If Only

If only I knew then what I know now.

I would have shown up to every class.

I would have practiced everyday.

I would have analyzed the basic fundamentals and mastering would have been so easy.

Every morsel of information would be savoured and written down.

Arrogance and Ego would never have entered the equation.

If only I knew then what I know now.

I seem to love torturing myself this way. I think to myself, if I could go back in time and start my white belt all over again, boy would I approach it differently!

Silly statement but its fun to imagine.

I find myself in an internal battle these days. Muscle strength versus skeletal technique.For a long time now I have relied on my muscle mass to deliver the power. So much so, that I have incorporated some bad habits that are incredibly hard to break.

What I thought was a wicked left punch (naturally left handed and nailing the heavy bag into next week!) will never meet its target. I telegraph too much, too much shoulder not enough hip and foot work.

Drats!! They see me coming a mile away.

Funny thing, I am not frustrated. For every 20 crappy punches I threw, I had one with proper technique. It went something like this.

Muscle mass + proper skeletal alignment = Shazam!

If only I knew then what I know now.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada