Pick up the Slack

This time, more than ever, I am really looking forward to being home. It has been a long few months and I am really looking forward to doing some Kung Fu where you can actually have a partner. While there are areas in my Kung Fu that have improved in the last 16 months, there are others that I know have fallen off. There needs to be a good balance of all things and I really hope that all the shutdowns are over so these areas can receive some attention now.

I mentioned feeling a disconnect from the team and that is because I dont really see the team that much and if I do it is mostly virtually. I know it is better than it used to be (no zoom) but in person is still the best. I have used this disconnect as an excuse to let some of my weapon form training slip as I dont have access to them up here and I said that's okay. The problem is when I get home I didn't do much there either. This is something I am focusing on starting now and something I must keep in front of me.

See you all next week

Reevaluation

I feel like all my travelling over the past 3 years is starting to wear thin with me. It has been great in a lot of aspects but not so great in others. Even if I could go back in time, i wouldn't. The experiences I have lived and the personal growth I have had are irreplaceable. What I am saying however is that soon I will need to reevaluate my goals and priorities.

As anyone who travels for work can tell you, maintaining and progressing in Kung fu can be challenging. You are on your own and if you lack motivation, you will not progress. I think my progress lately has slowed and this concerns me. It is a warning to me that there are other areas in my life that are almost certainly lacking as well. Hence my decision to evaluate where I am right now and where I want to be in a day, a week, a month etc.....

Ah To Be Punched

Today was my first day back at work so I will miss the full opening of Alberta starting tomorrow. I hope that this (as I assume all of us are) that this time it will stay open and there are no more shutdowns. I look forward to actually be able to spar and grapple again as it will be almost 17 months by the time I get back (as long as things stay open). That is an unbelievable amount of time looking back now.

The next 15 weeks will only see me at the Kwoon for about 4 weeks between my work/travel schedule but I will be there online as much as possible. I look forward to being back and hopefully being able to get hit a few times, literrally.

Excitement

I am, as many of you probably are, crossing my fingers that we will be back to live training next week. I have spoken to Sifu Brinker about this a few times over the past year about the disconnect I have felt. I have tried to be as active as I can online and engaged as much as possible virtually, but not being at the Kwoon and not actively teaching has been a struggle. I always ask what more can I do and have not come up with an answer yet.

I only want to return to the Kwoon if it is safe and we are not at risk of being shut down again. I hope this time it will be for good. I am really looking forward to just being back and being around everyone again. It has been 7 months since I have been there so I am ready.

The Tiger Challenge

The Tiger Challenge is this weekend and once agan I will be away at work. I always dreaded and at the same time loved competing. Why would you love it you may ask and I will tell you. I found it was the best tool at my disposal to focus my training not just with my forms but also with my sparring. Nobody wants to go out there unprepared and the best way to prepare is by practice, practice, practice....

The only thing to make sure is that you are practicing mindfully with the goal to get a little better every time you do something. If you are not keeping this in front of you, you are simply going through the motions and the repetitions are not really serving you.

Good luck to all of you this weekend and remeber to just have fun.

Commitment

This year has been a lot different than I thought it would be. We are still trying to navigate through a pandemic which has continued to affect my work life, my home life and my Kungf Fu. My schedule for my work continues to change and the not knowing what will come next continues to be stressful.

My training has been going okay but I am behind with my weapons forms. As some of you may know, I broke my spear and have not been able to get a suitable replacement yet. For my other form, I am using the Chinese Horse Bench. However, I am struggling with a concept on how I want the form to go. It's not on how to use the bench but more not committing the time to put the motions together.

So what to do? Accept the reality of the situation we are in. Commit the time to work on my forms more. And try to fo=ind a spear instead of saying I'll do it later. Sounds easy enough...

Another Opportunity

I was scheduled to go to another job this coming Saturday for a week in B.C. but I don't know if that is going to happen now. It was announced that B.C. is restricting travelel to essential people only. What i'm doing, they are unsure if it can be classified as essential so I am just waiting for confirmation but it doesn't look good.

I could get angry or upset but what good would it do. It is not going to change anything so I might as well make the most of this opportunity. I have a bunch of work around my house I can do instead and I get to spend some time in my own house. So Yay!

P.S. I am really done with the coronovirus. Like seriously done with it.