July 1st. Canada day. Day 145 of the year of the Pig. Tomorrow. Demonstration day.
Back in our first meeting, this day seemed light years away. Farmers day, June 1st, still not really registering as being so near. Yesterday's practice, still days away. Now, it is 1 day away. Am I nervous? H@#L yes! Am I excited, surprisingly yes.
Maybe it is no coincidence that Demonstration and Demolition are so close to each other. Please don't take that the wrong way. Kung Fu and Silent River has taken me beyond on of my biggest phobias, talking/performing in front of a crowd of strangers/classmates. Never would I have thought that in the 5 short years that I have been with the school that I would be performing a demo in front of a crowd of people I don't know. How did that happen?
Like an hard boiled egg, kung fu has cracked my shell, demolished it if you like, taken it apart bit by bit. It has taken my arbitrary fear of self failure and replaced it with a new perspective on success and failure. I now understand that the only real failure is to not try in the first place. I now understand that success is to learn and grow from every failure. Failure isn't a bad thing, it is a stepping stone to success.
It sounds a bit funny but I know there are things that I will screw up at tomorrows demo, but I must demolish the fear of those screw ups and learn from them. Not to say I am planning on making mistakes, but, if they happen, I intend to learn from them and do what I can to see that they don't happen again.
Time to do a little demolition on self doubt and fear of failure and prepare for an awesome time at the demonstration.
No numbers this week, my focus is on THE DEMO!!!!
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero
So summer is finally here. Everything is green and flowering. The sky is blue, the sun is warm, the birds are singing, so now what? It seems like it took forever to get here and now that it is here, time for me to take stock as to where I am, what I am doing and what I need to get done before winter gets here (sorry for using the W word). The day's light is already getting shorter, the time available is already ebbing away. I have 6 major projects I want to get done this summer in our yard/house, I have completed 1. I know that getting all 6 done will be a major undertaking, both of money and time, but if I don't set a goal, how will I ever know if I am accomplishing anything? Life always seems to redirect my path/plan but that is okay, the alternative is no life. I'll take life and all it's squiggly, messy, chaotic, random, unpredictable, annoying or entertaining bumps it chooses to throw my way. Bring it on life, I'm ready.
This also applies to my Kung Fu. Our classes can be unpredictable, one day forms, next day grappling, next day fitness, next day sparring ( I miss sparring ), etc..... Am I complaining? H#$L NO! I love the variety, the randomness, the spontaneousness ( new word of my day, made it up just now ). I know the classes are way too short and there is sooooo much to try and squeeze in the short amount of time we have together, So I/we must turn on our inner super sponge/outer superman/superwoman and try to grab as much "class" time as we can. I have missed far to many open trainings on Saturdays lately, time to change that. Like summer, our/my time at kung fu/life is finite, it will run out eventually. I/we must take advantage of every chance, every moment, ever opportunity we can.
Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero.(Seize the day, put very little trust in tomorrow, re Quintus Horatius Flaccus )
Numbers
Sit ups 23441
Push ups 23385
Sparring 232 ( hasn't changed in a looong time )
1609km 1172.85km
AOK 621
Lion dance 1
Hand form 164
Weapon form 230
Personal Requierments
Summer is here, time to get these done!
Sunday, June 16, 2019
No Great Insights - Sorry
I have no real great insights the week, just random thoughts.
Here we are in the middle of June, day 130 of the year long journey, and I am feeling good about the progress I have made so far. Even with my morning routine being messed up because of a work issue, I am managing to still get my "numbers" squeezed in during the day.
I am really looking forward to our Canada day demo, maybe I'll even make it through my chuck routine this time and not go totally blank like Farmer's day.
I am liking the way the "group" is coming together, we are starting to talk to each other a little more it seems. We are sharing observations, ideas, and offering help a little more every time we meet, I like that!
That's about all I have this week, I am just enjoying where I am and what I am doing, simple as that. Peace and joy, success and progress to you all.
Numbers
Sit ups 22496
Push ups 22500
Sparring 232
1609km 1107.42km
AOK 590
Lion dance 1
Hand form 154
Weapon form 230
Person requirement
Progressing at a steady pace, feeling good about them.
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Limited time - Wasted time - Enjoyment Time
Some random thoughts................
The rain always seems to slow me down and lament the "time wasted" in my limited time here on this big blue ball. I love the rain, it is calming for me, life giving, peaceful, cleansing, necessary, and will happen whether or not I want it too.
After the rain, when the world brightens up and finally reappears, it is a catalyst for me. I can feel the pull of the "outside" calling me to come see what is new, what is alive, what is waking up after a dry spell. Thank you Mother Nature, I needed that.
I have been trying to read "Zen and the art of Motorcycle maintenance", a tough read for me, not really my kind of book. I usually read to escape thinking, this book doesn't allow that. I know it is a "story", I also know it is supposed to be much deeper than that. I can start to see where the book is trying to take me but..... am I ready and willing to go there?
It was a nice meeting yesterday for the I Ho Chuan, even though we all weren't there. I get the feeling that as a group we could probably talk for hours, I really like that. You don't get many situations in life anymore where you can sit down with a group of like minded individuals and just talk. The world needs more of that, just talking, not judging, not arguing, not blaming others for your short comings, just talking. Hearing that others are possibly having the same struggles as me makes me feel less isolated, less alone. Having a group such as you fellow students/instructors/classmates is a priceless thing. The guidance and advice provided by this group are a necessity I didn't know I was missing, now I look forward to every meeting, every blog, every class. Thank you.
Food for thought. Food for healing. Food for comfort. Food for life. Food for enjoyment. Food food food. I love to eat. I love good food. Some (most??) of the food I eat is probably not the best choice for me wanting to live a long, healthy life.
A few years ago, fellow students were posting recipes on Kwoon talk, we need more of that. I know I need to eat healthier, I know what I am eating is killing me much faster than I would like. So I am asking for some help from YOU reading this. State the obvious to me please, tell me what a banana can do for me, put out your favorite salad combo, tell me what is good for joint pain. I will guarantee that I will listen!!
There is sooooooo much crap information out there that I don't know who is telling me the truth and who is just trying to sell me something.
So please please please, it you have a healthy natural solution for ANY ailment out there, lets hear about it. If you have a meal that you absolutely love that you would like to share, tell me about it.
I need to eat better, I need to squeeze as much life out of life as I can, good, clean healthy will help me do that.
Numbers -Required
Sit ups 21401
Push ups 21745
Sparring 232
1609km 1025.7km (edited from last week - bad math on my part)
1000 AOK 561
Lion Dance 1
Hand form 134
Weapon Form 220
Numbers - Personal Requirements
Stalled a little but starting to move again. Life keeps getting in the way of the "free time" I use for these, need to rearrange the fluff to get more meat out of the day. All on me, I am my own boss/master so time to kick my own butt and get moving.
The rain always seems to slow me down and lament the "time wasted" in my limited time here on this big blue ball. I love the rain, it is calming for me, life giving, peaceful, cleansing, necessary, and will happen whether or not I want it too.
After the rain, when the world brightens up and finally reappears, it is a catalyst for me. I can feel the pull of the "outside" calling me to come see what is new, what is alive, what is waking up after a dry spell. Thank you Mother Nature, I needed that.
I have been trying to read "Zen and the art of Motorcycle maintenance", a tough read for me, not really my kind of book. I usually read to escape thinking, this book doesn't allow that. I know it is a "story", I also know it is supposed to be much deeper than that. I can start to see where the book is trying to take me but..... am I ready and willing to go there?
It was a nice meeting yesterday for the I Ho Chuan, even though we all weren't there. I get the feeling that as a group we could probably talk for hours, I really like that. You don't get many situations in life anymore where you can sit down with a group of like minded individuals and just talk. The world needs more of that, just talking, not judging, not arguing, not blaming others for your short comings, just talking. Hearing that others are possibly having the same struggles as me makes me feel less isolated, less alone. Having a group such as you fellow students/instructors/classmates is a priceless thing. The guidance and advice provided by this group are a necessity I didn't know I was missing, now I look forward to every meeting, every blog, every class. Thank you.
Food for thought. Food for healing. Food for comfort. Food for life. Food for enjoyment. Food food food. I love to eat. I love good food. Some (most??) of the food I eat is probably not the best choice for me wanting to live a long, healthy life.
A few years ago, fellow students were posting recipes on Kwoon talk, we need more of that. I know I need to eat healthier, I know what I am eating is killing me much faster than I would like. So I am asking for some help from YOU reading this. State the obvious to me please, tell me what a banana can do for me, put out your favorite salad combo, tell me what is good for joint pain. I will guarantee that I will listen!!
There is sooooooo much crap information out there that I don't know who is telling me the truth and who is just trying to sell me something.
So please please please, it you have a healthy natural solution for ANY ailment out there, lets hear about it. If you have a meal that you absolutely love that you would like to share, tell me about it.
I need to eat better, I need to squeeze as much life out of life as I can, good, clean healthy will help me do that.
Numbers -Required
Sit ups 21401
Push ups 21745
Sparring 232
1609km 1025.7km (edited from last week - bad math on my part)
1000 AOK 561
Lion Dance 1
Hand form 134
Weapon Form 220
Numbers - Personal Requirements
Stalled a little but starting to move again. Life keeps getting in the way of the "free time" I use for these, need to rearrange the fluff to get more meat out of the day. All on me, I am my own boss/master so time to kick my own butt and get moving.
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Good or Quick - Numbers or Quantity
Today's blog will be quick.
Trying to keep up my "pace" to get the numbers that I want has me at a crossroad. To get the "numbers" I want, I have had to modify my sit ups.
The proper sit up we do for our "fitness grading requirements" is very hard for me to do. I have an old tired hip ( RH ) that really hates sit ups. To do them the proper way physically pains me after about 25-30. Then it takes quite a bit of time recover and do more. So I have modified my sit ups to exclude my hip pain. This is getting me my numbers BUT I feel like I am "cheating" on my numbers. I do crunches, leg lifts and a standing style that I don't have a name for. I can feel my core muscles through out this and they do get tired BUT..... its not the proper way. Am I cheating or am I modifying to get the job done? My core is feeling stronger, my pants fit better, and I seem to be able to endure more of the core work we do in class than I used to before.
I would love to hear what others have to say on this and if there another style of sit up they do that doesn't make my hip scream at me.
Numbers
Sit ups 20049
Push ups 20385
1609km 1172.9km
Spar 232
AOK 532
Lion Dance 1
Hand form 123
Weapon form 203
Personal requirements
Moving along at a quick pace on some, not so much on others. One that I feel really good about is my "Major Projects completed" one. I seem to be more determined this spring/summer to get "stuff" done, and it feels GOOOOD.
Go team Pig!!!
Trying to keep up my "pace" to get the numbers that I want has me at a crossroad. To get the "numbers" I want, I have had to modify my sit ups.
The proper sit up we do for our "fitness grading requirements" is very hard for me to do. I have an old tired hip ( RH ) that really hates sit ups. To do them the proper way physically pains me after about 25-30. Then it takes quite a bit of time recover and do more. So I have modified my sit ups to exclude my hip pain. This is getting me my numbers BUT I feel like I am "cheating" on my numbers. I do crunches, leg lifts and a standing style that I don't have a name for. I can feel my core muscles through out this and they do get tired BUT..... its not the proper way. Am I cheating or am I modifying to get the job done? My core is feeling stronger, my pants fit better, and I seem to be able to endure more of the core work we do in class than I used to before.
I would love to hear what others have to say on this and if there another style of sit up they do that doesn't make my hip scream at me.
Numbers
Sit ups 20049
Push ups 20385
1609km 1172.9km
Spar 232
AOK 532
Lion Dance 1
Hand form 123
Weapon form 203
Personal requirements
Moving along at a quick pace on some, not so much on others. One that I feel really good about is my "Major Projects completed" one. I seem to be more determined this spring/summer to get "stuff" done, and it feels GOOOOD.
Go team Pig!!!
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