Our Banquet

Last night's banquet was fantastic! I really liked the set up,it seemed like everyone had a good seat to see the awesome demonstrations. Everything looked sparkly and new (could have been the new place?), all the forms that I have seen practiced many, many times looked more intense, more realistic, more fabulous than ever before. There is magic in our banquet; we all work so hard all year and then put it all together for one night and Bam! it's magical.
I always feel like all the people that come are our guests and it is my job to make sure everyone is taken care of and feels welcome. I hope that I was successful and everyone had as much fun as I did.
I love seeing the kids do their demo, they always look so much better on the night of the banquet. I love seeing the I Ho Chuan team and the candidates perform their demos too! They perform at a level that is hard to replicate any other time, just looks amazing.
I was inspired by the speeches given for the charities that we support, they reminded me that it is time to get busy and start planning our fundraising for this year.
I always leave the banquet feeling like there is nothing that we can not accomplish as a group, I look forward to all that we take on together.

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

I Ho Chuan 3

Will the third I Ho Chuan Has begun. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I have set myself up with some pretty aggressive goals and I am not sure exactly how I will achieve them but That is the point. To push yourself past the point you think you can go. That is the only true way to grow. It is now time to make good on my words with direct actions. That is always easier said then done, true conviction and not allowing yourself to go back on your word is what is necessary. I know my mind will try to play tricks on me especially when the going gets ruff but I hope to have the drive and fortitude to push past it. I hope this year we blow them away with our team but that will be up to us and how much we hold ourselves and each other accountable to our words and our actions. In the end our actions will be all that matters. Its all that ever really matters.

Year of the Horse

 Sifu Robyn Kichko
http://mantismantle.blogspot.ca/2014/02/year-of-horse.html

Congrats Sifu Csillag and Sifu Langner!

Best Chinese New Years banquet ever! It was my first banquet that inspired me to start kung fu and each year re-engages me to keep going. This was my favorite one yet! I think it's because I got to witness everyone's journey this year to a small degree. It made me feel so incredibly happy watching everyone get their very deserved promotions. I see now how hard it is and have a very deep respect for the process that I never would've had if I wasn't in the I Ho Chaun. I really love the group of people I spend this year with. You each helped me in some way, and I've never seen a like minded group like this filled with such positive intentions. I've gone from "I need to find another martial arts school closer to home" to "When can I move back to Stony Plain so I can be closer to the school?" I feel the last couple months I missed out on alot. Unfortunately circumstances have made it so that I wasn't able to attend classes, I'm hoping this will change within the next month or so and things will be back to normal. Thank you Snake Team for teaching me so many things. I'll miss those that aren't on the team again this year and look forward to getting inspired by the members of the Year of the Horse.

Chinese New Years Banquet

Wow what a great evening last night!  Last night was the culmination of a whole year of training.  The whole school comes together on Chinese New Year to celebrate the past years accomplishments. It was truly inspiring to witness the promotions of both Sihing Czilag and Sihing Langer.  I have known both of these men for the better part of four years.  I have watched and helped them (in a very small way) on their journey to get their black belt.  I have seen the struggles both have gone through but they have persevered and got to where I want to be. It was very cool to see the current black belts get their next degrees.  Over the past year I have gotten to know them in a way that would have been impossible without the I Ho Chuan.  I have great respect for them and have developed great friendships because of the team.  So congrats to Sifu Tiffany Playter, Sifu Beckett, Sifu Wetter & Sifu Bryant.  You all are amazing people and we are so fortunate to have you as leaders within the school.

This year was the first year that I was very involved with the Chinese New Years dragon/lion dance as well as the demo and the black belt candidates performance.  It was a lot of hard work and a ton of commitment but it was so worth it.  In the past I helped out as much as I could with the set up and preparations of the banquet hall.  But this year was sooooooo much better.  Looking back only a couple of months I can clearly remember that we didn't have the dragon dance figured out.  In fact we didn't have a dragon dance at all.  In only two short months we pulled together the very best dance I think the school has ever done.  That is a testament to everyone who came out and committed to it. The demo looked AWESOME!  Everyone worked so hard on their piece and you could see that it paid off.  I think everyone that was watching the performances of all the demos could see the commitment that every student gave.  I was amazed at the skill of the younger kids classes.  I was watching them from the sidelines with other team members and we all were amazed at how good the kids skill level was.  You could see that the kids and the instructors really worked hard to get ready for last night and I must congratulate them all for an amazing performance.

Waking up and reflecting upon last night has motivated me and inspired me.  I am looking forward to the year of the Horse and spending a great year with some very amazing people.

Ian Repay
Student Of Silent River Kung Fu.
Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

Happy New Year!

Tonight was fantastic! It is always my favorite night of the year. I love that everyone comes together to share some food, some laughs and some very good times. I love hanging around like minded people, we get each other, we don't have to explain ourselves, it is great! I wish I could go on about this but I'm exhausted and my feet hurt so I'm off to bed :)

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

Congrats everyone!

So tonight was the big show. It went really well and everyone did great. Congrats to Sifu Beckett, Sifu Bryant and Sifu Wetter on your promotions.
So many people helped out...thanks especially to the little Prince girls. They went around cleaning tables and dishes the whole night. They were awesome.
Tonight is my last post on the I Ho Chuan blog as well. Good luck everyone!

Basic numbers: 51 pushups, 3 reps broadsword, 3 miles

Acts of kindness: gave the dog treats, helped pack stuff up and take it back to the kwoon, complimented someone

Today I consumed: a tea biscuit, a bowl of cheerios, some pineapple, a banana, some veggies, 2 pieces of leftover pizza, some chinese food and a little piece of cheesecake. I drank a beer, 3 coffees and 7 glasses of water.

http://tiffany-anotherday.blogspot.ca