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Tom Callos is the number on Martial Arts Master Life Coach in the country. His Ultimate Black Belt Test is at the absolute leading edge of martial arts leadership in this country, and high ranking masters from all over are pursuing his program. (see www.ultimateblackbelttest.com for more). Also, feel free to email him through his website and ask him for his opinion of Soke.
The idea that Soke is adopting from him is making martial arts more of a journey than just classes and belt tests. Soke's goal (as evidenced by the lectures) isn't just physical skill - but insight. It's not just about being a Black Belt in physical skills, but being a Black Belt in Life.
A student can show up for classes, practice the material minimally (just enough to pass the tests) and earn a Black Belt in four to six years. Such a student would have a great deal of knowledge, and he would have some skill - but he would be "barely a Black Belt." It would be roughly the same as "barely graduating from High School." It is the martial arts equivalent of sneaking through school with a 'D' average. Sure, you have the rank - but what does it really mean? A Black Belt is a Black Belt - it's still an achievement - but if you want it to really mean something - you want to do more than just "get by."
"Martial Artist" is more.
"Christian Disciple" is much more.
"Leader" is even more than that.
"Ultimate Guardian" - now that's someone walking the path to Master.
Martial Artist, Christian Disciple and Leader are each Eight Month Programs. You can do Martial Artist and Christian Disciple, or even All Three at the same time. All three would take Two Years. When you're done, Ultimate Guardian is another Two Years.
When you're done, you've really accomplished something. Do them all, and it will forever stand as a shining example of what is possible for you. It will always be something you can look back on and say "If I could do that - I can handle this..." - whatever "this" Life throws at you. Follow the links. See what we're thinking.
We are deciding how someone would be distinguished. It may be patches, a different color jacket... something. We're working on that. We want something distinctive not just to honor the participant for the undertaking, but to inspire other students to follow. Your suggestions and thoughts are appreciated.
Next Level Guardian
Two thirds of all people will get through their entire lives without a significant physical fight. That means, statistically speaking, only one third of all people will need the combat skills from high level Martial Arts training. Of those who may someday have to fight, most of them will only need to fight once unless something in their career or neighborhood makes Self Defense more necessary. All in all, 80% of us can get through life without needing to fight more than once. Of course, if we need it - we’ll be really glad to know what we’re doing. But is is worth spending half a decade developing skills that we will probably never use? Maybe. But only if the whole point of martial arts was nothing more than physical conflict.
The Guardian Martial Arts aren’t just about fighting. While the arts are proven to be effective for real Self Protection and protecting others, that is only a small part of why we train. Soke Scot Conway did not commit two decades of his life to create something that was nothing more than a system of fighting. Combat is a powerful metaphor for all problem solving. It’s about being a Black Belt in Life, not just a martial art system. It’s a way of thinking through problems and learning how to face the greatest challenges with discipline and character. It’s about looking for solutions to problems, about overcoming challenges, and about becoming the very best YOU that you can be. It’s also about leadership - about showing others what’s possible so they will join you on your quest to find out what’s possible.
“Martial Artist” is the beginning. If you want to take your martial arts training to the Next Level, start there. Each program is an eight month committment. For Christians, “Christian Disciple” is the level after that, and you can do it at the same time for a 16 month combined program. If you really want to find out what you can do - and be the most powerful inspiration to others - do “Leader” at the same time. That makes it a two year program of incredible personal growth and will make this an incredible journey for anyone. Continue through “Ultimate Guardian,” and you will have invested more in your personal growth in just four years than 99% of all people will do their entire lives. Now that’s worthiness.
Interested in taking it to the Next Level?
Ready for the Next Level?
Download "Martial Artist, Christian Disciple, Leader, Ultimate Guardian" in PDF
"Martial Artist" . "Christian Disciple" . "Leader" . "Ultimate Guardian"
GUIDELINES AND NOTES
Prepaid, Cash or Credit. Many of the activities you need to do are Daily or Weekly. Here are the basic rules: You can do them early, or you can do them on time. If you have to catch up later, you have to pay double.
Example: You need to do 100+ crunches a day 5-7 days per week. You can do 500 on Sunday and be done - that’s prepaid. You can do 100 a day every day for 5-7 days - that’s paying cash. If you only do four days one week (no matter the reason) - you owe 200+ crunches on a later day - which is credit. It’s a very high interest rate, but that’s life. The later you pay, the more you pay. We want to learn to keep up or get ahead, and we want to role model keeping up or getting ahead. We do not want to role model always needing to catch up - and if we do - we want others to understand that the later you pay, the more you pay.
Example: Some things are activities with no time requirements - such as Christian Disciples Bible Reading. There are two ways to handle the count. One is that a missed day means you need to make up two days, which means a four day week must be made up with a seven day week. Seven day weeks can prepay days off later - such as for vacations. The other way is to have a time alotment or a chapter alotment. You can use 15 minutes a day, an hour a day of combined Bible Reading and Prayer, 5 chapters, one day of reading on a one year reading list... however you want to structure it so you can know if you are ahead or behind.
Prior Accomplishments. Prior Accomplishment can count, and many of such accomplishment are included in the lists - such a reading the Bible cover to cover. Signature Achievements, many of the books, etc. can rely on past activity. However, it is better to use recent or current activity. You can always repeat the books if it has been a year or more since you read one of the books. Many things are worth repeating. Some things, such a earning a doctorate, obviously cannot be repeated and can always stand as a Signature Achievement. Don’t use Prior Accomplishments to diminish the programs, though. You do not need to repeat great things you’ve already done, but don’t grab for too much credit from things you’ve already done. That diminishes the programs and sabotages the value and meaning of your accomplishment.
Customization. The program may be customized. However, rather than playing to your strengths, customization should work to your weaknesses. In Martial Artist, there is a requirement for Daily Stretching, but someone who is already exceptionally flexible might find that largely a waste of time. Instead, she might work with her Coach to customize the program to substitute three of the days for Strength Training and the others for Endurance Training. A Customization should be at least as much work and as much an accomplishment as the item or items it is replacing, obviously.
Amplification. You can always do more, do more often, or, especially if you have significant Prior Accomplishments, you can add things. You might do stretching AND endurance training AND strength training to amplify the physical requirements. Whenever some items drop off due to Prior Accomplishments, you should try to amplify or add to other requirements to keep the program worthy of having been completed.
Acceleration. You must finish all three Next Level Guardian programs before you can officially begin the Ultimate Guardian Program. That doesn’t mean you can start early. You can start mending relationships, start personal triumphs, start work on a Signature Achievement that may need the whole four years or may need multiple attempts. Certainly it would be impressive to reach the beginning of Ultimate Guardian having already done most of it!