al's back

she's back. Finily after all that time and then she said im leaving so goodbye. so what's up whith you guy's

the real "why i joind the ten tigers"

Why I joined the ten tigers program. This year was hard to decide to join or not because I kind of liked the feeling of being able to just go to bed with out going though a list in my head push-up check sit-ups check stances check. But then I thought about how I feel when I don’t go to tournaments and there I am just sitting there watching the other people do form’s and sparing which I love but I hate the actual tournament. But I this case there was no tournament only the thing’s that I love so much. So that’s why I joined the ten tiger’s team. That’s why But I have not addressed the why I like it so because it give me something to do as opposed to just sitting there and playing video game now don’t get me wrong I love my vids but I kind of feel like a vegetable after playing for a strait day. I always get my work out when I am in the ten tiger’s program.

why I joined

sorry I didn't catch the email about the one page.

I joined ten tigers to improve myself and I think that I joined was because I was ashamed of my ability as an instructor. How would we feel if Steven was out of breath after every exercise?Before ten tigers I was hard pressed to do twenty push ups in a minute. Now I can do fifty-five. I had as much energy as a sloth in winter, now I have energy to spare to go out and ride my bike on a trail doing jumps on every bump along the way, as well as instruct kids!It has also helped me mentally, strange as it may sound my willpower has been improved by it as well, I can force myself to do things I normally wouldn't, like biking for two miles or holding horse stance for five minutes.

Sun Tzu's art of war was very helpful to, attack where you are strong and they weak and so on. It helped me learn sparring theory and overcome my weaknesses in sparring.I learned to live in the moment and not in what is to come. I certainly anticipate things, just not to the extent that I ignore the things that are going on around me.It also help me learn to keep track from day to day, if I just do everything every day life is easier.

Over all Ten Tigers has been a very pleasurable experience and I think that I will repeat it in future years either on my own, if I'm far away, or with Steven.I think this is the best way to exercise since the invention of the stationary bike.and I think that it was the best choice for me.

Eli.

proof.

i woke up yesterday, ate breakfast, did my lessons, ate lunch, more lessons, read a book, ate dinner, watched a movie, and then i sat down to draw. i drew better than i had ever drawn before, i drew like an artist. i drew 3-D, for the first time.

so yes, you can wake up and suddenly be able to do something!

what's up guy's

why i rejoined the ten tigers well because it's totally awe inspiring and really fun and i enjoy it, that is all, no questions asked end of story, good night, farewell, solong, goodbye,

Why I joined Ten Tigers ... again

Ten Tigers is for me because it encourages me to train beyond the lessons offered in class, and offers an extra helping of comraderie with others who also chose to go beyond. Once I discovered the depth of on-the-floor friendships, and the surprisingly complex emotional travels (or do I mean travails?) that can come wrapped in kung fu clothing, I recognized that what we do in kung fu is very personal and not easily shared off the floor. Except with others who are also off the floor. The fun we have had as Ten Tigers, and the fun we will have, is partly a result of the shared ... travails. As Dean (TT Year 1) once said, very earnestly, to one of my (many) sisters-in-law: “You'd think it's just about fighting, but that's not what it's about at all.” Yet for onlookers, that's exactly what it seems to be ... and attempts to articulate what else it is often fall short.

Ten Tigers makes me want to push at the boundaries of my life, my abilities, and my dedication to myself. Not just push – because it's easy to live a life where boundaries never move no matter how much one pushes – but Ten Tigers helps me to dismantle the boundaries day by day (which is, in the end, the only way). The day-by-day progress toward larger goals encourages me to think about other goals not on the list and to recognize that, if I want to reach them, I have to take steps toward them each day. Wishing, hoping for things to happen or change ... it's like Sifu Steven's blog on finding time. If I don't proactively set specific goals, the thing (whatever it is) doesn't happen and often fades until the opportunity is lost.

Since being a Ten Tiger, Year One, I am a better person or, perhaps more accurately, I am better at being the person I am. I am stronger (physically, sure, but also mentally and emotionally) and I am living life more fully than I was.

But, finally, I signed up for Ten Tigers again because the pattern of self-care is not yet ingrained. The month off between this year and the last one showed me that I can, indeed, return to old habits and begin to fragment. This year, I want to work on creating/enhancing my own pattern, my own way of incorporating Ten Tigers thoughts and actions in my everyday life in a way that will stay in my bones. I very much admire Chris's posting where he explains how he came to the conclusion that Ten Tigers is what he needs and that neither time nor money rank in comparison to something that's needed. I am also a parent, and have had to learn (no, I'm still learning) that when I don't make space for myself, I am shortchanging everyone.

I look forward to enjoying life with each of you, along the way. The way of the tigers.

Why I Created the Ten Tigers Program

I found a program known as the Ultimate Black Belt Test at about the same time that my wife was starting her "Women FIRST" program. I was fascinated by both of these programs and wanted something like them for myself. The UBBT was (and still is) out of my price range, so I decided to put something similar together for myself. I also decided to see if anyone would take the ride with me.

Turns out I had some eager students who wanted to work their tails off too. I put together a program that required lots of work on the self by the members and included private lessons. I figured it would be an act of self improvement not only in my martial arts, but also in my abilities as a teacher, and my job as a martial arts school owner.

I didn't know it until afterwords, but like "The Long Lost Shaw Brother", I NEEDED the ten tigers program. I needed the fitness gains, the strength and endurance gains, I needed the organizational improvement, I needed the work on follow through and goal setting.

I got so much more than I planned.

I am so glad that I did it. I am a new man.

WHY I JOINED TEN TIGERS

I admired this program from a close distance as a student at East West Kung Fu in Franklin. I heard current Tigers talk about the program, and I enjoyed their positive energy in class. I wanted to be a part of the next Ten Tigers, but I was concerned about time and money. Honestly, I was concerned about these two things in December when my first child was due. The last time I attended class was before Christmas. My wife Daphne was due any day, and I did not want to be over an hour away in case she went into labor.

Our beautiful daughter Bo was born on January 6. I debated a number of options in regards to my kung fu training from taking a break from training, to just doing private lesson with Sifu Steven, or even changing schools to be closer to home. I wanted to put my daughter and wife first above all else. I debated within myself if I was letting them down by being away from home to train. I live a little over an hour from the school.

Thankfully, Sifu Steven is not only a wonderful teacher, but a father himself. His advice and patience helped me tremendously during this time. Also, Daphne knows how important kung fu is to me, and she believes it makes me a better person on a number of different levels. I guess the bottom line is that kung fu makes me a better human being spiritually, physically, and emotionally. A few years ago in my training, I had to have major shoulder surgery. Actually, I had four surgeries at once on my left shoulder. The recovery time was approximately six months. During that time I practiced only stance work and Chi Kung. Dr. Burton Elrod, my surgeon and team physician for the Tennessee Titans, asked me if I had any children before informing me I needed surgery. I told him I did not yet, but may in the future. He said it was important for me to get the surgery in order to be 100% for my future children. Dr. Elrod said to be the best father you can be, you must be in top physical shape. Also, you must be able to continue doing the physical activities you enjoy to give you peace of mind to once again be the best father you can be.

Recently, I reflected on not only the view of Dr. Elrod, but the views of Daphne and Sifu Steven as well. After meditating on this, it all became very clear that I NEED Ten Tigers. Sifu Steven has set up a program that gives me the opportunity to work on being a better all around individual. That includes husband, father, teacher, actor, human being, citizen, etc. The bonus is that it includes kung fu training too. Money no longer is an issue when you need something. Time is no longer an issue either. As a teacher, I utilize time management in my classroom. As an actor, I understand that time is money, and it is important to use my time wisely in order to show respect towards others. I was beginning to let time manage me, and I was not managing my time. I was beginning to lose my center. Fortunately, I have found it. A huge part of that is Ten Tigers.

I am very excited about completing this program. I'm looking forward to the private lessons. I have enjoyed these in the past, and they have improved my kung fu journey greatly. Since I may not be able to attend regularly scheduled classes as much as I used to, I look forward to the group training sessions as well. I chose fatherhood as my new undertaking, so I can stay motivated to be the best parent I can be. I'm currently reading The Spiritual Path by Osho. It has been collecting dust along with hundreds of other books on my shelves over the years. I've already gained a number of insights through it.

Sup Fu

Ten Tigers 2010 It's on!!!

Know ahead of time (some of you already do) that you will have some wonderful accomplishments this year. Know that you will have days in which you feel unstoppable. You will have days that you feel like you can overcome anything in your path.

Also, know that you will have some devastating setbacks. You will have days when you regret signing up (or singeing up). You will have times that you get behind and feel you'll never catch up. You will have days in which you feel like you can be overcome by anything.

Through it all, keep looking forward, keep track of your progress, push through the hard days, glide through the easy ones, stay on course. Bust your tails tigers.