From "The Karate Sensei"
by Maestro Peter Urban

I have come to believe that the most important thing for all of us in our young age is pleasure. The instant that is no longer the case, we enter psychological middle age. I am further convinced that middle age begins the instant we put work first in our lives. I call the "born again" feeling, putting the "work ethic first!" That stage is usually the most productive and creative part of most successful people's lives.

Old age, or what the Chinese call "wisdom time," commences when "routine" comes first. Routine itself is a superb self-defense mechanism. It keeps a lot of good souls in isolated and un-thanked jobs from going crazy. Dogs love it. The imprisoned look forward to it. They plan their escapes by it and its inevitability. The elderly and hospitalized count on routine.

I see life as that time distance we must traverse between the womb and the tomb. It is important to Karate Senseis to have an adequate self-defense mechanism with an excellent understanding of CW. This is important equipment on that journey. Overkill is the work that best decribes the essence of confidence. I teach my artist students to view overkill as quality. I teach my engineer students to view the word overkill as efficiency.

I believe that it is better to be respected than loved or feared. Fear is useful only when used properly. Imaginary fear is a real enemy. It is the fear of war in all of us that makes armies for all of us. Fear of poverty is good. Fear of work is bad. Fear of fear is stupid.

Karate Senseis take delight in teaching their students Karate to make them safe; not to make them dangerous! Cowardice is a form of laziness. Laziness is definitely the fear of work.

Karate Question: What do you do with work?

Karate Answer: ATTACK IT!

Perfection has its price!

Remember: In Karate psychology, mind control is self control.

Don't Forget: Anyone who can not control themselves is destined to be controlled by others.

Remember: Worry, superstition and prejudice are forms of shunting things in advance. Insurance, maps and understanding the subject are forms of facing things in advance. Simulation is the art of profiting from experience in advance. That is why industrial engineering is so interesting to everyone. It teaches us how to do that real good.

BLOCK SOFT, HIT HARD!

WORK HARD! PLAY SOFT.

I don't believe that confidence is a natural instinct. I also do not believe that the will to fail is a natural instinct. Confidence, (not to be confused with stupidity) is definitely a cultivated thing in us.