I have had a lot of struggles the last while in working towards balancing my occupational physical movements with my Kung Fu movements. As much as I have tried to integrate it and come to some sort of realistic balance between the two, needless to say they don't seem to want to get along. Which is all the more reason why practicing my forms and expanding my Kung Fu has to remain imperative on a daily basis. I also have to avoid becoming frustrated and loose the end result along the way or jeopardize the quality as well. Patience and discipline are key I think.
To give you an idea of my situation most things I work with are heavy and there is a consistent demand of strength. A task that requires a strength demand to lift, hold or stabilize while in motion, access to the point, and periodic static positioning all while under load. Basically picking something heavy up, carrying it, and holding it in place. Then whatever tools are necessary to complete the work I have to hang on to them and possibly use more strength to work them. If I'm working at heights I have to hang on to something while I work the tools so more physical demand is required. Also when all of these activities take place I load the body up slowly to avoid injury. Think of revving an engine to full RPM and dropping the clutch, your bound to grenade something.
Now the Kung Fu aspect of strength in motion and movement. Typically the goal is very little strength is required until you need it. Nothing is preloaded to execute the technique with the exception of holding a weapon perhaps until you complete definition of execution. But even then when you move the weapon and your body the idea is to remain light and transitional movements are performed with a full body balance, like the first part of the six harmonies and the center is the source of it all. Moving from stance to stance your feet or rotation is performed from sliding on the heels and ball of the foot and you are compressed or settled the whole time.
Now at work if I tried to apply these aspects of Kung Fu, I would be dropping tools and materials all over the place or they would be flying out of my hands. I would probably blow out my back or knees and consistently trip and fall down carrying something. While operating an industrial impact gun I would turn my arm into something that resembles a twizzler. When I apply my work movements to Kung Fu it's like my axe suddenly weighs 100lbs and I'm trying to drive it through a bank vault. When I move I am so tense that my flow and speed go completely out the window and there is a smart car on my back. When I punch or kick it's like I am demolishing a house with my hands and feet. My Kung Fu goes from the center out to all upper body or I dispatch so much energy to my legs that I begin rising and falling during transitions. So I really have to calm the mind and pay more attention to the details which I am trying to avoid so my Kung Fu becomes involuntary instinct rather than mindful dispatch....the list goes on but I know I can make it happen.
It's not all messed up though and I am working towards a solution. Like I had mentioned in a previous post about programmed muscle memory I know where the problem lies and what the causes are, I just have to put in the time and keep telling my body to work from the center out and to some degree I'm slowly developing this and it is helping. The biggest struggle I have right now is putting in the time. I have so many distractions right now and another big issue is my working mindset contradicts my Kung Fu mindset everyday. My biggest issue is the separation from all or nothing to achieving a healthy and sustainable balance. That's another post though.
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