So I've spent the last month or better in the Drumheller area doing a bridge project. It really takes me back to when I grew up in Southern Alberta. All the farms, the rolling hills and the ability to see for miles. The smell in the air as the soil is being turned up for seeding, coyotes, oh yeah and WIND!!! That's one thing I don't miss too much for sure especially when they are spreading manure..that's ripe. There is really cool trails around here and the scenery is really nice. I found an area perfect for weapon training and forms. The biggest issue is getting there as the days are long indeed and it's tough to get out there.
My routine hasn't been as efficient as I would like it to be by any stretch but it has been consistent and that's better than nothing. One added bonus is my room I'm staying at is pretty large so I have quite a bit of room for kicks, push ups and sit ups and some weight training. I can also do some of the forms that don't require a lot of room. But overall Dah Mu Hsin is the one that is practiced every day, that's the one that keeps it all moving forward. I'm starting to eat a lot cleaner and more consistently. It's so easy to not eat properly when you become so focused and engaged in what we do, but hours without eating is stupid and pounding convenient junk into yourself is even dumber. It takes it's toll for sure. Now I have a loaded up smoothy every morning, eat several times throughout the day and pound the water and some natural fruit juices and I feel great. Fuel is everything if you want to run like a machine.
Canada Day is coming fast and my Sais form is still in the works and Loa Gar is coming along. It's been tricky going back to two handed lighter weapons as I have trained with heavy weapons for the last 5 years or so but adaptability and versatility is key with any aspect of training so it was good to change it up.
I have about 10 or so journals in my draft that I will get out here over the next while because I need to get those up to date. I really noticed when the journals stay on track, so does the accountability and the discipline as does finding the time to train. It removes the urge to slack off or just give up because the year isn't going the way I want it too. So between this, the I Ho Chuan requirements and using the Code of Ethics as a tool of focus, I think things are going to work out fine, and that's just a whole lot of alright. See you at the Kwoon
Sunday 9 June 2019
Tuesday 4 June 2019
Black Belt Code of Ethics Part 2
Training can and should be done no matter where you are or what you are doing. It has been said many times by our teachers as we progress through our training that students cannot possibly maintain or advance our skills if we limit our training to just when we are at the kwoon. When you reach the level of black belt your advancement to degrees is a incremental process that takes time. The accountability to our sworn commitments as black belts is expected to be done on our own. I know speaking from my own experience that it is very easy to let things slip or not make the training such a high priority. I train and then I don't, then I start to get concerned that if I don't, I will lose and forget everything I worked for, so that does tend to help with the motivation to keep my conditioning and skills up. The thing is it doesn't really seem to hit home because at the time, I am accountable to no one but me..... that is until I walk into the kwoon and practice in front of my teachers. Then it's pretty much front and center the lack of discipline, and to me I find it quite embarrassing as it shows just how much I need to practice and how much I need to catch up.
However, we are provided with a very valuable tool that was meant to be used as a guide and a method to keep us accountable and help us maintain our Kung Fu. I believe this is the whole point of the Code of Ethics. In order to maintain our own training and advancement to not only the standards of the school, but our own floating standards, and to be mindful of what is expected of us as Black Belts. We are asked to swear to an oath that is meant to be used as a guide to keep us engaged and uphold our style. For me and this year, this is my primary focus and tool and the more I use it, the better everything becomes.
All Black Belts of Silent River Kung Fu must promise to;
Set an example by approaching their art with passion, vigor, and vitality.
To approach our art with passion to me means put your heart into it, your intelligence and remain on the quest for perfection. Not necessarily as in perfect, because there is no such thing. We want constantly evolve and have the art become a part of you, like Bruce Lee said, express yourself and be yourself. Good enough or mindlessly training or letting your Kung Fu slip should piss you off and not be part of the program.
To approach the art with vigor to me means excitement and discovery, that spike of energy you feel when you really hit your forms or after hours and trying to perfect a technique it just takes off, pounding out those 100 kicks, 70 push ups in a row, or finally executing a spinning back kick that is graceful and your not scrambling for balance recovery. It's just a whole lot of alright and that's what your Kung Fu should be.
To approach the art with vitality from my perspective is longevity and conditioning. You can't execute Kung Fu properly or effectively if your physical fitness and conditioning is not maintained. So it's very important aspect of it. Stretching, making those muscles burn, ramping up the heart rate and driving yourself to puking is key. If don't keep these things up next thing you know you have injuries or you can't maintain or evolve your training, then everything goes down hill real quick. Keeping in mind we all age, so again to maintain the longevity of your Kung Fu, warming up those muscles is important, stretching is important and cardio is very important. This promotes a healthy body and mind, boosts metabolism and keeps you young. It promotes a proper diet and inspires a person to find those needs our body requires such as supplements or vitamins. You have to train smart but not use age as an excuse, but a tool to train better. The thing is if you keep telling yourself you can't do something, then you won't because your body and mind will listen to you.
So that's my take on this paraphrase of our Code of Ethics. See you at the Kwoon.
However, we are provided with a very valuable tool that was meant to be used as a guide and a method to keep us accountable and help us maintain our Kung Fu. I believe this is the whole point of the Code of Ethics. In order to maintain our own training and advancement to not only the standards of the school, but our own floating standards, and to be mindful of what is expected of us as Black Belts. We are asked to swear to an oath that is meant to be used as a guide to keep us engaged and uphold our style. For me and this year, this is my primary focus and tool and the more I use it, the better everything becomes.
All Black Belts of Silent River Kung Fu must promise to;
Set an example by approaching their art with passion, vigor, and vitality.
To approach our art with passion to me means put your heart into it, your intelligence and remain on the quest for perfection. Not necessarily as in perfect, because there is no such thing. We want constantly evolve and have the art become a part of you, like Bruce Lee said, express yourself and be yourself. Good enough or mindlessly training or letting your Kung Fu slip should piss you off and not be part of the program.
To approach the art with vigor to me means excitement and discovery, that spike of energy you feel when you really hit your forms or after hours and trying to perfect a technique it just takes off, pounding out those 100 kicks, 70 push ups in a row, or finally executing a spinning back kick that is graceful and your not scrambling for balance recovery. It's just a whole lot of alright and that's what your Kung Fu should be.
To approach the art with vitality from my perspective is longevity and conditioning. You can't execute Kung Fu properly or effectively if your physical fitness and conditioning is not maintained. So it's very important aspect of it. Stretching, making those muscles burn, ramping up the heart rate and driving yourself to puking is key. If don't keep these things up next thing you know you have injuries or you can't maintain or evolve your training, then everything goes down hill real quick. Keeping in mind we all age, so again to maintain the longevity of your Kung Fu, warming up those muscles is important, stretching is important and cardio is very important. This promotes a healthy body and mind, boosts metabolism and keeps you young. It promotes a proper diet and inspires a person to find those needs our body requires such as supplements or vitamins. You have to train smart but not use age as an excuse, but a tool to train better. The thing is if you keep telling yourself you can't do something, then you won't because your body and mind will listen to you.
So that's my take on this paraphrase of our Code of Ethics. See you at the Kwoon.
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