Another Level

"It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf."
-Walter Lippman

The quote sums up how I feel lately about my training and philosophies that go hand in hand with it.For quite some time, principles have been presented to myself and the school as a whole. Phrases such as "orbital motion", "6 harmonies", "vocabulary of motion", etc.

All have been thought provoking and sometimes frustrating to apply.

In a quest to push myself to another level I have found myself, unsure and lacking confidence in what I thought I had nailed down.

As was said to us many times before, there is a difference between imitating and innovating.

I have not posted a blog for a while, I was pondering how there would be an enlightening resolve complete with fireworks and trumpets to which I would share but I sense this is going to be a continuing plight for myself and perhaps maybe I am not alone.



JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Groceries...it shouldn't be this hard!

Here it comes ...the "organic and locally produced" tidal wave!

In the pursuit of trying to live a healthier lifestyle, one chooses accordingly. That wasn't a really hard change but now you can't seem to trust what you pick up anymore. Reading labels, trying to find the source of your food is becoming like smoke and mirrors, not to mention the 200% mark up that comes with these self proclaimed items.

Today's rant is towards the next marketing wave coming our way.

In the past couple of decades, food producers have cleverly marketed "low fat" and "high protein" , all the while the extra sugar and salt to disguise the flavour has only counter acted the intent.

There is no doubt the producers feel the surges and fears of the general populous.

They also know that convenience is the name of the game for the average family. Its like shooting fish in a barrel, especially when the general public feels there should be some trust within their governing bodies and some integrity to the producers of these products, after all food producers have families too, right...no one would ever imagine baby formula killing babies ..right!

Anyways, sorry, its frustrating and it does make me angry how much time I have to put into distinguishing the difference between whole healthy food and labelling that only proclaims as such.

I do appreciate the fact that awareness through the Internet and other sources of media can help force the governing bodies and producers to become more accountable.

Bottom line, truthful knowledge is the force by which we shape our globe.

Pretty deep, considering all I wanted was a nice head of broccoli!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Out of Town Blues

On the road again, first to Fort Mac then down to Calgary.

I don't mind travelling but sometimes it gets in the way and it can really derail your intended routine and lifestyle.

When I don't get some kind of workout in everyday I start to feel like a slug. When I start to feel like a slug it turns into cranky and spiral dives from there. Top that off with buffet eating(for some reason government aviation people really like to eat at buffets) and I just feel plain miserable and disgusted with myself.

So today, I woke up and gave my head a shake. Its important to adapt, find opportunities to train here and there but more important, keep your head in the right frame of mind.

If you let a change in routine or extra workload stress you out and get you down you are no longer a positive influence to others nor am I a positive influence to myself.

Lets face it, I talk to myself all the time. I have a choice of being optimistic, energetic, creative and spreading it around or I can dig myself into a hole and drag others down with me.
I might not be able to carry out my acts of physical training everyday but there is nothing, absolutely nothing, in the way of carrying out my acts of kindness every day.

Flexible and Versatile



JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Consistency and Concentration

How do I get there from here?
I have a goal...it seems so far away, I want it now and I want it to be easy.

If it could be obtained fast and easy, it wouldn't really be much of a goal.
Pace yourself, small steps but be consistent and put quality into every step.

These are thoughts I try and repeat in my head and follow through on. Sometimes I listen to myself.
Sometimes I take quotes from other people who have been there done that....

"The pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret" - Sarah Bombell

"The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory." - Vince Lombardi

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination." - Tommy Lasorda

..and my personal favorite...

"You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good." - Jerry West

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada