The End Of The Year

I think we can all agree that it has been a crazy year. There have been some ups and some downs but I feel like it has still been a fairly successful year. The one thing that I did not do was quit training. Even though access to the Kwoon has been very limited this year, this is something I am accustomed to. Everyone is hoping that 2021 will be back to normal, but I think that a lot of the things that have come out of this are something worth keeping. It has allowed us to work on our eye for detail and forced us to train on our own. Training on your own is a great tool that will help to prepare you grading. I do look forward to being back at the Kwoon but I will not be waiting to get back there.

Which Way to Go?

I have been feeling a little frustrated this last couple of week and it may have pushed me to make a decision that may not be deemed as the easy way. I assume we have all been there at some point in our lives (I know I have a few times) and I will probably be there again in the future. So I am forcing myself to relly look at the situation and the impacts of either decision and then make the right choice.

Engagement

A few people have been asking me over the last couple months how I stay engaged with Kung Fu while being away so much. With the shutdowns, people are missing the Kwoon and the connection they have with the other students. Being alone and trying to maintain training is difficult being away for half the time. Being away all the time puts a whole other level on it. There are a multitude of things that keep me engaged and over the past 2.5 years, I have utilized all of them. 1) The online classes have been a huge help to me and I wish we had them when I first started travelling for work. The best thing you can do is attend your classes at a minimum. You should also take advantage of the Tai Chi class and even attend so of the lower ranking classes. Even though you are not there, you can still learn so much. 2) Stay engaged with your fellow classmates. Take part in all the challenges and post on Kwoon Talk. Encourage others and maybe have some fun as well. 3) Utilize the one on ones. These have been a big help to me as it allows me to interact with the students and the questions help me to focus on Kung Fu and my training. They are also a great way to ask for feedback on a specific and then allow you to apply your eye for detail. 4) Find a training buddy who you can connect with. This can be done virtually as anyone can set up a Zoom account. This way, you can support each other as well as practice techniques and over feedback. It will also he3lp hold you accountable for your inactions. 5) Finally, it comes down to mindset. Why did you join Kung Fu? Why do you enjoy Kung Fu? Everyone will have different reasons but remind yourself of why. Remember that this is only temporary and one day we will all be back at the Kwoon again. This reason alone, should be enough to keep you engaged.

Decision Time (Help).

I have been pondering a decision for a while now and have been unsure which way to go. So today I sent out an email to a mentor explaining my decision and adding in why I was leaning that way. I also explained what I wanted to do to still help going forward. In closing, I then asked for their opinion on this as it is important to me what there thoughts on my decision where. The whole point of this, is we can all use help when making important decisions in life so don't be afraid to ask. This can apply in your personal life, your work life and your Kung Fu life. I can't say what will work in your personal or work lifes, but the one on ones are a great resource in your Kung fu life and speaking from an instructors point of view, they help us as well. So again i repeat don't be afraid to ask for help.