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.

The Cards your Dealt

This last while has been interesting and frustrating as a whole. I'm at one of those jagged peaks and valleys with water at the bottom of each, mud slides, and white out snow storms at the peaks. It can grate on you and leave you wondering what's next. This approach however will get you nowhere and it only stops you if you let it. Some where down the path is grassy fields and sunshine, you just have to aim for it and go.

The last few weeks has been taking care of a situation at home that is close to the heart and scary all at once. Moving ahead and adapting has brought that to an almost resolved state. A new job has been moving along not so well. Politics, weather, and a roll of the dice on what hours or days your working leaves your ability to commit to things pretty much impossible. One minute we are working day shift, next night shift, next tomorrow, next maybe over the course of the weekend, next off.... you get the picture.

Next issue, injury. A couple of days ago I was carrying something heavy and my foot slipped on the ice resulting in me jarring my lower back. This has pretty much halted all my physical training. Insert machine gun of profanity here. It's one of those back injurys that no matter what you do, pain will be involved in

So what now. Adapt and prevail. First things first, you can't control what happens around you, but you can control how you deal with things. Work, well it is what it is. Whatever shift or day I am working there is always the opportunity to get to the kwoon now that I am working at home. Morning classes, evening classes, open training, contact someone that has a key, train at home and utilize that training opportunity. This is easy to do if you want to actually do it. My attention and focus lately has been all put into my personal life, but along the way I managed to get in some form reps and training. Not as much as I wanted too but something. Incremental progress. I know the minute I let this slip, I will be right back to square one. Next came the injury, physical training is not an option at the moment. So I need to move onto the mental area of my training. I have to see this as an opportunity to use the down time to focus on planning, research ways to help heal quicker and what I need to work on to maintain a stronger body. I started segregating the curriculumn into what I know, what I don't know. What is going to take more time to relearn and what will be replenished in a quick review, write it down. What form needs work and where are my trouble zones, write it down. Sort out my training reps, what area needs more and which one needs less, write it down. Go through my theory and write down the ones I don't feel confident with my answer and put it on the web site. Write down and plan a balanced workout that will coincide with my monthly goals and keep my muscles strong around my joints and spine. Try to keep moving and start training again listening to my body along the way. Sitting completely still I think does more harm than good.

That's pretty much what's going on with me lately. I know right now the timing is bad but my back is starting to loosen up and my mobility is improving daily so thats a good thing. Just like seeing all things, good or bad, as an opportunity to make something better. It will only bring you down if you let it. See you at the kwoon

Year of the Challenges

It was a pretty crazy for me this year with numerous physical, mental, and occupational challenges. Family life took a beating, responsibilities on so many fronts waiting for me the minute I stepped off the plane and got home and then back to a very challenging project. Family tragedies, and not to mention going off the rails numerous times on the training locomotive. I felt loaded way beyond my physical and mental capacities too many times to count. I had people counting on me to be a leader, a family counting on me to be a man, a father. Teachers and people of support counting on me to come through on my commitments. I felt like everything in my life wanted to fight, one big circle of a beating was brewing. I say @#$* em! Bring it on, I'll fight until I can't. Once the smoke cleared a little and things began to get sorted out, life carried on as it always does.

 I felt like a complete let down a few times and other times I felt like a damn king. The low. Not grading this past year was a kick in the stomach indeed and I really didn't like how I had to tell the school that I wasn't going too. Over an email. To me certain things should be done face to face, and that was one of those things. For that I am sorry. But as most of you know where I was at the time that was pretty much the only option I had. One of the other things that I didn't particularly like was the public intentions that were never followed through. You can have the best intentions and ideas in the world, but if they aren't followed through, they are nothing but lip service. This is where I learned the importance of structure and the absolute necessity of segregating Kung Fu training to "my" time and no one else's. I tend to let things toss me around sometimes and rather than let go and reset, I hang on and fight it. I need to alter this approach for sure.

The high was applying my Kung Fu to all aspects of my life and every single challenge that came at me and prevailed. Kung Fu has taught me to see all things as opportunity's or to discover the answer to any problem or situation by seeing the balance of everything. Every single thing has a balance, and every problem has a solution. The only way to succeed through anything is too keep a clear head and clear mind. Kung Fu has taught me to be adaptable and has helped me hone this skill on so many fronts and for that I am truly grateful. The other part was witnessing some amazing accomplishments of my team mates, good job to you all. All I can say is wow, that is just way cool! Other areas are all the things I did accomplish and I even feel quite good about the fails, because you learn when you fail and that makes you that much better overall.

There are many great things the I Ho Chuan has done for me this year. It has helped me discover and strengthen my weaknesses and amplify my strong points through engagement. I have come out of my comfort zone in a lot of ways and despite my absence I felt connected and engaged to the team. I hope somewhere along the way I have given something back to my team mates as they have given me so much support. Thanks to you all that helped me so much.  I now fully understand the importance of blogging and recording progress and fails. I set out to try to remain involved through my absence by publically recording numbers and sending videos of blogs and form work. This is something I will continue to use, because it works, and because that is what I said I was going to do back in July when I left for Yellowknife.
Looking forward to the year of the sheep and training with some new and old faces soon. See you at the Kwoon.

Stage 1

I feel the only way for me to accomplish what I am set to do for the remainder of the year and beginning a new year in the I Ho Chuan is to maintain public numbers. Throughout  the year this really helped to keep me not only accountable but engaged in the process of the I Ho Chuan, and from what I have seen it worked very well for others. So why not continue to utilize what works. As I said in my earlier post I am going to make my monthly goals public at the beginning of the month and post the results at the end.  I have my written journal ready and will continue to post my numbers on the web site. This is something I have to do because my discipline sucks and so does my ability to structure my training into a universal or adaptable practice. So here's what I have laid out for Febuary:
50 reps of each school form
50 reps of weapon form before banquet
10 minute Horse stance (with bean bags, if your going to do it....)
3000 kicks
40 km ran
Achieve 50 pull ups/chin ups in a row
Attend all open training sessions and work on curriculum and 5 techniques
Perform to the expectations of an I Ho Chuan member in the demo
Do mock Black Belt test at the end of the month and note results

So there it is, and you have all seen it. Now it's up to me to complete it.
See you at the kwoon.

Structure

I really suck at this. When it comes to work or other things that don't involve my own agenda, I can usually come up with a fairly streamlined plan that works out well. The reason? Because when I lay out a plan, I ask for input from those involved. I think of underlying circumstances or what will exactly be needed for success, and it usually works out well for all parties involved. Adaptability is key and I have learned to use this tool from many great people I have been fortunate enough to be involved with throughout my life. So what's the problem when it comes to my own personal world.

 Not sure, maybe because I neglect to completely comprehend that although I may think this has nothing to do with anyone else but me, I am wrong.
If you take into account the time all those around you have invested and stood along side of you and have given into your needs and have bowed to your demands of sacrifice, took the time to help and invest their own time to lend a hand and put up with the multitude of excuses one can throw out there. Not a damn thing you do as long as you are in the presence of others is ever yours. Every single person and every single event that is created or experienced causes a ripple effect. No matter what you think, you are never alone and what you do effects someone, some where.

That being said, I have done something that I have never done yet when preparing for a year in the I Ho Chuan. This was after conversation and advice from some of my mentors and friends who pull no punches and tell it like it is. I took the time to actually think and strategize a plan and structure for the year of the sheep. I mean really plan, not just submit a bunch of things and not even track them. The plan involves preparing for grading in May and maintaining engagement throughout the year. I have set goals for each and every month and as time progresses, so does the demand of my goals. My monthly goals and plans can be easily modified on the fly if change is necessary. By the end of the year I intend to have given something back to those who have not only been a tremendous influence on me, but to those that need influence as well. That's what it is all about and that is what is so cool about being given the opportunity to do so. To remove the me, the ego, to either light the damn fuse and witness the carnage or go home and hide from everyone, thinking it won't effect anyone. My plan is to post my goals at the beginning of each month and maintain a public record of my training and post my success and my fails at the end of the month.

One last note, I have read numerous blogs about absenteeism and the guilt of not being there throughout the year. Not participating enough, not doing this or not doing that. Let it go already. Think of what you have done, think of what others have done and being lucky enough to be on the team and witness and experience it all. Take the lessons learned and evolve into something even better than where you are now. Even if it didn't seem like I was there, I was always there. I am back home now and should be for a while. I am ready for whatever the team needs and if I'm not, I will be. See you at the kwoon.

From one Extreme to the Next

Well it's over and the madness begins. Hanging out in the sun eating food that is freshly grown and not messed with, training in the art of Kung Fu and being concerned about nothing else is coming to a close. Yes, reality has reached it's boney hand out and grabbed me by the throat. From +35 to -35 degrees C and beyond is awaiting my presence. I will return home tomorrow evening, sleep in my bed and then off to Yellowknife the following day for 2 weeks and back home. During this transition and everything that comes along with it, I hope to maintain the structure I have created. It's as regular as waking up in the morning and brushing your teeth. I stuggle with structure. I leave the starting line like a 1000 cubic inch, nitrous powered monstrosity of death, to a misfiring lawnmower with a missing wheel.
My approach will be different this time.... you'll see.
See you at the kwoon

Praise, Correct, Praise and Beat it!

There are many things I take with me out to the world from the kwoon and utilize it in other areas of my life. As I progressed in different aspects of work throughout my time making a living, I have been very fortunate. Fortunate because I have been lucky enough to work with many people with incredible amounts of knowledge and experience that absolutely love to share and take a unique approach and insure the potency of higher skills lives on. That and all the tricks that come with it. Although these tricks and answers never came easy. They had to be earned. You had to do the work and make the mistakes. Everybody is awesome in they're own way and these teachers allowed you to get your groove and expose your potential and your weaknesses. You were given the space to be comfortable, but you also had to be attentive and of course earn they're respect. They loved to see you get upset and try all kinds of ways to find a solution to your problem and watch you fail and learn. It builds character and I feel this approach broadens your life skills on so many fronts and keeps you interested and engaged. They didn't smother you and try to enforce they're thoughts and ways on you. They remained humble and never forgot you never stop learning because you'll never know it all. They had an eye for detail and always kept an open mind. They used the same approach I have witnessed with my most influential martial art teachers and that is, " praise, correct, praise, move on." Not only that, but when you actually see them work and practice their skills, it leaves a lasting impression. It provides an inspiration to do that much better, try that much harder, and a solid respect. To pursue and challenge personal abilities. I have practiced this approach with many different people and many different situations and it works very well. People have different ways of working things through both physically and mentally and I feel this approach maintains the balance and potency of limitless limits in people. I don't feel anyone has the golden key to the only way of doing something, no matter how skilled you are. I also feel that no one has the right to take away your ability to think and advance in your own way. There is always going to be a base for everything, that's a must. But how you elevate that creativity only comes from great teachers that give you the opportunity to try, fail, learn, create, and succeed. Praise, correct, praise, let them flourish.