Parade

http://wchoy74.blogspot.ca/2013/06/parade.html?m=1

San Sou

I realized today that if I start going to San Sou class, I will be at the kwoon 6 days a week. I want to go to San Sou to get sparring reps in, but it's hard to give up a night with my family. Plus I find the class intimidating. When I think of San Sou, I think of big guys fighting rough and that makes me nervous. It's not that I don't think I can handle myself, but I'm worried that I won't be able to learn as much because I will be busy "fighting for my life"...so to speak. I also have a big fear of getting injured during sparring. I had a bad experience once and I'm extra cautious now.
I know these sound a lot like excuses, but they are hard things to overcome. I think one of these days I should just go and see how it is. I haven't been to a class in such a long time.  Maybe I should actually see for myself.

Acts of kindness: I filled my husbands car up with gas, I held the door for someone and I brought my husband some buns to go with his soup.

Today I consumed: a bagel with cream cheese, a timmies breakfast sandwich, 2 pieces of peanut butter and nutella toast and a bowl of home-made soup with 2 buns. I drank 4 glasses of water, half a cup of coffee and 1 cup of tea and a beer.

Future I Ho Chuan Members?

After much practicing, the big day arrived.  Our youngest son and his friend (also a student at Silent River Kung Fu) had signed up, practiced and were ready to perform their sword form for the school talent show.  I was surprised to see not only our own son and his friend, but also three other Silent River students demonstrating their skills to a gym full of classmates, teachers and parents.  Although they all may have had a few butterflies, they all did fantastic!   I truly admire their excitement and courage to get up and demonstrate their skills without letting fear of failure get in the way.  I can’t help but think what a great opportunity they had and am so proud of them for jumping at the chance to share just a little piece of their art.  I had to smile thinking; here might just be five future I Ho Chuan members.  Good job ladies and gentlemen!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

 

Parade

Thanks to everyone who helped make the parade and demo a success. I think we were a big hit with the dragons and lion in the parade. One of the benefits of being the head was I got to see the faces making the Oooos and Ahhhhs. The kids really loved it. I had a lot of fun in the parade and I know I'm not the only one. I heard at least a couple of people new to the dragon dance say how much they enjoyed it.

My shoulders are still really sore, I definitely wore them out yesterday. Those double articulations sure are tiring. The demo went off without a hitch too. I think everyone looked great. Now I'm excited to do it again next week end. Hope to see the same turnout in Onoway.

Sifu Jesse Wetter

http://liveforeverordieintheattempt.blogspot.ca/

We had fun together

Today we went to a "celebration of life" for Tim, a family friend, who had past away while travelling in China. Tim was the first friend I had in Canada and although the age gap we had fun going for walks and doing computer stuff together.

During the memorial service I had lots of thoughts going through my head - am I leaving my life to the fullest? How many people will show up to my memorial? What will my kids say about me? How will they remember me?

There was one phrase from the memorial that I thought was very strong. Tim's son asked everyone not to think of the time we could have spent with his dad but to think of the good times we did spend with him. I felt it was very powerful and made me feel good.

RIP Tim :-)

http://csillag-stars.blogspot.ca/2013/06/we-had-fun-together.html

1 Parade and demo down!

So we had the parade and demo today. The Stony parade is always so long! My arms and fingers were sore after from drumming. Good thing Sifu Brinker was there to switch off with. I was trying to remember the first parade I was in. I've been in quite a few. I remember when we used to have only the two lions and they were very heavy! A lot has changed since then. We have way more lion dancers now which is nice and the dragon really grabbed everyones attention. The crowd this year was huge too which always makes a parade more fun.
The demo went ok. I messed up my form again but managed to finish. You'd think I didn't practice at all! It's really frustrating. Oh well, keep trying and get it right for Heritage days.
I found out that I stabbed a hole in Mr Leungs shirt during practice too. I'll have to get him a new one...but that is kind of cool.

Acts of kindness: I picked up the candy and lettuce, I let Sifu Lindstrum store some stuff in my pack and I gave Julia some of my popsicle (which ended up with her taking the popsicle and eating it in front of me....go figure!). I also gave my cat extra pets.

Today I consumed: a bagel with cream cheese, some beans and toast and I'm going out for dinner. I drank 5 glasses of water so far and a half cup of tea.

To Where From Here

Last weekend was the integration weekend of the 4 month Peak Performance course I just completed and yes, that means that I completed an I Ho Chuan goal. When one completes a course, the thought is that the course is over. Not this time. During the weekend a topic covered was where to go from here. During the course there is support (other students and coaching), structure (the course itself), and expansion provided from the content itself. Now that the official structure, support, and expansion have completed, what was the game plan to implement our own? That got me thinking about the structure of the Kung Fu curriculum. From white belt to Sihing the support is provided by the black and higher belts as well as other students, the structure and expansion are provided by the curriculum itself. Once one achieves Sihing, the structure and support are still there and the expansion is via realizing how much one doesn't know and therefore fill in the gaps if one wants to carry on and grade for black belt. From what I see, after black belt is achieved the question can be asked "where to go from here?" and to insert a plan that provides the structure, support, and expansion in order to keep one engaged and active.

The challenge and gift for me this year has been my injured shoulder. The challenge has been the limitation in the physical activity I can do and how far and fast I can progress. Believe me, watching the dragon dance practice with me not in the tail was tooth grinding.  It's been 3 steps forward: 2 back, 12 steps forward, 3 back type of deal. I often remind myself to be patient and heal this right the first time. The gifts (and there are a few) have shown once I slowed down and was still enough to recognize the opportunities and learning that are waiting for me. Am I embarking on new ventures? You bet! I have 2 more courses coming up as well as a 10-month coaching program where at the completion I write my exams to be a certified coach and where that leads me, who knows? Embark on the journey and see what shows up.

It is frustrating that I am not as physically active as I would like to be, however there are other aspects, such as my glass art, my website, and my chocolate, where I am making progress and headway. I have come to the conclusion that not all things can forge full forward at the same time. Some things need a resting and/or brewing period and right now, that is where my physical activity is. It won't stay that way forever, just is right now.
Sherri Donohue
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