Hello everyone. Happy and prosperous New Year to all of you and your loved ones. For many years I have started off the year by reminding everyone to set goals for the year and to have a few long term (3 - 5 years) as well. Most people do not set goals, and most people say they do but fail to do something very important - ACT ON THEM. To act on something you have to write the goal down to crystalize it (AN END RESULT OF WHAT YOU WANT) and the time you want to have it accomplished by and then go about making plans to achieve it. Above all else - you must BELIEVE IN THE ACHIEVEMENT.

You must “dig your ditches” so to speak. Act like you have it and it will soon become a reality. Set goals in Finance, Business, Fitness, Personal and Family, Spiritual (what you want to learn this year). These are examples. I have typically, for the last 30 years or so - set aside a few hours of solitude on either New Year's Day or the day after to think about what I want and then make plans. Those of you who know me - know that when I make plans for something, there's not too much that will stand in my way to get there.

Folks - the only thing that stops us from being successful is ourselves and F.E.A.R. Let's make this the year that we empower ourselves - NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS!!

"Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it."

- Malcolm X, 1965

You will learn to control confrontational fear, gain confidence & self-respect, greatly improve your kicks, strikes & footwork, learn to flow well in all ranges, increase your power, speed, co-ordination, stamina, endurance, improved timing, have fun, get to know yourself better: your strengths & weaknesses.

You will need protective gear to participate: Headgear, 12 or 14 oz boxing or digi-gloves, mouthpiece, shin pads and groin protection

Starts Saturday Feb 20th Noon - 1:30 pm

The cost is $60 for 4 - 90 minute sessions (Feb. 20, 27, Mar. 6, Mar. 13)

A quick sample of the “groundwork” of UCS is as follows:
Balance, footwork and mobility • Centreline control and de-escalation stance • Peripheral vision and awareness • Energy sensitivity • Natural-locked elbow

In the coming months, I will expose you to my thoughts on the basics, in the hope that you realize their absolute importance to your development as a martial artist. After more than a decade of training UCS, my personal routine still encompasses footwork, mobility, de-escalation and many other foundation concepts.

I encourage you all to consider the many concepts that we practice regularly in class. Make a note of as many of them as you can, off the top of your head. Think about the importance of each one as a building block for more advanced concepts, and you will rapidly realize that these are everywhere! I also fully encourage you all to share your thoughts and questions with me in class or through this newsletter.

As many of you already know, the city of Ottawa has implemented a new organics waste management program, namely the Green Bin Program. Aimed at reducing the amount of organic waste in our landfills, the program has been welcomed by the general city populace. But I'm not as easily impressed.

It's biodegradable for pete's sake:
Unlike non-organic waste (aluminum, plastics, ewaste for example), organic waste is easily biodegradable and thus quickly reintegrated into the ecosystem with little or no harm to the environment.

Why are we re-inventing the wheel?
Many households have already had a green bin for years — it's called a compost station. Compost stations come at a fraction of the cost of a city green bin, involve no annual fees and produce compost that can be used by home owners.

It's not exactly maintenance free:
In my opinion the green bin program was launched in the winter because when the warmer spring and summer months arrive, the neighbourhood will become a mardi-gras for many wild animals who will be the only ones enjoying the smell of rotting biomatter.