Mixed Bag of Goodness

   Lets start with parent/guardian participation week. OMG! This was so much fun. Seeing the dynamics between students and parents was amazing. You could see and feel the student not just kick it up one notch but kicking it up ten notches! The din, the engagement, the sweat, the smiles, it was more than I could have ever hoped for or even expected. The surprised look on the parent faces when their child put them in an arm bar, priceless. Watching the students fervently trying to teach their parent what they know made me grin from ear to ear till my face hurt and my voice raw from both laughter and shouting encouragement/instructions. So a massive shout out to those who organized this, I am sure there was plenty of stories around the dinner table by both students and parents after this marvelous event. 

   Next, Deb and I received a little surprise at the tailgate party yesterday. One of my co-workers has three very sweet younger children. Every game they come over to our spot and enjoy a pop/water and whatever happens to be on the menu (especially the cookies). Yesterday they gave me/us something I will not soon forget. It caught me by total surprise, I could feel the tears of gratitude welling up inside me. Receiving this type of gratitude so unexpectedly warmed me to my core. The sun felt warmer, the sky looked brighter (through my tears), I was almost overwhelmed. My god I needed this!! I can only hope to someday give someone else this kind of kindness, the world needs so much more of this. 

Push Ups  11795 

Sit Ups  11183

Sparring  580 min

1609KM  1370.69 km

Acts of Kindness  1325 recorded

Hand Form  380

Weapon Form  375

Mastery recited 35

Adjust and Go

   Yesterday's demo at the Good Samaritan Center. 

   Being able to adapt to the room size in basically the blink of an eye proved to me that we have a good team. Sihing Kohut led us through the moves and wowed the crowd like a veteran. No broken limbs, no knocking anything over, no close calls with the audience, just a good solid Dragon dance. Congrats Dragon team.

   My mind has been very scattered lately. I have fallen into a whoa is me funk. I know it is a vastly busy time of year for me and there have been outside forces making it dramatically more challenging than usual but such is life. I'm not sure why I have changed my way of dealing with adversity but I am endeavoring to return my mindset to previous more successful ways of dealing with stress. No, stress is not the right word, stress as a word/ideal for me is too watered down. Let's say challenges. I need to pick this apart and prioritize what is important to me. My Dad used to say to me "don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things".  Sage advice, miss ya Dad.  

Push Ups  11295 

Sit Ups  10683

Sparring  530 min

1609KM  1324.62 km

Acts of Kindness  1230 recorded

Hand Form  375

Weapon Form  365

Mastery recited 35

Ready to Leap, Right on my Face

   Young Dragons class Tuesday. Warm up. One partner stands in a horse stance, other partner stands behind you and throws a ball between your legs, you spring after it to catch it before it rolls to far away. At least that is how it is supposed to work. My "team" was short a person for the final round (race) so I figured I would jump in and make the numbers even. Ready, set and ....

   I learned a lesson here. I was all ready to spring forward after the ball, wound up in a deep stance and all attention forward. My partner tossed the ball and .... it hits my leg and goes off to the side wildly. Well unfortunately for me, but to much enjoyment of the Young Dragons, all my energy was ready to go forward and the sudden change of direction showed me my error, dramatically. Stumble stumble and splat. Not even a graceful shoulder roll or break fall, just Grandpa falling flat on his face. Ouch. That was a kick right to my ego, as it should have been. I wanted to go sit in a corner and hang my head is shame, what a display of what not to do. Only bright side was I got the ball and managed to get up without any further embarrassment.

   So what did I learn? Was it adaptability? Was it Wusin? Was it to act my age? Not 100% sure here. I know it effected my Kung Fu for the rest of the week, I was now hesitant to commit fully to a move, even ones I thought I knew. I started to overthink everything I was doing. So in a really really round about way I guess this was a good thing. It showed my ego that it was getting a little to big for my head. I was/am not in the moment. I am anticipating the "next" move  before finishing the one I am on. 

   I know this is a huge problem with my Kung Fu and this was a glaring reminder that my intent was inappropriate for my ability and skills. Hard one to swallow. Guess my ego was in need of a dressing down. 

Push Ups  11295 

Sit Ups  10683

Sparring  530 min

1609KM  1289.69 km

Acts of Kindness  1220 recorded

Hand Form  370

Weapon Form  363

Mastery recited 35

What a Day

   Yesterday was one for the ages for me. As a few of you probably know, I am a huge CFL fan. Well yesterday I had a day like no other. Me trying to put into words what an experience it was would not do it justice, so I'll summarize.

    It started with a brunch/silent/live auction at the Expo center. The people, the excitement, the entertainment, all over the top. Passion for the team was everywhere, everyone there was there because they love our team. A few times I was on the verge of tears because of the commitment I felt coming off people, absolute pure passion. I needed this. The world is shiny and new again, there is hope out there, I feel renewed. 

   Then there was the tailgate party before the game. A cherry on top of the best dessert I have had in a long time. People were excited to be there, I was excited to be there. Such a good time, but wait, there is more....

   Game time, suffice to say it was a game to be remembered for a long time. Wow!! Yes we won, yes it was exciting, yes the weather was perfect, but the crowd, oh the crowd, it was like it was 2005 all over again. Loud, energetic, even a wave (at least an attempt to get one going)! No it wasn't a sell out but that was the biggest crowd I have seen in a really long time. Gold, pure shiny glowing bright gold. 

   Anyways, I write about this because of an ideal that was front and center yesterday, passion. That is what I felt yesterday, not just from me but from thousands of other people. Their passion fed my passion, my passion hopefully fed their passion. It was a snowball rolling down a snowy mountain. It started small but grew and grew till it was unstoppable. Again I say, I needed this. 

   I wake up this morning feeling this passion paint everything around me with it's glorious brush of good. So I'm going to go do some forms, I'm going to see my Mom, I'm going to spend time with Deb and Kody and my pup Bailey, I am going to let this wonderous feeling wash through me and guide me to do good today. 

   I hope you find a little bit of passion today and enjoy it for everything it is worth. 

Push Ups  10995 

Sit Ups  10383

Sparring  530 min

1609KM  1246.31 km

Acts of Kindness  1220 recorded

Hand Form  345

Weapon Form  355

Mastery recited 35

10 Days

   I have had the last ten days off work and it went by in a blink. Back to school week, yard renos (my yard), family time, Bailey time, relax time, recharge time, poof - gone. And I loved every second. My training took a hit, no doubt about it, but both my physical state and my mental state feels recharged and ready for whatever fate brings. So I'm looking forward to getting back to classes and reconnecting with everyone.

See you on the mats....

Push Ups  10895 

Sit Ups  10283

Sparring  530 min

1609KM  1196.45 km

Acts of Kindness  1220 recorded

Hand Form  345

Weapon Form  355

Mastery recited 29

Radley Ibsen

Dan Jones

Jason Porter

Hadley Smith-Jansen

Mikayla Smith -Jansen

Michele Ward

Calvin Ferchet

Non IHC classmates who took the time to participate in the back to school week.

Push Ups  10895 

Sit Ups  10283

Sparring  530 min

1609KM  1196.45 km

Acts of Kindness  1220 recorded

Hand Form  345

Weapon Form  355

Mastery recited 29