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Health & Fitness

What's Better, Knowing Better or Doing Better?

From my experience observing and training students and professional people, it is safe to say that most people know what is good for them but struggle to put that knowledge into practice.

  • People know they should eat healthy food but don't

  • People know they shouldn't smoke, take drugs, or other harmful substances but do

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  • People know that they need to get more activity into their lives but don't

  • People know they need 7-8 hours of sleep but don't

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    People “know better” they just don’t “do better”. It’s been reported that most people take better care of their car then they do of their own health.


    The US is known for having the best medical care in the world. However in light of the Affordable Care Act, while the US may be the leader in technological advances and medical research we are desperately lacking in providing better care to the masses. The US “knows better” but the US doesn’t “do better” than other developed countries.


    Why is knowing something so hard to put it into action?


    UMAC hosts a championship between our four schools and the competition is fierce, especially between our demo teams. Last year the competition for best demo team came down to a tie. To determine an outright winner, the two teams elected their best representative to perform a Taekwondo Form of their own choosing. Both competitors were excellent and Grandmaster Kim made the final judgment, choosing the student who performed the more difficult form over the student who possibly did a little better job but a less rigorous form. This was a valuable lesson for all the students and their parents...to be the best you need to perform the best, extend yourself...taking the easy road rarely leads to success.


    We applaud both students for their efforts. And we appreciate the student winner, who decided that to win, he would not only have to do the best but do the best while doing the most difficult Taekwondo Form...not necessarily the form that he was best at.


    I liken this to the adage, “walk the walk and talk the talk”.


    Practicing and teaching Taekwondo has made me a better person. It has taught me many life lessons which I incorporate into my everyday existence. This past weekend I ran the NYC Half Marathon with a goal of 2 hours...I came in at 2 hours 18 seconds. With 3 miles to go my legs started cramping, slowing me down...by at least 18 seconds (Ha!). But I trusted my Taekwondo training and repeated the mantra, “I am a Black Belt”, “I am a Master”, “I can not stop”. I applied what I practice and teach and put it into action to be the best I can be. And you can too.


    Maybe a combination of Knowing Better AND Doing Better is the secret to success.


    What do you think?


    Thank you for this opportunity to serve you.


    Master Chris Berlow, 6th Dan

    Professional Martial Artist, Owner, and Author

    UMAC Briarcliff

    https://www.facebook.com/UMACbriarcliff

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