Rodrigo Gracie at USBA
June 30, 2008
We are pleased to once again welcome Rodrigo Gracie to USBA. He will be teaching classes TONIGHT with Master Kravitz, including the Teen and Adult MMA classes at 6:50 and 7:40, as well as the Jiu-Jitsu class at 8:30pm. Don’t miss this special opportunity during tonight’s classes!
USBA Student Achievement
June 26, 2008
The staff of USBA is proud to recognize the achievements of our students, not only on the mat, but also for accomplishments outside of USBA, in their schools, in other sports, and in their communities.
Matthew Roknich, a USBA Blue Belt, and a Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu white belt student at USBA, was chosen to represent his middle school at the 2008 Orange County Science Fair. Matt, 13, will be an eighth grader this fall at St. Anne School in Laguna Niguel.
At the County Science Fair, judges awarded Matthew a blue ribbon for first place in his division, Electronics and Electromagnetics. Matthew also received two special awards, from the Orange County Engineering Council and from the Association of Aerospace and Aeronautics. Aside from the medals and cash prizes at the County, Matt was chosen to represent Orange County at the California State Science Fair, where he earned an Honorable Mention, placing him 5th amongst middle school students statewide!
Matthew’s project abstract, “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s GONE! How Geometric Shapes Affect Electromagnetic Reflections (Radar)”, can be viewed online here on the CSSF website. For more information about the Orange County Science and Engineering Fair, interested students and parents are invited to visit the OCSEF website.
The staff of U.S. Blackbelt Academy congratulates Matthew for his efforts and his achievements. Keep up the good work, Matt!
Do you know of a USBA student with an outstanding accomplishment outside of the dojo? Please share with us the particulars so we can recognize our high achievers. Contact us via email, or share your story with us personally while at USBA.
Kung Fu Panda Essay Contest
June 10, 2008
Write an essay on what the movie Kung Fu Panda meant to you! The top 3 winners will win a Pizza Party for up to 15 of your closest friends! 
Your essay is due by June 26th. Forms are available at the USBA front desk, or can be submitted via email. Be sure to include your name and age!
Habits of Excellence
June 9, 2008
Why not make excellence your habit? Wouldn’t it be great to lead a life filled with excellence?
It’s been said that mediocrity is the enemy of excellence…simply meaning either one can become a habit for life. If you accept mediocrity in yourself and others that you influence, that’s when you begin to develop the habit of mediocrity. You will soon be destined to accept okay results.
However, if you demand excellence in attitude, performance and results, from yourself and those you influence, that is what you will get (and valuable experience as well). Whichever you choose, it will be the start of a habit.
Why? Because anything that you do repeatedly, over and over again, is bound to be become habit…that’s just the way it is.
Visualize a life of excellent health, wealth and happiness.
Excellent health would give you greater energy to train and do the things you want to do each day, and allow you to accomplish more each year. Looking and feeling fit, toned and flexible, will give you energy to burn.
Excellence in wealth would free you from financial worry and concern. Allowing you more choices and opportunities to learn, grow, achieve and and have more fun in life.
Excellence in happiness would mean that you are happy with who you are, what you are, where you are going, and the relationships and people you are surrounded by everyday. You’d have excellent friends, co-workers and a happy family life as well. You’d be smiling, singing, whistling, humming and/or laughing…more than 95% of the people on the planet.
This is what happens when you develop habits of excellence.
Start today by committing yourself to step up your game. Decide right now that you are going to do everything you do better. You can start by displaying an attitude of excellence, give excellent polite greetings and do excellent push ups. Practice having an excellent smile and share it with as many people as you can. Strive for excellent results in everything you do, go the extra mile to create a better outcome in every area of your life.
Sincerely,
Master Ivan Kravitz
Mother’s Day Essay Contest
June 6, 2008
Congratulations to our three Mother’s Day Essay Contest winners! Each of the winning essays was awarded a special gift to give to his or her mom from USBA. The three winners were Sophia Thompson, age 4-1/2, Tarika Gujral, age 7, and Kevin Hoang, age 10. Thanks to all that submitted a tribute to their moms!
Below are the winning essays. Now it’s Dad’s turn! Keep an eye on the website for details on the upcoming June Father’s Day Essay Contest!
“My mommy is the best because she gives me whatever I want when I ask with manners. She lets me have treats. She always gives me Band-Aids when I’m not feeling good and when I have owies. She takes care of me when I cry. She helps me write letters when I don’t know how to write yet. She gives me bites of food when it’s dinner. She kisses me at night when she tucks me in bed after she reads me a book. And…she also colors with me. Oh and she also plays balls with me.”
My favorite thing is that she helps me send balloons and pictures in the sky up to heaven where my Daddy lives. I love my Mommy very much.”
Sophia Thompson
“I’m so lucky to have a loving mom. She is always there for me. She always gives me love without anything in return. I can always count on her to help with my problems. She feeds me, guides me, teaches me, keeps me comfortable at all times, and she is very caring. She is the pillar of my self-esteem and a soft cushion to lean on at all times.
We pray, laugh, and sometimes, she is tough with me to show me right from wrong, but behind that firmness, there is always warmth and smiles. If all moms were like mine, the world would be a better place. I wish to be liker her one day.”
Tarika Gujral
“Dear Mom,
Thank you for telling me not to see but to look.
Thank you for letting me make mistakes and letting me learn from them.
Thank you for telling me if you play with bad friends, sometimes, I can be bad.
Thank you for telling me that good behavior is thinking about what’s good for others.
I want to say something to the world – you may be one person. But to one person, you are the world.”
Kevin Hoang
Summer Sale Ending Soon!
June 4, 2008
Don’t miss the USBA Pro Shop Summer Sale! Get the latest t-shirt designs, uniform pieces, sparring gears, and gifts. Visit the Online ProShop today and stop by the school to pick up your new gear!
Mind, Body, Spirit
June 3, 2008
A sharp and focused mind combined with a strong and healthy body will always strengthen and develop a Champions’ Spirit!
A Black Belt Champion is always trying to improve in these 3 essential areas. A well-conditioned ind is always sharper, more attentive and better able to stay focused.
A Champion’s Mind is focused on his objectives and is always ready to overcome obstacles and setbacks. The mind is very powerful, especially when it is well directed and highly conditioned.
A Champion’s Body is stronger and lasts longer, which allows us to perform consistently with greater intensity, duration and frequency. Champions enjoy healthier, happier and more active lifestyles. When you feel good about yourself, you will become more motivated to use your energy in a postiive way. This energy affects everyone around you, not to mention the confidence you will feel because you know that you are performing like a true champion.
A Champion’s Spirit is an undying will to win, a powerful non-quitting spirit that has a positive impact on all areas of life. It allows us to keep ourselves fired-up and focused on the goals that we have set for ourselves.
THINK LIKE A CHAMPION
TRAIN LIKE A CHAMPION
BECOME A CHAMPION!
Kids Finding Success Through the Martial Arts
June 2, 2008
There are many, many choices of sports and activities available to our youth that can help them prepare for life’s challenges and whatever the future brings, but few can match the benefits that martial arts has to offer. By focusing on mind, body and spirit, the martial arts provide the necessary skills to improve every child and to take them to their full potential in every aspect of life.
While teaching a number of key character traits including courtesy and integrity, martial arts stresses respect. In fact, martial arts begins and ends with respect and encourages students to apply this philosophy to all aspects of life. It teaches respect for one’s self, as well as towards others. In addition, martial arts teaches kids how to manage their emotions, how to set and achieve goals, how to overcome obstacles and most of all, how to hold themselves to high standards.
Martial arts students see improvements in strength, flexibility, speed and timing at every class and then with the help of their instructors, learn how to bring these results into the home, school and a variety of other social settings. Most importantly, they learn that through hard work any goal that they set is achievable.
Martial arts teaches students to deal with conflict, to help others in need, recognize negative situations, and to challenge themselves to be better tomorrow than they were today.
Remember, success is a journey, not a destination, and we all need to stay on a quest to be our best.
Watch out for next month’s article on the importance of integrity.
Royce Gracie with Ivan Kravitz, USBA Owner
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