Joseph Winn is a 2nd Kyu Brown Belt at the University Karate Center and has been a student here for about 3 years. He is very dedicated and hard working during his practice, and always gives every class his best effort,

Joseph was born on February 6th, 1985 in Fort Lauderdale, and he has lived in this area his entire life. He started karate at age 11, hoping to learn self-defense and gain discipline. He then discovered that he enjoyed his lessons a lot and decided to stick with it and work towards the schools goal of Black Belt excellence.

In his spare time, he likes to surf the internet for marine biology websites along with space and sci-fi websites. He also likes to read sci-fi adventure and mystery books, play Nintendo, and watch TV. Some of his favorite TV shows are X-Files, Star Trek Voyager, Sliders, First Wave, and Quantum Leap. His two favorite Nintendo games are Episode One Racer and Zelda 64.

Every summer, Joseph and his family go out west. He has a lot of fun going four-wheeling, mountain biking and hiking, on the side of cliffs! But when he gets back from these trips, he is ready to go back to school. This year, he is going into 9th grade at Plantation High School.

Joseph already has a good idea of what he wants to do when he grows up. He wants to be a Marine Biologist or a Computer Programmer. Or maybe both! Both occupations really interest him.

One of the best tools that you can acquire as you go through life will be a winning attitude. Whether in the Martial Arts, in school, or in business, a winning attitude will give you the extra push you need to succeed and make you shine. In fact, one of the most important elements to success in the Martial Arts, and life, is to carry a positive, winning attitude with you wherever you go. But what does it take in our everyday lives to develop a winning attitude?

A positive outlook is the single most important element in achieving a winning attitude. If you hold a positive attitude you are able to relate to the world on a positive basis. People with a positive attitude always look for the "can do," rather than the "can not do" side of each situation they face. If you think positively, you can have a better chance of succeeding than if you take a negative approach to the situation. Having a positive attitude, means believing not only in yourself, but also seeing others in a positive light. A positive attitude is contagious. When it is sincere, people with whom you come into contact will relate to you and your activities with a vitality and positive attitude that creates a winning, successful environment.

Sensei Mason (center) with Sifu Eric Lee and Sifu Karen Shepherd These two legendary Kung Fu Masters recently received awards in recognition of their winning attitude

Another important element in achieving a winning attitude is passion. Passion is the driving force within those people with a winning attitude. It sets them apart from others. Passion is an energy that gives them the fuel to realize their potential and feel good about themselves. When you begin to realize your potential and feel truly good about the person that you have become, you will begin to feel truly good about the person the you have become. In short, you will begin to believe in yourself. You must also constantly remind yourself to encourage others. This is the essence of cooperation within the Martial Arts community.

A final element that can help you to have a winning attitude is energy. If you maintain a high level of physical energy, it will prevent you from feeling tried and discouraged when adversity strikes. Physical energy can be obtained through maintaining a healthy diet, working out regularly both in and out of the Dojo, and taking care of you body and yourself.

Martial Arts Style Focus: The Origins of the Shaolin Fist Arts

Each style of the Martial Arts has it’s own rich history and traditions. The Martial Arts Style Focus is designed to help you learn more about different forms of the Martial Arts so that you can build a greater understanding and respect for a wide range of forms and styles.

The Shaolin Temple was first built around 495 CE, by the Chinese Emperor Hsino Wen. It was the great Shaolin Temple in the Songshan Mountains of central China. This is where Bodhidama, a sixth century Indian Monk first introduced Buddhism, meditation and fighting techniques to the Shaolin Monks. The Bodhidama introduced to the monks a form of breathing exercises and martial arts based upon animal movements which were designed to strengthen and condition the body.

Arts such as Shorin Ryu (Shaolin School) and Shorinji Kenpo (Shaolin fist arts) have been influential in the development of numerous styles of Martial Arts including Jiujitsu and Kempo, as well as several different styles of Karate. Each of these fighting systems offers something both unique and special to the makeup of the Martial Arts. The general philosophy behind the development of so many styles of Marital Arts is this: the ultimate in form and function for self defense lays not in one way or style of fighting but the integration of the strengths of many methods.

The Shaolin fighting system was intended to promote health and wisdom in the monks. The Shaolin theory of fighting was based upon effective multiple strikes off of a powerful mobile base, with linear, angular and circular offensive and defensive motions. This was coupled with simultaneous manipulation of the opponent’s upper and lower body masses. The art of the Shaolin, with its graceful movements for development of the internal energy and balance of the body’s external strengths, developed in Okinawa into a more linear system, becoming a formidable Martial Art with the power to strike effectively through the bamboo armour of a Samouri. In Japan during the 1920’s and 30’s this method was blended with Jiu Jutsu to become the Wado Ryu, or Way of Harmony style. Most recently further integration has led to the development of Mugendo, the "Unlimited Way" of the MuDoKai Karate System, which is our style.

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