Reaching the point of definition, or the full body snap, with the proper grounding and skeletal alignment can be tricky to say the least. However achieving this is a crucial part of the mechanics to apply a technique utilizing the whole body. There is a lot going on and to be able to be in tune with all of these factors requires a huge abundance of both the physical repitition and sharp mental awareness towards the stances and technics involved. They need to work as one and what may feel very wrong at the time, may actually be right on the mark. But due to the high amounts of repititions that took place, the awareness just hasn't struck yet.
I have been working hard on proper skeletal alignment and grounded execution on Loa Gar lately and have made some really good progress. My techniques are now being led by the hips, completed at the center of my quadrants, and that back foot is now straightening out when I snap those hips and transition through the form. I'm starting to feel that conductor, not THE energy, but the snap that completes the connection, that final second when the technique reaches complete rotation and that back leg and heel is grounded firm, an explosion from the center out. (I think this is what is meant by compressing in our stances) It's weird but it feels weak as opposed to when I throw everything from the shoulder. The thing is, it's not, it's about 14 times stronger than the one arm because the whole body is now involved with proper alignment and timing. Keeping in mind all of this and slowing the form down has really smoothed out my flow and improved my timing. Now I just need to apply this to the rest of the school forms as well because they must move together. I'm also learning the new bow and how that translates into the forms, it's coming.
My weapon form is coming along well and making these new connections has both improved how to handle the weapon more efficiantly and smooth out the timing. To add to this I am far more aware the positioning of the weapon in motion and where it is to insure I reach proper definition at the execution point. For me I use the Lao Gar stance when I train with a heavy weapon because it provides a great counterweight and gives that reach and stability when I am trying to keep the weapon moving smooth and timed correctly, it's also great for transitioning between stances.
The last little while has been great because my attention is fully on my girls and my Kung Fu. I haven't seen much of them over the last few years as a result of my work. Now I can see my wife everyday and hang out with my daughter. Actually right now I'm teaching my daughter to drive. I wouldn't have had this opportunity if I was busy at work and it is one of those things as a parent that you only get one shot at. She's doing awesome but she needs to watch the speed and is already shaking her head at drivers!! She comes by it honestly though as both of her parents drive everything like we stole it.
My Kung Fu is also coming along very well as I have no distractions and just having the time to concentrate on it and build a routine has been great. With the roles reversed I can bring my routine into my work and hopefully it sticks, I'm not so good at routine, I just do things as they come. The problem is though my focus and prioritization becomes corrupted and suddenly the task at hand takes priority over everything and that is no good. So I'm really working hard to overcome this as a work ethic, focus, and commitment is not the problem. The problem is I need to remember that my best interests come first, not last, and if I can build a real strong routine and hold this mindset in line with everything else as my work returns it should all move together. For someone that is well known to be a troubleshooter in my field of expertise, I sure suck at fixing my own s$#t, but this is what this time is for and when all else fails, I go back to my first posts and hammer that home. See you on the screen.
Tuesday, 14 April 2020
Wednesday, 1 April 2020
A Pivotal Moment
I'm sure we have all had an event or a moment in our training at the kwoon that has had a deep impact on our Kung Fu that provided clarity or motivation to just where we were at and what we were doing and where we are going. A moment that answered a question that you didn't even know existed, a beam of light into a moment of darkness or uncertainty, and moment of success that exposed itself through countless failures or misconception, or just a moment that was so very cool to the individual that it inspired evolution or understanding to ourselves as a whole.
At this time many are struggling with the isolation and how to keep moving forward, I get that and understand. Isolation doesn't really bother me too much as I typically keep to myself as it is anyway and have had to train away from the kwoon for years so this is no big deal for me. But I thought perhaps I would send out a challenge/moral booster to others that may help or not. Nonetheless, it's worth a shot.
So here it goes, take a moment to reflect on a pivotal moment in your training that occured and inspired motivation, change, or appreciation. Was there a Sifu involved, a training partner, or someone you didn't even know? Where were you at then, what effect did this moment have on you at that very moment and how did it translate to where you are now?
My moment through reflection was something I really needed at the time. I have always been big on our lineage and almost to the point of relentless on tradition. I'm an old school cat for sure and embrace hard work and challenge. But at that particular time in my training I was uncertain about where I was. I was questioning my skill level and if I was showing enough respect to our lineage and our style. I was wondering if I was holding true the respect to my teachers and my past masters and doing enough to uphold the standard, practicing this gift to the best of my abilities. I was also wondering at the time if we were becoming watered down. Are we losing the potency or our lineage. Am I in the right place?
Then one time in the Kwoon one of our master level instructors was speaking of our lineage and spoke a little about each one of our grand masters, their teachers. Sifu was speaking of one in particular that I admired quite a bit. When I found out that he was part of our lineage I must have researched every thing I possibly could about them prior to this, so I was glued to every word Sifu was saying. But then something beyond extrodinary to me took place. Sifu looked right at me and said that I reminded him of this person, I was bult like him, I moved like him. I was vapour locked and of course my head swelled up a bit, because that was a pretty big deal to me.
But those few sentences changed everything for me. It answered all of my questions and motivated me so much. It gave me clarity and assured me I was in the right place. That moment proved just how pure our style of Kung Fu is and the commitment to tradition is by our instructors and the standard that has maintained at our school. But there was something much bigger to this that went far beyond me. Think about it for a second, you have a master level instructor, that see's one of his teachers, through one of his students Kung Fu. Thats pretty damn cool if you ask me.
So that's my pivotal moment that inspired me to train hard and remain loyal to our lineage, be mindful of appreciation and respect to tradition and our Sifu's. Protect and respect our school and maintain the art. This is also one of the very things that inspired me to go through the Black Belt code of Ethics, understand it and maintain it, break it all down and practice it, just like our Grand Masters. Continue to work on mastering our style through practicing curriculumn. But most importantly, it made me happy and proud to be a martial artist and carry on just like those before me did.
If anyone is willing to share a moment of reflection that had a profound effect on their training, please do. See you at the Kwoon
At this time many are struggling with the isolation and how to keep moving forward, I get that and understand. Isolation doesn't really bother me too much as I typically keep to myself as it is anyway and have had to train away from the kwoon for years so this is no big deal for me. But I thought perhaps I would send out a challenge/moral booster to others that may help or not. Nonetheless, it's worth a shot.
So here it goes, take a moment to reflect on a pivotal moment in your training that occured and inspired motivation, change, or appreciation. Was there a Sifu involved, a training partner, or someone you didn't even know? Where were you at then, what effect did this moment have on you at that very moment and how did it translate to where you are now?
My moment through reflection was something I really needed at the time. I have always been big on our lineage and almost to the point of relentless on tradition. I'm an old school cat for sure and embrace hard work and challenge. But at that particular time in my training I was uncertain about where I was. I was questioning my skill level and if I was showing enough respect to our lineage and our style. I was wondering if I was holding true the respect to my teachers and my past masters and doing enough to uphold the standard, practicing this gift to the best of my abilities. I was also wondering at the time if we were becoming watered down. Are we losing the potency or our lineage. Am I in the right place?
Then one time in the Kwoon one of our master level instructors was speaking of our lineage and spoke a little about each one of our grand masters, their teachers. Sifu was speaking of one in particular that I admired quite a bit. When I found out that he was part of our lineage I must have researched every thing I possibly could about them prior to this, so I was glued to every word Sifu was saying. But then something beyond extrodinary to me took place. Sifu looked right at me and said that I reminded him of this person, I was bult like him, I moved like him. I was vapour locked and of course my head swelled up a bit, because that was a pretty big deal to me.
But those few sentences changed everything for me. It answered all of my questions and motivated me so much. It gave me clarity and assured me I was in the right place. That moment proved just how pure our style of Kung Fu is and the commitment to tradition is by our instructors and the standard that has maintained at our school. But there was something much bigger to this that went far beyond me. Think about it for a second, you have a master level instructor, that see's one of his teachers, through one of his students Kung Fu. Thats pretty damn cool if you ask me.
So that's my pivotal moment that inspired me to train hard and remain loyal to our lineage, be mindful of appreciation and respect to tradition and our Sifu's. Protect and respect our school and maintain the art. This is also one of the very things that inspired me to go through the Black Belt code of Ethics, understand it and maintain it, break it all down and practice it, just like our Grand Masters. Continue to work on mastering our style through practicing curriculumn. But most importantly, it made me happy and proud to be a martial artist and carry on just like those before me did.
If anyone is willing to share a moment of reflection that had a profound effect on their training, please do. See you at the Kwoon
Transparency Through Absence
Well the last little while has been a drastic change for many. Being isolated to our homes can be a little overwhelming and to some degree unhealthy if we don't keep our minds and bodies occupied, thank goodness we are martial artists. Another thing to be very appreciative about is our Sifus'. They are going above and beyond to keep the school moving forward, taking the risks to go to and from the school in the middle of a pandemic to manage and continue to teach the art of Kung Fu and on top of it provide some one on one time. It's all pretty awesome really and speaks volumes to the level of commitment our school has to the art and it's students.
The thing is though, although we are seperated and the Kwoon is shutdown for the time being, I feel the connection to each other is closer than ever. We have a really good opportunity to remain transparent and the discipline of team involvement can still be had through technology. Although my blogs have been late,(which I am about to change today) I am driven to post my forms weekly to show my progress and journal the same, to keep training hard and mindful of what I am doing. I am driven to stay as connected as I can through Kwoon talk and try to awknowledge every post I can to let people know, we are in this together and we are here for each other.....together we stand, divided we fall.
It's weird but I feel more connected and have probably the strongest connection I have ever had to my I Ho Chuan year and others on the team. I am driven to transparency more than ever and look forward to seeing this most challenging year, one of our best. This is a strong team, probably the strongest I have ever seen. The adaptation to change and the voluntary contributions, each member displaying their own individuality but maintaining the mindset of together inspires me tremendously. I feel obligation and discipline to train hard and maintain my commitments and just pull off a great year of awesomeness. Well done team, train hard, stay positive, stay connected and we shall continue to blow peoples minds right out of their skulls through this teams awesomeness!! See you on the screen!!
The thing is though, although we are seperated and the Kwoon is shutdown for the time being, I feel the connection to each other is closer than ever. We have a really good opportunity to remain transparent and the discipline of team involvement can still be had through technology. Although my blogs have been late,(which I am about to change today) I am driven to post my forms weekly to show my progress and journal the same, to keep training hard and mindful of what I am doing. I am driven to stay as connected as I can through Kwoon talk and try to awknowledge every post I can to let people know, we are in this together and we are here for each other.....together we stand, divided we fall.
It's weird but I feel more connected and have probably the strongest connection I have ever had to my I Ho Chuan year and others on the team. I am driven to transparency more than ever and look forward to seeing this most challenging year, one of our best. This is a strong team, probably the strongest I have ever seen. The adaptation to change and the voluntary contributions, each member displaying their own individuality but maintaining the mindset of together inspires me tremendously. I feel obligation and discipline to train hard and maintain my commitments and just pull off a great year of awesomeness. Well done team, train hard, stay positive, stay connected and we shall continue to blow peoples minds right out of their skulls through this teams awesomeness!! See you on the screen!!
Monday, 9 March 2020
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.
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.
Monday, 2 March 2020
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 @#$% to feed my family so be it, we all need to make ends meet and Kung Fu removes the pride and the ego and naturally put's others first.
I am very grateful for Kung Fu and all of those that made it possible through much much tougher times than we could ever see or understand. They survived and took the opportunities and evolved, no matter the situation. So can I and I will. Kung Fu provides me with discipline amd commitment when I fail or hit a wall to bust that stuff down and create a solution and act.
Kung Fu will help me embrace this gift of opportunity and make 2020 my most successful year yet in both my occupation and my Kung Fu because I owe it to myself and my family. But now that I have this down time, I can sharpen and polish the most potent tool in my arsenal, my Kung Fu. It's important for me to remain grateful and marvel at its continuing evolution and it's ability to keep me engaged. Kung Fu provides the rule of respect and care. We all know tools must be maintained and kept up or they become useless and forgotten...all must balance through give and take. See you at the Kwoon.
Part of the process is my training. It's times like these that I need it more than ever and it never fails me. Kung Fu provides me with direction and calm, but sharp focus. It balances my thought process and rational when dealing with those weight bearing times that life just loves to throw at us. Kung Fu makes me see things and embrace things differently. Such as all is opportunity and challenge is strength, take what's yours and never back down. Kung Fu keeps my mental and physical strengths balanced so I can be dropped into any situation and not only succeed, but evolve and succeed. Kung Fu provides me with humility and understanding. If I had to shovel @#$% 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.
Thursday, 20 February 2020
Stepping Stones
So my year has been off to a rough start as I came in late on everything that I needed to do to prepare for the year of the rat but being thrown into the fire and the calling of adapt and overcome the challenge is nothing new, I embrace that. However, although I can be a very focused and committed individual, I fail to keep whats best for me front and center and channel that focus and commitment for others instead. Seldom does the investment return as much as I have out into it, in the end your just another number. Don't get me wrong, this has provided me with many opportunities and I'm seldom out of work for very long as a result of these efforts and the well being of my girls are my whole primary focus. But in the end, my health, family life, and my Kung Fu are sacrificed due to the work-a-holic mentality I have. I plan to use the focus and commitment of a year of mastery to overcome and embrace and act on the change necessary. It will be a long overdue challenge but I am ready to see it through as I completely bombed the last two years. I start out strong, a good plan laid out, then boom, I'm gone never to be seen or heard from again. The damaging factor is perspective of priorities and where they sit for me. All or nothing does tend to come into play but I have learned to shove that to the side and I know this mindset is counterproductive. It's tough to overcome when it has been the mindset for so many years but I do know I need to break the cycle. Like any character defect, it's a work in progress and as of late I seem to be coming ahead.
I have been reviewing my forms and working on my conditioning as of late. This has been a little tricky as I cracked 3 ribs not too long ago and still in the healing phase. I honestly didn't know they were cracked and just carried on thinking they were bruised, nope they are cracked so I had to let them heal. This kept me from doing a lot of things and it sure doesn't take long for ones conditioning to lapse when you are limited to what you can do. Now I'm in an incremental stage of loading up my core and other aspects of conditioning. I am in some pain of course, but it is a good pain, an invested pain because I know each day I will become stronger, each day a little more flexible, and my muscle memory is awakening. Just have to be patient and embrace the incremental progress. That alone is sure a good feeling knowing all is not lost. Qigong has been both my friend and my worst enemy lately, but for me it has been my best tool for regaining endurance, timed breathing, and flexibility. I havent done it for so long so it's been a challenge remembering the form and of course actually doing it, but the results are noticable and effective for where I am curently at.
I have chosen the Long Axe or Halberd again for this years weapon. I just absolutely love this weapon and have spent countless hours with it on my imaginary battle fields and a lot of time and effort working towards mastering it. The repetitive weapon choice is not a comfort zone thing or an avoidance of challenge, it is part of a long term goal I set a long time ago. Once I have a very solid feel for the mechanics of the Halberd and a good solid understanding of how to move and attack with it, then I will move onto a live Guandao. To me, that's the ultimate weapon and once I reach the skill level I feel is accomplished, I'll take on this weapon. I can see it now, shimmering in gold with cool music and angels flying it over to me!! Best ever!
My hand form Loa Gar is another repeat with the intention of seeing through another long term goal of extreme challenge and the preservation of our lineage. I actually really enjoy the technical aspect of this form and style, the mystery to the mechanics and how it all works together is something I never get bored with. The form has teased me many times as I have momentarily seemed to unlock it's power, but then the inability to do it again prevails, all on the quest for knowledge I guess. One of the other reasons is Loa Gar or Hung Gar is officially an extinct art. Our school is probably one of very few that actually still practices it. Our lineage is very important to me as is my respect for our past masters. If you look into our schools lineage it goes back a long ways and many very talented artists have cut the path for us. This potency cannot die off and needs to be maintained or in the end, it's gone and all of that hard work means nothing.
I'm not into contributing to the demise of traditional martial arts any longer as over the last few years I have done just that by not being at the school. This alone has kept me inspired during my abscence and has prompted me to act and instead of just turning into a black belt made of ice cream and turn my back on it all. I will continue to be a practioner of the art and not be afraid to get sore and sweaty to see it through. That's one of my primary goals this year to review and perfect all of my forms, intensify and regain my conditioning, and constantly review the curriculumn so I have a solid base and understanding of our style beyond what I already know. Besides I am supposed to be doing this anyway as one of our best tools, the Black Belt Code of Ethics is sworn to by me. Although I have repeated myself several times on this point, I'm gonna do this, is now going to be I am doing this. Well that's one post that I brought out of the drafts, many more to come as I actually want to see 52 posts this year instead of 5 or 6 and then I disappear. See you at the Kwoon.
I have been reviewing my forms and working on my conditioning as of late. This has been a little tricky as I cracked 3 ribs not too long ago and still in the healing phase. I honestly didn't know they were cracked and just carried on thinking they were bruised, nope they are cracked so I had to let them heal. This kept me from doing a lot of things and it sure doesn't take long for ones conditioning to lapse when you are limited to what you can do. Now I'm in an incremental stage of loading up my core and other aspects of conditioning. I am in some pain of course, but it is a good pain, an invested pain because I know each day I will become stronger, each day a little more flexible, and my muscle memory is awakening. Just have to be patient and embrace the incremental progress. That alone is sure a good feeling knowing all is not lost. Qigong has been both my friend and my worst enemy lately, but for me it has been my best tool for regaining endurance, timed breathing, and flexibility. I havent done it for so long so it's been a challenge remembering the form and of course actually doing it, but the results are noticable and effective for where I am curently at.
I have chosen the Long Axe or Halberd again for this years weapon. I just absolutely love this weapon and have spent countless hours with it on my imaginary battle fields and a lot of time and effort working towards mastering it. The repetitive weapon choice is not a comfort zone thing or an avoidance of challenge, it is part of a long term goal I set a long time ago. Once I have a very solid feel for the mechanics of the Halberd and a good solid understanding of how to move and attack with it, then I will move onto a live Guandao. To me, that's the ultimate weapon and once I reach the skill level I feel is accomplished, I'll take on this weapon. I can see it now, shimmering in gold with cool music and angels flying it over to me!! Best ever!
My hand form Loa Gar is another repeat with the intention of seeing through another long term goal of extreme challenge and the preservation of our lineage. I actually really enjoy the technical aspect of this form and style, the mystery to the mechanics and how it all works together is something I never get bored with. The form has teased me many times as I have momentarily seemed to unlock it's power, but then the inability to do it again prevails, all on the quest for knowledge I guess. One of the other reasons is Loa Gar or Hung Gar is officially an extinct art. Our school is probably one of very few that actually still practices it. Our lineage is very important to me as is my respect for our past masters. If you look into our schools lineage it goes back a long ways and many very talented artists have cut the path for us. This potency cannot die off and needs to be maintained or in the end, it's gone and all of that hard work means nothing.
I'm not into contributing to the demise of traditional martial arts any longer as over the last few years I have done just that by not being at the school. This alone has kept me inspired during my abscence and has prompted me to act and instead of just turning into a black belt made of ice cream and turn my back on it all. I will continue to be a practioner of the art and not be afraid to get sore and sweaty to see it through. That's one of my primary goals this year to review and perfect all of my forms, intensify and regain my conditioning, and constantly review the curriculumn so I have a solid base and understanding of our style beyond what I already know. Besides I am supposed to be doing this anyway as one of our best tools, the Black Belt Code of Ethics is sworn to by me. Although I have repeated myself several times on this point, I'm gonna do this, is now going to be I am doing this. Well that's one post that I brought out of the drafts, many more to come as I actually want to see 52 posts this year instead of 5 or 6 and then I disappear. See you at the Kwoon.
Tuesday, 28 January 2020
Absence of Kung Fu
It becomes a real moment of truth if you do, or have trained, in the martial arts and suddenly stop or gradually step away from your discipline. Even if it's unintentional. What I mean by this is you suddenly become a doer or a doee. It's not hard to let something go unintentionally through distraction or other things in life that suddenly do, and will take priority over everything. That's life, and how you perceive and act on adaptation continues to cut the path....or doesn't. You just might suddenly lack some tools you once had and can't figure out where they were dropped or just simply placed somewhere else close by, and all you need to do is reach for it. Even in a life of distractions, if something is fully ingrained, it will always be with you. But if you don't keep it front and center, it will lose it's purpose. If you lose the mindset of benefit through investment, it will fade and suddenly it's gone. Even if you are strong willed, it's also very easy to take things for granted, one thinks that no matter what, something that powerful will always be there. But if it doesn't stay with you or you fail to act on the investment through discipline, it never really was. The art within won't grow or maintain on it's own.
A harsh question does seem to come up for me when I constantly notice somethings missing and I fail to act on it. When I can't train the way I want or have the time I want. Was I really in it for me or was I in it to use as a stepping stone or temporary fix to something that was going on? Did I let it slip on purpose because I have lost faith in it's soul purpose, or some how adopted a mindset of corrupted ideology that became a justified excuse? Was it ever really as fully ingrained as I led myself to believe it was? In order to troubleshoot these kinds of things you have to dig deep, all angles, step back and look in the areas you normally don't. The thing is, if I never really had my heart and soul into it in the first place, if I never lived and practiced the art and invested the blood, sweat, and the dirt and appreciated and respected it, made it a part of me, why would I care in the first place that it's gone? Why would I even care to take the time to figure this out and find a solution? I wouldn't. But I do.....every day. I have applied the art in many cases without even realizing it's still just as strong as it ever was, even if I don't see it or feel it physically to the degree I think it should be.
To something that seems so complicated, it is in fact is very basic, just train and continue the investment and embrace even the tiniest amount of discipline and time to my Kung Fu as I can. It must become and remain a priority. Sifu Bryant put a really good post out a while back that really resonated with me. I won't go into it too far, but to put it straight, he brought up a point of financial discipline, pay yourself first. Damn rights pay yourself first! Brilliant point Sifu, thanks. That simple point alone had a major effect on me and instilled a new perspective and approach.
Absence of Kung Fu tends to throw me into another trajectory of aimlessness and frustration, I miss it. I know it's part of me and it needs to become more front and center. I need to change the perspective that it is not gone. Invest in it and me.The longer I have been away from consistent training and the Kwoon, the more and more it burns everyday, not the opposite of fade and call it once was. So that made me feel about better about my current status. I use the lessons and the purpose every day, it's just needs to come front and center, pay myself first. I guess we'll see where it all leads over the next while.
A harsh question does seem to come up for me when I constantly notice somethings missing and I fail to act on it. When I can't train the way I want or have the time I want. Was I really in it for me or was I in it to use as a stepping stone or temporary fix to something that was going on? Did I let it slip on purpose because I have lost faith in it's soul purpose, or some how adopted a mindset of corrupted ideology that became a justified excuse? Was it ever really as fully ingrained as I led myself to believe it was? In order to troubleshoot these kinds of things you have to dig deep, all angles, step back and look in the areas you normally don't. The thing is, if I never really had my heart and soul into it in the first place, if I never lived and practiced the art and invested the blood, sweat, and the dirt and appreciated and respected it, made it a part of me, why would I care in the first place that it's gone? Why would I even care to take the time to figure this out and find a solution? I wouldn't. But I do.....every day. I have applied the art in many cases without even realizing it's still just as strong as it ever was, even if I don't see it or feel it physically to the degree I think it should be.
To something that seems so complicated, it is in fact is very basic, just train and continue the investment and embrace even the tiniest amount of discipline and time to my Kung Fu as I can. It must become and remain a priority. Sifu Bryant put a really good post out a while back that really resonated with me. I won't go into it too far, but to put it straight, he brought up a point of financial discipline, pay yourself first. Damn rights pay yourself first! Brilliant point Sifu, thanks. That simple point alone had a major effect on me and instilled a new perspective and approach.
Absence of Kung Fu tends to throw me into another trajectory of aimlessness and frustration, I miss it. I know it's part of me and it needs to become more front and center. I need to change the perspective that it is not gone. Invest in it and me.The longer I have been away from consistent training and the Kwoon, the more and more it burns everyday, not the opposite of fade and call it once was. So that made me feel about better about my current status. I use the lessons and the purpose every day, it's just needs to come front and center, pay myself first. I guess we'll see where it all leads over the next while.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)