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From The President...

by Bryan Hawkins, President, UKS  

As June draws near we find ourselves, as we have for the last eight years, making the final preparations for the annual “All-Kenpo Invitational Tournament.”

As usual, I am experiencing a number of my students and parents asking me the same type of questions I get asked every year at this time: “I’m just a white belt, so this tournament isn’t for me, is it?” or “I’m not so young anymore, this tournament is just for people under 30, right?” or “My child is only five years old and not the most talented kid in your school, so he/she shouldn’t come to the competition, should they?”

So for the record: This tournament is for students of all ranks, all ages, and all skill levels to come and join in the experience. Don’t view the competition as some huge insurmountable task, but rather pick your particular event and train for it. The goal to set for yourself is to simply do your very best on the day of the tournament and then no matter the outcome of how you scored or what place you came in at, you will have already won your own personal victory by simply performing at your peak level.

Here is a story that may help in your Kenpo journey!

A comic strip created by Charles Schulz addresses the need for each of us to make the most of the immediate present in our lives:

Charlie Brown is seen at bat. STRIKE THREE. He has struck out again and slumps down on the player’s bench. He says, “Rats! I’ll never be a big-league player. I just don’t have it! All my life I’ve dreamed of playing in the big leagues, but I know I’ll never make it.”

Lucy turns to console him. “Charlie Brown,” she says, “You’re thinking too far ahead. What you need to do is set yourself more immediate goals.”

Charlie Brown looks up and asks, “Immediate goals?”

Lucy responds, “Yes. Start with this next inning when you go out to pitch. See if you can walk out to the mound without falling down.”

The first step toward walking into any future is the step that you take today. Make it a forward ... positive ... springy and light-hearted ... energetic ... well-aimed ... purposeful step. The steps you take today become the well-worn path of tomorrow.

-- Excerpted from “God’s Little Devotional Book”

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