Trial Run

Two and a half months into the pandemic shutdown and things have taken a turn in my training. I have a job just waiting for me to go too but until hiring freezes are lifted and other items are brought to a head nothing is happening. These items are completely out of my control so it has been the great waiting game. However, I have my Ironworking skillset to fall back on in times like these but that too has been rather quiet. So this has given me ample time to train and put forward a design that will help my engagement and catch me up on all things Kung Fu. For me anyway this has been great and I'm glad the opportunity came my way. It has provided me with the time to focus on my training and achieve some break throughs along the way. I have had plenty of time to build a discipline and a fairly solid routine....just great.


 That is until earlier this month I pulled a slip through the Ironworkers hall to work on a bridge that started this past Monday. So I'm back to work for a stretch and it is great. Bridges are heavy bull work and I'm grateful that I had all this time to train and maintain my conditioning. But as much as I thought Kung Fu covers all the major muscle groups, I found out that is not necessarily the case. Between ramping up on my training and starting this job, I came home fairly stiff the later part of the week when things became busy.

The good part is I am maintaining my goal of discipline towards my training no matter what and keeping the quality front and center as well. Making that time in the morning to get something done before I begin my day to completing the remainder in the evening. As beat as I was a few nights this week I still went out and trained and made it happen.

I was also lucky enough for Sifu Brinker to find me a time slot that would work for him and I could maintain my weekly one on ones. For me these are critical and I am very grateful that I still have this tool to stay grounded and a source for all my advancements and set backs to remain in check.

I have been working on a difficult challenge the last while that involves some in depth connections and discoveries. I caught myself becoming frustrated and the lack of quality and progression was more than apparent. I was losing the technique and the mental calm that is required to make this work succesful. So I shut this down for the week and will dive back into it starting tomorrow. No sense programming bad habits and the need to remember that two steps back, one step forward is okay. As it has been said: The Master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.

Mlong Kwuen is coming along well considering we are learning it on line and I'm really enjoying this form so far. It has definately enhanced all of my form work and that is always a good thing. 

My axe form is still coming along well and I am still stuck on a few parts that are starting to smooth out. I have managed to finally get the beast out in the open at a park close to my home and go out later in the evening. I am a little gun shy about swinging it in public due to a situation I had a couple of years ago. Between some petrified parents and a visit from the RCMP, fun wreckers indeed!!! So I am careful where I go to train in public these times. Nonetheless it is great to be training outside and clearing the imaginary battle field. That is pretty much all I have for this week, see you on the screen.