Path of the Warrior - Blue/Red Training
The Quest Center's "Path of the Warrior" course builds on the success-generation principles of personal confidence, ability to recognize potential danger, and effective response that you learned during White and Yellow Belt training. Beyond your grounding in "earth-like" stability and command under pressure, you will now go on to explore two more elemental possibilities.
The blue, water element, stands for the dynamics of power and knowledge. You will explore the cool and scientific attitude of learning a secret for success and applying disciplined training to develop that secret as a new skill. You will learn to use science, strategic timing, distancing and positioning to win over adversity. The "water influence" in our personality reminds us that we all want to know who we are, and that we are "right". Typical heroic character models for the water element are the resourceful scientist, troubleshooter, or investigator, cunningly and tactically shifting position whenever needed to facilitate a better angle on winning.
The red, fire element, represents the energy of committed intensity and focus as keys to accomplishment. The "fire influence" in our personality reminds us that we all want to experience connection with those we respect, and that we are respected and acknowledged in turn. We care that others care about us. Typical heroic character models for the fire element include artists and communicators, people "in touch" with just the right thing to do, winners connected and ready to generate explosive "energy in motion" through timing, positioning and leverage as principles for generating success against the odds.
In addition to tool development exercises utilizing training targets and shadowboxing for physical conditioning and refinement of technique, you will practice semi-free "randori" training, working with others to simulate what it feels like to recognize an attack and come up with just the right counter. Each lesson you experience in your Quest Center To-Shin Do Warrior Training Program will teach:
- A specific technique for protecting against an aggressor in a self-defense situation
- A focused conditioner for developing a particular mind and muscle strength
- A comprehensive tactic that relates to generating success in other similar situations
- An underlying strategy that relates to handling all forms of challenge in life
- A universal principal that provides insight into actualizing your highest potential
Advancing Through the Belts
As you progress through the colored belt levels that make up the Warrior Training Program, you will have an opportunity to explore techniques and strategies more than once on your road to mastery.
As a practitioner in your first six to eight months of training (Blue Belt/White Stripe and Blue Belt), concentrate on learning the details of the new techniques. Condition your body to be able to perform the techniques. Begin to get a grasp of the point behind the tactic being taught. You are learning the mechanics of how to make success happen.
As you move into Blue Belt/Black Stripe and Red Belt/White Stripe, concentrate on perfecting your mechanical skill and work to get a clear understanding of the principle that make the technique work. You are learning to apply the technique through a range of changeable conditions, and you are internalizing the technique to make it a natural part of you. This takes time, so be patient with yourself.
As you begin training as Red Belt or Red Belt/Black Stripe, concentrate on developing the ability to recognize an attack and pick out the right response. Test yourself under pressure. Have you learned to be in just the right place at just the right time with just the right response to turn potential defeat into victory? After learning the techniques and exploring the possibilities, you now have a set of tested tools for creating success.
At the end of each four-month training period you will likely be eligible to progress to your next rank. Keys for successful progression are the teacher's observations that you:
- Understand the purpose of the technique
- Can demonstrate knowledge of technique details
- Rely on unified body movement rather than individual limbs for power delivery
- Retain control of balance throughout the technique; body parts are aligned
- Demonstrate mental focus throughout the technique
- Exemplify concentrated "fighting spirit" throughout the technique
- Carefully observe safe and controlled technique practice with partners
Our goal is to have you progress successfully from one belt to the other every four months. However, this is not always possible or the best thing for you. Once you receive the red stripe on your belt signifying that you are ready to advance, you will be invited to a graduation ceremony where you will demonstrate some of your techniques and receive a new belt and diploma. Invite friends and family to come and cheer you on.
