Reflections

Today I find myself reflecting on “Where I am? What am I doing?”

What I have come up with is that without Kung Fu I would be lost, wondering aimlessly through life, destined to just be ordinary. Kung Fu is such a big part of who I am and what I do, I can’t imagine life without it, just trying too sends shivers up my spine.

Where am I? What am I doing?

Keeping on!

I'm doing lot's of procrastinating, not just about kung fu but other things around the house. I think that I may have too much time on my hands so I am not doing too much of anything. If I have a plan or an appointment, that seems to help my schedule and I get more things done. Otherwise, I am just hanging out, visiting with Jim and Katie, playing with my dogs and my unpredictable cat. I am getting lots done on my knitting projects, I did cane strikes in my back alley this evening and I am eating well. I had hoped to do some painting this week but it is too hot for that (hopefully it won't be as hot on Monday). I will keep keeping on!

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

Hot

It is hot out there, eh?

Just about unpacked from our camping trip. Laundry 1/2 way done. Gotta blog cause it's that time. But laundry ain't folding itself. So just dropped in to say: Sure is hot out there, eh?

sharidactyl.wordpress.com

Numbers Update

We are almost halfway through the I Ho Chuan year so I thought I'd look at my numbers and see where I'm at:

	Completed	Remaining
Push Ups	4345	45655
Sit Ups	4945	45055
KM	34	1575
Da Mu Hsing Reps	264	736
Kicks	7330	17670
Acts of Kindness	82	918

If you look at the numbers, it's obvious that I'm way behind and it doesn't look like I'm in a very good place. But if I analyze the numbers a little bit, it reveals a different story.

I'm splitting my numbers up into two phases: "Prior to June 23", and "June 23 and Onward". June 23 was the day that some of us started posting our numbers publicly on the UBBT Google Group.

This is the breakdown:

Prior to June 23	142 days	Avg/ Day
Push Ups	4240
Sit Ups	2470	17.4
KM	34
Da Mu Hsing Reps	183	1.3
Kicks	4700	33.1
Acts of Kindness	28	0.2

June 23 onward	36 days	Avg/ Day
Push Ups	105
Sit Ups	2475	68.8
KM	0
Da Mu Hsing Reps	81	2.3
Kicks	2630	73.1
Acts of Kindness	54	1.5

A couple of things to note - my shoulder injury has prevented me from doing pushups on a regular basis. Also, I clearly need to focus more on my KM.

My takeaway from this is that the benefit of training publicly can't be overstated. As soon as I started posting my numbers daily and creating that accountability, my numbers starting shooting up. I feel like things are starting to click for me. Two important concepts of the I Ho Chuan: Incremental Progress and Training Publicly now make sense to me and I am reaping the benefits of both. I obviously have a long way to go but I feel like I have a system that is working for me. All it's going to take is continued effort and some tweaking here and there. Thanks to everyone that continues to help me by posting their numbers daily.

Cory Smid

http://kungfucory.blogspot.ca/

The Weekend

The weekend was a good one.

I wasn't feeling well on Friday night so I watched from the sidelines while the team worked on Lion Dancing. One of the thoughts I had while watching was how funny it was that I was watching a group of grown adults dance around in lion costumes on a Friday night. Watching the team lion dance really gives you a sense of the teamwork that I feel we have. I know that there are other, more experienced, team members that feel our team is falling short, which we may well be, but the team that was present on Friday night was engaged and having fun together and it was inspiring to watch.

Saturday was Boot Camp. Between my shoulder injury and the onset of illness later in the day, I didn't participate 100%, but I had an amazing day nonetheless. We started off with a walk and I never realized how hard it is to quiet your mind. As we walked around the school grounds I found that my mind would wander every time I brought it back to focus on my breathing. It was cool how relaxed everyone was after the walk and even Sifu Brinker's normally loud voice was lower and more calm.

The fitness class put on by Sifu Lindstrom was tough and I wasn't able to do everything because of my shoulder but as of today I'm still having problems walking, so I obviously did a good job pushing myself. I already knew it, but it reinforced the fact that I'm not fit enough.

The seminar taught my Sifu Hayes taught us some moves with the cane. I felt like I picked it up reasonably quick, at least compared to how slowly I learn other things. Maybe weapons are something I will be good at.

I didn't attend any other seminars due to illness and I ended up going home early. Regardless, I learned a lot and had a lot of fun. It was great to train with such a mixed group of people and it was nice to see some Sifus in a more relaxed setting. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Cory Smid

http://kungfucory.blogspot.ca/

Goal Within Reach

Well I am really close to my push up and sit up goal. Im at over 48 000 of each and have until thursday to complete the goal. it has been very difficult at times but I am happy it is within my grasp. I have gained a lot of strength from this challenge and to be able to complete it in essentially 5 months will be an accomplishment. I say five months because for a month I was out of commission with an injury. Only three more days for the completion of this goal.

http://michaelplayter.blogspot.ca/2014/07/goal-within-reach.html

Boot Camp

First of all I must say that I am not going to count my vacation days anymore, there may be some negative responses due to there being so many of them. So, I am on vacation until I am not.
Boot Camp.....
What a great day!
As I was driving out to Keephills, I started to relax as soon as I got off the highway and things started to slow down (except the crazy driver but he was going so fast that he wasn't in my world for long !)
Walking meditation was fabulous once I accepted that there was no talking! Every time I saw something cool, I wanted to share with my friends, it's what I do! The walk was very calming and relaxing, I endeavor to do more walking meditation (not just warp speed walking).
Moving meditation was also grand. I love all movement that involves my chi and sharing that passion with others is a rush.
I left to go and help with the lil leopards class and that was fun, helping them figure out relay racing is always very entertaining :)
Being a black belt at boot camp is so cool, not only do you get to participate but you get to hang out with a bunch of cool black belt and students that take this journey on in a similar manner to you. It is inspiring to watch the students push themselves to their limits, have a rest and push themselves some more. It is also cool to continue to learn more about the art and myself each time I attend.
There was much story telling ( I love it!) and lot's of laughs (not just at me!!!) and tons of bonding, it was an amazing day!

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

Camp Teepee Pole

Potato cannons, rifles, rockets, power boats, zip lines, and a real lack of supervision, pretty much sums up Camp Teepee pole.

This camp holds a lot of memories for me.  I attended this summer camp for boys from age 11 until I was about 17.  It is a high test youth camp that involved climbing and rappelling, white water rafting, shooting rifles and shotguns among other things. For eighteen years I thought of coming back as a counsellor to give back into something that was so influential in my life. 

Well this week I completed 6 days of counselling at Camp Teepee Pole and successfully achieved one of my I Ho Chuan goals.  There is so much to be said about this camp.  Right now though, I want to thank my wife Stephanie for her encouragement and sacrifice of her own time as camp cook to help make this possible for me and my son (he attended as well.)

Burnt fingers from fire starting, hundreds of bruises from field games, half drowned kids tubing down rivers, countless cuts from carving and pocket knives, tree climbing injuries, a broken toe, and the list went on and on.   It was a week where at any given moment there was something hazardous going on.  But that is what makes this camp one of a kind for boys turning to young men.  From the side of a counsellor I finally realize the sacrifice that went into providing this experience when I was a kid.  Something at the time I really took for granted.  As difficult a week as this was, it is something that I plan to continue to do.  In a way I think this camp needs people that under think safety, tend to have a lot of kid in them….people just like me.

 

vincekrebs@blogspot.com

Vacation Time

Blogging from out of nowhere is not an easy task. My cell phone was completely out of batteries and there is no electricity around here. 

The last few days we were enjoying at the beach, hiking in the woods, kayaking, etc. Everything we did was done as a family. There are stories about people that wish they spent more time with there loved ones before they died. I'm hoping I'm doing it right now so I won't have to regret not doing it in the future. 

Doing what is important for you with the people that are important to you. This is what life is all about.

Changing

In my education (I am talking about education not school) over my life I have learned that to make permanent  change you need to do something within 48 hours of learning something new and then do it at least 21 times to make it a permanent change in your life.  (Although it takes more than 21 times for the more difficult things).  I have this is true in business, relationships, sports and in personal improvement.  

I have been debriefing boot camp this morning.  I have a large bruise on my right shine, a bruise on my upper left bicep, extremely sore shoulders and finding it tough to bend.  In my mind last night on the drive home I thought why do I do this to myself.  This morning with sober thought and a good night sleep I came to an answer.  I want to improve myself.  And having working on myself over the years the real permanent change has been due to implementing hard changes and working on them constantly.

I am not where I want to be as a person or a martial artist but as long as I work on it each day I am achieving what I want to accomplish:  to become better than I was yesterday.

I appreciate all the effort that all the Sifu's and participants put into boot camp as it made it an incredible day in my life,

http://jimsand11.blogspot.ca
Mr. Sand 

Refusal

I refuse to write about my failure.  Ever week I could write about this as all I have done this year in my Kung Fu is fail. 

On a very positive note, my personal life is very good.  Busy with work but I'm enjoying what I'm doing.  Personal relationships are better than ever and I am very happy to have found the balance in this aspect of my life.

In regards to my training, it is what it is.  I am done with getting down on my self for not attending classes.  It is what it is and I refuse to mentaly barrage my self anymore.  I will get to as many classes as I can when I can.  I'm in a pretty happy spot right now in my life and I'm going to enjoy the ride.  Kung Fu is a big part of that.  Howevever I won't be sacrificing my happiness for anything.  This may sound like I'm being selfish but I don't care, I need to look after me and what matters most in my life.  This may take me away from the kwoon for extended periods.  I will do my best to be at the kwoon as much as I can.

Mr. Repay
Student of Silent River Kung Fu

Tired, nervous and excited

Today was a busy day - getting ready for boot camp, preparing food, doing laundry, sewing my badges on my new uniform (!!!!)
I am a little nervous about running a seminar tomorrow but mostly excited. And I'm excited about boot camp. I love hanging out with like-minded people all day long, everyone pushing themselves as hard as they can. It will be a great day! Rain or shine!!!!

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

While the aunts decide where to have dinner

So for the past 10 days I have been hosting my mom's two sisters (she has four) from Ontario, it is lovely to see them and have them spend time with my Mom.  She is the oldest of the five and her heatlth is not great so its a good idea to fly out here to visit when she can still go out and although she does get confused you can still talk and remember old times together.  Its been fun listening to them talk and driving them around ALOT and having them stay at my house (thank god for the cleaning lady).  However I still have to work, and do sit ups and kicks and form reps and so on.  I am behind AGAIN on everything including work.  The aunts don't know whether to admire or be appalled by my activities and it switches from moment to moment and aunt to aunt.  They go home on Sunday the 27th.  So of course there will be a dinner, and sitting around the fire pit at my place tommorrow.  Progress on kungfu related requirements has been minimal and I hate missing the I Ho Chuan and lion dancing.  I thought about bringing the whole works to watch but all the talking and comments would be distracting and they would probably be asked to leave :)  I come by the gab factor from my mothers side!!!

scare

Had a bit of a scare yesterday. Randy is fine now however he left a message for me on the phone when I got up at 430 and all he said was mom i have to go to the hospital please pick up. I was asleep when he left the message and  it was sent at 930 am. I called Tom no answer called hospitals not there. so tried stony plain and he was there but had been released. Tom came home from work and I asked him if he heard from randy and he said no. I told him Randy's message and He suggested we call the hospitals to see where he could have gone too. Randy came home at 6pm with 8 stitches on his hand because he cut it at work. I was so re leaved he was fine. I had to stay and make sure he was ok. All this has to do with my journey is if I had stayed calmer I might have saved myself some anxiety after all he did call to leave the message in the first place so it couldn't have been life threatening. My mind raced ahead and assumed the worst.
We had Opa for supper I had the calimari and fries and a skewer of lamb. then had blt for lunch some cherries  and an apple
Did dishes put rest of laundry away
Sifu Jeannette Langner

Day 13 - vacation

I slept in again today, just when I think that I am rested, I sleep some more! I enjoyed my guitar lesson today, a learned a new part of a song that I have been working on (it is sort of like being ready to learn the next part of a form). I had an opportunity to help a friend and attend the advanced Black Dragon class, it was a lot of fun. There were not many students but the ones that were there worked hard and clearly pushed themselves outside of their comfort zone with some gentle guidance from Sifu Playter. I am glad that I attended that class today.
Here's what I did today:
5 miles
200 sit ups
200 kicks
practiced my guitar
Acts of Kindness
- advised a lady in the park on how to keep the numerous mosquitoes off her dog
- let a lady go in front of me
- let someone cross the street in front of my vehicle
- took my dog for a nice long walk and now he is sleeping (and snoring) at my feet

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

So.

So it's been a long time. Again. I really don't know what to say, or where to start. I am supposed to be spending time thinking about the direction I am taking, but I find that my thoughts are complicated and jumbled, even in my own head I don't know where to start.

I've never had trouble sticking to my goals before, even if it wasn't for me, I was accountable to the team, and that's all it took to motivate me. I don't know if it is just selfishness or what, but I am having a rough go of this year- as I'm sure all of you already know.

I know being sick for 2 weeks and then getting my strength back threw me off, but that's no excuse: Sifu T. Playter had cancer and that didn't stop her. I am so unsure of where I see myself going, the aimlessness in my head has translated to inactivity. I also struggle with the idea of a black belt and ranking as a black belt, I won't go into details, but I just don't know if it's me or not, I'm certainly not setting a good example anyway.

This past couple of weeks have made me extremely grateful to the people who have reached out or said hi at kung fu, to Sifu Brinker who has humbled me with his offer of time. Of course Sifu Kichko who has been my tireless training partner and cheerleader, she has dragged my butt out of the gutter a million times, couldn't ask for a better friend. The remaining members of the fantastic five- you guys are the best. You guys are the reason I'm still here.

Although I have not been active at kung fu, I continue to train at home, I had such a great run with my dog on Tuesday, we ran through the bush and I swear you can run farther when your on the trails rather than a track or just pounding the pavement. It's one of those magical things about nature.

I am trying to make schedule changes so I can make more classes. I have gone to a couple of fitness classes now and it's been so great, what a good group. I work this Saturday but I'll be wishing I was there.
I guess that's it for now.
Andrea Prince

Goals

Something that I found that helps me want to do requirements is having a personal goal or goals for that month. My goals for this month is 75 chin-ups, and 31 one handed push-ups per arm. So far I am at 40Chin-ups, and   15  Push-ups per each arm. I don't know how but this helps me a lot. I was at my grandparents house on Saturday and was working on my push-ups etc... and my cousin asked of she cold have a piece of paper, I asked her why and she said that it was because she wanted to have a monthly goal like what I'm doing. I thought that was really cool. So I set her up with a goal sheet, I did the same for my other cousin as well. My Aunty even said that she wanted to start on monthly goals.

AOK: helping cousins make monthly goal sheet
Sit-ups 165
Push-ups 60
Weapon  1

http://kathrynfuhr.blogspot.ca

http://flavors.me/kathrynfuhr

http://www.silentriverkungfu.com

http://ihochuan.blogspot.ca

July 19

Miss Fuhr

Centering

” The exercise for centering oneself is a simple one. Stop thinking of what you intend to do. Stop thinking of what you have just done. Then stop thinking that you have stopped thinking those things. Then you will find the Now, the time that stretches eternal, and is really the only time there is. Then, in that place, you will finally have time for yourself.” - Robin Hobb

Where am I? What am I doing?

Tai Chi Haiku

Breathe centre relax

Let the world spin around you

Time is meaningless...

Off on vacation this week camping with friends in Goodsoil, Saskatchewan. Plan to buy a years worth of hormone-free honey. Yum. Plan to do a lot of Tai Chi. Breathe. And plan to let the world spin around me for a bit. Relax.

sharidactyl.wordpress.com

performance

I'm super excited about our decision to make up  our own demo. My group has all different weapons and it is making me think of ways to choreograph all of them together. It is helping me by staying engaged with my kung fu. no matter how much we want to quit we still find new things to keep us engaged. That really is the key word. I find myself thinking of everyone constantly and my own accountability to everyone as well. Our performance is giving me the opportunity to strech my kung fu limits to come up with a demo for our team. My group is Sifu Playter and Sihing MacDonald. It has me thinking how to effectively use my fan in combat. This is all very exciting to me and I hope others join groups to make a really great demo our school can be proud of.
I did laundry and put it all away and dishes and put it away then took out garbage.
Had chicken and ravioli for supper then asparagus soup for lunch and some cherries and an apple.
Sifu Jeannette Langner

Day 11 - vacation

Today I did not do any requirements, the only thing that I did that was kung fu ish was to drop the clean towels off after supper. I shopped with my daughter all afternoon looking for the ever elusive perfect pair of shorts ( for her not me!), had a nap and dinner with my family. After supper we did some things around the house and that is the whole day. Of course, my activities were interspersed with reading my book and playing my guitar.
Acts of Kindness
- had a great chat with a lady in the line up for the til
- let Katie drive for part of the afternoon
- spent some time with a really good book

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

Day 10 - vacation

Today was my day off but it doesn't usually work out that way and today was no different. I met my friend and did Tai Chi for an hour. Of course, there was some visiting too! It is so cool to do Tai Chi with another person, especially one that you are comfortable with. It is relaxing and exhilarating all at the same time. You both get your chi flowing and it feels very powerful, the time goes by super fast and you don't even have to think about the movements, you just move. It was a great way to spend some time on a Sunday. This is the second weekend in a row that I have hung out at the kwoon on a Sunday morning, it is starting to feel like a habit :)
Here's what I did today:
- 2 reps of the entire Tai Chi form and some fooling around with some trouble spots
- 3 miles
Acts of Kindness
- helped a lady at a store whose bag broke
- moved out of the way for someone who was clearly in a hurry
- said good bye to our trailer at last, I did this all by myself, met the people, showed the trailer, collected the money, and opened the storage place today so they could pick it up. We have been talking about selling our trailer for a while so I am glad that I was able to do something about it.

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

Effortless Effort

My goal today was to complete all my training/requirements without actually setting aside any time to do so. I wanted to go about my day as usual and just fit my training in wherever I could. Having been at the I Ho Chuan for over six months now, it's sad for me to say that today was the first time that I have actually tried this. 

I discovered two things with this approach:
1) Mentally, it's a lot easier to train this way. I never really felt like I was actually training. Doing 20 kicks here and 30 situps there never really made me feel burdened. Also, I don't have to adjust my lifestyle as much as I thought to get in all my requirements. Fitting them in here and there lets you make use of time that would have otherwise been wasted and they're not a hindrance to the rest of my daily activities.
2) I waste a lot of time.

One thing I should add is that, being a Sunday, I had a whole day off to complete my requirements and I didn't have a whole lot going on to begin with. Doing this on a weekday would be different as I would have 8 or more hours at work and I'm a lot more limited with what I can do at work versus what I can do at home. Still, the principle is the same. 

To a lot of you, this is probably old news, especially if you've been in the I Ho Chuan before. But I'm really happy with the way that today went for me. My numbers were good and hopefully I can build on this to work on changing my habits so that this type of day is the rule and not the exception.

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

Call for help Answered

last Sansou class a team mates calls for help were finally answered. Sihing Mcdonold was just about out of the doors after the I Ho Chuan open training session when Miss Gibbons was getting ready to participate in the Sansou class alone. Recognizing this he took off his shoes posponed any thing he may have had planned for the rest of his friday night and stayed for the Sansou class with Miss Gibbons. This has been on ongoing call for help for a very long time and finally someone stepped up and answered it. This is what it means to have a team and team mate. Someone who will put their life on hold for a bit to help a team mate in need. These are the sort of acts that have the potential to actually make the I Ho Chuan group into a real team. Most of the group normally decide whither to even show up for their practice sessions never mind put a fellow group members interests ahead of their own. Then they wonder why their so called team mate decide to treat them in the same manner that they have been treating others. What goes around comes around until some one decides to break the negative cycle by an act of selflessness. So the next time you decide to put your BBQ, leisure time, vacation, ect ahead of your team and team mates realize that that is what you are choosing to do and that produces a negative cycle that can only be broken by an act of selflessness. So well done Sihing Mcdonold it is acts like that  that are true acts of leadership and set out a strong example for the rest of us to aspire too.

http://michaelplayter.blogspot.ca/2014/07/call-for-help-answered.html

Day 9 - vacation

I love Saturdays, it is by far my favorite day of the week. I remember when I was a kid, I looked forward to Saturday every week. Now I am a taller kid, I still do the same thing but for slightly different reasons. Now it is all about kung fu! I totally enjoy spending 5 hours of my day at the kwoon,  each and every week that I can. And it still gives me enough of my day left to do other things, hang out with my family, take care of  my yard or do a few chores or errands. It is the perfect day each week! I am completely looking forward to next Saturday already :)
Here's what I did:
300 kicks
150 sit ups
15 Da Ma Hsing
12 Tai Chi Broad Sword
4 miles
Acts of Kindness
-  worked with my husband to find a home for all of our camping equipment
- chatted with lovely people in the health food store
- asked for help when my hands were full
- helped with the fitness class and consequently worked my butt off :)

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

Yup... just another week

Summer schedule isn't getting any easier. I missed both my kung fu classes this week, and I only got one run in. :-(

Kids were in day camp all week at Wabamun which added up to a whole lot of driving and a bunch of very tired (but happy) kids. It was amazing all that they crammed into one day. It would have taken me an entire summer (and shortened my life by at least 3 years) had I attempted to do it all. Camp is great!

We were also doing house renos this week and it was absolutely exhausting. Would have preferred to be at summer camp. Zip lining has got to be more fun than ripping out carpets full of dog pee. Yuck.

Glad for the weekend but really no time to breath. Trail race in Camrose tomorrow, Son's friend Birthday party at waterpark, Family party on Sunday complete with Turkey dinner for Christmas in July (since my folks were away for the holiday). Luckily, I am on vacation next week so I can relax a bit. Ha.

Hard week, but I am still smiling! Love summer.

sharidactyl.wordpress.com

Day 7 - vacation

Last night I slept for 10 hours, that is something that I usually only do when I am sick. I felt really rested when I got up but a little off my game. I usually get up between 7 and 8 each morning and today I got up shortly after 11! None of my pets woke me for their breakfast but they certainly let me know that they had waited long enough when we finally started our day together. I decided to follow my routine to the best of my ability so I could get back on track.
I had a great day, spent some time with Katie and Jim, attended my kid's classes and had dinner with my family. The kid's class was amazing, I started out doing the warm up and had a great plan for a fun class. I ended up going from the warm up to stances to a spontaneous relay to the end the class. It was totally fun and it seems like the kids were having a good time too. They worked really hard on their kicks and stances and smiled the whole time. That in my mind is a successful class :)
Here's what I did:
100 sit ups
100 kick
3 miles
Acts of Kindness
- took Katie driving for 90 minutes (that is not easy! and it should count as ten acts of kindness)
- made lunch for Jim
- shared friendliness with an elderly gentleman at the grocery store

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

Everything is Awesome!

I had a major breakthrough before classes Friday, and I was so excited I hugged Sifu Kichko for helping me get there. For years I've hated my right leg front thrust kick. It never felt like there was any power, it never felt as good as my left and it sucked. It seemed like no matter what I did, it never improved, I just got more and more aware of how bad it was without an answer as to why. Then a few of us had a discussion about the pivot of the base foot. I wasn't thinking anything of it until I threw a few. That was it! So simple! I wasn't pivoting and therefore my hip was not behind the kick. I finally figured out what I should have noticed ten years ago.

See? It just goes to show you that you can always learn something and always improve on the most basic of things. I was taught that kick over 20 years ago and figured out something about it just last week. That. Is. Awesome.

I'm also happy that I finally decided to join my teammates who are posting their numbers daily. I've definitely had moments where I've thought to myself why the @#** did I start that? But I always feel happy after I post and can see my number for the day. Something, no matter how much or little, feels better than nothing. And that is awesome too.

Lastly, my ma and I had a spa day today. Nick bought me a gift certificate to a spa for my b-day, and I took my mother along for her b-day. A day filled with pampering and relaxing with my momma. That too is so awesome. So awesome.

Just to annoy you guys..
Everything is awesome! Everything is cool when you're part of a team! Everything is awesome! When you're living your dream!
If you haven't seen the movie, you really, really should.

http://dogsthinking.blogspot.ca/

Excuses and Setbacks

I really really liked the meeting that was held last Saturday. After all that talking, for me, it really felt like I was part of a team. Even though I haven't been keeping up with the stuff I should be doing, I am trying to improve. Today as an example I did 80 push-ups and 80 sit-ups, but if I do not keep it up it is pretty much pointless. Obviously I have sort of done my blog, as you are reading it right now. I can also do a one handed push-up with my right arm, and one of my personal goals is to do five one handed push-ups per hand. Base ball is always a really big time consumer for me and after Base ball I just want to chill out. I really think that it is awesome that people in the team are helping me so much, like today Sifu Chillag came up to me in class and asked me if I would like to do my 20 push-ups and sit-ups. So that's what we did. I figure if I start putting my numbers in my blog I will be able to keep track of them. The reasons for not keeping up with my requirements are just excuses so I would not have to do what I signed up for. The more excuses I made less time I felt slipping beneath me, all threes things just ended up putting me way way way behind where I should be at.

http://kathrynfuhr.blogspot.ca

http://flavors.me/kathrynfuhr

http://www.silentriverkungfu.com


http://ihochuan.blogspot.ca

July 15 2014

- Miss Fuhr

Pain Relief - finally.

For the past year I have been having a difficulty with pain in the backs of my legs all the way down to my heels and although it hasn't stopped me from doing alot of activities is has been a challenge to get a good nights sleep.  The baffling thing is that it would move from side to side so I was never sure if it was something in my lower back or a strain to the legs.  The 150 kicks per day (in small bunches) actually made it feel better so it didn't seem to be a muscle injury but no matter how much stretching I did it never seemed to really go away.  So after multiple doctor visits I decided to try acupuncture.   The lady I am seeing asked if I would like to try a method of treatment called cupping and oh my god, two treatments and what a difference.  Last week I actually slept without pain.  Her explanation is that the cupping (suction cups applied to the backs of the legs and lower back) takes the pressure off the nerves in my back and legs and helps release the fascia (? not sure of the spelling).  Less irritating to the nerves than using my roller (which I also tried).  If you are interested she works out of the Callingwood Chiropractic Clinic and her name is Katherine Frey.

I am a much nicer person with enough rest!

Nothing

Again here I am writing without anything to write about. Usually I let my experiences of the week inspire me, that is not the case this week. I was hoping that if I just started to write something down, just anything, something would come to me. But alas nothing has come.  

Where am I? What am I doing?

Day 6 - vacation

This morning when I did my workout, it seems like all I did was tighten up all the muscles. I lifted weights today and throughout my workout my neck and shoulders got tighter and tighter. Any of  you experienced lifters have any thoughts on this? I started lifting 2 lb weights at the beginning of the I Ho Chuan year to strengthen my shoulders for push ups and I continue to lift every other day and I am up to 10 lb weights doing 3 reps of 12. Today was the first day that I have experienced this muscle tightening thing.
What I did:
300 sit ups
180 kicks
weights
tai chi
practiced my guitar
3 miles
Acts of Kindness
- chatted with another guitar student's mom
- helped my husband with his sore leg
- gathered some information for my husband

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

Another Day

Tonight I have a goal, reach 15,000 pushups and situps. I have an hour and twenty minutes to get in the last one hundred repetitions. In between sets I made a calculation for how many repetition I need to do every day to reach 50,000 the Friday before the annual New Years banquet.

I was able to find an online app that counts the days until February 20th, 2015. This plugged into the formual with my current numbers requires me to perform 160 each day. I've also found that 50 pushups cause a .2% increase or decrease to the number. The last 50 pushups to 15000 will put be at 159.8 pushups a day.

After completing the last 50 pushups to 15,000 I wrote the formula on my board. x represents the current total of repetitions and y represents the number of days until February 20th. I think that's all I can do for today, but tomorrow is another day.

http://flavors.me/lairdchris
http://lairdchris.blogspot.ca/

Day 5 - vacation

Yesterday's rest was just what the doctor ordered! I feel great today, I have my energy back and accomplished many more things than I expected. I did my requirements and did some yard work before it got too hot. I also attended the kid's classes and was surprised and impressed by the number of dedicated students and how hard they worked despite the heat.
today i did:
150 sit ups
150 kicks
4 miles
tai chi
tai chi broad sword
mu long koon
practiced my guitar
blogged
Acts of Kindness
- finished an oven mitt in time for a birthday :)
- let someone in front of me at the feeds store
- let someone in traffic
- friendly to folks who stopped their car so I could cross the street
-  a waved to a guy who let me onto the road when I couldn't very well

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

Day 4 - vacation

Today was all about looking after me. I had tea and read with my pet family laying on me. I watched movies with my husband. I ate all my favorite comfort foods. I knitted a lot. I had a nap. And I feel rejuvenated. I needed a day like today :)

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

Strength vs. Bulk

In tonight's class Sifu Brinker was talking briefly about strength vs. bulk as it relates to our bodies and our training. We want to train for strength, not bulk. We want to be strong but we don't want to add additional bulk. This is something that I have pondered a lot ever since I started at SRKF. I have trained with weights for many years and my goal has always been size and strength. I am not a big person naturally and I am proud of all the work that I have put in at the gym over the years. But over the last year it has become apparent that I would have to change the way I train if I want to excel in kung fu. 

I have already made changes to my workouts, some of them as a result of my shoulder injury, but others were a result of not wanting to be crippled by muscle soreness for the days following a heavy leg workout. The problem I have now is that I have changed my routines but my DOMS (delaed onset muscle soreness) still affect my kung fu. Tonight was a great example. My legs were sore and tired from yesterday and we had a pretty leg-intensive class; lots of horse stance and jumping. I had a pretty tough time with it. 

I am not ready to give up weight training and I am not sure if I can maintain the muscle mass I have now if I train lighter. I don't feel big and bulky and I am happy with the size I am now; I don;t want to get any bigger or smaller. I will continue to try and alter my workouts to try and minimize the impact they have on my kung fu. I'm really hoping I don't have to choose between the two.

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

Changes

One of the few constants in life is that there will always be change. Over these past few weeks I've been trying new ways to log my numbers, blogging on different schedules and working towards new ways to express myself. Today I was working on a project that I hope will inspire the I Ho Chuan team as well as influence as many people as I can to try and rid the world of mediocrity. My last major hurdle for this project is mastering my memorization. I was hoping to finish this project for this week, but I believe that I won't have it finished until next.

I have also been remaking the firepot to my forge. The last one that I created didn't allow for proper air flow, so after tearing it all apart and recycling the clay I went to work again. I learned from my mistakes and made the pot wider and shallower, and after a few attempts of lighting the charcoal, it roared to life. I will have to fire it a few more times before I can work with it properly, but this latest build has been my most successful.

After blogging each week day last week, I found myself feeling more engaged in my training. From now until I start my vlog, which will follow the same schedule at first, I will be updating this blog each weekday.

http://lairdchris.flavors.me/
http://lairdchris.blogspot.ca/

I Ho Chuan Victory

Recently I had a discussion with a parent who expressed how inspired he felt the I Ho Chun push up requirement was to him. He expressed how impressed he was whenever he saw myself and Sihing Tymchuck doing our sets of pushups and sit-ups, and publicly working towards our I Ho Chuan goals on the mats in full view of parents and students alike. He felt so inspired by it all that he has started working towards push ups at home and that he has been regularly doing over a hundred a night. This parent is not a regular student of the school only an engaged parent of one. This is exactly what the I Ho Chuan is all about. I consider this a huge victory for the I Ho Chuan program and the participants alike. This is one of the first victories of its sort and I would like to invite you all to recognize the magnitude of it. It proves that something as small as regular consistent work has the power to inspire change in people. We as a group have the potential to inspire huge change in the school, the art and then future of Kung-Fu. Everyone doing their goals in the view of the school has a part in this victory and you should share in the benefits of victory. Recognize that inspiration works both ways, when you inspire you feel inspired and this victory for our team has the power to inspire more victorys for our team. So when you are on the mats an you see a team mate working hard doing push ups and sit ups drop down then and there and push out as big a set as you can because remember the future of Kung Fu is watching and you can make a difference.

http://michaelplayter.blogspot.ca

Topsy Turvy

Hello everyone my life right now has been so topsy turvy. A lot of things have been happening to me, but the one thing that remains a constant for me is kung fu. Sometime I don't appreciate as much as I should, but for the most part I'm grateful for it most of the time. I'm still enjoying kung fu that's for sure and that for me will never change. By what I mean I don't always appreciate it is that sometimes I take it for granted that I have this huge opportunity for kung fu everyday of my life, yet I don't take it all the time. Maybe right now my life is getting in the way a bit, but kung fu is a opportunity for me to re focus my mind and body. Going to kung fu is the one place I feel for sure I'm doing something right in my life. Also doing kung fu makes me feel the same way. I have some pretty big decision I have to make in my life right now mainly cause there is a huge wrench in in right now (nothing kung fu related). I admit sometime my life come into my kung fu and I really feel it in my forms. For me when I'm not doing well in life my forms tell everyone(to me it feels this way), but when my life is going well my forms tell everyone that things are going good. My emotions are directly connected to my forms, because for me forms are a way of showing who you are and what type of person you are (to a certain extent) forms are a sign of your own progress in life and your martial arts. Now of course as I say all this, this is just how forms feel for me, if anyone else feel the same then great if not then great. This is just how kung fu works for me =). Kung fu will always be my rock, because it is the one constant I have, and even and I say it the one constant I have it is also always changing for me. Kung fu for me right now is this whole new world to explore and I have yet to even touch the surface of what everything it has to offer. The biggest thing also the people that do kung fu as well. I see some of the more experienced black belts and they have so much that they have gained from kung fu, but at the same time are only a little deeper into the mystery's of kung fu then I am and they are still discovering so many things about it. Of course that little bit ahead of me is still a whole heck of  a lot, but it makes me happy knowing when I am there in kung fu for longer period I will still have the same look of amazement on my face that a white belt might have when first starting kung fu. It may be more advance by then but I know it will still be there. You know even as I typed this all out I smiled. Well that's all I have for now remember stay extraordinary.



Sifu R Langner

Day 3 - vacation

I may be starting to slow down a bit. I declared today a rest day! and then forgot and started doing sit ups. I finally got to begin to pay back for all the help that I received from everyone when I was getting ready to grade. Today I opened the kwoon for someone to practice the fitness test, the year before I tested, several different black belts opened the kwoon so that we could practice the test. It is important to me that I get to return the favor to other people getting ready to grade.
Today I did:
50 sit ups
Acts of Kindness
- opened up the kwoon today
- chatted with two super nice people at Superstore
- made supper this morning so I wouldn't heat up the house
- made lunch for my husband

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

Summer, finally

Summer is here. It is hot. Blue skies. This weekend seemed to be like a roller-coaster.

Friday after work, black belt class, sihing class (bruised my forearm really good), I Ho Chuan class (hurt my back really bad being in the back of the lion), playing outside with the neighbourhood kids (twisted my ankle really bad).

Then I thought I will be in bed all of Saturday but still dragged my self to fitness class (did what I could) and open training. Helped Mr. Smid with wrist escapes (I love teaching because I learn so much when I need to explain what I'm doing). Then off to Wabamun lake with our kayaks and then relaxing with a camp fire and nice supper. Got back home after 10pm.

Sunday we spent most of the day at the Kids Festival - hours of fun playing laser tag, huge bouncy houses, seeing a magic show and more. Then doing yard work and doing some renovations prep in the house.

I was struggling with my schedule in the last couple months. I find it hard to wake up early when I go to sleep too late (it is 10pm now and I still have stuff to do...), I also find it hard to stay active in the early morning class. This is why I'm going to skip and go to the gym in the mornings. I'm also hoping to achieve one of my personal goals and start going to a Yoga class. I hope it will workout.

Summer. How can we make it last longer?

http://csillag-stars.blogspot.ca/2014/07/summer-finally.html

Nice days of Summer

I spent the day today doing a lot of things.  I was able to go and run in the morning with my dogs. By the way puppies don't understand forward. It was a warm run but so awesome being in the bush and listening to and seeing the creatures.  Nature is the pressure release valve for me.

I then spent the better part of the day getting the trailer together before we take off to jasper for a couple of  weeks. I am looking forward to morning runs and afternoons paddling in the local lakes. A day in the mountains beats, well almost anything.

In the evening we spent some time soaking in the pool. Warm relaxing except when the kids are splashing you. All in all a great day.

The evening is calm as I write this on the deck. I do like this time of year in canada. Too bad it only lasts for a few weeks each year.


http://jimsand11.blogspot.ca


Mr Sand

Word to the Runner Haters.

Whether it’s from the police, teeth and claws, or just for fun, whether you like it or not, running is essential.  For something so simple, people have sure made it complicated.  Super gels, and sport drinks, runners, trekking poles, fanny packs, heart monitors, timers and GPS locators, to rub sticks, and breathable clothing, the list goes on and on.  I think the reason for this is because running can be boring as dirt.

Some things that I find that really make running enjoyable:

-Have a meaningful purpose to your run.  I think this is the number one reason why people do not like running.  Take golf for example. Every golfer is attempting to achieve a hole in one.  If there wasn’t that goal or purpose, golf would be pointless and boring.  Same goes for running.  I think my next running goal will be to high five the Gretzky statue at the hockey rink. Another cool idea is to get involved in geo caching, and make the geo cache the destination for your run.  If you haven’t geocached before, have a look into it.  Kids love it too.

-Make your run an event.  Just because you can run anywhere, doesn’t mean that you should. Yes it is convenient to step out your front door and start running.  Let’s face it, unless you just moved to a nudist colony, you have probably seen the same old sites around your block a hundred times. Try travelling to the mountains for a trail run, or out to a local park (Chickakoo comes to mind).  Anthony Henday to Hawrelak park has some awesome single track trail running.

-The Outdoors Rock!. Winter, summer, rain, or shine. I find adversity really makes a run memorable.  Nobody thinks back and says, wow, that treadmill blew my mind!  Dress for the weather, what doesn’t kill you only makes you know better for next time. 

-Pavement is for Indy cars and sport bikes. I find it’s hard on the knees and generally boring.  Sorry to the Boston Marathoners, but they can keep it.  If you don’t like running, try running really challenging trails, including logs to jump, mud to avoid, hills rocks and roots.  I find if my mind is really engaged on foot placement it is more interesting.

-Join a race.  There is a reason runs like the Mud Hero, Color me Rad, and Zombie runs are blowing up in popularity.  It’s because they are darn fun. Competition makes running fun.

Add in a Kung Fu element.  It’s pretty fun to run to a destination and perform a hand form where you haven’t before.  If you can, bring your weapon along.  Sorry Sihing Chervenka, this might not apply to you.

Anyway, hope a couple of these ideas take out the monotony of running for some people.

Cheers.

VK.

 

P.S. Currently working east of Andrew and Vegreville up to July 20^th where I head to Sundre for a youth camp (Personal I Ho Chuan goal fulfillment) for a week. Likely won’t be at the Kwoon for a bit.

 

Day 2 - vacation

I am extremely tired, in a can't get enough rest kind of way. I managed to attend all my classes at kung fu today and pushed through open training until 1:30. When I came home, I went out again to help my husband with some stuff and then totally crashed on the couch when we returned home again. I don't want to stop everything and rest, I am hoping to do my requirements and meet my commitments and rest. I had a great time at the kwoon today, I learned more about how to move with my tai chi move (since finding my hips, it is a whole new world), worked super hard in the fitness class but it didn't feel like hard work (probably 'cause my partner was there and it was fun) and discovered some amazing moves for my tai chi broad sword thanks to Sifu Playter. Good day at the kwoon!
Here is what I did:
300 sit ups
200 kicks
6 tai chi broad sword
3 miles
tai chi
blog (obviously)
practiced my guitar
Acts of Kindness
- friendly to people at Safeway
- let car in traffic
- helped Mr. Smid with wrist escapes
- waved at my neighbors
- helped my husband

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

One Goal

This year the one goal that I am finding has made the greatest change in my life is the goal to walk a 1000 miles or as us Canadians say 1609 Kilometres. This one goal is a very simple goal and a easy goal to attain, but it is also a very addictive one. At the beginning of the year I was find it hard to just get in the bear minimum steps per day to be able attain this goal by the end of the year, now I double or triple what I need each day. That is not the greatest change that this goal has had on me, but only the by product of it. The change has been in my attitude and the way I look at things. If I need to go some where and I am able to walk there I will, I will park farther away in a parking lot just to get the steps. I find that I am not as rushed in my day, as I will walk to where I want to go instead of driving there. This is a great goal and I am thankful that it is one of the requirements in the I Ho Chuan.

Where am I? What a I doing?

repetition

Repetition is this years mantra.All practice is for naught without mindful repetition to stay on track. We are learning Lion dance  and I never thought I could do it. It really looked hard. I am glad for the opportunity to learn it now. I never knew how fun it was. I will have to start spreading the news of my new found joy. Lion dance rocks. Now for more repetition to get better. ahh joy.
I have embraced this process whole heartedly since getting my black belt. the amount of repetitions it to to get me there was well worth the effort. I like how I'm learning to refine this process to get more out of it.   Turning my thinking from coarse to refined. Quite the challenge. Hence the repetition to eliminate the thought process.
Did not have time to do much got dishes done and took out the garbage
Had pork steak and salad and potatoes, ditto for lunch and some cherries and a banana.
Sifu Jeannette Langner

Day 1 - vacation

Today was a good day! My first day of holidays and I slept until almost 6 am! I truly enjoyed my workout this morning, I really concentrated on my movements, ensuring that I had good position. I slowed down my kicks in an attempt to work a different muscle group and my legs are a little sore so it may be something to incorporate more often. I didn't go for a walk this morning as I had some appointments so I had to chose between walking and work out.
What I did:
300 sit ups
200 kicks
tai chi
3 tai chi broad sword
3 lau gar
2 kempo
guitar practice
lion dancing
I am still trying to feel what is right for my tai chi sword, hopefully I can finish with that this weekend and get to practicing it over and over and over. I loved being in the lion, it is fun, hard, sweaty and a little bit scarey ('cause you don't really know where you are). I hope that I can practice again tomorrow

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