Cycles occur everywhere and in everything. Even when the cycle is almost imperceptible, like what occurs inside the cocoon as earthbound creature inherits the ability to move heavenward, the end is always in the process of becoming the beginning of something else and vice versa. This is the very definition of a cycle and, although the specific processes will vary whether we’re talking about the life cycle of a living thing, a product, an enterprise, a residential neighborhood or a human being, one thing we can always be sure of is that the beginning will eventually come to an end and the end will be intimately connected to some other beginning. Or, as my mother always says when things aren’t going so well, “this too shall pass”.

 I might be dating myself a bit with this reference but I’ll take my chances. The 1989 song Closing Time by the band Semisonic speaks to this Universal process it quite appropriately with the line, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end”. Of course, it should be noted that the song is talking about the bar closing and the band members hoping “you have found a friend” to take you home, but they had the foresight to throw in a couple of Zen-ish lines that speak to the cycles of life. Every new beginning certainly does come from some other beginning’s end.

 Being a martial arts instructor as well as a business owner I find this concept to be one of the most helpful whenever I catch myself getting mired in the minutiae of a particular task, challenge or problem that, at first glance, appears to have no simple solution or clear path. Remembering that all things are, in that moment, at some point in a greater cycle allows me to step back and take in the whole picture. In fact, it has become part of my daily process to take some time, usually during a morning or evening meditation, and simply try to be grateful for whatever or wherever in a “cycle” I may find myself, knowing full well that wherever I am in the cycle, wherever my business is in the cycle, wherever a particular Aikido student is in the cycle, is all part of a greater whole that deserves recognition. That recognition lends itself to having a more complete perspective on the myriad issues we all face daily.

 All of life is process, a cycle of becoming. The only constant in the Universe is change. This is the one thing that we can all truly count on. Nothing ever stays the same and every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. Nothing stays the same for a day, an hour or even a second. Each moment is a continuous spiral leading us from one beginning’s end to yet another ending in the process of becoming a beginning. Night spirals into day spirals into night spirals into yet another day. We are born and eventually we die. Birth, growth, decay, death and rebirth…the cycle of life. We could say that “life is change” or we could say it another way that “change is life”. Change is life and the ability to change is the essential element of growth, as one of my Aikido mentors is famous for saying. He was also famous for the follow up to that saying, “…the acceptance of this truth, that nothing stays the same, is the source of the power of true creativity”.

If I were to issue a challenge to anyone reading this it would be in the form of a statement: If you want to have a greater understanding of life, love, business, or anything else of interest to you, study the movement of the Universe. Study the principles and forces that govern it, the flow and function of nature’s energy and the movement of the galaxies. In this study you will find a greater connection, and thus understanding, between all things. The cycles that govern the movement of “no form” into the realm of form, the ebb and flow of the earths large water bodies, the movement of the earth around the sun, the changing of the seasons, the spiral helix in the structure of amino acids and, of course, the movement of egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis to butterfly, are the same cycles that exist in our own lives as we move from birth to and through whatever stage we may be in at this very moment. One thing is for sure, whether we like it or not, this stage too shall pass.

 Steve Jobs gave the 2005 commencement address at Stanford University and the last few (now prophetic and sadly ironic) paragraphs stuck in my memory for their face slapping honesty. He spoke of the cycles of life and death by saying, “No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away… Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish!” (Emphasis mine)

So for now its closing time, but remember that every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end…

Author Blaine A. Feyen, owns and operates several businesses in West Michigan. Blaine is the founder and Chief Instructor of the Toyoda Aikido Center, a martial and cultural arts center in Wyoming and he is also the President of Real Value Group, LLC., a real estate appraisal, development and consulting company in Grand Rapids. Blaine has lead Aikido and Defensive Tactics seminars and workshops around the world and has written on the topics of Leadership, Business Development, Value Creation, The Virtuous Cycle of Business and Innovation, and many more.

www.ToyodaCenter.com

www.RealValueGroup.com

MMA fighter and instructor Jorge Sarat doing some pre-fight training at the Toyoda Center in Grand Rapids, MI. The Toyoda Center is one of West Michgan’s first and finest martial arts schools in Michigan. Jorge has been fighting in MMA fights for several years and has a strong record. Come in and train with Jorge, Chad Pomeroy and the rest of the Challenger Fight Team at the Toyoda Aikido and MMA Center.

Now that you are headed off to visit a few schools there are a few things you need to know. First, although I would think this is common sense, we find many clients do not: make sure you schedule your visit DURING a typical class time. If you happen to just “drop in” to a dojo or dojang that you’re driving by and theres no classes going on, you can still get a good feel for the facility and possibly the owner or staff, but you’ll still have to watch the instructor in action before you can really decide if its the right school and right martial art for you.

So, here are the basic rules for visiting martial arts schools in your area.

1st. Dont go alone. Not that you necessarily need to be worried about your safety, its simply that having another person with you will help with your decision. The other person will typically be more objective than you since you may be too invested in “wanting” it to be right.

2nd. Use the question list from lesson 3. Its one thing to watch a class and get a good feeling about the facility and the instruction, but there are still a bunch of questions you’ll need answers to before you can make an informed decision when choosing a martial arts school in your area.

3rd. Trust your gut! This is a big one and its actually a good self defense lesson as well. Most attack situations, and their avoidance, can be traced back to a “gut feeling” the victim had but ignored. You will get some gut feelings while you are visiting martial arts schools and the best thing to do is to trust what you’re feeling. If the place feels good and right to you, give it a try. If the place has an odd feeling that you just can put your finger on, get some more answers or maybe schedule another visit.

So, See you next time for another lesson to help you better choose a martial arts school in your area.

Now you’re ready to schedule some visits to local martial arts schools to watch some classes. This can take some time but I guarantee it will be well worth it since you are the best judge of what you’re looking for and you really wont know until you start visiting some martial arts schools to see how things are run.

I recommend that you print out the list of questions from the last post and bring it with you when you visit the martial arts schools you have on your list. This may sound silly and common sense, but I have to say it anyway, please make sure you visit schools when they are having actual classes. This will be mostly in the evening. You want to see a couple of key things: how big are normal classes, how are the students behaving with one another, how are they interacting with their instructor and whats the overall feeling you get from the whole “scene”. This process should take 45 minutes to an hour (or more) per visit to get a good idea of what martial arts classes are like at this particular school.

Remember that each martial art and each martial arts school will have some things in common but will also have vast differences. Only you can tell what style, art, and practice suits you. Some schools are very strict and will call themselves “traditional” while others are not as strict and tend to be a bit more loose and, in my opinion, “fun”. However, even though I’m turned off by the so called traditional and strict schools, you may very well be looking for that kind of experience. You’ll find out when you’re there if it “moves” you one way or the other.

In the next installment we’ll talk a bit about what to expect when you are watching a class. See you next time!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA Workshop In Grand Rapids, MI

Saturday February 6th, 2010
From 4-6pm

Held at the Toyoda Aikido and MMA Center
3808 S. Division Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI 49548

with instructor Rob Masko, a highly ranked student of Royce Gracie under Tony Torres-Aponte and one of West Michigan’s few elite professional MMA fighters.

Rob has been involved in martial arts for over 25 years. Practicing many different styles including Tae-kwon-do, Karate, Jeet Kun Do, Thai Boxing, Boxing, Wrestling, Judo, Kali, And Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. He has been practicing Jiu-jitsu longer then anyone in West Michigan.

Rob has trained with many different instructors including : Tony Torres-Aponte, Louis Heredia, Helio Senaka, Jorge Gurgel, Carlson Gracie Sr., Carlson Gracie Jr., Royce Gracie, Monte Beghtol, Caique, Michael Jen, Charles Gracie, Fabio Leopaldo, and Rento Migiaccio. Rob’s “ultimate” goal is to make his students reach their fullest potential. Rob has never been interested in the ranking system until recently. But it is a testament to his teaching that one of his former students is now a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

“My goal is to make my students the best they can be. If I teach for 30 years and never create a student that can beat me, then I have failed as an instructor. I give credit to all my instructors, but I do not live in their shadow. They’ve helped me with the knowledge, but it was up to me to do something with it. I need to make my own shadow. Just like every student I teach. They are not good just because I am their instructor, they are good because they worked hard to be good.”

Besides instructing for over 10 years, Rob has won numerous Jiu–jitsu tournaments, as well as being a professional fighter. His first fights were back when they were bare knuckle. In fact, in his first fight ever, Rob went the distance with Shonie “Mr. International” Carter. Below are just a few of Rob’s further accomplishments. Rob now has several satellite schools throughout West Michigan with one of his largest programs at the Toyoda Aikido and MMA Center in Grand Rapids.

-Tim Moral Grappling Challenge Open Division Champion 1994-1995

-The Dungal Invitational Open Division Champion 1996-1998

-The JKD Middle Weight Champion with submission wins over Jim Theobold and Stephan Bonner

-A 2008 International Fight league Qualifier

-2008 NAGA Champion

-Hook and Shoot Fighter

-Renegade Extreme Fighting Championship fighter

Total cost for this workshop is only $10.00. There will be a host of prizes being given away and all experience levels are welcome, from beginner to expert.

You can register by clicking here!

Before we call, however, it would be good to have a list of questions to ask so you can compare apples to apples when making your choice about which martial art and which martial arts school will best suit what you might be looking for. Below is a list of some of the questions you should probably ask when calling around. I did mention at the end of the last installment that “cost of the classes” was the least important at this point, so i want to briefly explain what i meant.

“Cost”, as you probably already know, refers to the actual “market price” of an item or service, but the cost says nothing about the “value” of that particular item or service. This is never more true than in the martial arts and self defense classes industry, especially martial arts and self defense classes in Grand Rapids. West Michigan is a very cost and value conscious community and, while cost is important, value should be at the top of the list when making a decision about which martial art and which martial arts school will best provide what you need. Value occurs at the intersection of whats expected, what’s delivered, what it costs, and what else is available in the market. While I dont intend to give a lengthy explanation of economics and market theory, when it comes to choosing something you will likely spend a good deal of time and money enjoying, you should know how to distinguish value of mere cost. We will get around to asking prices, but it will only be after all the other questions have been asked.

So, now to the questions:

1. What martial arts do you offer?
2. What is the difference between them?
3. Which ones do you teach personally?
4. How long have you been practicing your martial art?
5. Who did you learn from?
6. Is there a certification process?
7. How many other instructors teach at your school?
8. Who did they learn from?
9. Are there tests and a formal ranking system?
10. How often are the tests held?
11. How does one become eligible to test?
12. Are students required to test?
13. Are there periodic workshops and seminars that I can attend?
14. Can non-members come and watch classes?
15. Whats your motivation for teaching at the school?
16. Are there any secret techniques or teachings that I have to pay extra for?
17. How long does the typical student stay at your school?
18. What, in your opinion, will taking classes from you and your school do for me in my daily life?
19. What has this martial art and school done for you in your daily life, If I may ask?
20. How much are the classes and what are my payment options?

So, there it is. A fairly complete list of questions to ask a martial arts school in Grand Rapids, or really anywhere in the world, to get a good idea about whats going on there, how much of your life you might have to invest, how you feel about the person on the other end of the phone, and how much it may cost you each month. Remember, we’re only half-way through the process at this point. One of the most important aspects of choosing a martial arts school or self defense class is going to be visiting the dojo, dojang, gym, training center, school or academy and “seeing” how you feel when you’re there. All of the other things you asked the person on the phone won’t matter a bit if, when you walk in and watch a class, you feel uncomfortable, stressed, unwelcome, or simply decide after watching that this particular martial art is not the right one for you.

Check back for the next installment when we discuss what to look for while you’re there…

AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon

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Stepping up the intensity: Kangeiko winter training

January 23, 12:07 AMChicago Martial Arts Fitness ExaminerManuel de Joya

At numerous dojo in the Chicago area and around the world, Judo, Kendo, Karate, and Aikido practitioners are beginning an annual tradition that reaffirms their commitment to their art.

The annual event is called kangeiko, or literally “cold training“. Kangeiko challenges both the minds and bodies of the participants through practice under adverse conditions, in unheated training halls or even outdoors.  The tradition has its roots in the ascetic practices of Mahayana Buddhism, and was later adopted by the warrior class.  Orginally, the intent was to strengthen commitment, fire up the fighting spirit, and exorcise the inner invertebrate.

Today, the practices vary among the different arts. Judoka, who follow the Kodokan tradition, train all day in an unheated dojo, beginning at 6 AM, for two consecutive days.  Most Aikidoka practice for ten consecutive days, with some attempting to attend all the classes.  Often, even in this modern age, dojo windows are sometimes thrown open to allow the Chicago winter to permeate the dojo.

Why do these practitioners do this? Some simply see it as a test to be overcome, a challenge to be met, and to find one’s limits.  Others use it as a mechanism by which they can renew their commitment to their chosen art, believing that a commitment made under adverse conditions creates a stronger bond.

There are also traditions of abstinence during this period, and some practitioners use this as an opportunity to cleanse or detoxify their bodies.  Then, there are those who seek to create a new habit of frequent practice and build momentum for the new year.  And then, there are the dojo rats, for whom this is business as usual.

Regardless of various reasons and practices, the sustained activity during this period will increase your level of fitness.  However, there are a few precautions the you need to take, especially when practicing in the cold. Remember that you are renewing your commitment and not having one last fling with your art:

• Warm up and stretch thoroughly to prevent injuries. The combination of low temperatures and constant muscle and joint strain will increase the possibility of injury.
• Hydrate, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Your body requires hydration during cold weather, but the thirst reflex may not be triggered.
• Eat properly.  Fuel up with complex carbohydrates and protein before classes, but also make sure that you eat properly afterwards to ensure recovery.
• Eat moderately. A common mistake is to eat too much and wind up actually gaining weight during this period.
• Pay attention to hygiene. Always wear a clean gi, clean supportive gear, and wash your hands frequently.  The intensity of the training may suppress your immune system and make you more susceptible to everything from skin diseases to H1N1.
• Be alert for symptoms of hypothermia in yourself and others. Symptoms include shivering, confusion, clumsiness, and more.
• Pace yourself. Try to ignore the urge to go all out at every class.
• Get adequate sleep to ensure proper recovery and healing.

Kangeiko, for those who make the commitment, builds camaraderie and a sense of joint accomplishment.  Bonds amongst practitioners are strengthened while their ties to their art are strengthened.   Kangeiko is an ordeal, but the rewards are great, the process can be fun, and the stories come will come in handy in your old age.

First, it will help you save time while investigating martial arts schools in Grand Rapids, MI or Grand Junction, CO, once again, it wont matter the area of the country one lives in, the process is the same. Second, it will help you figure out which martial arts NOT to look any further into. For example, if your list of desired benefits includes cardio vascular benefits but does NOT include learning how to fight, you may want to cross “mixed martial arts classes” off of the list. If your list includes wanting to be more flexible but does NOT include learning how to flip people then you may want to cross “Aikido classes” off your list.

So, now you have a list of things you’d like to learn and some things you have no interest whatsoever in learning. You take that list and start typing keywords into the Google search bar of your internet browser and start doing some investigation into which martial arts classes have schools within a relatively close distance from your home. A good rule of thumb is no more than 10 miles from your home. If you’re going to stick with the martial arts class that you choose, it will be important to be within a reasonable distance from your home so that when the honeymoon is over, meaning the initial euphoria of joining a new program is gone, your martial arts school is still relatively close. If its too far away, you’ll use that as an excuse to stop going.

The next step in this process, once you have your list, is to get some good data from the Yellow Pages and a thorough Google, Yahoo or Bing search for martial arts schools in your area. For example, in the Google search box in the upper right corner of your internet browser you would type, “Martial Arts Classes in Grand Rapids+self defense”, or “Self Defense Classes In Grand Rapids”, if you’re looking for self defense. The resulting page that comes up should give you some good local martial arts schools offering the classes you are looking for.

Begin by writing down which schools have the martial arts classes you know you might want to try. Be sure to look for ones that have been around a while. Fly by night martial arts schools are the ones that haven’t been in town that long but want you to sign a long contract and/or pay for a year or two up front. While they may be a legitimate martial arts school offering legitimate classes, a good school with a confident staff and instructors will offer a free trial period for you to check out the facility and the particular art they’re offering. While this sometimes seems like a gimmick, its actually a sign of confidence in the instructor that they are willing to offer their classes for free before asking you to make a commitment.

Now, with your list of potential martial arts schools, classes, locations, addresses, phone numbers and questions, you can start calling around to various schools to further narrow your search. Once you start calling, for the first time in this process you’re going to begin using your gut instinct to whittle down the list based on the responses you get from the various martial arts instructors running the schools you call. Before we actually begin calling around though, we’ll need a solid list of questions to ask. I’m going to give you the list of questions in the next blog post but just know that the last, and least important question you’re going to ask is “how much are your martial arts classes”

See you for the next installment!

Do I choose Karate or Tae Kwon Do? .. and what’s the difference? Should I choose Yoga or Tai Chi? ..and what’s the difference? How about Aikido or Kendo?.. and what’s the…well, you get the point.

If you’ve ever been in this type of pickle you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. So many choices with so little information with which to make your decision. Hopefully, this little guide will help you as you begin the investigation process and hopefully help you avoid some of the pitfalls of choosing the right martial arts school in West Michigan along the way.

Typically, when somebody is hunting for a martial arts school, they began their hunt based on something they saw, like the Ultimate Fighting Championships or maybe a Steven Seagal movie (hopefully not the latter!). Quite possibly, the seeds were planted a while ago but something has triggered a new, or renewed, interest in finally taking that martial arts class they’ve been threatening to take for years now. Of course, that was 27 pounds (or more), 1 and 1/2 marriages, 2 dogs and 1 hamster ago and they’ve finally decided its time to do something!

The search usually begins with a Google search or a scan of the Yellow Pages under “Martial Arts”. Either way, ones choices for martial arts schools in West Michigan will be several pages long. While I would never tell anybody NOT to start their search this way, I would strongly recommend doing a little bit of research first. I recommend writing out a list of the things one is looking for from the martial art they may choose. A list might be something like: ” I Want”-physical fitness, weight loss, self defense, cardio benefits, meet new people, etc.

Now, while thats a pretty broad list that could fit pretty much any martial arts class, at least its a start. If you begin calling on martial arts schools right out of the Yellow Pages or off of an internet search, those are the questions that most schools will ask, the good ones anyway. All schools SHOULD ask those questions to see if their school will even be a good fit for what one might be looking for. If a school doesn’t ask those questions, this may be a red flag that they simply want you to come and join even if its not what you’re looking for.

Now, you’ll want to start plugging those words into further internet searches right along with the words “martial arts classes in Grand Rapids“, or whatever town one lives in, to see what kinds of information comes up. Its really important for one to do as much investigation as possible BEFORE ever leaving the house. I’m going to encourage you to eventually leave the house and actually start visiting martial arts schools, but for now, knowing what kind of class you might be looking for will be a big help in narrowing down your search and making your martial arts experience as enjoyable as possible.

Check back soon for the next steps in choosing the right martial arts classes and school for you.

I had seen Aikido before and actually did a little bit at some self defense seminars held locally so I wasn’t expecting any surprises. I had never really witnessed the Yoshinkai style so Helton Sensei’s demonstration was my first experience of it. Although I didn’t really understand everything I was seeing, I was very impressed with the movements of Helton Sensei and the coordinated efforts of the students performing the demonstration. There was quite an obvious mastery of movement and a very apparent understanding of Aikido, even if I didn’t understand what was going on completely.

I must admit, I didn’t fully comprehend the extended arms, splayed fingers, and what appeared to be somewhat rigid robotic movements of the students, still don’t, but I ended up leaving the demonstration with a new respect for Aikido, respect for Helton Sensei and his students, and the seed had been planted for me to, one day soon, embark on an “Aiki” path that ultimately led me to Toyoda Shihan and the amazing education and experiences I have had as a result. Aikido in Grand Rapids was about to change forever…

Check back soon for the next episode