This newspaper photo of a woman praying caught my eye a few months after 9/11. The caption stated, "A brief moment of peace: A Palestinian woman prays during Palm Sunday services at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. Violence has devastated the city's tourism industry." (USA Today, March 29-31, 2002).

As the situation in the Middle East makes painfully clear, we live in an uncertain and potentially violent world. Life is not fair, and we must be ready at any moment not only to defend ourselves but to overcome the obstacles life throws at us. Are you prepared to handle adversity? And what about the next generation? When your children go out into the world a few years from now, will they be ready to deal with life's challenges?

When it's time for karate class, you may feel tempted to stay home because you are too tired or busy to leave the house, or your child wants to play video games instead of going to class. It is in these small moments of everyday decision-making that we demonstrate the self-discipline to push ourselves or our children to achieve more. This is how we instill and reinforce the drive to achieve, the thirst for knowledge and life. Children learn this lesson of discipline and structure by example, from their parents. The 2 hours per week of class time in the dojo can only reinforce, not be the source of, this sense of personal responsibility. The result is a confident adult who accepts responsibility for his or her own actions rather than looking for an external party to blame for setbacks, such as the educational system or the government.

In the dojo you must be willing to make a sacrifice to achieve your goal of black belt, not just to wear the fabric around your waist but to make the pursuit of excellence the guiding principle of your life. Sometimes your instructor may do things in class that you may question or find personally offensive. Remember that when you walk into the dojo life is not fair, and when you leave life still will not be fair. How you deal with situations in the structured and controlled environment of the school is small-scale preparation for handling life's bigger challenges. When you run into obstacles, you must be able to keep moving forward to accomplish your dreams and goals, whatever the price.

Seeking out violence is wrong, but it's even worse to stand by helplessly as someone threatens your life, the lives of your loved ones, and your lifestyle. As a nation we are learning some hard lessons about what we have lost and could yet lose, and what is necessary to defend our way of life. Many people put stickers of the American flag on their cars after the horrific events of September 11. While some may have done this to show the world that they were patriotic citizens, there is a far deeper meaning to patriotism. Patriotism, just like Black Belt, is more than just a bunch of letters put together to form a word. Both are ideals, long-term goals, concepts formed in the hearts and souls of man, and neither is easy to achieve. Our armed forces who are fighting overseas know the deepest meaning of the word, as do the heroic firefighters and law enforcement officers who unflinchingly put their lives on the line in New York City. This spirit of self-sacrifice for a larger cause is something we should all be striving for in every aspect of our lives.

Know thyself,

Professor Christopher N. Geary

As I watch the seasons change from winter to spring in 2005, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride as I observe the positive changes my students have made. I acknowledge their commitment to success through the long, cold winter and their efforts to become better people in today's society. Not to earn recognition from anyone else, but simply to reach their full potential. As the warmth slowly comes back to Omaha and surrounds us, I also feel warmed by my students' achievements, strength, and passion for living. In the martial arts, the commitment to excellence goes far beyond what is involved in any other sporting activity. My students are developing the patience and self-discipline to achieve something far greater and more meaningful than football, basketball, and soccer could ever offer. My wish is that my students will have the strength, courage, and passion to make this world a better place, maybe not for everyone, but most importantly, for themselves. We must first respect ourselves before we can respect others.

The commitment to excellence made by my students and their families far exceeds that of those who opt for the "watered-down neighborhood convenience store/day-care/martial arts schools." I am so grateful that my students and their families recognize the quality in me, my instructors, in my schools here in Omaha, and that they have the patience to learn the true way; I feel honored. I feel sorry for the children in Omaha who do not have the chance to learn what I have to teach. Throughout the years, I have taught adults who had wanted to learn martial arts when they were young, but their parents never gave them a chance to do so. Some spend their entire lives in fast forward trying to make that "sweet deal" and forget what's really important. But, we all make our choices in life and some things are not for everyone. As long as we find peace, that's what truly matters.

I am concerned that many people in today's society seem to feel that nothing bad will ever happen to them, their children, or the ones that they love, because they live in a special place where the world will do them no harm, physically or emotionally. Then there are those who fail to see the value of something as simple as the martial arts. It makes me laugh and think about the simple farmer who tills his soil to feed us all. As you know, life is not easy, and there is no such thing as the perfect family. In the end, there are no special brochures or FAMILY800 hotlines, just good old American family values: discipline, consistency, and a little patience. I can see a world of difference between those who make a commitment to excellence (like my students) and those who blame other people for their problems because everything was simply given to them. I'm proud that my students realize that there is more to life than video games and television.

It makes me feel good inside to think that in the deep, dark hours of the night as my students hold their newly awarded belts or broken boards in their little hands, they can close their eyes and feel safe and loved. On this late Saturday night, listening to jazz on the radio while they sleep, I am thinking of a long forgotten, simpler time before people started to take the little things for granted. Those of us who have the confidence to take advantage of the opportunities available to our children are enjoying the true meaning of freedom. To be a great teacher, we must offer more than words: to truly teach, we must mean what we say and do. So, to all of my students and their families, a heartfelt thank you. You make my life meaningful, and I'm proud to be your teacher.

Your Founder,

Professor Christopher N. Geary