a lot more time training and studying their craft. There is so many examples that I could go on and on with.
When looking for a service, always look for the real experts in that field. They probably make their full time living at what they do. This allows them a lot more time to get really really good at what they do. Also look for people in the field that have a lot of experience in what they do. Experience does not mean doing the same thing year after year. Are they going out and gaining new experiences through workshops, seminars, certification courses, tournaments, meeting with new people, traveling to learn, and etc,. Is each year a new year of experience or just the same year repeating year after year.
Experts tend to have wisdom. Wisdom is how they use their knowledge. It is no good to have knowledge and yet not know how to use it. How can they translate their knowledge to the people they are serving. Also do the experts have a good reputation. Most of them do. However there is always people out there who will bad mouth someone else so this is not as an important of a factor. But do listen to what people are saying.
The last factor that I think is important is choosing a person you wish to hire or learn from is commitment. This can be a very in depth factor all by itself. Do these people have commitment in their clients? Do they have commitment in learning? Do they have commitment in personal growth? Do they have commitment in integrity and ethics? Do they have commitment in what they do? And so on and so forth. You get the idea.
Okay let me make one thing clear. I am not down talking amateurs. They are new to what they do. They need to work their way up the ladder. There is some pretty good ones out there as well as some pretty bad ones. Just be careful who you choice.
Topics #3 – Last topic for today is that is there only 14 days left before our online fundraising auction will be closed. Check out all the cool items up for bid. Here’s the URL: http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/1301/auctions/1423
When you want to go bid on an item you must create an account first and then enter the auction ID and Password to have permission to bid. Here’s the steps.
1 – Click CREATE AN ACCOUNT
2 – Fill out your information and click CREATE ACCOUNT
3- Check your email for confirmation email and click the link
4 – Click VIEW AN AUCTION and enter auction ID and Password which is below here.
The auction id is: wolverine and the password is: cobourgtkd
Hope you enjoyed the read today.
Master Jonathan field
p.s. Don’t forget to eat at Boston Pizza in Cobourg. If you mention to your server that you are supporting Cobourg Tae Kwon Do and the rebate program, a portion of your tap will be donated to help support us at the 2011 US OPEN and ISKA World Championships.