Hello and Happy Health….

This weekend, many of you are taking it to the running racing routes.  Safe travels and be a warrior on the Road.  You have the fighting knowledge to conquer your race.

There’s a great tradition that is performed before international matches by New Zealand’s Native Rugby Team – The All Blacks.  They are called All Blacks because they wear black uniforms and are the most finest and fittest of Rugby players.  The All Blacks perform Hakas.  They’ve been performing their tradition since 1905.  The Haka is an ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand.  They dance with vigorous movements and stamp their feet rhythmically shouting accompaniment.  This was also a means to intimidate their enemy by displaying fierce facial expressions and grimaces, such as poking out the tongue, bulging and showing the whites of their eyes along with their uttering grunts and cries.
The War Haka originally performed by warriors before a battle, proclaiming their strength to intimidate their opposition. It was also a way to get the warriors “pumped up” before battle. On the flip side, Hakas also performed for distinguishing guests or to acknowledge great achievements, and on some occasions, perform a ceremony at funerals.

If you think about it, Athletes in many ways perform some of the same expressions, the fierce facial expression as we push through our training or cross the finish line.  The sticking out of tongues because we’re happy, thirsty in Yoga or just plain delirious as we’re finishing our intense workouts or goal race.

Ringa pakia
Uma tiraha
Turi whatia
Hope whai ake
Waewae takahia kia kino
(Slap the hands against the thighs
Puff out the chest
Bend the knees
Let the hip follow
Stamp the feet as hard as you can)
Ko Aotearoa e ngunguru nei!
(This is our land that rumbles)
Au, au, aue ha!
(And it’s my time! It’s my moment!)
Ko Kapa o Pango e ngunguru nei!
(This defines us as the All Blacks)
Au, au, aue ha!
(And it’s my time! It’s my moment!)
I ahaha!
Ka tu te ihiihi
(Our Dominance)
Ka tu te wanawana
(Our supremacy will triumph)
Ki runga ki te rangi e tu iho nei, tu iho nei, hi!
(And will be placed on high)
Ponga ra!
Silver fern!
Kapa p Pango, aue hi, ha!
All Blacks

Go out there and run your race, you are a Warrior with feet that will defeat…conquer Your RACE!