Sunday 25 March 2018

Black Belt Code of Ethics

To commit to an oath is something that can be simply muttered or thoughtlessly blathered on to complete a level of entry to a group or organization. If not fully understood or practiced to the level of standard under it's design, it then simply becomes a forgotten thought and holds no meaning. Oaths are a lifeline to a guidance of discipline that are meant to be carried in an order of respect to maintain a standard chosen for said organization. An oath can be of a valuable tool of reference to something you held word to when one questions just what exactly did they agree too, and are those individual commitments being met. If you really don't comprehend its expectations or meanings or fail to uphold or practice each paraphrase, this can have a ripple effect. This effect makes the oath meaningless and makes individual overall contributions less valuable to the body of memberships and removes the ability to inspire.

One of my personal requirements was to take a section out of the Black Belt Code of Ethics and review one per month because I just don't feel it is given the respect it deserves or practiced to the level I swore to. I need to fully comprehend and find the true meaning of each section and apply it because the last thing I ever want to do is contribute to the watering down of a 2000 year old art that is powerful enough to turn crap into gold. If I want to become a true Black Belt then I must uphold and practice the standard I swore to or those below me that I am an example too will not see the value or what it means to not only become a black belt, but to carry yourself and be disciplined as one. To not utilize the code of ethics as a tool of guidance to my own Kung Fu will also remove my ability to advance and make it of the highest quality possible as my years of training progress.

To me my Black Belt holds a lot of responsibility and is not something that simply holds my pants up or is made for me to prance around like a god. My black belt is an example to not only the students, but my family and my community. So it matters greatly how I carry myself and how I train. It's important to openly practice and live by my oath I swore to. I hope by the end of the year I will have mastered each section and carry myself as a true Black Belt and provide my lineage the respect and justice it deserves. I guess we'll see as I follow up on each one at the end of each month and see if the change or discipline is obvious or if a discovery bears existence in the quality of my Black Belt. See you at the Kwoon. 

Sunday 18 March 2018

Redirecting the Root to Change

This week has been one of those weeks where not a lot was achieved due to sickness. One of those stupid colds/flu whatever the heck it is that fools you into thinking you are on the mend and then grabs you by the throat and slams you into the dirt....best ever. Along with this great sickness came a muscle cramp or knot, or something muscle like related that developed in my back that was very painful and brought on an angry bull with a thorn in it's hoof. Apparently this may be cold related, I didn't know your muscles could get sick, but I guess they can. I honestly think it was a combination of toxins that decided to take refuge as I am working on cleaning my body out as well. Who knows but either way it sucks ass and made the work day extra long and not much left when I got home. So basically jacks@#t was really achieved this week.

However, it did give me some time to streamline my plan a bit and work on some type of structure that can be adaptable to these types of situations that will continually drop out of no where at any given time throughout the year.  I'm not good a structure on my own. I have always thought of routine as boring, a structured life is for squids I always thought. I have always been more of a jump into the fire and deal with whatever comes at you in the moment. Something needs attention, just do it, no need to be all dramatic about it and all "Gentle Ben" like. The problem is with this approach is I will continually hammer away at something until it is done right, even if to me it's never good enough at times, before I will move onto to the next. This is dumb. Not necessarily the principle, but the inefficiency of the process is counterproductive and if you hammer away at something for too long the quality and the passion go right out the window....you just want to get it done, but you will never be happy with it.

 This is where the incremental comes in and the process of chipping away at it over a period of time until it's solid and of a high quality. Putting all your heart and soul into something for an hour and then walking and returning will build the ultimate result. Once it becomes a part of a process, it becomes part of you and not just something you do. My Kung Fu and all it's requirements is something I really want to take precedence this year. I want my life to change in big ways and the only way to really achieve that is to look at the root of my investment and adjust accordingly, even if that means deep change within myself and how I do things. See you at the kwoon. 

Sunday 11 March 2018

Sacrifice vs Investment

This is one point of view I could never really grasp in regards to the I Ho Chuan class. Life in general can be of high demand with work and family responsibilities, let alone completing all of these requirements successfully and still finding your personal time to reset or wind down. How can this possibly be of any kind of investment when it seems like a lot of sacrifice and stress? Suddenly it feels like this is more of an infringement of your life and damaging to your well being. I've been there and often thought that Sifu has lost his mind and just doesn't get what it's like for other people that lead different lives. But in actuality, I was the one the missed the whole point of what this is about....I think I get it now.

When a person comes to this point, we fail to recognize what we agreed to do in the first place and the whole point of committing to a year of mastery. It may be hard to see or understand when you have to make a decision between going out to do something fun or not doing anything at all, to doing some requirements such as push up or form reps, but the investment is you and the example you will leave as a result of making that decision is where your investment begins to yield and provide opportunity and peace within. Sure your doing it with others, and that's a good thing, but this is your journey, what works for others may not work for you. So leaving ego, comparison, and judgemental positions out of the agenda is paramount. You are the captain of your destiny period, anybody messes with it, they walk the plank!

If you look at it from this perspective over the course of the year, you will see the investment over sacrifice. This year is all about you. You are going to take a whole year to improve yourself and strengthen all of your characteristics and immerse yourself in the ancient art of Kung Fu. The goal is to learn how to use your time efficiently and rid yourself of those things you don't need and recognize those things you do. Your going to figure out just what it means to see your goals through by self reflection, self honesty, and a test to pride and integrity in yourself. Think about it for a second, is it really a big deal to not do all of those extra things you do for just one year? Why do we beat ourselves up because we want to take some time to better ourselves, like one measly year. I think with this position as one progresses, one will find all the time in the world and then some to get their stuff done.

Yes, you are going to be some what selfish in the eyes of those close to you and at times not meeting your daily goals may encourage guilt, but it shouldn't and don't let these things interfere with what you set out to do. Guilt is a waste of time and an easy way to avoid a situation that requires a solution of action. So to hell with guilt, take the reigns and carry on forward. To hell with sacrifice of what you might miss, work those tools of awesomeness and build the best damn you ever!! Ha!

Over time your self improvements both mentally and physically and the obvious changes in how you carry yourself will speak volumes to those close to you. Those that don't accept are perhaps taking a good look at themselves and realizing just how much they suck and how they wish they could be like you! Committing a whole year to self improvement and a commitment to mastery to this magnitude is not for the faint of heart, so be proud of yourself and who you are.....just do it. Your doing what many people can't be bothered to do, your investing in yourself and laying it all out on the table, tearing it apart and rebuilding an awesome you. So put your signature on it, own it. Own the greatest investment you could ever make to your family and life, the investment of Kung Fu in you. See you at the Kwoon


Sunday 4 March 2018

Training with Weapons

Training with weapons can be a very fun, challenging, frustrating, and at times painful structure. Your going to hit yourself and other things with it, drop it on your foot, get it stuck in things, it's going to wreck stuff in your house or garage, your going to throw it....just to see if it really will stick in whatever your throwing it at, and then finally your going to come up with some really good ideas. Now you need to actually move with it and that requires picking the right stances. Great you've got the stances down for these killer moves but now they have to flow together. Here's where the creativity comes in and the test to see if you can actually do all of these cool things in these cool stances and still take out the bad guys with a grounded stance and complete definition to your next technique and bad guy without losing your weapon, hitting yourself with it, twisting yourself into a pretzel, sticking it in your foot or through your clothes or completely gift wrapping yourself. These are one of those times where you go back to seeing if it will actually stick in something 40 feet away, or maybe your dog won't find it this time when you throw it.(especially when you don't own a dog!!)  and once you get past the parts where you knock yourself out....it becomes awesomeness!!!

I hope everyone is doing well and making good progress with their weapons. I look forward to seeing what you all come up with. I did have much more serious thoughts to add but I couldn't get to journalling until late so I leave with this instead. See you at the kwoon.