I'm not really one to publicly point out my views on politics but I do speak out against losing our freedoms continously and living in the share holder disease that conveniently hide behind the corporate front that continues to destroy the planet and its inhabitants through corruption and lies all on the quest to be a billionare. Its not good enough to be a millionare any more. Now you have to be a billionare and hold the title of being of the "Ultra Rich" variety. Does anyone see how pathetic that is or how sad it must be to have that kind of mindset. I used to jump on the anti corporation band wagon and had no issues speaking out against them and what they have not only done to north America, but the world in general. I now have looked deeper into the process and realize a corporation is absolutely nothing without share holders. The fat cats behind the scenes that make the call and manipulate so many for the cause of greed. I'm sure in some cases companies know damn well what they are doing and what damaging effects they will have on people or the planet. I'm also sure that there have been some that do not want any part of the damage or completely shipping all of the work outside of a country that is what made them in the first place and completely anihilating all infrastructure and local economies. Not putting any of that money back into your country because you pay no taxes.
But what are you going to do if all your financial backing says do it or we will pull out. Do you make a stand and say go ahead and don't let the door hit your ass on the way out and take the risk of you ending up on the street. Or do you just turn a blind eye, take a public beating and when it's all said and done take your profits and hide because most people would rather run you over than brake while you cross the street.
In my opinion nobody should have to be put in this position and these types of people should have never been given this much power. But it is all on us as people, we voted in the government's that allowed this. We are the ones who were allowed to be manipulated by materialistic lifestyles and became brainwashed into fear by these sorts. We were the ones who chose to be divided instead of sticking together. Mass groups of people with like minded views on who and what should be responsible and accountable for our interests, are far more powerful than any group of shareholders or governments could ever dream of being. Remember they work for us and a group of people that forget that need to be removed from these positions. This is where our right to vote and right to demand change comes in. We all talk tough until it's time to mark that box or stand beside someone that wants to make a difference or thinks outside the box out of fear. We need to cease our mindset with being content with being programmed and losing our rights and freedoms like its nothing. Ditch the materialistic mentality and do what's right for us and our children and the planet. Quit being sheep. It's risk takers that build the planet, demand change, and demand accountability. This is on us.
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
Tuesday, 21 April 2015
The Never Ending Pursuit
It's been almost 10 months since I have been able to have any kind of consistent presence in the kwoon. 10 months since any real contact with my training mates and teachers. 10 months since I even worked on several aspects with a partner. Flooded with continuous draw backs that just seem to be coming. All of a sudden here I am parachuting into the Kwoon and grading in about two weeks and none of it seems to be lining up. Are things improving? Couldn't tell you. So many things going on right now with work, a recent concern with someone close to me that puts all things on hold, raising my little one and being there for her, and trying to get all that's involved with my preparation for grading, makes it difficult to keep track. All of these things are my life. There's no sense in getting stressed out about it, what good would that do. The thing is if you look at it from a different angle, I'm balanced, and that in itself is a huge accomplishment for me. Everything is moving ahead together as one. I haven't been able to do that for a long time. The cool part is I am engaged in all aspects of my life and I am practicing mastery in all of these things. Family, Kung Fu, and my occupation.
Am I in the best shape of my life and do I have all my Kung Fu down and ready for grading? No, I am not and no I don't. But the year is not over and I'll find out May 2 exactly what I need to do to be awesome and blow peoples minds right out of their skulls. Am I getting in all the time I need to train properly and prepare? No, not even close, but I'm doing the best I can. Am I concerned about grading, failing, looking like a jerk, am I even good enough to show my face and try? Am I intimidated, maybe setting myself up for failure, questioning what I should have done, could have done? Of course I am and of course those thoughts are running through my head. All of that is there but I can't bring that baggage with me and it's not healthy to carry that along with you anyway, so to the curb with that. I am going in with my mind clear and focused and perform to the best of my current ability's and continue to shoot for the highest standard I can. Pass or fail, I have reached nothing. There is no arrival. It's only a stepping stone to a valuable tool that will be earned and utilized on the never ending quest for mastery in the freakin' awesome art of Kung Fu. My confidence will be high and my ego is not invited.
Is my work going to continue to be a bombing of question marks and unpredictable situations and schedules? Yes, it will be. I am highly skilled and I don't burn my bridges, unless they have it coming, then I blow that sucker to the heavens, end of story. I practice mastery in my trade and it is my passion. People that carry themselves this way will always be in demand and will always be on complicated or specialty work that requires a practice of the highest standards and skill set. Like those before me that had the grit, the drive, the standard, and the intelligence to do what it takes to prevail over anything. Just like our past masters in Kung Fu.
Are my girls going to need me on all fronts at any given moment? Yes, they will and at the drop of a hat, anything else takes a back seat. Period. Is there going to be family triumphs and tragedies or an unquestionable presence that is going to take me away from work or Kung Fu? Is there going to be times when work or Kung FU is going to take me away from my family? Is there going to have to be sacrifices that will have to be made in order to achieve mastery in any of these three areas in my life and will the placement of priorities be shifted? Yes, there will be and sometimes it won't be pretty. Sometimes the sacrifice will result in failure, sadness, tension, absence. But the end result if there is success and an overall balance can continue, it will be the most awesome thing I could ever witness or be a part of. See you at the kwoon
Am I in the best shape of my life and do I have all my Kung Fu down and ready for grading? No, I am not and no I don't. But the year is not over and I'll find out May 2 exactly what I need to do to be awesome and blow peoples minds right out of their skulls. Am I getting in all the time I need to train properly and prepare? No, not even close, but I'm doing the best I can. Am I concerned about grading, failing, looking like a jerk, am I even good enough to show my face and try? Am I intimidated, maybe setting myself up for failure, questioning what I should have done, could have done? Of course I am and of course those thoughts are running through my head. All of that is there but I can't bring that baggage with me and it's not healthy to carry that along with you anyway, so to the curb with that. I am going in with my mind clear and focused and perform to the best of my current ability's and continue to shoot for the highest standard I can. Pass or fail, I have reached nothing. There is no arrival. It's only a stepping stone to a valuable tool that will be earned and utilized on the never ending quest for mastery in the freakin' awesome art of Kung Fu. My confidence will be high and my ego is not invited.
Is my work going to continue to be a bombing of question marks and unpredictable situations and schedules? Yes, it will be. I am highly skilled and I don't burn my bridges, unless they have it coming, then I blow that sucker to the heavens, end of story. I practice mastery in my trade and it is my passion. People that carry themselves this way will always be in demand and will always be on complicated or specialty work that requires a practice of the highest standards and skill set. Like those before me that had the grit, the drive, the standard, and the intelligence to do what it takes to prevail over anything. Just like our past masters in Kung Fu.
Are my girls going to need me on all fronts at any given moment? Yes, they will and at the drop of a hat, anything else takes a back seat. Period. Is there going to be family triumphs and tragedies or an unquestionable presence that is going to take me away from work or Kung Fu? Is there going to be times when work or Kung FU is going to take me away from my family? Is there going to have to be sacrifices that will have to be made in order to achieve mastery in any of these three areas in my life and will the placement of priorities be shifted? Yes, there will be and sometimes it won't be pretty. Sometimes the sacrifice will result in failure, sadness, tension, absence. But the end result if there is success and an overall balance can continue, it will be the most awesome thing I could ever witness or be a part of. See you at the kwoon
Tuesday, 14 April 2015
Form Work
Form work is probably the most versatile and effective training tool available to a martial artist. It is an area where you can maintain and advance your physical and mental development in all aspects of your discipline. In other words you can cover a lot of your training at once. If you practice your forms daily you are improving your Kung Fu in a multitude of ways. Probably the most effective way to practice and begin to understand the six harmonies, external and internal, is through your forms.
Forms will help provide you with an understanding of the concept of center and how to channel your chi through your body. Techniques and flow improve greatly because your body and mind are working together in perpetual motion as you move from technique, to punch, to kick, to stance, fast to slow, weight distribution changes, etc. You will find the more you do your forms, the easier your curriculum techniques and one steps begin to flow and should come to you sooner. Coordination and timing, muscle endurance, strength, and flexibility improve and will only get better as you continue to maintain all of these factors.
Form work is the best way to troubleshoot your Kung Fu. The reason for this is it provides a completely transparent view to your stronger and weaker points or bad habits. For example; poor stances, incorrectly executed techniques, poor kicks, weak punches, flow issues, raised heels, lack of coordination, technique completion to grounded stance, six harmonies are not in sync, speed and timing is completely out to lunch, stance transitioning, powerless techniques due to incompletion, hand/eye coordination, ( are you looking for your attacker or at him?). All of which can be easily repaired through form work. The more form work you do the sharper your awareness becomes. Soon you will catch your mistakes and be able to repair them and improve your Kung Fu continuously. How you practice your forms is very important as well. What I mean by this is the speed as to which you do your forms. Slow and complete techniques and stances will help flow and the ability to time your whole body. In other words, get good before you get fast.
The bottom line is your form work is everything and if you maintain a daily discipline, you can be knocking down way more birds than just two with one stone. Forms must also be viewed as a journey. There is no end, so throw that thought to the curb. Perfection will never be reached. Just when you have something running smooth, something else will expose itself. That's what makes forms so cool. It's just my thoughts but forms are also the window to your own evolution as a martial artist, so don't forget to have a look, because that's you and where you're at. See you at the Kwoon.
Forms will help provide you with an understanding of the concept of center and how to channel your chi through your body. Techniques and flow improve greatly because your body and mind are working together in perpetual motion as you move from technique, to punch, to kick, to stance, fast to slow, weight distribution changes, etc. You will find the more you do your forms, the easier your curriculum techniques and one steps begin to flow and should come to you sooner. Coordination and timing, muscle endurance, strength, and flexibility improve and will only get better as you continue to maintain all of these factors.
Form work is the best way to troubleshoot your Kung Fu. The reason for this is it provides a completely transparent view to your stronger and weaker points or bad habits. For example; poor stances, incorrectly executed techniques, poor kicks, weak punches, flow issues, raised heels, lack of coordination, technique completion to grounded stance, six harmonies are not in sync, speed and timing is completely out to lunch, stance transitioning, powerless techniques due to incompletion, hand/eye coordination, ( are you looking for your attacker or at him?). All of which can be easily repaired through form work. The more form work you do the sharper your awareness becomes. Soon you will catch your mistakes and be able to repair them and improve your Kung Fu continuously. How you practice your forms is very important as well. What I mean by this is the speed as to which you do your forms. Slow and complete techniques and stances will help flow and the ability to time your whole body. In other words, get good before you get fast.
The bottom line is your form work is everything and if you maintain a daily discipline, you can be knocking down way more birds than just two with one stone. Forms must also be viewed as a journey. There is no end, so throw that thought to the curb. Perfection will never be reached. Just when you have something running smooth, something else will expose itself. That's what makes forms so cool. It's just my thoughts but forms are also the window to your own evolution as a martial artist, so don't forget to have a look, because that's you and where you're at. See you at the Kwoon.
Monday, 6 April 2015
Rolling with the Madness
Where to start. When asked where I am at currently with my training, my preparation for grading, my I Ho Chuan requirements, my recovery and almost any other thing you can dream up, you will receive this response. Me asking you to envision me holding all that is going on in my life in a box full of pieces from 14 different kind of jig saw puzzles. Then you will see me dump it all into a pile on the ground and calmly point down. That is where I am at.
My balance is completely off the scale, in fact, it's smashed into tiny pieces that I can't put together at the moment. The clock is ticking fast and I am all over the map with a jungle of loose ends I am trying to weave into something that will be sustainable in my life and my training. I have had more time away from the kwoon than most people have been away from home. A major injury and many personal challenges that have consumed a dump truck full of my time along with a crazy work schedule, has set me further back than I could have ever anticipated. Some have viewed my time away from the kwoon as a result of my injury as hiding and I should've been there to observe and be there in spirit for the team. I'll keep that response to myself. But I will say this much, I hide from nothing. Grading is coming fast and my knowledge of the curriculum is weak, my kicks suck, physical conditioning is below average, bad habits in my form work, a weapon form that is not complete and others I plan on bringing to the table have not been practiced. Lots of theoretical material that requires memorization, and five personal techniques that is a bunch of crap, it looks more like amateur hour than something from somebody at my level. Occupational demands are full swing and just when you think it will slow down, wham. While most of you where with your families or training or doing whatever it was you where doing this long weekend, I was in a hard hat, 12 hrs a day, everyday.
So some may see this as life, some may see this as impossible, some may see this as whining or excuses. It may appear as a justification to put off grading until November. It may look like an anger vent or me throwing out negativity. Well sorry sunshine, but sometimes what appears to be negativity is reality. As difficult as it may seem, all of this is opportunity. Nothing more, nothing less. What I am doing here is sharing a window into all that is going on currently and hopefully what I can do to make it better and get through all of this. I hold myself accountable to it all, because all of this is my own responsibility and a result of my decisions and how I chose to act on them. I don't blame anyone or anything because this is all on me.
I will continue to forge ahead and share my journey for the next few weeks. I possess a patient mind along with bullet proof determination and will. I have looked back to how far I have come and that alone has given me reassurance that I can do this. Despite all that is going on in all aspects of my life, I am grateful for it all and embrace this as fuel for my success and to better my wisdom. This is all going to make me a better person, a better Black Belt, a better Father and husband, and a bring me that much closer to being a master in my trade. It will strengthen my will and sharpen my wits. There are many people that have it far worse than I may ever see. I am walking into the Kwoon on May 2 with the intention to succeed and to me November is not an option. A strong mind and iron determination can get you through anything. At the moment that's the only thing I have that is ready. See you at the Kwoon.
My balance is completely off the scale, in fact, it's smashed into tiny pieces that I can't put together at the moment. The clock is ticking fast and I am all over the map with a jungle of loose ends I am trying to weave into something that will be sustainable in my life and my training. I have had more time away from the kwoon than most people have been away from home. A major injury and many personal challenges that have consumed a dump truck full of my time along with a crazy work schedule, has set me further back than I could have ever anticipated. Some have viewed my time away from the kwoon as a result of my injury as hiding and I should've been there to observe and be there in spirit for the team. I'll keep that response to myself. But I will say this much, I hide from nothing. Grading is coming fast and my knowledge of the curriculum is weak, my kicks suck, physical conditioning is below average, bad habits in my form work, a weapon form that is not complete and others I plan on bringing to the table have not been practiced. Lots of theoretical material that requires memorization, and five personal techniques that is a bunch of crap, it looks more like amateur hour than something from somebody at my level. Occupational demands are full swing and just when you think it will slow down, wham. While most of you where with your families or training or doing whatever it was you where doing this long weekend, I was in a hard hat, 12 hrs a day, everyday.
So some may see this as life, some may see this as impossible, some may see this as whining or excuses. It may appear as a justification to put off grading until November. It may look like an anger vent or me throwing out negativity. Well sorry sunshine, but sometimes what appears to be negativity is reality. As difficult as it may seem, all of this is opportunity. Nothing more, nothing less. What I am doing here is sharing a window into all that is going on currently and hopefully what I can do to make it better and get through all of this. I hold myself accountable to it all, because all of this is my own responsibility and a result of my decisions and how I chose to act on them. I don't blame anyone or anything because this is all on me.
I will continue to forge ahead and share my journey for the next few weeks. I possess a patient mind along with bullet proof determination and will. I have looked back to how far I have come and that alone has given me reassurance that I can do this. Despite all that is going on in all aspects of my life, I am grateful for it all and embrace this as fuel for my success and to better my wisdom. This is all going to make me a better person, a better Black Belt, a better Father and husband, and a bring me that much closer to being a master in my trade. It will strengthen my will and sharpen my wits. There are many people that have it far worse than I may ever see. I am walking into the Kwoon on May 2 with the intention to succeed and to me November is not an option. A strong mind and iron determination can get you through anything. At the moment that's the only thing I have that is ready. See you at the Kwoon.
Monday, 16 March 2015
Stage 2, Rev 1
Stage 1 of my years layout never really panned out and stage 2 is already lagging behind. As far as goals reached for February I came up short on just about everything except distance. I managed to walk a total of 60 km and did achieve 37 weapon form reps and 24 of each school form reps. I only achieved a solid 3 min horse stance with bean bags. This all came before I injured myself. I look at this is good though because I did all of this in a short period of time with the exception of the distance. I have been using an app on my phone to track my distance and this also helps to keep me moving. A while back I seen just everyday walking not really eligible to count towards your distance goal. But when you run out of training options you have to find something to work towards and get something done. I found utilizing this tool to be helpful not only towards my goals, but also helpful in my healing process. It kept me moving and engaged, but also motivated me to forge ahead.
Stage 2 of my monthly goals is going to have to be heavily modified. Lot's needs to be revised as my direction and focus has changed. Fail or not I am showing up to the kwoon on May 2 to grade and that's all there is to it. I don't care if I show up in a wheel chair, it's happening. I have changed my mindset from I am not ready or this does not meet the school standards; to ready or not here I come whether you like it or not. I tend to be very hard on myself and I set my standards very high. I do understand there is no such thing as perfect, believe me I get that. But I can't stand half effort or no heart or even go on to say no class when I do something I believe in. I understand now though, it's not my place to decide whether the standard is met or not. It's my place to show my Sifu's present at my grading what I've got and show the students of our school what it takes.
My work schedule was supposed to dwindle down after this past weekend of 12 hour shifts and float into a Monday to Friday rotation which was supposed to blend together quite well from now to the beginning of May. However, if you have watched the news today and have heard what has happened, you will understand it will be a crazy next while as we were faced with a major draw back. Fortunately, and ultimately, everyone went home and to me that's all that matters.
I have a big challenge ahead of me if I am to be prepared for May. I have to pretty much start at the beginning of my training and ramp up substantially if I am even going to stand a chance. Between my relentless work hours and life in general this is going to be tough. Good, at this point in my Kung Fu this might be just what the doctor ordered. Keep you in the loop as I go. See you at the kwoon.
Stage 2 of my monthly goals is going to have to be heavily modified. Lot's needs to be revised as my direction and focus has changed. Fail or not I am showing up to the kwoon on May 2 to grade and that's all there is to it. I don't care if I show up in a wheel chair, it's happening. I have changed my mindset from I am not ready or this does not meet the school standards; to ready or not here I come whether you like it or not. I tend to be very hard on myself and I set my standards very high. I do understand there is no such thing as perfect, believe me I get that. But I can't stand half effort or no heart or even go on to say no class when I do something I believe in. I understand now though, it's not my place to decide whether the standard is met or not. It's my place to show my Sifu's present at my grading what I've got and show the students of our school what it takes.
My work schedule was supposed to dwindle down after this past weekend of 12 hour shifts and float into a Monday to Friday rotation which was supposed to blend together quite well from now to the beginning of May. However, if you have watched the news today and have heard what has happened, you will understand it will be a crazy next while as we were faced with a major draw back. Fortunately, and ultimately, everyone went home and to me that's all that matters.
I have a big challenge ahead of me if I am to be prepared for May. I have to pretty much start at the beginning of my training and ramp up substantially if I am even going to stand a chance. Between my relentless work hours and life in general this is going to be tough. Good, at this point in my Kung Fu this might be just what the doctor ordered. Keep you in the loop as I go. See you at the kwoon.
Sunday, 8 March 2015
Throwing in the Towel......
Just like anybody, I have had my moments of knee jerk reactions. Unexpected
demands and unexpected events from situations that you don't see coming or your not used to dealing with will fuel the irrational thought engine with high octane. When one of the key components that work in unison with your personal mechanics suddenly fails, the remaining components must compensate. Each one of these components hold a different duty and when you try to continue as you normally would and impose something they are not compatible with, everything piles up and you cease to function correctly. Kind of like putting diesel fuel in your windshield washer reservoir. It will still work, but its function is pointless.
As time has progressed I have had the toughest challenges thrown at me in quite some time. One of the most important things in my life is my Kung Fu. I have been down with an injury and absent from the kwoon for various reasons, but have been trying to grasp other areas to remain engaged and continue to advance. This is where adaptability comes in. Well that can go only so far when the physical aspect has been forcibly removed and it was something that helped you along the way. You see the physical part of it is my escape. That is how I remove stress, maintain my mental and physical health, my ability to adapt. My balance. That's my dump valve for negativity, my mental equalizer, and one of my main sources of chi energy. It is one of my "Big Three" that I continue to pursue mastery in. I have lost my ability to physically train at a time where I probably need it the most.
My injury provoked an explosion of emotions the other day. They consisted of raging anger, self doubt, self pity, and despair. I have been trying to do whatever I can to keep things moving and to regain my strength and range of motion as my injury allows. Listening to my body and trying to remain careful and patient. I tried to do forms, combinations, techniques, all resulting in pain. I tried to do a plank and realized just how messed up my core is. From going to 4 minutes and beyond to a very shakey 30 seconds and an inconsistent pattern of healing put me over the edge. I thought to heck with this, I'm done. I have fallen so far behind and at this rate there is no way I'll way I'll be ready for May 2. All my physical training is deteriorating and it will take forever to get it back. Everyone is advancing and I'm sitting here eating dust. I'm going quit and who cares. I'll never get caught up and no one is going to miss me anyway. I'm never there and when I should be, some thing comes up that I have to do or deal with, or fix. To heck with all of this! What if I can't train anymore? What if this is permanent? This sucks so bad!
I stepped back and thought about my words and actions. I realized that' not How I roll and I cannot lose my mindset or my direction. This is a huge opportunity for me to make a tremendous leap of advancement mentally and physically in my Kung Fu. This is also a tremendous wake up call on the absolute importance to maintain a powerful and balanced core. Your core is everything, period. That is the source of all your power and stability, and mine will require a full rebuild and revised discipline. I just have to be patient and change my perspective. Quiting things that are tough have never been in my nature and this thought process is not welcome. It doesn't matter who or what it is, discontinuing to fight or adapt to find a way to bust through obstacles will lead you to a downward spiral. Quitting or avoiding things is a false sense of action, a distorted justification of well being. The issues will still be there and if you don't take them on, that regret will follow you around for the rest of your life. I'm not into that and so the journey must continue, regardless of the challenges. See you at the Kwoon.
demands and unexpected events from situations that you don't see coming or your not used to dealing with will fuel the irrational thought engine with high octane. When one of the key components that work in unison with your personal mechanics suddenly fails, the remaining components must compensate. Each one of these components hold a different duty and when you try to continue as you normally would and impose something they are not compatible with, everything piles up and you cease to function correctly. Kind of like putting diesel fuel in your windshield washer reservoir. It will still work, but its function is pointless.
As time has progressed I have had the toughest challenges thrown at me in quite some time. One of the most important things in my life is my Kung Fu. I have been down with an injury and absent from the kwoon for various reasons, but have been trying to grasp other areas to remain engaged and continue to advance. This is where adaptability comes in. Well that can go only so far when the physical aspect has been forcibly removed and it was something that helped you along the way. You see the physical part of it is my escape. That is how I remove stress, maintain my mental and physical health, my ability to adapt. My balance. That's my dump valve for negativity, my mental equalizer, and one of my main sources of chi energy. It is one of my "Big Three" that I continue to pursue mastery in. I have lost my ability to physically train at a time where I probably need it the most.
My injury provoked an explosion of emotions the other day. They consisted of raging anger, self doubt, self pity, and despair. I have been trying to do whatever I can to keep things moving and to regain my strength and range of motion as my injury allows. Listening to my body and trying to remain careful and patient. I tried to do forms, combinations, techniques, all resulting in pain. I tried to do a plank and realized just how messed up my core is. From going to 4 minutes and beyond to a very shakey 30 seconds and an inconsistent pattern of healing put me over the edge. I thought to heck with this, I'm done. I have fallen so far behind and at this rate there is no way I'll way I'll be ready for May 2. All my physical training is deteriorating and it will take forever to get it back. Everyone is advancing and I'm sitting here eating dust. I'm going quit and who cares. I'll never get caught up and no one is going to miss me anyway. I'm never there and when I should be, some thing comes up that I have to do or deal with, or fix. To heck with all of this! What if I can't train anymore? What if this is permanent? This sucks so bad!
I stepped back and thought about my words and actions. I realized that' not How I roll and I cannot lose my mindset or my direction. This is a huge opportunity for me to make a tremendous leap of advancement mentally and physically in my Kung Fu. This is also a tremendous wake up call on the absolute importance to maintain a powerful and balanced core. Your core is everything, period. That is the source of all your power and stability, and mine will require a full rebuild and revised discipline. I just have to be patient and change my perspective. Quiting things that are tough have never been in my nature and this thought process is not welcome. It doesn't matter who or what it is, discontinuing to fight or adapt to find a way to bust through obstacles will lead you to a downward spiral. Quitting or avoiding things is a false sense of action, a distorted justification of well being. The issues will still be there and if you don't take them on, that regret will follow you around for the rest of your life. I'm not into that and so the journey must continue, regardless of the challenges. See you at the Kwoon.
Monday, 2 March 2015
Caged Animal
This is pretty much how I feel right now. Chomping at the bit to charge fully into my Kung Fu and not being able to go to it's full potential has been frustrating. I have been writing and doing whatever I can do, but it hasn't been much. I feel like I am trapped in an iron cage and no matter how many times I chew, kick, punch, or bounce myself off the walls, I can't get out. Time is moving fast and a deadline to be fully prepared for grading is just around the corner. Working 7 days a week hasn't really given me an opportunity to heal properly but I am a firm believer that just sitting still is going to cause more damage than good. This particular injury has been one of the most weirdest I have ever encountered. Pain and tired muscles have been moving all over the place and has been very difficult to pin point indeed. The reflexologist that I typically see is relocating and is unavailable until the middle of the month. I have gone to see a chiropractor and it seemed to help some. I have been given exercises to try and found this to be helpful and I have a follow up appointment tomorrow. We'll see what happens.
I have been going through a lot of personal challenges lately that seem to be coming at me like a machine gun. One after another they come and one after another I sort them out. Keeping the perspective that these are opportunities that will make me a better person and make me that much more stronger mentally has kept me focused on achieving my goals and strengthening my weaknesses. This makes me that much better at Kung Fu and will make me that much better at using correct judgement and empathy to help not only my self, but all of those that may need help along the way. Maybe I'm wrong at this observation and practice, but for now, it's working for various situations I have been encountering.
Moving on though I have found other ways to stay engaged and when it is go time. I have a solid structure laid out that should serve me well. I know that I will have to start from the beginning slowly and work my way back up. That's just the way it has to be. Once I feel better and I am able to continue my training, I will proceed with caution. As much as I would love to charge back in wide open and make up for lost time, I cannot just pick up where I left off. This kind of stupidity will put me right back where I am now or worse. Yes, it's a downer but I chose to remain positive and keep my eyes and thoughts to the future and hold the vision of seeing myself where I want to be. I have been on the bench now for almost 3 weeks and have been taking notes during Sihing class and have been visually thinking of a new weapon form and going through all of my other forms, curriculum, and five personal techniques. I know what needs to be done and just how I'm going to do it. Now that my full attention is no longer required at home and in order to stay completely engaged and not lose focus, I plan on being at the kwoon as much as possible to observe and take notes while I am down. Even on the bench watching and taking notes can be just as important and as beneficial as physically participating. You have to take advantage of all opportunity's when your down in order to stay up. See you at the kwoon.
I have been going through a lot of personal challenges lately that seem to be coming at me like a machine gun. One after another they come and one after another I sort them out. Keeping the perspective that these are opportunities that will make me a better person and make me that much more stronger mentally has kept me focused on achieving my goals and strengthening my weaknesses. This makes me that much better at Kung Fu and will make me that much better at using correct judgement and empathy to help not only my self, but all of those that may need help along the way. Maybe I'm wrong at this observation and practice, but for now, it's working for various situations I have been encountering.
Moving on though I have found other ways to stay engaged and when it is go time. I have a solid structure laid out that should serve me well. I know that I will have to start from the beginning slowly and work my way back up. That's just the way it has to be. Once I feel better and I am able to continue my training, I will proceed with caution. As much as I would love to charge back in wide open and make up for lost time, I cannot just pick up where I left off. This kind of stupidity will put me right back where I am now or worse. Yes, it's a downer but I chose to remain positive and keep my eyes and thoughts to the future and hold the vision of seeing myself where I want to be. I have been on the bench now for almost 3 weeks and have been taking notes during Sihing class and have been visually thinking of a new weapon form and going through all of my other forms, curriculum, and five personal techniques. I know what needs to be done and just how I'm going to do it. Now that my full attention is no longer required at home and in order to stay completely engaged and not lose focus, I plan on being at the kwoon as much as possible to observe and take notes while I am down. Even on the bench watching and taking notes can be just as important and as beneficial as physically participating. You have to take advantage of all opportunity's when your down in order to stay up. See you at the kwoon.
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