Ten years. March 1, 2014. That is my actual time frame actively learning the 2000+ year old Martial Art of Kung Fu, and I haven't even scratched the surface of the vastness that is Kung Fu. Sure I have loved the Martial Arts my whole life, but from the sidelines mostly as an observer. A dabble here, a try and see there, never committing until I started at Silent River Kung Fu. And that brings many feelings to the forefront of my mind. Here is something that currently occupies my mind.
First and foremost is teaching. What am I passing on to those around me? Are my words and actions truley what I want others to see and learn from me? In particular, the kids classes. When asked to lead a class of any sort I go into full on panic mode! I try to fine tooth comb every move and every concept. I know this is impossible and the class will and must change to suit the moment but still I plan. I draw up diagrams, I write summaries of my objectives, I discuss my plans with those around me, but I feel it is never enough, how the other instructors do this so easily baffles me to this day. I know time and experience will help me with this immensely, but I am not a patient kinda guy. I want perfection NOW!! 😄
Come crunch time in class I feel the presence of Mastery looking over my shoulder critiquing me. Am I teaching a school objective or a Don objective? Do these coincide in any way with each other or have I ran the class into a abyss that only I understand? Am I falling into the "do as I say not as I do" category, man I hope not!! I really hope the young students are getting out of this what I am getting from them trying to follow my "lesson".
What I mean by all this is, as I teach I learn. Their reactions to what I am telling them to do shows me what I actually understand about what I am teaching. Every victory they make I make, every error they make is mine to own, mine to learn from, mine to correct, utterly humbling.
So what is my legacy I ask myself? When I am gone, does my incredibly limited knowledge of Kung Fu die with me? As I age (we all do!) this starts to take the forefront in my thoughts. Not only do I ask "where am I, what am I doing", but I have added "what will I leave behind?". This causes an urgency in what I do. Average is the death blow to legacy, as the Tragically Hip once said "Besides, no one's interested in something you didn't do". https://youtu.be/4mXuHL_uxhU?si=lx6fArTvh74TdA1l
Just yesterday while babysitting my granddaughters I covertly asked some questions of the oldest of the two. To my delight, I saw Maisy's face twist with thought. We where talking about kicking and punching and I told her I learned Kung Fu to learn how to kick and punch so I would never have to actually kick and punch. The look on her face was priceless. Maybe she thought I was off my rocker or maybe, just maybe, I gave her a nudge into her first step of learning the ancient art of Kung Fu. That right there could be a tiny or huge piece of my legacy.
So I pass on what I have learned and I learn about what I am passing on as I pass on what I have learned. I strive to do justice to the lessons I have learned so Kung Fu has a chance to live on to the next generation and so on. I try every day to live the life that a Kung Fu lifestyle demands, which is both easy and hard at the exact same time.
And if you are reading this blog please do the same. The true spirit of Kung Fu can only live on if it is passed on.
P/UP 16047
S/UP 15795
SPAR 450 min (unchanged)
1609 KM 839.65km
AOK 780 recorded
HAND FORM 250
WEAPON FORM 240
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