I sent this letter out today to my family and friends–everyone that I want to include in my test (the world!). This is an example of what you might use if you are on this years UBBT team as a public declaration of your goals. Post it here, e-mail it, share it on Facebook. Get the word out to as many people as you can. Hold yourself accountable.
In 2011, I will be participating in the Ultimate Black Belt Test (www.ultimateblackbelttest.com),nwhich is a challenge within the martial arts community to set an example ofnwhat the ultimate martial arts test would be like. Members of the UBBT engagenin one year of tasks, both assigned and custom made, to test their abilities,nintellect, and resourcefulness. For me, this kind of test is a lifestyle and it is what drew me to the martial arts to begin with.
You are getting this letter because I want to include you in this process. Perhaps you are teachernor mentor to me, a friend, or family member. You might even be a student. For one reason or another you came to mind when I thought of the people that I should include.
Perhaps you could help me achieve some of my goals. I will need help collecting Acts of Kindness and can also use some reading suggestions and some help finding a few normal living heroes to profile.
Along with this e-mail you will also get an invitation to my karate school’s website. This is our blog where you will be able to follow mynprogress, read my journals, and see my films. You can visit the site now by going to zenmartial.com. Please register there so you can stay up-to-date.
Here is what I plan to accomplish in the following 13 months.
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- Journal at least once a week and make it available online
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- Produce 100 short films about my journey, my community, my students, or the martial arts
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- 50,000 pushups and sit-ups
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- 1,000 miles of running/walking/biking
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- 1,000 repetitions of every karate form that I know
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- 1,000 rounds of sparring
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- 1,000 acts of kindness performed by me
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- 50,000 acts of kindness that I inspire the people around me to do.
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- 15 minutes of daily meditation
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- 20 hours of boxing classes
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- 50 hours of grappling classes
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- Reality-Based Self Defense class
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- Empathy training: spend one day blindfolded, one day mute, and one day in a wheel chair.
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- Host/Teach WEAVE Fundraiser Self-Defense Class
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- Sponsor Trick-or-Trick Food Drive
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- Host Summer Picnic Food Collections
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- Sponsor backpack Drive for needy children
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- Teach free bully prevention seminars to Sacramento schools and staff
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- Start the “Sacramento Kindness Project” non-profit
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- Build a house with my team mates for someone in need
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- 4 Other Community Service Projects
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- 3 day backpacking retreat with my team mates.
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- Read 12 Books (The Okinawa Project, Zen Flesh Zen Bones, Last Child in the Woods, Zen Training, Savor, The Little Black Book of Violence, Body for Life, Square Foot Gardening, and 4 more)
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- Profile 10 Living Heroes (Thich Nhat Hahn, Paul Rusesabagina, and 8 others)
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- Achieve my San Dan in Isshinryu Karate (3rd Degree Black Belt)
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- Compete in 10 martial arts tournaments
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- Pay off all excessive credit-card debt
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- Integrate Okinawan diet principals into my own diet
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- Integrate UBBT principles into my dojo’s curriculum
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- Start a non-profit organization
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- Perfect my time-management skills
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- Have a complete holistic adult program/curriculum
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- Make dojo video/curriculum available online
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- Get certified in Sports CPR + Defibrillator
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- Mend three relationships/friendships gone bad
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- Fix 3 Wrongs
Thank you for your support.