I Need a Road Sign

So where am I in training and life in general? I don't really know at the moment. In the last few months so much of my life has changed that I'm feeling a bit lost, like when your teachers all asked you in junior high what you wanted to be when you grew up and you hadn't the foggiest. The only thing thats been constant is Friday nights, where I go to my classes and thats that. But then I go and miss last night and all day today I'm thinking its Friday. I'm completely, utterly lost without the Friday routine. It's my reset to the week, and now that I don't have a formal day job its my anchor when I can't even keep track of what day it is.

As I mentioned, everything has changed. Its strange to think that everything that I was a few months ago had been slowly developing over time, building up and on itself to take to me where I was, and then BAM! nothing is the same. Home life, work life, kung fu life, family life, even my pets all did a 180 or better. (Yes, I know, more than 180 is just closer to the original. Not the point.).

I think I need some kind of reset. Not just on the week, but on my life. There are a few things and a few things only that I know I want to keep constant, kung fu being one of them, and the rest is in the air. Where do I see myself in 10, 20, 40 years? In Stony Plain, at the kwoon. Other than that, I don't really know. I haven't the foggiest, actually.

I Love You Guys!

Yesterday's dragon/lion dance went great from my point of view. It was sad to see that not everyone was listening to the speakers, but the second Sifu Playter started pounding that drum everyone was paying attention to us. To me, that dance was an important one. The event we were there to support,their goals, as well as the ordeal we all had to go through to make sure it happened. The dragon dance was so close to being cancelled, and we managed to make it happen. Kudos to everyone who made it happen.

As much as I enjoyed the dance itself, I enjoyed the camaraderie even more. When we all sat down together, the idle chat and the jokes and the laughs we shared. Thats so important for this team, after all the hard times we've had and the negative experiences. To me it's all worthwhile on days like yesterday when we finally bring something like this together, give back to the community and enjoy each others company afterward instead of rushing off back to where ever we all came from. That part is so very important.

Thank you all for the experience and the friendship.

Batman Sound Effects

A few days after the forms seminar and I'm still pumped about how it went. No one can really say they know their stuff until they can teach it in a clear, through way. After all these years teaching, I'm still strugging with clairity, but I think the forms seminar took me a bit further. I hope the guys I was with understood half of what I was trying to say- as the Sifu's who instruct with me can attest, I have developed my own language when it comes to teaching. Half of my volcabulary changes to grunts and sound effects. But I found small pearls of wisdom falling out of my mouth while teaching Saturday- they may not have been pearls to the students (I hope they caught them) but there were a few things that made other things click for me in my own training. Teaching others is the absolute best way to progress yourself. There may be those who would argue, but those are people who don't teach. I just wish I had Sifu Brinker's eloquent speech.

No, I didn't intend to rhyme there...

Home Sweet Home

Well, by the feedback it sounds like it was a great bootcamp this year. Sucks that I had to miss it, but I did spend the day with family. It was still a great day for me, first time I played mc for anyone.

I'm finally fulfilling a goal I had set years back in the UBBT- my living room and dining room are getting done! I've been living with bare studs for years, but now I'm in the process of mudding the walls and should be picking out paint by early next week. Yes, this is big for me.

To fuel the rumours, yes, I quit my day job. No, I don't have another job line up. Yes, sleeping in is wonderful. Working on my home instead of someone else's is... Amazing. If only it could last forever.

Gor Your Numbers Yet?

So last night I stayed for San Shou- what a great class that is. Besides having a lot of fun, man am I learning my weaknesses in sparring. Its infuriating- I have a tendency to drop my guard when I throw my left. Oh, do I know it. And I can feel myself do it as my brain is screaming NO! Stupid bad habits. Believe me, I have more than just the one but I don't want to give any more away in case I spar with any of you :)

I want to encourage the team to start going to San Shou. It's such a great atmosphere, and no matter your level or if you're uncomfortable with sparring, its a great place to be. Sifu Lindstrom has been patiently helping me and pointing out my bad tendencies. The guys in the class are great to work with as well. You don't get hurt but they also don't let you get away with anything. I like it.

Tangents

Excited about seeing two dragons on stage. But it's going to be hard work- we'll have to see if we can pull it off (never mind fitting that many people on stage).

Little anxious about some personal stuff- big changes coming, along with possibly big financial problems. Stupid money. Who thought of the idea anyways?

Working on my spade, needs some polish and a good ending. Why is the ending so difficult?

Flat tire on my car. Not keeping me from the kwoon, however.

Now that my Onoway classes are over for the summer, not too sure what to do with myself. My garden looks good though.

My hands are healing nicely. Those twin hooks can't keep me down.

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.