Black Belt Spectaculars

I just found, via a friend's facebook page (thanks Dani), a well-produced video about the April 2009 Black Belt Spectacular which is the Lavallee show for the belt promotion for black belts. Take a look. It's by egoose2000.



And here is the show from December 2008 when Steve Lavallee was promoted to eighth degree black belt. It was also a few weeks before his hip surgery. (He has recovered well). It's thanks to karate EWM.





del.icio.us

World Record for Baseball Bat Breaking

At Steve LaValle's April 2008 Black Belt Spectacular in the War Memorial Auditorium in Ft Lauderdale, FL, Shihan Moti Horenstein set a new world record for baseball bat breaking in 60 seconds. I think it was 49. Check it out. He's amazing.

Shihan Moti is an eighth degree Black Belt. He is Director and Chief Instructor of the World Survival Hisardut Organization. He holds World Titles in 5 different styles.

In 1995, Shihan Moti was crowned Champion of the World at the International World Oyama Karate Open Championships as well as capturing first place honors in Team USA Shidokan, representing the United States in Tournaments around the world. Most recently, Shihan captured Champion of the United States in Muay Thai and in August 1998 he captured Champion of the World at the King's Cup Muay Thai World.

Want to know a name for "totally tough and lots of technique"? Have you ever seen anyone make baseball bat breaking look easy? Wow! Go Shihan.

del.icio.us

A Black Belt - It's Only the Beginning...

I have long heard what I always took to be a joke: "The Black Belt, it's only the beginning". And I use to laugh.

Well, excooooose me. Rembering that:

When a door closes, look for the window that opens. - anonymous

Life is about setting goals that are personally meaningful to you. And then achieving them. - Dad (mine)

S.M.A.R.T Goals - Goals we set are goals we Get - Kyoshi

There has to be a morning after... - Some Barbara Streisand Song

Yes, I got my black belt. I think I look good in my new red gi with my new belt. Don't you agree?

But now that a month has past and I've taken a lot of high fives and congrats and even a few hugs and I've hosted a party for all the new black belts and I've caught up on my personal and professional life (in short, I've been a busy bee), I'm turning to the questions of:

• how does the martial arts fit into my life?


• what are my goals going forward?


• can I really balance a training schedule, increasingly demanding professional life, and rich personal life?


• and most importantly, what am I going to do about this blog? It started as a way to keep track of the katas (as my memory in my very late 40s isn't what it used to be. Or at least, my memory isn't what I think my memory used to be). And now, this blog actually has some readers and some potential....

As it turns out, I have answers emerging for all these questions. And alot more. So stay tuned. (some hints on my direction. I'm writing this before going for a Sunday morning run. And last night, I went the local amateur fights - Warriors Collide 3 - and watched one of my teachers show everyone, including herself, just how good she is).

Lastly, notice that I'm ending my post with questions to be answered......

This is an effort to create a storyline and to end this episode with a cliff-hanger.... As I mentioned, stay tuned....

PS - In response to requests this week, I added a video of Long One, Short Three, and White Belt Appreciation Form. I corrected some glaring omissions in bookset and I'm actively looking for a good video of the bookset kata.

Creative Kumite

What can I say? The show was great: very quick-paced and high energy. Unlike previous shows which were not as tightly timed, this one went from start to finish in 1 hr, 20 minutes so it flew!
I added some personal drama. In the dress rehearsal when it was time for my solo, I totally froze up. I remember thinking: I can't be freezing up. I'm not even nervous. It's just that I can't remember what I'm supposed to do or even think of anything to do. But during the show, it went well. Maybe great! I'm a happy camper.

The first video is me, Jay, and Coach. The second video is Scott, Edgar, Pat, Agnes, and Kathy. All of them spectactacular black belts.

Black Belt Spectacular

The Black Belt Spectacular!!!

This week: many many rehearsals to get all the details right. On Wednesday, there was regular testing and we ran thru the routines at full pace. It seemed to go well.

I just received the online invite and it got me psyched. Also, my name is on the Tshirt!!! This is a big thrill (according to Agnes, the biggest thrill and she says that she'll be giving them to everyone on her Christmas list this year)

The invite has great picture of Melissa and Jennifer.

This spectacular is a little different from previous ones in that we're a much larger group. So there's less individual creative kumites. There are 36 people getting their black belt or receiving an additional dan (stripe or level on their black belt). Leading the pack:
- Steve Lavallee - 4th Degree
- Mr. Mike, Jennifer, & Mr L getting their 3rd degreesothers because there are so so many of us.

To get tickets, go to ticketron.