Understanding the Mechanics

I've always been one that needs to know and understand the mechanics of just about everything I see or use in my day to day life. In my mind I open a window and unfold the subject into a huge schematic with multiple views to watch all involved work in unison to help me understand. I can turn just about anything into gears, linkages, drive pulleys...etc. What makes it work, how does it work, and why does it work the way it does? When things fail or malfunction, what part of the mechanism is causing this and what part needs to be replaced or modified in order to function properly? What part of this structure do I not understand and what source do I need to consult in order too? All of these questions and stand points have been applied to my training on and off through out the years. But as of recently I have advanced further into the understanding and discoveries of Kung Fu as I venture forth on my journey to the level of black belt. I am not just seeing it as knowing the forms or techniques, or just simply throwing the kick or punch. I am seeing the whole thing from where my brain sends the signal, to all action followed through to completion and it's effects. I guess you could say I'm advancing further into the depths of Kung Fu and it's mechanics and it's effectiveness. The last two Sihing classes I have attended was a huge wealth of knowledge and technical advancement towards my understanding and applications of training. Simple things with high results and the opening of a window in my mind has already changed my approach and has increased my ability to troubleshoot and improve several aspects of my Kung Fu.

The weekly challenges I have been doing are all part of a plan to tackle my trouble or weaker areas. Starting from the hardest or larger problematic issues to areas that just simply need polishing. For example the spinning back kick from a bow stance has been an area of frustration and one of my weaker areas. By focusing on the mechanics of this kick I have discovered why I am thrown off balance and struggle to remain stable. Rather than raising the chamber straight up to the chest to remain centered, I am swinging the chamber away from the body which in turn throws my balance out and the leg is already partially extended. This partial extension increases as I continue to spin, by the time I am in the correct position to release the chamber I am thrusting the kicking leg further than necessary throwing me further off balance. Another discovery which is effecting all my kicks is returning to the chambered position quicker with more control. As much work as I have put into this kick, it still needs much more. Through everything though the biggest issue I have noticed is failing to reclaim center through the execution is a big one for not only this kick in particular, but everything else as well. But that's another blog. See you at the Kwoon.

Efficiency

Efficiency is a practice that should be utilized in just about everything we do whether it's a mental or physical action. Proper diet and hydration is important for us to accomplish anything for that matter along with another huge factor we all seem to abuse, rest. Without proper eating habits, hydration, and rest, our bodies and minds become weak and sluggish; inefficient. So along with this thinking brings me to the conclusion I should attempt to become a vegetarian for a month or two once the Farmers Markets open up for business. Clean fuel needs to run through me in order to be a machine. As does water. To keep this in check one of my goals this year was to consume 1000 liters of water. Aside from this there is another component that is imperative to this complex machinery.  With the help of my wife, my blood will be tested at the end of the week to see exactly what I am allergic too and I can take action to help my body recover or at least relax my autoimmune system and it's attack. This is one of several areas that I am changing in order to reach machine level.

 Time moves quick and it seems we are always trying to find more in order to accomplish all the things we chose to take on to support our quest for knowledge and physical advancement. But it is also not just about time. It's about how we use our available time for max efficiency when we don't have an abundance at the current moment. I try to do a few exercises in one rep. Squats from a horse stance, while executing kicks. With this I am working on my horse stance, core, crane stance muscles, and proper engagement with the kick. I have been using some ankle weights with a few reps and in doing so, I try to hold the leg up for a few seconds at kick completion to build those little guys in the hips. That's just one of many I have been working towards modifying in order to make efficiency happen in my physical training.

As far as mental efficiency goes. it's amazing how much more fun running is when you have your memorization work or curriculum coming through your headphones, that is coming from your phone, that is tracking just about everything you need to know about your running. You can also blast music or pull the plugs and just take in nature. Stimulating the mind is imperative for overall efficiency as well. So there is another area that you can do and accomplish so much with one action. Efficient training and time management. So that's where things are at for now. See you at the Kwoon

One Step Forward.....

What a great way to start the long weekend by our monkey team completing our very first challenge with success. There was a lot of awesome stuff going on there that night and I look forward to see what I witnessed evolve even further throughout the year. Regardless of how you may feel about your performance, everyone was great. Especially considering this is only the rough version. Imagine how you are all going to look in another month. With this kind of skill and advancement this gives our team many more opportunities and drives the potency of the I Ho Chuan higher and higher. Good stuff indeed.
For my own form the final result was down to the wire because of illness. I'm happy with what I have for a base and once I get more of the footwork mastered and incorporate the kicks I decide on, I think it will be one of my better forms. Some of the techniques will have to more defined and complete stances, but at least now I have a form to start recording reps and move forward and continue to balance my training overall. I really like these weapons, too much fun.

I had a little of a mid month stall in my physical training because mother nature decided I needed a cleanse whether I wanted it or not. It's been sometime since I have been that sick or have ever had a stomach virus to that level. All I can say is that I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I am grateful for my health though, as there are others in my place of work that are still at home and are on potent antibiotics. I did go see a doctor though just in case and I'm glad I did because I knew there was more to all of this. I have become sick more often this year than I have over a lengthy period of time. Why is that? Because my Thyroid medicine is not working which is leaving it vulnerable to my autoimmune system attacking it. Not good. So between an increase in dosage and the direction of diet and different herbs and foods from the reflexologist I am seeing, things will improve I'm sure. The stupid part of it all though is my stubbornness to change. I was directed to change my diet for 30 days and reintroduce different food to find the allergen and help my body. Instead of doing this, I looked at it as sacrifice, that and I love all kinds of food. Well not all of it, I have grown to stay away from a bunch of things that I know are not good, but I am not overly picky. Getting back to the point, I thought I would take the easy way and just get a test done that will tell me exactly what it is. Long waiting list and trouble getting away from work was my excuse, meanwhile, I am becoming more and more susceptible to illness and permanent damage. Idiot. So the diet it is and hopefully I can find out what the problem is sooner than later.

I was progressing very well until all of this came about but that's the way it goes sometimes and the show must go on. While down I reviewed my progress and tweeked my plan because for a change, I am recording my training. Not 100% yet, but an honest approach is there. It's amazing how much progress you can lose in just a couple of weeks but I use it as inspiration to get caught up and exceed the previous month instead of dwelling about what was. Form advancement is coming along well and my side heel is getting better. More curriculum review has to come into play and I'm enjoying fitness advancements, weight training, and combinations. I plan to set some goals for the month of April and see what I can pull off. I almost have all my numbers tallied for March and will be posting them soon. That's about it for this week, happy training everyone. See you at the kwoon.

Slow, but Steady

Well so far things are not coming along as quickly as I would like but moving forward just the same. I have been working at several aspects of training but mostly forms, kicks, and our required version 1.0 that is due very soon.

My weapon form is moving along rather slowly at the moment. It always takes me a little while to create a form as the focus is on mainly the technique and familiarization of the weapon. The mechanics if you will. Then I work on incorporating the stance with said technique, moving into transitional flow. This all takes time as your center and grounding with the multitude of techniques available, will be altered. So choosing the the proper stance for whatever it is you are applying is paramount. I have a pretty good feeling about this weapon choice though as it is posing difficulty and that usually means the choice is solid.
I have chosen to do two weapon forms this year because I don't want to leave progress behind and I am hoping to use this as an enhancement towards my overall weapon training experience. I am continuing the Long Axe as I feel I have finally created a good solid base with that weapon and now I have something to work off of. That form was probably Version 9.4, but I feel it was worth the work. I am hoping by the end of the year I will have that form evolved even further and the "Twins of Death" right up there along side of it.
I have made some excellent progress in two forms I am currently working on. I struggled with hip engagement in Loa Gar for some time now, but after consulting a Sifu on the mechanics of the Loa Gar stance and being shown that it is more of a rotational power, I now have my hip engaging involuntary and I actually feel the power and flamboyance of the form and techniques/settling of the stance. This form is starting to flow very well and I'm starting to actually feel the energy. So this is a good thing. The other is Long. There are certain areas in that form where the stance transition into the next technique has been wobbly and the timing has been way off. Again, after consulting with a Sifu, a lot of it had to do with body mechanics and timing of the arms to begin and complete the transition and settle into the stance.

Aside from that the rest has been working on kicks upon kicks and all the maintenance that goes along with it. I have been working on squats to increase my power when throwing kicks from a horse stance and using ankle weights to increase my power to get the crane stance up higher as well as incorporating them into regular kick reps. This is going to require some attention because I am terribly guilty of not taking the time to stretch properly. I also haven't managed to get in as much Qi Gong as necessary. So these two things are some of my target zones for sure.

I have begun to see a reflexologist again on a regular basis and even after one session, I can see positive results physically and mentally. I have began to remove some things from my diet and feel good results from that as well. I plan to do some serious changes here and clean up the fuel my body needs.

I am also slowly making progress towards combo work and implementing weight training into my routines. I figure if I can get this all moving forward even if they are all at different levels of progression, it won't matter what life throws at me, I will always be moving forward and my ability to adapt to it all will become effortless effort, and that's just cool. See you at the kwoon.

Switching Directions

I gained at lot of opportunity these last few weeks in the form of assistance and knowledge, along with lot's of homework to get on top of if I wish to see my training and skillset become solid. Solid enough to where my training base for this year, and years to come, has opportunity for continuous improvement and longevity to the art. I sometimes feel all I have done is continuously circle the opportunity, but never feeling full confidence in the decision to take it. Situations of life was commonly used as an excuse not to move forward, but most of the time it was my stubbornness of not meeting the level I feel should be presentable at grading. A detrimental approach by holding the mentality that it is all or nothing. Long story short, I have obviously taken it upon myself to walk the longest path in order to move forward and succeed in overcoming a giant block I have thrown in my own path. I feel that now is the time to smash that block and leave the worn out path behind. So that's what I will do.

I had the opportunity last I Ho Chuan class to finally pull out the twin battle axes and see just what they could do and how I was going to make them do it. I think I am really going to enjoy these, I feel like I could smash a building down with them. But they are going to require some adaptability because they are short twin weapons and they are heavier than any other twin weapon I have trained with previous. So I researched the "Twins of Death" in order to find out what I could about them and discovered some valuable information. I read an article loaded with techniques, single and double offense, and common stances that have been used for sometime. What I didn't see much of though was blocking techniques, so I will have to make my own and utilize some of the advice I was given at class. I'm really looking forward to building a form with this weapon choice.

Other than that I am working on improving my daily discipline and have a lot of homework to do in all aspects of my Kung Fu. This last while I have spent at the kwoon has been awesome. We have covered some really good basics which in turn helps me focused on my training. There's more to this but that's another blog. See you at the kwoon.

One Cool Night

That way cool banquet lastnight was an incredible showing of where hard work, discipline, and adaptabilty can take you. Each candidate , with unique situations and outcomes, still forged ahead and represented determination right up to being promoted to Black Belt. I can honestly say I feel privilaged to have trained with each of you at some point, you guy's are awesome. Congratulations as well to our Black Belts promoted and our Sifus' and students being recognized for hard work and dedication to they're training and others.

Seeing and hearing our charity representatives and what we are able to do as a school instills pride for sure. It reminds you of where we come from, but also what it takes to create the opprotunity. A student body showing awarenes and earning support for others in need is a very solid example of true Martial artists.

The lion dance and dragon dance was incredible. You guys looked amazing and performed flawlessly. Nice work. Given the opportunity to be in a lion was a fun and a proud part of the evening, seeing little feet run beside you and guessing where our   next move is always keeps it fun. I felt very privilaged and proud to be of the I Ho Chuan team and it's demonstration a well. Seeing everyone from where  they stratde to where they ended for the year cannot be desribed but simply held with admiration and respect. You guy's looked great and displayed your skill to make a great demo, way cool.

The whole experience was incredible from the time we set up to the time we hung the last lion on the wall. The whole day was a calm atmoshere, I think the calmest I have ever seen anyone for that matter on a Chinese New Year Banquet. It rolled and moved along like a well oiled machine. It was also the one of those rare times when I was about do my weapon form and I was calm. The weirdest part though is where I went after the first block, I went into a battle zone and the only person there briefly was me, one of those very cool moments for sure.

It was good to see and talk to others I haven't seen in a while and to just be part of the whole thing. Bringing a close to the year of the sheep is filled with excitiement because  now we begin another year. I think the year of the monkey is going to be another great year training with awesome people and doing extrodinary things. Thanks again to the team and all of those involved that made the night spectacular.

One last note, I'm glad that a tragedy never occurred for a senesless and shameful act, I hope all is well.

Perpetual Motion

This kind of flow is what I hope to ultimately achieve over the next few months in my training. I hope to move forward not necessarily to the extreme or the relentless, but working towards the consistent and the effortless with lasting and steady improvement.
I spent some time again on the years plan and I am hoping this one will work out better than the previous. I honestly don't think it was lack of poor planning or intention on the previous thoughts. Nope, it was not only lack of discipline, but no consistent follow through either. Things look awesome on paper, but if you don't build and run the motions, it means squat.

I have a very basic, and I feel at the moment, an adaptable plan, just simply devise a training schedule and use the curriculumn as a guide. Between using the curriculumn as it is meant to be used for, the complete "How to become a Black Belt manual", and the I Ho Chuan process, it should work out awesome. I just need to remain consistant and be at the kwoon as much as possible.

I have days of the week designated to certain aspects, Techniques, fitness, form work, are all broken up and spread across the week. I will still have daily maintenance to keep moving forward, and numbers posted at the end of each week. I'm hoping soon to get off of this 6-10 schedule so I can attend fitness class and use the opening training time. These two classes, aside from Sihing class, are going to be a crucial part of this plan. Fitness class will tell me right away which areas of carrdio I need to work on and open training will offer a chance to work with someone, or for review, correction, sparring, etc. This will help if I get very busy during the week and because I will be left with something to work on or improve on.

Having said all of that, my greatest challenge at the moment is achieving a better self discipline, better at using training time efficiantly, and asking for assisistance when I need it. Keeping my focus narrow and changing my approach and follow through. I'm using the month of Febuary to experiment and begin training myself to what I have laid out. I'm hoping over the next few weeks things get better here. Time will tell. See you at the kwoon.