Calasanz is the creator the Calasanz System, a combination of various martial arts and a unique system of holistic exercises called Physical Arts, which improve strength, tone, flexibility, endurance, balance, coordination, muscle unity, and well being for all. http://www.interdojo.com <BR> http://www.the-perfectfit.com
If you practice the martial arts, the color of the belt around your waist is used to signify your grade, level or ranking within the style. Colored belts, however, were never part of the ancient martial arts tradition. According to martial art folklore, a student was given a white belt to match his uniform and hold up his pants. After many years of training, the belt became stained with dirt, blood and sweat to the point where it turned black.
I am writing on this topic to inspire you. Everyone has some type of natural talent. Some people are well aware of their natural talents and do all they can to cultivate them. Some aren't and even go so far as saying that they have nothing to offer the world. I have taught martial arts instructor for close to 30 years and I can tell you this is not so.
The American public has long assumed that a black belt is a sign of expertise or mastery in the martial arts. In reality, all a black belt means is that a student has learned the basic techniques and principles of a specific martial art. It doesn't mean that they are a master or possess magical powers.
Becoming a black belt really means that you have learned the basic principles of a style.
We Americans love affiliations and endorsements; The Good Housekeeping Seal, Better Business Bureau etc. They lend credibility to a business or product. They assure us that our chosen product or service has received some type of validation from a higher authority.
Martial arts are no different. Look at most generic articles entitled "how to choose a good martial arts school.
In the old days, we used to say "make sure you learn how to fight standing up first, and then learn what to do on the ground." Today, the proponents of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tell us that 90-95% of all fights end up on the ground, so because of this, martial art students should focus on ground fighting.
As a martial arts instructor and proprietor of a large dojo, I meet many prospective students interested in ground fighting, because of the popularity of mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championships.
One of the goals of a good martial arts curriculum is progress. Regardless of the style you have chosen to study, all of them begin with the fundamentals and can take you to the level of mastery. Success however depends on two things: commitment on your part and a skilled instructor who not only teaches you the art, but also challenges you.
To some, progression in the martial arts is about earning another belt or stripe.
When I opened my first martial arts school, a lot of barroom brawlers and street fighters came through my door. Some grew up in environments where they had to fight to survive while others just liked looking for trouble.
I wasn't necessarily targeting them in my marketing plan. Most of them were there to challenge me or one of my students to a fight.
On Tuesday, October 7, 2008 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The goal is to encourage the American population to add some type of physical activity to their daily routine.
Daily physical exercise is vital for achieving and maintaining a healthy body. Scientific studies have proven that regular workouts help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis.
A prospective student came to the door, interested in martial arts training. When I asked him if he had any previous experience, he replied "yes, I've studied for about two years." His training history consisted of 3 months in aikido, 2 months of karate, 4 months of kung-fu, 3 weeks of tai chi, etc., etc. This is what we call "style hopping"; going from one style to another.
If you're going to open a martial arts school, please beware that you will have to deal with troublemakers. You know what I'm talking about. You've seen the martial arts movie where a karate teacher is busy teaching class for example, and all of a sudden, a bunch of clowns from a rival school show up and want to fight. If you think this scene only happens in the movies, you are sorely mistaken.
Calasanz is the creator the Calasanz System, a combination of various martial arts and a unique system of holistic exercises called Physical Arts, which improve strength, tone, flexibility, endurance, balance, coordination, muscle unity, and well being for all. 
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