Impact Martial Arts Newsletter

Project News for December & January -- Building a More Peaceful World

In This Issue

Behavior Change Contract

Give a Kid Some Legs

Quick Links

Ultimate Black Belt Test - Team 5

Featured Article

Behavior Change Contract - December thru January
Good Work (Choong - Sil)

Dear UTA members,

This is a copy of the newsletter that I sent out to my students. I know most of us are on board with the project to get Brian Camp new legs, but some of you may not know of this project. If any of you need further information on this project, call me.

With your help, our UTA is going to take on the World, truly quantifying our "Building a More Peaceful World". I cannot do this on my own, I need you and your energy. The world needs you, our children's children need us. Read on...

Behavior Change Contract

Behavior Change is something that most of us need...not all of us, but most of us. What is your dragon - overeating, drinking, too much work, not enough exercise or family time, not being the person God is calling us to be? Our December/January Behavior Change Contract is something that I would like all of us to participate in.

The Behavior Change Contract has several questions that will lead us to a goal or a set of goals that we can all participate in. Students and parents, we ALL should do this. What an example as a parent, that we fill one out and have our child sign it. Hold each other accountable! My goals, my life, my behavior change contract is on an extremely public stage at: Ultimate Black Belt Test - Team 5

Once you click on the above hyperlink, click on the following UBBT journal pic that looks like this:

UBBT throw pic

Check back weekly for updated journals on my quest to become a better instructor, a better man!

The questions that will be answered on our Behavior Change Contract is:

What behavior do you plan to change?
What are you doing with this behavior right now?
Where do you want to be with it in two months?
What is going to be the hardest thing about changing this behavior?
What are some strategies that you will use in your plan for change?
What are some negative things abut making this change?
What are some positive things about making this change>
How will you reward yourself when you succeed?

I would suggest making the behavior change contract very open in your house...post it on your refrigerator. Put it in a place where all can see what goals the person or family members are striving for.

As always, I am open to suggestions and comments. This contract may not be for everyone, just let me know if this is something you are not interested in working on for the next eight weeks.

Give a Kid Legs

In January, we will be doing a fund raiser for Brian Camp. Brian's story is one that our group could not but help doing something for. One of our Masters in the UTA is a nurse in a burn unit in Memphis, TN and he befriended this young man and his family. After hearing that his family could not afford a prosthesis, we decided to jump right in. Being martial artists and ones that use our legs to do what we do, we thought this would be a great way to kick off the new year with a meaningful project. Here is more on Brian:

On December 12, 2006, Brian was in a car accident, he was knocked unconscious and his car caught on fire. Even though the first responders arrived within 5 minutes or less, they assumed no one was alive, until they heard yelling. The car was wedged between trees and was headed down an embankment; they could not open the doors or use the jaws of life. Finally, a firefighter jumped on the roof of the vehicle, broke out the sunroof and pulled Brian to safety.

This wreck was an accident, alcohol or drugs were not involved, however, Bryant said to me, "I had been to Wendy's and had a Frosty."

Brian lives with his mother Angelie, father Frank, and 3 younger siblings, all brothers ranging in age from 4 to 13. He attends a small Christian school west of Tupelo, Mississippi.

Brian is 17 years old and is among the top in his class, which is great, given the amount of time he spent as an inpatient at the hospital. While in his daily outpatient program, Brian puts in 4-5 hours in therapy then returns to either home or a hotel and does school work and tests via the Internet.

Prior to his accident, he played football and some basketball. However it appears his love is presently football, as he is a huge Alabama Tide fan. Brian's therapist say he is a great kid and anticipates he will become a great adult. He plans to attend the University of Alabama.

Currently Brian is facing a new challenge, lack of money for prostheses. Brian will require even more care with prosthetic fabrication, secondary to the severe burns and loss of fascia he has experienced. The team that is currently working with Brian has over 25 years of positive experience fitting and training individuals with prostheses following an amputation secondary to burn injuries. The higher the level of amputation, the more components that are required to become ambulatory and, in Brian's case, return to several recreational interests.

Tien Tran, Certified Prosthetist and Fellow of the American Academy of Orthoepic and Prosthetics, is the owner of Bio-Design Prosthetics and is very experienced with fitting and modifying prosthesis for individuals with amputations due to burns. Tien is Dr. King's recommendation for fabrication of the prosthesis.

Capabilities For Living, LLC has staff with over 30 years of experience with individuals with burns and amputations and will provide prosthetic training. Their website is: www.capabilitiesforliving.com.

The doctors have donated all their time and energy to Brian because of his lack of financial means. The family applied for assistance for the prosthetics and did secure three thousand dollars, but his new legs will cost approximately $30,000. It is the goal of every UTA school to come up with $600 each to pay for Brian's new legs. My plans are do do a spar-a-thon with the goal of raising our share of the $600. Any additional funds that we make will be give to the family for any additional financial assistance they may need.

If anyone would like to speak to Sandy, his occupational therapist, her information is: W: 901-507-4780, Cell: 901-355-6818

Sandy Fletchall OTR/L, CHT, MPA, FAOTA
President of Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association
Clinical Director
Capabilities For Living, LLC
3570 Canada Road
Suite 104
Lakeland, TN 38002
901-507-4780

Following are the pictures of Brian and his rehabilitation. I was told that not once has Brian complained or felt sorry for himself. He is glad to be alive and knows that God has a reason for keeping him on earth. Please help, please participate in our fund raiser to help Brian get his new legs!

Brian training his upperbody

Learning how to get back into his chair if he were to fall out

Brian Cutting Up

Trying a handstand

Thank you so much for allowing me to be in your life. Together we are a strong team, let's kick it in 2008. Starting off with our project for Brian, and our behavior change contract. Contact me if you need me.

Sincerely,

Randy Edwards
Impact Martial Arts
479-251-8783