Thur Dec 3rd Fundraiser for NextAid.org

YMBK is an affiliate of LOOM, LOOM is part of NextAid’s World AIDS Day Campaign.

Fundraiser for NextAid.org : Proceeds go towards the creation of an ecological multipurpose facility for the "Kawangware Street Children and Youth Project" in Nairobi, Kenya, and for the education of South African children through the loveLife goGogetters program.

Our Efforts

To salute the cause, we're debuting loom's newest resident DJ, Kethro throwing down the world-weaving flavors alongside loom co-creator, Brent Crampton. Percussion by Shif-D.

Kicking off on November 25th and running till the end of the year, the campaign already includes over a dozen events in LA, San Francisco, Charlotte, Boston, Omaha, NYC, and Philly dance music communities (& counting)! Sponsors and partners include Giant Step, Fusicology, The MML, URB Magazine, Wantickets, Rhythmism, Green Galactic, Homemade LA and more.

NextAid channels the positive energy of the dance floor to make a tangible difference in the lives of children halfway around the world, believing that beats can build hope. Learn more about the campaign at http://www.nextaid.org/wad2009.

Check out Funk Aid for Africa: A CD that embodies NextAid’s mantra of “using the beats of our generation to provide hope for the next”! Purchase this charitable compilation produced by Dubspot and DJ OBah at http://www.funkaid.com. 100% of the proceeds benefit NextAid.


AIDS & H.I.V

HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system - the body's defence against diseases.

Are HIV and AIDS the same?

No. When someone is described as living with HIV, they have the HIV virus in their body. A person is considered to have developed AIDS when the immune system is so weak it can no longer fight off a range of diseases with which it would normally cope.

How is HIV passed on?

HIV can be passed on through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk.

The most common ways HIV is passed on are:

Sex without a condom with someone living with HIVSharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment
From an HIV-positive mother (to her child) during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding (but with effective treatment and care the risk of transmission can be greatly reduced)

Is there a cure?

NO, but treatment can keep the virus under control and the immune system healthy. People on HIV treatment can live a healthy, active life, although they may experience side effects from the treatment. If HIV is diagnosed late, treatment may be less effective.

How can I protect myself and others from HIV infection?

ALWAYS use a condom when having vaginal or anal sex. You also may want to use a condom or dental dam during oral sex although the risk of transmission of HIV is much lower.

You can get free condoms from at most sexual health clinics.

Never share needles, syringes or any other injecting equipment.

Lets be the generation that controlled AIDS.

Onwards.Upwards. Always !

fa

Is there anything more annoying than pretentiousness?

You see it in "business" all the time.

Its everywhere. You see it on FaceBook ALL the time.

Inherent in our consciousness. In Individuals. In Products. In Processess.

It cuts me deep to see it in friends, though.

Value: Its a warm kissed winter afternoon and its unfortunate that I have a growing sense of alarm. My fever of impatience is in this towering rage embodied in an otherwise beautyful concept, 'value'.

WHY?

What is value?

WHAT is WEALTH ?
What is beauty?

What is truth?

What is true love?
What is commitment?

Define a great relationship?
Define a great life?
Define success?

What is the meaning of life?

A freezing cloud saturates my office. Its more than a pang of refelections.

Its the truth. A decorum of unique experinces.


YAMBUKA is going to succeed...every breath in my being is a YMBK breath.


Not out of will, not out of hope (it is the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength, and your greatest weakness... this I appreicate, this I beleive).

..."Things will always be how they should be."

Onwards. Upwards. Always !

fa

I met a new friend/business associate.

Eyes blazing with intelligence, with an endearing sense of style she asked philosophically , “…why?”

A comfortable silence.

A bright slightly cynical smile, I answered tentatively, trying to keep the irony out of my voice…”it’s the right thing to do.”

She sighed uncontentedly.

I could see it clearly, perception did not exceed expectation.
The question was simple, “...WHY invest in YAMBUKA ?”

Those who know me (rather ; those who know me well) understand how I am guided by academia and how I biblically utilize Occam's razor’s in my daily life; when you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better.

Apropos, to quote my father (late...wise), “failure defeats losers, simultaneously failure inspires winners…inevitably levels of failure are certain, its the response to it, that defines us” = OVERCOME.

Occam's razor’ states that the explanation of any phenomenon should make as few assumptions as possible, eliminating those that make no difference in the observable predictions of the explanatory hypothesis or theory.

As I post this blog, I YouTube and turn up the timeless Buzz Riddim, and realize “simplicity’ is the key. We have no choice.

We have to OVERCOME.

Occam's razor is used to adjudicate between theories that have already passed 'theoretical scrutiny' tests, and which are equally well-supported by the evidence.

Things will always be how there should be.

YAMBUKA: Entrepreneurial decision making is challenging, the Occam’s Razor theory can be used to prioritize empirical testing (whether business or personal) between two equally plausible but unequally testable hypotheses; thereby minimizing costs and wastes while increasing chances of falsification of the simpler-to-test hypothesis.

Upwards. Onwards. Always!

Farai

Relationships and friendships have been my greatest CHALLENGE of 2009.

Where does one sign up to take classes to learn to “endure the betrayal of false friends” ?

No one means all they say and yet very few say all they mean.

I cannot help but acknowledge the rift that 2009 has birthed, between myself and world.

Not so much friends turning into foes, but rather, the tangible absence of sync; as watersheds transform each one of us on a rollercoaster called growth.

Growth, like truth, ALWAYS lags last, limping along on the arm of Time.

When I started on my YAMBUKA journey, 8 months ago, I was forced to identify my FEARS:

1) Competition

The unknown abyss

2) Failure

The parental voice.

3) Criticism

The peer voice.

4) Rejection

The male ego.

5) Conflict

Friends become Foes.

6) Intimacy

Fuck’en Blogs.

Honestly identifying ones weaknesses is inherently challenging because of the introspective nature of self evaluation, particularly when the project is based on a BRAND whose revealing engine is “image”; whose exposing fuel is ‘character’.

A lot of people are shackled by the possible stew of embarrassment associated with fear and the puddle of emotions, sharing ones’ fears may cause.

I’ve gone through a crash course in vulnerability, BUT… I’ve OVERCOME…. I’ve seen the ‘promised land’:

to laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of the old and the young; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better by the redeemed ‘OVERCOME’ social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because I have lived.

There is a paranormal element to reacting to the betrayal of false friends: you know it’s going to happen, and you understand why it’s going to… but still…you HOPE (the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength, and your greatest weakness (The Architect)).

Farai, the perennial optimist, will end this at this: character assassination is always inversely related to the ‘Law of Solid Ground’. Character speaks for itself, fabrication only sparks temporary attention from ill-developed ego interests.

Truth is generally the best vindication against slander. As uncertain as life is, one thing that people can be certain of is TRUTH: it cannot be buried, it cannot be burnt, it cannot be ignored, it’s universal inherent nature is transparent. The truth is always simple, always clear. The truth is cruel, but it can be loved and it makes free those who have loved it.

As I turn up Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind”, I realize my mind state: Bring on the pain, (pile it on).

Onwards. Upwards .Always !
Fa

Pre "watershed"

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Post "watershed"

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Onwards. Upwards. Always!

fa

Rules to Survival




1) Stay balanced - when power punching stay balanced. Always maintain proper striking form and do not overextend your body when deliver punches and strikes.

Remember that losing your balance in a self defense situation can cost you your life!

2) Be mobile - avoid the tendency to remain stationary.

This doesn't mean that you have to dance around like Muhammad Ali, just move around strategically and vary the speed and direction of your footwork.





3) Stay relaxed - avoid tensing your muscles when punching.

Tensing your muscles will slow you down significantly and also lead to a possible injury.

4) Throw different combinations - avoid delivering one strike at a time.

Learn to harmoniously integrate your kicks, punches and strikes into devastating compound attacks that you would apply in a street fighting situation.




Keys to Success!

Punching Power Rule #1: DON'T LOCK YOUR ELBOWS. When throwing linear punches, be certain not to lock your elbows.

Elbow locking is a common problem among martial art novices. When delivering a linear blow, your arm should be extended toward its target until the elbow is not more than three inches short of full extension.

After contact is made with the target, the fist is returned back to the hand guard position. Remember, if your elbow locks upon impact, it will have a pushing effect and rob you of critical punching power.





Punching Power Rule #2: USE YOUR THREE POWER GENERATORS.

When executing hand techniques from a stationary position, there are three anatomical power generators that will allow you to torque your body maximally. They include the following: (1) shoulders, (2) hips, and (3) feet. Maximally torquing your body into the blow will increase both the force and penetration of the blow.

However, there is a very fine line between power and speed in relation to the three anatomical power generators.




Punching Power Rule #3: YOUR LINE OF INITIATION IS YOUR LINE OF RETRACTION. When executing linear blows (lead straights, rear crosses, finger jabs, palm heels), remember that your line of initiation should always be your line of retraction. Avoid arcing or dropping your blow.

Such sloppy body mechanics will throw you off balance, minimize your impact power, and open you up for a possible counterattack. Failing to maintain a straight-line trajectory is usually caused from the following: (1) your elbow does not travel behind your punch, (2) premature wrist torque.





Punching Power Rule #4: DON'T TELEGRAPH YOUR PUNCH. Telegraphing means inadvertently making your intentions known to your assailant.

There are many subtle forms of telegraphing that must be avoided in a street fight. Here are just a few: (1) cocking your arm back prior to punching or striking; (2) tensing your neck, shoulders, or arms prior to striking; (3) widening your eyes or raising your eyebrows; (4) shifting your shoulders; (5) grinning or opening your mouth; and (6) taking a sudden and deep breath.


Punching Power Rule #5: KEEP YOUR WRISTS STRAIGHT. When throwing punching tools (circular or linear), make certain your wrists are correctly aligned with your forearm. If your wrist bends or collapses on impact, you will either sprain or break it.




Remember, a sprained or broken wrist will put you out of commission immediately when fighting.

Punching Power Rule #6: TIGHTEN YOUR FISTS ON IMPACT. Remember to tighten your fists upon impact with your selected target. This action will allow your natural body weapon to travel with optimum speed and efficiency, and it will also augment the impact power of your strike.



Punching Power Rule #7: KNOW HOW TO MAKE A PROPER FIST. It's ironic how some of the most experienced street fighters don't know how to make a proper fist.

Improper fist clenching can be disastrous for some of the following reasons: (1) you can jam, sprain, or break your fingers; (2) you will destroy wrist alignment, resulting in a sprained or broken wrist; or (3) you'll lose significant power when striking.



To make a proper fist, tightly clinch the four fingers evenly in the palm of your hand.

Make certain that your thumb is wrapped securely around your second and third knuckles and flexed down toward the wrist.




Remember that developing punching power takes time and lots of effort of your part. It won't come over night, but with determination and commitment it can be accomplished:

Onwards. Upwards. Always !

Farai

Success is the sum of many small efforts.

The ultimate truth that binds us all (in my humble opinion) is PURPOSE.

To borrow from Agent Smith:
It is PURPOSE that created us.
PURPOSE that connects us.
PURPOSE that pulls us.
That guides us.
That drives us.
It is PURPOSE that DEFINES us.
PURPOSE that binds us.
PURPOSE.

My year thus far has been the flirtatious tango of problems and solutions.

Entrepreneurial incumbency powered by unorthodox, but furious, dexterity (in a recession year) has had me tapping into my deep well of emotions.

The microcosmos of supply chain management, risk versus return, ROI, payroll, shipping & distribution, quality control, operations, marginal productivity, social responsibility & BRAND recognition have ganged up in true simplicity to ask me a fundamental question; PURPOSE?

Analysing PURPOSE sparks a morbid fascination in me because the Darwinian underbelly that defines each persons role in this "relay-race" called life, causes me to be burton.

PURPOSE is life's baton-stick. (great /original facebook post by the way)

Rights, obligations and all claims to belong to the human race are summed up in "PURPOSE." It is of paramount importance, both in life and in entrepreneurship, to comprehend ones PURPOSE.

The purpose of life is a life of purpose. Robert Byrne.

YAMBUKA's PURPOSE

There is a world of irony in contemplating PURPOSE. I've noticed, with great intrigue by the way, that every time someone introduces me to someone new, they say (positively), " .. this is Nigel, he does T-Shirts...".

This always leaves me feeling reflective. Not offended, not disappointed, but rather... humbled.

Humbled because my vision of the OVERCOME movement coupled with the YMBK BRAND is still a baby. I'm just cutting the umbilical cord.

YMBK is not even a toddler yet. Not an infant, not a 'snot nosed' pre-schooler, not a 'wise crackin' grade schooler, not a cynical 8th grader yet, not a delusional high schooler yet, not even a 'rebellious adolescent' yet.

Building wealth is laughable. Its challenging to envision growth but wonderful to see end results. Apparently its beautiful watching the awkward years, fusing hope and potential, dreaming.

YMBK BRAND + OVERCOME movement= PURPOSE

My vision - to create a platform, a symbol, a beacon for our generation to communicate daily success, the success of OVERCOMING any and all obstacles.

Onwards. Upwards. Always!

Farai