one more sleep

Tomorrow's the big day. We had our dress rehersal tonight and it didn't go great, but in my experience, if the dress rehearsal goes bad then the performance goes great. I know everyone will do great tomorrow. I hope I don't mess up.

Basic numbers: 510 pushups, 808 crunches, 868 kicks, 2 reps tai chi, 2 reps broadsword, 2 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the dog treats, made Mike lunch and coffee, played with Julia

Today I consumed: a piece of peanut butter and honey toast, some leftover chinese food, a bowl of mushroom soup with toast, a cheese sandwich, some veggies, some apple, some banana, 2 pieces of pizza, 2 beers, 3 coffees and 7 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

To Build a Dragon

What does it take to build a dragon? The obvious answer, besides the necessary materials and equipment, is skill. However for me the answer is courage. For me it takes courage to really go deep within and tap into and test the skills I have or even see if  they are there. To make a heart is like meditation. To make a dragon is an hour and a half or so of concentrated zen focus acting only on intuition and instinct. The skills are there, but how do I use them in those moments of creating and sometimes repairing like when I get the heat too close to a toe and melt it off. When I build a dragon it's coming from the depths of me, which sometimes is a scary place to go. In some ways building a dragon is a personal development course.

What does it take to show the dragon to someone other than Dennis? Again courage. Some people have a fear of public speaking, some fear of demos, mine is showing my artwork especially the work that came from deep within. What will people think? What will they say? Will they laugh? Will they compare it to the Dollar Store or some other artist? These are moments when I want the lampshade over my head and imposter a floor lamp in the corner. Even to post pictures on my fan page on Facebook takes courage. Now I'm embarking on building my website where not only I will be posting pictures, but asking my price (another terror barrier), and telling my story. Where did that lampshade go? However if I want to go forward (which I do), I must forego the lampshade and step out regardless of how hard it is or how much my heart is pounding or my knees are shaking.

I often think back to the silent auction conspiracy 2 years ago when I first put my dragons out. That night is still ringing in my head and ears, but when I look back it was one of the best gifts I received although uncomfy. However that night started a trend as now I am asked for a dragon for the auction table.

This year's dragon is different. Different shape, it's in full color, and the Pearl of Wisdom is with it. Yes, I made that too. I'm happy with how my dragons turned out and will be making more. Each one different with each one showing different characteristics and each one will have their Pearl of Wisdom. However for now, meet the dragon for the silent action. The owner has been summoned, who will it be?

Sherri Donohue
My Blog

Almost there

I'm excited for Saturday, but I'm feeling the strain from all of the practices. It will be nice to get back to the normal schedule again. Mike is getting ready to start his year. It will be a different experience being the support spouse this year after spending this past year focusing on my training. It will be neat to see his progress over the year.

Basic numbers: 153 pushups, 52 kicks, 1 rep tai chi, 5 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the cat treats, did chores, let a car ahead of me in traffic, made Mike lunch and coffee

Today I consumed: a tims breakfast sandwich and hash brown, some curry with noodles, a cookie and some chinese food. I drank 3 cups of coffee and 7 glasses of water.
Only one more day of drinking coffee:(

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

GOALS

I think that it is time for me to write out my goals, so here they are:

• I will create a seminar on communication and anger management
• I will learn to play the guitar, this will involve taking lessons and practicing everyday
• I will create a pattern and make a blanket with the lotus flower on it, hopefully it will be finished in time to auction off at the banquet next year
• I will do 1000 reps of Tai Chi Broad Sword and Mu Long Koon(sp)
• I will meditate each day
• I will complete 50,000 kicks
• I will improve my teaching skills by reading, attending workshops and asking lots and lots of questions
• I will learn the spear form and the cane form
• I will blog every day
• I will set up two demos at each of the seniors complexes in Stony Plain
• I will do something for my family each day 

These are my personal goals that are in addition to the goals that we will all be working towards as a group. I am hoping to create a sustainable manner of conducting my life that I can carry forward for a long time.

Team goals:

• I want everyone on the team to know that what they have to contribute is important and worthy of sharing. 
• I want everyone to feel welcome to attend any extra practices, events and initiatives that we are involved in.

• I want everyone to feel supported, not only when they are trying their best but when they can't find what they need to try at all.
• I want everyone to know that we are in this together, we will all face different obstacles but we will all face obstacles.

Sifu Robyn Kichko
http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/


















 

Lucky

This past weekend I was lucky enough to attend the Ging Wu Chinese Banquet and of course it was an entertaining night to say the least. Great performances and great food, ok interesting food but fun nonetheless. As I sat and watched the performances all I could think about was that most of us at our table are from a small town most wouldn’t have heard of outside of this area. We are not from Chinese culture or even speak the language yet there we were at a banquet amongst fellow martial artists having a great night and how cool is that. I am so thankful for the people I am surrounded by and sometimes have to pinch myself that what we have around us is pretty special. This weekend will be no different and I hope we all have a great time and enjoy the greatness we have created and the group we have to do it with.

Sifu Bryant
My Blog

home stretch

Got my practicing in today which was good. I can't believe it's the last week. I'm sure the next team are gearing up and getting ready. I bet they are excited and nervous at the same time. I hope they do well...I'm sure they will

Basic numbers: 202 crunches, 153 pushups, 156 kicks, 3 reps tai chi, 3 reps broadsword, 5 miles

Acts of kindness: let a car in front of me, made Mike coffee and lunch, gave the cat pets

Today I consumed: 2 pieces of peanut butter and honey toast, a boiled egg, 2 bananas, a piece of pepperoni, a ham and cheese sandwich, a granola bar, a grilled cheese sandwich with chili, 2 coffees and 7 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Year in Review

Last week of the Snake I Ho Chuan team. This was an amazing year. I accomplished so many things, I learnt so much and realized I have so much more to learn.

I managed to accomplish most of my goals. What I'm most happy about are the changes I've made that will be there for life.

I'm looking forward to next year. More challenges, more fun. One of my reasons to join the I Ho Chuan again was to improve as a team as well as an individual. I hope we will end the snake year strong and keep the momentum into the Horse year.

http://csillag-stars.blogspot.ca/2014/01/year-in-review.html

off my game

Exhausted. Work then practice then chores. Didn't get my reps in today...just seemed like from the get-go I was off schedule. Didn't even have my uniform for demo practice. Off my game today.

Basic numbers: 2 reps broadsword, 5 miles

Acts of kindness: gave Julia a back rub, made Mike lunch and coffee, complimented someone

Today I consumed: a bowl of cheerios, a banana, some strawberries, 2 boiled eggs, a ham and cheese sandwich, a granola bar, a brownie, 2 tacos and some toquitos. I drank 2 cups of coffee, 7 glasses of water and a beer.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

board breaking

Tonight we were breaking boards in the beginner class. It's really inspiring to see the white and yellow belts breaking boards. It's great to see the feeling of accomplishment on their faces. I think of these guys when I watch the higher rank board breaks. It makes such a difference when you don't have anything in the back of your mind telling you you can't break it. When you don't break your board, or worse you injure yourself, that can get planted in you as a seed of doubt. That seed can grow into something that affects your board breaking in the future. If you doubt yourself, it can be really hard to break the boards. You have to remember that there really is no board at all....your just hitting the guy behind it.
The beginner students are lucky in that they don't carry with them any memories of failed breaks or fears of injury that come from mistakes. It gives them an edge I think.

Basic numbers: 3 reps tai chi, 3 reps broadsword, 153 pushups, 154 kicks, 110 sit-ups, 5 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the dogs treats x2, gave Julia some snuggles, made MIke lunch and coffee, made dinner

Today I consumed: a piece of peanut butter and honey toast, some apple, half a ham and cheese sandwich, a blueberry muffin, half a cookie, some chicken with potatoes and beets, an icecream sandwich, 3 cups of coffee, a cup of tea and 7 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

ONe week left

This is the last week. I can't believe it. One more week and then the ceremony. Hard to believe that we're almost finished.
I'm getting geared up for this coming year too, finalizing my new goals. Some of them will be pretty tough, but I think they will do me a lot of good.
I'm looking forward to reading everyone's journals too. Sifu Kitchko said she was going to journal every day so it should be really cool. I'll be able to witness her journey daily which will be cool.

Basic numbers: rest day, 1.5 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the dogs treats, brought Mike breakfast and coffee, played lego with Julia, did all the laundry

Today I consumed: 2 banana, half a granola bar, a breakfast sandwich and a half with one and a half hash browns, some macaroni with tuna and olives, some chips and toquitos, 3 cups of coffee, 8 glasses of water and half a beer.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

The Journey

The other day I was browsing Wikipedia and came across an interesting article about the poles of inaccessibility. A pole of inaccessibility is a location that is extremely challenging to reach due to its remoteness from geographic features that provide access. This pole is often the furthest point from coastlines. Basically they are the parts of the world that are hardest to get to. The people who are most interested in these areas are of course explorer and travelers.

Now why would an explorer be interested in trying to reach an area whose only interesting characteristic is the challenge of reaching it? For just that of course, the challenge. It's about the journey, not the destination. I am fascinated by the human drive to push ourselves to our limits, to see how much we can take and accomplish. Reading the article made me think about the I Ho Chuan year and the challenges we set for ourselves. The way we set goals and strive to reach them for as much as the final result as the path towards them. I like to think of ourselves as explorers in our own way, searching for self improvement.

Sifu Jesse Wetter

http://liveforeverordieintheattempt.blogspot.ca/

Year end

     Thanks team , what a year!  While I reflect on the past 12 months I can see where I failed, and most importantly where I grew. Everyone's support and encouragement was greatly appreciated , from the people I spent the most time with to the ones who I spent little time with. The sore muscles and bruises all added to a great year soon to be behind us. Having taken nothing for granted , I decided to join next years team , hoping not to just better the final outcome but to even exceed my expectations.


Scott Fuhr

http://scottfuhr.blogspot.ca

http://flavors.me/scottfuhr

Fan Mail

This week I got my anticipated package in the mail, my box of fans. Yes there were more than one in the box, in fact, there were 4. Why 4? Well, 2 are different colors, one is left-handed and one is a replacement for my current red fan, but I found out that this new red fan is much bigger and makes my current red fan look small. I didn't realize that my current red fan is 13 inches in length and when I ordered, I ordered the 15 inch version. That's a 2 inch of length when difference the fan is folded so when open, you get the idea. Basically my fan is almost as big as what I am and I was asked yesterday if I'm trying to compensate for something because my new fan is huge. Funny guy.

What I'm really excited about is that I'll be using one of my new fans in the demo, my gold fan. When I saw the list of fan colors, I was dizzy with excitement. Pretty colors!! Which one?? Aacck, the choices!! There is one point that I keep in mind when choosing a fan color and that is the color of our uniforms. Even though a black fan is pretty, it does not show up against the black uniform. Red does, will the blue, and I have a feeling about the gold. Yep all of them went into my cart and when I found there is a left-handed version it was in there too.

Now here I am with my mondo shiny gold fan that I'm told really stands out and I'm giddy with excitement. Now to practice hard this week so I can be the best I can be in the demo moment. As for fan future with me, I want to finish my form. I have 4 of the 5 animals in the form, now to weave in the leopard and I have a feeling where it's going to go. Because I love my form and I'm proud of it and me for creating it, I'm keeping it live and going. I also see a 2 fan form in my future as well as possibly a 52 movement Tai Chi fan form.  The possibilities.....
Sherri Donohue
My Blog

Who Am I Now?

This is probably my last post as part of the Snake Team and I can't help but be a little reflective. This I Ho Chaun year has changed me in so many ways. I didn't fully complete many of the requirements but I see the benefit of starting to encorporate each one into my life. This year faced me with pretty much all my weaknesses and it was a difficult journey but well worth taking. I didn't realize how much time I wasted doing nothing but wasting away until this year. My diet was pretty gross when I think back on what I ate and I never really had any sort of sense of accomplishment, this year has been a little different. Each requirement helped me in different ways. Having personal goals is a sure way of making sure I couldn't procrastinate and gave me a good kick in the rear to not keep putting things off. The pushups and situps helped with disciplining myself. The acts of kindness really made me face reality of the choices I make everyday and how I am impacting people. The logging showed my progress. The blogging shared my journey with others who may be facing the same issues and may be uncomfortable talking about it, therefore just maybe inspiring someone, that they can do this too. It was also a way to reach out to others when I couldn't say things face to face. Performing in front of others helped me to start allowing my body to react and use its muscle memory without allowing my mind to interfere. (This one is still a major work in progress) The kilometers got me off my lazy butt. The forms reps gave me a better eye for detail and allowed me to start feeling how my body moves. And, well the weapons form was just fun. By not being able to quit, I failed and started over many times but still slowly learned not to give up. It's simply a process to start changing your life for the better and you don't actually fail unless you stop trying. It's interesting too how I started adding more and different goals as the year progressed as I saw more things in myself I wanted to change. I still watch movies and some shows on Netflix but am learning how to knit so I'm not just rotting on my couch while doing so. I also started treating myself to manicures and pedicures on payday, I would never, ever do that before, but why not be nice to myself once in awhile. I really enjoyed the group this year, I don't think that I've ever been around such a good group of people. I've learned so much from each of you and thank everyone who helped me along the way. I love the energy around the kwoon and like being there. I'm trying to convince Josh to move back to Spruce Grove when he's done school. If you're reading this and think you can't do it, you can. If I can, you can. I was 30 when I started kung fu. Being older and out of shape has it's challenges but it's better than spending the rest of my life accomplishing nothing in front of a television.

ipod!

I got an ipod for christmas and I've really been enjoying it. I've never had one before so this is kind of a new thing for me. It's really nice having music to listen to when I'm walking to work or working out. I've even made a playlist. Music makes working out easier I think because you try to keep to the beat and so have to go fast. It also keeps your mind on something other than the discomfort.
So fun!

Basic numbers: 102 pushups, 104 kicks, 102 crunches, 3 reps tai chi, 6 reps broadsword, 3 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the dogs treats, played with Julia, made lunch

Today I consumed: a piece of peanut butter and honey toast with an orange, a grilled cheese sandwich with soup and some broccoli, a couple of toquitos with ranch, 3 cups of coffee and 8 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Snake team - Final posting.

This upcoming week is officially the last week for the Snake team.  When I look back on the year I see some very big highs and some lows.  My first half of the year was fantastic.  I had a lot of momentum and my kung fu was was getting better and better.  By July I had three demos in the book and I was flying high.  Then came a turn for my training.  I took a new job and was required to spend three months in South Carolina.  This is when my training took a nose dive.  I was doing pretty good for the first month down there.  I was keeping up with the basic requirements.  However as the pressure mounted from my training I turned away from my kung fu instead of embracing it and using it to help me.  I came back to Kwoon in mid October and I felt a big disconnect, I felt it very difficult to get back to my training and fit back in with the team.  I even felt like quitting at my lowest point.  What helped me overcome that was talking with the team and in particular Sihing Tymchuck, Sihing Chervenka and Mr. Fuhr.  We had some open and frank conversations that helped me realize that I should continue on and keep pushing.  Without these team members pulling me along I think I may not be here training at the Kwoon right now.  I can't stress enough how important the team is to each other, we have to be there and support each other in order for the team to be successful.

So has the team and myself had a successful year?  I think the team has succeeded, we pulled together and did some great demos, organized some great events and really gelled as a team in the end.  Did I succeed this past year?  Overall no I didn't.  I didn't come close to meeting my numbers, I didn't achieve some of my personal requirements.  But I did succeed in realizing finally that the I Ho Chuan is a tool and not a hoop.  I realized for the first time that this year has been about mastery.  I realized that in order to keep improving my kung fu but more importantly myself, then I have to accept the process for what is.  It is a tool that when approached with the right attitude and outlook is there to sharpen and hone our skills not only as martial artists but more importantly as genuine human beings.

This year I failed in reaching my "numbers" but I succeeded in realizing where the path toward mastery is and how to use the I Ho Chuan as tool for success.  I am looking forward to year of the Horse.  We have a great team assembled and I can't wait to get started.

Mr. Ian Repay
Student of Silent River Kung Fu.
Stony Plain, Albert, Canada.
ianrepay.blogspot.com

getting closer

hello everyone so the day is getting closer. the day we all show how far we have come and how much we have grown, and of course the black belt candidates. There are quite a few things i have learned when preparing for and actually doing the demo. For me it is the waiting and approaching day that is the worst, because normally i am always becoming my worst enemy. I always think i can't do this, i won't be good enough, i am going to let them down.  but that is how i used to think, now of course i am still worried, but now i think i can do this, i can get through this, we are doing this as a team, we are all trying are hardest to make sure that we have an awesome demo. there is no secret that i have found to help me get over my fear, it is just merely stepping out of my comfort zone, with lots of support and a little of my own strength. Performing in front of people is scary, but it is one of the only times you can show off to others what you have become. I'm worried, but i will never back down because i know if i ever do i will fall backwards. lucky for me though i have so many people to push me back forwards. when i think of this it makes me just so happy. we are surrounded by extraordinary people and always given the greatest of opportunity's. I am so glad that i get to share this experience with all of you and remember everyone always stay who you all are(extraordinary).


231 lbs


Sihing Langner

last class:(

The demo is starting to look pretty good. I'll have to work really hard this week and polish up my stuff. I'm excited for next weekend. I can't believe it's almost time. Tonight was our last formal class for the year. Kind of sad.

Basic numbers: 153 pushups, 202 crunches, 156 kicks, 3 reps tai chi, 3 reps broadsword, 3 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the cat and dogs treats x 2, made Mike lunch and coffee, chased Julia

Today I consumed: a bowl of cheerios with blueberries, an apple, a banana, some macaroni with tuna, olives and tomatoes, a cookie, a grilled cheese sandwich with avocado and broccoli and mushroom soup and 2 pieces of pizza. I drank 3 cups of coffee and 8 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

One week to go

Oy... I am feeling super nervous. I still don't feel like my plan for next year is quite right. I need to get it in order and speak to M.Brinker ASAP!!! Aahhhhh.... I felt so much more prepared last year.

Anyway, we are down to the crunch. Are you going to make your numbers? Have you finished all you wanted to this year?

I am proud of what I have done. But I also know that I can do better. It took awhile to figure things out this year and to get over that mid-way hump (kinda like life I guess). But I do have certain things down now. I wake up every morning and do 50 pushups, feed the dogs, do 50 more pushups, fill up the cats water, do 150 situps followed by 50 more pushups and I walk the dogs.

Every day rain or shine, good mood or bad mood, work day or not. This is it. No day off. It is just life now. Seems to work for me. Best part of my day is the 5 minute walk through the woods. Alone. In peace. Knowing that I have accomplished something already... and the rest of the day lays before me...

http://sharidactyl.wordpress.com/

changes

Falling behind at work....it's been tough trying to do the part time thing, but it's been really nice having the extra time with Julia. I'm going to miss that come March when I go full time. I'm excited to start the next phase of my life though....it will be weird going to a regular 9 to 5 job everyday but it will be good too. I think it will be good for my training too. I'll have a constant schedule so I should be able to make my training more scheduled as well. Changes are a comin'!

Basic numbers: 202 crunches, 153 pushups, 156 kicks, 3 reps tai chi, 3 reps broadsword, 3 miles

ACts of kindness: let the cat out, made Mike lunch and coffee, danced with Julia, gave the dog pets

Today I consumed: a boiled egg with blueberries, pineapple and a piece of peanut butter honey toast, I had a slice of chicken pot pie with broccoli and cauliflower, some toquitos, half a cookie, 3 cups of coffee, 7 glasses of water and 2 cups of neocitron.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Being Safe

I want to be healthy and in one piece, ready for the demo. Getting hurt last week was a scary experience. What if it happens the day before? What if it happens during the demo.

At the same time I can't wrap my self with bubble wrap (although I'm sure it might be fun).

http://csillag-stars.blogspot.ca/2014/01/being-safe.html

knock on wood

Feeling a bit better. I hope I'll be in top form for the banquet.
I hope no one else gets sick or seriously injured....I hope Mr Fuhr's foot gets better too, and Sihing Csillag's thumb.
It's always the worst when someone works so hard for months and then can't perform at the end because of a chance injury or illness.....I'm crossing my fingers for everyone!

Basic numbers: 102 pushups, 104 kicks, 3 reps tai chi, 2.5 miles

Acts of kindness: made Mike lunch and coffee, gave the dogs treats, danced with Julia

Today I consumed: a piece of peanut butter and honey toast with pineapple and blueberries, a boiled egg, some macaroni with broccoli and cauliflower, a cookie, an ice cream sandwich, a piece of chicken pot pie and a couple of toquitos. I drank 2 cups of coffee, a cup of tea and 7 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Supporting joints

So Dragon Dancing is alot of fun, unfortunately it appears to be hard on knees, ankles and feet.  So although the sprained left toes are now fine (wearing shoes to play safe).  I find the sudden stops and sharp turns are tough on my knees.  Should I mention my age?  Nah other people younger than me have strains as well.  So I have been investigating support products for knees ... don't really like the brace as it really restricts the actual movement of the joint,  tensor bandages don't stay in place but ah hah! I found something called KT Tape.   Its a tape, so it stays in place, but with elasticity and wow what a difference.  Two strips on the outside of my knee provides support and you don't feel any restriction of movement.  Just be careful when removing it,  it will remove hair if not done correctly.

bleh

Have a bad cold. Things keep going around the office and I always get them. Ate a bunch of broccoli today so that should help. It was hard to stay focused during the practice. The dance is starting to look pretty good though. I'm really proud of everyone.

Basic numbers: 102 pushups, 104 kicks, 202 crunches, 3 reps tai chi, 3 reps broadsword, 5 miles

Acts of kindness: held the door for someone, made Mike lunch and coffee, gave the dogs treats

Today I consumed: a piece of peanut butter and honey toast with blueberries and pineapple, an apple, a meat and cheese sandwich, a muffin, some broccoli, some graham crackers, some sandwich with broccoli and macaroni salad, 4 cups of coffee, 7 glasses of water and a cup of neocitron.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Construction Zone

“The spirit of a child is a lot like wet cement.  It doesn’t take much effort to make an imprint.  Any time you see your child go skipping by, you’re in the presence of a construction zone and ought to ask yourself, What is being built here?  Is there anything I can do to advance this cause?”

This paragraph from an article I read this last week, so simply but perfectly, puts the affect our actions and words have on the children in our lives. 

With abnormally warm temperatures the past couple of weeks I’ve noticed an ‘offness’ for some of the kids I’ve been surrounded by.  The thought that they are stuck inside while the sun is shining and puddles are a calling makes staying focused on something inside exceptionally hard.  I’ve found it hard to maintain my own kids focus and routines and am getting a lot of practice perfecting patience.  Although it may be frustrating at times, I have to remind myself that although discipline and routine are important, there are some moments I may need to relax a little, enjoy the moment and see that there may just be an opportunity in front of me to build on something bigger, something different than I had originally planned.  J

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

 

 

next year

I've been thinking a lot about this coming year and what I'm going to do. I'm not in the I Ho Chuan, but I plan on keeping my training regime going. I think I'll keep blogging everyday as well. I find it motivating to write down my progress each day and posting it publicly makes me more accountable. That will be key for me this coming year I think. I won't have the group to motivate me and I'm not going for a promotion so I will have to find other sources of motivation. I think blogging is one of them. I have built up some habits this year that I think I can keep going.

Basic numbers: 202 crunches, 153 pushups, 156 kicks, 3 reps tai chi, 3 reps broadsword, 5 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the cat treats, made MIke lunch and coffee, let a car ahead of me

Today I consumed: a piece of toast with peanut butter and honey, a ham and cheese sandwich, a doughnut, a muffin, a piece of meat and cheese sandwich with some salad and macaroni, a small serving of pasta with chicken and toast. I drank 4 cups of coffee and 7 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Jedi Mind Tricks?

Well, I'm frustrated. Still haven't found out what's wrong with me. I think the biggest problem is that my doctor went on vacation and I saw another doctor who sent me for another series of tests and I still don't have an answer. It's probably something stupid and they'll give me a pill for 5 days and everything will be better. It would be nice to know what's going on with my abdominal/kidney area though so I can be done with it. My hip and knee have been acting up again too, especially the knee. Josh looked at it yesterday and said it was really swollen. How that happened? No idea. I've been doing absolutely everything suggested to me. Bought a new bed, bought orthotics, saw a chiropractor...How much does one spend before it's enough? Needless to say, lately I'm pretty cranky. I've been researching lately how the mind works. I've always thought that training your brain into manifesting what it is you want in life is a bunch of malarkey and quite frankly super positive people annoy me. (I'm really not a terrible person) But I've come to the conclusion that I need to be more open minded and maybe, just maybe bringing more positivity in my life won't be such a bad thing, we'll see. OPEN MIND! I'm unsure of how I decided to do the horse team. I had changed my mind a few times and was going to back out. I even had a letter written to Sifu Brinker that I was going to give him telling him I changed my mind again and don't want to do the I Ho Chaun the day I decided instead to just pay for it and keep the letter to myself. I guess I realized that this is good for me and I like you people. Lots of thing did change for me this year, and I definitely recognize the difference in myself and I guess I'm starting to like me a little. I can't wait to be back to regular classes. I felt really out of place watching from the sidelines on Saturday. Thanks to those who took a minute to come talk to me, it made me not feel so left out. The dragon dance looks fantastic and the demo is awesome. One day I'll be brave enough...Positive thinking right? We'll see how that goes.

almost there

Missed yesterdays post.
Had Julia's second birthday party last night. I can't believe she's two already. She had a great time. Today was spent cleaning up and having some down time. It was really nice.
I'm looking forward to chinese new year. It will be nice to be done with all the practices. I've been feeling so drained. It's really exciting, but so much work. I know everyone must be feeling the grind. We're almost there!

Basic numbers: (yesterday: 52 pushups, 101 situps, 4 reps broadsword, 3 miles) 2 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the dogs treats, played with Julia, let MIke sleep in

Today I consumed: an apple, 2 pieces of peanut butter raison toast, half a waffle with a piece of french toast a sausage, piece of bacon with an egg and a piece of toast, some chicken fingers with macaroni and green beans and a piece of birthday cake. I drank 2 cups of coffee and 8 glasses of water.


http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Practice, practice

Reading everyone’s blogs lately it’s obvious the Chinese New Year is all everyone is talking and thinking about which is great. I know people are anxious and nervous but I think we all are that’s for sure. Running through the routine again yesterday makes it more comfortable and familiar to us all. What I’m excited about is the venue. We have never done a circular demo and performance like this before; we usually always have to reference where the audience is and adjust as necessary. Now the view is from all angles and should be really interesting, it’s something new and very unfamiliar but can be really exciting for us all. Just sticking with my routine and should carry me well into the New Year, a little different with the new schedule on Friday’s but again will just take time to adjust. Kind of like the new feel to it, change can be good.

Sifu Bryant
My Blog

Banquet

It's that special time of year again. With only two weeks left until the banquet, there is still lots of work to be done. Every practice matters at this point as we try and prepare ourselves to look our best. I am really happy with how far we've advanced with the Lion/Dragon dance and the demo. Its always inspiring to see the whole team working hard together. Kudos and thanks to everyone making it possible. The new years banquet is a great way to show the results of the I Ho Chuan year.

As usual at this time of the year I have become paranoid about hurting myself. All the dragon dance practices, especially having them back to back, has been rough on my ankle and shin. On Saturday the pain in my lower leg was really getting to me. I think everything should be alright though so long as I make sure not to overdo anything.

Sifu Jesse Wetter

http://liveforeverordieintheattempt.blogspot.ca/

new schedule

Tonight was the first night with the new Friday schedule. It will definitely take some getting used to. Now the black belt class is at 5:30, then Sihings, then I Ho Chuan and then San Sou. It was a lot, even though I couldn't stay for San Sou. I wonder how everyone else likes the schedule.

Basic numbers: 153 pushups, 202 crunches, 156 kicks, 1 rep tai chi, 4 reps broadsword, 4.3 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the cat and dog treats, made Mike lunch and coffee, let a car ahead of me

Today I consumed: a bowl of cheerios, a breakfast sandwich and hash brown, a ham and cheese sandwich, an apple, an orange, some potato chips, a couple of slices of thin crust pizza and some noodles with toast. I drank 2 cups of coffee, a cup of tea, half a pop, half a beer and 6 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

tired

Really tired today. Didn't sleep well last night...Julia up, the dog up, me up. Hopefully I'll get some sleep tonight. I had no energy for practicing today so my numbers are low. Time for sleep.

Basic numbers: 101 crunches, 1 rep tai chi, 1 rep broadsword, 51 pushups, 52 kicks, 5 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the cat and dog treats, made Mike coffee and lunch, let a car ahead of me x3

Today I consumed: a bowl of cheerios, an apple, an orange, a ham and cheese sandwich, 2 cookies, some macaroni with chicken strips and broccoli, 2 pieces of toast, 3 coffees and 8 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Focusing on the Why

Amazing how fast a week goes. Seems like just yesterday I was blogging. ;-)

I was at a special presentation at one of the schools in our community yesterday where I got to listen to Robb Nash speak to the students on how to change yourself and make better choices. Very good presentation for the kids. 

The most powerful thing that I came out of the presentation for me personally was that you should always ask yourself WHY you are doing WHAT you are doing. Because the WHY is the answer to everything.

And really at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter what you do. Only why. So I was thinking about the why a lot. Why do I get up in the morning? Why do I work? Why did I choose the work I did? Why did I choose everything I have done in my life. Still working on all this but things are really beginning to come into focus for me. I just need to keep on focusing on the why.

Maybe I will write next week's blog tomorrow if the answer suddenly comes to me. Or maybe not. ;-)

http://sharidactyl.wordpress.com/

In 3 Months

In 3 months, where would you like to be in regards to what you want in life, aka your goals? That is the question that has been posed to me this week. "Where do I want to be in 3 months? There's a reason for the 3-month time frame. Both Google and Olympic athletes set 3 month goals and use backward planning for the goals that they have set. Yes they do set longer term goals, however a longer time frame is too long for the mind to comprehend and also does not account for the trajectory of momentum. A year-long goal can be broken down into 3-month portions thereby taking into account momentum and the not-so-much. Here's another factor both Google and Olympians use: success is not 100% achievement of that goal, it's 65% which aims for excellence, not perfection. Here's the thing:  the goals they set are high so even attaining 65% one has to stretch, grow, and do some changing.

Here's how the backward planning works. What do you want to accomplish at the end of 3 months setting the goal high enough to have the eeek factor. Now, what do you have to do to get that goal? What do you have to do to accomplish that or how are you going to get here? What's the daily or weekly routine? Here's an example that I'm mulling around in my brain. Let's say that in 3 months I want to be able to run 5K. In order to get there I have to test my endurance (example treadmill) for various distances. To do that my training must include a higher intensity portion as well as stretching as well as ample rest and recovery. My weekly routine consists of classes,Rushfit workouts, focused kick, form, and curriculum time slots plus rest days. My daily routine consists of proper diet, hydration, supplementation, sleep, and downtime.

There is also a format to the goal as well: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely (SMART). I'll use my 5K goal as an example.

• Specific: To run 5K without slumping into a heap
• Measurable (distance, time, earnings, etc): 5K
• Attainable: yeah, I can do it
• Realistic: It's a stretch and I feel I can. (note one does not need to know the "how")
• Timely: April 31, 2014 (I factored in time I will be on vacation and in courses)

When I look at my goal, there is a question that I ask myself: am I willing to give it my best?

• Am I willing to be that person to achieve that goal?
• Am I willing to have the life of that person to achieve that goal?
• Am I willing to take the bold and direct actions of that person so I can achieve my goal?

Of course I expect to slam up against my stuff and have to face squarely and change my subconscious programming and habits in order to get where I want to go. That's why I'm in the courses and programs I am in and have a team of support coaches who tell me what I need to hear in order help me face squarely what I need to face so that I can move on as a person and as an artist. Let the progress begin.
Sherri Donohue
My Blog

moment of happiness

hello everyone right now i feel really happy. I am do not full understand why but i do. I am going to university, going to lots of kung fu, and doing lots of training, trying to collect donations for my mustard seed charity. All this and i just feel happy. I must say i really am enjoying everything right now. I am always surrounded by such positive people and everyone is always having a such good time. For some strange reason i am happy but it feels foreign, like is this allowed for me? is this okay? to tell you the truth i don't know why this happiness i am feeling right now feels good, but at the same time guilty. I don't know why i would second guest being happy right now. but i guess i will enjoy it right now for the most of it, and hope i can continue the great feeling. Anyways i know what i write sometime makes no sense whatsoever, but maybe through writing this i can maybe figure it out. well remember to stay extraordinary.


230lbs


Sihing Langner

Procrastination is an amazing thing

I have spent the last 6 months in total fear of doing something. So afraid that I would start physically shaking (complete with teeth chattering) every time I thought about doing it. I very worked hard stretching out the task in an effort to avoid it. Not done yet. Needs more work. Redo this part. Not ready. The work was painful and time-consuming and difficult and hard on my self-confidence. However. It is now done. And it was really not as hard as I thought it would be. Done.

And now I am left looking at the energy and work I put into avoiding this task and feeling like I really should have given myself more credit along the way.

I need to work on my self-confidence because I am really awesome. ;-)

Procrastination is also present in my weekly blogs. Blogging is a huge task for me that I constantly struggle with. Yup, not sure if you noticed but I  procrastinated so much last week that this week is actually last weeks blog. I still feel very exposed and uncomfortable with this sharing thing. And it freaks me out that my words are out there for everyone to read. To judge. Obviously, my lack of confidence is evident here. Not feeling so awesome at the blogging. I kept thinking that it would get better, easier, but I am still struggling with it after doing it for a whole year. And it hasn't gotten any easier.

http://sharidactyl.wordpress.com/

fiddle update

Learning to play a jig on my fiddle. I can't play it fast yet, but it's coming. I can't wait til I can play it properly....practice practice practice!

Basic numbers: 202 crunches, 153 pushups, 156 kicks, 3 reps tai chi, 3 reps broadsword, 5 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the dog and cat treats, gave the dog pets, made Mike lunch and coffee

Today I consumed: a couple pieces of peanut butter raison toast, a banana, some potato soup with a broccoli cheese scone, a chocolate muffin, some pork with carrots, cabbage and potatoes and an icecream sandwich. I drank 2 cups of coffee, a cup of tea and 8 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Watch my back

Seriously - watch my back. I'm not sure if it is over training, the cold/warm weather or the shoveling I've done in the last week but my back is hurting.

I feel like I should get a massage and I should pay my chiro a visit. Probably should drink more water. This is one of the things I struggle the most. Keeping myself hydrated. Although I like drinking water once in a while, it is not enough. How do you convince yourself to drink more water???

http://csillag-stars.blogspot.ca/2014/01/watch-my-back.html

no more coffee!

I'm thinking about my goals for this coming year. I think instead of drinking only water, I'm just going to give up coffee...that will get me drinking more water anyway. I need to stop drinking coffee altogether I think. My body just can't handle it. My heart races, I get headaches, stomachaches and overall feel lousy if I drink more than a cup. I really like it...the buzz can be really nice in the morning, but it's not worth it. Also, this year I want to stop buying coffee. I spend a lot of money at work buying coffee everyday and it's completely unnecessary. So, no buying coffee for a year. Should save some money for sure. All those dollars add up.
So I'll see how it goes. I'm still compiling my list of goals....still have a couple of weeks to iron it all out while I work on finishing out the year with a bang.

Basic numbers: 202 crunches, 153 pushups, 156 kicks, 3 reps tai chi, 3 reps broadsword, 3.4 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the dogs and cat treats, got Mike some piano books, made Mike lunch and coffee

Today I consumed: a piece of peanut butter raison toast with blueberries, 2 bananas, an apple, some macaroni, some leftover pasta with meat sauce and a bite of poutine. I drank 2 cups of coffee, a tea and 7 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Video recordings

I really enjoyed the snake/horse team meeting on saturday.  A lot of very good insights and suggestions.  Ms Csillags idea of video recording on a monthly basis so everyone could see their progress was a great one. This is a valuable tool that the hubby and I use when preparing for dance performances, sometimes what you feel you are expressing is not translating visually.  It helps with developing an eye for detail I think because you get comfortable with bad technique / habits and don't necessarily realize that your foot position is not correct or the movements are not 'big' enough when doing a performance.  Once you have identified it visually you can make yourself concious of it physically, if that makes any kind of sense.  I am looking forward to using this in my kung fu.  

progress

It's funny looking at my blogs at the end of the year here compared to those at the beginning. My life used to involve television and copious amounts of fast food. Now I'm doing things like knitting and learning the violin and I'm eating much better. It's crazy to think of how much time I spent mindlessly sitting around really doing nothing. I'm having a lot of fun doing new things.
I got to thinking about this at work today when some coworkers were talking about a tv show they liked and they asked me if I'd seen it. I told them I don't have tv and they were shocked. A year ago I would have been shocked too....what a change.
I'm glad we've done so. It's good for Julia to see us constantly trying to learn new things and becoming better people.

On another note, I'm drafting up my goals for this coming year and I'm considering drinking only water for the entire year....would be good for me I'm sure, but so hard!

Basic numbers: 3 reps tai chi, 3 reps broadsword, 202 crunches, 208 kicks, 204 pushups, 4.5 miles

Acts of kindness: let a car ahead of me in traffic x3, held the door for someone x2, made Mike lunch and coffee.

Today I consumed: an egg on toast, a cookie, some chicken, feta, rice and veggies, some leftover pasta with meat sauce, 3 cups of coffee and 9 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Changing Bad Habits

You'd think after a year of I Ho Chaun I'd have a disciplined scheduled down pat. Heck no, I'm always forgetting to do pushup and situps, I rarely remember to log things and I just can't seem to get it together. This year I'm going to work on consistency, smaller, more realistic goals that I can maintain for the whole year so I don't spike and drop so much in my training. Right now I'm working on associating breakfast and dinner with vitamins and pushups and situps. It seems to take forever to break a lifetime of bad habits. One day I'll get this if I just keep trying.

Remembering the Skipping Rope

This week I was reminded by a friend of my long lost skipping rope.  I remember when I was little (a long time ago), skipping with friends every recess, lunch hour and till it got dark with friends outside.  Those were the days when the rope was a toy, meant for entertaining and games, and used without the feeling that I had expended a whole lot of energy after an entire day.   Things are a little different now.  Saturday morning my calves felt a little tender, a good tender though, and I found myself moving a little more careful.

A year and a half ago I had incorporated skipping into my daily workout routine.  I wasn’t extremely graceful and my toes seemed to stick out a little too far every now and then, but I found it a great addition to improving my cardio and my coordination.  Somehow as I started focusing on other things, the skipping rope got pushed to the side.  So as of Friday I have added skipping back into my routine, thanks to the friend who got me restarted!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Time flies

Well we are on the final stretch of the year of the snake and it’s hard not to think “didn’t we just start last month?” time flies and wow did it fly this past year. The last meeting of the group is in the bag and it’s unfortunate that the team we started with is not the team we are finishing with. I hope everyone grew from the year and most importantly had fun getting to know everyone on the team. For myself I was fortunate to bond with new and old members of the school this past year which I will remember for as long as I live. This is a family, a fun quirky group with which we struggle and strive together and create lasting memories to hopefully carry us all into the next year and beyond. This past week I stumbled upon our 2008 DVD of demos from the year and again was like a time machine into the past. There were many faces which I haven’t seen in some time and of course Travis Panasiuk who we would lose near the middle of the demo season. It was a great demo season that year and now these past two years we have kept building that momentum and so I hope people will recognize the amazing possibilities that lie in a year with the I Ho Chuan. I know next year will be even better for those involved and wish the team all the best.

Sifu Bryant
My Blog

piano time!

Had a nice rest day.
We got an old piano today. It's in really good shape and looks really cool. I wanted to get a piano so Julia could learn at some point. I think I might dabble a bit myself. I'm glad we found an old one though. Pianos can be really expensive. Every time I think about music now though I end up thinking about the lion and dragon dance and the drumming. It's funny how most things in my day make me think of Kung-Fu.

Basic numbers: rest day

Acts of kindness: gave the dogs treats, made dinner for everyone, took Julia to church

Today I consumed: a bite of granola bar, a breakfast sandwich and hashbrown from tims, 2 shortbread cookies and some pasta with meat sauce. I drank 2 cups of coffee, a beer and 9 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Don't Be Overwhelmed

I've been having quite a few conversations and have been working with people towards the upcoming performance. Seems to me that everyone is in the same boat- everyone is anxious and worried about their part. I'm not immune either. But I have to remind myself of what Sifu Brinker has been teaching me all of these years- where am I, what am I doing.

Sifu Robinson and I were practicing yesterday with very little progress being made. It was Sifu Hayes who reminded me of this, pointing out that the two of us were not in the moment, at least not both of us at the same time. It's easy to get caught up in the energy of the kwoon, which can be a good thing, but sometimes you have to ground yourself.

Under the weather

With Chinese New Year so close this is a terrible time to get sick.  However I have been battling a cold for the past couple of weeks and now it has caught up with me this weekend.  It sucks as the dragon dance team is relying on me and I have let them down by not being able to practice this past Saturday.  I have taken the time to rest this past weekend and I hope to be back to training this week.

Ian Repay
Student of Silent River Kung Fu

knitting

One thing I've started doing this year to help relax is knitting. I've been finding it a really nice way to meditate without having to sit still. I guess meditate isn't the right word......it gives me something mindless to do so I can just be. But at the end, you have something nice. I've really been enjoying it. I've dabbled in yarn crafts since I was young, but never actually did it for any length of time. Now, I'm finding it's one of my favourite things to do at the end of the day. Maybe that's a sign I'm getting older:)

I think the same can be said for pushups, situps...they are something mindless you can do. While you are doing them you don't have to think about anything else. You are in the moment and you can relax.

basic numbers: 51 pushups, 52 kicks, 2 reps tai chi, 1 rep broadsword, 2 miles.

Acts of kindness: gave the dogs treats, gave Julia a back rub, encouraged someone,

Today I consumed: some leftover pasta with an egg on toast and some berries, 2 sticks of pepperoni, a cookie, half a chicken sandwich with some fries, 2 cups of coffee, 8 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Tai Chiathon

The past week I have been practicing a lot of Tai Chi. I think i might have overdosed on Tai Chi because last night I dreamed about doing it. I dreamed I was practicing and critiquing myself as I went along. Maybe I actually learned something while sleeping. That would be pretty awesome. Now that I finally know the entire form I can start working on the finer details. I look forward to fixing my bad habits and exploring the finer points of the form.

Sifu Jesse Wetter

http://liveforeverordieintheattempt.blogspot.ca/

Ugh part 2

Hardly got any sleep last night. Flu travelled to the rest of the family so I was up all night. I think everyone is mostly better now thank goodness. Exhausted though. Need sleep for tomorrow. Going to be a long day. I'm really nervous. I hope it goes well.

Basic numbers: 10 reps tai chi, 2.5 miles

Acts of kindness: got up with Julia, helped Mike, gave the dogs pets, gave the dog a treat

Today I consumed: a piece of peanut butter and honey toast, half a cheese and turkey sandwich, some macaroni, some leftover pasta with a couple of pieces of pizza. I drank half a cup of coffee and 8 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

trying to practice...

Trying to get extra practice in before Saturday, but it's been hard. I need to get a lot done tomorrow.
Just seems like life keeps getting in the way.

Basic numbers: 4 reps tai chi, 51 pushups, 68 crunches, 4 miles.

Acts of kindness: gave the cat and dog treats, made Mike lunch, gave the dogs extra lovin's

Today I consumed: a bowl of cheerios, a bowl of macaroni with toast, a piece of chicken pot pie and some pasta with garlic toast. I drank a cup of coffee, a beer and 8 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca

Lion Dance Post 2

It has been inspiring to see the new lion dance from the outside. I am able to see the dance for what it should be and how it looks as a whole. I have only seen it from the viewpoint of the lion or on video which does not give you the whole picture. Everyone is doing really well and it gets better every time. I am looking forward to the day I can once again participate but for now will encourage and support. Kevin Lindstrom

on the mend

Feeling better today which is good. Still not 100% but getting there.
Really tired though. I hope no one catches our illness...especially the candidates!

Basic numbers: 202 crunches, 153 pushups, 208 kicks, 10 reps tai chi, 10 reps broadsword

Acts of kindness: gave the cat and dogs treats, danced with Julia, made MIke lunch and coffee

Today I consumed: half and egg sandwich with ham and cheese, some hash browns, some popcorn and some chicken pot pie. I drank 7 glasses of water, 2 cups of coffee and a cup of neocitron

Preparing for the demo

Today I was working with the blue/brown kids and their form for the demo. I find it is very easy to find imperfections in their forms especially when they are doing it 5 at the same time and not the conventional form. I was correcting them over and over knowing that the more they do it the better they will get.

Then I took a step back and watched it as a parent at the banquet. I was proud. They looked awesome. Not perfect but awesome.

I hope that at the end of the (Chinese) year they will remember that. How awesome they are and how hard work equates to being remarkable.

http://csillag-stars.blogspot.ca/2014/01/preparing-for-demo.html

To the Launchpad

2013 was a different year for me as I went through a lot of growth, healing, discovery, and changes. Add in a major injury to put things into a tailspin followed by frustration and a new perspective. 2014 has been birthed and the question I am asked is “am I willing?” Even though I’m not on the Horse team next year, I have my goals set out for the next year and yes, I will be keeping up with the blogging.

First of all Kung Fu. I am taking a step back to answer the question of “what is a black belt?” Right now it’s a question that I do not have a clear answer for and one that I need before I proceed to my grading year because if not, it will be one long and frustrating year. As for training, I am focusing on the rebuilding of my shoulder and using more functional exercises that use a wider range of muscles to increase my strength and endurance. Because the shoulder is a complex joint with many muscles surrounding, I am proceeding mindfully and slowly because when one muscle is in a hissy fit, they all join in. To tell the truth, numbers and I don’t mesh because I focus too much on the number and my quality falls to pot. Therefore, instead of repetitions for forms and kicks, I am setting a time frame in which to practice in (example 15 minutes), setting a timer, and focusing solely on the task at hand. I have a schedule set for my week that includes my morning Monday/ Wednesday classes, Sihing classes starting in February, Saturday fitness classes, and GSP Rushfit. The whole purpose of this is to use my martial arts to train for and run in the Death Race in August. For some unknown reason I want in this race.

Right now I am re-branding my glass art from SherriD Lampwork Glass to Creative Spirit Glassworks and the latter reflects more of who I am. Starting on Monday, I will be working on the launch of me as a glass artist through my website and social media. I will make a blog post with links when that happens. One thing that revealed itself is that I have been tap dancing around who I am as a glass artist and not going into the depths of who I am and the expression of my art. What’s my vision for me as a glass artist? Good question that I am focusing on right now. One thing that I know is that I am a healer and I am to bring healing through my art in whatever way that shows up. Memorial work comes to me (again) so I have a feeling there’s a place for me there and my work will be different than what’s out there for memorial pieces. I don’t have the answers as to how or the complete panoramic view of my vision, but what I do have is a start and a willingness to trust and go forward.

As for Goodies On Tap, I will still make my fudge, still test an ocean’s worth of recipes, and what will transpire is a food blog that will be a review site of recipes, books, sites, gadgets, and whatever else I can think of. Of course the theme is gluten-free, dairy-free, and whole food with the slant being mostly Paleo. Speaking of food, I will also be paying very close attention as to how I feel and my performance after eating certain foods. There may be some more tweaking coming along.

To answer the question “am I willing?” The answer is a deep “yes.” That does not mean that I know how or am fearless, it means that I’m willing to move one step further along my path of Mastery and trust that the answers will come to me on a need to know basis. When I need to know, it will be revealed. 

Sherri Donohue

My Blog