Commitment 

By Deng Ming-Dao

Maiden plucks folk tune on steel strings,

Crickets chant like monks.

I’ve walked into autumnal contentment,

Yet a young boy seeks guidance.

One may be quite far along the path, but if one meets a beginner who sincerely seeks guidance, then one should help without reservation. If such a beginner were to come to you, what would you say? This is what I said to someone today:

“The time of beginning is one of the most precious times of all. It can be very exciting and full of wonderful growth. The first thing to do is to make up your mind that you are going to go the distance. 

“When I first began, I made a lifelong commitment. I determined that I would learn from my teacher for at least seven years. Now, it has been much longer than that, but the essential element is the same: commitment. 

“But commitment needs something else in order to be perpetuated.  It needs discipline. This is the perseverance to keep on when things are tough. Adversity is life’s way of testing and perfecting a person.  Without that, we would never develop character. 

“Rice suffers when it is milled. Jade must suffer when it is polished.  But what emerges is something special. If you want to be special too, then you have to be able to stick to things even when they are difficult.” 

Commitment and discipline – these are two of the most precious words for those who seek the way.

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.

Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:

The moment that one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. 

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner, of unforeseen incidents and meetings, and material assistance, which no man would have dreamed would come his way.

I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it.”  

– GOETHE

W.H. Murray,

The Scottish Himalayan Expedition

Ask your instructor about our BLACK BELT programs and take your training to a NEW LEVEL!

Marty Callahan

8th Degree Black Belt

“Well, they’ll stone ya when you’re trying to be so good. They’ll stone ya just like they said they  would. They’ll stone ya when you’re tryin’ to go home. Then they’ll stone ya when you’re there all  alone. But I would not feel so all alone. Everybody must get stoned.” 

-Bob Dylan, American Singer-Song Writer

Bob Dylan is one of America’s greatest singer-song writer. The truth in what he is saying in his  song ‘Everybody Must Get Stoned’ is universal. It means that as we strive to make something of  ourselves, we will all, at some point, face people who will try to hurt us.

The only time this may not happen is if we hide our life away and live in seclusion. So, if this  hasn’t happened to you yet, get ready, because it will.

So, what do we do? How do we prepare ourselves? How do we go on after we get stoned? I’m  not a politician and I’m generally not very trustful of them but I do admire their ability to let  criticism roll off their backs.

So, we could freeze up, let fear take over, and run and hide. But if our oppressor is intent on  hurting us, this will only embolden them and they will just throw more rocks. Or, we could fight  back, and maybe we should but it probably shouldn’t be your first response as it can stimulate  your enemy to respond with more vengeance.

But perhaps the best response is to show that it doesn’t bother you, let it roll off you, think “This  too will pass” and “Oh well, have a nice day.”

 

Sometimes tough  parenting requires  that you tell your kids  that they need to  clean their rooms  before they can have  a donut, while you sit  eating donuts yelling,  ‘Hurray, they’re 

A BIG Welcome to our newest students!  

❖ Addie Santiago, Julian Santa Maria, Lily Digardi, Joshua Reeves, Samsaara Santiago,  Skylar Morales, Khyle Phy-Birdsong, George Jasmin, Bella Espino, Olivia Shane, Kent  Wilson, Logan Purtill, Jovanni Garcia

Upcoming Events and Activities  

• March-April Instructional Period starts the week of February 27th 
• Next Great Journey Lesson topic will be Endeavor. The first chapter is titled Never  Give Up. We will be reading from Tiger’s Great Journey pages 82 to 92. 
• Saturday, April 1st next Santa Rosa Invitational Karate Tournament: 10:30a-12:30p
• April 10-17th Japan Trip  
• Friday and Saturday, April 28-29 Sensei Kevin Warner back to teach classes 
• Saturday, May 6th – Spring 2023 Award Ceremony and Potluck Dinner  

The Next Santa Rosa Invitational Karate Tournament – Saturday, April 1, 2023 If you’d like to compete, please let us know. After we get a complete list of those who want to  compete, we will decide on divisions and do a final selection of the competitors. We will start  training for the tournament February 27th at the start of the next Instructional Period.

Japan Trip – April 10 to 17, 2023  

I will be joining some of our friends from Shotokan International Alliance and traveling to  Japan to do some sightseeing and karate training. If you’re interested in going, let me know and  we’ll see if we can make it work for you.

April 28-29 – The Return of Sensei Kevin Warner, 7th Degree Black Belt from Riverside He will be here to teach classes on Friday evening, April 28 and Saturday morning, April 29.  Details will be available later.

Spring 2023 Award Ceremony and Potluck Dinner: Saturday, May 6th Shoka Magazine: We’re mailing it to your house. We hope you’re getting it. If not let us know.

Mystery Crusher and Stacker: Who Done It? – Detective Wanted 

Not only are the cups in the bathroom being crushed by small hands but they are being stacked  as high as an elephant’s eye or as high as the little hands can reach. The mystery continues…  who done it? Help us solve this mystery!

Our Covid Policy  

Wear a mask if you are unvaccinated. Decide for yourself if you are vaccinated. We will never ask you to do anything that will put you or your family at risk. You always have the opportunity to  opt-out of any activity or event that you deem is unsafe.

 

Marty Callahan

8th Degree Black Belt

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden,  meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success  of liberty.”  

– John F. Kennedy 35th President of the United States

Parents, families, students and friends,

Was John F. Kennedy strong or weak? I believe he was an extraordinary human being. He suffered  from ailments and injuries that would have kept a lesser man down, but he didn’t let them stop him.  How could he say to the leaders of the world that we will “pay any price, bear any burden, meet any  hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe in order to assure the survival and success of liberty”? Where did he get his strength? It’s the old nature vs. nurture question. Was he born with it or did he

get it from the environment his parents created for him. I believe the answer to the nature vs. nurture  question is that it is both. He had good genes but the expectations that his parents had for him and  his siblings played a major role in him becoming who he was. This is what we aspire to do for your  child. Give them an environment that will allow them to flourish, to find their passion, to become all  they can be. What John F. Kennedy’s parents did for him. It’s a wonderful example of parenting at  it’s highest. Let us help you give your child what they need to become all they could possibly be.

Here’s what’s in it this month’s Shoka Magazine:

• Shoka News (our newsletter)
• Everybody Must Get Stoned
• Tough Parenting
• A Black Belt is a White Belt who didn’t quit
• Niju Kun #10
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Core Assumptions (Part 4 of 4)
• Michael E. Gerber Show
• Commitment, By Deng Ming-Dao
• Commitment, By Goethe and W.H. Murray
• Thankfulness
• Olivia Shane – one of our newest students

Yours truly,

Marty Callahan, 8th Degree Black Belt

Founder, Chief Instructor, Author

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Core Assumptions 

Every life science has a set of core assumptions it operates out of. The core  assumptions of CBT are based on the assumption that the quality of our thoughts impact  how we relate to our life’s experiences. This means that the attitude and approach we  take towards life, relationships and people will influence the outcomes we experience  throughout life.  

9. OUR INTERNAL WORLD MANIFESTS ITSELF IN OUR OUTSIDE  WORLD  

Thought power is the key to creating our reality. Everything we perceive in the physical world  has its origins in the invisible, inner world of our thoughts and beliefs. To become the master of  your own destiny, we must first learn to control the nature of our habitual negative thinking  patterns. In doing this, we begin to attract into our lives more of the things we actually want as  we come to recognize this truth: our thoughts create our reality.

For every ‘outside effect’ there is an ‘inner cause’: every effect we see in our outside world has  a specific cause which originated in our inner or mental world. This is the very nature of thought  power. In other words, the circumstances and conditions of our lives are a result of our  collective thoughts and beliefs. Every aspect of our lives, from the state of our health to the state  of our finances and our relationships, reveals our thoughts and beliefs.

It’s an ‘inside job’: most people get it back to front and believe that they think or feel a certain  way as a result of their external circumstances. They do not know the truth that it is their  thoughts which are creating these very circumstances (whether desired or not). By internalizing  and applying the truth that our thoughts create our reality, we can go on to create the changes  that we want to see and begin working towards achieving our life goals. Reality is an inside job.

Q. If you were to accept that this assumption was true, how might your attitude towards  life and other people change?  

10. HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE 

Do you know any difficult people in your life? Individuals who are easily offended by words? You  have to watch everything you say around them through fear that you’ll set off a trigger in them  that leads them to lash out in anger. Or perhaps this person is you. Do other people walk on  eggshells around you? Do they avoid you? Do they hold back for fear of how you will react?

If you don’t deal with your own hurts, you end up hurting others. When you don’t forgive other  people, you hurt. When you don’t forgive yourself, you hurt. This is true on a physical,  emotional, relational, and spiritual level.

Here are ten indicators of hurt people who hurt others:  

1. They are easily threatened so are quick to attack with their words.
2. They misjudge others and often assume other people are against them.
3. They don’t see or understand the pain they inflict on other people.
4. They don’t understand why others don’t understand them.
5. They won’t let down their guard, so they are always on the defensive.
6. They don’t take responsibility for their behavior.
7. They are easily offended.
8. They are quick to react in anger.
9. If they feel backed into a corner regarding an issue, they’ll come out fighting.
10. They rarely have close, intimate friendships.

It’s very difficult to help a hurting person unless they want your help. If you are the one that is  hurting, recognize that your pain is causing other people pain and get help for yourself and the  people around you. It really does matter.

Here are some common traits hurt people display when they’re interacting with other people.

• Hurt people usually transfer their inner anger onto their family and close friends. Often, the  people around them become the recipients of fits of rage and harsh tones because they have  unknowingly become the recipients of ‘transferred rage’.
• Hurt people interpret every word that is spoken to them through the prism of their pain. This  means that words are often misinterpreted to mean something negative towards them. As a  result, they are extremely sensitive and respond out of pain, as supposed to reality.
• Hurt people tend to interpret every action through the prism of their pain. They often jump to  incorrect conclusions about other people’s motives or evil intent behind their actions towards  them.
• Hurt people often have a ‘victim mentality’ where they believe that they are ‘victim’ to the  circumstances and situations life throws their way.
• Hurt people often find it very difficult entering into a trusting relationship.  • Hurt people often carry around a suspicious spirit.
• Hurt people often alienate other people and wonder why there is no one there for them. They  are often so focused on their own hurt that they disregard and disrespect others without even  realizing it. They continually hurt the people they love and need the most as a result of their self destructive behaviors.
• Hurt people are often depressed or frustrated because they allow past pain to continually spill  over into their present. Much of the time they are not even aware of why they are always  depressed or frustrated because they have coped with the pain by compartmentalizing it.

Q. If you were to accept that this assumption was true, how might your attitude towards  life and other people change? 

Shotokan Karate Leadership School®

3082 Marlow Road B1, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

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