Rhode Island Adventure

Mr. Nicklaus said something in a karate class that's stuck with me.

"A definition of Insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results"

Man, easy to understand...but hard to apply sometimes.

For whatever reason, I've been the number two guy in the country the last 2 years. And I hate it. I'm not saying it's a terrible accomplishment. I just have my sights set higher. I want my focus to be on something better. So why number 2? Was the number one guy just that much better?

Truth is, anytime that I've really committed myself to it, I've won. I used to think that meant just really training hard. That's the commitment that I needed. Bologna. Really, THAT was insanity. The tournaments that I've won have been no surprise in hindsight. They are the tournaments I really emotionally and mentally as well as physically invest myself in.

So what's the deal with the other karate tournaments? In hindsight, I can see a number of reasons. Reasons like...being intimidated, not feeling worthy of it, fear of failure. Odd to admit because I've done really well in a lot of other things.

BUT when it comes to it, I'm just a Martial Arts student like the ones I teach. The only difference is that I'm further along in my training. I have to go through the same muck they do to get what I want.

This past weekend in Providence, RI was a breakthrough in a lot of different ways. Mr. Nicklaus has been helping me prepare mentally and physically for this success over the last month and half. My preparation helped me come to grips with my result I want. I didn't train for the sake of training. My training had a purpose....to take the position I wanted.

Even this weekend minutes before competing, I almost fell victim to old thinking....
"I just want this to be over so I can relax" (fear)
"What if I don't win" (fear)
"It's not that big a deal" (rationalizing)

ENOUGH. Everyone has the Battle of Thoughts.

My reply to old, dumb, fearful thoughts:
"I going to face this b/c I know the pain and ache of what happens when I just want to relax"

"Everything I want to feel happens when I win this, so I have to give everything I have. Can't worry about losing. Gotta keep focused on what I DO want to happen."

"This is a big deal b/c this is what I want, and I'm going to make it happen"

"There is no trying...I trust my body to do what it was meant to do"

Result:
I won the Ocean State Grand Nationals traditional division.

Post-plan:
I know that the guy I beat will not take the loss lightly. I will guarantee I will work even harder to make sure I keep earning what I want.

Lesson:
Defeating insanity requires a change in what you've been doing over and over to this point.

To Championship Level Training,

William Cornell

Green Grass, Palm Trees, In & Out Burger

I drove through a mini-blizzard to get to the Minneapolis. It wasn't bad...just had to take my time. It was worth it, though. I landed in Ontario, California stepped outside and was treated to green grass, palm trees, and weather in 70's.

No competition last Friday. Just messin' around and relaxing. Watched some good competitors. And turned it in for a good night's rest for the my main competition day the next morning. Saturday morning, I woke up, stepped outside on the balcony and basked in the sun for 20 minutes. It was AMAZING to have a hot sun on my face while I sat in my pajamas outside. No cold breeze, no snow, no hat, no sweater on...that's what I love. My friend said it perfectly, "I expect to brace myself for the wave of coldness, but then it never comes." Back to Wisconsin, but warmer weather's coming.

Competition.

You need stay disciplined when you're excited. In years past, sometimes I would warmed up and pumped up too early. I would peak too soon before showtime. Why? I didn't know to be patient and calmly wait for the right moment to start the engines. Perfect example - competition was supposed to start at 1130 am which meant I would compete around 1215 pm at the earliest. I ended up competing around 230 pm. I had to make sure I picked nutrition that would last and make sure not to prep too early.

I didn't waste energy stretching too easy, practicing moves too soon, goofing around with others too much. When it came time for showtime, I was ready. I was happy that my form felt really good. I had one little slip and, thus, second place. My mindset, however, focused on how good it felt to get the competition blood flowing and getting even more pumped for the next few months of performances. Next 3 leading into summer - Rhode Island, Quebec, Boston.

Bunch of Karate Guys from La Crosse Tearin' it Up at 2009 Minnesota State Championships

Nicklaus' Martial Arts America's Tournament Team was well represented at the MN State Championship. The competition lets each student practice Leadership Skills such as perseverance, accepting challenges, discipline in practice, focus, performing in front of a crowd and many more.

Not everybody does tournaments, but everybody in our karate school in La Crosse gets exposed to what it takes to Be A Champion

Our results:
-Junior Girl's Grand Form Champ & 1st Runner Up
-Junior Boys Form Grand Champ
-Junior Boy's Weapons Grand Champ 1st Runner Up
-16 - 1st places
-5 - 2nd's
-5 - 3rd's
-1 -Finalist

Check out the vids.

-wc3