Why Do I Still Train

This is a question that I really have been thinking about these last few days so I figured I would just write it down and see why.

Kung Fu has been a huge part of my life for over 10 years now but why.

1) I find it is a great way to stay in shape and it motivates me to continue to exercise regularly and to be mindful of my diet.

2) I love learning new techniques and how to use different weapons.

3) It helps improve my flexibility and believe it or not it helps alleviate pain (inflict pain to relieve pain, who knew).

4) Being able to teach other people. This is one of my main reasons for still training as it gives me a true sense of purpose and motivates me to ensure I make every class I can.

5) The other main reason is I have found an area that has caused me to focus on and continuously look at ways to improve. This area has been the combative aspects of sparring, grappling and San Shou. My main focus is not to be able to beat someone up but it analyze a technique and then how it can be adapted if this happens or that happens. Once I started to focus on this area it renewed my passion for Kung Fu and I started to work on all areas as they are all interconnected.

There are more reasons I am sure but I wanted to keep this short. If you are feeling disconnected or have lost your passion, find something to focus on and own it. Try to continuously improve it and it will definitely help.

Update on Training

I am currently half way through a 4 week shift for work. Being away has always been more difficult in the past but this time it feels different. With the classes being on line, I am know able to view them and participate. This has actually kept me more engaged with the school and my training.

The training is going a lot better in the last couple of weeks as I have really focused on my forms and getting the sequence down with my new spear form. I have also worked on my hand form but it still needs more work but space constraints are making it difficult for both.

There are still aspects of my training to work on and I have started to work on more sparring techniques including grappling, san shou and kick boxing. Figured I would take the opportunity to improve some other aspects of my training.

When You Don't Feel Like Doing, What Should You Do.

I had aspirations that this year would be a lot less hectic than last year and hopefully I would be spending more time at home and the Kwoon. So far though, things have not gone to plan. We are 18 weeks into the year and I have been away for 12 of them so far. Once again it has been a struggle to find the space and tine to work on my forms and I have been getting down on myself lately. This has led to some frustration and a little anger at myself.

I have however, found something that helps. Strangest thing is it was I actually started to work on my form. I have been able to start to work through the sequence and am over half done the form in just 3 days. Something that I couldn't seem to do before is actually what was limiting me. Dont get me wrong as there are still challenges. My weapon choice this year is the spear and I am reduced to using a broomstick in a 6 x 6 space with only 8 foot ceilings. There are a few scuffs in the ceiling now but its plywood so quite resilient. I know that once I get home and use an actual spear it will be like starting all over again, but I will have the sequence down and hopefully be able to get the flow and intensity up to par soon.

This is a breakthrough moment I feel like and I my inspiration and commitment are the highest they have been in quite some time.