The Power of Influence

I had a bit of a revelation today and once again it was through my little one. This revelation shot me back to a memory of when I was a yellow belt and I was putting her to bed. While she brushed her teeth and what have you, I started doing push ups. Half way through she came out of the bathroom, watched what I was doing and asked me what I was doing, and of course at that time, WHY? I said because it was part of my Kung Fu training. She immediately dropped down and started doing push ups with Dad. At that time she was 4 years old. Many a night she would do push ups and sit ups with me.
Fast forward a few more years and she was a student of Silent River. Things rolled along quite well for a while until the next interest came about which required more time and more classes. Kung Fu took a back seat. But Kung Fu took a back seat for some one else as well. The source of inspiration stopped being an inspiration. She wasn't seeing the presence of Dad's training anymore. Dad became busy with work and Dad also didn't have the security blanket of an instructor to keep him in check. Dad became a Sihing and the rest was up to me. Suddenly dance class took a prescience over Kung Fu. Sudddenly Dad's work took priority over everything. Suddenly we weren't doing Hsieh Hsien together anymore. She wasn't seeing Dad doing push ups and sit ups, form work, basically nothing except the odd random blast of kicks. Now one parent was no longer present to help share with the transportation. All of a sudden there was an absence in the kwoon, a continuous absence that grew into, "should you just leave Kung Fu for now, maybe go back  later..... we all know as martial artists, later never comes.

This trip has changed things. My little one is seeing Dad training, doing forms, doing push ups and recording them and it has inspired her to want to go back to Kung Fu. That's just way cool.
  It was brought up a while ago at the kwoon, how cool it would be to have pictures of students doing push ups all over the world. This agenda has never left me and my girls know that at the drop of a hat, if we find some place cool or memorable, Dad's going to be doing push ups and somebody better have a camera ready. Which brings me to the whole point of this blog. Today as I went into position, my little one asked me, "Dad can I do push ups with you?" Of course I said, let's do it. She kept up with me 25 straight, I couldn't have been more proud. Proud of her, and proud to be a source of influence. Inspiration is everywhere, as is opportunity for shared engagement. Today was just cool. See you at the Kwoon.

Tools for the Internal Side

This particular book is one of the most influential and preferred tools of literature in my stash. I have others mind you, but this one struck a powerful chord that keeps me in tune with things. When it comes time for a reset and I need to rekindle motivation, inspiration, and respect to the art, this is the golden one. It basically touches on all aspects of martial arts and opens up my quest to apply not only the physical teachings, but the internal part of martial arts that I have limited experience or understanding. It helps manage the humilty and balance that I feel I really need at times. When I read about Kung Fu masters of the past, look at the different styles portrayed, and just how disciplined they were... well, it's just exciting and highly inspirational. It also reminds me just how far your journey can go and just how much of a better martial artist you can become by looking at all situations as relevant and all things have a purpose. The toughest part is achieving the ability to see things in this manner. If you get a chance, check it out, I really feel in one way or another it will change the way you approach your art, no matter what your discipline is.

A False Sense of Priorities

Most often whenever we are put in a position of being overwhelmed or challenged to the point of exhaustion, most of us tend to shed what we feel is causing an extreme load bearing circumstance on our lives. We begin a distorted view on what can be sacrificed and would should be prioritized. I think sometimes we reverse the polarity on the circuitry of our well being and thrust ourselves that much further behind.

X marks the spot

I have been working on forms in the sand the last few days and must admit, it really makes a not so bad looking form into a really sucks looking form. It's been a great work out on the legs though and I am hoping to have the stability of a steel column by the time I am done training here. Another really cool part about this terrain is it leaves a complete map of your footing, stances, transisitions, and linear movements. The impressions left in the sand show how much weight is being transferred and where your heel is not down all the way. In others words it tells you everything you need to know about what your doing in a particular form. I used it today to track all of my foot movements in Loa Gar and was quite pleased to witness a perfect square. However, I completely missed my starting point "X" upon completion.... by about 5 ft.... to the left ....and I had not even began to flip the shield to return to it. Long ways to go yet but I have the time and nothing better to do except enjoy Kung Fu.

The Process

The process. You hear that a lot along the way, but how many times to you bear witness to the success of the process? Lot's if you pay attention to the journey, and keep your ego at bay, and not isolate yourself along the way. You see, I am a master of isolation. It's not that I don't like people, nor is it an ego thing. It's a ....... not sure, but it's my thing. I have lot's of plans, lot's of dreams, and lot's of goals.Among other things. There is no ingrained thing that is the be all end all of everything, and perfection is a myth. I don't really care who you are, if you feel you know it all... you know nothing. Everything has a basic format, but if it is authentic and if you are passionate about it, there is the opportunity to put your signature on it. Follow that and pursue it like it is the last thing you are ever going to do. That is the process and that is what should be practiced. The most important thing to remember in your life is this, always be yourself and always stick to your agenda. As being yourself, practice the humility and the acceptance of all opportunities and all awareness. Nobody but you controls on how you feel or how you react. In the quest for mastery, emotions is not your primary tool, if anything, it will leave you a fool.

Unleash the Engagement

It was good to finally make a meeting and see some new faces for the year of the sheep. As I sit right now in the airport awaiting the 5 hour cramped flight to a holiday that has been much anticipated with my girls, I am very excited of what is to come. For the next 3 weeks and change I don't have to do anything but enjoy a holiday and train. Yes, training on my holiday. Running, going to the gym, and form work on the beach. That's all I have to be conerned about, nothing else. I plan on sending videos and blogging to continue where I left off not too long ago.

After reading Sifu Vantuils' blog I took note of the advice that was given and started a plan. I wrote down the steps for a sucess cycle and am going to start filling in the blanks. I'll keep you guys posted and will send some forms and video blogs soon. I am almost all the way through Loa Gar. So between this and the news of early grading coming up in May, my motivation and the thirst for Black Belt level is at an all time high. See you at the Kwoon.