Wednesday, July 1, 2009

The Journey Begins

New Wave Academy
'Where friends and family come together!'


'Like a New Wave out of the deepest ocean able to adapt to any shore; never in the maelstrom of its depths but riding the crest of it; moving continually forward with spirit, will and determination.'

(Photo shows New Wave students & parents wishing Instructors Alex & Cliff a fruitful journey)

This mission statement of New Wave Academy of Martial Arts (Tae Kwon Do & Hap Ki Do) is founded upon a key principle of the Martial Arts - the ability to adapt to different situations. In a one to one encounter, this could simply mean recognising the strengths and weaknesses of an
opponent and acting accordingly. In the context of running a Martial Arts Club the ability to adapt to different situations or changing circumstance is no less important.

At the heart of the New Wave mission statemant is the recognition that change is a constant factor of life. When dealing with change we have basically two choices. We can either attempt to deny it and fight it every step of the way or we can embrace it - adapting to it with the best of our ability.


‘Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.’ Barack Obama
(Speech following Super Tuesday results, Feb 5, 2008)

‘We are the change we seek.’ This is an idea that New Wave instructors constantly try to convey to our students.

Now I can imagine several of my students reading this with a look of puzzlement and thinking, ‘When has my instructor told me –I am the change I seek?’ Well, I would ask those students to think back to the number of times they have been told that ‘they can achieve anything with belief and determination.’ I would ask them to consider how often they have been encouraged to push themselves in their training in order to progress. I would ask those students to think of how often they have been advised to adopt the principles and positive mindset that they cultivate in Tae Kwon Do and implement it in all areas of their lives.

Change is not something that is necessarily a one way street - something that always happens to us. With belief and desire to achieve, we can effect change not only in ourselves but also in those around us -‘We are the change we seek.’

I am the change I seek. Both my brother (Cliff Edwin, with whom I founded New Wave Academy in 1995) and I often speak of this. It was one of these conversations that got us thinking about the ways in which we could improve our teaching and which in turn lead me to apply to The Winston Churchill Fellowship and that is how the journey began!

7 comments:

  1. Hey guys, hope you have arrived at your first destination safely.
    The Edwins xxx

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  2. Ekadasi today, hope all is going well. Marlene, would they have a mobile? could i have the number? thanks HARIBOL!

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  3. Hi Geeta, they didn't take one with them. I'm hoping that they are abe to access the internet soon and then contact can be made that way.

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  4. Thanks Marlene.
    Extract from Sri Brhad Bhagavatamrta which reflects their mood:
    It's the hero's quest for the extraordinary, refelcting the urge of every heart at its noblest to discover the full possibilities of life. They are searching for the key to fulfillment, which is much subtler than wealth, influence or mundane love. What is wanted is not to conquer or exploit on any level, but to explore the mystery of selfless service. It's highly personal.

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  5. I like it. I'm going to make sure that they post this up on the blog for all to see.

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  6. I think you would like the article that Alex wrote for the temple magazine. Here's an extract:
    Like martial arts, spiritual life is a journey. There is no end in one sense because one can always strive to improve and do better each & every day. Krishna Consciousness is about how I can show love towards everyone I come into contact with - friends, colleagues, strangers alike...

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  7. Haribol prabhus!
    Don't know when you get to read this but I'm so proud of you guys. This is a fantastic opportunity that you've been given and I am following with great interest your adventure. I'm praying for your safe journey and looking forward to hearing of your amazing realisations. PS I like the bead bag in the pictures. "The Mantra - don't leave home without it!" Your buddy Bhakta B.

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