Excellence Is A Powerful Decision


Sensei Alan Says: Excellence Is Beyond the “I Can’t Place”

The "I Can't" place, is that mental point where we tell ourselves that we "Can't do" something. It's the first inkling in our mind, that maybe we're at our maximum ability. It’s where our feelings of wanting to DO, something, are overwhelmed by a greater, and growing feeling of wanting to just escape. It's the feeling associated with the “I Can’t Place,” the intellectual threshold of our own self-doubt.

As we become aware of our I Can’t place, “Doubt” takes center stage. Doubt, with its debilitating feeling of "I Can't,” brings a reality that we know all too well. If you are stuck, in the “I Can’t” place, you have to really dig in and push through.

For, to be sure, we can all aspire to and want to do more, and thereby, become more than we already are. But, we know also, that there are levels of performance beyond our capability. Nevertheless, in order for any of us to be more, than we already are, we must at least attempt to do more than we’ve already done.

And the good news is that in attempting to do more, we by definition, challenge the boundaries of our performance capability, i.e., we redefine the definition of our limits. That is a benefit of deciding to be excellent. We train, in fact, in order to challenge our limits. Therein lies the secret, to attaining excellence.

EXCELLENCE is to be found beyond the point where we say: "I can't" do this or I can’t do that.

That doesn't mean that by simply trying, that you are always going to be successful, any more than a baby is successful in its first attempts at walking. But, when you decide to be excellent, you’ve already agreed to want to try. And, this is important, because you’ve got to be willing. You’ve got to want to succeed.


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Remember this: The journey to "excellence" begins with the very decision to challenge the "I Can't."

We have to get beyond: “I Can’t,” because, in point of fact, we all know our limitations, before we reach them. We know what our limitations "feel like." We know our “quit place” better than anyone, although we try often to fool ourselves into not knowing.

Think about it. If we recall those times when we think that we're getting close - to what we imagine that we can't do - our minds will play that doubtful tune we're so familiar with. It's the sound of our resolve - beginning to slip away.

For example: take something as simple as the Push Up exercise. But, to dramatize the point, let's do those Push Ups slowly, and squeeze our muscles tight all the while. I call them Power Push Ups. And when we're approaching that place where it hurts...Oh Boy! And, in your mind you are saying something like: "Man, I don't think I can make it."

We feel our resolve being tested. The pain is the provocation. The muscles hurt…but not the Will. If you take a moment to consider it: Will Power doesn’t hurt. But, resolve can certainly be tested. And when that happens, then the Will must deal with the pervasive feeling of Doubt. So true, yes? And, the pain in the muscles can be such a big distraction. Pain makes the feeling of “I Can’t” feel real.

The mind reacts to that painful distraction - calling on us to "HOLD UP" --- "SLOW DOWN." Or some words to that effect. The brain is trying to warn us that we're approaching our limit. That care needs to be taken, or we might even Hurt Ourselves....!

I call that spot where doubt first pops up, the "I Can't" place. It's the threshold in our performance, where we can lose our focus on getting the task done, and instead begin to focus on the "maybe" associated with “Not” getting the task done.

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Well, for the record let me say, that the first "I Can't" place - is a fake!

You can do more. The first feelings of doubt are your body’s way of giving a warning. And IF you are not ready to challenge the definition of your own abilities; IF the definition that you’ve set for yourself, and which has very likely been seconded by those around you, who’s opinion you hold as truths….then it’s also very likely that you have reached your maximum. You're about to give up. Your limits have been determined, and you have chosen -- by choosing NOT to go forward – you have acquiesced to the limits of your capacity. You are what you’ve already done…and no more.

However, for those of us who seek excellence, we must push beyond this IMAGINARY “I CAN'T,” place and through the experience of doing that which we’ve never done before. It is there that we discover the magnificences of the human spirit.

By Doing, We Discover Excellence!

The space of time, the place and the doing - between the Imaginary "I Can't" and the REAL I Can't place - is the realm of excellence. It's a place where excellent lessons are revealed. It's a place where the spirit soars!

Sensei Alan Says: Excellence is a place where "I Can't" becomes:
"I AM!"

Sensei Alan Says:

“You don’t know a thing about Self Defense – until you know
the “Self” that you are trying to Defend –

True words these are, in the business of teaching “Self Defense.” I’ve learned that people often defend themselves, with very little concept of the nature of whom they are defending.

Untrained, and unprepared, they react “predictably- like Prey” The unprepared are the most likely to be caught by surprise and end up acting momentarily stunned! I call this the Flinch, Lock, and Change Up phenomenon.

On the other hand, the aggressor, or predator, depends on the predictable reactions of their prey, in order to be successful. Predators study the behavior of their prey. They want to know all there is to know about how to catch them unprepared. In fact, it is accurate to say that successful predators “prepare to catch the prey, unprepared.”

Take for instance the Bass fishermen. They can tell you all about the habits of their prey -- BASS. They know when the fish sleep, mate, eat, and where they are likely to habitat at various times of the day. They are successful because they are aware of the practices of their prey, and can therefore make informed predictions about the prey’s behavior. Bass fisherman use that knowledge to make them successful. The Bass on the other hand, are not so aware, and as a result, they become prey.

Examine the approach used by a team of big cats on the hunt in the jungle plains. Their tactic is to study the grazing patterns of the herd, and then to surprise their prey by pressing the attack on one side. The initial attack is the decoy. This attack is meant to be seen and subsequently to cause shock and a predictable reaction. The prey reacts by running away from the on-coming attack. But unfortunately for them, their flight takes them right into the direction of the awaiting ambushers – the other lions.

This tactic forms the basis for most ambushes, i.e. surprise the victims into a poorly defended position. The “trap” block in the game of football, is yet another example. This block depends on the penetration of the defensive lineman getting caught by a surprise block from an offensive lineman who catches them from an unsuspecting angle. To catch the unsuspecting or unprepared prey, by surprise, is the predator’s game, and the successful predators know what to expect from their predictable prey.
From a Self Defense Teachers Point of view, however, it is the lack of knowledge about the “SELF” that creates the big disadvantage for the prey – or victim. The trick is to be able to “ACT” and not simply react to the predators moves. Like the Boy Scout Motto: Being prepared, is the key.

Back to the jungle analogy, there are some antelope herds that follow the predators who come to drink at the watering hole. By keeping back a safe distance, some of the herd can drink, while others keep an eye out. They’re safe in the knowledge of how far is the distance between them and the predator. They’re safety is again, based in knowledge.

In the business if creating excellent self-defense students, it is important for them to know - first hand - by weakness they have to be exploited. They must first learn to “cover their weaknesses” or protect there down side. That leads to confidence, and skill building awareness.

Most importantly – it makes them a much tougher prey. There's more.... but we’ll save that for the next lesson.