Combat Endurance Training

Learning Team Work & Social Skills at Summer Karate Camp.

Nicklaus’ Martial Arts America provides karate lessons and martial arts lessons in La Crosse, WI and Onalaska, WI area. They provide character & leadership training for kids, teens, and adults as well as fitness, stress relief, and strength training.

Do you like Raspberry pie? Last week my son had some of his work buddies over for a swim in the pool. One of the boys lives out in the country and went to high school with and played basketball and football with my son.

We started to talk and somehow the conversation went to food. He asked me if I liked raspberry pie. My eyes lit up and my salivary glands started to kick in. I love raspberry pie.

He told me to make sure that I mention it to my son’s grade school principal. He told me that she makes the best raspberry pie on the planet.

So you’ll never guess what I did. This morning after my Combat class I walked upstairs to the school office and lo and behold who should be there working but the principal.

When our conversation was over I had put in my order for my very own raspberry pie. I’m smiling right now as I think about diving into that first piece of delicious country raspberry pie.

Don’t worry I know I’ll have to knock off a few more reps of Combat exercise to lose the raspberry pie add ons that I might get but rest assured it’s all worth it.

I stayed around to talk to Kay, the principal, a bit longer and we talked about how young people need to learn the value of working and making themselves valuable. We talked about adding value to the team.

I’ve had conversations with my son about when he graduates from college. I told him that I hope everything works out and that he finds the work that he is looking for. I also told him that if he didn’t find work right away he should seek a company that he would want to work for and get an interview.

In that interview he will tell the people at this company that he is willing to work for them for 2-3 months without getting paid. Why, because he will prove to them that he can add value to their team with his energy and work ethic.

As Kay and I talked we both agreed that young people need to realize that they are not entitled to anything. All of us must earn our respect and our living. I suggested that young people should spend some time on the farm and learn the value of getting their hands dirty. It’s a lesson that will serve them well for a long time to come.

There is nothing like rolling up your sleeves and working for what you believe in.
Putting your head down onto a pillow at night and being able to say that you gave it your all and that you brought value into your life and you brought value to your team members is a feeling that can help you sleep well at night and dream pleasant dreams of raspberry pie.

Best,

Fred Nicklaus

My older brother Gary will be 63 years old this August. Shortly after he was born he became ill and the disease left him physically and mentally handicapped. Sometimes I think about it and wonder what my brother would have been like had he not become ill.

My mother told me that back in post war Germany just after WWII there was not much hope that he would survive his illness. His fever would not go away and when his illness finally was under control the fever had left its permanent side effects.

As I grew up my brother and I were very close. He wanted to do all of the sports that I did and we spent countless hours playing ball in the neighborhood.

I remember many Sunday afternoons going over to the local park with a bunch of guys my age and playing tackle football. The guys would all take good care of Gary and he would be in there with all the rest of us giving it his best. We always had fun.

I remember the times that I gave him the ball and had to grab him and steer him towards the correct goal line because he had taken off in the other direction with a full head of steam getting ready to score a touchdown for the other guys.

I remember Gary coming to my football games in high school and my martial arts events while I was in college. It was good to have him there cheering for me. After the events I would always look for him and see him with a smile on his face and a ready pat on the back for me.

He was 12 years older than I was and I knew that if he hadn’t been ill as a boy that it would have been me who had come to his games and cheered him on. Even though he couldn’t play ball and do some of the other athletic things that I could, he was still my big brother and I was proud of him.

I came to realize what an important part of my life my brother was. Because of him I came to realize that life doesn’t always go as is planned and you strive on and make the best of what you have to work with. I can honestly say that I can never remember Gary griping about how bad things were. What I do remember is his ever present smile and willingness to give his best.

Over time I’ve had the good fortune to work with many physically and emotionally challenged people. Every time that I spend time with them I come away feeling that I’ve been given a gift. It’s a pleasure to see their smiles and feel their hugs and warm handshakes. The thing that is really inspiring is that they are very thankful for anything that a person does for them. There’s no fake stuff here. It’s the real McCoy.

Energy and passion for whatever it is that you do. What a gift. I’ve learned much from my brother and others who many would consider unfortunate or even simple. As I look at these special human beings I realize that it’s they who truly realize the value of getting up each day and giving it their all. I only wish that I can continue to work so that I too might have such a passion and zest for living every day.

God Bless and remember to make the most of your gifts,

Fred Nicklaus
Combat Endurance Coach