It has been a long stretch this last little while. Over the past 10 weeks I have been home for only 2 of those which is why most of you haven't seen me around. It is one of those things where you feel like you cant keep doing it but you also dont want to miss an opportunity which could lead to better things.
One of the things that is a struggle is being able to read everyone's blogs as Mighty Networks and most other social sites are blocked up here and the internet is capped so you dont get a lot of usage out of it. So far, I have nothing booked for my next 2 weeks off so I am hoping to catch up on blogs so if you get a ton of notifications or comments, that is why.
My wrist injury is still bothering me so training with the spear is still painful so I am limited in what I have been able to do so far. My hand form is coming along okay but I have some questions and have to wait until I am back to answer them.
I have been able to keep up my workout schedule so that is also a positive.
I am scheduled to be back next Tuesday so once again I will miss the meeting but hope to see you all on Thursday.
I have to do some trickery with my phone and computer to post this so I hope it actually works.
Monday, April 29, 2019
Monday, April 1, 2019
Checking In
I am trying to see if I can loophole a way to post my blog as they are very restrictive with the internet up here. I just wanted to let everyone know, I am still around although I haven't been around due to spending a week in Whitehorse on my last days off. This has led to more challenges with training but I am hoping to get some good practice time in when I get back on April 9th (hopefully). I have been able to get to the gym everyday so at least all my physical goals are being met, but the form goals are starting to lag. I hope to bring these numbers up as well when I am back.
Anyway, that is quick update from the (almost) North Pole.
Anyway, that is quick update from the (almost) North Pole.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Back For a Short Time
The start to this years I Ho Chuan has been challenging to say the least. I sprained my wrist just before the banquet and aggravated it even more during the performance so training with the spear has been a struggle so far. Also, there is no place on site I can practice my weapon so when I am home I have to work twice as hard as I only have half the time to train with it (actually a little less than half).
I also found out that I will be gone all next week on another project in Whitehorse leaving on Sunday and back on Friday. I am grateful for the opportunities that I have been given but the chaos of travelling is starting to wear on me a bit.
The one thing I have been able to consistently work on is my conditioning and strength training while I am away and that is something I will continue to work on. I feel pretty good so far as the only thing I am lagging behind on is my form reps with a weapon. The wrist is probably at about 60% so hopefully soon I can start to work on my form.
I also found out that I will be gone all next week on another project in Whitehorse leaving on Sunday and back on Friday. I am grateful for the opportunities that I have been given but the chaos of travelling is starting to wear on me a bit.
The one thing I have been able to consistently work on is my conditioning and strength training while I am away and that is something I will continue to work on. I feel pretty good so far as the only thing I am lagging behind on is my form reps with a weapon. The wrist is probably at about 60% so hopefully soon I can start to work on my form.
Friday, February 22, 2019
Plans Change
My work schedule has been shifted by a week which may not seem like a big deal at first but it has consequences further down the line. The immediate one is the seminar that is coming up as I will not be here for the first day it starts. It is extremely frustrating when you plan for something and life throws a wrench in the mix.
Adaptability is something that I have started to appreciate more and more lately. I am hoping we can still make the seminar happen by hopefully just shifting the start date a week later but that will be up to Sifu Brinker and the people enrolled in it. This also has consequences as other people will have to adjust there schedules and it puts it onto the Easter long weekend.
Adaptability is something that I have started to appreciate more and more lately. I am hoping we can still make the seminar happen by hopefully just shifting the start date a week later but that will be up to Sifu Brinker and the people enrolled in it. This also has consequences as other people will have to adjust there schedules and it puts it onto the Easter long weekend.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Why We Do It
On Tuesday we went to Brookwood school in Spruce Grove to perform a lion dance for the kindergarten students. As we were waiting to start there were some children in the give that require special attention. They were playing with the drum and petting the lion. We decided to do an impromptu mini lion dance as they do not get to watch the main one we were there to do.
The drum was nice and quiet and we did a slower dance that was nice and mellow to allow them to enjoy it. Their reactions were priceless and this was the most fulfilling experience I have had in a long time. The smiles on their faces and the applause after will not be beat for a long time.
Thank you Dan, Tania and Jeff for sharing this experience with me. This goes to show that the smallest act can have the biggest impact.
The drum was nice and quiet and we did a slower dance that was nice and mellow to allow them to enjoy it. Their reactions were priceless and this was the most fulfilling experience I have had in a long time. The smiles on their faces and the applause after will not be beat for a long time.
Thank you Dan, Tania and Jeff for sharing this experience with me. This goes to show that the smallest act can have the biggest impact.
Friday, January 18, 2019
Missing Out
This year has been a challenging one for me. Let me correct that as its only been challenging since August when I started working up North. As many of you know my current work schedule has me away for 15 days and home for 13 so I am gone more than I am here. The challenging part is that I only attend half the mandatory I Ho Chuan classes and black belt classes.
This is where it gets challenging for me because I feel like I am missing opportunities that others can take full advantage off. It doesn't bother me that others can take advantage of them but it does bother me that I can't. I know that every class I miss, every meeting I miss and every practice I miss is something that I will never get back.
This sounds like a depressing blog now that I read it but it actually isn't. The time away allows me to work on my fitness and conditioning and every opportunity that I miss allows someone else the opportunity to take advantage of it.
I have learned a lot this year about working around what life gives you and to do what you can when you can, This next year should be an interesting one as part of the I Ho Chuan but I know I will make it better than this year.
This is where it gets challenging for me because I feel like I am missing opportunities that others can take full advantage off. It doesn't bother me that others can take advantage of them but it does bother me that I can't. I know that every class I miss, every meeting I miss and every practice I miss is something that I will never get back.
This sounds like a depressing blog now that I read it but it actually isn't. The time away allows me to work on my fitness and conditioning and every opportunity that I miss allows someone else the opportunity to take advantage of it.
I have learned a lot this year about working around what life gives you and to do what you can when you can, This next year should be an interesting one as part of the I Ho Chuan but I know I will make it better than this year.
Friday, December 14, 2018
Catching Up
The past few months have been chaotic between work and travel and time seems to have slipped away from me once again. Working in Nunavut has been a challenge as it keeps me away from home and Kung Fu for 15 days at a time which means I miss over half of my classes now. The other challenge I am having is the travel that I have to do when I am home as this also cuts into my time at home and the Kwoon. I think I have been averaging only about 30% attendance at classes this past 5 months.
it has been a bit tough to feel engaged with the team as my schedule has me missing most of the meetings and half of the mandatory classes. The other issue is that the internet at the mine site is restricted so I cannot access Mighty Networks while on site so reading posts or blogs is a no go. When I get home, I try to catch up as much as I can but I never really do so I try to get to the ones I feel are important and comment where I can.
The other issue is the lack of training space available up there and surprisingly they dont have a bench that I could just swing around without destroying a few things. So what do I do? I utilize what I have available to me and work on what I can. I work on my conditioning and cardio everyday while on site. I will hit the gym in the morning and either treadmill or bike and then in the evenings I work on strength and endurance training. So far it has worked out well and it is something that I plan to continue.
This leads to next Years I Ho Chuan team. Do I join knowing the challenges or do I take a step back? We all know what the easy path would be, but I have never been accused of doing anything the easy way (according to September anyway). So I am committing to next years team knowing that I may miss out on some demos, half the classes, maybe most of the meetings and with being out of touch for aver half the time. I want to do this because it is something that I feel strongly about and it is a new challenge that I know will benefit me.
Back to this year. We are just over a month away from our banquet and with the holidays coming up I will be at one more official practice only and a few Thursdays and Saturdays in between. This means that I dont have the benefit of being able to rehearse with the team as much as I should be but that is something beyond my control. I will be there every chance I can get and I am looking forward to seeing how the demo is progressing and also how the lion dance is coming along. I will do what I can and am looking forward to being a part of this years banquet.
it has been a bit tough to feel engaged with the team as my schedule has me missing most of the meetings and half of the mandatory classes. The other issue is that the internet at the mine site is restricted so I cannot access Mighty Networks while on site so reading posts or blogs is a no go. When I get home, I try to catch up as much as I can but I never really do so I try to get to the ones I feel are important and comment where I can.
The other issue is the lack of training space available up there and surprisingly they dont have a bench that I could just swing around without destroying a few things. So what do I do? I utilize what I have available to me and work on what I can. I work on my conditioning and cardio everyday while on site. I will hit the gym in the morning and either treadmill or bike and then in the evenings I work on strength and endurance training. So far it has worked out well and it is something that I plan to continue.
This leads to next Years I Ho Chuan team. Do I join knowing the challenges or do I take a step back? We all know what the easy path would be, but I have never been accused of doing anything the easy way (according to September anyway). So I am committing to next years team knowing that I may miss out on some demos, half the classes, maybe most of the meetings and with being out of touch for aver half the time. I want to do this because it is something that I feel strongly about and it is a new challenge that I know will benefit me.
Back to this year. We are just over a month away from our banquet and with the holidays coming up I will be at one more official practice only and a few Thursdays and Saturdays in between. This means that I dont have the benefit of being able to rehearse with the team as much as I should be but that is something beyond my control. I will be there every chance I can get and I am looking forward to seeing how the demo is progressing and also how the lion dance is coming along. I will do what I can and am looking forward to being a part of this years banquet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)