Ruffled Feathers

There have been some ruffled feathers lately, although I can't understand why. All the time spent towards the demos and the dragon dance have been for the benefit of everyone, not just those who have taken on the leader title. Every hour you spend at the kwoon is an hour towards your own training, your own goals, your own development. We are trying to create the most and best opportunities for people to develop personally, sometimes to the point of sacrificing our own goals. These practices are not prison sentences, not military strikes. They are an investment on your part. And they are what it means to be a part of the I Ho Chuan, which is defined as the elite of the school. Do you feel you're up to that title? I sure don't, hence the reason I'm pushing myself to earn that title.

'66 Coupe To Be Exact

This is the last week of Onoway classes, and I feel bad saying this but I'm relieved. Nick and I are trying to find a weekend where the two of us can tear out the transmission in the Mustang, but so far I haven't been around. Seems to be the same story with everyone, eh?

Still, I enjoy the time I spend at the kwoon and I enjoy my classes. I wouldn't be putting in this much time if I didn't. I'm comfortable at the kwoon, its my home when I can't be home. I can curl up on the couch and read a book and not feel strange doing it. I can fling around the spade before class and not be worried about which neighbor will see me. All I need is my dog and some dirty laundry and I'm home. Oh wait- there's always dirty laundry in my bag (it eats socks) and Chloe's been there a few times now.

We have to remember these things when where in a crunch like this. I feel the pressure, but at the same time its nice to have a goal. Don't let the stress of the situation ruin a good thing, remember why you decided to start this roller coaster in the first place. Take pride in what you're accomplishing, and make the kwoon your home. Fresh cut flowers do wonders for a home, do they not?

Two Weeks

It feels like we're hitting that half-way-through wall, which isn't unexpected but is still frustrating. It's time we all think about what we are a part of, why we joined the I Ho Chuan, what we want out of it and what was expected when we joined up. A big, team wide breath in, breath out. Refocus. Find that groove we need and get out of that rut. As Sifu Brinker mentioned, July 1st was always a date we were aware of. Its too bad we're not further ahead than we are, but that doesn't mean we can't be where we need to be by then. We have two weeks. Two weeks where the team as a whole has to push hard. Two weeks where we all need to be 100% committed.

The ultimate plan is to reduce the number of practices we need- ideally, dragon dance practice on Thursdays and demo practices Fridays during class. Thats it. But this is utterly dependent on each member training wholeheartedly on their own, and having this dragon dance together and great by July 1. If we pull this off, then we can reduce practices to once a week- maintain the dance thats been developed and work on new moves to incorporate in the future. Regarding the demo, if everyone is practicing and progressing on their own, then Fridays should be more than enough to put a demo together.

I know we're all getting tired, and missing our families and homes. I'm not immune to this, as some people think. I'm away from my home from seven in the morning to usually nine, ten, eleven at night, five days a week. Saturdays have been busy as well, as many of you know. My husband made a comment about maybe we can get together for Christmas- as I mentioned, I'm not immune to this schedule either. And thats why we have to push so hard these next two weeks. Two weeks, and we'll have it made. Two weeks, and maybe I can spend an evening with my husband. But, it depends on the team being committed these next two weeks.

I made this commitment knowing it could be like this, and planning on seeing it through to the end.

Sometimes Life Sucks

I'm not in a happy place right now. Over the last week I've been mentally and emotionally destroyed, and it just continued when I woke up this morning. Nothing too big this morning, I already have an appointment booked at the vet, but its draining. Last Tuesday- was rough. My saving grace was going to practice, immersing myself in the dragon dance for an hour and forgetting everything. Too bad reality hits you when you leave.

When I'm like this I need to have something constructive to do. Thankfully, we have lots of work to do in the I Ho Chuan, and being at the studio always lifts my spirits. Thanks everyone, for that.

Lessons from My Students

I feel like I have an advantage over most, simply because of the age I was when I joined. For example, last night in class we covered the front thrust kick. That's it. The front thrust kick, taking an entire night to dedicate to the first kick any of us ever learned. To me, the concept was simple- the ankle is fully extended, making a straight line from your knee to the base of your toes, aligning the skeleton. No, pull your toes back. Okay, but don't bend your ankle. But now your toes are pointed again. I didn't understand why my students were struggling until one gentleman mentioned he had never in his life thought to position his foot in such a way. Click.

I get what Sifu Brinker means when he says see a hole, fill it. If something needs to get done, do something to ensure it does. Leadership, both in the spotlight and behind the curtain is essential when striving for mastery. I get frustrated and don't understand why others can't see the gaping hole. But I figured it out- I've been taught since a very young age to recognize this type of thing and to fix it, be it in my stance or at class or in my life. The credit for this is not mine- I'm just the lucky duck in the middle. Recognition and credit goes to my instructors for getting these lessons through my thick, stubborn skull. Do something, fill the gap, even if you're unsure as to how. I know I've stumbled my way through many a problem. I know that I'm stumbling even now.

This is my vision for the I Ho Chuan team- a group of already exceptional people with strong leadership skills, the ability to motivate a community and a driving passion that can accomplish anything. This is where I want us to go. And you know what? It doesn't matter where you are in your training, where you are in the province or country, what your day job is- these are qualities that come from within. These are internal, personal qualities, independent from your schedule or any external factors. The physical goals outlined in the I Ho Chuan curriculum are external tools, in place to be used as stepping stones towards the development of these internal qualities.

I love to see leaders pop up from out of nowhere. When Ms. Gibbons took on the demo, that was one of the coolest moments in my I Ho Chuan/UBBT years. At the end of the year, wouldn't it be awesome to see everyone find their niche and run with it? We could have a dragon expert in our midst, maybe an extreme lion dancer, maybe the ultimate weapons expert. If you see a hole, fill it. Maybe you'll find your calling.

Thursday Extravanganza

-let three cars in traffic, two at a construction zone
-held door x2
-paid for coworkers lunch (different coworker)
-offered to make supper (I'm not normally the one who cooks)

Hump Day

Yesterday I-
-let two cars into traffic
-paid for lunch for two random people
-left my newspaper (the one I bought) for the next guy
-let my dog sleep on my side of the bed and let the cats sleep on each side of me (didn't kick them off or anything!)