Some journaling instructions here, watch. www.ubbt.squarespace.com is the URL to use. For an extensive HELP section, go here: http://manual.squarespace.com
Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 6:28AM I have been going pretty strong to finish up my requirements for the UBBT. I have been determined to complete as many of the requirements as possible. Then....wham! What happened? I don't understand how I could change my way of thinking so quickly, and easily.
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 10:46AM So I've been reattempting the Body-For-Life challenge, and I have to say the challenge is there. Again, as before, its the number of times a day that I'm supposed to stop and eat thats killing me. Following the diet is fine, eating healthy is fine, work-outs are time-consuming but fine. Its just eating 6 times a day takes a huge amount of work to prepare the food, and to remember to stop when you're not even hungry... doesn't always happen. You can eat only so many of those energy bars before you just want to huck it out the window. And I can't exactly stop and heat up my chicken when I'm driving down the Whitemud or Henday.
Well, I'll just keep plugging along. I doubt I'll be a shining star of an example for this challenge, but I'm trying...
Sifu Khona LaRocque, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 5:20AM Well , they were making snow and it felt like a winter wonderland. It was 9 above so we only had light jackets on although the visual picture dictated we should be wearing parkas
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 8:46PM So, this week's entry is about what the Ubbt has done for me.
Well, probably the biggest thing is that the goals and journaling have given me a bit of a framework to analyze my life. I spend all week, every week, thinking about what I should write on this page. It may seem like I don't care about it, and I tend to act like I don't, but I actually really do care. When I say I have nothing to write, that isn't entirely true. I always have something I wish I could write about, but it's usually stuff I don't want to write about on here.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 7:03PM We, the UBBT Team 6 Student Members have been given this same assignment in regards to the UBBT journey. Once again a time to think about the effect the choices and challenges of this journey has had on us. Understanding what Kung Fu has done for me is extremely easy for me to define. It has quite literally saved my life. I would not be who I am with out it. I very much doubt I would have lived as long as I have with out it. But that is another story. What UBBT has done for me is exceedingly more difficult to verbalize. It has not done nearly as much for me as my kung fu has, and it never could. No offense, but that's just the way it is. But what has it done? I will try to guide you on this journey from my eyes.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 3:29PM 
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 1:38PM I'm not sure if I can consider this a personal accomplishment because I didn't go out and purposely try to achieve it. It was quite an unsuspected surprise.
Monday, November 16, 2009 at 6:16PM ;)
When I first started doing all the push ups for the UBBT my carpal tunnel syndrome started to get really bad. I could only do a few push ups and my thumbs and first two fingers would fall asleep.
Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 6:58PM For those who don't know, radKIDS is a personal empowerment safety education program that helps kids to learn to replace the fear, confusion and panic or dangerous situations with confidence, personal safety skills and self-esteem. It is a fun activity-based program that includes lectures, safety drills, muscle memory exercises and dynamic simulation.
Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 5:35PM I have really pushed hard to get caught up on a couple of my requirements that I was lacking on. In the last 2 weeks, I have done over 4000 pushups, and over 5000 ab exercises. Both have really helped with my strength needed for my rock climbing course. It's been great!
Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 8:13PM The past week and a half has been pretty rough following a series of unfortunate events. I wasn’t feeling well and had to go to the doctor to figure out what was wrong with me, turns out it wasn’t anything serious and it was fixed fairly easily. It just took me out for a few days. My bank decided it wanted to randomly lock out my cards so I was unable to access any of my money for a day. To top it all off the transmission in my van finally died and I now find myself without a vehicle
Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 1:09PM Today, I witnessed true perseverance, true indomitable spirit, and the make-up of a warrior.
When I began this UBBT journey, I based its’ enlistment on the full support from my family, specifically my wife, but its’ successful completion on the encouraging words & actions from my instructors, but more importantly from my teammates. I tested today for my high red belt, though we hit our minimum eligibility time frame, I prodded my fellow UBBters, Mrs. P and Doc. L to accelerate their training and test earlier for my own personal and selfish reasons. Like good teammates, they put aside their personal agendas and trained with me though it was obvious that nagging injuries and work schedules would limit their performance and setback/hinder not only their test outcome but also potentially their daily livelihood.
Today, I saw the true make-up of a warrior. Leading up to the test, I watched Doc. L grimace in pain while executing techniques that he can probably perform in his sleep. And during the test, he did not slowdown, nor did he compensate for his injury that worsened as the test continued. I have been involved in witnessing athletes gut out performances in the 4th quarter, the final minutes, and in the last innings all for the benefit of the team. This was something different and special for as Doc. L continued the test he would be jeopardizing his life outside the dojang, his livelihood, his lifestyle for at the end of the day we adults our living out the dreams we had when we were fifteen as we continue this black belt journey. If you were looking for a Teddy Roosevelt to lead you in a charge up San Juan Hill, an Audie Murphy to attack a German bunker, or just a fellow student/ a role model to lead by example we have one in our dojang. Today, I trained with a warrior….
Friday, November 13, 2009 at 4:54PM Some will know the reference the title makes, some not. Meh, it is what it is.
I've been very angry lately. There is a lot going into that, some of which can be shared, some of which is none of anyone's business. What else is new.
There she goes again, making it very clear that the lines in the sand are still drawn. That's just who I am I guess. My one sister describes me as a very private person, where as my other sister views me as crass. Most likely the same thing, only their perspectives differ.
I find this time of year very complicated. I am referring to Remembrance Day. I've always felt that one day a year is insufficient to properly honor those who gave their very beings for us. More so that I know many people currently serving over seas, and many more in the process of preparing to deploy. Perhaps it is also affected by having known someone who did not return from war. Hard to believe it's going to be 2.5 years come December. Time is a merciless mistress, but our mistress all the same.
Anger seems to be an old friend. I have had many occasions where it's all that has kept me going. A place where the last reserves of strength hide. It's by no means healthy, but it is there. Harness it and control it's outlet. Define it and defuse it. Learn to live with the potential, and be in control.
That's a funny word, isn't it? Control. There are so very many things that we do not have control of. We have the illusion of control, but no actual power. I guess that is why it's so easy to release control of the things we do have power over. Easy to make the excuses and shirk responsibility. But that's all they are, excuses.
Doesn't change anything. Bottom line you still have to deal with your baggage. No one else can do it for you, they can help if you open yourself to them, but they can't do it for you. You just gota put on your big girl undies and deal with it. Easy advise to give, following through is another matter.
Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada
Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 6:49AM I am an explorer…
Anyone that has any kind of common sense can be labeled an explorer! To have an open mind first and a closed mouth we can’t help but learn from our surroundings. This makes us explorers. Even college educated I will always have something to learn. A marriage is a journey of exploration. Raising a child is a journey of exploration. My tae kwon do studies are an exploration. My business, limited as it is now, is an exploration. Dealing with the death of my mom is an exploration into my own mortality. I could go on and on but I believe I have made my point. If you are breathing and willing to learn even if it is recognizing your own short comings we are all explorers there fore …I am an explorer.
Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 6:45AM My 10th living hero is Barack Obama…
Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th 1961. His father was a native Kenyan and his mom was a Kansas farm girl. They divorced when he was just 2 and 4 years later he returned to Hawaii to live with his maternal grandmother. After high school he attended Occidental University for 2 years and graduated with a political science degree from Columbia University in 1983. In 1985 Obama moved back to Chicago and worked with low income residents and was during this time he joined the Trinity United Church of Christ.
Obama entered Harvard Law School in 1988 and graduated in 1991. He returned to Chicago and practiced as a civil rights lawyer. He also taught at the University of Chicago Law School and in 1992 he helped organize voter registration during Bill Clinton presidential campaign. Obama was elected to the Illinois state Senate in 1996. In 2000 Obama unsuccessfully ran for the United States House of Representatives. Obama was against the war against Iraq saying it was a dumb war. In 2004 Obama successfully ran for the US Senate and was the keynote speaker for John Kerry in 2004. In November of 2004 he retained his Senate seat with 71% of the vote to 27 % of Alan Keyes. In 2007 Obama announced his Democratic candidacy for the 2008 Presidential race and defeated John McCain on November 4th 2008. Barack Obama is our 44th President.
Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther could stand so Barack Obama could run !!!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 6:31AM I am a teacher…
After all I was college educated in secondary education and European history with a minor in economics. This is just half the story. I am also a teacher in raising our children to be the best that they are and to be honest. I am a teacher to my wife to ensure that she learns from my progress and my mistakes just as I learn from her progress and her mistakes. I am a teacher in that since I own my own company she can look to me to hone her management skills in her career. I am a teacher in that I can assist my wife and our children in their tae kwon do training along with assisting other students at the do jang with their belt rank testing requirements. In regard to lives’ lessons at 49 I am a teacher by representation. Younger adults hopefully can see my actions and learn by representation. Therefore I am a teacher….
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 6:27AM My 9th living hero is Senator John McCain…
John McCain was born on August 29th, 1936. Both his father and grand father were four star admirals in the Navy and he graduated the Naval Academy in 1958. He soon became a Naval aviator and on his 23rd mission was shot down and spent 5 ½ years as a prisoner of war. After returning home he regained his Naval flight status and his last Naval assignment was Naval liaison to the United States Senate and retired from the Navy in 1981. His Naval honors included the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
John McCain was first elected to the United States House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982. He has led the fight to reform Washington by eliminating wasteful government spending and strengthening our nations’ armed forces. These reforms led him to be elected to the United States Senate in 1986. In the Senate he demanded the end to the loopholes allowing lobbyist to interfere with writing legislation and members of Congress wasting tax payers money. In November 2004 he was re-elected to the Senate with an overwhelming 77% of the vote. In 2008 he ran an unsuccessful presidential campaign, losing to Barrack Obama. McCain is still a United States Senator and serves on the 111th congress as ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee; Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs and Committee on Indian Affairs.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 3:00PM What a stressfull last couple of weeks! I had 4 midterms in four days, had to do a 20 minute presentation to a geology class and my professor and hand in another presentation that I have to give in the coming week.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 2:58PM The other thing I struggled with this week is knowing when I am being assertive and when I have crossed the line into being obnoxious
