There are Two Things that can Make this World Better

I've had a few things going around in my mind over the last few weeks, but I'm not sure how to phrase it all. One of the first things we are taught is "what does kung fu teach?". Normally when I ask this question I get the same answer I gave to the student- discipline and respect. But, when I ask what is discipline and respect, and why is it so important, I often get crickets as an answer. And so, I will do my best to define it and to explain to some degree why they are so important.

In this case, discipline does not necessarily refer to the negative connotation. Its not only a case of "do 30 push ups" after someone forgets to bow, or talks too loudly, or decides to show up late to class. It is also the ability to motivate yourself to do those push-ups, in an effort to better yourself body and soul. Its the ability to devote yourself to what you happen to be doing at the moment, to complete the task to the very best of your ability. Its the motivation behind everything we do in an attempt to become better workers, employers, practitioners, spouses, individuals. Without it, we will become stagnant, ignorant and loose all sense of accountability and responsibility.

Respect does not stop at bowing at the door or remembering previous or current masters of our art. It shows esteem for those around you as well as for yourself. Its what makes you choose to acknowledge the feats of others, or like discipline, it can be what motivates you to choose a healthy lifestyle, to listen to others before prematurely judging them. If given respect, it can do wonders for your self esteem, it can make you smile, it can make your day. To show another respect is to acknowledge them as individuals, with unique abilities and unique ideas. You know yourself, what you are capable of and how things affect you- why wouldn't you want to be respectful of others if you know that's what you yourself would want?

Discipline and respect can be seen on every level, from showing up to class on time, to finding a garbage can rather than throwing it out the car window, to becoming active politically, to helping those with no homes or warm clothing, to smiling at a cashier.

The things we teach in kung fu are meant to last beyond the kwoon. You cannot be taught kung fu in a week long seminar, or in a month or in a year. Even if you learn every move, every kick or block or escape or form, you will not know kung fu until you understand the importance of discipline and respect, and understand how they can touch every aspect of your life. It's a life long process, striving to become a better martial artist by becoming a better worker, employer, practitioner, spouse, individual. It does not stop once class is over, or you get injured, or you receive a black belt. It only becomes more important as you come to understand it.

Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day

Today has been... rough. I was no showed by employees, had to cancel two jobs (one twice), deal with grumpy contractors, pay $460 for one single tire since I ran over a piece of shrapnel the size of a small country, I think I broke my back and a strut on a back country road, I had to deal with a company car accident (not me, and no one was hurt) (but the van is a write off), and I just burnt my tongue on my supper.

But... class was great, the night is beautiful, and I have a dog curled up in my lap. Today has been great.

Or an Astronaut...

I am still in process of deciding what I want to be when I grow up. The problem is, now that I'm older I can't just say "I want to be a fire truck!" without first thinking it through, what education do I need to become a fire truck, where would I work as a fire truck, do I need to move as a fire truck, oh, wait, I'm human, not a truck.

I can list several disciplines that I'm interested in, but the problem is, am I willing to do what is required to follow through? If I need to move across the country, am I willing to? If I need to take night courses, sell my car, quad, holiday trailer to pay for tuition, will I? Am I willing to take 2 steps back before I can take one forward?

Despite being made of organic materials, I think being a fire truck would have been simpler and easier.

(Scary) True Story

I often have dreams, as well as nightmares, about kung fu. My dreams are probably fairly common- I kick butt with cool weapons or I can jump from tree to tree like Chow Yun-Fat. My nightmares usually consist of my students deciding to go crazy, climbing the walls, screaming & yelling and hanging from the rafters on the same day Sifu Brinker decides to give a surprise visit, and there I am yelling at some random kid to quit beating on an adult, all the while Sifu is giving me the eyebrow glare, with a 'tsk tsk' finger wag.

Then there's what I dreamt last night- completely and utterly failing the test for my next stripe.

And it wasn't that I had bad technique on my side heel, or broke my hand on a board. It was... Tai Chi. My nemesis. Oh how I both love and loath you.

It was grading day, there we all were, gathered in the old elementary school gym (that's always the setting for these dreams). There were so many second degrees going for third. Strangely, several were black belts from years past, several from now that are still first degrees, one was even Spock. Yes, Dr. Spock, pointy ears, overly logical and formal with a bad hair cut. And if I didn't achieve my 3rd, he'd be standing to my right instead of two rows back.

Spock and all the others were asked to perform the Tai Chi form together. They did, most of them. Many could not make it through the form, and I could see Sifu Dennis docking points off for whatever was not sufficient or for what they didn't know. Then, I went, all by my lonesome, doing great at first, then struggling, then utterly forgetting everything I knew. Oh the shame.

Then, mercifully, I woke up. It was 5am, I had to get up for work in an hour, but now I'm sweating, my heart is pounding and my mind is reeling. Oh how do I go back to sleep when I'm all wound up?

Then (this is all a true story) I remembered something Sifu Brinker said in the last UBBT meeting- "if you think you're too busy and don't have the time, I'll show you how to set your alarm one hour earlier". Well, by golly, I had woken up one hour earlier and now I'm extremely motivated, after that scary dream!

Guess what I did... how'd you know? And, today seems a bit brighter now. Brighter than yesterday, and definitely brighter than 4:59am this morning.

Kudos

I have two friends who are leaving today for the UK to compete in something called Mongol Rally 2001, "16,000km of adventuring bliss through deserts, mountains and steppe tackled in a tiny car your Granny would use for shopping. The Mongol Rally is hurling yourself at 1/3 of the Earth’s surface in woefully unsuitable vehicles to see what happens".

I have to say kudos to them for taking up something like this, where there are no prizes for first or last, only an opportunity to raise money for charity and a chance to travel across multiple countries where no one knows who you are and you know nothing about.

I wish I had the courage to do something like this. They're leaving behind their friends and family for two months, and I'm sure they will come home if not with an accent, with many new expressions and stories.

Its amazing. Good luck to you guys!

If anyone is interested, their website, built by Steve (one of the two guys going) is http://silentnoise.ca/mongolrally/

Apologies

I admit, very little has been accomplished over the last two months, June specifically. All my numbers are suffering, my training has suffered and as Sifu Brinker has recently posted, guilt is setting in.

Hopefully July will be the turning point. Things have cleared up, my family is back to some degree of normalcy and I've finally put in a full work week, the first since May. Mind you, it was a long weekend, so technically I only worked 4 days. Oh, and I had to leave early on Monday.

Regardless, I miss training, both the physical movement and the family feeling, and all the mojo that comes with walking into the kwoon. I'm looking forward to Friday.

Motivation

What is your motivation? Why are you here? What is it that causes you to show up to class, day after day, month after month, year after year?

Not everyone has the same wheel driving us. Sometimes, this wheel changes. Personally, I think we need to know what it is that motivates us, what could motivate us, and what we need to motivate us. I know what motivated me when I was 16 no longer applies, and what I use as motivation now never even occurred to me then. This is not necessarily bad, we all change with time as does our thought processes, our personality and of course, our motives.

Additionally, not all of us know truly what it is that motivates us. Or alternatively, what does motivate us may not be working as well as we would like. Maybe, we are not motivated at all, or we are extremely motivated and progressing great. Perhaps its

So, what is it? Do you want to increase your independence, or maybe your conditioning? Maybe its a way to become a strong role model for a child, or maybe your ego is whats driving you?

Now, how far will that motivation get you? Because its true, some motives make it further than others. Some will get you to blue or brown, some to black, others will be endless. Again, keeping in mind things change with time. By the time you get to blue or brown, something can change and all of a sudden you are capable of anything, in regards to your motivation.

The key is to recognize where it is you stand. I've seen a lot, been through a lot, where I can't help but gain motivation or lose motivation, put in a rut or maybe I put myself there, and then I find myself crawling out. Regardless, know where you are at and you will better understand how to get to where you want to go.