February 1, 2019

Message of the Month

How to Stay Young

By Keith Hafner

Have you ever noticed that there are people in their thirties who feel old, look old and have pretty much conceded that their best years are behind them? And there are also people in their seventies, eighties, and nineties who live healthy, vibrant lives and look forward to each new day with anticipation!

Here are some common traits of people who stay young, regardless of their age:

1. They work on their physical flexibility. If physical flexibility is neglected, a person be- comes stiff and eventually becomes “frozen” inside a body that won’t move. No more gardening. No more hunting and fishing. They cannot do whatever it was that they enjoyed do- ing. And when the things you look forward to doing each day are lost to you, you begin to give up on life.

2. They maintain the younger people. The healthy “oldsters” I know always share this: they are interested in young people; they enjoy talking with young people; they appreciate them and like being around them. Contrast this with the person who becomes grumpy, bitter and critical of young people. They become increasingly lonely. As their peers move on, they are left alone.

3. They work at something they enjoy. They read. They continue to learn. They volunteer their time and skills. They write. They collect. They wake up each day with purpose.

4. Most importantly, they decide to remain young. They do not give in to “old age.” They cherish their youthfulness and refuse to give it up!

Health & Fitness Tip: Focus on Fitness with a Purpose!

Courtesy of Renshi Enzo Aliotta

Martial arts training is a positive and purpose-driven way to get in great shape and stay in great shape. The basic movements you practice in class are a great way to stretch and strengthen your mind and body.

Each technique, form and combination expands and improves your memory and develops your attention span. The various offensive and defensive skills you learn and practice are an excellent way to condition your overall range of motion, all while improving your core balance, coordination and overall physical conditioning.

When you’re working rounds or partner drills, hitting the pads and/or bag work, you’re also increasing your cardiovascular endurance as well as your confidence and skill level. Plus, it’s a fun way to relieve stress!

Martial arts training is great for you. It’s one of the best ways to achieve ultimate fitness—with a purpose.

Kids Corner

The New Year Means…

It’s that time of the year again…the time for resolutions.

Setting goals is a serious task. You cannot and should not take it lightly. You should be serious about it and you should be fully committed to carrying it out. Also, in order to build confidence in yourself, you must really believe you can achieve your goal, even if it means hard work.

What does that mean for your martial arts career? Simply that you have to believe you can be a black belt, and you must commit yourself to some hard work. The New Year is a great time to get focused on this goal.