Healthy Meals 10

 hello sorry my blog is a bit late i have just been really sick lately i just found out that i have bacteria ammonia it is not as bad as ammonia, but it still sucks, But here is a meal it is not much but this is all i could come up with right now in my current condition


5oz lean pork
1 apple 
1cup brown rice
For veggies you can just use what ever your into, i personally like mushrooms and a little bit of onion, but because of the apple it makes thing taste a little different 
For spices i did not use any since this was my first time trying apple in a dish like this so if you want to try go right ahead.






Sihing Langner

A Kung Fu Family

I have had quite a bizarre last couple of weeks.  I have, in my training, gone from low to high in a matter of days, and find myself trying to figure out how.  I had my battle with the boards which left me with the feeling of defeat and then a week later I had this incredible change of attitude and feeling that I can’t explain.  I expect and am familiar with the anxious, worrying feeling, however, this calm and at peace girl, I didn’t recognize.  I hope she decides to stay! 

After leaving the demo last Saturday with unbroken boards in my bag, I spent two days preparing for Monday.  These two days were without anxiety and dread; I was even able to get two good night sleeps without dreaming about boards out to get me (and yes, some of the boards did have legs).    I enjoyed my time with my family without feeling distracted by thinking about what went wrong at the demo.  After kids were in bed Saturday and Sunday, and on Monday after they left to school I gave my attention to focusing on what went wrong and what I was going to do to fix it.  When Monday evening came around I saw only boards.  I felt calm and determined (only a little shaky).  What a difference a change in mind set can make.

I have over the last 6 years heard ‘kung fu family’ mentioned repeatedly.  I can’t honestly say I fully understood that until this last week.  Saturday, when I walked away with two of my boards still in one piece, I was congratulated on the ones that I did break.  When Monday rolled around and all four boards broke, there were genuine smiles and congrats from everyone, even a few texts and emails that night, just like a family!   I feel very privileged to be a part of such a group of people. Because we are all here with similar goals, we can truly understand the significance of an achievement like this for a fellow student.  Thanks everyone!

 

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Resting Near a Park Bench

I briefly raised my head, assessed how skippy was doing then dropped my jowls into my paws and returned to rest.  My owner sat on the park bench beside me, a flint of hope in his eyes, overshadowed by reality that I was not going to retrieve that tennis ball.

Skippy was running to and fro, it appeared his owner had now taught him to hold a treat on his nose and on command he would flip it into his mouth.  Hmmm, if the snack is right there in his hand I say don’t risk dropping the treat, just snatch it out of his hand.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m a good dog, I sit on command, I walk diligently by my owner, and have been known to shake a paw every now and then.  But those were all things I learned earlier on, truth is, I’ve grown stubborn, a little stuck in my ways, and just a lot tougher to teach new tricks.

I like the Kung Fu attitude.  Constantly reminding myself that mastery is the process of mindful attention to detail, continued persistence, hard work and dedication.  But how do you start a new trick when the mastery process hits a giant wall of stubbornness, habit, and good old lack of talent.  Do you flog along on a process hoping that eventually you will get it, or cut your ties and find a better way of doing things.  This is a talent in itself.  The ability to know when the horse has passed on, and no matter how large the spurs, he ain’t movin. 

Quite often I hear fellow students say they have these AHA moments when working at a form or a technique and all just seems to click into place.  I have to say, those moments are very rare for me.  More often than not, I stay persistent and gradually work into a groove.  The process always seems very slow for me, and rarely is the result of a one day revelation.  Sometimes the process is so gradual I can’t recognize if there has been a change at all.  Have I improved? How do I know?

Switch the nunchuks to the left hand and try that spin.  Ahhhh, feel that searing goose egg on the back of your head?  Your right hand used to be that poor.  Sometimes this is the revelation I need.  Sometimes an instant reminder of how far you have come can let you know if the process you have been following is working.  Another example would be video journaling.  I am really starting to see the benefit to Sifu Playters process of using video as a form of digital journaling.  Firstly video has the obvious benefit that you can pick out problems, but; video also can act as a record to see if the process you have adopted is working.  Compare your video journal today from one you took a year ago.  The revelation or ‘AHA’ moment is right there!  If it isn’t, you may be spurring a dead horse.

I think video is something I don’t use enough of.  Moving forward, I think I may use video as more of a tool to reconcile the process in my martial arts training.  I see this as rolling into one of my personal challenges for the upcoming year of the Snake.  Let’s see where this goes.

Until then, back to resting near the park bench.  I wonder if Skippy knows I confused his chew toy for a fire hydrant.  Guess he doesn’t know all the tricks.

P.S. – In answer to Sihing Langner’s challenge last week, in case it is a little dark, the photo is of me completing pushup’s on a SABER TOOTH CAT!  Yaaah!

http://vincekrebs.blogspot.ca

Playing with the Guys.

I attended the sparring class again tonight.  I learn so much every time I attend that class.  Tonight I not only got some sparring time in and learned from my experiences with that, but  I learned some new things too.  Tonight I learned how to judge a san sou fight.  That was kind of cool, but a bit confusing too.  There is a lot you have to remember when judging one of those.  It was interesting, and I was excited to step out of the box, and experience something new like that.  I also learned how to do a couple of traps.  That was kind of cool too.  Not sure that I would ever feel confident enough to use one, but I think I'd like to try.

The guys that attend that class always amaze me with their spunk, their energy, endurance, courage and skill.  Every time I am there it takes me back about 12 years when I used to love sparring.  I had more courage for it, and I gave it my all.  Grappling was one thing I liked the most.  Times have sure changed, and I have gotten older and more careful.  It surprises me the difference that 12 years makes, as far as the changes to ones body, and health.

Another thing that I enjoy watching at this class is the interaction between the fighters.  They go full out and fight hard, and some times they even get hurt.  Yet, they all have such good sportmanship towards one another.  They are always supportive.

I am quite tired from a long day by the time the sparring class rolls around, and it is often hard to talk myself into staying.  Every time I do though,  I am grateful that I did. 

MIA or AWOL?

I never realized how much I let myself get distracted. During the demo last Saturday, I had to force myself to refocus several times, after a stray thought went through my head or when I noticed a book title painted on the wall or when I glanced at the other demo-ees and started oohong and aahing. When this happened, I noticed myself speeding up and had to consciously slow down. This tells me that I practice too fast too much, and I'm reverting to what I've taught myself to do. Bummer. But, I didn't have to improvise the last half this time! Step in the right direction at least.

Now, switching gears about 180 degrees- I just wrote and deleted a very blunt paragraph regarding the attendance, or lack there of, at the last I Ho Chuan class. It was sharp and to the point and I took it out because... well because it was sharp and to the point. So, to get to the point, where is everyone?

http://dogsthinking.blogspot.ca/

Snake Team

I will be part of the I Ho Chaun team this coming year, the Year of the Snake. I am excited and nervous after yesterdays meeting. I know what the level of commitment needs to be and life is hectic as it is right now. That being said I looked back on the year that I was preparing to grade for black belt, the test itself and then the preparation for the banquet. My school schedule was much more demanding at that time, I was at the kwoon almost as long as it was open every day and Sundays. I don't know how I did it, but I did. I made it through 3 years of UBBT previously. So yes, I can do this. I am looking forward to coming up with requirements, I feel like I have more freedom now to really tailor this for myself and all my wonderful injuries. 

In the last 3 years of my life I have had more personal growth than any other time in my life. I can attribute this in large part to being a part of the UBBT teams. I have accomplished so many things I thought I couldn't do and learned a lot about who I am through some spectacular failures as well. I finally got the courage to go back to school and its been one of the best decisions I've made for myself. I worked this summer in a vet clinic and I loved it. It cemented the fact that this is what I want to be doing and it's wonderful to feel passionate about my career.

Now I want to take my kung fu career in the same direction. I admit when I started working after school and since starting school again my training has dropped off. I always said I wouldn't let that happen but here it is, so now I'm going to fix it. So excited to be part of the team!

Our little rescue dog is doing great. He has adapted wonderfully to being a tripod. There have been some rough times when he falls, and he got home and was like Bambi on ice with our laminate flooring. The runways of area rugs around the house were not ideal to say the least, Adrien is in the process of tiling the main floor so he can walk around the house. The dog clearly has us all wrapped around his fuzzy little paw. Till next week everyone.
Sifu Andrea Prince

Blog page

Eaarth

I've been reading a book this last while that both bothered, challenged, depressed and inspired me. Its called 'Eaarth', and basically it pulls no punchs to let us know exactly where we are with climate change, pollution, and carbon emissions. The reason its called 'Eaarth' with 2 A's, is the world we have now, is not the stable earth we have always known. Scientists are now saying we've passed the threshold, and the changes are WAY faster and farther reaching than we thought. Its not an easy book to read, but something I think we all desperately need to. I dont want to share the whole book, but one thing that stood out to me was how its the small, local groups that are affecting changes for the better, not our goverments that are so hooked on growth that they'll ride that horse to the ground, even to the detriment of our world. Its groups of neighbors learning to conserve energy, and going around the town to share this knowlege. Its small groups working together to eat more locally--shorten the food miles, encouraging local farmers. Its new ways of producing food--or perhaps I should say OLD ways with a new twist--small farms, not the massive mono-crops that are controlled by a few, and are poisoning us even as they grow, with chemicals and hormones and genetically modified crops And more personally, its small groups of diverse individuals coming together to help make the world better, to raise awareness by being examples, and not being afraid to be seen. Like I Ho Chaun. I'll be honest--this book scares me for my own future here on earth, not just my children and grandchildren. But perhaps by facing the fear, like we do in our demos and board breaks, and still being willing to do something--even if its just raising the awareness of those reading this--maybe we can make a difference in our physical world too. Perhaps this is a battle worthy of the martial arts; the battle for our earth. Its available at Chapters for $5, in their discount section or feel free to borrow my copy if you dare.

Preparing For Round Two

This morning started off early.  Off to hockey, rush to the kwoon, off to the library, back to the kwoon for a meeting, shopping for Christmas boxes, stop at the pet store (came back with two fish, don’t know how that happened) and then back home to spend the evening with my boys.  As exhausted as I feel, somehow I haven’t been able to fall asleep, so here I write.

Today I made my first attempt publically to break my boards at the demo at the library.  I was not successful.  The weird thing is, I’m not feeling the same defeat and frustration I felt, this time last week. All afternoon and evening I have been thinking about a comment that Sifu Brinker made at todays I Ho Chuan meeting.  He was talking about the importance of a public journal, especially making our failures public.  Ouch!  For someone who isn’t a fan of getting up in front of people anyway, being up front for everyone to see me fail was kind of hard to swallow (especially knowing there was evidence on tape).  This comment really stuck with me all day.  Its so much safer to fail in private.  If we never take a risk we won’t get past those things that stand in our way.  If we let the fear of failure keep us from trying things or think we need to keep trudging on our own, how is anyone ever supposed to know when or where we may need help?  Yes this is our own personal journey; however, we are fortunate to belong to a school of encouraging and empathetic fellow students and instructors who are there to help when we hit road blocks.  I have experienced this firsthand the last week.  I had to bottom out before I was willing to admit where I was, but when I did I was met with encouragement and advice, and I thank everyone for that. 

Some people may see reaching out as a sign of weakness, but I disagree.  I think it takes honesty and true strength to admit that things aren’t great, that we are struggling and that we need help.  I have also come to the conclusion that it is what we choose to do with those ‘failures’ that determines whether they truly are a failure or just an opportunity to try again and to grow in the process.

So here I am with the ‘opportunity’ to try again.  I will probably watch the video over and over to see what went wrong and what I can change to make my next time a success.  I am still disappointed but I have to admit I have learned a lot from this.  I have discovered that yes, I can break a board and that no, it doesn’t have to hurt.  I have learned that I can’t and am not willing to give up.  I have learned that I can’t let a failure in one thing take over the successes I may have in other things.  Isn't it through our mistakes and failures we sometimes learn the most?  So I prepare for round two!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Journalling

 Journaling

 We watched a show(Nova -Science Now) about brain power (it also had a cool part about how your brain grows when you learn to play the piano) and how journaling really helps reduce anxiety and can decrease the chances of choking during high stress moments. They did a test and had high school students, who were interested, journal prior to a big test. The ones that chose to journal did much better on their exams than the ones that chose not to. The journals were not elaborate and only depicted how they were feeling at the time. The students stated during interviews that it helped them calm down prior to the exam. Imagine the reduced anxiety we would feel if we journalled prior to our kung fu tests?
I found this show very interesting and educational. I usually blog each week because it gives me an opportunity to reflect on my week, my progress and my kung fu. I did not consider that it helped me relax and stay focused. When I was younger, I used to journal to help me through troubled times, to explore my feelings and tangled thoughts. I think that I am going to increase my journaling to include a private daily journal as a means of staying more focused and more in tune with my thoughts and feelings.
Those are my thoughts for this week

http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/

I Ho Cuan Class

I thought it was a good class tonight.  I have done hundreds of reps of loa gar over the past months, and I learned some new things about the form that I need to work on.  Sifu Brinker says many of us need to make proper cat stances.  When I tired the form with proper low cat stances, it felt so cool.  I think it looked much better too.  It felt . . . . good.  Staying high on my side kick is another thing I have to work on.  I will try to put these things to work tomorrow in the demo.  I am excited for the demo, but nervous at the same time.

We also learned a lot about board breaking that I thought was very useful, and interesting.  There were lots of things that I never thought of before.  I am cheering for those that are breaking boards tomorrow.  It is a tough challenge, especially in front of a public crowd.  I know they can do it.

I was happy to see sihing Jerke at class tonight as I haven't seen her for awhile.

I was disappointed to see so many members of the team not in class tonight.  It just isn't the same without them there.  It's like having a family gathering with only some of my kids there.  Not that the members of the team are my kids, but they are members of the team, like a family.  I know that people have other commitments that I do not have, and I try to be forgiving, and understanding.  It still bothers me as I know that they are missing out, and I am missing out as well because of their absence.   I fear this makes me sound like I am better than the others, but I absolutely do not feel that I am.  I just worry for the team.  Also, with the demo tomorrow and not everyone there to practice, it makes me a bit more nervous than usual.

  I can see that vision of what a strong team can do for the school as well as what it does for each of us.  That vision blurs when our team is not a whole.

No one said it would be easy

Friday, October 26, 2012 I don't know where to begin. I have left this blog linger far too long and it became an albatross around my neck. Kung Fu has been a big part of my life and who I am that leaving it behind had a huge impact on my view of who I am and what I have become, I read your chatter on the my emails and feel so detached from everything. I miss being a part of everything and everyone. Every day I ask myself "how can I reconnect with you all and how can I inspire myself to continue." Silent River is made up with great people. The building is just a reflection of how you all feel. Like a church is just a building without it's congregation, I think the same applies to Silent River. So my big question is "is any body listening and if you are throw me a life line please." I watch a lot of classes on the web cam but something is always missing. The interaction between us and the connection with each other.This is really hard. I have been trying to practice on my own and with no feedback or someone beside me, well it's hard. I was doing a lot of walking, but even that has become limited. Randy is back on the road again and I do not feel safe leaving Lacey in the house alone while I'm out. I am home schooling her this term so where I go she goes except she doesn't like walking. I know I have to get out and do something. We just moved into a golf course community. so I am going to gather my courage and see what they have to offer. Golf.... well I'll never know unless I try. I imagine they will have something to start with, something Lacey and I can do together. There is miles oops, kilometers of paved trails to bike ride on and I know my dog needs the exercise, not me of course, ha ha. or swimming although the water is a bit cool now, but once I get going it warms up. So I guess I do know where to start I just need to push myself once again out of my comfort zone. It will have to be next week though Lacey is down with the flu/cold this week and doesn't have the energy to leave the house. I know excuses excuses. I made a promise to myself as soon as she's well I will try something with the golf course. Wish me luck P.S. I so do not miss the SNOW !! Posted by linda shipalesky at 8:48 AM No comments:

Panoramic View

I'm back from the Mane Event horse show in Chilliwack and with any show there is always reflection as to how the show went. The one aspect that stuck in my mind was Sifu Brinker's "how does this (usually meaning Kung Fu) serve you?" I pasted that thought onto the show and thought about how it truly serves me. The knee-jerk reaction is to say that the show serves to sell my wares and haul in wads of cash thereby needing a Brink's truck to haul back my fortune. Truth be known, that's not usually the case so how does the show really serve me?

First of all, the show serves to promote me and my wares with the intention of selling, but the selling may not be taking place immediately. I keep my ears open for ideas and opportunities as well as networking as well as just plain old fun. A couple of ideas did come across my path and both are well worth venturing. One idea was presented to me with the accompanying explanation of "no one makes these and I've been searching all over for them." That's worth my venture. So that's the obvious show service, but there's a couple more underlying reasons that are actually more important: it's an excuse to connect with Dennis's side of the family (show + visit) and it takes me away from my usual surroundings so that I can get a good look at what works, what doesn't, and where to go from there. Hence, where fortune really lies.

Over the past few weeks I have stepped back from my training due to both a rotator cuff issue and hitting a cement wall in my training. Have I quit? Not at all, I took a step back to clear my head and to get a good panoramic view as to what was really going on (the trip helped here immensely). Here's what I found. My 3 values (creativity, discovery, and discipline) are from where I am to be living my life from, however, I was living my life from 2 (creativity and discovery) and discipline was lacking. A side note: discipline means willingly and continually going forth with focus towards my goals, it does not mean driving forth at all cost. I took a further look at my glass and chocolate and saw that I lacked clarity in where I wanted to go and what I wanted to achieve. Basically driving around in circles, fun for a bit, but gets old real quick. First step: get clear on what I want and where I want to go in these areas. As for Kung Fu, I know where I want to go so what's the hold up? Ah!! Here's the discovery: pushups and situps are routine for me and can be inserted wherever in my day, but kicks and forms aren't so those need to be given a defined time-slot with the same commitment as my classes. I need to draft up a schedule that includes a time-slot for my glass, chocolate, form and kick training, Kung Fu classes, and time for both me and Dennis. A schedule with structure that also has flow to it.

In order for me to see what was really the issue or issues at hand, I had to take a step back (or in this case drive out of the province) to get a good look at where I was and what's missing. Now that I know, I can and will proceed with what works and what needs adjusting. Rinse and repeat.
Sherri Donohue
Hot Torch, Room Full of Glass, and a Kung Fu Kwoon

Focus with Heart

I spend a lot of time trying to develop focus. Working on focus. Enough focus and I should be successful at my goal.

What I have come to realize ….its not enough to have 100% focus, speaking for myself. I can stare at something and empty my mind and kick out all the distractions but I find myself needing something more.

Purpose.

Why ?

Visualize.

How?

The beginning..as it happens…and how it should end.

You could call all of that focus but I break it down and come up with focus with heart.

Where this is useful for me is applying this to something where I have a mental block, a barrier or a fear of.

 Board breaking and demonstrations both have the same focus issue for me.

I can have a mountain of focus but if my heart is not in it…nothing spectacular happens.

Obviously, last week’s demo has made me turn attention to my focus, or lack of focus that occurs from time to time. Last week’s demo served to be a great purpose as I looked upon the faces of the people in the Seniors home. It warmed my heart, and there it was … heart.

 A special thanks to Sifu Kichko for arranging the demo at the Seniors home and giving me 28 seconds of purpose!

update

I haven`t posted in a couple of weeks, I`m not sure what to post about these days. 

Things a have been crazy busy and I have given Kung Fu very little time.  I`m still able to push out a couple hundred push ups and sit ups daily but that has been the extent of my commitment to my training and the I Ho Chaun team (sorry guys, you guys did an awesome job on the demo).

I went through and read Mastery again this week.  I`ve been trying very hard to find a comfortable balance in my life with all my commitments.   Reflecting on Mastery, the more I surround myself with individuals that are liked minded (municipal government) the less I`ve surrounded myself with Kung Fu. 

www.wchoy74.blogspot.ca

There Were Butterflies in that Place, I Swear

The number one, most important thing in self defense is to stay calm. This was reiterated for me last Saturday during the demo. Not that I was in a threatening situation, but after watching the video of the demo you can see where and when I lost my nerve. At least, I can. The second half of the demo was strictly improv on my part- not that I don't know the Tai Chi form, but after I let myself get distracted I could not, no matter what I tried, find my place again. All of Sifu Dennis's words floated out of my head, everything about maintaining my high seat, how I need to shift my weight, keeping my upper body in sync with my legs. I was on survival mode only, and I have to say my survival mode is not pretty. Sorry Sifu Brinker, I was hoping to show you how far I've come.

But, ignoring me, I think the demo was a success. It seems to be getting good reviews, and even though we had a few glitches (what good SRKF demo doesn't) it seemed to me that the crowd was happy with it. I tease my students about paying more attention to the butterflies in the corners than to the instructors when they lose their focus. Besides me, no one seemed to notice the butterflies in that place, and everyone was on their game. Kudos, and thanks to everyone involved for making it happen. Because that's what we did- got up and finally made it happen.

http://dogsthinking.blogspot.ca/

Round trip

After a whirlwind trip this weekend I am home again and back to the grind, not that my trip was really a restful vacation. Aside from the usual not enough time to do what I want/need or see everyone I did make time to get to the kwoon. It was a great reminder of how the kwoon really does become a second home and how the people there are part of your family. Thank you to everyone for asking how things were going and genuinely caring about how things are going for me. It was also great to get in a few rounds of sparring.

The drive home was a bit of an adventure with everything from rain, snow, ice, fog and lots of trucks. Fortunately it is still pretty early in the season so I made it home in good time and after driving through the night was able to nap for a couple hours before going to my interview.

All in all a pretty hectic past five days. It seems something some things don't seem to change for me.

Craig Janzen
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

"Pistachio eh!"

 The cleaning lady was just doing her job when she found all the elements that spelled TERRORIST spread out over the hotel bed.   A letter outlining the details of a covert operation labelled “Pistachio”.  A book to learn the native language. Electronic video surveillance equipment.  A tasty snack for bribing authorities, and assassin training equipment!  No doubt she thought the Drumheller Spanish consulate could be in trouble.   

I wasn’t worried initially. As soon as I told the authorities that the mysterious package that arrived at the front desk was simply from a group of individuals that were united for a better cause, I am sure they would let me go.

OK, Operation Pistachio was not as dramatic as that, but its arrival affected me just as much.  For Sifu Rybak, and the I Ho Chuan team that was responsible for pulling this care package together, I can’t explain to you how awesome this was.  It could not have come at a better time.  The morning the package arrived I was greeted with 4 inches of fresh snow and blizzard conditions forcing a shutdown for the day.  I was miserable that the project would be delayed while I wait for yet another day away from home.

I never felt outside the I Ho Chuan group, but missing involvement in what the team is accomplishing, I often wonder about my connection to the group.  Receiving a care package as thoughtful as the one that arrived yesterday does so much for an individual.  It reinforces purpose, reminds of commitment, delivers encouragement, and above all, gives me a reason to feed Sifu’s video camera to the worlds largest dinosaur.

All joking aside, thank you guys so much for such a thoughtful care package, it meant a great deal to me, and really illustrates what a great group the I Ho Chuan is.  On another note, the demo looked fantastic, you all should be very proud!  To the Sihing with the wrapped hand and wrist...yes you know who you are...take care of that injury.

P.S. - I am nosing through my "Spanish for Dummies" as we speak.

The Feeling of Defeat

This last week for me has been a struggle.  I have been trying to prepare for and was hoping to complete my board breaking requirement at Saturdays demo.   I have spent an awful lot of time working on shields and in the air, trying to come up with combinations that feel good and will be successful for me.   Last week in our 5:00am practice I thought it was time to try a real board.  I felt I needed the confidence that I could do it and that if it went well, Saturday during the demo, breaking would be a breeze.  It didn’t work out as I planned.  Monday, I got through the board, but my knuckle didn’t fare so well.  Thursday morning came around and I thought, let’s try again with the other side of my hand and a different strike.  Needless to say, that went worse yet.  My first strike I tried to power through without technique.  The second strike was great, went through like butter, however, by then my entire hand started swelling almost immediately from the first unsuccessful attempt. 

As I headed home after practice I felt this huge disappointment and frustration.  I have been anxious and sidetracked with a feeling of defeat.  I want so bad to break those suckers and carry on but now I have hit a huge wall mentally.  This last week I have felt deflated and felt some of the “passion, vigor and vitality” sucked out of me.   

As I have thought back over the last six years, I have had high points and low points.  There are just those days when things go well and you feel like you’re on fire, and then there are the other ones, where you feel like throwing yourself in a fire.  One of my great lows was an absolute fear of sparring.  The two most frightening words I could hear were “gear up.” I had come to a point where I even had contemplated quitting kung fu (crazy words).   What bothered me so much was the fact that I loved kung fu and I really wasn’t prepared to throw in the towel.  So with many, many hours spent in our garage with my very patient husband and brother, I worked through it.  Today I have come to really enjoy and look forward to sparring. 

Like my sparring dilemma, I need to have a change in attitude.  This is important to me and not something I’m willing to give up on.  I am not going to say “I can’t” but rather “I haven’t YET.”  This is going to be a better week, bring on the boards!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Still Kicking.

(The picture is me as of yesterday night... still slightly chipmunk-ish.  But so much better than all the other days.  A picture is worth a thousand words right? )

Well, its day 4 after getting my wisdom teeth out and I'm still blown up like a balloon, but on the bright side . . . the swelling has finally started to go down.  Turns out I'm a huge wimp when it comes to stuff like this, so I'm not going into classes tonight at Kung Fu; I figured that I'd give myself another night of solid rest so that I can be back up on my feet for school tomorrow, and Kung Fu the rest of the week.  

I'm getting quite anxious to go back to the studio.  I'm bummed out that I missed the demo on Saturday, but everyone looked fantastic!  I'm proud of my teammates.  You guys really came together and pulled off a spectacular demo.  Congratulations guys =) 

http://www.kwonsiak.blogspot.ca/

Demo #3

I know I am not supposed to look at having completed my 3rd demo as one more thing to check off my list, but I am very excited at having completed them.  I know that this in no way means I am done doing demos, but still it is exciting for me.  When I started the I ho chuan, having to do 3 demos was like the nightmare of the whole requirement thing.  This one requirement stressed me out more than any of them.  But I did them, and I really had a lot of fun doing them too.  Well, maybe not actually performing, but being with everyone at practices was great. 

I have to admit that doing the dragon dance wasn't  really stressful.  You run around and perform as a team.  Doing the one on Saturday, wasn't so bad either, but my performance was short and sweet.  Doing my rope dart at the Canada day, was like . . . . there are no words.  It was kind of terrifying.  But I did it, and I learned a lot from doing it.

The thing that I really like about practicing demos with the I ho chuan team, is that everyone makes it so fun. Nobody points fingers.  Everyone supports, and cheers each other on.   I also really like working with a variety of level of belts.  I thought it was awesome to perform with Sihing Chessal on Saturday.  We only did it twice together before we actually performed, but we did great.  Well, I screwed up in one spot, but I think I faked my way through it pretty good.  I let a twinge of nervous take over and lost my focus for a second.  I quickly regained it, and finished pretty good.

I am kind of looking forward to another demo, and I know I shouldn't be sharing this with the rest of the world, but it's true.  The more I do them, the more it seems to get easier.  Not that I want to do demos in any great numbers, by any means.

demo vision

Hello everyone well our demo went awesome and the weirdest thing happen to me i was sick to my stomach and super scared to perform in front of  people. But when i started to do the form and do the five techniques with sihing Robinson  i gained, what i am calling, "demo vision". When  i started i know longer could see other people watching me or even the fact that i was doing it in front of people. It was like i was doing all of it with just me and sihing Robinson. I do not even remember people watching me do the form or the five techniques with sihing Robinson. even the bowing. It was like my body took over and i zoned out. It was not until the all of the demo was finally finished until i realized what just happen. To tell you the truth i really don't know what to call it, but it happen. All i know is that was the first time that i performed in front of other people and i was not scared or feeling like puking, i may have had some pre feelings of that, but not when the demo started, i was in another world, the world of kung fu.


Sihing Langner

Balance

The demo yesterday was amazing! It was so cool to be a part of and to kind of stand back and watch unfold. I think that the seniors really enjoyed our performance and have asked that we come back again with more to show them. I really enjoyed watching my teammates perform their forms, techniques and board breaks, I think everyone looked fantastic! I enjoyed preparing for this demo, although getting up at 4 am to get ready for work before the practice stretched my limits. Well, probably going back after work to teach and practice some more is probably what really tested my abilities. I still liked it! Mostly because everyone else was willing to do it too. I usually come up with these hair-brain ideas and no one else wants to do them, this time everyone said yes!!!
Once again it is the end of a long week and I am finding myself saying Hi to the family that I neglected all week. They never complain and are always supportive but I feel guilty when I spend more time at the kwoon than home and I am when I am here it is time to sleep. I know that it is about balance and this next week the scales will tip a little bit more towards normal, with no evening shifts and no extra practices, I might feel a little less stretched.
I seem to have picked up a head cold along the way, so I feel a bit rambley in my blog today and a bit sleepy, I will sign off for now.....
Those are my thoughts for this week. 

 http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/

MY ACTUAL BLOG!

Emotions and Egos

Another public demo added to the list and a memory of different emotions. Commitment. Getting together with the team at 5:00 in the morning and having everyone show up and give it their best at all demo practices. To create a demo in such a short time frame displayed a very solid and dedicated team to what it is we are trying to accomplish. Excitement. When everybody is getting ready to perform, there is such a high sense of energy and its just plain cool to stand back and take in everyone doing their forms, adjusting and tweeking, putting their own personality and flow to them. Inspiration. You can't help but be inspired to do your best and that discipline is installed even when you are home or training with each other. The expectations are high and everyone is driven to succeed because as a team we are all counting on each other and want to do well for the representation of our school and the expectations of our teachers. Being nervous. No matter what mindset you use, this emotion is always present before any public activity. No matter what perspective you try to fool your brains with or how the butterflies in your stomach always amplify to elves with jack hammers, this emotion will always be present and labouring if you let it get the best of you. Although with a team and more and more public experience you achieve it does get easier. Keep in mind, everyone around you is going through the same feeling and they're pulling it off and so can you. Content. The comfort of knowing that you can approach anyone on the team for advice or maybe a relation to the trouble you are having or that little boost you need. The fact that this is a team makes it rewarding when you can do the same for someone else and being able to recognize that someone on the team may need your help but is not very good at approaching or saying how they feel and taking the initiative to approach. Pride. Witnessing all that took place and knowing you and your team were a part of it. By contributing a piece of yourself and the standard of the school. Looking around the room and feeling the energy of some truly wonderful and awesome people, not to mention extremely lethal. Disappointment. I really felt like I let the team down today. Everything went well with the exception of my board breaks. Sorry guys. Regret. I should have practiced my techniques more and took the little extra time to put the holders in the exact place required. Although I didn't stop and continued through, in my mind the word fail echoed through and the fact it was public left a sting. Humility. I have become, to a point, comfortable with the back up of being able to muscle through things. That failed me today and taught me a good lesson about not always relying on your physical strength. My ability to quickly adapt and just make it happen is great, but I think over confidence and ego impaired this ability today. One of the main reasons I try not to carry an ego is because an ego is fake and nobody respects an inflated ego and sooner or later it will catch you and it will throw you flat on your face. So as I said, the fact this reminder was public just reinforced my beliefs and was a great reminder to humility. You can't always be perfect, there is no such thing. Wisdom. Learning wisdom through mistakes is the true way to be successful and really be able to figure out what went wrong and what process is required to repair and a break down with an attention to detail in every step of your techniques to be solid and stick with you. Happiness. All in all after I managed to think things through, I couldn't stop smiling all day. Knowing what we did for those seniors today was what really mattered. I still see the smiles on their faces and I'm sure we really made an impact on their lives. I also can't stop smiling as I recall all the smiles on my teamates faces. Good job guys, you all looked awesome, and it was great to see team support from Sifu Bryant as well. Now where is the damn ice!
Brian Chervenka

I Ho Chuan Demo Team

My journaling topics seem sparse this week.

What has been on surface is the demo team. I agree with Sihing Lowery, 05:00 is a bit insane, but you guys have really lifted the bar. I have mentioned on a couple occasions how I have seen this team really come together as a team this year and I haven't seen it slip. The spirit and dedication that has been displayed is top notch. Sifu Wetter showing up to watch the practice at 05:00 is probably even more insane than being there to practice:) My hats off to all of you guys and gals!

Sifu Regier

http://darcyregier.blogspot.com/

Green Fields and Endless Squeak Toys

So the first of three parts of Operation Pistachio is nearly complete. I'm hoping it'll be received well, and helpful to those it targets.

The demo is coming along, I'm happy and pleasantly surprised that the song I choose worked- I was worried that it would crash and burn but everyone has been working hard and surprisingly understood my brain process when I tried to explain it at the beginning. Thanks for all your hard work everyone!

Tai Chi is coming, but I really feel like a whitebelt again. Its strange- in Kung Fu I can feel if my stances are off, I can understand what a move is trying to accomplish and I can self correct. In Tai Chi I have no eye for detail unless I look at my feet after every move to correct my stance, I have yet to identify the common fundamentals that flow through every technique. In Kung Fu, you can feel if something is wrong even if its new because these fundamentals apply. I can't in Tai Chi. Additionally, I've noticed that Tai Chi amplifies any problems that I have- the tightness in my shoulders affect all my movements, my center lifts in some movements, maintaining my high chair has to be a conscious, continuous effort, I have a problem with the harmony between my hands and feet. Ak. It reminds me of new students- you fix their bow stance, align their hips and they lose it as soon as the switch positions. They can't feel the difference yet. This is happening to me in the toyo (sp?) stance, and its driving me insane. Slowly, I'm developing a sense for the stance, but its been a rude awakening for me. But I'm excited also, because I am learning so much about the movement and the alignment of the body, so much that can help me in the rest of my training. So awesome.

On a bad note, our puppy passed away last night. By puppy I mean very old mutt, but I still remember when my mother and I bottle fed him and the rest of his litter mates. Goodbye Diesel, hope the raw hide is endless and the cats are clawless wherever you are.

http://dogsthinking.blogspot.ca/

Challenge 2

Well, in answer to Sifu’s challenge, I am blogging today about my experience of performing my form in front of someone not within the I Ho Chuan group, and receiving feedback.

My options are pretty limited.  Aside from a couple of equipment operators, the odd time a heavy equipment mechanic, and my dual personality, there really is very limited persons to complete this task.  Since I don’t like my alternative personality (always eats my snack food) I was stuck with the equipment operators.

So, me in cover alls, steel toe boots, hard hat and safety glasses completed Kempo on a very lumpy dirt site.  And from his perch on the D6, taking a deep long drag from a cigarette offered no criticism of sorts, just a simple question.  Where do you think your gonna use that?

Aha, he had opened up the opportunity!  No, not the opportunity to knock him off the dozer track with a flying kick, but rather the chance to explain how forms are instrumental in the practice of our style of Kung Fu. This led to a very good conversation regarding the martial arts with a person I originally pegged as having little to no interest in any activity whatsoever.

This was challenging because it forced me out of my comfort zone entirely.  It forced me away from being a closet martial artist.  Truth is, how can you make an impact, be an activist for anything, or influence somebody if you lack the confidence to just get out there and do it.

5 a.m....

Just out of the jumble of thoughts and impressions this week... 1. 5 a.m is really too damn early for anything! That being said, its been awesome training for the demo this week with the other insane people of this team. Thanks guys:) 2. I hate being pressured and yet need that pressure to push myself out of my comfort zone. I'm scared to death to try the board breaking, yet I think I need to try. Reminds me of the heart palpitations I get thinking about grading--too bad that cant just be sprung on you like the demos are:) (Although that could be worse..) 3. I appreciate more and more how the demos (and tiger challenges of the past) help give me focus and drive in the short run--helps me stay interested and motivated overall. Other than all that I'm just REALLY tired...for some odd reason.... I did want to comment on last weeks challenge of doing our forms for a lower ranking student or stranger. I had some complete strangers come up to me at the tri leisure and comment on how cool they look, and another said she thought it was cool that I would do them there. (Had the stick at the time--havent dared the spear yet:) ) A co-worker said it flowed nice, and my daughter said why me? when I asked. A fun challenge at any rate!

Blog Challenge #2 - Thankful

I am grateful for my health.

Not to be confused with fitness or shape  but simply a fully functional body.

Not to be confused with an ailment free body.

Not to be  confused with aging aches or limitations that can be overcome.

I am not dependent on medications.

I am not dependent on caregivers.

I am not bedridden.

For this I am grateful and  thankful.

I will help those around me who are bedridden, dependent and have daily limitations to deal with.

I will help to restore dignity.

I will help to restore independence.

I will help to fend off loneliness as the rest of the world seems to pass by without you.

For one day, I may not have my health. ..and if that day comes I can only hope the goodwill is returned.

The Journey

At the beginning of this I Ho Chuan year, I thought I had an advantage with both Darcy and I being on the team together.  First off I thought how great is this that we will be going through everything together and at the same time, we’ll be so on the same page.  With this being my first year in I Ho Chuan (never on the UBBT) I didn’t fully know what to expect and forgot the whole individual journey stuff.  I have learned so much this last year and realized how off I was in my thinking.  Darcy and I both have our own individual list of challenges.  We both have different ideas how to accomplish what we have set out to do.  We definitely have different schedules, his with A LOT less time than mine.  We both have our own individual perspective on things.  However, even though we are on our own path, we still are both working toward mastery in many different areas of our lives and are there for one another to help where we can.

 These days I seem to be trying so hard to juggle time in order to get everyone where they need to be. I’m trying to spend the time I need training and at the same time not take away from anyone else in my family.  With our kids 15 and 10 years old, some people might argue that they are old enough to stay at home on their own for long lengths of time.  Well I disagree.  I know legally they are fine and I trust they won’t burn down the house deliberately, but I believe they still need and want their parents around (even though they may not admit it).  In the world today our kids are dealing with many more pressures than I remember at their age.  They are expected to and are trying to grow up too fast.   I feel privileged when my kids choose spending time with their family over going out with friends.    I know it’s not always going to be like this; already the times are getting less, so I will enjoy it while I can.

So here we are with four people in our house, all having to go in different directions all on the same night.  This has had its own list of challenges.  With Darcy out of town it seems to get complicated even a little more. I am so fortunate to have family and friends, who without a second thought, are there in a heartbeat.  Sometimes I think they may have been there all along just waiting to be asked.  I have to thank Darcy, who has on days off, driven kids or stayed at home with kids so I could attend classes and demo practices. Thanks Darc.  I know for him it’s an even tougher spot to be in, as he has missed so many classes and wants to be there and at the same time has missed his family and needs to be there as well. 

 I know balance is the key, and we are definitely working on it continually; changing it as circumstances in our life change.   

Alana Regier                 

 http:// alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

 

Commitment

C: continuously going in some sort of direction of forward
O: obviously falling off the wagon at times, but always getting back on
M: moving towards Mastery, speed is irrelevant
M: much more interesting and eventful than mediocrity
I: intervals of torching, chocolate and Kung Fu
T: there is a pattern here, trust me
M: making sure I live my life from my values
E: excuses are not allowed
N: newly acquired belief systems with actions
T: taking time for myself and for celebration
Sherri Donohue
http://sherridlampworkglass.blogspot.ca/

Lost Hours of Sleep

I have this feeling that I'm not going to just slip into a semi-normal life after working some fairly demanding hours for 20 years in the oilfield. I just went through two full, two and two work rotations, part of the kicker is I've been working night shift. I was hoping to just come home for my two weeks off, get some well deserved rest and feel like a new man after my two weeks was up and head back to work fully rested.... this hasn't happened yet.

Lately, I have been able to sleep 9.5 hours without an effort. I have heard that a person never catches up on lost sleep...if this is true, what has happened to all that lost time? Twenty years x 365 = 7300 days x at least an average of one lost hour/ day = 7300hrs or 304.17 days of lost sleep within the past 20 years (essentially 912.5 days of no sleep in the past 20 years - based on a 8 hour sleep pattern).

With the overall importance of a quality quantitative sleep to maintain a healthy mind and body, I'm curious as to the overall affect that this sort of life style has on people. Also, if there is a chance of recuperating these lost hours of sleep, is it going to take another 20 years of 9 hour sleeps or 10 years of 10 hour sleeps?

Speaking of sleep, it should would be nice right abouts now, but nope, I'm trying to transform my sleep pattern in preparation of the next couple weeks of night shift. Night shift....I've heard that this drains an additional 10% of life from oneself, plus the the kaos created with metabolism. Hmmm...


Darcy Regier

http://darcyregier.blogspot.com

Not Much To Say

Midterms in school are coming up in around three weeks and that's taking up a lot of my time. 

I'm missing the demo this weekend because of my wisdom teeth... I feel like I'm letting down the team by not being there, I'm sorry guys! =(

Went to the doctor about my back today, sent me for an x-ray and got told to stop doing crunches and sit-ups... looks like i'll be substituting other exercises in the next few days.

http://kwonsiak.blogspot.ca

Note to self

I read Mr.Repay's blog earlier this week and he challenged all who read his blog to write a letter to their 15 year old self. Here is my version:
Dear 15 yr old self;
I know that you haven't had much success in the people department, but don't give up. Keep trying to meet new people, trust a little tiny bit and let that grow in a natural way. There really are good, caring people out there, you just haven't met them yet.
Be patient with yourself as you grow and learn, don't rush things that need time and nurturing to grow naturally.
You are a good person with a good heart, please believe that and let that guide your choices.
Trust that you are smart, you may have made some not smart choices but you are really smart, allow yourself to learn.
Above all else, I want to tell you that you are worth it, all of it, don't ever forget that!
Love from me

What would you say to your 15 year old self?
 Sifu Kichko

http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/

Kung Fu

Hello everyone, i am sorry if it seemed like i have given up, but i have not. It just the decision not to go for my black belt hit me harder than i thought it would. At first there was some relief then i felt guilty, then i felt a little depressed for awhile. But i just went to kung fu and realize that i was being childish, If i am not meant to go for it this year then i will train harder for next year, because something i had too relearn is that kung fu is more than about the black belt it is what you are willing to accomplish to get it, and who's people lives you can change in the process. It does not have to be someone else, , it could be you, but in that process you help someone else to become a greater martial artist for it. So weather i get my black belt next year or the next it does not matter, because it will happen when i am ready, and only i can make it possible, but thankfully i do not have to, because there is an awesome support group that we surround ourselves daily when we go to kung fu. Of course i know i have to still try my hardest to achieve a lot of my personal goals, but i know there is help if i need it. kung fu is the extraordinary in my life , it is the most positive thing in my life. Kung fu make me want to do better in life and in my martial arts. So for now i say thank you kung Fu for everything you have done for me and help me attain a few more friend that i did not have before. When you are feeling down remember we are here for you

Sihing Langner

blog challenge

One of the greatest challenges for me was completing Kempo 1000 times.  This is a challenge that I have not been very successful at.  Space and time were at an all time low this past couple months. When I had the space, I had limited time.  When I had the time, I have limited space.  I suppose that is never an adequate excuse, Kempo could be done in the dark outside.  What I found however was completing the form 1000 times is a challenge itself, however when additional constraints were thrown on it, there was that much more reason to avoid it, or focus on other matters.  With the winter approaching, it is only getting harder for me to complete this goal, freezing weather, but more importantly the lack of light is becoming a real drag.  I am finding I can complete pieces of the form during the day when appropriate, but to complete the entire form several times a day is a struggle.  The nunchuk weapon form, is an absolute no no on site which leaves very cramped space in the trailer or in the dark outside.  Hmmm, never tried the nunchuk form in the dark before.  I will give that a go tonight.  Black eye to follow tomorrow.

Pass an introductory grade ten Spanish test.  That was a personal goal of mine which so far has been a complete crash and burn.  My wife is fluent in Spanish.  My in-laws are fluent in Spanish.  I have CD’s and little doo dad games for learning Spanish on an ipod.  I listen on occasion to Dora the Explorer. 

Current status;  The family cat knows more Spanish than I do. There is no excuse, this is a goal that has no space constraints.  Headway can be made while driving, waiting, or cooking dinner.  I have been pretty hard headed with this one.  There is still time however, I am ending this blog post and putting the CD into the player as we speak.

This Feeling Really Bugs Me

What am I really afraid of?  Performing in front of others.  When I practice, it doesn't seem so bad, especially when I practice in front of the same people over and over again.  I get that feeling like this isn't so bad, and try to hang onto that, so when I do have to perform in front of others, I can relax and just enjoy the experience.  I convince myself that I can do it.  Then when it comes down to it, I get so freaking nervous and it drives me crazy.  I don't think it will ever get better.

This happened last Friday night at the black belt class.  We had to perform all of our forms.  I was real nervous, but did not too bad.  Until it came to stick.  Then, I couldn't remember the first couple moves to get started.  That's all it took, and then I got flustered and nothing worked.  This feeling went into the next form which was spear.  I sucked at that too.

What I find bothersome here, is that the very next day, as I drove to the kung fu school, I could do stick perfectly in my head.  When I got to the school, I could actually do it with my stick.  With help by sihing Lowery on a couple of brain farts with spear, I got through that entire form too.  So what happened Friday night?  I got nervous, and my brain forgot how to work.  Even Sifu Rybak made a comment to me that she could see I got nervous and then flustered.

I guess what it all boils down to, is practice enough so that even when you are nervous, your muscle memory can pretty much perform on it's own.  I have to admit that I hadn't touched stick or spear for probably a year or more, so how can I possibly expect to perform any better than I did. 

Being grateful

I am grateful for many things, too many things to record on one blog thats for sure. But I'll definitely share the people or experiences that stand out or that mean the most. I am grateful for my parents. Without the life and survival skills that they passed on to me I think I would have a much tougher time at things we're handed. I'm grateful to live in the country we do and the opportunity it presents or has given to me and my family for a great life and solid future for my girls. I am very grateful that friends and some hard lessons pulled me out of the lifestyle I once thought was the place to be or I would be dead or in jail. I am grateful for meeting my wife and step daughter, this taught me to learn acceptance and responsibility and evolved understanding. I am grateful for the ability to work with my hands and use my brain comfortably in almost any situation. (again this ties in with my Father) I am grateful for my youngest daughter that never fails to challenge me or bring sunshine into any day or any situation. I am grateful for finally stepping up and becoming a martial artist and the opportunity to train at Silent River Kung Fu. I am grateful for all the great and inspiring people I have met and train with. My Kung Fu family means alot too me. I am grateful for all my teachers as a student and all my life teachers I have met through my life. Past, present, and future.

Brian Chervenka

24 of 52

So the financial quarter is done and all the bonuses for the Supervisors and Workers are paid out. The end of a quarter is brutal busy and its a struggle to get anything else done during the workday. Usually I manage to sneak in forms repetition, or some extra numbers for pushups and situps during the day at work ... not for the last two weeks. In addition the elbow injury/strain is getting worse and not better. Friday after the I Ho Chuan and BlackBelt class my right elbow hurt so much I couldn't pick up a cup of coffee never mind spin a spear (which I did very badly at class, I apologize to anyone standing next to me while I was trying to do the single or double articulation ... you were at risk of being struck). Going to see my physio this week!

Reviewed my requirements and realized I have made a lot of progress on some of my personal requirements like the reducing plastics ... I have learned alot, discovered alternatives, and made alot of changes in my buying decisions. You can't always be driven by the price tag on item ... you need to calculate the 'real costs' .... the economic, environmental and social impact that those cheap plastic lawn chairs have on not just you but the world. Canada provides a lot of the raw materials, with some basic refining to the point of a plastic resin which we then send to many places in Canada and around the world and they pump out all kinds of plastic products, which in turn get shipped all over the world and back to Canada. Note: that there is a new type of plastic which is BHP free for food storage ... seriously look into this as I have discovered 90% of the plastic left in my life is in the kitchen.

I am grateful for the space to grow my own garden
I am gateful for the 4 beautiful pumkins that grew and will soon be pie filling
I am grateful for skype ... the girls and I talk every week on wednesday
I am grateful for the wonderful people that I love and make my life worth living
I am grateful for 4 seasons ... so I can have beautiful autum days

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Where am I

This past two months have been really tough for me. My expectations of how things would work out where in retrospect unrealistic. I figured getting a job would be no problem I have a good resume a good portfolio how hard can it be. Then I figured once I get a job I can join up for classes again and things would carry on with hardly a beat skipped. I relearned something over the last two months. Accepting just being good is accepting a life of mediocrity. In my career field there is a lot of competition so being average means you don't stick out. With this in mind I have been creating new projects as well as finishing old projects that desperately need my attention. This time I am taking a more critical eye to my work.

I have also been thinking about my training or lack there of lately and it sucks to me. Kung Fu has been a constant in my life for the eight years give or take. Still knowing the positive effects it has on me I still make excuses to not train regularly if I am not in the kwoon. I tend to think of myself as alone all the way out here and that is not true I still can engage with team members through their blogs and through kwoon talk. I have actively made myself absent from the kwoon. The one thing I have been still doing is my push ups but even that is not enough. I have to re-establish my tracking system as well as revisit my forms which have been mostly gathering dust the past months. 

Craig Janzen

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

I'm Thankful For...

Last weekend our family took off to the mountains for a few days.  Even though we saw the forecast of white and cooler temperatures, we were troopers.  What started out as a ‘I’m not sure we aren’t going to freeze’ idea turned into an absolutely wonderful and relaxing weekend.

The mountains, for our entire family, is a place not only that we all crave to go to but one that relaxes and rejuvenates us.  The further west we went on Friday morning the more snow we saw along the roadside.  When we got to our destination we were snow free with the sun shining.  The entire weekend I was in absolute awe of the blessings and the opportunities I have.  Looking around at my family and the incredible mountain scenery, I couldn’t help but think how we can so easily take for granted everything that God has given us.  As our family sat around the fire having our thanksgiving barbequed salmon (didn’t want to use all the propane on a turkey, might need that for heat at night), we got in the discussion of what we are thankful for.  We live in a fast paced world.  Not enough time is given to truly relaxing and appreciating, but when you sit back and truly think about what we are so fortunate to have, how can a person not just say WOW! 

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Will I Ever Get It?!

There is something that has been on my mind for months now, and last night Sifu Brinker hit the nail right on the head.  I know what I have been missing in my kung fu all these years, and this is the one big thing, that in my mind, separates me from the rest of the black belts.  It makes me feel very insufficient, and incomplete as a martial artist.  That it!!!!  That's the word!!  Incomplete.  I feel incomplete.  Without being complete, how can I ever expect to attain mastery?

I can learn a technique, practice a technique, and remember a technique.  But I have so much difficulty analyzing a technique.  This has always been a struggle for me, and it makes me feel almost like I am not smart enough for the real martial arts.  (for lack of a better way to explain it).  Last night Sifu Brinker asked us what we think of when we do a form.  To be honest, I think a lot about my stances and keeping them low. I think about my shoulders and try not to hunch them up. I sometimes think about my arm techniques, but until now, I didn't really realize how little I think about them.  That is probably why I keep bending my wrists on my punches.

I admit that I don't think much about the 6 harmonies, and the reason is exactly as Sifu Brinker said last night.  It seems like it is above my head to understand them, so why bother trying.  What a sucky attitude that is.  I do, however, when I am doing my forms, often, but not always, try to focus on my feet drawing energy from below.  I can't be sure, but I think this is part of the 6 harmonies.  I left classes last night with the conviction to research and see if there is anything out there to help me better understand the 6 harmonies.

I am not sure why I don't analyze by kung fu more.  Well, I think I might have a couple of ideas, but it is embarrassing to admit.  I think it is because of being lazy.  Not taking the time to slow down and think about it.  Why?  Because it's too hard.  Which comes to the other reason.  I am not really smart when it comes to that kind of stuff.  Velocity of what?  Interception where?  This also bothers me in the way that it makes me lack in a lot of areas with my teaching.  I get terrified every time a student puts up their hand to ask me a question, for fear that it will be a "thinking" kind of question.  What move comes after what?  I can usually answer those.  But something like the dynamics of a technique?  AAAGGGHHHHH!!

I have always admired people who understand the innards of the martial arts.  I am more of a doer, than a thinker, but as a second degree black belt, I had better start learning how to become a thinker.  I have never really figured out how.  Without someone teaching me, how do I learn all this stuff?  Where do I find the information?  Online?  With my own analyzing?  Training harder?  Doing more defense techniques?  Sifu Brinker says that doing forms will help with some of it.  I do forms a lot.  A LOT!  I must not be in the right frame of mind when I do them, maybe.

I remember as an orange belt being told over and over again to visualize my opponent when I do a form.  That too was extremely difficult for me.  I guess after awhile, I gave up trying.  Perhaps slowing down my forms will help, but that too is hard for me.  I like to keep moving and I like to move fast.  I have come to realize lately that what my kids have been telling me for years may have some truth to it.   I have a real hard time being idle.  I don't like to sit still.  When I am idle or slow down, I have a much harder time focusing.  This is a very interesting observation for me.  One would think that with slowing down, one would have much more focus.  When I slow down, far too many thoughts enter my head for me to focus on any one of them.  When I am memorizing Mastery, I have my headphones on with music playing.  This helps me to stay completely focused on my thoughts of memorizing.

Anyways, I am just thinking out loud, and going on forever.  This is definitely a topic to work on, and to "think" more about.

A Blank Screen

As I sit here I am trying to think of something to write about and basically my mind is blank. Not a bad thing, just is at the moment. I'm at Day 10 of the intensive portion of Quantum Leap and it's been intense. Not intense that it's been a kleenex session or that I emit fits of whatever, but intense that the focus is totally on me and what are my values, am I living my life from them, and what do I want? My moments have cycled from woohoo!! to "I have the energy of a rock" and everything in between. Totally normal for this type of course.

One thing that I have been doing a lot in this course is getting present to the present moment and staying there instead of camping out in the future. I am present at the torch because that is not the place to let one's mind wander. 5000 degrees of heat is a hello!!!! moment. Even picking a glass rod up at the wrong end at a "paultry" 700 degrees yanks one back from the future pretty fast.

Taking a step back to get perspective and a clear look at what forward looks like is pretty rewarding and gives reason as to why I'm going down this path. I make the decision as to where I want to go and make the moves in that direction and keep moving. How I get there isn't up to me as there's a much greater force in action with angles I haven't even though of. I've had stuff come from out of the blue and it's pretty amazing.

Well my screen on the computer is a little less blank. Does it make total sense? On some level it does.
Sherri Donohue
http://www.sherridlampworkglass.blogspot.ca/

Thankfulness! Gratefulness!!!!

I am grateful for so many things in my life;
First of all I am grateful to God, He is the reason for all the is good in my life and the obstacles that I need to overcome to grow.
I am grateful for my husband, he has supported and encouraged me for nearly twenty years. He always there for me as I attempt to be a better me, cheering me on and helping me out when I fall down.
I am grateful for my daughter, she believes that there is nothing that I can't do! What an amazing feeling that is!!
I am grateful  for the life that I have, it is full of goodness and love. I have good friends, near and far, and I have family members that accept me for who I have become.
I am grateful for my job, I have been working with children and families for approx. 23 yrs, and they never cease to amaze me, their capacity to love one another and over-come diversity in order to be together is over-whelming at times.
I am grateful for my pet family, they make me laugh, cry and sigh with contentment. I love that I can have these animals in my life and they show me the true meaning of unconditional love. No matter how the rest of the world treats me, when I come home, I am greeted with so much love and excitement that all else is forgotten.
I am grateful for my kung fu family, I truly feel like I have found a place where I belong and I am completed accepted. I love my family. My goal is to pass that feeling on and treat each person that walks in the door with compassion and understanding so that they will experience the same feelings that I have.
I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had to volunteer in my community. I have gained so much empathy from our projects.
There are many more things that I am grateful for but that would make this a really long blog. My goal is to remind myself throughout the year, not only during Thanksgiving.
Those are my thoughts for this week.
 http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/

Judgement

I have been working on my judgement the past couple months. I'm getting better but a long to go to get to a state where my better judgement will become natural and ingrained in how I do things.  For example, I love food and I always tend to eat more then I need. I have started to eat and order less food but I still tend to over because I finish the plates of my children. I have a problem food out, I think this comes from living in a country where we didn't have enough to eat when I was younger. 

The past couple of weeks, I have been thinking about everything and what I have on my plate. And I'm exercising better judgement and not taking on so many things. I have already given up some of the things that I taken care of in the past for my Rotary club but there is still many things that I can not let go at tis time.  Another thing is to prioritize my commitments and allocate time to do them. 

I would like to apologize to my I Ho Chaun team members, I should have not taken a spot on the team without fully understanding the commitments and time required to complete the task. I have not been a good team mate and many of our failings as a team are because I wasn't committedt to you guys. I'm Sorry! 

My family is first, then my office as Mayor, third is my restaurant and staff, fourth is my extended family, fifth on my list is Kung fu, then golf, etc.   I will continue to training and be as involved as my time permits but for my NOW, Kung fu is not a priority. 

wchoy74.blogspot.ca