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Chemistry Involved in Changing Habits

March 22, 2016 by Clara E Minor Leave a Comment

Chemistry Involved in Changing HabitsWho knew that chemistry was involved in how successful we can be with changing habits. The following blog post by James Clear explains how it all works in our brains and how changing habits works (or doesn't). See if you can see your 'sticking points' after reading this article by James Clear. The good news is that you can change all those 'sticking points.' You first have to identify them. Only you can do that for you. Or you could hire me to come live with you for a bit...I would find them for you. (On second thought, let's ixnay that idea...lol.) Seriously, this article can be an eye opener.

The-Chemistry-of-Building-Better-Habits

Let me know what you think.

Clara E Minor
Master Instructor-Trainer
MINORSAN Self-Defense & Fitness

 

Filed Under: Fitness & Health, Martial Arts/Self-Defense Tagged With: adult martial arts, confidence, exercise, fitness classes, habits, martial arts, martial arts classes, self -esteem, self-confidence, self-defense, workouts

Martial Artist from Spain

December 27, 2015 by Clara E Minor Leave a Comment

Martial Mrtist From Spain - Jose Maria GomezMartial Artist, Jose Maria Gomez, is Grateful~

Good Day! I received the following from a Black Belt Martial Artist from Spain. This man is one of my Black Belt students and made great effort to be here this Summer. After his trip to our Studio this past August, he felt compelled to write the following:

“!Hi!,

My name is José María Gómez but everyone calls me Chema.

After reading Clara’s words about my visit I was so overwhelmed and moved I had to let you know by writing this letter.

Clara, I want to express my gratitude for the trust you placed in me as your student and for letting me be a part of your awesome Minorsan family. It has been a great privilege and honour. An amazing experience.

Clara is an exceptional human being people want to be around. She is the kind that brings positive energy wherever she goes. I see her as the epitome of Martial Arts Master. She spreads the knowledge, wisdom, insight and experience. Also the right values and ethics that she carries within herself. Clara’s Martial Arts Programme is unique, a real gift. The ones that embrace it would be able to transform their lives for the better. It carries you beyond the self-defense technique, making students feel more confident, fulfilled and content.

During my  visit I had the honour of witnessing Maria Buenafe’s Black Belt Test. She is a real warrior and a brilliant martial artist. I was so impressed with her performance and technique and also by her spiritual and mental strength, dedication, integrity and courage. Congratulations once again, Marcia!

I really enjoyed meeting new people and interacting with all the students made me so happy. I want to thank all the Black Belts, Ron, Brent and Marcia for their help in my trainings. Also thanks to Bobby, Analicia and everyone there, I really appreciate it. I learnt a lot from you all and I hope this will continue.

Clara I was so sorry to hear about your accident. I wish you a smooth recovery and hopefully kicking-butt soonest!

God Bless you all.

Chema’s humbleness exemplifies the best in Martial Arts attitude. His respect is unparalleled and he is a great example of a true martial artist. Thank you Chema.

Sincerely,

Clara E Minor

Master Trainer/Instructor

MINORSAN Self-Defense & Fitness

Filed Under: Fitness & Health, Martial Arts/Self-Defense, News Tagged With: adult martial arts, martial arts, martial arts classes

Adventures of a Broken Arm

November 25, 2015 by Clara E Minor Leave a Comment

On the town on a Friday night networking, partying, dancing, eating great food (served by our very own Hedy Nochimson of Plate & Bottle), and generally having a great time at the Little Black Dress event, a fundraiser put on by Monica Karst of the Santa Cruz Socialites. Awesome event with great friends and colleagues.

little-black-dress

Little Black Dress Antics…with Monica Karst (Santa Cruz Socialites), Leta Jusilla and Michelle Bean (both of Optimal Health and Fitness).

I left a bit early (it ended at 10:00, and I left by 9:20 pm), as I had to teach classes in the morning starting at 8:00 am. As is my usual pace (fast, and it’s great for repelling the bad guys), I walked down the driveway, and was just ready to turn left (my intuition told me to get out my small flashlight, however, my head thought it knew better and told me “Nawww, there are lots of street lights. Don’t need the flashlight,” feeling a bit like Smeagle. Not 10 seconds later, my left boot caught the embankment as I was turning, and sent my body sailing across the sidewalk and into the tire of a parked SUV. Both arms were thrown back. I did not have time to break and roll. My right arm hit the tire, and my knees acted somewhat as breaks on the concrete, as I propelled forward. In that moment I felt the right arm protruded wayyyy back, and there was a slight numbing sensation. I knew I had effed up. My brain labored that I would need surgery, and months, maybe years, of therapy. And have pain forever…I just knew it.

Got onto my hands, untouched in this fiasco, and stood up with a bit of knee pain, but still able to walk. I slowly pulled on my arm forward, and of course it was in tremendous pain, not unlike childbirth. It was bent at the elbow by design from the incident. Grabbed my purse (btw, forgot my camera somewhere there on the concrete…so if anybody turned in a Nikon, let me know…lol…yes, it got thrown too), and I walked a few hundred feet. I had to sit down. Got back up, walked a bit more, then realized I was not going to be able to drive (yeah, I was still focused on getting to my car).

Got on my phone and called a couple people who were still at the event. Of course they did not hear their phones, as they were still dancing to great music by DJ Sparkle who played the most fantastic music! (That part of the event was the most fun!) I called a couple more people, and Marica Buenafe came to my rescue. She was at Dominican ER with me until 3:15 am!!! She has more info on the comings and goings in Emergency that night…lol.

myboot

The tear my boot took…

Even though I was in pain (after 2 meds, a single shot to the (other) arm, then a double shot to same arm), I was able to quickly fall asleep, as I was by now, exhausted. My arm had a clean break (Great testimonial for the effects of BodyPump training!).

myknees2

Ready to get wheeled out of ER…with a barf bag…

So here I sit, on the mend, ‘eating crow’ because I did not listen to my own intuition, and I teach this! I teach it in my martial arts classes, my self-defense classes, and I even throw it into fitness workouts! Lesson two: slow down fool…

clara's-martial-arts-arm

This is a few days after…

I’m sure I’ll see lessons 3, and 4, and 5…who know how much will come out of this. So far, I am enjoying the fact that I have an awesome staff! My Crew of 19 are fabulous, capable, reliable, fantastic, totally awesome, and so #badass! They get the job done, thank you verr much! Kudos to Marcia Buenafe and Robin Ludington for their exceptional help, and to Analicia Cube, Cassandra Coraggio, Brent Rohrs, and ALL my subs and help: Sophie Calhoun, Connie Kreemer, Anika Wong (for stepping in to teach BodyPump while on vacation here!), Melissa Finsthwait, Samira Hartje, Dixie Mills, Denice Kowalski, and Bernadette Franzel. And thanks to everyone on my entire Crew: Kira Durant, Amanda Clark, Carolyn Wormhoudt, Jenna Giuliani, Jillian Chesley, Katie Landau, Alma Arquiza, and Lorna Russo. They keep the studio humming!

And btw, that night at Little Black Dress made it totally worth it!

Much Love,

Clara E Minor

Cultivating #badasscourage, and encouraging you to #fight4YOURlife!

 

 

 

Filed Under: Fitness & Health, Martial Arts/Self-Defense, News Tagged With: adult martial arts, courage, fight for life, fighting, fitness classes, kickboxing, life success, martial arts, martial arts classes, Santa Cruz California, self -esteem, self worth, self-confidence, self-defense, success

Martial Arts Can Transform Your Life

September 14, 2015 by Clara E Minor Leave a Comment

As busy as this past Summer was, I held a Black Belt Test, and promoted Marcia Buenafe to 1st Degree Black Belt in our Martial Arts Program. Her test was completely incredible. She did so well. She worked on this for 5 + years. But what is 5 years, when you and your life are completely transformed. Her emotional reactions are amazing to say the least. Her new calm is impressive. Her self-confidence has soared! It is such a treat to see how much change a person can go through when s/he is willing to get there. Her dedication, perseverance, and commitment to her larger picture are what made the difference. This cannot ever be taken away from her. She can only add to it. Huge congratulations to Marcia Buenafe, a true Martial Arts Black Belt, living life her way.

Present at her test was my student from Spain, Black Belt Jose Maria Gomez. Training here, he was able to be on the Board for her test. Needless to say, he was completely impressed. He is such a shining example of what martial arts is all about. Respect, confidence, integrity, standing your ground, and knowing how to kick-butt if he had to. He stayed with a local family in Santa Cruz, and here is a short story the hosts, Shalom & Vito Victor, tell about Jose Maria Gomez:

“Jose Maria was a guest in our home in Santa Cruz, CA. for two weeks. He was here to work with Clara Minor to further his knowledge of Martial Arts; technique, mind set, discipline and fitness.  From the beginning we witnessed his perseverance and his dedication to Clara whom he felt was the best teacher there was for him to continue his learning; although he had been an instructor in Spain for thirty years. 

He spent his entire time here going between Minorsan and our home. Jose seemed to exemplify the mental qualities of the teaching, in the responsible way he behaved in our home. After a training he would rush back to our home to put down what he learned before he was to return to the studio. He was neat and clean, and always left in time to be present for training. He ate simply, a self discipline that was impressive, so as not to be uncomfortable for class. He was and is a devoted and passionate practitioner of the Art of Self Defense. He explained that the purpose of the teaching was to learn to live the techniques that foster non-aggressive interactions with others.  If he returns to Santa Cruz for further teachings we would feel happy to host him again.”

—Shalom and Vito Victor

Some of our members had a chance to meet Chema (Jose Maria). If you did not, he will be returning. I always love meeting people whose homes are in other countries, and then getting to know them and their perspective on life, living, and happiness. They have so much to teach us and share with us, and vice versa.

I cannot overemphasize how truly transformative our Martial Arts Program has been for many individuals. There is nothing like it on the planet. Learning to kick-butt, and then using your own spiritual guidance in how/when you apply it, is a powerful skill and a true gift to give yourself. You are in control of your own life, and there is nothing better, nor more powerful, than that.

Power ON…

Clara E Minor is the Master Instructor/Trainer for MINORSAN Self-Defense & Fitness in Santa Cruz, CA. You can reach her at contact@minorsan.com

Filed Under: Martial Arts/Self-Defense, News Tagged With: adult martial arts, anti-bully, martial arts, martial arts classes, Santa Cruz California, self worth, self-confidence, self-defense

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