Cetificates of Gradutation for Team's 1 and 2

Here are the certificates from UBBT Team 1 and 2. Team 1's certificate was made by the famous poster artist Dirk Fowler. We did a firewalk on Team 1's graduation --and the poster represents the tranformation and rebirth of the testing process.

Team 2 had their poster designed by team member Patti Oji, an accomplished artist (and one tough black belt).

Graduate Certificate for UBBT Team 3

Well teams, this is one fine piece of art --created by Kim Christian, Dan Rominski's artistically gifted better half. This found and/or organic-object collage is a rendition of a photograph of a rock sculpture I did on the beach at Waipio Valley when team 3 was there for their eco-adventure. A rock sculpture is, to me, about balance --and about impermanence...two fine subjects for martial arts teachers to meditate on.

This is the 3rd certificate in the "black belt certificates as art" series...and my goal was to commission artists to make black belt certificates that were first recognized for their unique theme and beauty...and then only after that as an actual certificate.

In that we were all there at Waipio (one of the rocks is made up of a journal entry I made about my first visit to Waipio when I moved to Hawaii), and that we played hard on this beach (a couple of injuries too --and we almost lost John M.), AND that we moved about 6 ton of lava-rock at Jason Scott Lee's place there...well, it's the perfect piece.

Thank you to Kim and Dan! I am making a video on the making of this piece....which will be meant to accompany your certificate.
If you, after two years, actually MAKE it to the graduation, you will receive one of them.

Tom

Martial Arts Business Info (ala Tom Callos)

Short range; medium range; and long range –as martial artists we all understand the implications of these three distances when addressing a fight. Different techniques work at different ranges, period.

The idea of the three ranges could be expressed in three concentric circles, like in this picture:



But, the FIGHT is not any one of the circles, the fight is all of the ranges together –and each range is as important as the other in the context of a match. If you only work in one range you might find yourself in trouble if your opponent doesn’t give you the space you require. It is best to develop tools for all the ranges --and of course, that is stating the obvious, but the point is as follows:

Business is like this too.

You need to develop business and management skills that operate from any “distance” that relates to conducting a profitable and rewarding business (note: profitability is a factor of a rewarding business, but what profitability means depends on your own definition, goals, ambitions, needs, etc.).

The Inner Circle
Let’s say that the inner circle represents one aspect of your business, the basics. The basics are made of basic business protocol: appearance, cleanliness, procedures for greeting potential or current customers, dress codes, phone answering, client and prospect follow up, payroll, advertising and promotion, taxes, maintenance, profit and loss statements, etc. Very important stuff –and well-documented in the martial arts industry.

The Middle Circle
Let’s imagine that the next circle is personality based. This entails all the day-to-day interactions with potential students, current students, and former students. To be amazing at this range you have to have rapport-building skills –and a little charisma and charm don’t hurt either.

The Big Circle
The third circle, the big one, the long-range one, that’s about mission, direction, intent, vision –it’s all of the big-picture things. Why are you doing what you do? Are you a man or woman on a mission? Do you know exactly where you’re going? Do you have a selfish vision or a heroic one?

The little circle, most of it’s procedural; it’s how long you dip the French fries in the grease, it’s what color your uniform is, when you collect and pay taxes, it’s changing the retail display on Fridays, it’s everything that should and could be in a manual.

The middle circle is about smiling, focused, friendly, smart people. You can’t make a great people person by handing someone a business procedures book. You might help someone to learn some of the basics, but to master this range you need someone with a friendly, personable attitude.

The big circle? You need vision, you need purpose for being, and you need some wisdom.

You can buy a manual, you can hire good people, but for vision, well, for a vision that drives you, that serves you and everyone who works with you, you need to do “soul work.” You need to tap into a kind of thinking that is, well –visionary.

I believe that our industry is spending an inordinate amount of time focusing on short and medium range goals and ideas, both of which are vital, but incomplete if not backed up by big picture brilliance.

Making a profit, investing in moneymaking, wealth-building ventures, expanding your operation –these things are one fraction of what the biggest circle is made up of. Wealth building is the right hand of a 220-pound mixed martial arts fighter.

Spiritual awareness, community awareness, empathy for others, standing up against injustice, conscious consumption –these are just some of the big picture issues.

This is the realm of the Ultimate Black Belt Test and The 100. If you feel lost or like you’re too money-focused, if you easily lose your drive, if you wonder why you’re even doing what you do for a living –you are operating from a long-range perspective. This is the range I’m encouraging you to focus on, with at least one-third of your time as a businessperson.

If you want to talk about things in the small circle arena, turn to NAPMA, MAIA, EFC, UP, Member Solutions, Martialinfo.com, or any number of the other business groups ands information/content providers in the martial arts industry. They’re all good.

For medium range people-issues, learn how to develop good service providers by modeling companies that give amazing service, like Starbucks, like Pike’s Place Market, like Kovar’s Satori schools (PROMAC), Steve Lavallee’s schools in Florida, Tiger Schulman’s in New York, and almost any number of the larger martial arts schools in the world.

For vision? Look to people who are making a difference (or trying to) in the world. Like Olympic athletes, they aren’t EVERYWHERE, but they’re around. You may not stumble across one accidentally, but if you search you’ll find them.

One of the people that can help you with big picture stuff –is Thich Nhat Hahn. He’s going to be teaching at a week-long retreat in Estes Park, CO this August (for details, visit http://www.ultimateblackbelttest.com/ and go to TEST REQUIREMENTS, then to SPECIAL EVENTS).

My self-appointed job in the martial arts world is to leave the small and medium circle issues to my very competent friends and peers in the industry --and focus on the big circle. I see all of us, collectively, as part of the “team” of people who serve you, of which I am a part. They say it takes a village to raise a child –and I say it takes a village to raise a “master.”

I’d like to discuss, with you –the big picture. I’d like to help you develop long-range techniques –and I think you will find the work in this range to be just as important as good, solid business procedures and good people on the floor.

I am Tom Callos --and I may be reached at 530-903-0286 or tom@tomcallos.com

About Your Black Belt Test and School

To the Teams:

Good afternoon! I’m going to write you, now, about YOUR black belt test. I’m going to write you about YOUR school –what you teach and what you “sell.”

You might like what I write –and you might not, nevertheless, as coach to the team, I am compelled to “coach.”

Note this, first, before I begin: There isn’t a single issue in the UBBT that you won’t face in your own school with your own students. The primary difference between what we are doing here –and what you do in your school…is you.

You are the teacher, a leader, the head person, and some of you even use the title “Master.” You are not one of your students; you are the person who points the way. You impart the education, you set the example, and you lead. You are supposed to have the answers –and if not all of “them” –then specifically the ones that pertain to learning the martial arts.

If most of your students can perform at “level 10” –it is most likely because you have shown them “level 20.” You are not governed by the same rules, nor are you expected to fall victim to the same challenges that keep your students from excelling.

In my eyes you are not to be compared to your students, you aren’t to be held to the same standards. No, your standards are different, better-than, higher –you are a champion, an Olympian, an elite teacher, a leader of people. Your standards, how you deal with difficult situations, how you skirt defeat, how you find the way to succeed –these things set you apart, give you real value, and these are, in essence, the things people really want to learn from you.

Your Black Belt Test

Have you heard of this expression: “We are a Black Belt School”? Do you use that to describe your own school? Well, tell me, what does that mean? Does it mean that “black belt” is a standard? Does the concept mean that being a black belt is a good thing?

If it’s a good thing, what exactly is good about it?

Can you make and take a test that proves it? Do you live your life as a black belt? If so, then what does that mean? Is it found in the way you eat? In the way you interact with others? In your reading list? In your “projects”? In your consumption? Is it just a physical thing? Or have you spent your life developing an outlook and problem solving skills that are indicative of your training and rank? Or are you just like everyone else?

The Ultimate Black Belt Test is just one more opportunity for you to challenge yourself –to PRACTICE being who you aspire to be. Your life, the next minute, hour, and day ---these are all just one more opportunity to live like a master, to teach like a master, to BE in the practice of mastery.

What is martial arts mastery? YOU determine this. Set your sights low –and there you are. Set your sights high, hero-high, and THERE you are.

Hey, I have an IDEA:
Let me tell you what I’m going to do to contribute to your personal growth and development (isn’t it nice to have help sometimes?): I’m going to make a process…I’ll call it “The Ultimate Black Belt Test” (after all, the term “black belt”, as I understand it, is a universally accepted mark of skill and excellence) and I will challenge you to participate in a program where you get to SHOW THE WORLD what you’re made of. I’ll present you with a bunch of challenges, some of them nearly impossible to do, and then I’ll step back and let you run the show.

It’ll be the perfect opportunity for you to show us what skills you have, how you overcome conflict and problems. Why, you’ll be able to prove to people, especially your students, exactly why you are deserving of respect and why you are “the leader.”

I’ll work as your “PR” man –I’ll start telling the world about your test –and you get to show them the rest. Each week you can write a chapter in the “book” about your journey. Your students can get some insight into the complex and enigmatic world of a top “black belt” teacher –and imagine what you will learn from each other as you bond with like-minded people who are willing to undertake such an adventure. Wow.

Maybe, through this process, you will show your community exactly what you teach and sell! There will be no doubt in their minds! You’ll prove to them how powerful the martial arts can be! That power for transformation and growth!

What a gift! All you have to do is walk the talk of the martial arts!

Each day you wake up –and you get to start again! You’ll get in the best shape of your life, you’ll do all sorts of new things, and best of all, you will challenge yourself in ways that most people wouldn’t even dream of doing. You’ll be an “action hero” to hundred if not thousands of people(or not).

How cool is that!

Tom Callos
www.tomcallos.com