A Process Engrained

What a road it's been leading up to this point. I think back to the beginning of the year and how only a short time in, it began to change and just kept revolving into more and more unique discoveries and more and more challenges. I wouldn't change none of it for the world. Here I am, only a few short days away from achieving something that only less than 1% of the population can. I am about to be recognized as a product of a deep and solid lineage of martial artists as one of their own. I am about to be cross the floor and stand by the very same people I have tried hard to emulate all these years. I am about to stand beside my mentors and teachers and be recognized as one of their own. I treat this and respect this as a very huge honour. I carry the biggest honour of all and that is being a father and a husband to my family and son to my parents. But this to me carries the same responsibility and is along the same level of importance. It goes beyond the blood, sweat, and dirt. It is proof of true grit yes, but a statement to exactly what kind of person you are. I feel very humbled and extremely grateful right now and I am full of excitement.

I'll be the first to admit I haven't been a very good team mate in the I Ho Chuan class, in fact probably one of the worst. I have contributed very little as far as I am concerned. This year and those previous I have been in it, I have seldom been able to make most of the classes. Most of the time I was on my own, as a result of high work hours or location. But when it comes down to putting in the work and pushing all limits to get the job done, I can be counted on as a result of being in the I Ho Chuan. This process was an integral part of my focus and discipline that led me to complete and accomplish the rank of black belt. Because of it's lessons of self discovery and ability to instill the mindset to never give up and push beyond your inner limits, to see the goal and follow through, regardless of location or circumstance, I know what it means to have structure. This process in itself must be recognized for the valuable tool it is. It is an advanced version of the Black Belt success cycle, and if used like it is meant to be used, your martial art discipline and skill level will become upgraded to more of a well rounded progression. You begin to approach the art from the inside out and the enhancement brings the mind and the body as one. Physical and mental improvement are lead through awareness as a whole. What goes into the body and mind and what leaves becomes the overall goal. The structure you create and it's existence in your soul is what makes us all great. As little as I have been involved with this years team and left a lot of you carrying my weight, I have been able to witness some amazing people do truly amazing things as of late. With the short deadline thrown at the team and basically starting from scratch, it's all coming together very nicely and the energy is amazing. I look forward to training with you all for remaining days left leading up to Chinese New year, it's been an absolute privilage. See you at the Kwoon.