佚名/Anonymous
On 31st January 2005, two students from my martial arts school took tests to gain important qualifications in the modern martial art of Choikwangdo.
Choikwangdo is a martial art which concentrates on self-defence, health and success in general. It was founded in 1987 by Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi who lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mick was testing for black belt and Nicky was testing for second degree black belt.
Both had been training for years to reach these goals. They had passed one smaller grading after another until they were near the top of the ladder ready to take a big step to a new level.
They had a deadline every one or two months to aim at when the next minor grading would take place. The reward of passing the grading and the fear of failing it also pushed them on.
The standard martial arts escalator of reaching one belt after another is a powerful and systematic motivator.
Both Mick and Nicky were role models to everyone in the way they achieved their goals.
After Christmas they stepped up their training to the point where they were oblivious of all else except what they needed to know for the big test.
They attended all the available lessons and spent most of those single-mindedly focusing on their test syllabus. One of the top instructors, John, spent hours teaching and helping them both.
Mick and Nicky both showed a quiet but unstoppable determination in the actual test.
At one point Mick hit one of the focus mitts or pads which are used as a target with the weaker part of his hand and dislocated his little finger.
It was sticking out at an angle which made most people gasp in horror. Mick was concentrating so much on achieving his black belt that he did not hesitate for a moment. He rushed over to me, held out his hand and said,
"Go for it."
I was as stunned as anyone else by the dislocation but under the influence of his confidence that I could put things right, grabbed his hand and yanked his little finger away from the rest of his hand for about a quarter of an inch(in the direction it was now pointing) and then relaxed my grip.
Mercifully, his finger popped back into place and he continued with his grading without batting an eyelid. Two of the other black belts thoughtfully bandaged his injured finger to another finger so that he would be less likely to damage it again.
Both Mick and Nicky were exhausted by the end of the grading but their determination and desire to achieve their goals carried them through.
Their friends in the class gave them continuous encouragement as well and a standing ovation when they achieved their first and second degree black belts.
The first line of the pledge in Choikwangdo is:"To set positive goals and strive to achieve them."
Both Mick and Nicky achieved their goals by first having a keen desire to reach the prestigious award of a black belt and, in Nicky's case, a second degree black belt.
They then reached these awards through:
A clear vision of what they wanted;
Belief that they could achieve their goals;
Monthly and two monthly deadlines in which to achieve the next step on the ladder;
Regular training and grading which built up their momentum and confidence step by step;
Long hours of consistent preparation with others and on their own;
A lazer like focus on what they needed to know and do;
A ferocious determination to keep going whatever happened;
The encouragement and support of their friends and instructors.
They can of course be applied to achieving any goal in life and the first line of the Choikwangdo pledge (mentioned above) provides a great mission statement for anyone, whether they are a martial artist or not.
"To set positive goals and strive to achieve them."
2005年1月31日，为了获取崔光道现代武术资格证书，我们武术学校的两名学生参加了测试。
崔光道武术集自卫、健康和成功于一体，由崔光道大师于1987年创立。崔光道现居住于乔治亚的亚特兰大。
米克参加的是黑带测试，而尼基参加的是二级黑带测试。
为实现各自的目标，他们都接受了多年的艰苦训练。他们通过了一级又一级的级别考试，终于接近到最高级别，并准备跨上一个更高的层次。
他们制定目标，每一个或两个月就要通过更高级别的小测试。通过级别考试后的奖励以及对于失败的恐惧也鼓舞着他们不断前进。
一条接一条地拿到普通武术学校的段级标识带，是激励学员们不断进步的强大动力。
在实现自己目标的路上，米克和尼基是每一位学员的榜样。
圣诞节过后，他们进入到大考的训练中。训练中，他们要将所有的事情都抛至脑后，只需要知道有关大考的事情。
所有对考试有用的课程，米克与尼基都会去参加，并把大部分的精力都集中在测试大纲上。顶级教练约翰也花费很多时间给他们讲授比赛知识，给他们提供帮助。
在真正的考试中，米克和尼基都表现得很平静，但是获胜的信心很坚定。
比赛中，米克在用手部比较柔弱的部位击打目标的手套或衬垫靶子时，不慎造成小指脱臼。
脱臼的小指鼓了起来，人们惊慌地屏住了呼吸。然而，米克是那样专心地要拿到胜利的黑带，以至于他没有片刻犹豫。米克跑到我的面前，伸出那只手对我说：
“试一下。”
我同他人一样，被受伤的小手指弄得胆战心惊，但是在他对我的信任的影响下，我还是拉过他的手，将小手指猛地向外拉出四分之一英寸，然后，他放开了我的手。
幸好，他的手指复位了，于是，他毫不犹豫地回到了比赛中。另外两名黑带级选手细心地将他受伤的小指与无名指绑在一起，这样再次伤到它的可能性就降低了。
测试结束时，米克和尼基都已精疲力竭，但是实现目标的决心与期望支撑着他们坚持到最后。
他们的同学也一直在鼓励他们。当他们拿到第一条和第二条黑带时，同学们开心地站起来为他们欢呼。
崔光道现代武术的第一条训言是：“树立明确的目标，并努力实现。”
米克与尼基都实现了自己的目标，他们首先拥有了要拿到赫赫有名的黑带的热切渴望，而尼基是要获得二级黑带的殊荣。
因此，他们的回报是这样得来的：
对自己的渴望有清醒的认识；
拥有实现目标的信心；
为自己的目标设定期限；
正规的训练和测试逐步增强了自己的动力与信心；
在他人的帮助以及自己的努力下，为测试做了长时间的准备；
抛开杂念，一心想着需要知道的事情，一心去做需要做的事情；
有坚定的决心，无论发生什么事，都决心坚持下去；
有朋友和教练的支持与鼓励。
这些当然也能够应用到生活里任何目标的奋斗中。崔光道现代武术的第一条训言（前面提到的）为每一个人，无论他是否习武，提出了一项艰巨的任务。
“树立明确目标，并努力实现。”
qualification[?kw?lifi?kei??n]n.资格；条件；限制
What qualification is needed to do this work?
从事这项工作需要什么样的资格？
prestigious[?pres?ti:d??s]adj.享有声望的；声望很高的
If you expect to enter this prestigious university, you should apply now.
如果期望进入这所著名学府，你现在就应该申请了。
ferocious[f??r?u??s]adj.残忍的；凶猛的
After ferocious rows, he kicked the man to death.
剧烈的争吵之后，他把那个人踢死了。
pledge[pled?]n.保证；誓言；抵押；抵押品
Take this ring as a pledge of our friendship.
请接受这个戒指作为我们友谊的信物。
树立明确的目标，并努力实现。
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对自己的渴望有清醒的认识；拥有实现目标的信心；为自己的目标设定期限。
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有坚定的决心，无论发生什么事，都决心坚持下去。
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Choikwangdo is a martial art which concentrates on self-defence, health and success in general.
concentrate on：集中在；专心于
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They had a deadline every one or two months to aim at when the next minor grading would take place.
aim at：瞄准；指望；目的在于
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