Delve Deeply

Open a small portal and delve deeply. I imagine most of you have seen this written on the whiteboard at the kwoon in Sifu Brinkers hand. Sifu Brinker gave us a brief explanation as to what it means- it means that there is so much to learn in a single form or technique or aspect of kung fu that you could spend a lifetime on one and never reach the end. Seems like an exaggeration when you first hear it, but the more that I learn the more I realize the truth in this. We are given a year to repeat a form a thousand times, and hopefully each time we improve a little bit and move a little closer to mastery. The more I learn the more I realize that after a thousand mindful reps I may have a few pieces of the form perfected, but I doubt I'll ever reach mastery. A thousand more after that and I may be ready to tackle the next couple pieces. A thousand more and I'd be ready for the next lesson that form has to offer.

This is what it means to be a true martial artist. Martial arts is a term thrown around so often and so easily that people tend to miss the obvious and overlook the meaning of the words. The term undoubtedly was given to kung fu practitioners by a mindful individual who saw beyond the practice of self defense and development of movements used in combat. A painting by a master artist is layered, thought is given to the piece and each inch of the canvas holds immeasurable secrets and skill. Such can be the practice of kung fu. When asked what is the meaning of the blackbelt many know to answer that it is the beginning and not the end of a journey. So tell me, what is this journey you speak of? Where then is the end? How many of you have really thought though this answer and its implications?

This would almost be intimidating if it wasn't so exciting. So exhilarating. If one day Sifu Brinker told me okay you're done, you've hit the end of the journey, there is no more- I would be heartbroken. I'm thankful that there will always be a road I haven't traveled.