articleswrittenbyalliealberigo

Convenience Morality

by Shihan Allie Alberigo

When I was a young man around the age of 20, one of my martial art teachers taught me a very valuable lesson. Actually the reality is he did it unintentionally by stealing from me. Just recently another person that I thought was a friend of mine and a high ranking grandmaster did something similarly by showing me their true colors in a conversation we had, unveiling he had been holding a grudge for many years and never truly looked at me as a friend. In the first story the teacher didn’t technically reach into my pocket and take my money or go into one of my bank accounts and steal. We had entered into a business partnership together and he went back on a series of promises resulting in a huge amount of money lost for me and years of time wasted. The deal was, I would work hard and put in the time and make money through a series of companies we started and we would invest the profits into real estate, later flipping the properties for a profit and keep growing the business.

At one point he decided he was going to live in the very house we invested in and make it his permanent residence. In turn I was going to lose out on all the time, money, effort and energy I had put into this first deal. He justified his actions 100 different ways, skewing the facts but the reality was he was living in a house I worked hard for to buy. This was one of the most valuable lessons I ever learned.

Skip ahead 25 years, as a martial art teacher running a rather successful martial art school I deal with people on a daily basis interacting with hundreds of people. While the majority of clients are kind, honest, loving great people, I have seen a trend that supports my theory, leading me to believe that a majority of people will do what is right, expected and proper as long as it fits neatly into their schedule. If it takes above and beyond effort to do what is correct they may stop, making an excuse or finding a reason to walk away and not do anything at all. I have come to one definitive conclusion - society has adapted what I call “Convenience Morality.”

In a many situations people are frozen in the feeling of ease and comfort. One of my mentors and self-help guru’s Tony Robbins talks about the human desire to experience pleasure. I agree with his statement. Sometimes though this quest for pleasure may be short term and result in long term pain or at a minimum wasted time - RE: drinking alcohol, smoking, drugs, stealing, cheating, over eating or eating improperly etc. Another example that is less drastic may be procrastination. Waiting till the last minute to study for a test and then cramming. This person may pass the test but they will forget the material just as quickly – resulting in wasted time due to the lack of actual knowledge for time spent. The initial desire to experience pleasure is destroyed by the long term result of long lasting pleasure. The same goes for Morality. What can I do today that is easy to help people? There are a small percent of the population that will go out of their way to help people if it doesn’t fit into their comfort zone or pleasure. For example if we help someone and it makes us feel good, and is easy to do, we may do it. But if we know helping someone may create pain for us, a larger group of the population will avoid it. This again, is a matter or convenience or comfort.

I have proven this over and over again when I run charity events in my martial art school. With the mass volume of students I have in my school we could ban together and make a considerable difference. Unfortunately, when I speak to my students, parents and friends, they look me in the face and yes me to death. They don’t actually go out of their way to help.

Recently out of 350 people asked to help raise money for the C.T.F – Children’s Tumor Foundation only 30 people stepped up and actually helped us raise money. Some I really pressured and the only reason they did anything was to avoid the pressure I was putting on them on a daily basis, while others stepped up willingly. My pitch to all students was to simple go out and ask 5 people to donate. It didn’t matter if they only raised $20, which is a very small amount. If we multiplied that by 350 people we would have raised $5000. Instead 30 people went above and beyond and we raised $2700 dollars. 10% of the people put the effort forward, while 320 people stood by and did nothing.

Now in their defense, I can say, they are all great people: who knows how busy, involved with other charities or not aligned with this event they are. Maybe they are not comfortable with asking others, maybe feel funny or do not like the feeling they get when put in this situation. Maybe what I feel is right, is totally 100% different to them. Again, this supports my theory of “Convenience Morality.” If it is not entirely inline with their life, then they step away and do nothing. Another quick example is litter. I continually still see people throwing garbage out the window of their car, the biggest being cigarette’s. My daughter recently did a cleanup of a park with her girl scout troop – she cleaned up nearly one hundred discharged cigarette’s among other garbage. I can’t imagine people don’t realize what they are doing. What is it? Do they not care? Again, it is all about convenience. The convenience morality.

So rather then continuing negatively with what people should do. I want to layout a few scenario’s to help you or others grow their compassion and morality muscles and change their paradigm.

5 Steps to Change

1. Write down 3 things you would like to see change around you. For example: Litter, over eating etc. Then decide what you can do to make a difference. Remember – picking up garbage when you see it, removes it for others.

2. Help to educate others about your quest and this type of mentality. Take this article and share it with others. Ask them to be a part of the change. Start a movement.

3. Try to pass down your good behavior to your family. Don’t say “do as I say, not as I do.” Actually lead by example and teach others to do the same.

4. Create an awareness on facebook, or email friends about the good things you’re doing. For example: It was gross but I did it anyway – I cleaned up garbage on the side of the road, or in my neighbor’s yard. Etc.

5. Pay it forward – ask people that you do good for to do good for someone else. Not pay it back, but pay it forward. If you do a good deed and they pay it forward, it can literally impact millions. Remember we can easily complain about things we do not like, or we can be a part of the change. Let’s make a difference.

Allie Alberigo is a father, martial artists, martial arts school owners, entrepreneur and martial art and business consultant. For more information please email Allie at kyoshi@lininja.com or renshilininja@aol.com or call 1 888 Lininja or friend him on face book shihan Allie Alberigo.

Goals We Set Are Goals We Get!!

By shihan Allie Alberigo

The link to success is goal setting. In a Harvard study some twenty years ago, a professor interviewed nearly 100 people. In his study he asked how many people set goals. Out of the 100 people only 2% of the people actually set goals and stuck to them. Some 20 years later he interviewed the entire group and found that the 2% of the people that set goals had accomplished more and had a net worth that was 10 times higher than the entire rest of the group, quite a powerful testimonial for goal setting.

Usually the first of the year is a time when people set goals and plans for the upcoming year. Many people have high expectations of what they want to accomplish. Some may want to lose weight, get out of debt, become a better person, quit smoking or other bad habits, so they set their goals and go on a quest for self-perfection. The only problem is they are unarmed in the battle of goal setting. There are some basic principals that a person needs in order to realize the benefits of success and goals setting.

MAP- the massive action plan. This is the plan that takes you from start to finish. A person who falls short of accomplishing goals may not have a clear plan of how they are going to get to the end result of the plan. For instance we need to make a goal, have a plan, take consistent action, and have a success coach, review your progress and renew your goals. This is a student creed in the L.I. Ninjutsu Centers Martial arts schools of L.I., N.Y. I teach my students that goal setting is imperative to success in all that you do. Whether it be achieving your Black Belt or having the best marriage possible.

Consider this- Knowing what you want, for instance you want to lose weight. That is an admirable goal. So how do you do it? You must get on a diet and an exercise plan. You must have a plan - this plan is to set out a daily routine of what you want to do to get to that goal. Possibly going to aerobic classes, martial arts or even walking in the neighborhood. A success coach - this is very important. You need someone that can keep you on track, when you want to fall off, someone who will push you a bit. Take consistent action- this is going out everyday and working toward your goal. It takes 21 days to develop a good habit. So be consistent. Review your progress- take the time to see the steps you are taking and recognize them. See the strides and accomplishments. If you have none then reassess your plan. Renew your goals- this step is important because it helps you achieve the goal by realizing why and how come you set it in the first place.

Goal setting is a science. So set the goals and move forward. It is easier than 1,2,3.

Be the Change....

By Shihan Allie Alberigo

This is a monthly column that I have wanted to write for quite some time now. I read a quote somewhere that has stuck in my head since I was a young child, “ Be the change in the world you want.” I am involved with many different groups that want to make this world a better place, PETA = people ethical treatment of animals, WWF - no not the world wrestling federation, the world wildlife federation, The Tibet Press = to help free Tibet and give the Tibetan Refugees their country back, The Carol Baldwin Breast Cancer Research foundation which helps to find a cure for Breast Cancer, Project Action Foundation that awards scholarships to youth at risk for martial arts schools around the country as well as Earth Save - designed to help people become aware of the impact their diet has on society ,the world and themselves.

Ever since I became involved with the martial art of Ninpo I realized through Grandmaster Tanemura’s teachings that the world is a very intricate place and that everything plays a huge part from a micron all the way on up to the Rain Forests. Everything we do has a reflection on the world we live in. One thing people are led to believe is that one person can’t make much of a change. I say don’t believe the hype! With one person making a conscience effort there will be a better world tomorrow. Fight the good fight, my friends!

Did you know that 260 million acres of U.S forest have been cleared to create cropland to produce our meat-centered diet and another acre disappears every 5 seconds. At the present rate, in 50 years not a single tree will remain standing in the U.S. Yet the amount of trees spared per year by each individual who switches to a pure vegetarian diet equals an entire acre of land saved, daily. “Diet for a new America by John Robbins.”

Animal agriculture is more damaging to land, water, air and wildlife than all other human activities combined. It has been called the greatest threat to the quality of life on earth second only to nuclear war. FARM

The driving force behind rainforest destruction is the American meat habit. We import 200 million pounds of meat annually from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and Panama. Yet, people in those countries eat less meat than the average American housecat. “Diet for a new America.” by John Robbins

Worldwide a forested area larger than Denmark vanishes every 6 months. For every acre converted for grazing pastures: 200 million acres of once highly productive forestland is now reduced to grazing. PETA

The use of grazing and cropland for U.S beef production accounts for roughly 50 percent of rain forest degradation, in turn worsening the greenhouse effect and soil depletion, destroying wildlife habitats and compromising biodiversity. Rocky Mountain Humane society.

The decimation of Rainforest by companies like Burger King reduces rainfall in Africa. Each tree left standing can process 40 gallons of moisture daily into the atmosphere. American agribusiness destroys the rainforest to graze cattle, causing millions of birds, monkeys, snakes and others to lose their homes and lives as the massive South American rainforests which play a key role in the ecology and climate of the planet disappear. PETA.

It is my goal not to change people against their will. I am only making people aware of the possibilities if they make changes to themselves ever so slightly. Did you Know: that 1.4 trillion dollars was spent on the health care business in the year 2001. Over 150 million dollars was spent on health related diseases that could have been avoided due to proper eating habits of the American Citizens. To say the least we are eating and therefore building to create space for more food for ourselves to death. It is time to make a change. Don’t you think? It is up to you.

Allie Alberigo is a 7th Degree Black Belt in the art of Ninpo/Ninjutsu and Jujutsu and has been training in the martial arts for over 39 years, as well as being a martial arts school owner, self-defense expert, public speaker and business owner. Allie is the owner of the L.I. Ninjutsu Centers, which has locations in East Islip, West Islip, Port Jefferson, Lindenhurst, and Bermuda. In 2000 Allie his first book “The Beginners Guide to Ninpo” and has also released his first video “The Warrior Spirit” (39 minutes). If you have any questions do not hesitate to call 631-321-5432, email him at renshilininja@aol.com , or check them out online at Lininja.com. He loves to hear from you.

Developing Love and Compassion

By Shihan Allie Alberigo

Last month I got an overwhelming response from the article on “Developing Your Spiritual Connection”. An individual saw me in town and told me that the lesson on developing compassion actually is changing her life. She took the plan has been using it daily to make herself a more empathetic and loving person. My heart was touched.

I hope that through this series of articles I will be writing that many other people may find benefits in this unique philosophy. Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Catholicism, Taoism, Judaism as well as all other religions have one common goal and that is to be a loving, compassionate and empathetic individual. Imagine what a euphoric world we would live in if everyone just practiced a bit of these philosophies.

I propose that you follow a martial arts practice that I teach in the L.I. Ninjutsu Centers regularly. This practice should be done for a minimum of 30 days and is called “The Random acts of Kindness.” This was developed by a team of martial artists and is a take off from the motion picture “Pay it forward.” Perform 3 acts of kindness to 3 different individuals. One a family member, the other an acquaintance and last but not least a perfect stranger. Now of course when dealing with strangers make sure that you are careful about whom you deal with and in what manner. The good deads or “Random acts of Kindness can be anonymous or you can let the person know. The acts themselves could be as easy as holding a door, paying a toll for the car behind you or cutting your neighbors lawn while they are on vacation. You may take a home cooked meal to an elderly person or invite them to a family function. How about going to the local soup kitchen or a senior citizen home and helping develop the music program. You can come up with some on your own.

Here is the fun part. If someone does know that you did the good deed for them and wants to thank you, you in return tell them that they have to pay it forward to three other people following the same rules. Keep track and get back to me. Lets make the world a better place one good deed and person at a time. Please keep me posted on your progress.

Remember, my quote, “You must be the change in the world you want.” Let’s make a difference.

Allie Alberigo is a 7th Degree Black Belt in the art of Ninpo/Ninjutsu and Jujutsu and has been training in the martial arts for over 39 years, as well as being a martial arts school owner, self-defense expert, public speaker and business owner. Allie is the owner of the L.I. Ninjutsu Centers, which has locations in East Islip, West Islip, Port Jefferson, Lindenhurst, and Bermuda. In 2000 Allie his first book “The Beginners Guide to Ninpo” and has also released his first video “The Warrior Spirit” (39 minutes). If you have any questions do not hesitate to call 631-321-5432, email him at renshilininja@aol.com, or check them out online at Lininja.com. He loves to hear from you.

The Art of Making A Mistake

Taking from Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing by Rob Kiyosaki.

Instead of instructing his son and me to avoid mistakes, rich dad taught us the art of making a mistake and gaining wisdom from it.

During one of those lessons, rich dad said, “The first thing that happens after you make a mistake is that you become upset. Everyone I know gets upset. That is the first indication of a mistake, “Said rich dad. “At this point of upset, you find out who you really are.”

What do you mean, “Who you really are?” Asked Mike. “Well at a moment of upset, we become one of these characters, “rich dad said, going on to describe the cast of characters who are brought to center stage when upsets from mistakes occur.

The Liar. The liar will say such tings as: “I didn’t do that.” Or “No,no,no. IT wasn’t me.” Or “I don’t know how that happened.” Or “Prove it.”

The Blamer. The blamer will say such things as: “It’s your fault, not mine.” Or “If my wife didn’t spend so much money, I would be better off financially.” Or “I would be rich if I didn’t have you kids.” Or ‘The customers just don’t care about my products.” Or “Employees just aren’t loyal anymore.” Or ‘You weren’t clear in your instructions.” Or “It’s my boss’s fault.”

The Justifier. The justifier Says things such as: “Well, I don’t have a good education so that is why I don’t get ahead.” Or “I would have made it if I had had more time.” Or “Oh, I really didn’t want to be rich anyway.” Or “Well, everyone else was doing it.”

The Quitter. The quitter says things such as: “I told you that it would never work.” Or “This is too hard and it’s not worth it. I’m going to do something else easier.” Or “Why am I doing this? I don’t need this hassle.”

The Denier. Rich dad often called this person “the cat in the litter box.” Which means this person tends to bury his or her mistakes. The person who denies that he or she has made a mistake often says things such as: “No, there is nothing wrong. Things are fine. Or “mistakes? What mistake?” Or “Don’t worry. Things will work out.”

Rich dad said, “when people are upset due to a mistake or accident, one or more of these characters will take over their mind and body. If you want to learn and gain wisdom from this priceless mistake, you have to let The Responsible You eventually take control of your thinking. The Responsible You will eventually say, “what priceless lesson an I learn from this mistake?”

Rich Dad went on to say, If a person says, “What I learned is that I’ll never do this again,’ ‘I’m glad that happened because I learned this or that from the experience.’ Besides people who avoid mistakes or waste mistakes never see the other side of the coin.”

Synopsis:

To understand this article you didn’t have to read the book or even equate it to the finance world. This comes from a Zen philosophy. The art of looking within. To many times it is easy to blame other factors or act in a improper way because it is the easy way. At times it is best to take the hard road. The hard road is lined with benefits, ideas and learning experiences. The hard road is the best road.

Code Word -- Safety: The Link to Family Protection

By Shihan Allie Alberigo

The 21st century has brought about many changes. Technological advances beyond our forefathers imagination. Things we would only read in a science fiction novel or see in movies are now reality. As the world we live in grows technologically we have things that we have to contend with that has made our way of life different then it may have been 10 years ago. Remember as children running in the woods, digging holes, building tree forts, playing army with your friends, pretending you were Grizzly Adams, wearing a coon skin cap, playing baseball or sports in the streets for hours at a time. Hearing your mother call you in after an exhausting day so that you could eat a home cooked meal. The simple fact is we don’t live that way anymore, we need to protect ourselves, our children and the family as a unit. We fear for our lives and our children’s lives so we have to be careful and watch over them every second of the day.

One thing that I constantly teach my students and my parents is Code Word – Protection. You may be saying this sounds like something out of a James Bond movie but it is something far more simple. Understanding that predators of children are usually more intelligent adults and are far more advanced that any child at manipulating someone or devising plans to lure a child into a position that they may not want to be in. We need to eliminate to the best of our ability the chances of a child making this kind of mistake. We need to develop fail-safe systems that our children can follow and utilize to keep them out of harms way. This is where a simple code word fits in.

Lets say your child is walking back from the neighbor’s house. A car pulls up. The person in the car says “kid, hurry up and get in, your mom has been hit by a car and we have to go see her, or you dog has been hit by a car, we have to go see him or even your mom is sick we had to rush her to the hospital she told me to come and get you.” The child would respond from a distance “oh yeah what is the password.” At this point you would of already worked out a password. The password could be for example “Harry Potter.” The man in the car says she didn’t give me one, she is sick. So the child runs away to get to the designated safety area.

Code word safety enables the child to realize the situation and move on to another location. It also enables the child to have a heads up and run away. The situation may be true but the very fact is the child will return home or to a neighbor’s home and then call for help. Code word protection should also be used for opening doors to the home. These scenarios, the escape routes, the alternate safety areas and the power and strength it takes to tell an adult the word “No” should be practiced and walked through regularly.

I have been teaching martial arts for over 25 years and have 33 years of experience in the protection field. Code words are a good foundation that many people are simply not aware of. A simple thing like this could save you and your family a whole world of pain and suffering.

Allie Alberigo is a 6th Degree Black Belt in the art of Ninpo/Ninjutsu and Jujutsu and has been training in the martial arts for over 39 years, as well as being a martial arts school owner, self-defense expert, public speaker and business owner. Allie is the owner of the L.I. Ninjutsu Centers, which has locations in East Islip, West Islip, Port Jefferson, Lindenhurst, and Bermuda. In 2000 Allie his first book “The Beginners Guide to Ninpo” and has also released his first video “The Warrior Spirit” (39 minutes). If you have any questions do not hesitate to call 631-321-5432, email him at renshilininja@aol.com, or check them out online at Lininja.com. He loves to hear from you.

Choosing a Healthy Lifestyle

By Shihan Allie Alberigo

I have been in the health related industry for over two decades. I have watched the growing fads and diet plans rise and fall like the tides in the sea. I believe that we are in a resurgence of awareness of the health of society at large.

We recently held a Black Belt test for some of our most prominent students and they all did outstanding.. The reason I am bringing it up is, we have been monitoring what the students have been eating for the last three months. I am amazed at the diet of America these days. An amazing amount of the children and young teens survive on a diet mostly consisting of Pizza and Soda. Of course they throw in an assortment of goodies like chips, candy and ice cream. All in all they are eating foods that are not good for them. How can a perfect machine like your body run on these items?

I am not a dietician nor do I have any degrees in nutrition. I learned what I know mostly from reading books and doing courses on proper eating. I recommend that you take the time to write down what you eat for one month. Then continually review your diet. Eliminate the fuels (food) that don’t make you run properly. Imagine a car that ran on high test. Start putting half water and half gas in the engine and before long the engine will not run. The body is a perfect machine, it runs the same, it will continue to run on junk but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an effect long term. Disease is linked to diet in most cases. So you are truly what you eat.

Don’t be fooled by labels. Many times what a label says in not entirely the truth. Understanding that you may drink a Snapple and it says 110 calories but if you don’t read the fine print, one bottle is two and one half servings. So you are really getting 225 calories or more in many cases. It is not a trick it is a half-truth. Low fat most of the times means lower in fat than before. So if the company lowered its fat content in its product then it is lower in fat. It doesn’t take into account whether it is low or not.

In closing I recommend becoming a more educated consumer and watching what you eat. Not as it goes in your mouth but before you eat it. Eat healthy and live longer take your health to the next level. Investigate and educate yourself on what fuels you put in your body. Be careful.

Teaching Committment

By Shihan Allie Alberigo

There is something that I tell my students continuously “there is no try, just do.” It sounds as if Yoda was speaking to Luke Skywalker but it is not as esoteric as it may sound. This is simple to read and simple to say, but many of us fall short of actually doing it. If I had a dollar for every parent and student that has come to me and said “I want my child to develop self-confidence, self-esteem, self-discipline, self-control, focus and learn self-defense. My child really enjoyed their classes but I don’t want to commit for a year. I want my child to overcome their shyness or they need to listen more. I personally always wanted to learn the martial arts.” I would be a millionaire. A week goes by and the excitement is still there. A month goes by and the excitement is growing but the student is falling into the routine. A year goes by and it is becoming a routine and the newness is not their so the excitement is starting to fade slightly.

Renewal time comes around and the student or the parent asks themselves “do I want to commit to another year, do I want to spend the money, maybe I need to do something else, that excites me like when I first started the martial arts.” Well, the hard true fact is that unless you develop a skill like self-discipline then everything you do in life will have the same results. As any married person can attest your relationships never has the fire of when everything is new. This does not mean that it is not great, does it. It just takes some adjustment and realization that life is not just about fun and excitement. You need to dig deep inside sometimes to find the benefits, why you started in the first place. Why you got married. What you saw in the person in the first place. You cannot let your mind wonder and look for a new fix everytime the initial thrill wears off. This is your self-control and focus.

How many of us have quit something that we regretted in the future? How many of us justify quitting by blaming it on something else? Our jobs, the organization, the spouse, your friend they are all responsible. It takes self-confidence to be able to look in the mirror and say what can I do to make this better? What can I do to stick this out? How can I achieve the goals I set for myself?

For every parent that has told me I don’t force my children to do anything. Why should I make them go when they are not enjoying it? I don’t think that the martial arts are like regular school. I have to disagree. Martial arts if taught properly is not about kicking and punching it is about life. For every child that has quit I feel bad. Not for the child but for all that the child loses. No one will ever know what they have lost, because they have not put a value on what they have given up. It is only the people that achieve that truly know what people lose. For every parent that says they do not force their child or encourage them to do things. I say when was the last time you let you stay up all night, not eat correctly, or stay out all night drinking.

Every day you make decisions based on what you feel would be in their best interest or yours. Don’t you? Well the truth is as school owners we need to make the student and the parents understand that the martial arts will change their lives for the better. How do I do that? Most of all I talk about it, then I teach it and thirdly I live it. If the student is not present the lesson is not heard. That is why it is important to exercise your focus, self-control and self-discipline and make it to class. To teach the student when they least expect it. To train them in techniques of success without them really even knowing it, to help them achieve Black Belt Excellence as an everyday occurrence. Today is only what you have. There is not past. The future is only a dream. Make the most out of the moment.

Helpful hints on how to keep training.

Helpful hints for parents.

1) Don’t let your child relax before class. Don’t let them settle into their favorite video game or T.V show. Set up some time before their class to do some chores such as cleaning up their room, doing homework, or doing yard work even helping to prepare dinner. The martial arts school would be a invited break from this activity.

2) Don’t give into I don’t want to go today. If you do, you will show them that they have a choice. This will make it difficult for you, the next time.

3) Always encourage your child. Promote home practice and encourage participation in extra curricular events. Watch movies that are related to the martial arts with your children.

4) Be consistent and organized. The child does not like to be rushed from here to there and not have the proper uniform or fighting gear it is embarrassing to them.

Adults

Don’t let things get in the way of your routine.

Try to always make your classes each week. In a 168 hour week, 3-5 hours is not that much.

Don’t relax before training. Stay busy and motivated. Don’t fall into the pitfall of I do it tomorrow. That is one of the killers of good martial artists.

Don’t let burnout disguise itself as realistic reasoning. If you are tired rest properly but don’t quit.

Always trust your teacher and ask them for advice or a fellow student that may give you insight on the situation you are going through.