How wonderful it is to reunite with KIA students and friends—in this case with Annette Carden-Dale, aka “Warrior.” It’s been a few years since our last get-together and such events are always fun and enjoyable. “Catching Up” is one of life’s most meaningful and endearing experiences.

Warrior began her martial arts studies at the Karate Institute of America, circa 2006. She was, and is, a great student—always focused, exuding a relentless spirit. She has always been an extremely hard worker, is energetic, talented, intelligent and determined. Before her destiny called her and her family to move out of the area, Warrior earned her Green Belt ranking, awarded on 26 September 2008.

Let’s say you and some friends or family are out for a walk in the woods. Accidentally, you come across a mountain lion. You throw up your hands, scream and shout and do all you can do to frighten him so he’ll go away. However, not having any free space in which to run away to safety, the lion backs into a corner, frightened. Now what? You have a frightened predator who lives his life by killing and who finds himself trapped in a corner with a bunch of human beings who, themselves, are also frightened but who do not live their lives by killing, generally. Obviously, this is not a safe environment for you or the lion to be in. So what do you do?

In any field of endeavor there are always levels of expertise from beginner, to intermediate, to advanced, to expert and beyond. Captain Lou Gacs, USMC retired, has surpassed that level of what is “beyond” to a level of martial arts excellence that is simply extraordinary. Without a doubt, Captain Lou Gacs is a “Martial Artist Extraordinaire.”

It is one thing for an individual to attain a Black Belt rating in one style of martial arts. The dedication to such an accomplishment is amazing, especially in today’s culture where “wanting everything yesterday” is an all-too-common mantra, and where patience, hard work and commitment have been kicked to the curb and relegated to the age of the dinosaurs, sadly.

A fellow martial artist recently shared the following story. Pay attention if you value your money, jewelry, even your life—especially if you’re a woman.

In the community of Newport Beach, CA, theft is increasing, just like everywhere else in the world. A man, acting as if he was in dire trouble and needing assistance, approached a woman in her car. The woman was wearing a nice necklace and beautiful jewelry on her hands and wrists. Feeling sorry for the “poor man,” the woman got out of her car to render assistance where upon he immediately ripped the necklace off of her neck, took jewelry off her hands and wrists and scurried away, gone in a flash!

These are tough times, right? So what’s the answer? It’s simple. Get tougher.

Life is not complicated. We exist in a bi-polar universe. Therefore, there will always be good times and bad times. There is day and there is night; hot and cold, wet and dry, winter and summer; fall and spring, etc. Wisdom necessitates that we understand this universal principle and plan accordingly—emotionally, physically, financially, spiritually.

One of the noticeable things about the environment of present-day earth is that it is obviously going through tough times. There are no pills, magic words, potions or fairy dust that will make everything better. Sometimes—and this is one of those times—the only solution is that we simply have to get tougher and be tougher than the tough times we’re transiting.

From The Black Belt Book of Life: Secrets of a Martial Arts Master.

A great man stands on God. A small man stands on a great man.

Responsibility is the price of greatness.

No man ever yet became great by imitation.

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ’em.