What I've learned...thanks Sifu Bryant!

I think one of the things I've learned this year is the value of honest comment. The biggest motivator to fulfil your commitments in the I Ho Chuan is being held publicly accountable. This can only happen if we give honest comment to each other. For example, the other day I was doing pushups during practice when Sifu Bryant approached me. He dropped down and asked me why I was doing such shallow pushups. Now in my mind I have a thousand reasons why...the biggest being my injured shoulder, but at the end of the day, the truth is that my pushups suck. Sifu Bryant asking me about it tells me that my student's probably think the same thing...everyone in the school who sees me do pushups has the same perception. When you walk around the school with an injury that isn't blatant (like a limp or whatever), people don't know your injured and all they see is your poor pushups. That is the perception.
So what Sifu Bryant's honesty left me with was a choice. I can choose to keep doing poor pushups because of my injury (and sometimes to heal you have to choose this option) or I can work on changing my pushups and thus changing the perception of the people around me. If I choose option 1 (whether I have a choice or not), I do it knowing that it affects my reputation.

That's another thing I've learned. Reputation in the martial arts is largely based on physical skill. That is what you are largely judged by by students and others. If you have an injury and can't perform physically, you will lose some credibility. I think that's something that people don't realize. I see some people get injured and they breath a sigh of relief because now they don't have to do some things they don't like doing anymore (like pushups). But you should view an injury as a potential detriment to your reputation. I say potential because coming back from a huge injury can earn you a lot of respect, but you have to come back from it. You can't ride on the tails of your horrific injury 5 years ago and have any credibility. Part of being a martial artist is managing your injuries. Part of that is learning to shift your training focus to compensate. For me, for example, with my shoulder injury I'm having difficulty with upper body stuff, however I can work on kicks no problem. All people need to see is that you are trying to progress on a physical level. You can't only focus on your mental growth or spiritual growth and expect students or peers to see you as a great martial artist. Yes, your mental and spiritual growth are just as important, but without the physical skill, no one will take you seriously.
That's been one of my struggles this year....getting back to a good place physically. It's hard. And I'm not there yet. But pushing each other and holding each other accountable (like Sifu Bryant did for me) can help get us where we need to be.

But we need to recognize that honest comment does not equal negativity. One of the other things I've learned this year is that when people feel guilty about their lack of progress and that lack of progress is pointed out, they get defensive. One of the biggest ways this is expressed is by calling the feedback negative or saying that the atmosphere is negative. That is only a half truth. The whole truth is that yes, the atmosphere is negative, but not because of any comments made, but because of lack of action, because of mediocrity. When Sifu Bryant commented on my pushups, initially I was a little hurt. I felt like I was trying my hardest and couldn't he see that? But at the end of the day he was telling me the truth and I have to give him credit because it can be hard to tell people their shortcomings. How can I get better if I don't see my weaknesses? That was what he was saying. He wasn't trying to be a jerk. He was trying to help me by  saying, "You know what, I see your pushups, they suck, but I know you can do better".
That's the key point. When someone gives you honest comment and it isn't what you want to hear, realize that by saying it they are telling you that they know you can do better. They believe in you.
If they thought there was no hope for you they wouldn't say anything at all and let you continue to be mediocre.

The point I want to leave off with is this. Don't accept mediocrity in yourself and don't accept it in your teammates. The I Ho Chuan isn't meant to be a sit-around, talk about your feelings and make some friends group; it's a work, sweat, cry and yell group. The true friendships come by sweating together and encouraging each other through honesty. Don't hold each others hands. Be strong and don't give up. At the end of the day, if we expect more from each other, we can do great things.

Basic numbers; 5 reps tai chi, 5 reps broadsword

Acts of kindness: chatted with a sales clerk, let Mike sleep in, gave the dog extra pets

Today I consumed: 2 breakfast sandwiches, 2 hash browns, some veggies, some instant noodles with toast, 4 pieces of candy, a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, 7 glasses of water

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca