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