Welcome to one of the best adventures you will ever have in your entire life! It is an exciting journey--it's your martial arts journey. Your friend and your companion on this journey will be a different and a very special martial arts book. This book is better than a book about famous movie stars or television actors. This book is even better than a book about your favorite sports hero. This book is like no other book you have ever seen or read. This book is about YOU and it will be written by YOU and lots of people will want to read it. The best part will come one day in the future when your son or daughter will want to read the book that you wrote when you were just a kid! When your child wants to hear about your true martial arts's adventure, you will be able to share it with them.

The best way to think about this book is think of it as your best friend--you know the kind of best friend, the kind you tell everything. The only difference is when you write in your martial arts training diary, you are really writing to yourself, and your diary will have a perfect memory (unlike most best friends). When something really good happens, write it in your diary and when something bad or sad happens, write that down too. Oh, and don't forget to write the funny stuff or scary things down too.

You will learn a lot in this book. You will learn a lot about your style of martial art; you will learn a little about other martial arts; and most importantly, you will learn a whole bunch about yourself. You will learn how to be the best martial artist you can be. You will learn how to work SMART and how to have fun at the same time. You will learn how to use a martial arts training diary. If you learn a great secret combination that always seems to work against bigger people then you can write it down so you won't forget it later.

Your martial arts training diary will be a place you can go to get inspired, a place where your spirits can be lifted if you are feeling down. There will be interesting stories and quotes from famous people that will help you see the best in a situation. Also, you will find the words that you have written in the past will really get you excited about what you are doing right now. A friend of mine fell off his bicycle and hurt his right leg the day before his black belt test and he was really worried that he would not be able to break the boards with his left leg. Well, he did it and with no problems. Now, whenever he is worried about something in his martial arts class (or anywhere when things go wrong) he just thinks about that black belt test and says to himself, "It's OK. I can handle it!" It is important to keep track of the things you have done and can do.

Your martial arts diary is also a very important training tool. It will help you get the most from your teachers, your classes, and your practices. There will be many valuable coaching points that will help you learn what the important things are for you to focus on and what things to think about. When it is time to start sparring in class, you get really nervous and have butterflies in your stomach. Maybe you are afraid that you might make a mistake or look bad. Well, you should talk to your instructor, spar with some friends who you are comfortable with, and most importantly, relax and have fun! If you want to get really good at sparring, you have to relax and have fun. Your instructor can help you accomplish this, and you will not have to have a perfect memory keeping everything straight because you can write it down in your diary.

Your training diary also has many puzzles, games, and fun ideas that are very entertaining. This is a book that you can pick up and read any time and any place. Also, if you feel like starting in the middle, you can. If you want to start at the end, you can do that too. If you just want to play a couple of cool games, that is your choice too! How about planning a party with all your friends where you get some martial arts movies, some drinks and snacks, and have a martial arts movie marathon. Or if you are really creative, make your own martial arts video and show that at the party.

Your martial arts training diary will be as good as you want to make it. The more photographs, drawings, and taped interviews you have, the better it will become. You need to record how you feel before your first official class, and maybe get someone to take a picture the first time you put your uniform on. Then, it will be important to record how you feel when you win your first trophy or tournament, and maybe even a photograph the day you finally earn your black belt. All these events are extremely important, from your first day in class to your black belt presentation and every day and event in between.

Training diaries have been used for years and years. Olympic athletes, weight lifters, body builders, swimmers, runners, almost every kind of athlete has used them. It is a place to keep track of what's working and what's not. It's a place to keep track of the best day you ever had and the worst day; you write it all down. Now is the time for you to take advantage of this great training tool.

Martial Arts Balloon Game

The Martial Arts Balloon Game is played with one or more players. The game is a little easier if the balloon is shaped like a ball (other shapes are more difficult but also fun).

Normal Game. Here is how the game is played. The players get together and one player throws the balloon into the air. Then the players try to keep the balloon in the air as long as possible without it touching the ground. Every time someone hits the balloon to keep it up in the air the players count the hit.

Sounds pretty easy--well here's the catch. Martial Arts Game. When you play the martial arts way you are only allowed to hit the balloon with martial arts techniques. You can punch, block, use feet, elbows, knees, head, anything that is a martial arts move.

Training Diary Note. If you play this game often, it is a good idea to keep the record (most hits that day) and the players' names written in your training diary.