Yoga causes controversy in public schools - Kids & Parenting - MSNBC.com

"...when she asked a public elementary school in Aspen, Colo., to teach yoga in 2002, Christian fundamentalists and even some secular parents lobbied the school board. They argued that yoga's Hindu roots conflicted with Christian teachings and that using it in school might violate the separation of church and state."

Last night at the dojo...

Last night Joe got to help Sensei. Joel Sempai was not there to help with classes as he was spending time with his family. When it came time to work on certain exercises, Sensei asked Joe to come hold one of the bags and Sensei would hold the other. They have two children work their way across the mats doing various hits and kicks on the bags for practice. You could tell by Joe's posture and stance he was doing his best to be just like Joel Sempai and Sensei when they hold the bag. It was an honor for Joe to be chosen to help Sensei in this way. He was thrilled to be chosen to help.
Also last night, David joined the children's basics class to start his journey (short as it will be) with Shindenkan Budo. He was very well behaved, focused on what was being taught and tried his best at the skills being learned that night. He often turned to his big brother Joe for help and watched Joe so he would understand what to do.
Much of the lessons for the evening were about focusing. At the end of class, when the kids were lined up listening to Sensei, David was introduced as their new student. Sensei told the class that David had done a "phenomenal" job that evening and that if he'd been in uniform everyone would have thought he'd been there training for months rather than this being his first class. He also said that David had done a side kick that would pass the yellow belt test. I think David grew three inches right then. :) It was a great experience for him.
I think training with Sensei Derek and Joel Sempai will really boost David's confidence and self-discipline. He won't be able to train for very long as we are moving soon, but it will be something and will give him a foundation. He has a great "horse stance"--I suppose from all his horse riding classes where he has to stand in the stirrups through many of the exercises. ;) He has developed amazingly strong legs.

Joe at Shindenkan Budo

Last night Joe earned a yellow stripe for his orange belt. This shows that he has achieved over half the requirements for yellow belt. Yellow belt is a very difficult belt to obtain, it requires over 25 skills to be learned and performed with a certain level of mastery.
Joe has been working very hard. Twice a week he trains one-on-one with Joel then attends the children's basic skills class and then the children's intermediate class. He gets tired but he loves this art and is enjoying it.
When he was presented with his stripe last night, Sensei mentioned that Joe has not been with them for very long but has progressed quickly. He mentioned that having Joel Sempai for a cousin helps this to be the situation. :)

The Message

Montage of a "One World" campaign on YouTube where people expressed their thought to the world using their hand.




The Message

My Father's Life (After Death) - Men's Health - MSN Health & Fitness

My Father's Life (After Death) - Men's Health - MSN Health & Fitness: "Seven years ago, my dad gave a stranger the most valuable gift of all: life. You could do the same one day. All it takes is two minutes and a pen. Why aren't you an organ donor yet?"

Ultimate Diet Coke/Mentos: THE END

Having fun with the kids--this one was Joe's idea, are you suprised?!

Redbull+Poprocks=Organ Donation?

Another one of our "awareness" videos.