Merry Christmas and to all a recognition

Just wanted to take this minute to wish all of you a healthy and happy new year and a well deserved christmas break to you and yours. It has been a year of great things witnessed and many great challenges defeated by some of the coolest people I have met in a long time. I am grateful to have had the pleasure of training with all of you and we should hopefully see you all soon. All the best to the Dragon team and to all the instuctors and students of Silent River. Merry Christmas!
Brian Chervenka

Advancing from a distance but the hearts at home

I look at the date of my last blog and can't believe how long its been since I journaled and shared my latest thoughts, and said to myself "that just sucks". As far as things are going in my journey its challenging and in some ways sacrificial towards my family and kung fu. Although as I stated before my heart and dedication towards both is concrete. I have been putting in a lot of hours these last few months to better myself and of course challenging myself to beyond my capacities. Which tells me I am practicing kung fu and working towards mastery full bore. Kung fu means hard work, kung fu teaches discipline and respect in the form of always a constant evolution that is never mastered but ingrained into the depths of our souls.  Ingrained into us so deeply that at times it would be so easy to say to hell with this. But I find the more I apply the deepest roots of our kung fu, which is internal, the more I crave the challenge of working harder and the more  I can work towards the balance of leaving emotion out of my thoughts, especially dealing with the items I don't quite understand or in the learning stages of the unknown. I guess in a way the installation of automaticity sets in and gives an individual a look at practicing life in the void.

As far as training goes I have been working Dah Mu Sinh. I have been trying to work on the over extension of my punches and my heel coming up in certain areas of the form that has never occurred before. Forms are one of my most favourite parts of kung fu because if you can't get in time to train, you can do a few form reps  and cover alot of basics in your training. Especially in this form because it is the base for all of our training pyramids. I also get very frustrated with forms because they are a constant evolution in perfection and correction. The never ending quest for balance. I have also been working on my kicks which need a lot of work. I have the basis down but have discovered the route of all my problems. Flexibility. If I kick low they're pretty good, but as I try to kick higher my center is lost and I am throwing myself all over the place. I have set up a stretching aid that I have learnt from reading Bruce Lees' fighting method. It consists of a rope and two pulleys that help pull the leg up in a stance. Once you have reached a certain height you slowly release the grip on the rope and try to hold your leg up, but continue to use the rope as an aid until you can hold your leg up on your own. We'll see how this works out. It like muscle building and stretching in one exercise.

One last thing I would like to share is my absence to the team. I am sorry guys I am not there. It bothers me alot that I don't have my hands on the rope. Right now I have little time with my family and usually jammed with extra work that requires, well, extra time. My focus is my daughter, she needs her fathers energy and the reassurance that I am dedicated to all her interests. My wife needs my help and my time as well. They both have a good solid understanding of what I am trying to accomplish both at home and with my training. My girls are tough and understand the sacrifices I have to make towards both and support me ten fold. Right now its a little different, I am at work everyday and spending very little time at home. Those of you that know me, know I mean no disrespect and I am fully committed to everything we are trying to accomplish this year. If I could make it work I would. See you soon hopefully and I will try to respond and make my presence known better than as of late. Once again sorry guys.

Brian Chervenka

Who parked this elephant on my path?

Working 10-12 hrs a day, everyday can feel almost like a life sentence. It takes its toll on every aspect of your life. Family time and events that cannot be attended because you have to work. Training takes an absolute beating, even after you are on the ground, it keeps kicking. But do we stop fighting or carrying on? No. As long as your heart and your intentions to better yourself and the well being of your family and beliefs never lose their potency, the fighting never stops. I have been in a very difficult position lately regarding my family and my training. I am on the ground and literally taking the better end of a good life beating. Knowing that I'm missing classes, looking into my daughters eyes when she's asking me," when are we going swimming again?" My wife saying to me she only sees me for an hour or two a day and am I working next weekend. Knowing the longer I am away from the kwoon the more I am going to have to catch up. The I Ho Chuan team practicing demos and now I am one of those guys not there and I can see that pause that occurs when its someones cue and they're not there. Its almost comparable to a hollow because that individuals energy is not present on the team and everyone just stares, its not complete. Wondering if this is what its going to be like the higher you go up your career ladder and is it really worth it. Dealing with bean counters and their complete lack of reality outside of their handy stats and production curves sent down from the "think tank team" that have their heads completely pounded up their butts. Handling 4 crews and 25 personnel and a job thats all on you. Not being able to get in much attention to my requirements or training, and as far as journaling goes. Well, I have really dropped the ball on this one. I didn't just drop it, I shot it with a grenade launcher. So what do you do? If you read my last blog, you already know. Stop and reset. How can I apply kung Fu here? What part of my training tools can I execute, knowing full well this is all part of my journey and acceptance is the easy part. It is what it is, and I chose this path. How about the obvious? Recognize that this is the process of mastery and one of the challenges I must get through to advance to the next level.

It would be so much easier to go back on the tools and just roll with everything I know and pull my days off like a cake walk. Thats not advancing towards mastery. Staying where I am and working hard to perfect the level I am at now is the place to be. Think of it like learning a new form. Alright now I am back up on one knee. Ignore the idiots and advance past them, prove to myself and the ones working with me that they can count on me to lead them to a successful project and teach them how to hone their own skills and embrace their input to better my own. A solid group of professionals that operate as a finely tuned machine. Regaining my composure and now standing. Expressing to the I Ho Chuan team that I am sorry I am not there but I am practicing my hand and weapon forms as much as I can. So the next time they see me its like I haven't skipped a beat. Standing upright now and shaking my arms out. Assuring my daughter and explaining to her that I have a long christmas break coming and I am working to better myself and my family and we'll have tons of fun for 10 days straight. Hanging with my wife and catching up on some we time, that I'm sure will involve presents. Keep practicing as much as I am able and keep my heart in my training. Knowing I can catch up and enjoying the journey. The Kwoon and Kung Fu aren't going anywhere. Knowing kung fu is not something I do to kill time, but its now growing into my life style and what I have installed so far is solid and will get me through. Leaving shattered mediochracy behind and advancing closer to mastery. Now I am brushing the dust off I and am standing in a solid stance. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go kick an elephants ass.

The discipline of reset

Slamming on the brakes of your life ride is by far the most beneficial way to stay on the cool. Sure flying down the life highway in a manic rage or pulling off a set path to fly through any obstacle at mach 9 is great too. But after awhile things start flying apart, sense of direction is distorted, incompletion is evident and eventually it all falls apart and your stuck dragging your feet. I have found that when things start to become overwhelming or problems arise being stressed does nothing for rational thought. Whether your being pushed at work, home, training, or education you have to stop and tell everyone and everything around you to take a hike until YOU are ready. Its your life and yours alone. Its more than obvious people have become accustomed to being pushed past their limits and beyond. There is nothing wrong with being pushed to your limits, in fact its a great thing, thats what makes us stronger and wiser to everything. But when its forced by other things or other people and no longer can be dealt with by the individual. Then it becomes unhealthy. Life is going to always be tough, thats a given, but it shouldn't have to be a ball and chain. Take the time for your self to reset and look at what your doing, where you need to be as a professional, or a parent, or as a martial artist. What corrective actions need to be taken to procede on the calm, and what garbage needs to be dumped out of your little red wagon of life to lighten the load. We all carry issues or things we don't need to or have to. We are all confronted with time lines and trivial things, past or present. Look at things for what they are, is it really worth the energy or should we just smash them or set them free and move on. Things are always going to drop in front of you or beat you down. Stop, plan, take a deep breath and knock it the hell out. Carry on the way you see fit because we only get one shot if you look at the big picture. We only get one shot to raise our kids and plan our own life and where we want to be when travelling has to be done at a slower pace. If none of this makes sense, then you need to buy a motorcycle, and thats another blog.
Brian Chervenka

Stuck at the crossroads of a Kung Fu journey

I am in a position of as late that has kind of stopped me in my tracks regarding my training in where I'm at and what I am doing. I don't like to use the words busy, I prefer to use full. I am very full right now, on all aspects of my life. At least thats what I thought. The problem lies in my journey. I ran out of a prepared path I laid out long ago and now I have to layout a path two to three years ahead in order to continue on my journey with a more advanced approach. I like to look way ahead and actually visualize where I am heading and see myself there. Where I want to be regarding my life and my kung Fu. I tend to look way ahead and take the time so I can approach things in detail and move along patiently in order to build a rock solid knowledge and base. This way advancement remains calm and I always have a plan or I can pull out a life tool that I have in my arsenal and move along cutting a solid and indestructible path that will stay forever and leave behind a path for others to follow if they choose. That will never falter but can always be revised form a solid base. In other words, all of my life tools are forged from a composition of understanding and knowledge from witnessing what works and what doesn't through others and myself. Too embrace the masters and absorb  what they are willing to share and how far I am willing to expand and work through my comfort zones. I have installed many challenges and goals that will require sacrifices and a life change, all for the better of course  as I begin on my discipline of destination which has worked very well for me all through out my life.

After earning the promotion of Sihing many things changed in regards to my training. I no longer have the luxury of having a black belt to teach me twice a week in a structured class. My training is no longer laid out for me and there are areas in my curriculum that I am told to study and practice in order to successfully earn that stripe. The stripe now has become a belt. The bottom line is that however it is I am going to proceed to this next level is entirely up to me. I am not going to take a year off and kill the momentum, I can't just shut it off and expect to turn it on again with the same level of inspiration and determination I have at this moment, next year or the year after. It won't happen. But this looking ahead has kind of thrown me off of the path regarding my I Ho Chuan requirements for year of the dragon. I have already jumped way ahead into year of the snake where I plan to test and earn a black belt. Its hard for me step back and continue where I left off because to me I have already covered that distance, but in reality I have to pick up where I left off because that is unfinished business and sooner or later I will have to back track and finish what I started or its fake or a valuable component is left behind that will be required in the future is not there. I am still working steadily at my requirements. Some days good, some days not so good. I have to restore my thoughts and focus on what is in the present in order to plan the future and be successful in all aspects of my life, whether it be my family, career, or my Kung Fu. I can see me there, I just have to figure out which turn to take or do I keep straight ahead. Once this simple, but important decision is made, I can move forward and connect those last few dots on my life map and continue with the right mindset and focus.

Brian Chervenka

Emotions and Egos

Another public demo added to the list and a memory of different emotions.Commitment. Getting together with the team at 5:00 in the morning and having everyone show up and give it their best at all demo practices. To create a demo in such a short time frame displayed a very solid and dedicated team to what it is we are trying to accomplish. Excitement. When everybody is getting ready to perform, there is such a high sense of energy and its just plain cool to stand back and take in everyone doing their forms, adjusting and tweeking, putting their own personality and flow to them. Inspiration. You can't help but be inspired to do your best and that discipline is installed even when you are home or training with each other. The expectations are high and everyone is driven to succeed because as a team we are all counting on each other and want to do well for the representation of our school and the expectations of our teachers. Being nervous. No matter what mindset you use, this emotion is always present before any public activity. No matter what perspective you try to fool your brains with or how the butterflies in your stomach always amplify to elves with jack hammers, this emotion will always be present and labouring if you let it get the best of you. Although with a team and more and more public experience you achieve it does get easier. Keep in mind, everyone around you is going through the same feeling and they're pulling it off and so can you. Content. The comfort of knowing that you can approach anyone on the team for advice or maybe a relation to the trouble you are having or that little boost you need. The fact that this is a team makes it rewarding when you can do the same for someone else and being able to recognize that someone on the team may need your help but is not very good at approaching or saying how they feel and taking the initiative to approach. Pride. Witnessing all that took place and knowing you and your team were a part of it. By contributing a piece of yourself and the standard of the school. Looking around the room and feeling the energy of some truly wonderful and awesome people, not to mention extremely lethal. Disappointment. I really felt like I let the team down today. Everything went well with the exception of my board breaks. Sorry guys. Regret. I should have practiced my techniques more and took the little extra time to put the holders in the exact place required. Although I didn't stop and continued through, in my mind the word fail echoed through and the fact it was public left a sting. Humility. I have become, to a point, comfortable with the back up of being able to muscle through things. That failed me today and taught me a good lesson about not always relying on your physical strength. My ability to quickly adapt and just make it happen is great, but I think over confidence and ego impaired this ability today. One of the main reasons I try not to carry an ego is because an ego is fake and nobody respects an inflated ego and sooner or later it will catch you and it will throw you flat on your face. So as I said, the fact this reminder was public just reinforced my beliefs and was a great reminder to humility. You can't always be perfect, there is no such thing. Wisdom. Learning wisdom through mistakes is the true way to be successful and really be able to figure out what went wrong and what process is required to repair and a break down with an attention to detail in every step of your techniques to be solid and stick with you. Happiness. All in all after I managed to think things through, I couldn't stop smiling all day. Knowing what we did for those seniors today was what really mattered. I still see the smiles on their faces and I'm sure we really made an impact on their lives. I also can't stop smiling as I recall all the smiles on my teamates faces. Good job guys, you all looked awesome, and it was great to see team support from Sifu Bryant as well. Now where is the damn ice!
Brian Chervenka

Being grateful

I am grateful for many things, too many things to record on one blog thats for sure. But I'll definitely share the people or experiences that stand out or that mean the most. I am grateful for my parents. Without the life and survival skills that they passed on to me I think I would have a much tougher time at things we're handed. I'm grateful to live in the country we do and the opportunity it presents or has given to me and my family for a great life and solid future for my girls. I am very grateful that friends and some hard lessons pulled me out of the lifestyle I once thought was the place to be or I would be dead or in jail. I am grateful for meeting my wife and step daughter, this taught me to learn acceptance and responsibility and evolved understanding. I am grateful for the ability to work with my hands and use my brain comfortably in almost any situation. (again this ties in with my Father) I am grateful for my youngest daughter that never fails to challenge me or bring sunshine into any day or any situation. I am grateful for finally stepping up and becoming a martial artist and the opportunity to train at Silent River Kung Fu. I am grateful for all the great and inspiring people I have met and train with. My Kung Fu family means alot too me. I am grateful for all my teachers as a student and all my life teachers I have met through my life. Past, present, and future.

Brian Chervenka 

Answering a challenge

When I was going over the requirements and trying to decide which personal and which "pre set" challenge to blog about and how it has made me a better person and martial artist, there was alot to ponder. All, have changed and affected me in one way or another. For personal I chose 1000 reps of Da Mu Hsing. Initially I thought this would be a good form to work on and streamline because it covers every aspect of basic. Installing this kind of muscle memory and mindfulness would be a very good asset to my training pyramid and have a good solid base for any form or training involving stances and flow, stability, and of course becoming comfortable and recognizing center and applying the six harmonies. What I didn't realize is what kind of can I had opened and the questions that would arise along with the difficulties that I would encounter as I began to improve and the form matured. Ways I had been doing forms with a multitude of unfinished stances and a handful of bad pratices can all go back to my practice of Dah Mu Hsing. For a basic form it started to turn out to be somewhat complex. It seemed as I corrected one or two things, something else was definitely wrong or didn't feel right. As my flow improved and became faster my stances or some techniques would come short or just plain sucked from my perspective. Lack of flexibility and executing everything from my shoulders was more than apparent and the effects were more than obvious. Although as I progress the recognition and the ability to repair is present. I am starting to feel and recognize center and am mindful of the six harmonies. Every technique, foot position, wrist rotation is there, I just have to get it all to work together as one. I don't think a person ever totally masters a form, they just make it their own and continue to work and improve constantly, like a circle that never meets. So this particular requirement has made me more aware of all my Kung Fu, and the harder I work at it, the more I will constantly improve in my life journey as a practitioner of the art.

As for the pre set requirement I chose random acts of kindness. I always have had a natural ability and desire to help others. Whether it be mental or physical. If your down, I want to help in any way I can. If you need a favor no problem, lets get it done. I always tried to show respect and always be thankful towards others. But exposure to this challenge actually showed me that in some ways I am not so understanding or sympathetic towards others. In someways it has exposed just how little empathy I have towards people and how I expect aknowledgment when I say good morning to someone or hold a door for them and they look at me like they just did me a favor by allowing me to hold the door for them. The constant mentality that entitlement is king and everyone deserves everything, and under no circumstances whatsoever take personal responsibilty for any action. Materials and self are completely what life is about. This has been a very difficult challenge in some ways. On one or two occasions I didn't even want to do it. It is very easy to get discouraged or write off the fools, so to speak. Then I realized that is not what this challenge is about, aknowledgement or self gratification for doing something nice. Its about example and hope. Setting the example to others that may have lost their way or was never taught or grew up in a tight community setting to put others first. Hope, that people will look past themselves and try to reconnect the disconnection that is so prevalent and growing at a rapid pace. Maintaining the standard and responsibility to help each other and the world around us. I have realized you can't hold people to your own personal standards or principles or way of doing things. Every body has their own way of learning and progressing and that is what needs to be recognized and respected. But one can definitely lead by example and demonstration of what it means to live and practice kindness.
Thank you Sifu Wonsiak for this challenge.
Brian Chervenka

Becoming one function

Its kinda weird moving to another level of Kung Fu. As you work through the curriculum your training matures to different levels. Once you grade and pass, there is the excitement of a new challenge and another group of forms, techniques, and fitness levels. Now you have gone through all the colours and you are now able to prepare for your black belt test. I have to admit as I reviewed the curriculum there was quite a bit that I don't remember. But there is also quite a bit I do remember. I am glad that from blue belt up until now I attended as many of the other classes as I could, because it kept me engaged. Also the importance of doing your homework on all the forms or techniques I didn't understand or it took time to learn. Those repetitions installed muscle memory that stayed in my thoughts and body. Things I have forgotten come back naturally after a brief review, others I don't have a clue. I don't carry any doubt of whether or not I have earned my stripes or belt levels because I have faith in all of my teachers, If I wasn't ready they would not have advanced me, end of story.That in itself can be intimidating and install doubt, if you let it. I started to think of how I need to do this and I need to do that, and holy #@%& I have lots of work to do and...... Stop you idiot! I have this year to complete first in the I Ho Chuan and that is the focus. People are counting on each other for help and completion. I don't want to slip back into the "blinders on" mode and be completely self centered and hog this tool to myself again. Because that will happen if I don't stay focused on the team and what WE are trying to ALL accomplish here.The engagement and discipline that the I Ho Chaun has installed in our training is cutting the path and making things on all sides alot more managable. The hardest challenge I have now is getting to the Sihing class. I know I am missing out and this bothers me alot. Which is why staying engaged is imperative and just how can I make this work. I just want to tell my boss to pound this job you know where. But then what have I learned and how am I going to excel in my career. Well I put forth a proposition on our scheduling and it sounds like it is a go. So thats one down. The other is the segregation of work, Kung Fu, and family. This is something I have been working on the last few weeks and what I have done is put my work and my Kung Fu together. I ended up working a 12 hour day yesterday and was becoming irritated as I knew there was no way I was going to get a single class in as I was stuck working under the Dawson bridge. So do you pout and be mad because you have to train at home and still eat etc. or do you walk and negotiate steel and bracing to the center of the bridge and do 100 p/u over the water as the sun shines down and the water is calm. If your going that far why not lock your legs under the wind bracing and do two sets of 50 s/u on the bottom chord with no ground to rest your back on. Those where cool and what a burn! After that why not do some form reps under the adbutment after you wrap up for the day and head home.
The point is I took advantage of a break and applied my Kung Fu. Family and Kung Fu are coming together also as my little one now trains at Silent River and we did p/u and s/u together tonight. When I get the chance I run with my wife or go for walks or bike rides my girls to rack up some kms. So we'll see how this works. Also things are now getting alot easier to manage now that everything is slowly becoming consolidated and its just fun dammit!

Brian Chervenka

A new level

My training as a whole has come to a rough patch of road and many blind corners that I will have to circumnavigate to remain on the path. Blind corners such as how I am going to attend Sihing class and remain true to my goals and accomplishments. I have taken on another job with another contractor that specializes in many technical and challenging aspects of my trade. There is also another aspect that I have not yet ventured. I have been given the responsibility of general foreman position on an up and coming job. This commitment and challenge will be alot of hours, like 7 days a week and 10-12 hour days. The good part is that it will be in the city, not in Ft. McMurray. Which really has no relevance because I don't believe in the oil sands or the destruction of the environment it causes, not too mention the shallow attempt to de skill tradesman by corporate greed so anyone can do anything and work for alot less money. In the corporate mind, we aren't worth a descent wage or conditions of dignity. I like to call these sort "sheeple" and I refuse to share or practice any of my skills that have been passed on to me from excellent tradesman that I have been trained under. I refuse to work up there, period.

The challenge of staying on track and getting to train has to take on a new or redefined discipline because once you are promoted to Sihing your on your own. You have to take the reigns and figure out how you are going to prepare for one of the great moments in your Kung Fu. How you are going to apply and memorize all your forms, techniques, and theory. Planning 5 techniques with a reliable partner, board breaking, and of course completing another year in the I Ho Chuan. I have started to prioratize certain aspects and I think I have a way I can attend Sihing class. One thing I know that is going to be hard is seeing the requests come on kwoon talk and not being there to help. Demo practices, monthly meetings and I Ho Chuan class. But really after trying my first attempt in the I Ho Chuan and in some ways failing and in others growing. I know it will all work out the way its supposed too. The challenge of balancing work, training, and family is pretty common for most of us and I witness success in many different ways on the team and learn something from each and everyone of you that has made a great impact on my life and my training and there is always someone to help you or needs help and I think perhaps this is why I am not really worried( too much!) about it.
But I have to step back and figure out which road to take and why.

Brian Chervenka

Two black stripes and the I Ho Chuan

Its been two days since my promotion to Sihing and I still have a plethora of mixed emotions. There is a presence of accomplishment, reflection, and the excitement of a new beginning. That night I stopped and reflected on memories of when I first started and to where I am now. Wow, what a trip its been. The demands of physical and mental loads, the awakening of awareness and the depletion of some of my stubborn ways and my lack of empathy for people I thought were at the end of their gene pool and not long for this world because the evolution for them is over. Training at the hall, doing forms and kicks in my basement or garage or wherever. The discipline of doing my homework, because I knew the minute my next class came whoever the Sifu was that was teaching at the time would know right away if I did or not. The attention to detail of our black belts is infallable, they know whether you did your homework or not and that kind of discipline for me was what I was trying to source at that time in my life when I first set foot in the kwoon and met Sifu Brinker for the first time. Kung Fu has given me so many tools to improve and has shown me how to completely utilize some I already had but not using to their full potential. Attending boot camps, throwing kicks and punches to the point of exhaustion. Introductions to many kinds of weapons. This is something I have always wanted to do but never followed through. But the best part of it all is the people I have met and trained with. Students I have watched and admired, respected and learnt from. Witnessing students go from Que belts to Sihings, to Black belts. Watching some of my teachers earning their second and third degree rank, seventh degree, was just plain cool. People at the kwoon are all from different walks of life and everyone is unique. I don't find shallow politics, self entitlement or judgemental practices. The ones I have seen with this sort of mind set usually don't make it period or realize it won't fly at the kwoon and evolve into something spectacular.

One of my personal goals this year was to achieve Sihing rank and this was accomplished by participating in the I Ho Chuan. This has done a huge amount of things for my training and I really didn't notice just how much until now. My ability to adapt to almost anything life throws at me and still get in something pertaining to the art and the huge amplification of engagement. Engagement that has matured my training past the point I thought was ever possible. I don't look at my training as rungs in a ladder that I am trying to climb. I see a long road ahead but can envision all my goals in the distance, all the way to grand master. I have a busy year coming up and I plan on grading next year. This is going to be a tough one due to a promotion and the hours that will be coming at me. Trying to make my class on fridays is already going to be a challenge, but I will figure something out. The attention to the mechanics of every technique, form, kicks, and fitness has given me a deep perspective to my Kung Fu. What exactly I'm doing and why. Why something sucks and how to fix it. The awareness to all the things going on in the world and what I can do to at least try to help and make other people see whats happening. Pulling me out of my privacy and share with others what I am thinking. Helping me realize its okay to ask for help and work with others. That it is not a sign of weakness, but an excellent opportunity to evolve into a better martial artist and person. As I look back and see how far I have come, and look ahead to where I am going. I know I will full fill my goals as I look down at two black stripes.

Brian Chervenka

A perspective and maybe a touch of analogy

TEAM. Total energy amongst many. In one way or another everyone is awesome in their own way, a multitude of gifts and strengths can smash all obstacles and is an extraordinary and lethal display of power and beauty. A group of people or a group of inanimate objects work as many to become one. The higher the number, the greater the efficiency. There is no weakness when an effort and dignity is practiced on a professional and committed basis. There is no reason to hide or think things will just go away when you are part of group that operates in a non judgemental and helping way. Because it won't go away and when you have many eyes looking for you, you will be found and you will have to stand up and take responsibility for your actions and speak up to what exactly the problems are. You will not be forgotten until you put your puzzle in the middle of the room and let  many hands help put it together and bring closure to the outline of what the picture is supposed to be. You won't be removed due to other people, That is a responsibility that will and should not be made by others . But by you. Regardless of what one might think, this challenge can be done by anyone and its never too late to pick up where you left off,  because its your challenge. But don't forget you also committed to 21 other people that you are ignoring. 21 other people that are covering your ass and carrying your weight and not even getting as much as an email or post. We have highly committed members that have spent most of this challenge out of town and away from the kwoon and their families and we know where their at and what they are doing and we have their backs. Where the heck are the rest of you and what are you doing? We have members that live a stones throw away that I haven't even seen or know if they are still participating. I'm not perfect nor have I lived up to all the commitments but I am maintaining an online presence and doing everything I absolutely can to finish with some dignity and respect to the challenge and the I Ho Chaun. Most people know where I am at and what I am doing and I refuse to slap them in the face. Tonight after class Sifu Brinker spoke to us and said something that hit home. He said "I'm the one who has failed" Now that really pissed me off alot because thats how deep the man cares for his students, and thats how much he wants to see all of us better ourselves. Thats how much he has offered to help. Well I'm not going to kick him in the nuts and walk away. And no, this is not a ass kissing statement, I don't roll like that. What you see is what you get, I call it like I see it, and my word is my signature. I will be at that meeting tomorrow and I will also use every available moment I have to work and help with anybody that wants to hang and do some Kung Fu. I will post whenever I can get away and train and will accept any offer I can participate in.  Some may feel who the heck does this guy think he is? Well I'll tell you, I'm a student that trains at silent river kung fu, I am a brown belt and I made a commitment to 21 others that I care about and a challenge I intend to honour.
 A part of a machine that fails can be compensated by others for a while until a quick maintenance can be performed. A part that refuses to fit due to improper composition or is not structurally sound or perhaps the partsman won't even take the order or call you back is going to cause a major breakdown that will require many replacements and in some cases severe mechanical failure. Then a major rebuild is required. Everyone of us on this team is responsible for a part of the I Ho Chuan machine. Think about it.
Brian  Chervenka

Looking up a steep mountain

Here we are in August already and it has come down to crunch time. While I was on holidays it gave me a chance to reflect and collect exactly what needs to be done to finish this challenge in a full filling way and with some respect to those that created it. It also gave my badly sprained foot some time to heal up. Back in May while trying to earn my board breaking stripe, I fired a roundhouse kick and hit the bottom corner of a black board.  I knew right away that something was wrong about 2 hours later when throbbing pain began. It proceeded to move around from the bottom to the top various areas and different pain sensations. I knew I should rest it and I did use ice, heat, a dump truck load of ibuprofen, oil of oregano, and other remedies. I couldn't stop training, not being this close to completing my brown belt and the motivation of completing a goal. Plus I have bills to pay and mouths to feed, so it is what it is. I will keep going and hopefully it will heal on the fly. Some times I have a very stubborn streak and sometimes just plain stupid. I refuse to stop and pain only hurts if you let it. I did go see a doctor and x-rays where taken and there was no signs of a break or fracture, nothing but some swelling. I have never had a injury like this before in my life, I just don't know.

Moving on though, I will be focusing on completing my goals of 5000 kicks and 1000 stretching minutes this month. I plan on trying to complete a couple goals a month until the challenge is up, its all or nothing at this stage. My kicks need major work and I struggle with flexability issues. Lack of flexibilty is a deterant for me because it takes a long time for me to gain any and when I do if I slack off on kicks or stretching I'm back to square one. So like everyone in some way I get discouraged and pout instead of continuing as diligently as I should. This is why I chose these two goals to do together. What kind of example am I setting to lower belts when I do warm ups and I can't execute a decent kick. What message am I sending to my Sifus when I have been training as long as I have and I still have major work to do on my kicks. Not a very good one in my perspective anyway. So I am hoping to kill several birds with one stone. Improving my kicks, flexability and building muscle and endurance in my legs is the focus. Come September I should have some better kicks and better flexability and a far more stable center. Thats the plan anyway.

Traveling

Well I'm off on a vacation headed south to hopefully rack up some km's walking and riding my bike in the mountains of southern B.C. and Alberta. Looking forward to a long over due break with my girls. I have a training plan for August and of course the last few months to try and finish strong that I will share when I return. See you in a week.
Brian Chervenka

Where I'm at and how I got here

When I first started this challenge it was in a land that had many different roads that I wasn't used to or with some requirements, wanted anything to do with. For example blogging, I have never blogged a thing in my life let alone work with a computer much. Recording a handwritten daily log of each step of accomplishment. Being nice to everybody, repairing a wounded relationship, setting personal goals that we all have but keep them on the back burner. Keeping it there until we believe the timing is right. But really we are just procrastinating or blatantly being chicken #$%&. All the more reason to jump into it with guns a blazing. I remember going over the requirements and thinking this is going to do wonders for all aspects of personal improvemnt in not only our training, but bettering ourselves as people. This is probably a very good thing because for the most part we all try to be decent, but there is a major #%&hole in all of us at some point that rears its irrational or selfish head. This made it very exciting and a stiff challenge, something we all seem to love as martial artists. It was also at the time when the black belt promotions were happening, there was a fire of inspiration that was blazing within. I still to this day hold each and everyone of those black belts in very high admiration and respect. It was the most influential group that I have witnessed and I hope to fulfill the standard that not only they set as candidates but to the school and our lineage. What better tool could you be given than this challenge to prepare and train to be a black belt. I went into it wide open, trying to do a count of every requirement daily. For a while this worked pretty good.
Then life and obligations and commitments kicked in. Soon keeping up with the challenge wasn't so manageable anymore. the guilt and the feeling of being uncommited set in. More and more requests for help came on kwoon talk and our monthly meetings came up and I couldn't make it. I never back down from a challenge or not do what I say I'm going to do. So in order to stay true to the challenge I started staying up later to fill the numbers, log them and so on. Staying up later and later to complete numbers and complete tasks around the house and whatever else came up. Time with family and my responsibility to my wife and youngest daughter, time that should always come first but doesn't always work out. Then lets start dealing with the guilt and the personal critizisms that we all beat the crap out of ourselves over and over until we are way down. A few months of this and exhaustion set in big time. If I sat down and didn't have anything to occupy my mind or body I would fall asleep. Nodding off driving home from work, not cool. I often thought to myself there is no way I'm going to make it through alive if I don't change something quick. When it came time to train I was beat and really started to just do things mindlessly and sloppy just to get it done. I started to resent the challenge and kung fu in general. Thinking I have to go do this, now I feel I am being forced to do this and if I don't I'm pussing out and should just backout. Yes quitting did come to mind so I knew at this point I really had to get it together. Like the old saying "there is no such thing as can't" and I never quit. Then the nonconformist nature I have fires up and teams up with super stubborn. Now I am doing very little everyday and living with the guilt and thought of being a poser. After all I am training with silent river black belts, the top of the line. You can't buy this kind of exposure and experience. Let alone all the sihings and fellow students that I train with.
So I stood back and really thought about a way to make this work and how commited I was to the challenge. So I looked and seen how far I have come and what requirements I have completed and really it wasn't so bad, but ofcourse to ourselves its never good enough. One goal I worked really hard at was to be a sihing by june, I earned 6 stripes in 5 months, I didn't fulfill the goal but nonetheless I felt good about how far I did get. I have participated in everything I could and felt extremely proud to be in our demo. I ignored the segregation and the numbers and started doing what I could whenever I could. Basing my progress daily and not concentrating on all, assessing my strong points and focusing on the weaker. My push ups and sittups have fallen behind but I'm not concerned about those, with my new approach some days I'll do 50-70 other days 300 plus and I feel good about them. I am mindful of the techniques and am doing things properly not just doing the old half push up or sittup at mock nine. Same with kicks, forms, sparring on my heavy bag or whatever. I am concentrating on quality. When I go for walks or bike rides I am being mindful of my steps or miles enjoying nature, thinking about Kung Fu or just spending time with my girls. I am not concerned with the final numbers, they are a goal setting process. The way I am approaching this thought process is if I am going to do all of these requirements in such a massive quantity they better be done properly and they should mean something. Otherwise I just wasted a pile of time and all of this training was for nothing.
Overall when it comes to some of the requirements I won't see completion, with others I will. I push very hard some days and others not so much but still getting something done. My engagement and adaptability to life and my Kung Fu is fairly balanced at the moment and my mind set on the whole thing has improved greatly. Now its more like it should be, I can't wait to do more Kung Fu, I can't wait to go to class or hit as many classes as I can. The only thing left hangin really is my absence at meetings or other times when I can't be there for the team. But I am doing my best. Sorry for the long post but since I have missed so many meetings I thought it would be the right thing to share with alittle more depth from me and the five animals.
Brian Chervenka

Long time, no word

Yes it has been a while since I have communicated in anyway and for that I apologize to all on the team. I hadn't really come across anything spectacular and really didn't have much to say. I'm not going to go into any excuses of work and family commitments because thats what everybody deals with everyday. I find it awkward to just put something down for the sake of blogging, and it not have any real thought or experience. I'm also new to blogging so I find that to be challenging at times as well.
As for the month of june, it was a good month for some catch up. The numbers don't total as plentiful as I would have liked but the effort was there and that was the fun part. It was a challenging month though with work and an aggressive schedule and a really bad sprain in my right foot that occurred in may. It made lots of things challenging like training, bootcamp, etc. but the show must go on. One thing about injuries is you learn to adapt and carry on with your day and your training, moving your body different ways and changing the procedures you are used to using without thought everyday. I think of it as reserved thoughts for survival.
 The best part of June though is how it ended. When I received the e-mail to perform in the Canada Day demo I was vapour locked, a little nervous and beaming with overwhelming excitement. I felt it a honour to go out and represent our school and do a demo with some of our black belts and fellow teamates from the I Ho Chuan team. Everyone from the lion dancers to all those who displayed full blown deadly art did awesome. It was just something I will never forget. And thanks to all the black belts I hounded for the pre show "wanting to puke all over the place" advice on how not too.
Brian Chervenka

Benefits of change and practice

This month the main focus on my training and requirements have been on forms, kicks, and of course the meat and potatoes of our training, push ups and sit ups. I slowed down abit on the push ups and sittups last month not due to laziness but rather I was getting bored with them. If things get boring you have to source motivation on something else to remain mindful but to also stay engaged on what you are doing and why. To me if your doing something because you feel you have to and your hearts not in it, your wasting your time. Plus, after a break you sometimes are better and more aware of what you might have been missing before and your even better from where you left off. Thats the great thing about kung fu, there is never a shortage of new sources to challenge and improve on, that is a never ending quest. You will never know it all and never perfect every aspect, but you can sure try. It seems the more you practice the more you have to build and improve and actually figure out what the heck your doing and why you have to do things a certain way in order to evolve and get that much closer to mastery.
I recently discovered a partial concept of center. While working on my stances, particularly my bo stance and straightening my back leg and engaging my hip while performing a technique, I visualized me throwing the punch from my hips. The power came from two directions going outward from my hips, out through my arm and down my leg out my back heel. Instead of throwing a punch and feeling the power coming from my shoulder or a kick fired from my leg I started to concentrate on executing all techniques from my abdomen and using it as the source. The more I practiced the more aware I became of what is really supposed to happen. All the times I heard Sifus say punch, kick, and block from the hip, incorporate the six harmonies, etc. Speaking of the six harmonies I now understand physically what they're about because I could feel my hands/feet, elbows/knees, shoulders/hips in sync, it was just too cool and alot more powerful techniques. The rest of the Six harmonies I'm still working on. Well thats where I am, and thats what I'm doing.

Where was I!?

Over the past 5 weeks or so my numbers and training have suffered a substantial hit. I wandered off the path and found myself trying to get back but all the trails were uphill and and it was very foggy. Only being able to get small amounts of repetitions and taking on too much leaves nothing but confusion and frustration. The sense of overwhelming was prevalent and left me asking myself, "what the heck was I thinking, taking this challenge on!" There is not enough time in a normal day to go over the curriculum to a sufficient level, nevermind 10,000 other things to complete and everything that goes along with everyday life. Then a thought blasted through and I remembered exactly why, to better my family, training, and my community. Since I have stopped trying to plan and set up specific times to train things have come back to where they should be. I am no longer feeling the stress or the guilt of not doing what I should because I am doing what I can whenever I can and the numbers are coming back and the great feeling of training is back full on. I haven't updated my Physout forever and my written journal was very, very vague. So as I started to write down numbers and thoughts the way it should be done, that feeling of where I was a month ago was starting to waken and my kung fu was coming back to me. Yes my training method may be alittle scattered to some and on some counts I have already failed this challenge but I am confident when I look back at the end of the year, my teammates and I will all be very proud of what we have all accomplished and perhaps learnt from what we haven't.
The month of June is going to be a catch up month for me for I have set a goal on what I am going to have completed and the challenge of a mindful diet thrown in and taken seriously should be enough for now.

Chaos just works

As your training continues on there is the constant need for tweeking. Well I grabbed the lines of connection and ripped them out of the system. Organized training is not working for me, segregated time frames with somewhat of a routine is messing me up more than it seems to be helping. By the time I get to my training I'm tired or something comes up and one of my faults is I have alot of trouble conforming to things or ideas that don't appeal to me or I feel they are forced upon whether by me or others. In this case its my direction so now its an inner, personal issue. Everyday is full for me and usually very busy, but that is where I am more mindful and more prone to add something such as the UBBT into the chaos and fair much better. For me I'm getting in more training and thinking about what I am doing more accurately and it is staying with me more as I throw Kung Fu into everything I do throughout my day. I take Mastery with me to work, in my garage, wherever and read it when I can. If  I'm in the yard or garage I'll bust out some reps of something, go down stairs and throw some kicks before I come back up. At work, I threw some kicks out and did a few push ups and some form reps at lunch. Repairing some items or working on my bike, I'll stop and do something. There is never a argument or resistance when the family wants to go for a walk or a bike ride, thats time with my girls and nature and mindful km's that really count.  I don't know maybe its not the way but I feel more on the ball and focused on the fly and under load with my training than trying to set aside a specfic time for a certain challenge. We'll see what happens.

May long polar dipping

I don't really have much this week. Although I did get some more kms under my belt this weekend on our first camping trip of the season and some outdoor push ups, so that was good. I also shocked the system well with a full run into the lake that was like jumping into a ice cube tray. I couldn't possibly chicken out on my eight year old since she ran right in like it was nothing, then said, " Your turn"
What can you do, except go for it.

Birthday of reflection

Birthdays. To some a birthday is a celebration of ones existance, to age another year and to be that much wiser and reflect on what you have accomplished in your life. To others its a day to be miserable because you are aging. For me its the greatest day of the year. I love birthdays, to celebrate you with many people you hold dear. A time to look back and remember the good and the bad and how far you have come and take inventory of what you have done and what you are going to do the next year to improve your life and what kind of preventive maintanance will be required to live a long and healthy life.
Yesturday was a really special day for me. It was my birthday and mothers day all in the same package. I had a really deep connection with my family that woke up a long over due sensation that I can't really explain, but it hit home hard. It started with waking up to my little one yelling "Happy Birthday Dad!", and my wonderful wife standing behind her saying something along the same. I looked out the window and witnessed a bright warm sunny day. Shortly after my oldest called me with a Birthday wish with similiar gusto. I felt very grateful to have that kind of warmth and to be loved so much.
My wife and I took the little one to swimming lessons, then grabbed some food and went to the park for a picinic. After fueling up the girls took me to buy a new bike and I rode it home. As I was riding home I took in the warmth and the different smells of spring and everything around us that we all seem too busy at times to apreciate. I also thought wow, these are really cool kms to be logging, I should try to put this kind of awareness into all my distance requirements. Easy to say, but i'll try too anyway.
Once the girls came home we just kinda hung out and then went on a really long bike ride and grabbed some steaks for supper and came home. Before supper I did a few reps of Da Muh Singh and cranked out some push ups and a few kicks. After supper I just spent time with my daughter, she wanted to watch a movie so I said sure, what was a little much is that she picked the sound of music! Oh well, as a father, sometimes you got to bite the bullet. But the sound of music! Oh well it was such a great birthday that I will remember for a long time and it was the greatest gift that I will cherish forever, My family.
Brian Chervenka 

Road thoughts

Well had a very busy weekend and a lot of  miles covered, from here to Calgary yesturday, Calgary to Fernie and back to Spruce Grove today, too bad driving doesn't count, I would have completed my distance requirement in a day! But overall had a great weekend being able to participate in pandamonium and help out at the kwoon was very fulfilling. Had a great opportunity to visit with my family and take my father in law with me on the road trip to Fernie. It has been a while since I was in that neck of the woods, rich with early history and awesome natural beauty. It was a nice change of pace, a well overdue breath of fresh air.
While I was driving home with our new to us trailer it gave me a lot of time to reflect and do some revision work to my training and how I am approaching my requirements. I have to concentrate on completing one at a time instead trying to do a piece of everything at once, it is not working and a lot of time is being used inefficiently and frustration tends to arise. So we'll see how it goes and hopefully I'll be doing some of my requirements on mountain trails and in nature alot this summer with a whole bunch of camping trips and a new bicycle.
Brian Chervenka

Another day

Pretty much at a loss for words this week although I did have a chance to recollect and get my thoughts and training back on track. The large load I was once carrying, and dropping things all over the place, is substantially lower and much more managable with of course that bit of difficult to keep the challenge up. I have managed to spend some really cool times with my wife and my daughter which have been really lacking and it felt so good to get caught up. Outside of family other things are now alot more managable and running smooth. It has worked out quite well actually because I am able to help out at Silent River and still get my training in and all things outside of it all. I don't know but I find the closer in touch I am with the kwoon the more motivated and focused I am in my training, I just feel better about everything and everything around me. Work is pretty cool as of late, I am on the tools and connecting steel at a quick pace, which is where I sort all my problems 8" flange to work off of , 40' in the air, and a fast crane. Life is good and Kung Fu rules. Later.
Mr.Chervenka 

Caught in the middle

Log onto Kwoon talk and there is a need for help, checking calender Nope, supposed to have the weekend off  but imparative phase at work  needs to be done and your the foreman. Another request put out to the students for help. Can't, daughters competition and wife has weekend conference. Next request, nope relatives coming to stay or have to head out of town. Monthly I Ho Chuan meeting coming up and have to miss due to repeat situations as stated earlier. I haven't been able to attend a meeting yet this year and I feel like I am letting our team down and not pulling my weight. I am really starting to feel bummed and don't feel like I am connected to the team or our school that I really want to help. I guess what I'm trying to get at is I would like to appologize to the team for my absence and for not being to help our school when help is needed, after all it is one of our requirements as a UBBT member. I would be lying to all of you if I said my requirements are coming along good as of late, they are not and I am falling behind, barely getting push ups in, although it's at least something each day. Anyway I just felt obligated to at least explain myself and push on with the hopes things will start to slow down a bit and I too can sit down with the team and share and listen and learn and get caught up on my requirements. Until next time.
Brian Chervenka

Ball of confusion

My training and numbers are coming along, but I am in a haze right now regarding my surroundings. Just a little frustrated with the way we are becoming now a days. Self entitlement and all about money and image. Who cares about anything except what your wearing, what your driving and taking absolutely no responsibility for anything and demanding that the government should do everything for you. Honestly I am quite concerned with the well being of hundreds of people that live in this fantasy, with the mentality that natural disasters and food shortages only happen else where, or a word I am completely sick of the economy completely crashed. If you think about it how many people actually have water, flashlights, food ,blankets, alternative power sources to survive on stand by if needed. Better yet how many people would have the knowledge or ability to survive and take care of their families. Surviving would be easy, just go to your food bank right? Sure you and about a million people all demanding they get food now because their entitled to it and WE as in ME am hungry. How about the amount of skills that have been lost and the complete disconnection people have now with Internet and those little mobile computers that every one and their dog is completely entranced in called what used to be a phone. All that free information and complete effortless convenience. Now shut the power off across the board. What now? So many things and people rely on technology and all these great things , which really evolution is always a great thing, but I think it is massively abused and is washing away the creativity and the potency that people once had. If it is not mindless and effortless very few people want anything to do with it. That really saddens me. So I try to do the best I can to teach my family or anybody for that matter any life skill or manual ability's that my father and others have passed to me. At least I can say I tried and put somebody else first before myself and just knowing that it made a difference kind of balances I guess. I won't deny some I really don't want to help. I'd rather slap them silly, so I guess thats where the challenge of random acts of kindness comes in. Anyway thats enough of my random rants for now.

Brian Chervenka

Wallpaper to inspire

After a week plus of our computer being down I can get caught up on my weekly blogs. There has been mention of a lack of motivation and mindfulness in training for people, including myself. I know from personal experience its not hard to lose focus or simply not want too. Doing push ups over and over and situps become terribly boring. Yes you can challenge yourself by increasing your numbers per sets or different configurations, adding weights etc., but it still gets old fast when you are training everyday. Every individual needs something to motivate and challenge both physically and mentally, its a must. We also need inspiration from what we perceive as great or stimulating, a mentor of sort. Whether it be an individual, place, time, literature, technique, form, or a great memory, we need it like fuel. Fuel for a martial arts engine that requires constant rebuild or modifications or a complete change out for something that suits the duty, if you will. I came up with something recently that I hope will do at least some of these things.

Our basement where I train is a little cluttered and lacks room because of the current lay out and obstacles that need moving. Nothing worse than stubbing a toe or almost wiping something out with a kick or punch practising a combination. So I started to make room, throwing away stuff that we are never going to use or relocating it to a shelf or crawl space. Repositioning the fridge, deep freeze, treadmill to make a small gym. I have some spare mirrors that I have hung and will probably see about purchasing some mats. Okay now we are getting some where but I need character, motivation, and maybe a touch of cool factor to make it my own. So I hung up our curriculum, all if it. This way I feel more disciplined and efficient. If I want to practice something its right there in front of me, it should also help me accumulate more questions to ask at the end of class.( I hate not having a question or at least an answer when asked by a Sifu) So this should help. I have put up pictures of Bruce Lee, Joe Lewis, Chuck Norris all great martial artists, and i'll probably put up others that I just dont know or haven't heard of yet. I have tunes to crank up and annoy the hell out of my wife or just simply to set the atmosphere for self induced pain. I have different literature to review and use, and also hung up Mastery that we are to memorize. I'm also thinking of putting up several quotes that I enjoy from these books and others I will run into or read about. One book in particular that I really enjoy and refer to when I need that boost or a good smack upside the head, is Walking a Tigers Path by Master Margitte Hilbig. This book covers ultimate challenges, amazing accomplishments, and a deep look into how it all started in Canada and especially the hard work, dedication and extreme sacrifices it took to start up in Calgary and Edmonton. Master Hilbigs account is one of the few perspectives that you can actually read about and learn how our lineage began and those that worked hard to continue the art we all practice today. I hope I will be lucky enough to meet her one day, that would be way cool. I really like these words from Master Hilbig

'' A true martial artist is not concerned with belts or ranks, with which style is better than which, or even how many techniques they know. The true martial artist is only concerned with one thing: learning. To learn is to become disciplined, to gain knowledge, to become self- reliant and ultimately leads to the road of self actualization. This knowledge is the ultimate equalizer in any confrontation, either on the street or in ones mind."

These words will definitely be put up, if thats not motivational, then I don't know what is.

Brain Chervenka

An accumulation of distance

Things have been going fairly well lately with the exception of a few bumps here and there. My numbers are staying pretty close to where they should be and now I have to work in some kilometers. I never was much into running. I didn't see the point in running some where if there was no fire or a bear chasing you. Waking up at 5:00 a.m. to go outside and run to no where and back.

Well that perception will soon change, seeing the benefits of learning to run is something to look forward to. My wife is a long distance runner so I'll learn how to run properly and gradually build to a solid endurance and measured distance.Then I have something to gauge off of and try to improve my distance or time.  An added bonus to this is we get some time together, thats a tough one around this house, much like everyone else trying to make a go of it with work, children, life. I'm sure this is understood all too well. I'm going to research lengths of pools, walking/ bicycle paths, and in door tracks to try to get as many ways to travel by your body power as I can and rack up some kilometers.

I very glad to hear that some of our injured teamates are starting to recover already and chomping at the bit to get back to training. You are setting the bar for hard cores on this team, good on you guys for displaying drive, determination, and patience. Thats all I really have this week, until the next.

Brian Chervenka

Blind to the obvious

I have to admit I really didn't understand the valuable tool of a hand written journal when it came to my Kung Fu. I thought the real way to my Kung Fu is through hard work and discipline; blood, sweat and tears. Just do it. Why would I want to sit and write about Kung Fu when I can go beat my heavy bag or keep doing form reps or practicing with my weapon But after starting to log my daily/ weekly requirements it made sense. How else can you really improve something if you don't step back and break things down on paper. My hand written journal was very vague and not a lot of attention to detail. For example I would write down said requirement and just simply a number. I have to be more descriptive and record what kick or form I'm working on and what problems or improvements are occurring and why. Where is the problem in my side heel thrust that makes them so difficult for me. What advice or example or improvement have I consulted or experienced and recorded on what date and for what form or kick. None, just a number and catagorized under kicks. So as of now I write down exactly what I am doing specifically and what feels right and what sucks. While I did a couple of reps of da mu singh I noted my flow with the dragons whip transition into the spinning back kick, my center was off and I rose in my stance. My high back stance is unstable due to lack of flexibility in my hips. Then when I stretched I worked on my hips and legs and recorded it under my stretching minutes and specifically why. As the quest for center and improvement carries on I now have references to specific details of my own account and what problem solving tools have I used or have been taught by my Sifus and piers. After these thoughts finally penetrated my thick skull and penetrated my cast iron wall of stubbornness, I felt rather foolish for not seeing the advantage in the first place. Hence, Blind to the obvious. Until next week.
Brian Chervenka

Keeping cool

This past week and a half has cost me some numbers and a lack of staying on my game. It sure doesn't take long to fall behind in your numbers if you have unexpected deviations and you can't meet as many of your numbers or requirements daily that you want too. Normally when this occurs I start to beat myself up on self discipline and accountability, and of course fish for justifiable (in my mind) excuses. I'm not doing that anymore. As long as I can get anything of something in each day I am going to meet my requirements. I have been staying positive and telling myself its going to work out and it won't be that hard to catch up and remain focused on what exactly it is I am trying to accomplish. Of course its not easy and you have to be mindful at all times. This is a very difficult challenge to anybody. Nothing beneficial comes easy, it takes hard work and failure can happen, but thats how we learn and improve.  I find if I tell myself its not that bad and approach it from an on lookers point instead of being in the trenches things work out well and I see success ahead, its easier to keep cool and not start to develop that sense of overwhelming and doubt in yourself, freaking out over numbers or something that hasn't been started yet. This is where a very common and very modern habit comes in, I quit. This is just too much, I don't have time, I'll try again next year, all excuses we hear and at times, use everyday somewhere, at some time. Well to hell with that! Full steam ahead for the I ho chaun team 2012! One more thing that has been great for learning and drive is reading everyone elses expierences. It gives you a great sense of never being alone and some really good insight. Until next week.

Brian Chervenka

Heart

Coming down with a sickness and the numbers continue to pile up. Running into life obstacles and getting knocked flat while kilometers await. Having to work through your breaks to complete a impairative task. A major or minor injury occurs and there is a mountain of training ahead of you and a close family member or friend needs your help and you have to drop what your doing to help. Getting up in the morning and figuring out what part of your training needs attention and how far behind you are on what and still get ready for work. Keeping track of your spouse and children, making sure they are healthy and happy. Being counted on and sometimes expected to fulfill duties and obligations for your work or children that require alot of time that you don't have and somehow still find time to throw some kicks and practice what you learned at class that night. Two and a half feet of snow out side to shovel and a garage full of vehicles and projects that need attention, and no room to practice your weapon. Sound brutal? Sounds alot like life and training; your Kung Fu. What can possibly drive someone to maximum output and exhaustion and keep them motivated, focused, and strong. Heart. If you don't have this majorly important tool the tendancy to find excuses or quit always comes up with ease and justification. Even if you can't get done what or how much you wanted too, as long as you pulled your weight and did your absolute best, thats your heart working with you. If you have a strong heart and will, your determination alone will lead you through anything and motivate you to better yourself and also many people around you. Intimidation from life and what it can hand you will become easier to handle, because you have the will and the knowledge to kick its ass and leave a trail of pride and self respect. Knowing that you did it, your drive, your Kung Fu. Your heart.

Brian Chervenka   

Looking through the smoke

Thats the perspective I am seeing at this time. I see that as the dust clears as each and everyone works through our team requirements and challenges the full direction of this challenge. You have to incorporate your kung fu into everyday in order to achieve this challenge and better yourself , and others as a true martial artist. I see a complete lifestyle make over and if you are working towards your goals it happens without even thinking about it. As I go through my goals and numbers, I am not dreading to do situps, throwing some kicks out, or seeking to do something nice for someone. I see it as a turn for the better, for me, my family and the people I hold close. Starting your day with some push ups or sittups or whatever you do sure helps meet some numbers because you have already completed something before you leave the house.

 Its not all easy and great at times, in fact sometimes it sucks and can be overwelming. Injurys, unexpected situations, work and family commitments occur and you still have to find time to accomplish a daily requirement. There also comes thoughts of doubt at times, but fortunately we have each other and our journals to stay focused and give each other a swift kick in the butt or help dust one another off and carry on our journeys as a team.

Brian Chervenka

Modifications Required

As I have been working on my numbers for the week I came to the conclusion that in order to fully take advantage of and complete the push up/ sit ups a person should probably adopt several different hand configurations and placements in order to create a broader strength and indurance. It could also help in the prevention of early joint wear due to repetition and consistant fatigue in the same zone. I have started changing the rep numbers and hand placements to try to develop all muscle groups around the joints and others I don't commonly use.

One of the things I struggle with in kung fu training is sittups. we have a love /hate relationship. They are constantly a work in progress for me. I usually have to use my arms to assist or take a run a it. After speaking with a fellow student I started doing reps with a weight on my chest and it has changed the way I see doing them in my mind because now I am more in touch with my core and what areas need to be engaged to lift my upper body and the weight.

Other than those few revelations thats all I have this week.

Brian Chervenka

Routine

Not something I do well at. Too bad, thats what me and many others signed up for in 2012. Without some sort of routine it's going to be very difficult to pull off these kind of numbers and goals. Some people are very good at this, while there are others like myself, that suck at it. I have a plan that I have layed out for this week coming up. All my high number goals I have intergrated into the beginning and end of my day which is working pretty good. All the kicks and forms can be recorded as well as the p/u and s/u at home in the morning and evening. Water consumption, random acts of  kindness numbers can be recorded and managed through out the day or when out on the weekend. Completion of the distance challenge I will work on during the weekend. Now working all this into my core class, working most of the weekend, of most importantly, my family. One of my personal goals is starting to come along slowly. Eating habits. Normally I eat just about eveything and usually lots of it. But lacking a diet plan or any discipline for that matter. I seldom have breakfast and usually run on super high test coffee which deters my appetite and completely screws up any consistant kind of input of daily requirements. Now I am having breakfast and eating at certain intravels throughout the day and I'm noticing a difference. Lots more fruits ,vegtables, grains, chicken, fish etc.

After attending the banquet last weekend I left with a really strong sense of inspiration and drive. I couldn't wait to get at my training. There was such a strong sense of energy that if you didn't feel it, you weren't there. The black belt candidates to me were a huge boost and I couldn't help but hold them all in very high admiration and humility. The account of their journeys were all very moving and introduced a huge impact of discipline and the good old "suck it up princess" that is pretty much the universal motivator when one starts to feel sorry for themselves. Never quit, no matter how bad you feel or whats in front of you. You can and will get through it, and if you have others around for a person to help or be helped its even better because not only do you leave with a nearly impossible accomplishment completed but a sense of unity in your memories that will never fade and always motivate when you call upon it. Well thats where I am at and what I am doing this week.

Brian Chervenka

Picking up where tragedy left off

I started a new job today. Normally I am very excited to start a new project, but this one is different. A brother Ironworker was killed on this project. This isn't the first time I have been on a job where this has happened. What really bothers me about this one is the utter stupidity and unprofessionalism of the procedres that where directed by this failure of a foreman. Thats the toughest part to absorb. When I think of his wife and two young children left without a father, I can't help but feel sorrow and anger. But these emotions aren't going to bring their father back, some wild curse is not going to fall upon this man and he bursts into flames. The show must go on. Each and everyone of us is going to encounter a similiar event weither we like it or not but the focus should be not on what happened its what can a person do to bring closure and peace to the situation, and what knowledge or helping can be said or done to help others or you get through it. All one can really do is be grateful for who you are and the people around you that make life great and continue cutting your path in life.

Brian Chervenka

Woman and children first??!!

I have observed and often wondered, whatever happened to the gentleman and the common courtesy reflex we all used to be equipped with? Like holding the door for someone, giving up a chair or making room for a woman thats pregnant or with a child or the elderly. I have witnessed on many occasions a lack there of in public and in some rare times even in our kwoon. (mostly from patrons) Letting someone that hasn't been taught or new to driving in the lane and not cutting them off because they have to turn or they might get in front of you. Driving past someone that is stuck or broken down in the dead of winter, with the attitude "well at least its not me" or my favorite "I don't have time" Don't get me wrong there is a lot of people that do help and have respect for others. But unfortunately there are also many that don't. Thats why I'm grateful for my parents and silent river. I have always had a fairly good handle on my morals and respect for others but since I have been training at silent river they have become more refined. The influence and all the efforts from black belts, sihings, and students have done for the public and each other is inspiring and deeply humbling After a while as you train, a person seems to develop a sense of automaticity, you leave the kwoon with the intention to help others and you don't even have to think about. You wake up and carry on throughout your day doing all kinds of the little things and yearn to become and educate yourself on the big things that will help others. You shun from the self entitlment mentality, refrain from being judgemental, and will give up some of your free time to volunteer and help worthy causes. Its like a recharge of happiness and in some cases you are making a difference in someones life that they won't forget. Just another great thing kung fu has done for not only me, but many others.

Brian Chervenka

Year of the Dragon 2012

I am completely in a land I don't usually venture, admitting my accountability, progress, and thoughts publicly. This is definately going to take some getting used to, and alot of hard work and discipline required. I am looking forward to it though, its all very exciting and most importantly, I'll be helping others along the way and giving something back not only to the world but to the school that has already given me so much. I look forward to working with you all and progressing together in our kung fu and goals as a team. One more thing thats really cool is the year, Year of the Dragon, my favorite Bruce Lee movie Enter the Dragon to me is similar shouldn't need much more cool factor than that! See you all soon