Tools of Success

So far my discipline is coming around well and I am in a good place. I have adopted a training cycle that is restoring my form, strength and endurance, and although slow, my flexibilty. My ribs have healed up well but the down time has cost me core strength and fexibility in my hips. This was more than evident when transitioning into a open x the other night in class. So I have been putting forward an incremental process in my push ups and sit ups and using both the school and my I Ho Chuan forms.

 I have always been a firm believer in changing up repetitive exercises and training in a way to strengthen my muscles in both directions. In addition I try to implement 2-3 exercises in one to double the efficiancy. Like doing my push ups with a TRX and implementing frog kicks into my pull ups, kicks with a horse stance, hidden leg technique, and increasing/decreasing distance with kicks..etc.

To reduce injury from repetitive exercises and strengthen my muscles in both directions I do my push ups with 7 different hand configurations and 5 with pull ups. I work these items together in the same set when I have accesibility to a chin up bar. For core work I have 4 different styles of sit ups, use the TRX, plank, and I will add weights into the mix once I gain my form and strength and endurance back. To work the core the other direction I have been working on the bridge. I'm a long way off from this but it is a goal I have. To restore what I have lost though I have really been concentrating on the most important aspect of training, form. Also at the moment I am doing a lot of low number sets. I have a long ways to go with this but the results are coming in quicker than I thought they would.

For myself there is no better way to sharpen all aspects of Kung Fu than practicing forms. All of our school forms pretty much cover all of out stances and techniques. So again you are working to improve many factors doing one thing. Endurance and strength through stances, stretching dynamically instead of static, and loosing up and strengthening those little muscles. An added bonus of course is cardio and timed breathing. I do my best to run through all of the school forms daily, mostly because I have the time right now.

This is all about to change though as I will be heading up North soon for a 3-4 week shutdown as an Ironworker and then from there I will be starting with a new company as a Bridge Superintendant. I very grateful right now and take none of this for granted. I'm just very lucky to be multi-skilled and have something to fall back on.

However, this is where things really go South for me and my training. This is where I start to prioritize others before myself. I have a focus and work ethic that works against me sometimes and it becomes as erratic as a heart rate monitor and angers me...and me angry is never good. I recognize this and intend to keep the focus where it is now. My investment and commitment to myself, the art, the school, and of course those I am travelling on the journey of mastery with. We all may be on a different path, but the meeting point to the next level is the same.

Although I do believe this is going to be my best year, I also know it is going to be my toughest. I am going to be on the road again and away from the school so I need to keep that focus and commitment on the prize, paying myself first and not channeling it soley on others or one thing. I really want to work hard on the balance, but enjoy the ride also. One tool is the basics, push ups and sit ups and forms. Even in a small space you can break your forms up and pratice those trouble areas. Another important tool that is working well right now and will help I'm sure is my journaling. Everytime I start to get side tracked or frustrated because things aren't going the way they should, I read my very first post I put up at the beginning of this year. It reminds me of the cause of things going South and why I became mad enough to do something about it and what I intend to do about it through clarity and self reflection. Engagement and commitment is everything, as is self discipline. I am a stubborn Taurus and it's time to wipe out the clown shaking the red flag and bust out of the arena and be free. Time will tell, see you at the Kwoon.

The Gift of Kung Fu

It's nothing new in todays economy or in the world of construction, or any occupation for that matter, it's feast or famine. It doesn't matter if your at the top of the list or the guy at the bottom, the chopping block and it's faithful friend the blunt axe spares no one. I was laid off from my position recently and to say it was unexpected would be a statement of delusion and unlike a common theme of today, I am not entitled to jack @#$%. It's the nature of the beast and it can happen to anyone at anytime. It's never a good feeling and the situation can have a negative bearing and impact, but I have seen this before. So has my girls and we know what we need to do and how we are going to do it. Out comes the tools of survival and the determination to succeed and seek opportunities. Through the support of my girls and an audit of available options, something will expose itself. Once it does I will latch onto it. I just have to adapt and overcome and take what I want, nobody is going to hand it to me.

Part of the process is my training. It's times like these that I need it more than ever and it never fails me. Kung Fu provides me with direction and calm, but sharp focus. It balances my thought process and rational when dealing with those weight bearing times that life just loves to throw at us. Kung Fu makes me see things and embrace things differently. Such as all is opportunity and challenge is strength, take what's yours and never back down. Kung Fu keeps my mental and physical strengths balanced so I can be dropped into any situation and not only succeed, but evolve and succeed. Kung Fu provides me with humility and understanding. If I had to shovel @#$% to feed my family so be it, we all need to make ends meet and Kung Fu removes the pride and the ego and naturally put's others first.

I am very grateful for Kung Fu and all of those that made it possible through much much tougher times than we could ever see or understand. They survived and took the opportunities and evolved, no matter the situation. So can I and I will. Kung Fu provides me with discipline amd commitment when I fail or hit a wall to bust that stuff down and create a solution and act.

 Kung Fu will help me embrace this gift of opportunity and make 2020 my most successful year yet in both my occupation and my Kung Fu because I owe it to myself and my family. But now that I have this down time, I can sharpen and polish the most potent tool in my arsenal, my Kung Fu. It's important for me to remain grateful and marvel at its continuing evolution and it's ability to keep me engaged. Kung Fu provides the rule of respect and care. We all know tools must be maintained and kept up or they become useless and forgotten...all must balance through give and take. See you at the Kwoon.