Friday night!

What a great night at the kwoon! We worked hard on our foot work in the black belt class, and again in the sihing class. I learned more of the Tai Chi broad sword in the I Ho Chuan class and sparred for 35 minutes after some cool techniques in the San Shou class. I would be lieing if I said I wasn't tired but I am pleased that I went to all the classes. I didn't really chat with anyone or pay any attention to what anyone else was doing, I was very focused on my own training and my own learning tonight. I hope all you guys are doing okay. I am looking forward to our meeting tomorrow and to plumping up my numbers with 1000 kicks and 1000 sit ups. Sleep well everyone :)

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

One Month In

How are your numbers? How is everyone feeling? I was saddened to hear that Sihing Bernie needs to take a break, hope she can come back soon!

I am doing well. Pacing myself. Keeping my eye on my goals for the year and trying to make my changes stick. My fan form is coming together. Stick feels totally awkward and klutzy -  a bit like the gopher in the wack-a-mole game - here comes the stick again - bop, but maybe after another 941 reps I will feel better. ;-)

Pushups - 4430 (9%)

Situps - 4430 (9%)

Fan - 39 (4%)

Stick - 59 (6%)

AOK - 54 (5%)

http://sharidactyl.wordpress.com/

???

I could not think of a title so am going with the big ?! This is appropriate as I need to decide on a couple of things in the near future. I am not going to dwell on what specifically but I believe I have used up all excuses and need to move forward. Sometimes I feel like the automatic vacuums that just move until they bump into something and then change course except that one time when they get stuck and just keep bumping into the same obstacle over and over and over a…………. Sifu Lindstrom

promotions

We had a great class on Wed. 6 people were promoted. It gives me a good feeling seeing people move on in their journey towards mastery. I hope I was able to help them all in their quest for the next level. We have 2 new brown belts and 4 new Sihings. Congratulations to all of you. This helps me remember why I am involved with this year of the horse.To watch and learn from everyone successes and or failures. It's always nice to see the excitement a new belt level brings to your training.
Had Greek food for supper, a beef wrap, french fries. then a lumberjack sandwich, an orange, a banana, yogurt,
Took the garbage out, swept the floor, made the bed, did dishes,
Sifu Jeannette Langner

Tiring Day

Today was all about being there for someone else and trying to get my requirements squeaked in on the side. I feel like I have had several balls in the air all day. I don't think that I did a great job but I got everything done and all are reasonable looked after. I am exhausted!

Sifu Robyn Kichko
 http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/2014/02/tiring-day.html

Call Me Crazy

There are some days that I feel like an outright lunatic. Most of my friends think I am. Sometimes my family thinks I am. Why would I ever choose to spend my weekdays and weekends in Stony Plain at the kwoon when I had a job that paid well, didn't require all my Saturdays and evenings and let me see my husband for more than an hour at night? Why don't I get another day job, one that will pay for my car and bills?

I've chosen not to because it wouldn't allow me to be at the kwoon as much as I am now. Because I believe all those silly sayings on Pintrest and Facebook about happiness being more important than money, being honest is more important than being successful, a happy home is more than pretty things and fancy cars. I've heard people say these things, but never live by them. People who chase careers not because it's their passion but because it's a good paycheque.

I want to live by what I believe. I may not see Nick as much but when I do it's more fulfilling. We used to sit and vent about what happened earlier in the day, who did what and the stress of it all. That was our life- stress, worry and repeat. Why would anyone want to live like that?

I'll admit, I'm not as financially secure. But I'm alive. I'm happy. I see my family more. I enjoy life more. And I hope I'm more useful to those around me. If I have to sell my car, so be it. I'll gladly give it up. I recognize that not everyone can make this decision. I'm lucky enough to have that option so I'm not going to waste it.

After a month

What an unbelievable feeling after this morning I have reached, what I think is a milestone, 5,100 push ups and 4,950 situps.  I was able to do this in a month.  Even when I was playing hockey I don't think I ever did 5,000 pushups in a year. It takes some creativity doing reps at work in my office, reps at the airport and reps at the hockey arena.  But I got it done.  The cool part is I am talking to people around me and in my circle of friends and family about what I have chosen to do.   I am receiving nothing but positive feedback from everyone around me and a few times I have had people do some reps with me.  I am hoping that this path continues to be this positive, and I am looking forward to more of the challenges I have set for myself.

5,100 pushups out of 50,000
4,950 situps out of 50,000
69 reps of long out of 1,000
98 reps of stick1 and 2 out of 1,000
150.2 km out of 1,609










Mr. Sand


http://jimsand11.blog.com/2014/02/27/after-a-month/

Kindness

Not so long ago, I encountered a nice lady at the grocery store. She was leaving the building, leaning heavily on her cane and the railing by the door. I asked if I could help and she let me! The young person that was helping her with her grocery cart had gone ahead with the cart and her second cane, she was not able to walk with only one. So we walked to her car together and she shared some of her story with me. She is a very funny lady and had some interesting comments about aging that I won't share in this family friendly environment. I have thought of her often in the last little while and today I saw her again. She invited me to have coffee with her after we finished her shopping. She continues to have a smile on her face while she looks forward to a cortisone shot tomorrow to help relieve the constant pain she is in from her getting worse by the minute hip! She has one new hip and will hopefully have another one soon. I hope that I can always find something to smile about, regardless of what is happening in my life.
I think I made a new friend - thank you Silent River Kung Fu!

Sifu Robyn Kichko
http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/2014/02/kindness.html

kind act

This still seems to be a challenge for me. I see people everyday and yet I find I have to think about how I can do an act of kindness for them. It seems I need to work on my social skills. Saying you probably do acts all the time is not true. Being nice and pleasant only goes so far. I get a better sense of accomplishment if I actually qualify my acts of kindness as a positive interaction with people, or doing something nice out of the blue. Making me think of them has really made me aware of how infrequent I actually do things for others. This requirement has really opened my eyes on my behaviors towards others. I am striving to improve this quality in myself that I was unaware I was  lacking it.
I had Indian food for supper last night then got a BLT for lunch and a pretzel, and a lemon poppy seed muffin.
We cleared out the cabinet and moved it to the living room. Then did dishes. Put the DVD's back in cabinet. Swept the floor. Made the bed.
Sifu Jeannette Langner

A Day in the Life!

Another great day with the kids, they have so much energy, it's hard not to be in love with all of them. Today we were working on our animal postures and doing an obstacle course at the same time, complete fun and they all seemed to be trying really hard to mimic the postures especially that leopard posture that is so tricky (open X). We did an obstacle course with the Beginner Black Dragons too and they worked very, very hard and all left rosy cheeked and sweating. I love it! We took little breaks from the course and worked on their kicks with partners and they all seemed to be trying their very hardest, that bad it an extra awesome class. One of my thoughts is that our students have to be quiet all day, so they should let some of that out when they come to Kung Fu (it makes me not so popular with the other grown ups!), it makes doing Tiger stance and sounding like a tiger bring the house down. I love when they make lot's of noise!!!
I was at the kwoon practicing before class and I really noticed the details of my form that need work. I did my forms at the tri-leisure centre yesterday and didn't have any where near that much focus. That is just more proof that our kwoon is a magic place :)

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

On Track but so Far Behind

By the end of today I will have logged 3000 pushups and situps. This has been the only requirement I have been tracking. I have done forms in class as well as sections at home and have done various acts of kindness but those have not been written down. For the past three weeks I have not been at 100%, I wouldn't even consider myself at 50% most of the time. There is something wrong with my sense of balance, but none of the doctors I have seen have figured out what it is exactly. I have been on three types of medication that have had little to no effect and most simple actions can cause me to sway and almost topple. My doctor also requested x-rays of my neck to be taken, as there has been some muscle pain in the area.

Even though I have felt terrible most days, I have kept using some of the tools I have been given, mainly pushups and situps. I have worked on small sections of forms, and have many plans and ideas for my personal requirements but at this moment I do not feel like I can fulfill them properly. However I will push myself to go to open training this Saturday however and try to mark some repetitions of Kempo as well as the jian form I have been working on, because I need to start now before it's too late.

Made Easy

So I don’t particularly have any new or mindful insights about my journey towards mastery.

But I do want to comment about something that has changed this year to help all of us out, who are on the I Ho Chuan Horse Team to succeed in one of our goals, which not a lot of us are taking advantage of. That change was the rearrangement of class days and times. This one particular change that Master Brinker made for us was to move the Sanshou class from Tuesdays to Fridays and placed it right after the I Ho Chuan class. By doing this he has made it incredibly easy for anyone on the I Ho Chuan team to get in the required 1000 rounds of sparring that are needed to have a successful year. Not only does a person get in some time with the gloves on, but they will also learn valuabletechniques from a number of excellent instructors. To date I am ahead in my sparing numbers and at this pace if I keep going I will surpass the required 1000 rounds this year. It baffles me that there are not more of the I Ho Chuan members at this class, as all it takes to attend is to sign up for the class and then stay that extra hour at the Kwoon after the I Ho Chuan class, after all we are already there, it is that simple. It is not like we have to make an extra trip or set aside another hour on a different day to attend the class.

 Where am I? What am I doing?

Concious to subconcious

The last little while has been going along alright as far as my Kung Fu is going. The biggest issue I have is a conscious routine that I can turn into a subconscious routine in regards to my training. I get bored of routines quickly and I lose the moment due to the fact it becomes the mindset that I have to do this. Then the nonconforming side comes out and the heels dig in. Must be the Taurus in me I guess. This mentality has to change or the odds of my Kung Fu evolving are going to remain slow and the odds of me achieving black belt slim to none. So I gave it some thought and thought of all the subconscious routines I have that I don't even think about, but perform almost religiously everyday. The thought process required is quite simple if you step outside of yourself and look at it for what it is. Your training cannot be viewed as a part of your job you hate, or going to the dentist, or paying taxes. It's not something you have to do because someone say's you have to. It's something you want to do, this is your chance to get rid of the day's events. This is the chance to release and relax. So I am trying to develop the excitement of doing all aspects of Kung Fu and the excitement of the I Ho Chuan requirements. I try to think of it all as a gift that I am lucky enough to be part of and create a solid structure so I can look back and be proud of not only a physical development to my Kung Fu, but the evolving of the mental side of it all. This is really starting to restore the excitement for my Kung Fu that has perhaps over the last while stagnated. I'm working on it and my numbers and reps are not where I want them to be, but they will be and a subconscious routine will develop and the numbers will start increasing. I think another huge difference this time around is I am trying to let my body run on auto pilot and not overthinking. When I am practicing my forms I lock my internal critic in a box. When I feel something is not right I make a small mental note and move my thoughts else where and I don't stop the technique or the form to avoid concentrating on that one thing. This definitely takes practice and I am no where near being able to let it all go, but I'm working on it. We'll see what happens. If I can mature this mindset, I think things should roll along cool. See you at the kwoon.

Happy

Sifu Robyn Kichko
http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/2014/02/happy.html

work and travel

This week has  been extremely busy for me workwise I was out of town for three days and will be out again on holidays for the next week.  What I am noticing is that many of the requirements I have to get done are now a part of my everyday routine.  I get up and begin the day with push ups and sit ups.  I am focusing on the times I am out of town on business and planning ahead so I will devote the time to get my requirements done.  this upcoming week will be a test to ensure I do keep up.  We will see how it goes.


Mr Sand

http://jimsand11.blog.com/2014/02/24/work-and-travel/

Week In Review

I'm still struggling to find consistency in my numbers. I'm still working on a good way to log acts of kindness. Even just peforming them is still tough too. I'm trying to change my driving habits but it's really hard for me. I can't stand the way everyone else drives and it's very difficult to keep my composure behind the wheel.

All my pushups this week are modified due to my shoulder. It feels like cheating by doing them but I guess building the habit of getting them done is more important at this point.

I'm happy that I've been getting in my form reps and all my kicks. Although there are days where I feel like my kicks are terrible and my balance is bad, I feel like some of the little things are improving and that's all due to putting in the reps.

Last Week:
Pushups - 920
Situps - 320
KM - 4
Da Mu Hsing Reps - 16
Kicks - 560
Acts of Kindness - 4

Overall:
Pushup - 2060
Situps - 850
KM - 6
Da Mu Hsing Reps - 62
Kicks - 1770
Acts of Kindness - 14

Cory Smid
http://kungfucory.blogspot.ca/

From the phone

Friday night my computer broke. So this blog is frustratingly being typed from my phone. I also cut my thumb and have a bandaid on so my phone typing is slower. Therefore I'm going to keep this one short. Fridays class was a lot of fun, I'm sporting bruises on my forearms and bisep from the elbow block techniques. I felt exceedingly proud to be sporting new bruises, which I find to be kind of hilarious. I like how us martial artists wear bruises like badges of honor.

I watched the UFC fight and was disappointed by just about every fight. I don't really follow UFC very much but when I  do catch a fight they never seem to be all that great. At our table was a friend of a friend, who I don't know all that well, throughout the night he kept throwing out random martial arts advice. Now I  am  95% sure that this guy has no martial arts training at all so I felt a bit awkward sitting there  listening to it. Nothing he said was particularity wrong mind you. He told my one friend that you should punch with your first two knuckles, true enough. He talked about how he does lots of push-ups and the benefits doing them, which again I agree with so I didn't say much. He told my friend that he  owns a punching bag and encouraged him to come over for a bag workout, yeah fine..

Then he  told my friend how  he could teach  him some punches and kicks. At this point I really began to feel  uncomfortable . Having  someone, who I'm pretty sure  knows very little offer to teach my friend while I, a guy with 10 years  of experience , sits there  listening  did not seem appropriate. I don't know if it's justified for me to feel annoyed . Basically I think it bothered me because i felt like this person was  acting like a poser. I don't think this person knows I train and  I never spoke up to say I do.  I felt like if I did it would be only  to stroke my ego and to  say if you  if you are going to listen to anyone you should listen to me. Anyway it was an odd experience.

They talked about wanting to join a place called the Panther Gym in edmonton but that it was too expensive. I don't know anything about panther gym so I had no opinion to give. Then my friend mentioned he was thinking of joining Krav Maga. At that point I couldn't keep quiet anymore and told him that he would be better served joining pretty much anything but Krav. From what I've seen, it's essentially a glorified "self defense system" that teaches you moves to beat other moves. I saw an interview with an instructor who teaches Krav Maga in edmonton. At some point in the interview he said something like, "we only spend our time working on techniques that work" and that they only spend time working on techniques. Then he showed some demonstrations. It only took me about 10 seconds of watching this guy move awkwardly to know he didn't know what he was doing because he had no fundamentals.

I guess I'm kind of ranting here. It just really bugs me how ignorant people are of martial arts in general. How they are so quick to jump onto things MMA related or whatever's being advertised with the most hype. I guess that's why it's so important for us to promote our art.

Sifu Wetter

http://liveforeverordieintheattempt.blogspot.ca/?m=1

Ruff Week

I have found it hard to stay motivated this week and my numbers are not where they need to be. I never really do good mentally when Tiffany is away. However tomorrow is another day and every day is another opportunity to get back on the horse and regain control of the situation. On the up side I am now up to sets of eighty pushups and sit ups. I haven't done any kicking or forms science my injury but I have high hopes for the healing process. Ill get the better end of it all one way or another. I look forward to another week and another opportunity to get better.

Week 3

I found it hard to keep motivated this week, I wasn't able to make to it any classes at all. Also it's FREEZING out! I'm still not able to practice anything with my spear outside of the kwoon. I was able to keep up with my situps and acts of kindness and my diet tracking, although after a couple of busy days not writing things down and those numbers are lost. I don't have much to say, just going to keep plugging along over here. It's getting to be the busy season at work- calving season. I'm hoping this won't keep me late to often. See you all Friday.
Sifu Prince

Random Olympic thoughts

A couple of scattered thoughts that went through my mind during the Olympics:

-I was not up at 5:00am to watch the Canada Olympic hockey…..but I should have been. 

-If Kung Fu were an Olympic sport can I say I’d be in Sochi right now?

-Why is Canada proud of its coffee, and humble of its athletes? And why am I proud of that fact?

-Jean-Luc Brassard, fast forward to Alex Bilodeau.  Two eras of skiing. Equally cool.

-Why is it OK to scoff at an unsuccessful athlete from the comfort of my sofa?

-If he wanted to compete, would Chuck Norris be banned from the Olympics because of an illegal dose of Awesomeness?

-I wonder if Canada is bringing home more homeless dogs than medals?

-I wonder what a crazy carpet would do on a bobsled track?

 

Can’t say I didn’t warn you.

 

vincekrebs@blogspot.com

Numbers, Numbers, Numbers

I must admit that my numbers have been in the toilet this week. I'm not proud but I do believe that there will be times where they just won't,can't, don't happen and we will have to figure out (individually) how to factor that into success. I just had this great idea (might not be great when I am less tired), let's do 1000 push ups and sit ups on March 01,2014 to pad our numbers or get us where we need to be I think I need a little boost and that gives us a few days to get ready for it. On that same day, we will try to do twice as many form reps than we have been doing. So that is next Saturday, what a great day to be amazing! Who is with me?
Sifu Robyn Kichko
 http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/

Week Three!

Week three of my I Ho Chuan challenge seems like it has been more like months, it has not been easy. I need to do something that will allow me to get better sleep, or help me be not so tired. I am still falling behind in my push-ups and sit-ups. I find that the push-ups are going to be the biggest challenge for me during the year. I cannot wait for a couple months when I get the hang of all the push-ups, but first that means that I have to try. Every time that I blog I feel like I have a new start, and can keep pushing on but by the time I blog again that was not the case for that week. Something different about this week is I read Mastery by Stuart Emery for the first time, I thought what he wrote was so true.

http://kathrynfuhr.blogspot.ca

http://flavors.me/kathrynfuhr

http://www.silentriverkungfu.com

http://ihochuan.blogspot.ca

Numbers

Numbers do not lie. It doesn't matter which angle you look at it. I've been training lots but I'm neglecting some of my goals.

Specifically the QiGong exercises but also the Horse Stance, the Plank and the staff form. I'm practicing lots with the staff but not working enough on the form itself. The numbers are a reminder to focus on what I need to focus on this year.

http://csillag-stars.blogspot.ca/2014/02/numbers.html


Snapshot:
Push-ups - 1,060 (3,230/50,000)
Sit-ups - 1,060 (3,150/50,000)
Nunchucks - 15 this week - 77 out of 1,000
Staff - 8 this week - 38 out of 1,000
Acts of Kindness 25 -  this week - 63 out of 1,000
Plank - 15 this week - 37 out of 1,000 minutes
Horse Stance - 16 this week - 44 out of 1,000 minutes
Qi Gong - 1 this week - 7 out of 365

Balance

     While I keep reading Mastery , in the attempt to memorize it , I wonder. Am I going to lose my  appreciation for some of the simple things that life offers?  In our never ending journey for mastery are we going to push ourselves too far. Maybe miss a sunrise or skip some quality family time to complete something on our list. I know that this shouldn't happen , but it's  tough , not getting caught up in the quest for numbers. Looking back at last year I see it happened to me on more than one occasion. A better effort at appreciating life's simple pleasures is going on my to do list. Maybe that's why I named my blog My Balancing Act even though right now there's not much balance.

 Scott Fuhr

http://ihochuan.blogspot.ca
http://scottfuhr.blogspot.ca
http://flavors.me/scottfuhr
http://www.silentriverkungfu.com

I'm Good At Something!!

I think I might have finally found something in Kung Fu that I'm not awful at. I've been putting in a fair amount of practice with the nunchuks and I feel like I have already improved quite a bit. I feel much more ambidextrous with them than I do doing anything else. Normally my right side is dominant to the point where you would think the left side of my body is paralyzed. It's that bad. Not so with the chucks. It feels really good to try something new and pick it up fairly quickly for a change. Obviously, I still have a really long way to go and "good" is a relative term, but I don't care. I'm happy with where I'm at and I'm going to enjoy this feeling and keep practicing.

Cory Smid
http://kungfucory.blogspot.ca/

Out of town, out of my element

There are some perks to working out of town, but they aren't as enjoyable or beneficial as they once were. Finding a semblance of normalicy when you're in a strange town with different schedules and an unpredictable work load has it challenges. I managed to find space and time for my pushups and am regaining my sit-up ability (they have been almost unbearable to do), but found that my access and time for forms was not what I had planned for. There were the days I planned to get to the available gym and found the facility booked and closed for a concert, heading in at a decent time then having the phone ring and ending up working until late. Looking at the time and thinking "I get to make it back for class tonight", yay, check my voice mail, the plan changes and I make it home the next day, finding decent food that fit my diet (there are only so many Subway sandwiches you can handle before you'd rather not); the offset of the unpredictable hours determines where, what where you're going to eat and sleep, topped off with waaaayyyyy too much alone time. Trying to plan a workload and having it change from hour to hour in an area you're not familiar with or just realizing how out of my element things can get. So this weeks numbers are not what I had planned, but in the bigger picture for time over the next few months, I'd rather take my turn for a week or two out of town now, than a few months down the road. I was unable though, to find the intensity, mindfulness, comradery, meaning, that I get when I am at the Kwoon but I managed to recapture all those once I was back for Saturdays classes and open training, plus my body was well aware of what a week away did to me. Mr. Fuhr and I also videoed our forms in open training and "yikes", what I thought I looked like,........isn't!  I did go through a lot of reflective thoughts about "where I'm at, what am I doing; do I really need to be doing this", looking at my needs vs. my wants ($$$$$$), thinking of all the years a person works to get "the stuff" only to realize "you don't own it, it owns you", and perhaps, what do I really want at this stage of my life? Does it sound like I might need a break, you bet; I'm off to Costa Rica in a few days for some away time, some time to do my forms (repairing what disturbed me in the video), upping the bank account on my push ups and sit-ups, in the jungle, on the beach, on the plateau of a volcano, the airports, just to get away, break up the winter, take a break from work and recharge as I take on this upcoming year. Robert.
Push ups-1081 (3963)
Sit-ups-550 (2310)
Forms 6 (43)
Jacobs Ladder 0
Horse Stance 1:30
Gym 1 (5)

Recording the numbers

This has been and still continues to be a problem for me.  Not sure why this is and why I don't record the numbers.  Is it because I have not found a new piece of technology that will help?  A new "app" that will magically read my mind and record the numbers for me?

No, it's because I'm lazy in this regard.  I am doing my requirements for the most part and I am engaged in the process.  However I just don't seem to give this the importance that it deserves.  It's almost like "I will get to it later" and I'm ok with this even though I know this isn't right..  In the beginning of this I Ho Chuan I was really good then I missed a couple of days and the wheels fell off.  I know that I am better than this and yet I can't bring myself to get back to recording the numbers.  I will have to find another way.

Today is a new day and today I am recording my numbers.  So far today I have done the following, have some work to do today before I go to sleep.

0 push ups
0 sit ups
0 form reps
0 RAKS
1 blog written

Ian Repay

Student of Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, Alberta Canada
ianrepay@blogspot.com

My Cat Ate My Pedometer

Yesterday I woke up in the earliest hours of the morning to a crunching sound. My cat was chewing on my pedometer. She's also taken to chewing on cellphones. I'm thinking her new name is going to be mittens pretty soon if she keeps it up. Good news is, I logged .3 of a mile while asleep. Yay me!

I haven't been doing so well with my numbers. I'm so exhausted lately, waking up early and staying awake past 8 is becoming difficult and if I don't do them in the morning, I don't do them at all. I need to fight it and just do it. Kung fu doesn't care if I'm tired, just have to find a way to do it. Period. I'm nervous to go back to my classes, and start San Shao, after the past few months I've gotten so weak and slow, it's pretty embarrassing but I know that the only way to get better is to just do it. No excuses, just results.

My numbers so far;

Pushups - 40
Modified Pushups - 395
Tricept Pushups - 115

Situps - 115
Modified Situps - 170
Plank - 70 seconds

Miles - 37.5

Rounds of Sparring - 9

Loa Gar Reps (The part I know) - 16
Ropedart Reps - 16

Recorded Acts of Kindness - 40

never quit

We are all reminded of how life gets in the way of things. Our health impacts a lot of our decisions daily.I have a physical annoyance and it prevents me from doing high impact exercises or running or jumping. Consequently my exercise regime is mostly low impact. Now this takes a lot of patience and perseverance. Seeing results with this method take a lot longer. I did get my black belt with perseverance. I cannot express in words just how special it was on that day I did get my black belt. I had to work consistently at my exercises and practices in order to achieve the level of fitness required. My knee injury was a blessing in disguise because I started training as soon as I could and I was able to grade within 2 years of the injury. This may sound tedious and boring however the sense of accomplishment is beyond words. So I am taking this year to heart and not quitting any goal. Slow and steady really does win the race. Keeping this up front in my mind is what helps me go on when my body tries to quit on me. I may not do 180 push ups a day yet but I am getting closer to the number. I can do 40 per set, 20 normal 20 triceps then 20 crunches and 20 leg raises. I really concentrate on those core stabilizers to help with my endurance. Staying to do the san sou on Fridays is hard because I really am tiered by that time and still make it to work.I will find a formula to make that class because I see the opportunity to get my sparring hours in.
Yes my physical limitations still keep me from going at full speed but I will never stop trying.
It's my birthday today so Randy is spoiling my by doing my chores,
I had pizza 2 slices fully loaded, then brought 2 more to work, had a  pretzel with mustard, a big glass of a fruit smoothie, and an orange.
Sifu Jeannette Langner

More hours please!

I totally need more hours in a day or I need to make better use of the ones that I have. I realized, as I was falling asleep, that I hadn't told the world about my day. I had an early start to my day taking Katie to her performance and I thought I was making good use of my time by doing errands at that time but then the more things I got done, the more I added to my list! I'm not sure why I do that to myself?!? I can't seem to be satisfied with making a plan, executing it and that's it. Somewhere along the way I decide this is going so well, why not add ten more things to the pile, and then I end with frustration because I didn't complete everything. I will definitely need to work on this!

Sifu Robyn Kichko

http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/2014/02/more-hours-please.html

You Must Read This

Did the title work? Just checking. Seeing if anyone is out there to read my ramblings. As most of you are aware, I have a shoulder injury that has hampered my training lately. It has had issues for years now but at the beginning of December it became much worse. I have done what I can to let it heal and it was starting to get better but it is now much worse. I am not sure why but now the frustration level is even higher now. This is not so much a blog as it is more if a way to vent. It feels like someone is pulling on your arm to the point it is coming out of the socket. Arrrrrgh!!! Okay I'm done. On a positive the showers are almost complete (finally) and should be complete after tomorrow. It is nice to get the new team involved early but unfortunately there are still lots that don't. I am not sure why but it does not help the team spirit when there is already resentment beginning to creep in because it mostly the same people showing up again and again. I know this probably won't influence your decision but remember that we are all on the team and must act like one if any of us are to succeed. FYI out if a team of 26 only 10 made it out to the renovations last weekend and after tomorrow you will not get another chance until the lady week of August. I'm out. Kevin Lindstrom

Technology struggles

So I have had computers crash at work so in addition to my regular stuff I have been tech support and doing all kinds of troubleshooting and as a result my laptop from home is being used at the office ... so that means I have to do all my kungfu computer stuff from the office.  And painfully all the new phones came in and i had had to setup nine blackberry z10's.  It has taken all day!!!!   So what does this really mean ... it means that this week I have not gotten my form reps for the escrima sticks done.   (i am mentally yelling right now)!  It has been very frustrating and very little progress made on my form.

http://www.marchingtoadifferenttune.blogspot.ca/

Blog Day, Awkwardness and Busted AOK.

Why is it that I have tonnes to say leading up to blog day and then when it arrives everything is either old news, irrelevant or just messed up?

I am still excited about my fan form. It is really coming together much faster than last year.

I can totally relate to Miss. Gibson's post: Not So Lonely Anymore. Last year, I was so awkward, and uncomfortable, and self conscious and freaked out. This year is SO much better.

So the best reason do start doing the I-Ho-Chuan is to make it easier the second time round. So much more relaxed, confident and I actually feel like I belong unlike last year.  Being awkward is just me, so I guess I shouldn't expect that one to change.  ;-)

AOKs are in the dump already. That app sucks. Turns out I was like the ONLY person in the world using it and by the time I figure it out there was a whole string of irrelevant sounding AOKs posted just by me. Felt like a jerk. Dropped it. And haven't recorded a single AOK since. Busted. So I am working on another strategy to get me back on track. Any ideas?

http://sharidactyl.wordpress.com/

new language

Had another good nugget to share from wed class. Sifu Brinker mentioned how we all are learning the vocabulary of kung fu now we need to start making sentences that work. So our block punch kick is a sentence that flows. Not just block...punch...kick. He called it the vocabulary of motion. Thought it would be a cool concept to share. It makes me look at my forms in a new way to think of it as a story not just a bunch of moves. It definitely helped with my flow issues.Now if can just relax my shoulders.Sigh it is still a work in progress.
Had beef cube with noodles and mushrooms for supper then took some to work as well as a baggie of fruit and veggies.Also had a bowl of veggie soup and a bagel last night.
Did dishes, took out garbage, Swept the floor, cleaned counters,made bed
Sifu Jeannette Langner

Teaching moments

I had a magnificent class with the beginner black dragons today. I was going over awakening the dragon with them so we sat on the floor and talked a bit about the form and then we did it together a bunch of times. I felt so connected with them and so a part of their journey, what a great feeling. I love teaching the young people in our school.
I have to mention the proud mom moments that I had today. Katie was in her high school play, Footloose, and it opened tonight. It was fantastic to watch her sing and dance, she looked like she was having the time of her life each time that she was on stage. I am really glad that her dad and I were brave enough to allow her to explore this avenue, she obviously is a natural.

Sifu Robyn Kichko
http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/2014/02/teaching-moments.html

Get Out Of My Brain Mr. Smid

I'm really enjoying the blogging this year. It was getting a bit lonely nearing the end of the Snake Team. Mr. Smid's blogs make me smile because I know exactly what he's writing about because I've had the exact same thoughts. Thanks for helping me feel normal Mr. Smid. :)

Keep blogging everyone! We all can help each other so much better when we know what your struggling with, and we'll all know who to ask questions when you are successful at something. I'm really enjoying reading everyone's thoughts with my morning coffee in hand. I can actually hear everyone's voices as I read your blogs so it's like you're talking to me in my head. Please tell me I'm not the only weird one doing that.

alignment

We learned in the blue/brown class about body alignment. If we pay close attention to this it will greatly help with our 6 harmonies. When positioning feet for a technique it is best to have them with your lead leg slightly in front to create a circle of power. We line ourselves up for a hip throw and here is where it is critical. You can hurt yourself when you ignore your body alignment. Staying on top of our hips with straight legs takes a lot of practice to consistently lift your opponent.It was a really great class.
I had pork steak and corn with noodles.Brought last of the hamburger helper to work then had bag of veggies and fruit.with yogurt.
did dishes,took out garbage, shoveled driveway, swept the floors,cleaned counters
Sifu Jeannette Langner

Dignity and Respect

How we treat each other is so important, I am not sure that I can do it justice here.
When you work really hard at something, put everything you have into it and improve so much it is ridiculous and then have that completely disregarded and ignored, you gotta wonder.... Who teaches people to be nice to each other? Who teaches them to treat each other with dignity and respect at all times? The answer my friends is We Do! Our every action that involves other people, is teaching them how to treat the next guy. Let's say you are in the line at the grocery store and you are not having a good day. You are not out right grumpy to the cashier but you are not open or friendly either, what did you just teach that person by your actions? How do you think they are going to treat the next customer? How do you think they are going to treat the next cashier they encounter? Our actions and non actions speak volumes about us and about the people that we meet each day. To the person that you don't acknowledge, you are saying they aren't worth it. It doesn't matter what kind of day you are having, it matters what kind of message you are willing to send to the world. We can change our world one person at a time. We may not always know the results of our kindness, our respect, our dignity, but I am sure that the result is positive. My message (in case it's not obvious!), everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect!

Sifu Robyn Kichko
http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/2014/02/dignity-and-respect.html

Odds and Ends

A few thoughts I had after class tonight...

Sifu Brinker led class tonight and besides him, Sifu M. Playter, Sifu Langner, and Sifu Langner were also there. It was really nice to have so many Sifus to correct us as we were going through combinations. I was corrected a few times and each time I didn't even realize that I was doing something wrong until it was pointed out to me. I will admit that sometimes I get frustrated when I get corrected if I'm doing something wrong, mostly when I'm already trying to fix it but my body is not cooperating. But in the end I'm thankful for the extra instruction because it sucks when you practice a technique at home extensively, when all the while you're doing it wrong and a few small corrections were all that was needed.

I stopped to shovel snow after class and Sifu Masterson and family were already there and she answered a few questions I had about Shaolin Fitness class. When she answered my questions, her enthusiasm really came through and it really struck me how awesome everyone is at SRKF. As far as I'm concerned, volunteering to help with Adopt a Driveway, helping with renos, and joining the I Ho Chuan were some of the best decisions I've ever made. Getting involved is the best way to get to know everyone and there are so many great people here. I wonder if Silent River attracts awesome people or just makes everyone awesome. Maybe a little of both. 

I went to the store to pick up a few groceries on the way home and when I was in line to pay, I noticed how people seem to go out of their way to not talk to others, or even look at them. Everyone just looks down or stares straight ahead. I'm as guilty of this as anyone and I wonder if this is a symptom of why I'm behind on my acts of kindness. I'm going through life, oblivious to what's going on around me. A perfect example of this is the adult beginner class. There is a new student in our class. She has been here for a few weeks but I realized tonight that I haven't even bothered to stop and introduce myself.  How awful is that? I will definitely introduce myself next class but it shouldn't have taken this long for me to do so. I am going to make an effort to be more mindful of those around me from now on.

Cory Smid
http://kungfucory.blogspot.ca/

Maintaining

Maintaining

This week has been fairly normal other than work interfering on the weekend. I have continued with the same pace towards my goals since the beginning, so it is defiantly been a good start to the year. I just have to maintain this pace with the mind set to go around any obstacle that life puts in front of and not be stop by them. I think it might be helpful to add a comparison column to my tracking sheet to show if I am falling behind, moving ahead or just staying at par towards my goals each day. Doing something like that might be fun and motivating especially if I am able to use some type of fun picture to represent how I am doing.

Where am I? What am I doing?

update on tattoo

I had a consultation recently at Crimson Empire for my tattoo. I'm going to get it on my calf and it will be a rose with a blue butterfly. I'm kinda nervous about it so I scheduled my appointment for May 11th. Even left a  non refundable deposit so I have to go through with it. I had good news from my doctor about my dosage for my Thyroid pills and it remained quite steady all last year so I don't have to go back to see him for 6 months.Which also means my supply is good for 6 months and I he just wants me to schedule a  physical to occur in the spring. So Yay  more blood work.I will endeavor to actually make the appointment and do all the tests.
Tom has been with AMA for 10 years and they gave him a 50$ gift certificate for the keg. I had prime rib steak and garlic mashed potatoes. then I brought to work leftover  hamburger helper;and 2 baggies of fruit,and some yogurt.
I put away the laundry and did some dishes then I shoveled Sammy's runway in the back. Cleaned the counters.
Sifu Jeannette Langner

Routine

I don't know what to write tonight. I had a good,busy day, getting back to to routine after being sick. I had a great class with the kids tonight, there was great energy in the room and that is what it is all about!
Sifu Brinker is always talking about people who don't blog being disengaged, I am living proof of that theory. Yesterday was all about resting and looking after me so I could get better, I did not do any Kung Fu, all acts of kindness were for me and I didn't remember to blog at all. Here's to no more missed days :)

Sifu Robyn Kichko
http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/2014/02/routine.html

Feeling New

hello everyone things still seem to be on the up and up for me. University is going well for me and im really enjoying my classes. I'm learning new things all the time its so cool. The girlfriend situation for me still going nowhere tho *sigh* but I'm not giving up. Every girl seems to be unavailable or not interested. Being a new black belt and all it feel like i've entered a new world  for me everything new and exciting. I'm seeing things in a new light i may know the technique or form, but now i look at them like its the first time im really looking at them. I know how it works and whats it for, but now im truly seeing and appreciating what each technique can teach you and what each form can help you work on. it like why have i not sen this before but either way its so cool seeing kung fu this way again, but at a different level. anyways i guess not much to say today other than remember stay extraordinary.


Sifu R Langner

push up

Well I am pleased to report an increase in my numbers. I am able to do 20 push ups at a time now. I started at 10 so I'm excited I was able to double that number.Documenting them in a journal has been helpful. We've heard it before however I am pleased to report the truth of this theory. I  don''t like to journal at all so this is also quite the challenge for me. This is making me more aware of how much Kung fu I actually have in my life. I'm trying to adapt it in new ways that are helping me with my everyday life. I have more energy. I still tend to procrastinate more than I'd like but even in this I am making improvements. Being accountable publicly has motivated me more than I realized. This journaling  really works. So for those of you who aren't I highly recommend you give this a try.
I had chicken and potatoes with a salad for supper, then 2 more pieces for lunch and a fruit smoothie in the morning.
I did dishes, cleaned the toilet, wiped the counters, did recycling, and took out the garbage.
Sifu Jeannette Langner

Week in Review

Looking back on last week I have to say that it was pretty good. I earned a stripe in class, learned a couple more moves with the nunchuks and had another good Friday practice. I wasn’t sure what to expect initially from Friday nights but I’m really enjoying them. I don’t feel out of place because it seems like most other people are learning a new weapon too. After kung fu I go to the gym and I’m always in a really good mind set after practice so I always have a good workout.

I helped with tiling yesterday and it was a lot of fun. It didn’t seem like work at all because we were all having a good time together and there were enough of us there that one or two people didn’t have to do everything.

My shoulder is feeling better although I don’t think it’s really healing, it’s just that I haven’t been using it so it hasn’t been bothering me. I’m following some of the advice that I was given and I’ve been doing modified pushups. I feel weak doing them because they’re not really that hard but I guess it’s better than nothing.

I’m finding that it’s really difficult to log acts of kindness; partially because I’m not being very kind to others and also because I flat out forget to log them. I definitely need to do better at that. I’m also having a hard time getting in any kind of running. I have an elliptical at my house so I don’t really have an excuse other than I hate doing it. There are no words to describe how much I loathe running. I’ve done it in the past and really can’t stand it. Not sure what to do about this.

Numbers:

Last week                       Total

Pushups -                   610 (incl. modified)      1320

Situps -                       390                               590

KM -                            0                                   2

Da Mu Hsing Reps –   23                                49

Kicks -                         640                              1300

Acts of Kindness -       2                                  11

Cory Smid
http://kungfucory.blogspot.ca/

Hammer Time

Fridays class was the first time I've swung my meteor hammer in a couple years. I didn't kill myself so that's good! In fact I didn't have any accidents at which I think made Sifu Rybak a bit jealous since her feet were taking a beating  . I made my hammer a couple years ago but never really practiced with it much. It might be just a little bit to heavy, I'm a bit nervous about accidentally hurting someone. Also, when I spin it the centrifugal force is strong enough that its difficult to hold onto without the rope slipping in my grip. Sifu Robinson loaned me his meteor hammer, which is a bit lighter, I might practice with it until I am comfortable moving to the one I made.

Miss Gibbons showed me some moves and tips which were great to get me started. I have a lot of learning to do. It's both frustrating and invigorating to be back to square one on a weapon. I have never really learned a soft weapon like the meteor hammer so its very foreign. I'll be looking for help wherever I can find it.

Back when I first made my hammer I brought it to Hawrelak park a couple times and awkwardly tried to find a discreet spot to practice. I was surprised to find that there inst really any spot in the park that is hidden from view of passerby's. I'm going to make a point of finding an outdoor secret practice area this summer.

Sifu Wetter

http://liveforeverordieintheattempt.blogspot.ca/

Almost There

   This week was uplifting, I was able to fifty push ups one day and the next day still be able to do push ups. My sit ups however I find easy, I can normally do quite a lot of sit ups and the next day still be fine. My forms are coming along well da mu sing I already know and I am really close to knowing all of a tai chi broad sword form. I like being part of a team like this, it's cool, where everyone gets to work with weapons and if you have the same weapon as someone else it's like you have a buddy specifically for you to keep pushing you on. We also joke around we can a very serious group one minute, and be totally silly the next.

Kathryn Fuhr

http://kathrynfuhr.blogspot.ca
http://flavors.me/kathrynfuhr
http://www.silentriverkungfu.com
http://ihochuan.blogspot.ca

This weeks test, setting up for the rest of the plan

I had spoken to my boss about being local for the months of December and January to help with my commitments for the "Chinese New Years" celebration. But as it's now past I realize that it's my turn to go out of town for my share of the workload. I had in years and months past blown my training commitments as I can get caught up in my workload and somehow tell myself that I'll catch up later, as soon as I get back I'll double up my actions and I truly believe it when I tell myself this and truly know I won't do it at the same time. So this week there I was standing in front of my old behaviour pattern and this time said "NO". I found the gym, I did pushups and sit ups in-between paperwork, left the hotel television off, basically doing what I could with the travel, work and time left at the end of the day. Being out of town did leave me with a crammed schedule for  Saturday, but most important was to stay with the flow of my training. Back at the office they know that Robert is busy Saturday morning with his "physio" as they've been conditioned to believe, yet I managed to make it to fitness, pick up my motorcycle from the shop, do laundry, take in date night, head out the next day for work and keep my numbers near where I wanted. I did get in late on Sunday and felt that blogging then wouldn't be from the heart, so I switched it to this morning.  Enough patting myself on the back,..........this isn't about me, it's about "being of service to others". When I am so "selfish" that it's going to be about me in every aspect of my life, I crash and burn, over and over. But when I'm selfish to build me in such a way that my experience will help/inspire/motivate others, the benefits are beyond anything I could imagine and at times comprehend. Earlier in the week the opportunity came to share my experience with several classmates on their journey and belt level and I was able to look back and through my journey pass along my experiences to help them move forward, to let them know they are not alone in this. "Date night", provided me a chance to sit beside an 11 year old boy at a hockey game that I had never met until that moment, I shared some of my wisdom and he some of his. When the game was over and it was time to say goodnight I asked him what were 3 things that he got out of our conversation; 1) always save something, never give your money to someone called a "Broker", 2) If you think education is expensive, try stupidity, 3) the "cool" kids will someday up size your fries(I told him to ask his Dad about this on the way home). The next day I spent an hour in the middle of nowhere at the end of my workday talking to a friend about career choices and helped unload some of the frustrations he was experiencing with choices when you can't see into the future, but with 35 years in the workforce, I offered what I could to help lighten the load. That's it for today, Robert.

Week two totals;
Pushups- 1377 (2882)
Sit ups- 730 (1760)
Forms- 20 (37)
Jacobs Ladder  1:20
Horse Stance 1:30
Gym-2 (5)