Seasons greetings from Papa Tim and trainee instructor, Jonathon 'Alex' Otia

November 2009 The ‘Make the Choice, Be Safe’ posters go out to every High School, Intermediate and Kura Kaupapa in New Zealand, Kura Toa archives are updated with two articles on Warrior Kids, support is given from Glendene Tyres and freedom. Kia ora, The ‘Make the Choice, Be Safe’ posters have now gone out to every High School, Intermediate School and Kura Kaupapa Maori in New Zealand. It certainly took a lot of time and effort, not to mention money, but I am left with a great sense of achievement. The Kura Toa archives have now been updated with two news articles on Warrior Kids: Warrior Kids, life skills for children by Jane Smith, Otago Daily Times, 8 April 2002, and Warrior Kids programme charging into Christchurch schools from Breaking the Cycle, newsletter of the Methodist Mission, South Island, Winter 2001. The documented history of Warrior Kids certainly strengthens its credibility. I would like to acknowledge Glendene Tyre Centre who have allowed us to attach our sign to theirs at the end of Mihini Road. You can see it when driving along Swanson Road. This support is truly appreciated. If you are needing new tyres, wheel alignment and balancing or puncture repairs pay them a visit. They’re at 5/29 Mihini Road. You can phone them on 09 836 4173. Don’t forget to thank them for supporting our school. For many, freedom is being able to do or say whatever they want. If we are thinking that we can have the freedom to have and do whatever we want, think again. Life works in balance. Everything is connected. Earths’ resources are limited. We cannot keep taking and taking. No matter what we choose in life or how we choose to live, there are always restrictions and conditions. And every action has a reaction, a consequence. To eat meat an animal must die. To grow vegetables the land must be cut. We are free to overeat, yet overeating leads to obesity and health problems. We are free to get credit when we want more money, yet we are then left with having to pay for that credit and for the interest that goes along with it. We are free to sit on the couch and watch television for the majority of our lives, yet this can result in a demise of our creativity and spontaneity and a lack of fitness and flexibility leading to health problems. Whatever we want to achieve in, we have to put in the time and effort. Even though we live in a time of having everything now, there is still a price to pay. And if we take too much, others miss out and resources are depleted. The fact is we are what we eat, what we do, what we say and even what we think. It all impacts on our lives, relationships, work, etc. So it is easy to see that freedom has its own restrictions and conditions. Even the freedom that democracy allows us is limited. Capitalism tends to have more sway with governments and those in power than education, health and the environment. Hence we have cell phone towers next to schools, massive loss of our natural environment by land developers, privatisation of our water supply and other natural resources. And is shopping freedom or are we enslaved to the corporations and their marketing? How much choice do we have when it comes to the price of our food, where our food comes from and what it contains? Where is our choice when it comes to the other items we purchase; where they are made, how they are made and who by? These days when I think about freedom, I also think about the freedom to silence. The world is so noisy; planes and helicopters flying overhead, nearby trains and other vehicles, houses next door playing music, or using lawn mowers, chainsaws and other power tools. Apparently this is people exercising their freedom. But where is one’s right to silence in all this; a world un-crowded by noise pollution? It’s like driving to the country side and having advertising bill-boards blocking one’s view, or worse, shopping malls. And again this all comes at a price. Our level of freedom can also be limited due to our circumstances, such as income, race, gender, level of capability, even looks. More opportunity and therefore more freedom is open to those who have a high income or who are deemed better looking. For years those regarded as intellectually challenged were locked away and even today anyone with a difference or so called disability is restricted by how society sees them. Recently, in New Zealand, an entertainer was granted permanent name suppression for sexual assault. This would not happen for Joe Public. All this could suggest that we are living with the illusion of freedom rather than actual freedom. For me freedom is being true to ourselves and to the world around us. Freedom is found in taking responsibility; responsibility for our lives, behaviour and actions. I am free from alcohol, drugs and gambling. I have consciously stayed away from these things as an adult simply because I wanted to be free of them, not because of some religious or moral high ground or obligation, but because of freedom. I have experienced first hand what alcohol, drugs and gambling can do to lives and families and therefore at a young age I made the decision that I did not want these things in my life. I chose to be free of them, and choice is freedom. I also chose to be free of violence, abuse and destructive ways of dealing with emotions such as anger. It might seem a contradiction to some that while I seek to be free of violence I practise martial arts, but I have been through counselling and anger management and have found that only combined with martial arts and other body and mind work did it prove successful in the addressing of violence and anger. And this has manifested into Toatoi; a truly holistic approach. In saying that, I should point out that this approach is new and no other martial arts instructors that I know of are doing it, so students beware. If an instructor or martial arts school claims to be offering such a holistic approach, one should ask for evidence that those instructing have trained in the other areas and not just the martial arts. When I was in Japan recently and in China a few years back, I met many martial arts instructors who were very interested in what I am doing because it is new. So don’t buy into the myth that anger management and counselling outcomes are innate to martial arts, because they are not. Instructors are not trained in these areas. Often people put me in the position of being a moral enforcer as if I was a priest or something; parents and caregivers wanting me to steer their kids away from alcohol, etc. And people are also quick to judge if I don’t appear to be living up to these expectations. The ultimate aim of Toatoi is for us to be free and to make our own choices about who we are or going to be. As well, it is about making constructive choices in our day to day lives and realising that that in itself is freedom. When it comes to choices, I choose constructive for my life, for my children, our health and our future. At the moment the Destiny Church and other church groups under the guise of the Family First party are pushing for the freedom to be allowed to legally smack their children. Apparently such a freedom is democracy. Having the authority to strike a person has nothing to do with democracy. It’s just a play on words to incite a response in the general public. Again, if it is true democracy that these people are seeking, then where is the democracy for their children? On one hand they don’t want the state to encroach on their freedom, yet on the other they do not want to allow their children to have the freedom of a smack-free childhood. If freedom is having control of our lives and choices then I choose to be free of the need to use smacking in order to discipline my children. And remember, I’m a solo parent, and I can assure you, I’m not wealthy and my kids aren’t in day care, so I know about stress and being tired. Nonetheless, I have chosen to be free from raising my hand. We respect God by respecting our fellow human beings, by respecting the earth and all other life. We have the freedom to live honestly with ourselves, the freedom to better ourselves. We have the freedom to be a constructive influence in our families and community. We have the freedom to shine and to inspire those around us. We have the freedom to live a life of integrity, honour, respect, dignity and peace. We have the freedom to stand up for what we believe. And the only person who can take these freedoms away from us is ourselves. naku noa Tim

October 2009 Sad events with warm, inspiring responses, Kura Toa in good hands, back from Japan, benefits from the Martial way and Gandhi’s Birthday. With Soke Masaaki Hatsumi (34th Grand Master of Togakure-Ryu Ninjutsu and eight other traditions that he unified into Bujinkan Ninjutsu) after passing my Godan (5th Dan Black Belt) test on the 29th of September With Noguchi Shihan who preformed my Godan test With Leopoldo Rodriguez at the Hombu With Nagato Shihan Meal time with Michiko Ohsaku, book translator Having a whale of a time with Mitsu Uchida, school teacher I made a few friends on my journey! Kia ora, Like most people, when events happen in the world if affects me. For me the whole world is one whanau, one family. We are all connected. It saddened and hurt to witness the loss and suffering of the people of Samoa and Tonga due to the after effects of an earthquake and the subsequent tidal waves. It brought me to tears. My heart goes out to family, friends and the people of Samoa and Tonga. The repercussions of this event will reach far into the future. The other incident is Aisling Symes. It was frustrating to be on the other side of the world and not be able to help look for little 2 year old Aisling who went missing on Monday the 5th of October in West Auckland, a short distance away from the Kura Toa Centre. At the time that I am writing this, we are all hopeful that she will be returned to her family, safe and well. My thoughts and prayers are with this little girl and her family. With both of these incidents it was warming to hear of the support and assistance offered to the people of Samoa and Tonga, and to the Symes family from the New Zealand public. This spirit of empathy, compassion and caring delivered through action was also demonstrated recently in a news story about two mothers from Manukau, Liz Kiriona and Lyn Mehana, who have been running a crusade against drink, drugs and younger "gangstas" for six years in their community. Recently the pair celebrated a campaign landmark with the opening of a Community House and fence with decorative patterns put up by 80 locals in a working bee. "There used to be a gang here. We are the gangs now," Mrs Kiriona said. On the evening of September 2, 450 adults and children from Rata Vine and adjoining Wiri marched with lanterns from Wiri Central School to the new Community House to show that the community was finally safe. It is easy to feel intimidated and powerless and to forget that our community belongs to us. Yet by standing up and working together with our neighbours we can reclaim our communities and make them safe for everyone. Our dependence on authorities to keep us safe is short-sighted and leaves us powerless. We may be taxpayers but that does not mean that those in power have our welfare at heart. The constructive, non-violent action taken by Liz Kiriona and Lyn Mehana to answer the problems in their community is an example for us all. Addressing the issues of the community has always been the aim of Kura Toa. So good on ya, Liz and Lyn; Kura Toa salutes you. I also salute assistant instructor, Jonathon ‘Alex’ Otia, who took over the responsibility of running Kura Toa while I was away in Japan. I have heard nothing but what a great job Alex has done for the students and families. Well done Alex, thank you for upholding the values of Kura Toa and Warrior Kids. Thanks also must go to Russell and Nat Kinzett who took a lot of time out of work and away from the home to support Alex in his role. There were also a number of other members and their families who supported Alex. Your assistance has been noted and is very much appreciated. I had a great time visiting Japan, but it is nice to be home with my babies again. I certainly missed them. I’m also looking forward to re-connecting with the students and families of Kura Toa. I met a lot of wonderful people in Japan and was well taken care of. On the 29th of September I passed my Godan (5th Dan Black Belt) test in Bujinkan Ninjutsu under the watchful eye of Soke (Grand Master) Masaaki Hatsumi. Soke Hatsumi is the 34th Grand Master of Togakure-Ryu Ninjutsu and eight other traditions that he unified into Bujinkan Ninjutsu. He is a national treasure in Japan so it was an honour to meet and train with him. He also painted a scroll for the Kura Toa Centre. Martial Arts make up one aspect of our training at Kura Toa Warrior School. In my pursuit of addressing violence and aggression in the self, Martial Arts have proven essential. Meditation and affirmations of peace will certainly make me feel calm for a while, but it does not take away the fact that we are living in society with all of its pressures and stresses. It does not address the issues of the past and nor does it remove triggers that can arise in the heat of the moment. That is not to say that I do not see value in meditation and affirmations as a tool to bring about peace in one’s life. In fact, I do see immense value in meditation and affirmations. Yet it is only one part of the solution. We are not monks living apart and isolated from the world. We are engaged in society with its perks and struggles. The bills have to be paid, there are responsibilities; time is rarely our own. Those running anger management courses are typically intellectual, where as, the majority of those going through the course are kinesetic, meaning that they feel. In anger management you sit in a chair being talked to while staring at a whiteboard. For most people anger just isn’t in the head, it is physical. It absorbs their entire body. In giving my aggression form I found peace, meaning I was able to re-programme the physical automatic responses that had developed through my childhood. Martial Arts training is by no means the solution to violence and aggression either, but for me it has certainly been a doorway into the core of the human psyche and the roots of aggression and violence. However the Martial Arts training required for this insight needs to be expansive and open as opposed to being a locked set of techniques with prescribed automatic responses, which can be thoughtless and dangerous. I also consider it to be socially irresponsible by those instructors who teach such styles. My aim with Toatoi is to have a holistic and practical approach to violence and aggression; an art that allows people to rise above their hurt and misgivings and to feel really good about themselves and realise that they have much to offer their families and communities. It is about having a peaceful, constructive and proactive life. For me a warrior is one who is willing to face themselves, and willing to face the world. It is fair enough that we feel anger, frustration, hurt and fear from those who inflict harm and discontent on us. But a warrior is one whom, while appreciating the value of their feelings and what they have to offer, can separate oneself from emotions and remain dignified. In rising above the situation, we are able to respond in a clear, decisive and constructive way, retaining our dignity and honour. This is Mana. There are those we must walk away from; those who are not willing to engage with us in a constructive manner. But that doesn’t mean that I won’t engage with them in the future. There is a time to put our foot down and be direct, however there is never a time to forget our dignity. There is never a time to belittle ourselves by assaulting others, our environment and the other life that we share this world with. When someone sneers at us and we feel the urge to sneer back, we must remember that we are bigger and better than that. When someone insults us and we feel the urge to insult them back, we must remember that we are bigger and better than that. When someone strikes out at us and we feel the urge to strike back, we must remember that we are bigger and better than that. When someone tries to demean or belittle us and we feel the urge to demean or belittle them we must remember that we are bigger and better than that. A clear conscious gives us peace. Let’s be gentle with ourselves Let’s be gentle with each other Let’s be gentle with our earth. On the 2nd of October it was the birthday of Mohandas Karamchand (Mahatma) Gandhi. Mohandas Gandhi was born at a time when his home country was choked under the oppression of British rule. Although many thought that violence was the only way to fight the injustice, Gandhi successfully used his teachings of non-violence and civil disobedience to win his country’s freedom. He has been a great inspiration to me personally and to the development of Kura Toa. This is one of his famous quotes ... We need to be the change we wish to see in the world. naku noa Tim Also, if you would like to experience a great meal with warm, friendly service then I recommend Thai Gardenia Restaurant in New Lynn. This is a family run restaurant and the food is exquisite and MSG free. You will find them at 3111 Great North Road, New Lynn or visit www.thaigardenia.co.nz. You won't be disappointed.

September 2009 Two awards for Hinemoa te toa in the LIANZA Children’s Book Awards, a photo display from Holly Bell, Kura Toa returns to being a Trust and the Smacking Referendum. Holly Bell and Tim display Holly's art work. Click for a closer look. Kia ora, It has been a month of receiving toanga (treasure). My book, Hinemoa te toa, received two awards in the LIANZA Children’s Book Awards. Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira was awarded Te Tohu Pounamu mo te wahanga Kaiwhakamaori for her translation of Hinemoa te toa. And I was awarded Te Tohu Taurapa mo te whahanga Pukapuka Pikitia; and what a beautiful award it is. It is has taken pride of place on my desk in the Kura Toa Centre and is being enjoyed by the students and their families. I thought it would be better there than having it locked away at home. Tim, Cory Johnston and Te Tohu Taurapa mo te whahanga Pukapuka Pikitia award The judges commented that ... This is a modern day 'girls can do anything' story. We loved the cheekiness and staunchness of Hinemoa which is superbly depicted by the illustrations. The taniwha digger invariably creates spontaneous laughter from young and old. It is my husband’s year one class’s favourite book!! Everyone of us has a Hinemoa in their whanau! I also received a framed photo display this month from budding photographer and student, Holly Bell. This too is on display in the centre and everyone has been impressed with the quality of Holly’s photography and layout of the display. Holly worked on it over a couple of months. Thank you so much Holly. I feel extremely honoured to receive such a wonderful treasure. Further acknowledgements include Wayne Woods who is a student in the adult classes. Wayne has sorted out our plumbing in the centre and now we have hot water. Thanks a heap Wayne, it certainly makes a difference. Wayne also fixed one of our fans and is keen to sort out some other maintenance issues and projects in the centre. A special thanks also goes to Kadison’s dad, Chris Webb, who donated some more lights for the centre. Wayne is planning to put them up soon. Assistant instructor, Jonathon ‘Alex’ Otia, has stepped up and is taking more of the Warrior Kids classes. He is doing a great job and is certainly coming along as an instructor. Green Belt Russell Kinzett is now an assistant instructor and will be giving Alex a hand while I am away in Japan. Russell has a natural rapport with the children and has a great deal to offer. He is of tremendous value to the school. Nat Kinzett has taken on the responsibility of uniforms. Thank you Nat for taking that off my hands; that is one less thing I have to worry about. To order a garment please see Nat. She is at the centre most days. Again the prices for items are ... Children’s Warrior Kids T-shirts $20 Children’s Warrior Kids Hoodies $50 Adult Kura Toa T-shirts $25 Adult Kura Toa Hoodies $55 The adult Toatoi classes have really taken off and we now have a large pool of adult students who are taking full advantage of their membership and attending most nights of the week. The times of the adult classes have been extended to two hours. The times are now ... Mondays 6pm-8pm Tuesdays 7pm-9pm Wednesdays 6pm-8pm Thursdays 7pm-9pm Students can attend as many of these classes as they like for just $20 a week. In the last month Kura Toa returned to being incorporated into a charitable Trust. Kura Toa was last a trust back in 2002. Back then the expansion of Warrior Kids proved to be too much too soon. Now we are in a much stronger position and steady and slow is the course. There is no need to rush. Anyone interested in supporting Kura Toa and Warrior Kids with a donation can contact the school via email. All proceeds go to the running of the school. As a society we have evolved in so many ways. We have come forward in leaps and bounds with technology, medicine and in our lifestyle. Recently in New Zealand a $9 million tax payer paid referendum was held. The question being ‘Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?’ The referendum was in response to the Smacking Bill that was made law in 2008. The Bill itself was an attempt to address NZ’s alarming child fatality rate. 54% of NZ’s enrolled electors voted in the smacking referendum and 88.1% said ‘No’ with 11.9% voting ‘Yes’. The key organiser of the referendum was photographed on the front page of the NZ Herald with his fists raised triumphantly in the air claiming that parents had won the right to smack their children. I would like to think that as an evolving society we could move beyond the need to smack our children. Surely with all our understanding and knowledge there must be a multitude of ways that we can address and change the behaviours in children without raising a hand. Surely we are open to this. Those behind the referendum, the pro-smackers, claim that it was democracy in action. If we want true democracy, wouldn’t we ask the children to vote on the issue as well. After all, the matter concerns them the most so where is their voice? Personally I have a lot of faith in children, and I think that in a school setting, away from the home, they would make a sound choice. Children don’t like to be smacked or hit. Smacking is a discussion I’ve had with them on many an occasion over the fifteen years that I have been working with children. I have had tremendous results with changes in children and their behaviour over that time and none of those changes were as a result of smacking. And I’ve worked with thousands of children, youth and their families. I am a solo dad of a twenty-two month old girl and a three and half year old boy. There is no smacking or hitting in my home. It certainly gets hard at times. As I am working as well I get tired and over stretched, yet I’ve never raised my hand and nor have I needed to. And I’m wanting my children to be able to solve any challenge or problem they may face without having to raise a hand. I’m not saying that I want to see parents punished for smacking their children. And I’m saying smacking here as opposed to beating. I don’t judge the parents of the children I work with for smacking. Instead I work with them to find constructive and rewarding methods of addressing behaviour. I do wonder though what $9 million spent on constructive and positive parenting, without the use of smacking, would look like. Trouble from teens and children come from a lack of boundaries and issues in the home. Smacking does not solve or prevent these matters. If you were misbehaving I wouldn’t smack you. Fear is not a substitute for respect. Fear is not a substitute for love. naku noa Tim

August 2009 Hinemoa te toa nominated for the LIANZA Children’s Book Awards, a visit to Japan, new classes and a clearer definition of Toatoi. Kia ora, As I’m sitting down to write this I can hear and see my babies playing outside in the sunshine. I can also see a pair of Tui feeding in a Bottlebrush tree. And beyond them is a glimpse of the ocean through the mountains. Te Henga has been calling to me for the last few weeks now and I’ve a yearning to get down and walk the beach and face the waves, yet I’ve been so busy with the school and looking after my babies. One blessing though has been the visit of a group of Kaka. The parrots have been flying around the house and making their presence known by noisily playing about in neighbouring pine trees. Such a treat to see them. Exciting news this month as the Maori version of my book Hinemoa te toa has been nominated for the LIANZA Te Kura Pounamu Award. Hinemoa te toa was published in 2008 by Scholastic New Zealand Ltd. The children’s picture book was illustrated by John Bennett and translated by Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira. The winners will be announced on the 10th of August. Further exciting news is that I’ll be visiting Japan at the end of September. While there I’ll have the opportunity to train at the Bujinkan Ninjutsu Hombu, the home of Bujinkan Ninjutsu, under Dr Masaaki Hatsumi. Dr Hatsumi is the 34th Grandmaster of Togakure-ryu Ninjutsu and eight other martial arts which he unified into the Bujinkan system. Bujinkan Ninjutsu is the main component of the martial arts aspect of our training in Toatoi. Ronin Martial Arts have now moved on from our centre at Mihini Road, and as a result two new adult Toatoi class times have been added to the weekly schedule. The class schedule is now as follows... Children’s Toatoi classes – Warrior Kids Monday, 4.00 - 5.30 pm Tuesday, 5.00 - 6.30 pm Wednesday, 4.00 - 5.30 pm Thursday, 5.00 - 6.30 pm Saturday, 9.00 - 10.30 am Adult Toatoi classes Monday, 6.00 - 7.30 pm Tuesday, 7.00 - 8.30 pm Wednesday, 6.00 - 7.30 pm Thursday, 7.00 - 8.30 pm With the addition of further classes the membership fees have also been reviewed and altered to make it easier for students and their families to get the most from Kura Toa. Membership Fees $20 a week automatic payment or $80 a month Gives access to all classes. Concessions are made for more than one family member. Part Membership $10 a week automatic payment or $40 a month This is for one class a week. Casual Rate $15 per class Kura Toa is not a martial arts school, it is a Warrior School. While Bujinkan Ninjutsu is taught and practised along with other arts such as mau rakau, Judo and Kung fu, Kura Toa predominately focuses on Toatoi. Toatoi is a holistic and practical form of Warrior Training. Toatoi means warrior art in te reo Maori and the aim of Toatoi is to empower people; to bring out the warrior within and lead people to excel in all areas of their lives. Toatoi has featured in schools and communities throughout New Zealand and over the years has received numerous referrals from community and government agencies. Toatoi focuses on four aspects or cornerstones of life. These cornerstones are known as Te taha Maori. Toatoi addresses these areas through the following… Te taha tinana Strengthening the physical body All training within Toatoi is natural and has long term health benefits. Students gain self assurance and competence with their body, and a sense of well-being, security and independence, as well as self defence and Martial Arts skills. Te taha hinengaro Strengthening the mind and ability to manage emotions As well as training the body Toatoi trains the mind. Much like an athlete, students are mentally conditioned to succeed, in all areas of their lives. They are conditioned into thinking constructively. They become more confident, focused, flexible and self determined. In Toatoi students not only learn to manage their emotions but they also learn the true value of emotions, and how they can harness and cultivate their emotional energy to serve them. And through this they gain a more harmonious existence, not only with themselves, but also with those around them and with the natural world. Te taha wairua Strengthening the spirit Toatoi is a non intrusive, yet therapeutic form of training that offers freedom, freedom for people to be themselves, freedom from negative influences and freedom from behaviours that don’t serve them. Students develop greater confidence, self awareness and a deeper sense of connection. Te taha whanau Strengthening the family and community Toatoi is inclusive and open to all. Families are welcome and encouraged to be a part of a student’s training. Students are reminded that they represent their families and their lineage, and each student is supported in being a constructive member of their family and their community. Toatoi support parents in raising their children. Progress in Toatoi is acknowledged via belt grades leading up to Black Belt 1st Dan and beyond. Previous training and qualifications are taken into account when starting and opportunities are available for those who would like to become a licensed instructor of this unique art. Toatoi is my interpretation of Te taha Maori. And it is the balance and approach of the four cornerstones that makes Toatoi different from martial arts. And for that matter different from counseling and other forms of group, therapeutic or empowerment forms. I created Toatoi after becoming frustrated with the limitations of most martial arts and life education and therapies. For me I wanted one holistic and practical approach that gave students, their families and the community so much more; an approach that would benefit the lives of all who came across it. Toatoi is a reflection of my past and my heritage, one the future gets to see. naku noa Tim

July 2009 An author visit to Milford Primary, Stars on the Horizon: Exploring Matariki in Devonport, and martial arts and the law of attraction. Make the Choice - Be Safe! Kia ora, Blessings to you for Matariki. Matariki has been a time of significant transition for me personally this year. There has been a lot of dreams and facing of personal demons and as a result I have ended up sick. When a change is made to ones psyche it can usually result in one getting sick as the body has to readjust its alignment with the change. And I am better for it. As one grows stronger there is the relinquishing of old beliefs and ideas that do not serve them; and of course new ones are uploaded, so to speak, that serve the individual and their future. As well as facing changes within, Matariki has had me busy with an authors visit through the New Zealand Book Council to Milford Primary and the Stars on the Horizon: Exploring Matariki event in Devonport. I had a great time at Milford Primary (some pics here). The children were so respectful with such great listening and plenty of questions. One group had prepared a drama piece with my book Hinemoa te toa which was a real treat. We spoke about inspiration and as the school is magnificently positioned over Lake Pupuke, with its rich colours of deep greens and blues, and with the lake's array of surrounding bush and wildlife, the students certainly have no shortage of natural inspiration. Thank you for a wonderful morning Milford Primary. I look forward to visiting you again some time in the future. On the 1st of July I took part in Stars on the Horizon: Exploring Matariki at the Depot Artspace in Devonport. The Depot featured a grand Matariki exhibition showing art works that explored and expressed the occasion, and which acted as a backdrop for me and fellow writers - Albert Belz, Aroha Harris and James George - to speak about the significance of Matariki. We all shared personally about Matariki and its place in our lives, and read from our work. The evening proved to be a great success so congratulations and well done to Depot Artspace. Also during the last month, a workshop for green belt Warrior Kids was held. One topic for the workshop was the strengthening of the mind and constructive thinking. Many martial arts schools hold the concept of enemy; they believe that overall people are out to get you and to compete against you. The news in the media can also give the perception that behind every corner there is someone waiting to pounce on you. However, the reality is that the perpetrators of the violence that we see on television, hear about on the radio, or read of in the papers, represent a small percentage of our community, as do their acts. The overriding majority of people in society are good citizens who simply go about their business and want to get on with their lives. Certainly there are threats and dangers and one must keep themselves safe, yet the idea that an attack could come from anywhere at any time, and that everyone is a possible threat, will only make people paranoid and on edge. Martial arts instructors who view the world as a threat find that their circle of friends and people that they can trust eventually grows smaller. Their own students become a threat, out to take their title and outshine them. Those closest to them, their loved ones, need to be controlled because of the threat that they may leave. And even their own body and mind becomes an enemy, something to defeat and conquer, as opposed to something to listen to, to understand and to work with. If we focus on attacks, threats and enemies, then that is what we will get. If we focus on fighting and drama, then that is what we will get. If we focus on a fulfilling, rewarding, secure and well life, then that is what we will get. What we put out is what we get back. Call it karma, the law of attraction or simply consequences. Every action has a reaction. What we also internalise, think, believe, is what we get back. It is not how strong, fast or knowledgeable a student is that determines their safety, but rather their opinion of themselves and how they choose to act upon it. One who holds their head high as a reflection of self esteem and confidence is far less likely to get picked on; where as those walking around all tough and staunch are in fact attracting the negative attention that they are trying so hard to repel. There are those who use their size and manner to intimidate and threaten. The majority of the time when faced with such conduct I have walked on and gone about my business. There have been times though where walking away simply wasn’t an option and I had to address the matter straight on. This was not a case of raising the fist and hurting anyone, it was simply a matter of standing firm and being direct, showing the aggressor that I could certainly handle the situation, mentally and emotionally. In my mid twenties when I was working security on a door at a night spot in Auckland, it was a common occurrence that I had to physically remove patrons. The key was to be respectful, discreet and to remove people with little fuss so as not to upset the other patrons. On one such occasion I took a man outside where he then proceeded to stand with his face up to mine, challenging me. A week or so before, a couple of my fellow bouncers at the establishment had thrown someone through a neighbouring shop window. This resulted in our manager having to foot the bill. Regardless, I had no desire to fight this man who was wanting to have a go with me. The man ranted and raved for sometime saying how easy it would be for him to take me. He tried to get back into the bar several times, yet I held my ground and wouldn’t let him past. Half an hour later he was standing alongside me in tears. His wife had just left him and taken the kids. He wasn’t feeling good about life at all. We had a counseling session there and then. The thing to remember is that what we put out is what we get back. These people who intimidate, threaten and hurt others are in fact damaging themselves and their lives. As for those who disrespect you with a glance, a gesture or words, think about how they treat their own partner and family. How close can anyone be to another when they rely on threats and intimidation? Fear is not a substitute for respect. Fear is not a substitute for love. These people may appear tough and staunch yet the reality is that they are petrified of sitting down and being with their own feelings, let alone be open, sincere and intimate with another. They are their own worst enemy. The world is a threat to them. This is something to hold in mind if ever you are contemplating ‘having a go’ with such a person, if you are ever wanting to teach such a person a lesson and to show them that you’re not such easy picking. Keep your ego in check. Rise above it and be bigger than the problem. If there is no direct threat, let it go and walk away. If walking away is not an option then take charge of the situation and defuse it nobly and honourably. My account of when I was doorman could be an example of how it might be done. For me a true master is one who can defeat conflict without harming anyone. I want my students to have a great life, full of love, peace, happiness, abundance and success. Therefore, that is what we focus on, that is what Toatoi is about. The training of our minds is just as important as the training of our bodies. We condition ourselves to think and behave constructively. We condition ourselves to succeed in all areas of our lives. naku noa Tim

June 2009 A grand opening for Kura Toa Warrior School’s new premises and the novel Kura Toa Warrior School is re-launched. Plus new uniforms for Warrior Kids and Kura Toa are revealed and a Matariki event in Devonport. Scenes from the opening. Picture bottom left: Tim Tipene, Reverend Owen Paikea, Bob Harvey, Mayor of Waitakere City, and Travis Rapana, Chief Instructor of Ninpo Dojos Aotearoa. Picture bottom right: Peter Dowling, Managing Director of Oratia Media. Kia ora, There was a great turn out on the 28th of May to celebrate the opening of Kura Toa Warrior School’s new premises and the re-launch of Kura Toa Warrior School the novel. I would like to thank all the students and families who helped out with this event. The opening of our centre and the launch of Kura Toa the book was a tremendous success made possible by the efforts of many. The food was great as was the company. The speakers included Tyrone Hetaraka who kicked things off, Reverend Owen Paikea blessed the whare and I then welcomed everyone and spoke about the school. Oratia Media Managing Director, Peter Dowling, spoke about the novel Kura Toa Warrior School and plans to publish more work in the future in partnership with myself and Kura Toa. The Chief Instructor of Ninpo Dojos Aotearoa, Travis Rapana also blessed the event and then the Mayor of Waitakere City, Bob Harvey, spoke and officially opened the premises. Mayor Harvey also pledged one month’s rent for the centre which, along with his attendance, is very much appreciated. Following this the students certainly did Kura Toa proud, with some great speeches from Sebastian Stewart, James Van der Velde and Cory Johnston, and there was also a speech from Assistant Instructor, Euan McKee. Penny Van der Velde and Amanda Bell also gave a wonderful acknowledgement on behalf of the parents. Part 1: Himene; Tim Tipene; Peter Dowling, Managing Director of Oratia Media (.wmv 59MB 15 min) Part 2: Travis Rapana, Chief Instructor of Ninpo Dojos Aotearoa; Bob Harvey, Mayor of Waitakere City; students; parents (.wmv 31MB 8 min) A beautiful Korowai (Cloak), was gifted by my Aunty, Mable Waru, and now holds pride of place on the wall in the centre. While there are many to thank, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Assistant Instructor, Alex Otia and his partner Whitney, as well as Assistant Instructor, Euan McKee. Alex came in a number of times prior to the opening and helped to get the centre ready. Whitney also helped when she could. Euan and I came in over the weekend and put the centre back together. Further acknowledgements include: Holly, Jamie and Amanda Bell who gifted a large Yucca plant to the centre; Cory and Hayden’s parents, Russell and Natalie Kinzett helped with the set up, along with Jaron, Shannen and Jason Morgan Boyd; and Jonathan and Dana’s parents, Francois and Marina Butterworth, put a lock on our store room. Thank you to you all and a big thank you to those who were able to attend and to those who brought a plate. Kura Toa is a waka that we all paddle together in the pursuit of wanting the best for our children, the best for our families and the best for ourselves. Our recent achievements have only been possible because everyone contributed. Kura Toa is non-profit, all funds go back into the running of the school and look what we’ve managed to achieve. The opening was the perfect opportunity to reveal the new uniforms for Warrior Kids and Kura Toa. Kura Toa and its classes are unique to New Zealand. You won’t find Warrior Kids anywhere else in the world, and our uniform will now reflect this. The new uniform consists of a black T-shirt and a black Hoodie with either Warrior Kids or Kura Toa Warrior School written in red. The tops are to be worn with black pants. This could be track pants or martial arts pants. Belts are tied around the waist as before. The costs for the uniforms are as follows: Childrens Adults Warrior Kids T-shirts $20   Kura Toa T-shirts $25 Warrior Kids Hoodies $50   Kura Toa Hoodies $55 The new uniforms will be more applicable for the students and for New Zealand. We are not a Japanese school and we shouldn’t try to be. You do not have to be a student of Kura Toa to purchase a T-shirt or Hoody. Anyone keen to support the school is welcome to purchase these garments. Contact Kura Toa for more information. On Wednesday, the 1st of July, I will be taking part in Stars on the Horizon: celebrating Maori writing. This is a free event held at The Depot Artspace in Devonport starting at 7 pm. It is part of the Matariki Festival 09, the Maori New Year celebrations. Matariki is also known as the Pleiades, the Seven Sisters, a star cluster in the Taurus constellation. The first appearance of Matariki above the horizon (in the north-eastern sky) signals the start of Te Tau Hou, the new year. Festival events are held throughout the city from 20 June to 2 July. The Depot will be holding a Matariki exhibition, Te Marama Ngahuru Harvest Moon. This exhibition will feature art works about Matariki from all cultures and generations. It will act as backdrop for the Wednesday the 1st event which in turn will celebrate Maori literature and writing on the occasion of Matariki. I have been invited along with fellow writers, James George, Aroha Harris and Albert Belz, to read from my works and to speak about the significance of Matariki to me and my writing. Come along and check it out. What: Stars on the Horizon: celebrating Maori writing When: Wednesday July 1 2009, 7pm - 9pm Where: The Depot Artspace, 28 Clarence Street, Devonport Entry Free naku noa Tim

May 2009 Your invitation to the opening of Kura Toa Warrior School’s new premises and the relaunch of the novel Kura Toa Warrior School, a visit to Milford Primary School and Tuesday Toatoi is set to get underway Kia ora, It is my pleasure to invite you to the opening of Kura Toa Warrior School’s new premises and the relaunch of my novel Kura Toa Warrior School. The opening will take place at 4.00 pm, on Thursday the 28th of May, at 22 Mihini Road, Henderson. All are welcome. The event also celebrates 15 years of Kura Toa and Warrior Kids and marks the first publication for local publisher, Libro International, an imprint of Oratia Press. Books will be on sale at a discount launch price. Please bring cash or chequebook as there will be no Eftpos. Please RSVP by email. With Kura Toa Warrior School taking over the lease for 22 Mihini Road, changes are already underway. Our sign is up, new mats have been laid out, and the overall look of the place has been altered to make it more accessible and comfortable for the students and their families. A cosy lounge space has been created and tea facilities will soon be available so that parents can make themselves a cuppa. The previous lease holders, Ronin Martial Arts International, will continue to run their Ai Shin Do Bujutsu classes at the Centre. However, they have cut their classes down to two nights a week, Mondays and Wednesdays following Warrior Kids. Kura Toa Warrior School and myself appreciate all the work and effort that Ronin Martial Arts International and its members have put into the Mihini Road Centre. I am looking forward to an author visit to Milford Primary School on the morning of Wednesday the 3rd of June. The visit is being run through the New Zealand Book Council. I had taken a year off from doing the author visits so it’ll be good getting back into them. I might be a bit rusty though and as a single parent I do suffer from baby brain, forgetting this and that, so please bear with me children of Milford Primary. Last month I was exploring the idea of changing the Kura Toa fees to just $10 a class. This was due to the economic climate and a wish to make it easier for everybody. However, the majority of Kura Toa families have said that the fees were easier as they were and requested that they stay that way. It is certainly good to have the feedback and next time I’ll ask instead of going off and making a change like that. I thank the families for being so open and forth coming. Therefore, the Membership Fees will return and remain as $10 a week or $130 quarterly (every three months). The same concessions still apply as before. Please remember that it is a membership to the school, so fees have to be paid regardless of whether a student attends or not. I was also planning to run a 10 week SwanHawk Women’s Self Defence Course in Term 3. However, demand for the adult Toatoi class is growing and another night of training has been requested. Therefore, the SwanHawk Course will be postponed for a later date and the Tuesday adult Toatoi class will start on the 9th of June, 7.00 - 8.30pm. In choosing to be a positive influence we enrich our own lives and the lives of those around us; and ultimately lead the future. naku noa Tim

April 2009 Kura Toa Warrior School novel has a new publisher, a 10 week SwanHawk Women’s Self Defence Course planned for Term 3 and extracts from Kura Toa Warrior School Kia ora, My babies have certainly been keeping me busy and as a result I have been getting behind on some things. But that’s just the way things are going to have to be for a while. The more time and energy I invest in my children now the greater the payoff in the future. Oh but the lack of sleep does get to me! I’m currently adjusting the areas of my life to give me some more downtime. Exciting news this month as Kura Toa Warrior School has a new publisher. It was first published in 2004 by Reed Publishers Ltd. The novel is now being published by Libro International, an imprint of Oratia Media Ltd based here in West Auckland. Kura Toa Warrior School (ISBN 978-1-877514-02-9) retails for $25 and can be purchased directly from www.oratiamedia.com. The blurb on the back cover reads… Haki feels the road under his head. He isn’t sure if he has survived the car crash, he isn’t even sure if he cares. Then an old man appears. Instead of helping Haki, he snatches the pounamu that hangs around Haki’s neck. As it is the last reminder of his grandmother, Haki wants it back. Haki’s search brings him into conflict with his family and friends and at school. In the process, Haki must confront his fears and find a way to answer the challenge to serve his people, serve his land, fight a taniwha and, ultimately, become a warrior. A 10 week SwanHawk Women’s Self Defence Course is planned for Term 3. Last year SwanHawk was a weekly class which mainly catered for adolescent girls. While teaching Self Defence it also aimed to address behaviour. Now however SwanHawk is returning to being strictly a women’s self defence course. The 10 week course is for women of all ages and will run Tuesday nights 7-8.30 starting the 21st of July, at 22 Mihini Road, Henderson. The cost for the course is $120. Class numbers are limited so booking is essential. To book phone (09) 8108 268. The following are extracts from Kura Toa Warrior School. ‘I am nothing. Arh!’ Haki gasped as a stirring rose from deep within him. A sense of stillness and calm ran through his body. His eyes closed and he became aware that his hands didn’t stop on the rocks of the pool, that they were the rocks themselves, and the earth on which they rested. His arms were not separate from the water; they felt like one and the same, all flowing in one existence. His insides felt as exposed to the elements as his skin. When he breathed, he breathed the breath of life itself. Tihei mauri ora. Haki felt everything stirring, expanding and contracting in life. Vibrating existence, pulsating energy. The trees, the animals, the grass, the water, the earth. All one and the same. All interconnected. Even the old man. ‘Now you are of use,’ the old man smiled. His words were meaningless to Haki, who was only conscious of the greatness and the vastness of that within him. Mountains, rivers, marae, iwi, hapu. Generations of people tied to him, woven into his very blood and being. He represented them all. He represented them all. The words sank into Haki’s heart as shame flooded through him. How could he have disrespected that which is so sacred and precious within? How could he have loathed it, despised it? ‘There, there, boy. It’s easy to forget who we really are sometimes.’ The old man patted Haki on the back. ‘This is sacred land to our people, Haki,’ Buster continued. ‘All land is sacred, but this part in particular is tapu. It is easy to see them making roads in dirt, but the fact is, that dirt is us.’ ‘But you said I had to fight the taniwha!’ Haki cried. ‘Ae, with your heart and your head!’ Buster reached out, touching Haki at both places. ‘Not with your fists. No one ever wins with violence. They only lose the respect and confidence of their people, which is exactly what we need to defeat the taniwha!’ Haki collapsed on his butt and dropped his head into his hands. ‘I don’t know how to do it,’ he sobbed. ‘Aue, you forget yourself,’ Buster growled. ‘You forget that you have trees, as you have arms. You forget that you have rivers, as you have legs. You forget that you have mountains, as you have shoulders. You fool yourself into thinking that you are alone, when you are connected to all things.’ ‘We’re born alone and we die alone!’ Haki snapped through his tears. ‘Kao! You are Maori. You were not born alone, nor will you die alone. Whoever gave you those words is blind. A warrior’s strength comes from the atua, the ancestors and the land. There are no warriors without these things, only thugs.’ Buster walked to Haki and knelt down. ‘Your heart is your taiaha, your head is your patu. These are the weapons with which to strike down a taniwha.’ ‘Why don’t you do it?’ Haki cried. Buster put his hand to Haki’s shoulder. ‘I’m doing all I can,’ he said. ‘But we can’t win battles on our own. You need to do your bit. You must stand up and face the taniwha. By setting an example, you will wake the people and they will come out of their shallow lives to serve.’ Haki was dumbfounded. Buster sat beside him with a sigh. ‘They think I’m crazy,’ Haki turned. ‘He who has the confidence to stand alone and be different, when he knows it’s right, is a warrior, Haki. You must make your own choices about who you’re going to be.’ Buster looked through the trees to the ocean. ‘Rather than just listening to people around you, you should also listen to the wind, the waters, the earth, the silence. And most of all, you must listen to your heart.’ naku noa Tim

March 2009 New Warrior Kids book on the way, video of Kaitaia presentation and Keeping Safe with Warrior Kids Scenes from the film of Tim talking to Kaitaia College students. Click pics or here to view. Kia ora, When I haven’t been running Kura Toa or feeding mouths, changing nappies, cleaning, trying to get my little ones back to sleep or playing with or reading to them, I’ve been writing about Warrior Kids. The first Warrior Kids manual was published in 2002 and was only made available to organisations who took on a Warrior Kids license. At the time I thought a license agreement was the best way to go. The aim now is to produce a book that will feature the first ten sessions of Warrior Kids as it is today and which will be made available to the general public. This will mean that anyone will be able to utilise the principles and techniques of Warrior Kids. So those interested need only to keep an eye on the site for more information. It has been nearly a year since I visited Northland as part of the New Zealand Book Council’s ‘The sky is the limit when you read’ tour. My talk at Kaitaia College was filmed by the school's media studies and has now been uploaded on to the site for all to see. Toatoi can be characterised by its holistic approach and by the unique relationship that develops between the student and instructor. These two things separate Toatoi from other forms of Martial Arts and from counselling and other programmes. As mentioned last month, various areas of our lives are considered when it comes to self defence in Toatoi. Keeping Safe is one topic discussed in Warrior Kids, (for 5-13yrs), particularly around physical contact. The students and I make a circle on the mats and it is there that I ask the group, ‘When it comes to touching other people, what sort of touching is safe touching?’ The students put up their hands and I elicit answers from the group. To start with students talk about touching that is soft and gentle. We then go on to games such as rugby and netball, and what is regarded as safe touching or tackling when playing. I ask the students if hugging is safe. Mostly they agree that it is. I ask if it is safe to hug just anyone. They say no and we discuss who it is safe to hug: Nana, Papa, Aunty, Mum, Dad, and friends etc. People who we trust and feel safe with, is the consensus. Next I ask the students, ‘What sort of touching is not safe?’ We go through a long list of different types of striking such as kicking, punching, slapping, head butting, you name it. There is also choking, scratching, pushing etc. Once we’ve gone through all of these I make a point, if not already mentioned, of bringing up the touching of private parts. Usually there are some sniggers from people in the group. I say that we can laugh about it, but sadly it does happen. I go on to say that private parts are just that, private, and apart from mums, dads and a doctor when we are sick there is no reason for anyone to be touching you there. I stress that it’s not okay and not safe. I also mention that it’s also not safe or okay if someone tries to get you to touch their private parts. The tactic of getting the victim to do the touching is commonly used by offenders. I then speak about uncomfortable touching. Uncomfortable touching is not necessarily touching that hurts you or touching of the private parts, but it can certainly be a warning that something’s not okay or right. To explain this further I tell of an experience that a friend of mine had when she was a girl. When attending a birthday party at a neighbour’s house, a man who she didn’t know sat down beside her, placed a hand on her leg and told her that she was a pretty girl. Rightfully the girl felt uncomfortable. She said she had to go because her mother was waiting for her; and ran home as quickly as she could. This is a good example of uncomfortable touching. At this point I say, ‘so if someone is trying to touch you in a way that’s not safe, not okay, whether they’re trying to hurt you, trying to touch your private parts or trying to get you to touch theirs, or are touching you in a way that’s uncomfortable, what are you going to do?’ Typical answers are… Say stop it, I don’t like it. Shout No! Leave me alone! Defend yourself. Run away or get away if need be. Use a big voice to attract others. Tell somebody about it. When 'telling somebody about it', is said, I stop the group from going any further. I make sure that I acknowledge all answers, but I make a special point with this one. I say to the students that we will go around the group and each have a turn to say an adult that we could talk to if someone was trying to touch us in a way that wasn’t safe or okay. I stress that it has to be an adult. By all means the students can tell a friend or a family member closer to their age, but it’s important that the students think of an adult that they have an existing relationship with; an adult that they can trust to talk to and one that can and will do something about it. I go first, telling the students that it’s just as important for me to talk to someone if a person was trying to touch me in a way that wasn’t okay. I can certainly look after and protect myself, but it’s not right for me to beat people up; and by talking with another adult I would be able to work out what I was going to do and the steps that needed to be taken. From here we go around the circle, each sharing an adult we could turn to. After I bring the focus back to what else we could do if someone was trying to touch us inappropriately and take any last answers. I query responses that are far fetched, unsafe or simply not wise; the other students tend to set it right. For the last part of this discussion I ask the students, ‘How do you keep safe around angry adults?’ I ask them to think about the question for a moment and then reiterate it, ‘How do you keep safe around angry adults?’ The students themselves usually centre this discussion on the home and family, where the range of adult anger covers quiet brooding, heated discussions and, sadly yet commonly for some, physical violence and abuse. Again the answers come from the children themselves. When students ask me what they should do in any given situation in the home, I put it back on to them by saying that as much as I would like to be there to help them, the fact is I’m not going to be; so what can they do to keep themselves safe? The students are clever. If I give the answers I would rob them of their own ideas and intuition. The person the students most need to have belief and faith in is themselves. Any dependence or reliance on me won’t serve them in times of trouble. Answers that come up for keeping safe around angry adults include: Don’t get involved – it’s adult business. It’s not the child’s job to try and stop it or to try and protect a parent. Stay away from them. Go outside or to the bedroom – I point out that it might be a good idea to take any younger ones with them; and in some cases even pets. Do something nice for Mum or Dad, such as make them a cup of tea or a card – Only the older students should actually be making cups of tea. Don’t do anything that will make them angry at you – Sound advice. Not a good idea to be answering back or being cheeky. If they’re arguing tell them to stop it – This will work in some families, in others it won’t be safe. With such answers I say ‘If it’s safe for you to do that then do it. If you know that it’s not safe, then don’t do it.’ Talk to Mum and Dad about it. Go next door to the neighbour’s or to a friend or relative that lives close by – What’s important here, is that the child does not get into trouble for leaving the property and if they do go, then they go safely. Phone Nana, Uncle, Aunty or a friend of the family if the situation is getting scary – The children can also phone the police, but only if it’s safe to do so. If it’s not safe then maybe they could get a friend or relative to phone the police on their behalf. If Mum or Dad is wanting you to do something such as the dishes, then do it. If need be, be tricky – Some children have spoken about discreetly hiding the car keys when Mum or Dad is angry and drunk. My only concern is that the children may get caught in the act and cop a smack or two. However, I’m not there at the time and the children know the situation better than me. I reiterate that they need to keep safe. There are many other tricky strategies that they can utilize like hiding themselves. I commend all the constructive and safe answers and again query any that aren’t appropriate. At times with the Keeping Safe exercise students share experiences. When incidents of violence and abuse are mentioned I share my feelings about it, whether that be sad or angry, and I state that it’s not okay. I also acknowledge to the children that life is not always easy and that there are a lot of pressures and that mums and dads have a right to feel angry at times. I get angry; we all do. There’s nothing wrong with feeling angry; it’s what we do with it that determines if we’re safe or not. The fact is that the majority of parents who bring their children to Warrior Kids are good, open, caring and supportive parents. After all, they have made the effort to bring their children to the class in the first place. Discussing Keeping Safe strategies with our children prepares them for everyday life, as well as for their future. naku noa Tim

February 2009 Kura Toa and Warrior Kids now fifteen years old, and choices and Toatoi’s meaning of self defence Kura Toa early days 1994-95. More photos here. Kia ora, The classes are well underway. In fact, the Tuesday and Thursday Warrior Kids classes are full and the Monday and Wednesday classes aren’t far behind, although there are still some spaces. Anyone who is keen for their child to attend the Tuesday or Thursday class in particular can put their names on the waiting list and will be contacted when a space is available. To ensure quality, Toatoi class numbers are limited. The adult Toatoi classes are steady. Further promotion for the adult classes is in the pipeline so it will be nice to get some more students. I have pulled back from running Warrior Kids in schools for now. As a single parent of a one and a three year old, my time is limited. However, I am happy to be back at Peninsula Primary again. Warrior Kids has been a feature at Peninsula Primary for a number of years now. Kura Toa and Warrior Kids are 15 years old. To mark the occasion, photos from 1994-95 have been uploaded, featuring some of the original students and training sessions of the school. You can view these in the Gallery. Making Choices As some of you may know, I came from a very abusive home. I came away from my upbringing feeling worthless and unlovable. I was deemed a failure at school. I was full of rage and wanted to punish society for what it had allowed to be done to me. I wanted to hurt others and I wanted to hurt myself. I was destined to repeat the cycle. But I didn’t. From a young age I made a choice. To be different. And I worked at it. I make that choice everyday and I work at it everyday. I have chosen to be better than what I was subjected to. I have chosen to be more than my past. And Kura Toa, Toatoi, Warrior Kids and my writing are the result of this. Impulsive, fly off the handle, random acts of violence are rare. The majority of aggressive acts are calculated and planned. Aggressors choose their targets and their methods. Even in the school yard bullies look for an easy win. And such calculation is an exercise of choice. Those who hurt me as a child chose and took advantage of times and places very carefully. And even though my parents used their fists or any object that was close by, they chose to hit my body in places where marks wouldn’t be visible to others. Sadly, stories of abuse and violence are commonplace in the news and there always seems to be a multitude of excuses for those who inflict the abuse and violence. Excuses that alleviate any responsibility for the choices that the aggressors have made. Excuses such as, they’ve had a hard life and that they were alienated and abused. Or that it was the drugs or the alcohol. Regardless of what’s going on in our lives, we always have a choice about how we behave. The truth is that we learn this from an early age, but for many, excuses such as those mentioned above have given license to behave irresponsibly, dangerously and with an expectation of getting away with it. Every action has a reaction, every choice a consequence, whether we like it or not. Even though the majority of Kura Toa students come from loving and supportive homes, choices are an integral aspect of Toatoi’s self defence. Toatoi encourages students to make choices that ultimately serve them, choices that produce the best overall outcomes, as opposed to choices that bring them suffering, trouble or even ill feeling. Toatoi self defence is not just about the physical. Often I have expressed the self defence aspect of Toatoi as self protection. For me, protection is about being relaxed and flexible and it allows us to keep a balance of inner and outer focus. In contrast, a defensive reaction tends to be focused outward and has little regard for consequences. In keeping ourselves safe, in shielding our lives from harm, there are other defensive or protective choices that we must consider. Choices in areas of our lives such as… OUR BODY It is a fact that saturated fats, too much salt, sugar, additives, fast food, etc., will affect the condition of our health. A consciously healthy diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and whole grains will affect our health in a positive way. Furthermore, do we exercise and keep fit or do we choose to sit on the couch transfixed on the television, game console or computer? Again both choices have their consequences. OUR MIND We can choose to keep our mind active and engaged. We can choose to be self constructive, addressing negative thoughts, their patterns and any tendency to dwell or stress. We can affirm ourselves and focus on what we want or we can focus on the things we don’t want, thereby giving them more energy and making them more of a reality in our lives. OUR EMOTIONS We can choose to swallow our feelings and suppress them until they eat us up inside. If we so choose, our feelings can rule our lives. Our anger can be a wild beast that everyone needs to stay clear of. Our fear can dictate our lives. Our hurt can be a constant companion, something to cling too, and our shame can be a shadow at our side. Or our emotions can be our allies, energy that we can harness and cultivate. Our anger a self affirming, constructive energy that keeps us safe and retains clear and firm boundaries in a positive safe way. In other words, a well groomed sword in the hands of a master. Fear is a friend that warns and prepares us when faced with danger, challenge or even change. It is something we can breathe into, relax and pay heed to and adjust accordingly when necessary. It is only through fear that we are brave. Sadness is a true window to the soul, a gateway to reality and what is truly of value and importance, a space of reflection and of letting go. We can choose to accept that nothing is fixed, that feelings dwell only when we cling to them. Even depression is momentary. We can allow it to shift. Our shame is our conscience guiding us on a path of integrity, responsibility and honour. OUR RELATIONSHIPS Do we choose to allow others to hurt us or do we choose to be with people who value, respect and support us? In turn, do we choose to hurt others, lie, cheat, dishonour? Or do we choose to treat all life respectfully, including the natural world? THE SELF We can choose to follow our own truth, be honest to ourselves, and pursue what it is that we truly want, and accept and be that which we naturally are and all that we aspire to be. We can strive to be our best, breaking through our limitations and setbacks. We can be centered, reflective and flexible when responding to challenges or when faced with adversity. And we can be still and silent with ourselves, appreciating our connectedness. All these choices affect our lives and health. To protect and defend ourselves from harm they must all be considered. For me there is no truer meaning of self defence. I certainly want my students to be able to look after themselves and to protect themselves from harm. I also want them to be skilled martial artists and to be healthy and fit. But I do not want my students hurting others and getting into trouble. This would not be in my student’s best interest and is certainly not defending or protecting their lives. In 1999 I wrote an article for the New Zealand Martial Arts Magazine. In it I wrote: ‘My experience with various security work and roles within mental health includes a great deal of armed and unarmed attacks. My confidence in my ability paid off and I was able to defend myself without bringing harm to my attacker or me. This has been the promise of a mature Martial Artist within'. This is what I want for my students. This is the holistic nature of Toatoi. It would be irresponsible of me to teach anything less. Regards Tim

January 2009 Kura Toa re-opens, Friday class shifts to the Mihini Road centre and the Warrior Diet Kura Toa end of year lunch 20/12/08. More photos here. Happy new year to all. The classes finished with a great lunch on the 20th of December. I haven’t had much of a rest since then though. I spent much of my break shifting house. I’m currently living out of boxes and settling my babies into our new home. A number of other challenges occurred as well that were beyond my control. And my computer went on the blink again which meant a delay in the completion of work projects. All up, rather stressful. But it is times such as this that really test the training. The training of Toatoi is all about conditioning and preparing one for the challenges of life. It hasn’t been easy, my patience has worn thin at times and the pressure won’t be relenting just yet. However my integrity and dignity are intact. In other words, I haven’t lost it! My babies are feeling the effects of the changes too, so much of my energy is going there. Kura Toa re-opened on the 12th of January and overall it was a good turn out for a first week back. Nice to re-connect with students and their families. The Monday classes are well underway. One issue that has arisen with the Monday class is that there are a number of long weekends over the year when families may be away. Therefore on any week that the Monday Warrior Kids class is not running, due to a holiday, the students of the Monday class may attend any of the other Warrior Kids classes featured that same week. The Friday Warrior Kids class is shifting from Henderson South Primary School to Mihini Road. The time of the Friday class remains at 4.00 - 5.30 pm. This means that Warrior Kids will now be available five days a week at the Mihini Road centre. Please remember though that booking for classes is essential as class numbers are limited. To book, phone (09) 810 8268 or email me. 314 children took part in Warrior Kids with me, in schools and in the community, last year. For 2009 I have pulled back from schools and will be focussing on the community classes more which means the number of participants will be less, yet the overall quality should be higher. The adult classes will also be getting a lot more energy this year. A focus of Kura Toa for 2009 will be on the Warrior Diet. Students will be encouraged to eat healthy. I myself am now getting back to my normal diet after lapsing over the holiday period. Two emphases of the Toatoi training is self control and making choices that ultimately serve us. Therefore a student of Toatoi needs to be mindful of what they are putting into their body. When it comes to eating healthily, fruit and vegetables top the list and a wide variety too. I enjoy my fruit and vegetables, as do my little ones. Both of my children were started on fruit and vegetables from an early age and greens feature at every lunch and dinner in our house. That’s just the way it is. There are no battles to get my children to eat their vegetables, nor do they receive any sort of reward for doing so. It has simply become habitual. In fact some veges, cucumber and tomatoes presently, are prized above all other food, including meat and potatoes. Wholegrain rolled oats, wholegrain bread and unpolished rice, (brown rice), are also part of our diet. There are no other cereals; nor white bread or white rice. And water is the main drink. It is not my intention to show off in sharing this information, but rather to stress the importance of a healthy diet and to demonstrate how seriously I take it in my home. While I may have a burger now and then, I avoid takeaways. My children have no idea what the Golden Arches are, we go nowhere near the place; and I’ll continue to protect my children from the addiction and ill effects of this food for as long as I can. It annoys me how corporations such as McDonalds target children and young people with their promotions. I don’t have a lot of money, but much of what I do have goes on healthy food for the home, even it means missing out on other things. I don’t smoke or drink so that saves money and keeps me focussed. Sugar has been more of a hurdle for me over the years, and my weight has fluctuated at times because of it. The binges were emotionally driven. Nowadays my children and I do have treats, but it is limited to a small amount on one or two days a week; typically the weekend. We also stay away from chips, hot or cold. I want my children to have a lot more self control and freedom with their diets, as opposed to being hooked on salt and sugar like I was. And as an Instructor it is essential that I offer a comprehensive tutorage and assist my students in being the best that they can be in every area of their lives. This is Toatoi. naku noa Sensei Tim

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Warrior Kids: Warrior Training for Children

Warrior Kids Deflector Shield

Warrior Kids Yell & Run

For 16 years Warrior Kids has featured in schools and communities throughout New Zealand receiving numerous referrals from community and government agencies. The History, Gallery and Feedback pages tell our story.

Kura Toa Warrior School ISBN 978-1-877514-02-9

Exciting news that Kura Toa Warrior School has now been republished by Libro International right here in West Auckland. In this novel for young adults, Haki must confront his fears and find a way to answer the challenge to serve his people, to serve his land, to fight a Taniwha and, ultimately, to become a warrior. An imiginative expression of Tim's warrior philosophy. Selling for NZ$25 + postage and packaging copies can be ordered directly from the publisher at peter@oratiamedia.com or fax +64 (0)9 814 8997.