Master Rifkin

"I enrolled my son Brandon to let him experience what I experienced some twenty years ago, the simple and yet complex beauty and fluidity of the martial arts. I know that Brandon and I will be martial artists for years to come….I attribute most of this to your school, because I knew it would take a certain instructor to “get through” to Brandon. I will never be able to thank you, Mr. Bosque and Mr. Dang enough for what you have done."

-Jerry, 40



Master JD Rifkin

-24 years Martial Arts experience
-Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
-Ranked National Competitor
-Medic First Aid/CPR trained
-Experienced stunt fighter/choreographer
-Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee 2007



With over 24 years experience, J.D. Rifkin shares his love of the Martial Arts with his students, adults and childen alike. Married with four children of his own, he enjoys working with all ages, mentoring his staff of qualified instructors, and teaches his own classes regularly.

With a background in Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, and Aikido, J.D. Rifkin is a highly regarded and ranked Black Belt Master Instructor and certified private fitness trainer. After studying in the Northeast, and fighting extensively in the Florida tournament and full contact kickboxing circuits, Master Rifkin moved to Los Angeles and began the study of a blended art of Aikido, Karate and Kickboxing. He began teaching in 1993. Since then, he has worked both behind and in front of the camera, from fight choreographer and trainer to stuntman and actor in numerous films, large and small

Master Rifkin has also been featured in the pages of various international magazines.

Unique Teaching

Master Rifkin's unique teaching encourages students to find their own inner strengths. By emphasizing the "fire" in their training, he pushes students to have enthusiasm, passion and above all, spirit.

"To lead a class with the threat of negative re-enforcement is to not lead at all. We choose instead to lead by example. Our job is only partly to educate; in large part, it is also to inspire."

Sunday, August 22, 2010

The Importance of a Performance-Based School
A good student of the martial arts, or should I say a talented Martial Artist, can attribute their progress and their abilities to not only a varied and reality-based curriculum, but on the implications of a "performance-based" progression. There are those that believe (and strongly) that a student's progression through the ranks of the martial arts should be "time-based", meaning that they should move on to the next rank, and therefore the next skill set, when they have spent the required time at their present rank. Oftentimes, this promotion comes regardless of how often the student attends class, or how their skills have progressed. The student has become "bored" at the present rank and having served their allotment of time, is then promoted to the next rank, and so on. Oftentimes, little attention is put upon the actual growth of the student's understanding and abilities.....and nobody fails an exam! It is this methodology with which I whole heartedly DISAGREE. How then, can a school maintain a high bar of expectations and hold the student responsible for their own achievement? When the student holds no fear of failing, they are destined to be mediocre, or worse. This is where from the term, "Black Belt Factory", derives. It is from these schools, so many "mediocre" Black Belts have arisen. I do believe in setting a high bar. I also believe any student can reach the bar with enough patience and understanding...and considerable effort. Students have come to our school for ten years seeking the best that martial arts training can offer, to find themselves and to surpass any limitations. The discipline that it takes to become "exceptional" only comes when a program is performance-based. When the student is only permitted to Test when THEY are ready and not before. It is for this reason that students at RPKC progress at different speeds, that they are permitted to test at their own pace. It has always been my goal to create a school that turns out the most capable Martial Artists possible. Those that can handle nearly any situation, can defend themselves and others with the greatest of speed, accuracy and efficiency. It is for this reason that we are not looking to grow our school with just any students, but the "right" students...those that sincerely want to grow as martial artists and see their progress as defined by their skill, not by the mark of a calendar. I believe in traditional training, hard training.....in reaping the rewards of true progress, not paper success. This is how we become exceptional!
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Monday, July 5, 2010

The Best Part of What We Do..Growing Up "Karate"
As we welcome our newest Black Belts, having successfully completed the latest June Belt Exams, I look back over the last ten years of Rifkin Professional Karate and I see the faces of so many long-time students; some have gone on to pursue other avenues and so many have stayed with us for the journey. What effects me most are those faces that were children when they began and are now attending the adult classes. Many of our students have quite literally grown up in our studio. We have seen them through kindergarten, grade school, middle and high school. We have taught and coached them in classes and in tournaments; we have celebrated their birthdays with them and we have seen many of them through some of the toughest times in their lives... and it has been an honor. Now I look upon these newest Black Belts and I see the faces of the children they once were. Two of them (both 15 yrs) were only 7 years old when they began training here. Now they have become capable, honorable, hard-working, and goal oriented young adults. And I am proud to have played a part in their development. From our advanced adult students all the way down to the 5 yr olds starting in the Kinder Kicks classes, the journey of a martial artist begins with one single day, the day that can, and will, change their lives. I see it in the face of a new student coming out of their very first class and I see it in the face of an intermediate student that comes out of class after sparring for the first time. It is that look of half "I didn't know it was that hard work", and half "that was the coolest thing I've ever done". And in that very look, I see what they don't...and that is what is to come: how that student will progress, what they will experience, and how he or she will grow. Though different instructors and Martial Arts professionals may give different points of view, for me, to see the effect training in the Martial Arts has on a student is the best part of what I do. The short term achievement of mastering a given technique, and the long term character building of a student over time only reinforces the value of what we do. And for those students beginning their training as children, the growth is only that much more profound. So as I look upon the ever-growing number of accomplished Martial Artists that fill our classes each and every day, I am reminded of the importance of what we do as teachers and mentors. We change lives. Of that I am so very proud and eternally grateful. Welcome to 1st Degree Black Belt, Ms. Katya Agharabei, Mr. Kwesi Ogunde, and Mr. Sam Evans. Congratulations!
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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Martial Arts vs. the MMA/UFC...Common misconceptions
I would like to address a topic that is close to my heart, the underlying foundation of what we train for...and the widely held misconceptions of what being a Martial Artist means. The fast-growing popularity of MMA (or Mixed Martial Arts), the everywhere and in your face explosion of the UFC, has blurred the public's concept of what martial arts truly is. For those of you not familiar with the UFC, or the Ultimate Fighting Championships (and there are a FEW out there), it is essentially cage-fighting initially designed to incorporate multiple styles: Jujitsu, Kickboxing, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Boxing, Thaiboxing, Wrestling, etc. And it has sparked a wave of interest across the country in a sport called MMA. What it has left behind in many cases- what it seems to have forgotten in its haste to be a household word- is the very foundation of what it means to be a martial artist. Many involved with the UFC have forgotten what it means to have RESPECT, HONOR, INNER PEACE. When a UFC competitor- or a Champion(and I use that word loosely) can stand at center ring after a victory and say into the microphone to the MILLIONS of fans worldwide that he is going to now go home and get on top of his wife, see article, can we call him a martial artist? Someone that commands respect? Someone we want as a role model for children? Because the truth is that many children follow the UFC and they look up to these fighters. Scary prospect. After 24 years of training and competing in the martial arts, after making it my life's work to bring the benefits of the martial arts to families, to have someone taint the image of the martial arts and what it means to be a Black Belt so horribly, I do take it personally, as do many that have spent their lives training. The UFC has many classically trained martial artists, but it also has what I would call brawlers as well. The danger as I see it, aside from the most obvious abomination of the Black Belt image, is that there is a whole new group of fighters in schools across this country training specifically in MMA for the UFC-type fights that have no foundation. These "fighters" have had no classical training and many have not learned the etiquette of training as a martial artist. Though they have learned some of the physical skills (I would still bet on a classically-trained karateka any day of the week), many have pushed aside that which we hold as the true foundation: Respect and Honor. Never have I ever stepped out of the ring and spoken poorly of my opponent or the referee, or worse. Or in the recent case of fighter Anderson Silva that taunted his opponent in the ring for 25 minutes, after which even Dana White, the president of the UFC, had never been more embarrassed! Click As martial artists, I am ashamed of the public image so often portrayed by the UFC. Do some of the fighters have good skills? Most definitely...and most notably their skills in Brazilian Jujitsu. But does that justify their total lack of responsibility to present an image congruent with the art? Talking "trash" about their opponents, speaking more like performers than disciplined martial artists is of great concern to me and many heads of schools across the country and abroad. When I hear parents expressing concern about putting their child in Karate because they have heard the negative publicity of what has become the mainstream image of martial arts, namely the UFC.... that is a problem. The truth is that solid programs provide a structured environment that teaches respect for others, honor, hard work, and goal-setting. We are professional Martial Artists. The messages we convey each and every day are of great importance to those we train. I have been and will be steadfast in my convictions. Let the current trend of mainstream media and the sudden surge of interest in this sport derived from traditional roots not spit upon that which gave birth to it.
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Thursday, March 4, 2010

Beyond the Target
We often go about our daily training in a way that removes us from the reality of what it is we train for! As practitioners of the martial arts, we use buffers that protect us (and rightly so) from the impact of a kick or technique. We are careful not to injure ourselves or others as we employ a control technique or when we spar. So oftentimes, we become removed from the power and speed we as students have developed and the skills we have honed. I remember a story told to me by one of my advanced women students where she was at a dance club with her girlfriends one evening when a man refused to take no for an answer. Now mind you this woman is quite small, and as the story was told to me, the man was overly aggressive to the point where he became physical. After repeatedly telling the man to back off, but to no avail, his uninvited overtures were met with a single, quick technique that landed him to the floor, moaning in pain. Needless to say, her friends stood agape, astonished at what their small-framed friend had done....and so effortlessly. As I recall, they were no more astounded than she herself. She had never struck someone in a "real" situation, and the outcome was far beyond what she had imagined. After training (at this point) for several years in our program, she had executed the strike hundreds of times, but always into a focus target or with control as in sparring. She had become dis-associated with the "stopping power" and speed she had developed. In fact, it took far less to stop this man than she could have thought. She told me that as she stood over him, ready to complete whatever combination she had in store, she was amazed....he was not getting up. She had done this...she had! After returning to her training, this student had far more appreciation for the skills she had developed, far more understanding for the power she possessed. I am not advocating that our students go in search of vilification, walk the streets with one hundred dollar bills hanging from their pockets, waiting to test their skills. Absolutely not. But rather the understanding that they must not underestimate themselves. We all have the potential to be powerful, given the opportunity.
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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Make a New Year's Un-Resolution
Make a NewYear's Un-Resolution Results that go past January As we look back on the past year of achievement, goal setting, and improvement, many of us look to the New Year as a clean break from old habits that have held us back. We look toward an opportunity to train more, to improve our skills, our flexibility, our speed and timing, some to lose weight or quit smoking. In essence, some look to the New Year to accomplish that which they could do on any ordinary day. The Martial Arts is a life change, one that can influence your life in positive and healthy ways. Pursue Martial Arts training to lose the weight, to get fit, to learn invaluable skills of self-defense, to gain confidence, to gain control of your life. Do all of these things, but for life, not for the momentary pursuit of a dream destined to end in defeat just a few weeks past New Year's. The very idea of making a life change dependent upon a mark on the calendar...one last day to indulge, to binge, or be careless, is a certain recipe for failure. And statistically, failure is the overwhelming result. How do I make a resolution that will stick? That will truly impact my life? How do I make the New Year's Un-Resolution? I believe the answer lies in how you approach your goals, how you deny yourself and the use of moderation. Most people who have experienced a failed resolution will tell you that they went too big, they denied themselves too much, and they couldn't take the heat. When you focus on the big goals, they seem very far away, almost unreachable. So after the first month of sacrifice, of sweat and sore muscles, they see a mere fraction of the progress they seek. Frustration takes over and they return to square one. If they instead were to emphasize the lifestyle change, allow themselves to enjoy the training and seek the smaller goals to start, they may instead see the successes and the great strides they have already made. Rather than look at the weight that is not yet evaporating from their torso, look at how they can climb a flight of stairs without panting at the top, or the fact that they have learned several useful techniques that could save their lives. Truthfully, there is no greater motivator for the future than a look at your successes of the past. Once a student has made the commitment to train in the Martial Arts for ALL that it can offer, and embrace the healthy lifestyle change that comes with it...and has allowed themselves to enjoy the experience, only then will their longer-term goals come into focus on the horizon. Don't make a New Year's resolution that is destined to fail from unrealistic self-expectations, make the Un-Resolution to change your life for the long term. You may find you'll reach your ultimate goals....and so much more.
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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Self-Defense and Our Children
Self-Defense and Our Children The root of the Martial Arts When we think of children training in the Martial Arts, particularly our own children, one of the most valuable and truly irreplaceable benefits is learning how to protect oneself should the occasion arise. In the fray of common throw words like self-confidence, self-esteem, discipline, weight loss and fitness (see article), I believe that somewhere along the way, many practitioners and even instructors have forgotten what it truly means to study the Martial Arts....the development of physical skills, those that can save your life or that of a loved one. We hear stories daily about child abductions, sexual assaults, domestic violence, and all sorts of senseless brutalities. I imagine the unanswered cries for help and the feeling of being absolutely helpless at the hands of another that these victims must go through. It is senseless and it is PREVENTABLE. If we educate our children to not only defend themselves, but to avoid putting themselves in such a position, how many lives could we save? How much abuse could be avoided? We are so bombarded with these unfortunate stories of abduction, abuse and violence, that we as a society have become almost numb to the evening news reports. Every once in awhile, a story will stick in your gut, haunt you. For me , it was a recent story about a 15 yr old girl leaving a homecoming dance in Richmond, CA (see article). She was on her way to meet her father when she was lured into an alley by some friends, she was then attacked and gang-raped for two and a half hours! Up to twenty people stood by, watched, took pictures and cheered the attackers on! What is going on here? Have we become so de-sensitized by the media and numbed to the world around us that this can show as a blurb on the evening news one moment then forgotten the next? These onlookers that did nothing but cheer the attackers on cannot be charged with a crime because the law states the victim has to be 14 yrs old or younger. This girl was 15 years old! We have become a society more concerned with the rights of the attackers than that of the victim. When we cannot post a registered sex offender's photo in order to protect their rights when living in a neighborhood filled with children, or when an intruder in your home can sue you for assault, or when evidence obtained unlawfully cannot be admitted in court and an obviously guilty defendant goes free, we have become more interested in protecting the rights of the offender than those victimized. In the Martial Arts, we teach children and adults alike to defend themselves. In this de-sensitized society that values the rights of a child abductor, sees the humanity of a serial rapist who suddenly found God in a jail cell, who seemingly wants to protect those that do the most harm, why leave our safety and the safety of our children to chance? In that split second....in that fleeting time to take a stand and put up a fight, I want kids to have a chance. In that defining moment, perhaps the only person they will have to depend on is themselves. These are the lessons of the Martial Arts. Yes, they learn to walk with confidence. Yes, they build self-esteem. And yes, we all become more fit and energized. But alone, these are hollow gifts. What stands behind them is the backbone of our training....the ability to stand tall and strong in a not-so-tall world.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Why We Do What We Do
A Student's Portal to the Martial Arts Few professional Martial Artists began their training to one day become an instructor. It is an occupation that chooses the person, not the other way around. The dedication, hard work, blood, sweat and sometimes tears that it takes to reach one's goals in Martial Arts can be life changing and life affirming. When a new instructor begins teaching others, they usually find an entirely new set of goals and rewards. They begin to see themselves through the eyes of their students, but also they see how far they have come and that they are more accomplished than they had imagined: They have been pushed so hard as students and have pushed themselves so hard as students, that their ability to reach down deep and draw out hidden talents under pressure becomes ever-present. In truth, to teach something is to improve oneself. Only under scrutiny, do demonstration-quality kicks or techniques rise to the surface consistently. An instructor envisions how the student should execute a techniques, and then embodies that ideal. In the process, they themselves develop sharper, faster, more detailed techniques. Though these are worthwhile reason to become an instructor as a Martial Artist, as a person interested in changing people's lives, more fulfilling reasons lie elsewhere. When we begin training a student at age five or six, then see them quite literally grow up in our school, reach their pre-teen and teenage years, we get to see what is most profound. We see them change before our eyes into stronger-willed, goal-oriented, respectful young adults. That is a source of great pride and something unique to what we do. Unlike school teachers who may have a student for one or two years before they move on to the next grade, we see our students year after year. I look back at students that have been with us for several years, children and adults, and I see incredible changes. I coached as our students competed in this past Sunday's Jun Chong Invitational Tournament(see results in sidebar). I watch our students and I am always amazed at how they step up and raise the bar, confidently and ever-gracefully (see photo of student Kwesi Ogunde above). It is for this reason that I am a Martial Arts instructor: I am honored to have the chance to effect people's lives, to see them grow before us. I see their successes, both on and off the mat, and I am humbled to think we may have had a hand in making those successes a reality. Though we may be a student's first and only window into the world of Martial Arts, they are our window into the heart. For this, I am privileged. -Master JD Rifkin
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Friday, September 25, 2009

Be a Lifer!
Going your distance Attending high school in northern New Hampshire, I had an experience I will forever remember. In the winter, the snowbanks topped six to seven feet, the icy wind blew across the campus and stabbed at you relentlessly. The sun began to set at 3:45 in the afternoon and darkness fell fast. Classes six days a week and enough homework to keep you busy long after lights out. Waking up at 5am every morning in the winter to check if it snowed...must have my assigned walkway shoveled before first light, etc. Snow camping and survival training two weeks without shelter. Not to cast a shadow on my time there, as it was a truly amazing experience. We studied there, played there, slept there, lived there nine months out of the year. There was no question whether you would complete your education, there was no option. If you didn't have what it took to go the distance, you wouldn't be there. You were considered a "Lifer". When I look at that experience and what it taught me about perseverance, I think about the journey to Black Belt. When a person interested in training at our school comes in for an initial meeting, very few (far too few) have it in their mind that they want to become a Black Belt....yet. Eventually, they will have that goal somewhere in their mind, though many will not yet admit it. A Lifer sees it no other way. A Lifer begins training to become a Black Belt. Once the goal is achieved, a Lifer looks to new goals in their training, new material and new accomplishments. The transformation one makes to become a Martial Artist is an intentional life-change, a commitment to training and all that comes with it. Our students' training to become a Black Belt, physically, mentally, and emotionally, begins with their first class as a beginner. We train students to find their best...to be there best. Is there any other goal? In the Martial Arts, we are the product. There is no ball to put away, no racket and no net to leave on the court or field. We walk away from class with all that we trained...ourselves. Our bodies and our minds are the end result, that which we work hard to improve. So when you commit to training, envision that which you WILL become, envision yourself a Black Belt. Go the distance and never give up. Be a Lifer!
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Summertime Blahs!
Now that we have entered the doldrums of summer, it's important to keep your training schedule full. (While it is HOT outside, we have full air-conditioning!) Many families go away for different periods during the summer months. Often, coming to class upon returning from a trip can be daunting at best. Worries about being rusty (even after a short break) or inflexible only worsen the fears and put off the inevitable. When possible, and I always find it POSSIBLE, stretch and train while away. Return to class as soon as possible to better resume your training where you left off. Procrastination only breeds failure in the end. I want you to be successful in the Martial Arts. High attendance and constant practice is a MUST. Don't let the blahs of summer, or a busy travel and event schedule get in the way of your goals. When you have a morning off, GO TO CLASS. When you get off work and are feeling tired, GO TO CLASS. When you are feeling sluggish in the heat of the afternoon, GO TO CLASS. When you just don't think you have it in you today, peel yourself off that couch and GO TO CLASS. I guarantee when you leave the class energized and proud of what you accomplished in your training, when you look at all the people that DIDN'T get off the couch, you will be glad you have what it takes to be a dedicated Martial Artist and future Black Belt. You are a Martial Artist to be exceptional. We don't train our students to be average or mediocre; we train them hard and we have high expectations of our you all, children and adults alike. You (or your child) have set a course to be EXCEPTIONAL. To me, there is only ONE path. All you have to do is choose to walk down it. I'll see you there!
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Saturday, July 4, 2009

The Value of Competition
For most of us, we initially began training in Martial Arts to learn self defense, gain confidence, gain valuable discipline in our lives, get fit or lose weight. While these are all worthwhile and very compelling reasons to train, where does competition fit in? Why should I or my child participate in an open karate tournament? My philosophy is simple: to train (as some schools do) for the sole purpose of competition is an empty, hollow pursuit; one that often leads to disappointment, frustration, or an over-active ego. If the only mark of your training's value lies in a trophy or medal on your mantel, you have lost something along the way. Medals and trophies are fun to earn and compete for, but only as a side venture. The Martial Arts teaches us patience, humility, to care for one another and to accept those who may struggle more (or less) than ourselves. How can competing against other students at schools different than our own possibly aid in that development? Competition is a great way to become involved in the Martial Arts beyond just the classroom mat: Experience the fluidity or complexity of another style, expose yourself to Martial Arts of different origins, watch demonstration teams from a variety of schools and styles, see how your training compares to that of another school or have the opportunity to spar against new opponents. By competing, you may rise to a new level. If you truly challenge yourself, the results can be surprising; sometimes, by digging deeper we find what has been eluding us. By re-igniting the fire inside that made us begin training in the first place, we often see ourselves and our ultimate goals that much clearer. I would like to congratulate all those students that competed in this year's Battle of LA tournament (see left inset). Though our students faced some difficult judging, they held their composure and showed dignity and grace. Of this I am most proud. This year the Rifkin Professional Karate Demo Team put on a center-ring halftime showcase. A job well done! We are proud of you all! -Master JD Rifkin
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Monday, May 4, 2009

Flipping the Switch
Turning on the fire As martial artists, we have a passion for seeking the energy in ourselves, an energy we need to succeed in all we do. But there are times when that energy eludes us; we fall from that level of intensity and forever struggle to regain it. This happens both during a single class as well as in the larger scope, spanning months of time. This "fire" (as I call it) can be as difficult to find and maintain as the very techniques we work so hard to master. In truth, there is no finding it. There is no looking. It has always been there. The talent lies in the ability to tap into it, to draw the sword if you will, and learn to return the blade to its scabbard. Tired beyond belief, almost numb to the surroundings after a long day of work, a parent will spring to life in the face of danger for their child. The parent will fly in the face of uncertainty, stare down formidable odds, and accomplish the impossible to save their child..... all with remarkable clarity. Yet one moment earlier, they could barely put one foot in front of the other. Is it adrenaline? Or can it be attributed to the intangible... the "it" we forever seek in our training? That moment when time stands still, the buzzing that fills our ears tells us the danger has not passed, and the hairs on the back of our neck reach up to whisper in our ear. If only we could create that kind of instant clarity and remarkable intensity on cue, as if flipping a switch. The energy is already there, the challenge lies in tapping into it at will. When we bow onto the mat, we are essentially doing just that, we flip the switch. And that takes practice and willpower. In training, there is no place for being "tired". Though we may feel it, pretending to have high energy can benefit us in the long run. At first, it is just that-pretending. Then our bodies begin to believe we have renewed energy. Soon, our level of intensity is increased, and thus our level of training. Making a conscious effort to "turn on" the energy upon entering the mat for class can have a HUGE effect on our overall progress as a Martial Artist. The next time you step on the mat, flip the switch and watch your intensity skyrocket. You may be pleasantly surprised!
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Monday, March 16, 2009

The Curse of the Black Belt
Students come to the Martial Arts for a variety of reasons: to get in shape, lose weight, learn valuable self-defense skills, gain confidence and discipline. Eventually, most arrive at the same conclusion... they want to be a Black Belt. Whether they believe the coveted rank will afford them the respect of their peers, or that wrapping the belt around their waist will magically endow them with powers they did not previously have. Well, neither is the case. As a new Black Belt, you have earned the respect of your peers and fellow students. But it is the blood, sweat and tears that went into the belt that affords you that respect, not the cloth. What I hear from students: "When I'm a Black Belt....., Once I get my Black Belt....". Well, what then? Often, even the most gifted martial artists have no idea what lies on the other side because no one has told them or outlined for them what will be next. Yes, it is a huge accomplishment...but it is NOT the end! It is said that the 1st degree Black Belt, or 1st Dan, has mastered the basics. Now it's time to concentrate on turning inward and re-examining your technique, perfecting what needs work, and giving back to other students through teaching. Often, your most significant self discoveries come through teaching, especially the imperfections of our own techniques. Many students and schools make the mistake of setting up the Black Belt as the end, the finish line. Nothing can be further from the truth. Why work for years to obtain a rank and uniform you will not wear? A great school that has been operating for many years should be top heavy with active, training Black Belts... steadfast in their commitment to excellence, neve faltering in their pursuit of higher goals, but also leading others from the top down. This school laden with accomplished martial artists....first, second, and third degree Black Belts, can be proud that it has instilled in its students the need for continual and ongoing training. Anything short is setting students up for failure. In truth, there is NO finish line, but further achievement. And that starts with an understanding at the outset of a White Belt's first class: what they are training for is not the tangible cloth of a belt that will fade in time, but for a lifestyle change that never fades. This lifestyle of achievement extends well past the walls of the Karate school; it flows through every facet of a student's life. It is so important that a student looks beyond the first degree mile marker, well beyond, and toward the bigger picture. Who do you want to be and what do you want to stand for? Our Black Belts embark on a new curriculum, one designed for their advanced abilities, more difficult and more demanding. In the Black Belt Class, we train harder and we expect more of ourselves and each other. The Black Belt is not something you earn, but someone you BECOME. For in THAT reality, we have beaten the Curse of the Black Belt. -Master JD Rifkin
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Monday, February 16, 2009

Your Best Investment: Yourself
These days, with all of the talk about the economy, how to make ends meet, the ever-growing unemployment rate, etc., where will it end? When will we hear that all is clear, the country is beginning its recovery, and we can take our heads out of the sand and begin to live again? Banks are closing, credit card companies withdrawing their credit lines, the real estate market down. So where can we invest that we know, without a shadow of doubt, we will have a solid return? In these times of uncertainty, the answer can be incredibly simple: invest in YOURSELF. Taking a finance or accounting course, a cooking or photography course, learning a language… enrolling in Martial Arts! You will never go wrong when you invest in yourself or your child. Preparing for the future, gaining valuable life skills such as goal setting and developing a rock-solid work ethic. These are the investments you can live with. Many of you have thought of a major career change sometime in your life, a change in relationships, relocating to a new city, cashing it all in and moving to a farm in the mid-west. Whatever the change, it may or may not have brought you the happiness you thought it might. Perhaps, the real answer was to seek a change in thinking. You don’t need to relocate or leave your job to satisfy the itch. You need to find that thing that captivates you, that enraptures you. In the Martial Arts, we change lives. Students that allow themselves to be absorbed by their training see huge results. They attend classes regularly, they spend the time to practice what they have learned. And in the end, their investment in themselves leaves them more prepared, clearer of mind, more capable of tackling daunting tasks, and even happier than they had been. The most common sentiment I hear from my beginner adult students: “why did I not start this years ago?” To invest in yourself or your child is never a bad venture. It’s the positive return you feel in your gut that puts the numbers on paper in the right perspective. -Master JD Rifkin
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Monday, January 19, 2009

Goal Setting: the Foundation of Good Training
What do you want from your training? Why did you originally begin a study of the Martial Arts? Where do expect to be months or years down the road? These are questions you should be asking yourself. People’s individual goals vary as much as the people themselves. Some began training to learn self-defense, some want to lose weight and get in shape, some want themselves or their children to gain confidence or self-discipline. Whatever the reason, there were goals; and these goals can easily be lost in the fray of everyday training: kicking and punching drills, forms (kata), self-defense techniques, sparring, etc. Go back and re-visit your original goals. Have you achieved them? Have your goals changed? Without periodic examination of what you want out of your training, we can all lose focus and that can lead to uncertainty about how far we as students have come and where we want to go. Often, the goals we start with change either because we surpass those goals and thus set new ones, or because we have discovered something within us we did not know existed. For instance, a student that begins training to lose weight becomes an enthusiastic martial artist and then transforms his or her goals to becoming a Black Belt. Or, a student that began training to learn self-defense realizes the value of the workout and becomes further motivated to participate in other fitness-related activities they would have never begun otherwise. Be sure to look back and measure your successes in the martial arts. Sometimes, our greatest motivation for the future lies in our victories from the past. -Master JD Rifkin
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Banner training year for 2009
What is the number one factor effecting your success in the Martial Arts? Attendance. A student can only benefit from training with experienced instructors, supportive classmates, a structured curriculum, and a dedicated facility if they show up….consistently. Students that are regularly in class two to three (or more) times every week achieve success. The everyday events that make up your life can get in the way of consistent training: ball games, kid’s school events, homework, work schedules, travel, extracurricular activities, etc. But your always-changing schedule is also what keeps monotony away. Finding the time to make it to class two or three times a week sometimes means making sacrifices and sometimes it means just getting creative. However you make it to class, just get there. The results can be astounding, life-changing, and keeping your initial vision alive and your goals in the forefront will keep your training on track toward becoming a Black Belt ....and beyond. Beginning in the New Year, your class attendance will more directly affect your belt exam eligibility. In order to maintain the high standards to which we have always adhered, each belt rank now has its own minimum class requirement in addition to the belt stripes that must be met before receiving permission to test in the next exams. Using your student ID card to check in at the front desk will ensure students receive credit for that particular class. Students can ask at the front desk for their current class count. I look forward to a strong and productive year of great training and student growth! -Master Rifkin
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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

l\Last One Standing
Even in tough economic times like these, it is so important to keep your training consistent and keep your goals at the forefront. Oftentimes, we get sidetracked with our children’s schedules, work schedules, special events, school nights, etc. that we lose track of our OWN goals and aspirations. Now compounded with the pressures of a tough economy, we can lose ourselves entirely. Truthfully, the benefits of CONSISTENT training in the Martial Arts improves not only your physical being, but keeps you grounded, upbeat, protected and goal-oriented. Don’t let the everyday rigors and doomsday news forecasters dictate your life. Stay focused and review your original goals, both in and out of the Martial Arts. Are you working toward them? Do you see progress? Always remember that the investment in yourself or your child is a journey…a journey in which the experience enriches your life, not the destination. Though becoming a Black Belt in our school is a huge accomplishment, it is also a huge mile marker, not the end. In many ways it is the gateway to even greater understanding, continued training toward 2nd and 3rd degree Black Belt (Dan). These are the goals to hold on to, especially in difficult times. When better to aim high…..improve one’s health, safety and focus? Because when all is said and done, our economy and housing markets on the rebound, who will be ready and willing to lead? Truthfully, who will be the last ones standing? -Master JD Rifkin
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