Action and reaction; Cause and consequence. It is no mystery that Competence Creates Confidence. Reason’s whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, Lie in three words—Health, Peace, and Competence. Alexander Pope Essay on Man Nothing creates confidence more than competence. Telling someone they’re good at something, giving them pats on the back, kisses on the cheek, big hugs and positive words of how great they are don’t, nor can’t, build true confidence.

From dusk to dawn the world goes circling sun with highs and lows; within this journey Greatness knows True Power Flows Not Shows. Learn this from the waters: in mountain clefts and chasms loud gush the streamlets, but great rivers run silently. Things that are empty make a noise; the full is always quiet. Buddha This is a very simple truth which needs no great explanation. If we are truly powerful, our power will flow from us as easily as water down a mountain.

Humility is the highest form of strength; Arrogance the highest form of weakness. As a silo sits vacant of fodder, A Black Belt Without Humility Is Like A Well Without Water. We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility. Rabindranath Tagore [Nobel Laureate, Literature 1913] To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them. Charles de Montesquieu [18th Century French Philosopher] If I have seen further, it is only by standing on the shoulders of Giants.

In the wisdom of time with its messages ageless, the pinnacle of all is that Character Must Precede Prowess. The first essential step to a spiritual life is character. One may deceive one’s friends, relatives and even oneself, but the Power within is not deceived. Saint Sawan Singh, 20th Century For he who is honest is noble, whatever his fortunes or birth. Alice Cary Nobility Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.

In a phenomenal world with its contents illusory, of all the triumphs Character Is More Important Than Victory. The gem cannot be polished without friction. Chinese Proverb Only a man’s character is the real criterion of worth. Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. Eleanor Roosevelt Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.

In cleansing the soul and losing its dross, it’s axiomatic – You Must Win The Cross. Without recognizing the ordinances of Heaven, it is impossible to be a superior man. Confucius Another way of expressing the phrase, To become everything you must first become nothing, is this corroborating maxim, You Must Win the Cross. The symbol of the cross is ancient, far antedating its use by Christianity. It also has application to martial arts.

How fun is this? Cute kid. Remember when Aidan was just beginning his martial arts journey? Well, he’s all grown up at age 17 and is a force to deal with. No kidding. Aidan is now a Freshman in college. A happy warrior? Or one to be feared? Who, in their right mind, would want to be flat on their back looking up at this dangerous dude? Answer: only an idiot.

In the game of life, whether pauper, prince or king, the fact remains — To Become Everything We Must First Become Nothing. This is a strange statement, isn’t it: To become everything we must first become nothing? Yet, it is true and possesses great mystic meaning. If martial arts teaches anything substantive, it is to integrate the body, mind and spirit. Nothing will help us with the integrative process more than surrendering our egos to the Great Power that exists, the Power which created and sustains us; which gives us life.

NOW & THEN JASON “J.B.” BROWN KIA Black Belt # 15 (December 15ᵗʰ 1990) Jason “J.B.” Brown & GF Sammy 15 December 1990: Black Belt Coronation Jason “J.B.” Brown, Greg “Maddog” Bendel, Genny “Cougar” Edge A Major Milestone in life—A Kiado-Ryu Black Belt! In the background on the right: Colin “Semi” Lee, Dan “Basai” Asay, Dr. Milt “Super Zedha” Jacobson, Bob “Grinder” Shreck and Steven “Widi” Ho. J.B. executing a kata

Balance is Primary. This we see, but in the struggle of life Concentration Is The very First Key. Concentration is the secret of strength. Ralph Waldo Emerson Balance is primary, no doubt. However, concentration is the first key to success in whatever we do. If we can’t focus our attention directly on the task at hand, there is a pronounced risk of not succeeding at all and more poignantly, a lethal risk if confronted with a life-threatening situation.