Mental bubblegum

   As I sat here this morning and thought about what I wanted to blog about, I realized my mind was all over the map. Dozen of ideas, none worthy of print. I guess that leads me to where I am at right now. So many ideas, so many thoughts, so many plans, so little time. Being a 7 stripe brown belt, this year seems to have 1/2 as many hours as previous years. I know it is all in my head, I  know I need to prioritize my needs versus my wants. Problem is, I have fallen into the "where do I start " trap. Gumption, a little word I picked up from Robert Pirsig, I need more of this please. So I know blogging is a priority and I really do like blogging, so this is step one of my gumption for the day. Baby steps, one at a time, one foot after the other, etc.... Step two, get my numbers in for the day, step three, pick a task and DO IT! Ignore the anxiety that the day brings and work towards chipping away at the stone holding me back. Time to get a move on................

Infinite thought, the past is a great teacher

Nafudakake


   Admit it, who has heard of that before? Not me. But I'll tell you who, Master Brinker. 

   In live stream class #9, Master Brinker started to take us on a tour of the Kwoon. I almost jumped up and cheered when I saw this. Yes!! I have been hoping for this for years.
   I love tradition, heritage, lineage,  the whos - wheres - whys, etc. So much greatness has come before us and yet as a society we seem to have forgotten that. We get so wrapped up in the now, in ourselves, that we just assume things will work themselves out, that someone else will "fix" it for us.
   The past is so important to the here and now and the future. Everything we have and know comes from someone in the past thinking and planning something. Think about it. Did cars just magically appear on the roads? Did the roads just magically appear from the Earth. Did the food you eat spontaneously appear on your plate, the phone in your hand, the Doctors treating you, the heat in your house, schools, space travel, etc......No. Greater minds than me figured these thinks out. All the knowledge I have comes from the mind of the collective past. Mathematicians, Doctors, Authors, Engineers, Farmers, Explorers, Teachers, the list goes on and on. But now a days if we need to figure something out, "hello Google", "hey Siri". What a cop out. We are letting someone else figure it out for us, using their mind, not ours. Imaging your world WITHOUT your computer, start to think for yourself and feel your mind grow. (insert sad face emoji here). Sorry, but the old guy in me started to rant and shake his fist and say "kids these days.....". Back to the point.
  
   How about the Kung Fu you practice?

   Where did it all come from? How did it get to our little corner of the world? Why do we practice the style we do? What do our badges represent? Why black,why "past masters", Why, why, why??? So many questions. I have spent years reading and asking questions, and believe it or not, the answers are all there to be answered, just ask the Masters of our school. Yes, by a real person, someone who has put mountains of thought into the answers before you can even think of them. Never be afraid that your question might be a silly one, as my Dad always told me, "there are no stupid questions, only stupid assumptions".
   Our school is steeped in tradition and heritage and lineage, everything possible is done for a reason, not by chance. Ask questions, explore your Kung Fu, be PROUD to be a part of THIS school.


P.S. My questions where rhetorical questions,  if I have an actual question I need answered that I can't figure out on my own, I ask!

P.S.S.  I am very excited for the rest of the journey through the Kwoon, got my popcorn ready, easy chair warmed up, eyes and ears wide open.

Derailed

   Okay, so maybe not a train wreck yet but the MoJo train is Waaaaay behind schedule. I compared my current numbers to last years numbers at this time and it was a bit of a shock. To much thinking about Kung Fu and not enough doing Kung Fu is all I can say. So many excuses, none worthy of mentioning. If I keep talking about it maybe I will do something about it, right? Let's hope so, no, check that, let's do so, not hope so. Here is a brief summary as of today, May 17, 2020 at 6am.


Numbers

Push ups        15661/50000

Sit ups            15100/50000

Sparring          493/1000

1609km          949.50km/1609km

1000 AOK      459/1000

Hand Form      315/1000

Weapon Form  273/1000


Personal Requierments

Juggling - comfy with 3, can't seem to do more, for now

Weight loss - nope

Spanish - nope

Complete major projects around the yard/house - this is where I am spending all my time, I am being a bit obsessive about this right now but Mother Nature is finally working with me and not against me so I must take advantage of this time. I must manage this time better so I still allow for Kung Fu time.

Flexibility - Sil Lum seminar with Sifu Becket - life saver!! I  could actually touch my toes last week! Thank you Thank you!

Kicks - moving heavy bag outside finally so this should "kick" into high gear.


   Well that is enough about that, time to do not talk.

But I thought

   Spring!! Sun!! Nice weather!! ABOUT TIME!! Now I can really focus on so many different things, Most importantly, our yard is finally usable as an outdoor Kwoon. This means space to do forms fully, not kicking walls or chairs. This means getting to freak out the neighbors when we go out and start swinging our weapons around and doing forms. This means adaptation..... waaaa?
   What I mean is our yard is not flat and our dog loves to dig little holes ( part gopher I think ). I went out yesterday and started to do Lau Gar, interesting experience. Marked my spot to start, got into the moment, started, then..... sidewalk ( trip) - gopher hole (stumble) - slight height change in grass (almost fell over backwards) - sun in my eyes.... grrrrrrrrrrr.
   But I thought this would be so much better!!! Outside, more room, fresh air, you know, perfect! But what is with all these obstacles?? Whoa, step back Don, think about it, are these really obstacles or are they opportunities? Am I stumbling and tripping because of the yard or...... am I over committing to my stances? Am I just doing the form or am I feeling the form?
   Time to slow the form down a little and "feel" my connection with the earth. To "feel" my footwork before planting, before sliding, before committing. I am actually now really excited to go out and adapt to this, what an unexpected opportunity to advance a little, thanks Covid!


P.S.

Number and recording of...

   I must admit that for some reason this year I am having a hard time keeping up with recording my numbers in my book. This is actually causing my a lot of grief. I know I am falling behind on some of my numbers because I am not "seeing" my progress and I am "assuming" my progress. STOP doing this Don! I get why recording my progress is so important, so here is my public kick in the butt for that, bad Don, get on it!!


P.S.S.

   Anymore thought on a Demo for the Tiger Challenge?
   My family and I ( I haven't told them yet, surprise family!! ) are going to do short videos on our hand and weapon forms so that if a techy person wants to compile these at least we are ready. We will try to keep them as short as possible like last years demo, about 45 seconds or so.

Examples of Mastery

   I'm going to keep this blog pretty short and simple.

   The 3rd paragraph of Mastery by Stewart Emery talks about not resenting the Masters in your life for their accomplishments and successes but to learn and grow from them.
   This past couple of weeks, various members of our great school have been posting about their "green thumb". From gardens to decks to re-purposing items to home made chocolate, absolutely stunning!
   This has left me to wonder, why not me, how did they learn to do this, what is stopping me from doing some of this earth friendly self improvement and involvement?
   Time to get off the bench and LEARN from these great examples, they have planted the seed in my mind, time to let it grow.


Go team Rat