Blind to the obvious

I have to admit I really didn't understand the valuable tool of a hand written journal when it came to my Kung Fu. I thought the real way to my Kung Fu is through hard work and discipline; blood, sweat and tears. Just do it. Why would I want to sit and write about Kung Fu when I can go beat my heavy bag or keep doing form reps or practicing with my weapon. But after starting to log my daily/ weekly requirements it made sense. How else can you really improve something if you don't step back and break things down on paper. My hand written journal was very vague and not a lot of attention to detail. For example I would write down said requirement and just simply a number. I have to be more descriptive and record what kick or form I'm working on and what problems or improvements are occurring and why. Where is the problem in my side heel thrust that makes them so difficult for me. What advice or example or improvement have I consulted or experienced and recorded on what date and for what form or kick. None, just a number and catagorized under kicks. So as of now I write down exactly what I am doing specifically and what feels right and what sucks. While I did a couple of reps of da mu singh I noted my flow with the dragons whip transition into the spinning back kick, my center was off and I rose in my stance. My high back stance is unstable due to lack of flexibility in my hips. Then when I stretched I worked on my hips and legs and recorded it under my stretching minutes and specifically why. As the quest for center and improvement carries on I now have references to specific details of my own account and what problem solving tools have I used or have been taught by my Sifus and piers. After these thoughts finally penetrated my thick skull and broke through my cast iron wall of stubbornness, I felt rather foolish for not seeing the advantage in the first place. Hence, Blind to the obvious. Until next week.
Brian Chervenka