A student mentioned that they had been messing around with all the Muay Thai counts they know and doing them back to back! Well here are all the counts I know back to back and it adds up to a 222 count (I think!)

4 Counts; L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Kick, R Kick, Hook, Cross, L Kick, L Kick, Cross, Hook, L Kick, R Kick, Hook, Cross, R Kick,  Jab, Cross, L Kick, R Kick, Jab, Cross, R Kick, L Kick, Jab, Cross, L Kick, L Kick, Jab, Cross, R Kick, R Kick, L Kick, Cross, R Kick, Jab, R Kick, Jab, L Kick, Cross, Jab, Cross, Hook, R Kick, Cross, Hook, Cross, L Kick. 6 Counts; L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Elbow, R Knee, R Kick, L Kick, Cross, L Elbow, R Elbow, R Knee, R Kick, L Kick, Cross, R Elbow,  R Knee, R Kick, L Kick, L Kick, Cross, R Elbow, R Knee, L Kick, R Kick. 7 Counts; L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Kick, Hook, Cross, L Kick, R Kick, Hook, Cross, L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Kick. 11 Counts; L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Elbow, R Knee, R Kick, Hook, Cross, L Elbow, L Knee, L Kick, R Kick, Hook, Cross, L Elbow, L Knee, L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Elbow, R Knee, R Kick. 12 Count; Shield, R Straight Knee # 2, Cover, R Elbow, L Elbow, R Elbow, R Straight Knee # 2, R Kick, L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Kick. 15 Count; R Kick, Parry, Cover, L Elbow, R Elbow, R Straight Knee # 2, L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Straight Knee # 2, R Kick, Teep, Bump, Hook, Cross, R Kick. 16 Count; Parry Teep, R Kick, L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Kick, Shield, L Kick, L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Kick, Scoop, Cross, Hook, R Kick. 17 Count; Long Foot Jab, L Kick, R Cross, L Hook, R Straight Knee # 2, L Elbow, R Elbow, R Straight Knee # 2, R Kick, L Hook, R Cross, L Kick, R Knee, R Kick, L Hook, R Cross, 6 Skip Knees. 18 Counts; Parry Teep, R Kick, L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Kick, Shield, L Kick, L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Kick, Scoop, Cross, Hook, R Elbow, R Knee, R Kick, Ride L Kick, L Kick, L Kick, Cross Hook, R Kick, Cut Kick, R Kick, L Kick, Cross Hook, R Kick, R Straight Knee # 2, L Elbow, R Elbow, R Knee, R Kick, Step back, L Kick, L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Kick, Shield, L Kick, L Kick, Cross, Hook, R Kick, Rising L Elbow, R Elbow, R Knee, R Kick, R Kick.

As a quick update to restart this feed here are some exciting things going on in the World of The British Ninja right now; 

• I have been named as the Legends of China Presidential Guest on the UCLA Martial Arts Silk Road to the Future China trip in 2015. More details to come....
• We begun research on Martial Arts & Cognitive Ability on Monday and have a great group of students!
• I am continuing to prep for my TBA Level 2 Muay Thai test which will be happening very soon I think!
• Hoping to begin a semi-regular teaching program in Sherman Oaks in the next couple of months. Stay tuned for more information. 

The age old argument of where talent comes from. It comes from both, that is the simple answer. But finding the right skill to nurture is the hardest part. Too often our (or other people's) wants and desires that are driven my societal norms overshadow skillaets and they are lost. That is not to say that an individual cannot just work hard at something they may not have an innate ability at and succeed in it. But without that hard work the innate ability is not enough, no matter what the talent is. Adaptability and conscious awareness of oneself are the key traits to develop in my opinion.

TBN.

3 things I am grateful for; 

1. Good food. I just had spicy meatballs and spaghetti and spiced it up a bit myself...delicious (yes I am grateful for being able to eat, and eat well etc...but I just wanted a little mention of damn straight good food.
2. Creativity in all forms.
3. Not having everything I ever wanted.

My positive experiences today...great turnout at the Martial Arts Leadership Team :) Awesome story telling at Zanzibar Santa Monica at the Moths - Story Slam, some funny, some sad, some shocking, some bad! But all in all a great experience and cool venue. Meeting some excited students ready to train in martial arts, such a relief that people showed up! It gives a good promising vibe to the rest of the year! 

Exercise - Taught the prospective MaLT members some; Savate, Hapkido, Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai and FMA :) 

Meditation - I think this one is my nemesis....I did not Reiki myself to sleep last night, I read a new book "The Element" By Sir Ken Robinson....could reading be construed as mediation in any way? If so that is what I am doing again today for meditation :) If not then I may need some help on this one! 

3 things I am grateful for; 

1. My education...both in and out of school. (currently eating a curry I whipped up). Thank you Neil Gardner for teaching me the cooking basics and England for making me love curry! Thank you parents and random circumstance for my academic education :). 
2. Opportunity...life has presented many opportunities to me which I have grabbed with both hands! I truly believe that "chance favors the prepared mind" and each time something pops up in my favor It strengthens that philosophy. 
3. UCLA Recreation & Mick Deluca....they have provided me with the support to continue to work and live in the United States and to follow my dreams.

Had a really positive experience with my old student supervisor Dimitra Kuruppu today. She has transitioned into a full time position in a different unit, but now works in the office next door to me. She came in to chat about some adaptive stuff and demonstrated why she was such a great employee with me over the past 4 years! Great analytical mind. She also helped me finish my UCLA Martial Arts Poster in a cool way :). I just emailed her to tell her how glad I am that she is sticking around. Unfortunately I also found out that a colleague has to have a hip replacement :( I am going to reach out to her to see if there is anything I can do to help her (offer some Reiki I think). 

Exercise - Silat, FMA & JKD III w/ Guro Dan 

Meditation - Reiki myself to sleep. 

3 things I am thankful for today;

1. Having a regular paying job :) (Thank you for pay day!)
2. Guro Dan's stories
3. Being healthy, especially my back holding up over the weekend :)

Positive Experience - One of my colleagues came into my office to day to chat and told me about her weekend seeing Adam Ant in San Diego! Free hotel and the Surf Liner train down there...sounded like alot of fun. Made me want to go off on an adventure! I did email her and tell her how much I appreciated everything she did for the department, I don't think she gets much recognition so I though I would give her some! :)

Exercise -  JKD I & II Classes at the Inosanto Academy

Meditation - Reiki sent to Shelby Chlopak for her neck and a restful sleep :)

Per advice from Shawn Anchor (TED Talks) I will start posting the following every day (or post for a few days when I get the chance!). each day I will be; meditating, exercising, writing 3 things I am grateful for, journaling about something positive and perform a random act of kindness. 



3 Things I am grateful for today (9/30/12); 
1 - An awesome collection of very talented staff at UCLA Instructional Programs.
2 - The opportunity to see photographic art about rock and roll for free.
3 - Organized and efficient student supervisors.
4 - Just got invited to a good friends wedding! (cheating with 4) - Congrats Ben Hopper!

My random act of kindness was giving my DJ instructor a ride to Venice so that his fiancé did not have to drive as far to pick him up. He had driven from San Francisco to attend my training meeting after attending a sponsorship event for his company 'JetPack' (provides cool DJ accessory bags) and therefore had no car and was pretty bushed, I think he was grateful :) 

I was also very fortunate to be able to assist Guro Conrad Cayman in demoing some blended Hapkido/Silat techniques at the 2012 West Coast FMA congregation on Saturday, it was a fantastically positive environment with all different types of styles and communities of different martial arts playing together in Gigies backyard! We represented the Inosanto Academy pretty well with around 10 of us there just having fun with FMA all day, got to joke, train and eat with my academy brothers which is always a positive thing :) I would also like to add that the Bruin Fest this year was incredibly positive, zero stress happy students, great instructors and awesome photography from JotoPhoto!

Until next time....

TBN.

Fall is almost upon us at UCLA, students are moving in and Pauley Pavilion is looking close to be finished. Prep for new UCLA Martial Arts Programs is on going. The new Martial Arts Leadership Team will open up opportunities for all UCLA Martial Arts Students. Unprecedented requests for Self-Defense last year has resulted in the new Self Defense Instructor Program, which will train up UCLA students to be able to teach Self Defense classes. Our well loved JKD instructor Alain Rono will take on the STX (Savate/Thai Cross Training) Kickboxing class and the NEW Boxing class this quarter. Kenny Johnson will return on November 7th for a 'Submission Setups and Executions' seminar and guest speakers for the MaLT will include Chicago based Education Professor Tom Parry and Inosanto Academy 'old guy' Todd Bigelow! It is shaping up to be a most excellent quarter! :) 

I am saddened and shocked to hear of the passing of Luka Balenovic last night. Luka trained with the FGCU Martial Arts Club while I was teaching there and the photo on the left is of Luka being presented with his first ever martial arts belt (Hapkido Yellow). Luka struck me as a genuine and caring individual with a lot of respect and humility. Qualities that should never be extinguished so early in life. My thoughts go out to his friends and family. You will be missed brother! :(