The Ultimate Black Belt Test Grows, Experiments, and Evolves

Click This Image To Learn MoreFor those of you who follow the Ultimate Black Belt Test, you might recognize that, every so often, we try new things. 

In fact, experimenting with new ideas, tools, and methods, is the life-blood of the project. So, in the spirit of it all, we are (you guessed it) trying some new things!

The first one is to begin planning now for the Ultimate Black Belt Test 8, which will begin January 1, 2010 (ending January 1, 2011). 

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Black Belt Peace Making Information from Our Friend, Dr. Terrence Webster-Doyle

You must, as a serious teacher of the martial arts, look at the work of my friend, Dr. Terrence Webster-Doyle. 

Black Belt Test Thinking: Free Flu Prevention Flash Cards from Ultimate Black Belt Test Member Jason Gould

See these cool cards in the video above; and get the art for them here (you get to print and laminate them yourself). They are, obviously, for young people (as you and I don't have ANYTHING else to learn and/or be reminded of, we're already grown ups!). 

We have Ultimate Black Belt Test graduate Jason Gould to thank for them. 

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Smoking Education Flash Cards, Launched By Ultimate Black Belt Test, Now in 60 Schools +

Here's a video, the first showing the UBBT designed NO SMOKING Flash Cards. You can get them FREE. All you have to do is click and read this link (and, of course, send in your pledge to use them!). 

Thanks to Tim Bell of Bell's TKD in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada for being the first person to film them!

Black Belt Test Thinking, Black Belt Test Living, Black Belt Test Innovation: The Martial Arts Wisdom Project

Ultimate Black Belt Test Member Gary Engels is a black belt who takes his work seriously. Take, for example, his efforts with the Martial Arts Wisdom Project:

http://vimeo.com/7310510
http://vimeo.com/7304025
http://vimeo.com/7303922

And yes, that's Ultimate Black Belt Test graduate John Kyle in that screen capture.

Black Belt Test Thinking, Tom Callos Explains His Work

A Black Belt Test, in the Ultimate Black Belt Test Team Coach's eyes (Tom Callos), is about developing something for the world --to reflect the black belt candidates martial arts experience. 

Black Belt Test Graduate Gary Engels Tells Someone About The Ultimate Black Belt Test

Ultimate Black Belt Test Team Member Gary Engels had someone ask him about the value of the UBBT --and this is Gary's Response:

Hello sir,

I can't say enough about the ultimate black belt test. It was worth every penny

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Black Belt Test Accountability: This is The UBBT and Our Dojo

To Members of the UBBT, Past, Present, and Future:

Your black belt test is your life, period. You are always “testing” –as “testing” is about your own spiritual improvement.

You began your test the first day you walked into a martial arts class.

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How to Promote, Market, and Succeed w/ The Live Like a Champion Project

I received this note from one of my favorite people today. He’s a graduate of the UBBT –and I’ve been “working on him” to join the upcoming Live Like a Champion Project in 2010. 

He wrote:

“I have 6 students and two instructors ready to take a leap of faith for the program. I have been trying to cut and paste various information from the web-site about the program and make fliers directing people to look at the video on the web-site but have not had the success I had hoped for. I guess

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The Ultimate Black Belt Test Does Battle With Tobacco (NO SMOKING - SELF DEFENSE)

Ten Simple Flash Cards, with 10 Simple Messages. That's How We Will Begin.

We (martial arts teachers) are going to start talking to kids about smoking --and why it's not a good idea (actually, we're going to talk about just how absolutely stupid and destructive it is).

The story begins here:

So I am looking deeply, all the time, at what we could and should be teaching that is real self-defense

(and I mean REAL).

Why am I doing that?

Because I think teaching "self-defense" is my job (You may think it's your job too).

I'm the martial arts teacher, after all, am I not? I'm not the mechanic, the physician, the accountant, or the butcher --I am a martial arts instructor --and one big "arm" of the martial arts is teaching "self-defense."

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The Ultimate Black Belt Test is Creating Tomorrow, Today

Sometimes the most remarkable things right under your nose --and you don't realize it until much later.

Did you know that Ultimate Black Belt Test Coach Tom Callos is deeply involved with developing new ideas and technology that will forever change (and improve) the way the martial arts world teaches (the way YOU teach)?

The banner you see to the left represents, simply and inexpensively we might add, a new approach to coaching and making classes come alive (even after they are over).

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Go Dani, Go Dani! Sweetwater Rose and a Black Belt Level of Focus in the Entertainment Industry

See Dani's band, Sweetwater Rose here. 

Ultimate Black Belt Test graduate Dani Carroll - Kooyman simply excelled in the UBBT process (ask any participant, it isn't easy). In fact, we owe the UBBT "Student Program" to Dani's test. 

Here's the story:

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Joe Van Deuren, A Sensei With Some Vision

Joe Van Deuren is changing the role of the martial arts teacher in his or her community.

He's a 2 time UBBT member --and a teacher worth watching. Read about some of his work, below:

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Andy Mandell, a Black Belt, a 10,000 Mile Walk Around the Nation, and Diabetes

Did you know that Ultimate Black Belt Test member Andy Mandell just finished a 10,000 mile walk around the perimeter of the United States for diabetes awareness and education?

Did you know, as a part of his UBBT training, that he (along with Dawn Swidorski) have created an entire program to help martial arts teachers talk about --and teach diabetes education (and it's FREE).

It's the MADDCAP™ (Martial Arts Defeat Diabetes® Community Action Project). See it under "Advocacy and Community" at www.defeatdiabetes.org.

Ultimate Black Belt Test's Brian Willams - Soles for SOULS. Check This Out (And Get Involved)

Think Kindness Tour of Soles4Souls from Brian Williams on Vimeo.

Soles4souls.com

ThinkKindness.org

Ok, This Isn't Humanitarianism, But it is "La Joie De Vie" ---and The Other Side of the Coin

I love this video -and think it's important for us, as teachers of the martial arts. While it's only UFC World Champion and Live Like a Champion Leader BJ Penn jumping off a tower at our local pool in Hilo, the video expresses FUN. Jumping off that tower is a metaphor for commitment --and this whole "teaching thing" --has to be fun.  This video, made for a martial arts site (www.BJPENN.COM), is all about THE JOY OF LIFE.

Let's have our students experience some of THAT through their involvement with our schools. Yes, let's serve and make change --but let's have LOTS OF fun while we do it!

Bravo BJ and team! Bravo!

PS: It's also a lesson in using video to have fun. Let's get our students involved. Life moves fast, let's play!

Brian Williams, Rori Goetze, Kelly Abella, Neda Iranpour - Ultimate Black Belt Test Hero Activists - Make a Film

As some of you may know, I am always (and I mean ALWAYS) cracking the whip, or pleading, or begging martial arts teachers to use their talents and powers to do things that are more meaningful –for themselves, their students, and yes, even for the world –things that better represent our implied awareness, our ability to see that “self-defense” is so much more than the block, punch, kick, or throw.

The martial arts world, well…not everyone, but way, way too many martial arts teachers have been either brought up in –and/or seduced by the profit and loss statement. Student become “units” and numbers rule the roost. The chant is, “How can we monetize this?”

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International Coastal Clean Up Day: Ultimate Black Belt Test 7 Member, Greg Garcia, Starts His Activism Engines

Greg Garcia's Ultimate Black Belt Test doesn't officially begin until Jan. 1, 2010.

But, obviously, the man's not the kind of instructor to sit around and wait for things to happen.

This last weekend, for International Coastal Clean Up Day, Greg gathered a volunteer team of 32 students...well, here it is in his own words:

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17 Minutes for Martial Arts Teachers Who Give a Hoot. Meet a Master Worth Listening To

I am a teacher --and, I'd like to point out, a self appointed "teacher of teachers."

How I teach...is that I share with you what I'm working on, what I'm thinking about, what I'm struggling with, and any little epiphanies I get lucky enough to have along the way.

I teach using, as a platform, the idea that I first heard from Stephen Covey, which is: "Begin with the end in mind."

So, what I want the "end" to look like for my students is, perhaps, best illustrated by the video embedded in this blog-entry.

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Thich Nhat Hahn and His Influence On My Work and The Ulitmate Black Belt Test

Thich Nhat Hahn is a peace activist, author, and a teacher extraordinaire. He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King in 1967. Today, he still teaches peace -and, I think, in a way that every martial arts Master Teacher would do well to be familiar with. Without his example, without his demeanor, without his commitment, and without his writing and words --I would not be as good or as resourceful or as clear about my mission. I have found him to be the most amazing resource and a most powerful source of inspiration.

IF it were my "job" to "teach"

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