Taekwondo Cross Training by Dennis Schaefer

Now that I have retired from competitive sparring I have started running to supplement my training. Cross training can enhance skills related to Taekwondo as well as develop other skills and areas of strength that will supplement those developed in the dojang.

Practicing Taekwondo, especially sparring, involves short explosive expenditures of energy. Sports like basketball, soccer and tennis require the same sort of energy. Including some short sprints in your long, slow runs will duplicate that expenditure. Interval training on the running track or in the swimming pool will also accomplish the same purpose.

Cross training can also be accomplished in non-competitive activities like Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates. Yoga will increase flexibility and balance as well as addressing the meditative and psychological aspects of martial arts. Tai Chi involves many of the same movements as traditional Taekwondo forms, albeit at a slower pace, and will also enhance balance, flexibility and strength. Pilates shares many of the effects of Yoga but also emphasizes increasing “core” strength, essential to Taekwondo.

For me, cross training also injects some variety into my efforts to stay healthy. When my enthusiasm for one activity wanes, other types of training can offer a “break” without sacrificing over-all conditioning.  As mentioned earlier, some cross training will directly improve my Taekwondo performance as well as enhancing my life-long study as a Martial Artist.

The Olympic Spirit by Dennis Schaefer

I remember watching the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games on television when I was 16 and thinking, “I would like to work hard and compete some day in the Olympics.” At the time I was a competitive swimmer and trained throughout the year. I loved to compete and would swim age group meets in the summer, high school swimming team in the winter and YMCA league in the spring. Throughout my life I have had a great deal of difficulty being a spectator; I wanted to participate. When I was 32 years old I was a spectator at a Golden Gloves boxing tournament, and the next year found me in the ring. That’s the way it has always been.
This year I am watching the Summer Olympics once again. Now, at age 61, I realize that my chances of being an Olympic athlete are pretty slim. But I still feel the Olympic Spirit and continue to seek it in everything that I do.
“What,” you might ask, “is this Olympic Spirit you speak of?” Well, I can only speak for myself, but here’s what it means to me.
1. Seek something bigger than yourself. Look beyond the boundaries of your ego, your abilities and your own self-interest.
2. Enjoy the journey, even if you don’t reach the destination. All of my preparation is a lesson.
3. Celebrate your efforts as well as your successes
4. Be generous in your competition; you get back what you give
5. As I was once told, “Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all small stuff.”

Here’s the Secret by Dennis Schaefer

Those of you who follow my entries know that I lost about 25 pounds over the course of the past 6 months, leading up to 2012 USAT National Taekwondo Tournament. I guess it must show in my face because I lost count of the number of people who have asked, “Did you lose weight?” and then the follow-up question, “What’s your secret?” I am now going to reveal the secret.
Actually there are a number of steps to the secret process.
Step one: Have a clear goal date in mind with a compelling goal. In my case I had to be less than 175 pounds by July 2nd or I would have to fight Man Mountain Dean. Your goal and goal date can be anything and any time but it has to be compelling.
Step two: Keep a food diary to discover how, when, where and what you eat. I found that a number of curios questioners echoed my observation, “But I don’t really eat that much.” At least that was my original observation, until I kept a food diary. Its not only how much you eat but what you eat.
Step three: Change times and amounts of exercise and food intake to avoid plateaus. Your metabolism will always try to maintain stasis so you have to trick it. In other words, make things interesting for your metabolism.
Step four: Always remember that the equation is simple- you have to burn more calories that you take in. I never was much good at math but reading labels helps as does some research into nutrition and weight loss science
Step five: You need to have a support system. Sometimes you have to remind that support system to not bring cookies, candy or any empty calories into the house unless it is then well hidden.
Step six: Learn to take one bite, and then stop. That way you don’t have to deprive yourself. A tremendous amount of self-discipline is required.
Step seven: A tremendous amount of self-discipline is required.
Step eight: A tremendous amount of self-discipline is required. (Not a misprint)
Step nine: Don’t weigh yourself more than twice a day.
Step ten: Good luck.

Dennis Schaefer is an Instructor at the Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School in Dayton, Ohio. www.aacdayton.com

Martial Arts In Centerville Ohio Contacting Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School

Find us at www.aacdayton.com

661 Lyons Rd., Centerville, Ohio, 45459

Call (937)395-0333

email us at asian_arts@hotmail.com

Centerville’s Best Martial Arts Program

The Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School has opened a new school to serve the communities of Centerville, Miamisburg, Spring Valley, and Springboro. Located at 661 Lyons Road, Centerville, Ohio 45459, the newest Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School is close to the Dayton Mall, Yankee Trace Golf Club, Cox Arboretum, and many other South Dayton landmarks. You can learn more about the Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School, and more about martial arts and the Karate for Kids program at www.aacdayton.com, or by calling 937-395-0333 or email asian_arts@hotmail.com

Centerville Martial Arts Karate Taekwondo Hyper Pro MMA

We have classes tonight at the new Centerville location, 661 Lyons Rd, 45459, across from Sam’s Club in the Washington Park Plaza. Just down the street from Springboro, Spring Valley, and Bellbrook, Ohio.

The Hay’s in the Barn…Part 2 by Dennis Schaefer

Next Tuesday, July 3rd, I will fight in the USTA National Tournament in Dallas, Texas. I have been training seriously since the first of the year and have accomplished my mission of qualifying for the middleweight class instead of the unlimited. Good news for me because the gold medal winner from the unlimited class in 2010 is back and bigger than ever. The hardest part of preparation has been making the weight but I have succeeded and I am ready; the hay’s in the barn once again.
At age 60 this might be my swan song. My philosophy is to never say never but the practicalities of continuing my fight career are limited by my age and the fact that most of the other guys my age chasing golf balls.
I am addicted to the training, camaraderie and the ritual; the single minded preparation is a relief in today’s world. Aside from coaching, my future in the world of competitive Taekwondo sparring is hazy. But that’s projection, there’s still a fight to fight. And all of the experience that has come in the past 12 years of competing will not go to waste. I am committed to bringing some form of martial arts training to my peers from here on out.
When we return from Dallas (my better half Mary will coach) I will be considering some new fields of endeavor. Number one contender at this point involves reviving my running career and tackling the ultra-marathons; no one to fight but myself.
Choshim (beginner’s mind); let’s get it on.
Dennis Schaefer is an Instructor at the Asian Arts Center Taekwondo School in Dayton, Ohio. www.aacdayton.com

1st Dan Speech, by Maddie Pfirrman, 13 years old

First of all I want to say thank you to my parents for supporting me through this process, to my family for driving down to congratulate me, and to every person at the Asian Arts Center for believing in me.  When I first started training at the Asian Arts Center, I was scared it was going to be like the last place I trained at when they were mean to me.  But when I took my first class, everyone there was kind and welcomed me and that is something I love about this place.  When I became a 1st gup and got my black belt book, I saw all the things I had to do before my test.  I got overwhelmed and nervous that I wouldn’t be able to finish everything by the time I would have to move.  Later on, I was just not doing the boxes for push ups and sit ups and when my parents checked it, I ended up having to do several boxes everyday.

I think my favorite part out of all the things I had to do was my community service project. I liked the idea of helping people so I decided to help St. Vincent’s Homeless Shelter.  When it was time to test, I was super nervous about what could go wrong, and I couldn’t think about anything else besides that.  Then my parent’s reminded me that I had already passed everything on the assessment, and I should be fine.  It turned out that I did fine on everything, and I was a Black Belt.  Once again, I want to thank everyone who helped me in the process.  Kamsamida.

2nd Dan Speech, by Amelia Rude, 12 years old

I’m Amelia Rude, and I’m 12 years old.  I’ve been at the Asian Arts Center for around five years.  Testing to 2nd Dan was something that I could call anything but easy.  Nothing has tested my patience or my ability more than Taekwondo, but at the same time, nothing has brought me to more triumph and brought me more strength and pleasures quite like Taekwondo. Testing to 2nd Dan was a process that helped me prove to myself that I can do what my heart is set on doing.  The past 5 years have challenged and helped me with skill set, purpose, and strength. Testing to the Black Belt may seem like a simple thing to some people, but until they have experienced it for themselves, I must say that they cannot truly understand the process.

Taekwondo may seem like a physical activity, even a sport, but to me it is so much more.  You get out of it what you put into it.  Taekwondo is a very mental activity, and it challenges my emotions.  Through my previous training I have learned so much and am better able to control myself, and I hope to further this and gain much more knowledge and ability in my future training.  The Black Belt itself has no set value; it is worth what you make it yourself. My Black Belt, 1st and now 2nd Dan, means more to me than imaginable.  So many days and nights I have put sweat, effort, and focus into training to be a better me.  Every class I push myself harder than the last, strive to be better, and I feel as if I achieve something each and every time I set foot into the classroom.  An empty, beginners’ mind is all that it takes to learn something new.  I work hard to enhance my training and my personality and I feel as though I could not be the same me without Taekwondo. The journey to Black Belt is not an easy one. Nothing worth having comes without a price. I’ve gone through many hardships from training: a broken arm, pneumonia from training in the rain, and the everyday aches and pains that we all go through.  I had a lot of trouble with my pull-ups, and I’ve found Hyper training to be quite the challenge as well. I’ve always heard it said that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.  I find this statement to be extremely accurate: everything that I’ve gone through has made me stronger and I find that it’s always worth it in the end to push myself harder every class and every test.

It’s so amazing to think back to when I first started: I’m a completely different me!  I’ve benefited from my training in so many ways, but two mental things that I think I’ve really gotten from Taekwondo are determination and friendship.  Determination, defined as firmness of purpose, is probably the most important mental skill that I’ve gotten from my journey to Black Belt. Determination within every kick, every punch, every form, and most of all, determination to keep moving forward.  And secondly, friendship.  This testing group and my last testing group, all of my instructors past and present, and all of my fellow Black Belts and 1st gups in black belt class have made my experiences at the Asian Arts Center so enjoyable.  I feel so welcomed and accepted here, and I feel very close to my work-out partners because they are whom I have very much respect for.  The testing process couldn’t be done without the encouragement and support of my fellow Black Belts and my instructors, and I thank you all so much for the experience.  You’ve helped me learn so much about myself, and I know now that I can never give up on myself.

In my current testing group, I see so much support and potential. All of those testing with me, you deserve it so much. With my 2nd Dan, I plan to continue to stay at the Asian Arts Center and train whole-heartedly until one day I receive my 3rd Dan.  I hope to take my training as far as achievable, and I know that I should never put limits on myself because everyone can surprise themselves with their own ability. I enjoy volunteering at the Asian Arts Center, and I hope that those whom I help train are able to one day feel as if they received as much as I have from this journey, and as much as I will continue to gain in the future.  I love coming to class and putting new obstacles in my way every day.  This was my road to 2nd Dan and what will be my road to going much further.  Thank you.