I Hate the Sound of my Whiny Voice...

 

Sihing Langner was telling me about his knee pain and I began to dish out the advice and lecture him about making the time to have these pains and aches attended to before they interfere with your training. Good advice, I thought. I should listen to myself …

 

Its been over a week since one of my ribs slipped.

One doctors appointment, two Chiropractor appointments, 1 physio appointment, a bucket of Advil, endless stretching  and more of the same for next week.

Physio guy figures its been building up from overly tight shoulders and traps. Anyways, I have no one to blame but myself. I did not practice what I preach.  My shoulders  and upper back have been bothering me for months but I have powered through everything ..just didn’t make time to focus on the cause properly.  So now I have to, if I want to function properly, never mind train. 

Even if you are younger, take heed, for some things left may come back to haunt you later in life.

My sister said it best, we are fortunate to have the resources like physio, chiropractors, acupuncture, massage and other wellness tools at our hands in this county. It is unfortunate that it is not always covered financially but like she said to me , your health is not a luxury it’s a necessity.

 

We often as a society in general, don’t want to take the time for something like preventative measures. We feel we are being selfish or self-indulgent. Booking time for a massage, therapy or simply slowing down to stretch, who has time for that?. We are always in a hurry. On to the next task. Today is not a good day but I will make the time on the weekend or next weekend or , or ,or…

The sacrifice  may be time and money but I can firmly say after this past week, my health, my mobility, my ability to function are a priority and priceless.

Old Man Style

An Instructor I trust and look up to has told me several times don’t train hard and fast train “Old Man Style’.

This week I find myself contemplating this concept with much seriousness.

An injury has given me a reality check.

I am aging. I am not as flexible and pliable as I once was. I have to admit I am not as fast nor as strong as I used to be in my 20s and the longer I deny this it can only lead to consequences.

I need to approach my training now  with more logic and less muscle.

Analyze technique, focus on timing, think about my attack and defense from a smaller weaker perspective.

Train “Old Man Style”

I want to be actively training well into my seasoned ages.

My basic body health will be the foundation and my mind should over rule my muscle.

I get it now, when he says, train old man style.

Journal

Sifu Brinker asked us all to focus on our jounaling . Why we journal and maybe why we don't sometimes.

Years ago, when I started journaling I disliked it,  too personal and uncomfortable. Later I realized  journaling should not be an exercise in exposing yourself as it is sorting issues and thoughts.

I try to take stock on something that has happened or is on my mind. Journling forces you to think about your experiences and formulate your opinion and check your emotions. I always hope that logic is the end result from reflecting on something , even if its after I leave the computer.

For me, it gives me the opportunity to reflect on my thoughts or what has taken priority for me the past week.
It seems, when you take the time to compose your thoughts from what is circling around in your head and put it in front of you, you can find more order in your thoughts.
I think there are lots of benefits but probably the best one for me is to give myself a better understanding of what I am about to say. Journaling can take away the knee-jerk reaction because you have to express yourself in a slower time frame. A lot of realizations can be pushed to the surface when you take some time to analyze your topic, issues or feelings.
Clarity has been the best benefit for me so far. If things are a little more clear then solutions become more apparent, chaos seems less of a factor.

I haven't always seen the benefits of journaling, its taken a long while, and admittedly I started only because we had to.
That has changed for me but only through habit.
I'd have say this one is a good habit.

Dont get ambushed by the Tiger

Tiger Challenge is coming...

Its our somewhat annual school tournament.  It’s a great opportunity for every student in the school to come out on a Saturday and have some fun.

Each one has been different and each one has been full of surprises and laughs!

There is no better way to challenge yourself then having a little friendly competition with your peers. Whether you choose to be creative with a form, music or fighting partners or maybe you just want to focus on that curriculum form to prefect it, the best you can for your belt level, the benefits are countless.

Practicing something for the purpose of putting it forward gives the mind the challenge of picking something apart then building it back up to your own perfection.

When it comes to sparring, tournaments are the closest thing you can get to putting yourself in a realistic situation of having to defend yourself and defeat your attacker, but yet, stay safe. No life threatening situation but it can get your adrenalin up just the same! You get to challenge your ability to stay calm in an anxious situation but in a safe and friendly environment.

Of course the kids have the most fun, they seem to be the ones that can focus the most on a goal and make it look like a lot of fun!

 So here we are, Christmas is right around the corner. We have just about 6 weeks before the Tiger Challenge is upon us. Lets see what we can do with that 6weeks, sign up, practice, eat your turkey, then get back at it!

Don’t let the Tiger ambush you!

Volunteer

It’s a rewarding experience to volunteer. More often than not , you get back tenfold what you put into it.  I am proud to be part of a school that advocates volunteer work and puts the time in the community to practice what it represents.

It is great to see so many step up to the plate and put their names in for different projects.

However, it is disappointing when the volunteer commitment becomes optional in some minds .

Volunteering should be treated no different then a paying job. You have made a commitment to others, a group, and the community. There might not be a paycheck at the end of the month but there are rewards you can reap or  you can miss out on.

I was disappointed to hear and see how some  do not respond to a call out for shovelling snow.  Its understandable that people are not available but it is not understandable when you don’t let your group or team mates know you are unavailable.

Would you not call back your boss if they left a message on the phone for you to come in for some extra work?  I don’t understand the silent response when someone from a snow shovelling team makes a call-out. At the very least respond, this allows those who have taken the initiative to coordinate in a timely manner know the resources they have at hand. Just simple consideration is all.

I am hoping its just the beginning of the year glitch, we are all adjusting to the heavy hand of winter but tomorrow is December, we should be a finely tuned machine by now, like tactical snow police!:)

Colds to Cancer

Raymond has been home sick for three days now. Whenever I am home nursing him, I always think about health in general.

Our biggest investment to ourselves is the well being and maintaining of our health. That means Water, Food and Sleep.

Lets talk about food. Since it’s a blog , I guess I’ll just do the talking.

I am a firm believer in keeping yourself fuelled with wholesome nutrient rich food. Not just for optimum training and a shiny coat but for the days sickness comes calling. If you are running on all cylinders you are more likely to overcome flus, infections and other nasty stuff a lot quicker with less discomfort.

Unfortunately, I have seen too many around me affected by cancer in one form or another.  A friend of mine contracted stomach cancer a while ago, we used to lift weights  together. She was strong, in good shape and an avid health nut. She is down to 90 pounds now but her cancer is in remission.  She is by no means, back to normal, but everyone is amazed by her condition after going through such hell.

This isn’t a scientific observation but it seems to me , if you look after yourself you have a better fighting chance.  

As I sit here, waiting for the next ” ..mommy, can you get me…” I think about a comment from Sihing Chervenka, - trusting the food manufacturers,... the nutrients are not the same and what is that stuff their putting in our food?- I agree with him.

I also ponder on Ms  Donohues great research into the matter. I shall have to bother her some more.

Colds to Cancer- our food matters.

Be the Bullet

This past week the morning class worked on board breaking (by the way thanks Sihing Choy for bringing the boards!)

Anyways, it made me think about force and how we apply it. Sometimes we strike like a bullet and sometimes we strike like a dead blow hammer. Both can deliver a lot of power and we govern how much we use and combine when we work with our partners to ensure no one gets injured but when it comes to striking shields and boards we should be the bullet!

More penetrating then pushing. More focus of the energy not only to a small target but through the target. Striking in such a manner should contain acceleration that starts at the beginning- 0mph and peaks at the end-100mph.

I notice when I hold the boards for people I can tell right away when they struck the board like a hammer and when it feels like a bullet. When the board is hit like a dead blow hammer I feel it translate through my body and can tell which direction the dull force was heading, those ones tend to hurt a little.

In contrast, when  I am left holding the pieces of wood without little movement to my body or even arms, I know it was a bullet.  All energy penetrating in a localized area and very little translating through the holder of the board. This becomes the sum of all we practice, form , speed , power , accuracy and the realism is little splinters on the floor…too cool.

Sharing my Random Thoughts

·         Good meeting today…I like these people!

·         Removing all the snow today was easy with lots of help. It is true, many hands makes light work.

·         Still working on my people skills Mr. Chervenka!  Good days and not so good days.

·         On the weekends I plan my meals, healthy meals, for the week days, then I make a shopping list and make sure I have all ingredients and supplies for both lunches and meals .

This prevents me from eating poorly. There is no doubt that crappy food makes for a lack of energy, I become lethargic and my workouts and training suffer. It takes time during the weekend to plan then grocery shop but its worth it. That’s my chore for this afternoon.

·         I hope Mr. Hamilton’s knee gets better soon.

·         No ladies in the house!...For those of you that are not aware of the awesome morning class run by Sifu Bryant at 6:40 in the morning (tues and thur) , make it a lifestyle change!  If you just thought  to yourself..”I would like to join but I have no time in the evenings”.  Lets talk.

We have no ladies and I desperately would like some female company. Not that the boys aren’t great!

Brought to you by ...Another set of Random thoughts on a Saturday Afternoon

A Higher Standard

Maintaining a higher standard for ourselves can be tough.
Without deadlines or demands we can coast but watch that its not a downhill coast!
Our practice becomes more intense and frequent as we prepare...and so it should but without that push, what do we do with our down time.
When we have down time it gives you the opportunity to dig deep into your forms, techniques  and your problem areas. Unfortunately it can be too easy just to take a more relaxed approach and kick back.
But  this can become crisis training. You don't want to be an 'on' and 'off" switch.
Steady Eddy is best with the occasional 'go hard" when needed.
Training should become a lifestyle rather than a thing to do and mark off your list.

I am back from being out of town this week again, this messes with my "Steady Eddy' philosophy, always. This has always been a challenge to incorporate training and improvement when routine is disrupted.
My thoughts to myself...I am to hold myself to a higher standard, this means I have the discipline to overcome laziness and procrastination.  Breaking routine should just be a matter of creativity not utter defeat...always find time to train!

Thinking and doing are two different things...I am guilty of not always carrying out my thoughts but holding yourself to a higher standard is always a work in progress, hopefully with steady and frequent steps forward.

Focus with Heart

I spend a lot of time trying to develop focus. Working on focus. Enough focus and I should be successful at my goal.

What I have come to realize ….its not enough to have 100% focus, speaking for myself. I can stare at something and empty my mind and kick out all the distractions but I find myself needing something more.

Purpose.

Why ?

Visualize.

How?

The beginning..as it happens…and how it should end.

You could call all of that focus but I break it down and come up with focus with heart.

Where this is useful for me is applying this to something where I have a mental block, a barrier or a fear of.

 Board breaking and demonstrations both have the same focus issue for me.

I can have a mountain of focus but if my heart is not in it…nothing spectacular happens.

Obviously, last week’s demo has made me turn attention to my focus, or lack of focus that occurs from time to time. Last week’s demo served to be a great purpose as I looked upon the faces of the people in the Seniors home. It warmed my heart, and there it was … heart.

 A special thanks to Sifu Kichko for arranging the demo at the Seniors home and giving me 28 seconds of purpose!

Blog Challenge #2 -Thankful

I am grateful for my health.

Not to be confused with fitness or shape  but simply a fully functional body.

Not to be confused with an ailment free body.

Not to be  confused with aging aches or limitations that can be overcome.

I am not dependent on medications.

I am not dependent on caregivers.

I am not bedridden.

For this I am grateful and  thankful.

I will help those around me who are bedridden, dependent and have daily limitations to deal with.

I will help to restore dignity.

I will help to restore independence.

I will help to fend off loneliness as the rest of the world seems to pass by without you.

For one day, I may not have my health. ..and if that day comes I can only hope the goodwill is returned.

Blog Challenge

Blog Challenge from Sifu Wonsiak

Narrative on one Basic requirement and one Personal  requirement

Sparring requirement – this requirement is way off from reaching the 1000 mark for the year. Its unfortunate because even from the numbers I did accumulate  I noticed a difference in my approach from the beginning of the year. The more often you are on the mat to spar, the more familiar you are with the situation. The more familiar you are, the more comfortable you get. When you are comfortable in your surroundings that’s when the magic begins. You recognize and react better. You find time to try new things. I love sparring even though I am far from proficient at it. This years I Ho Chuan program has shown me the math. Mat time is proportional to your comfort level. Comfortable = Improvement. It s not a difficult concept but sometimes the obvious is overlooked.

 

Personal requirement – one of my goals was to encourage the female students to embrace the grappling skills from a self-defence perspective. My plan was to try and get the message across through classes and the boot camp seminars.  You see, from a female point of view being pinned on the ground is your worst nightmare. I have focused on grappling this past year to build the basics of escaping and fending off an attack from the ground. I am not sure that I was so successful in spreading my passion, my point of view and my opinion of the importance of the grappling techniques but something else interesting is happening instead. I am starting to recognize the commonalities between stand-up techniques, ground techniques and everything in between.  It’s the body mechanics that are essential no matter what name you put on the technique or martial art you are training in. Its made me realize how connected the martial arts community is or at least should be.

 No matter, the discipline, the fundamentals will always be the same. The human body is the human body and all human bodies move and react the same way, more or less…(there are those gifted rubber people).

I guess what started off as trying something new has in actual fact made me revisit lessons taught to me back in 1999 (that’s not a song, its when I was a white belt).  

So both of these requirements will no longer be requirements when my I Ho Chuan time is up but both will be permanent and valuable components to my ongoing training.

My Auntie

A spent last night visiting with my Auntie.

She passed away this morning at 7am.

I have been in denial for months about her condition. I have been angry for months about her condition. Reality was harsh last night when I had to face the end of such a lovely woman’s life.  My Auntie is the most giving person I know, she did not pursue a career, master any hobby but her life was about giving. To children,… always about children, her own, her grandchildren, neighborhood children,.. she  treated them all, including me, like her own. My fondest childhood memories include her and my Uncle. My Aunties life career was Children.

So why, I ask ,take her.

 I sit here now reflecting on her life and her influence she had on me.

Of course, it was her quality of life I need to reflect on. She touched so many people, especially the young with her example of giving and caring and just simply taking care of you.The more she gave the more extraordinary she grew.  She has placed a little piece of that in all her family and friends.

I am sad today, but I am so thankful to have known her and so grateful to be her niece.

The Preaching Sister

My sister moved to New Zealand last month. She is a massage therapist and what I call an Earthy person. I use the term affectionately and I give her a hard time about it but the truth is, she definitely is in tune with her passion and she steers me in the right direction. She, for years has preached yoga to me. So I begrudgingly tried it and dabbled in it.

I don’t remember the names of the poses, I don’t own a special mat, I don’t know why the guy in the video doesn’t get a haircut or why the Instructor at the lunchtime yoga class talks in such a low quiet voice…but what I do know is I need yoga.

Aging is a nasty thing. You deny your body is getting old and try and explode into flying kicks and sprint the track and punch out a set of 50 deep pushups like its no big deal. Brush it off, look at the young ones and give them the twinkle in your eye “that’s right punk… I still got it”.

Once I am home I search for the heating pad, ice pack and my blanket to cower in.

But the yoga deal, as I have come to realize is all about keeping me in the running. I see now, how it is a combination of long stretches combined with breathing, being in the moment to find those deep hidden muscles that get ignored. Working on maintaining their length, pliability and mobility to  prevent injury from overzealous moves and over ambitious training.

I no longer scoff, dabble or belittle the art of yoga. It is clear I need to incorporate it into my day, every day. Something else to add but I think without it, I may find myself on the sidelines more often, from injuries, that could have been prevented merely by taking the time for some preventative measures.

When she left last month, she left me a duffel bag, yes, with a selection of yoga DVDs , a yoga mat and a Zen clock??-not sure about that one yet – anyways, time to dig into the bag, thanks sis!

Rhythm disruption

Lately I feel like I am achieving something with my training.

Its not a great leap into some new level but more like emerging from a plateau I have been at for a long time. I think I have to attribute some of this to helping with Sifu Bryant’s morning class. The students have great questions and observations that in turn teach me something as well. I have also been enjoying the benefits of morning training as I have had some company. If its not Sifu Stoddard then I have the company of Sihing Choy and Robinson to help with motivation in the early morning.

Watching students apply themselves in preparation for their next level (black belt)has always inspired me and motivated me. I forget the energy it brings to an individual when they are preparing to put it all on the line, that first grading seems to carry such intensity with its training unlike anything else.

So now that I am up on the step; riding the wave and feeling a sense of accomplishment with training along comes work to dash it!

I have to go back to Whitehorse for a week. Its an overloaded week of work so I have my doubts of getting in any real training. A week does not seem like a big deal, considering others like Sifu Regier and Sihing Krebs have been able to train whilst out of town for extended periods, but I am probably just annoyed because I had a good routine going , a good rhythm if you will… and there is always the fear of dropping off a routine when something upsets it.

Anyways, back to Whitehorse, get the job done and I booked a flight back that should get me to class on time this Friday.

To the horse..

New Strategy

I have to admit, I was getting frustrated sparring last night.
Oooh those bigger guys!
of course it was fun, but I was finding myself  resting my ribs on their thrust kicks too many times.

Now I know you need to stay out of range of the long legs, but they are on to that too!
One of the Black Belts is superb in staying frontal the whole time and maintaining his frontal stance with slight movements. Sadly,I could only admire it and hardly did I get inside.
After finally getting inside and out of range of the kicks I found myself still getting several body shots. But why, hmmm.
Why...I was trying to reach for their head and for a bigger opponent this leaves me reaching. Which leaves me exposed to body shots. Next time, I need to focus on body shots so I can defend their counters quickly and not over extend my arms.

Maybe , sounds good in theory, it will be my new strategy, but don't tell those bigger guys!


JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta ,Canada

I Ho Chuan

We were asked today"what does the I Ho Chuan mean to you".
I didn't speak up this time, I chose to listen instead...I need to do that  more often.
Anyways, some good insightful responses from those who spoke.

If I had to put it into one word, it would be Commitment.
Commitment in whatever you choose to pick up. The I Ho Chuan starts with the basic tools of physical fitness... push ups, sit ups, putting on the mileage, things that require no thinking, just commitment.
It builds from there to mastery of your martial arts practice, choose what you wish to master in order to get you to the next level and commit, not just practice. You can practice anything but it takes committing to practice for a long duration to hope for mastery in somethings if done mindfully.  Again ...commit.
Next the I Ho Chuan looks at developing the individuals integrity, empathy and compassion through community and acts of kindness. We don't reap those benefits,nor ,does the community unless we commit.
I Ho Chuan develops leadership and mentor ship through committing to projects no matter the size.
If its your vision, make it happen until it is complete... this again requires commitment.(Sifu Brinker spoke better of this during our meeting than I do here).

For me, it all comes down to commitment in all facets of our lives to become a better person.
Transforming our physical, mental,social and even spiritual self's through  commitment.
As a team we keep each other accountable, on track and supported. We build strong character through working as a team.

This year was the first for combining the UBBT and I Ho Chuan, I would call this the prototype, we are setting up the blueprints for bigger and better things to follow. Through our successes and failures both individual and as a group we, the I Ho Chuan team and the school can benefit from lessons learnt this year.

We are by no means finished, still lots of time left and this is where the strength of commitment will serve us well. No matter your mental state, good bad or indifferent keep in mind the commitment to the school, the team but most important to yourself.
When you break a promise to yourself all else means little.

This is how I see the I Ho Chuan, I am excited to see how it grows and evolves, I am quite positive it will develop into a system no one would want to miss out in participating at some point.

That is illogical Captain..

Emotion and logic sometimes seem to be opposing forces.

It’s easy when the Logic follows the Emotions but when it doesn’t, this is the time to stop and take stock.

When stuff happens and we need to make choices and decisions in our lives, our emotions can get the best of us and we may take a knee-jerk reaction. In the worst case scenario we deeply regret our actions and find ourselves with more problems then what we started with.

On the other end of the scale we find the path of logic.

Putting our problems into a mathematical equation to formulate the desired outcome.

Sound like the way to go, however we then eliminate empathy, compassion, love and various other positive human traits.

Way back, when I used to watch Star Trek, the first version, I didn’t recognize the brilliant writer’s ability to identify Logic and Emotion thru Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk.

What spectacular dilemmas they had to solve! .cute, cuddly, soothing Tribbles, you can never have too many Tribbles…or can you! (for those too young you will have to Google).

How impressive and exciting as a kid, to watch them combine emotion with logic to solve the problem in less than a half hour, commercials included. If only all problems were scripted this way.

So fast forward  30 years give or take, I find myself solving my own problems with Logic and Emotion. The important addition is Control.

Control as a Black belt, control of myself. How I choose to react.

How I weigh out the emotional reasoning with the logic will depend on my own self control. Ask myself what is the right outcome, what emotions are driving my thoughts, what is the best outcome for everyone not just myself.

The balance between emotion and logic, not an easy achievement, but a work in progress through one‘s own self control.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Slow but methodical training

Something I observed the other night when watching some of the students train together,  I should have caught earlier and made mention of.

Slow and methodical should be the way you start something new. In this instance we  were dealing with a grappling drill but this applies to a form or defence application as well.

As a good training  partner, we need to work with each other to achieve and understand a new skill. The first rule is to walk through the steps slowly and try and catch all the detail that was presented.

Once you have the basic moves then you can ramp up the resistance with your partner. If it’s a form, you can speed it up and concentrate on flow,  if it’s a techniques or defence application you can increase the realism, speed and power you put into the application.

The point is, start slow with full intent. To grasp as much as you can with something new you have to slow it down to allow the mind to walk you through unknown territory. If you are going too hard and too fast it becomes just an exercise or random body movement  that may lead to bad habits.

So, for me, I try and  gauge where I am at, if it is something new, don’t be afraid to ask your partner to slow down or allow you to apply something without them resisting.

 You want a sound foundation that you can build your speed and power on while maintaining pure technique.

Going hard is fun and is also an important part of training but make sure the steps or fundamentals are in place first.

A reminder for myself both in teaching and  to apply to my own training whether its grappling, forms, techniques or even dragon dancing.

This should ensure I am still a sound practioner well into my old age when strength and speed are no longer with me.

I Ho Chuan basic requirements...my year so far..

50 000 Pushups; 22 390
50 000 Abs: 23 450
1000 unassisted chin ups: 474
50 hours conditioning training: 16.2
1609 km: 493.7
1000 reps MuLongkuen form: 302
1000 reps Sai form: 371
1000 rounds of sparring: 57
100 hours grappling: 54
100 hours weight training: 51.5
50 reps of Tai Chi: 26
40 hours yoga: 24.5
1000 acts of kindness: 411
Mend a relationship: wont say its done but its definitely better(more effort on my part).
Journaling: ok , needs improvement.
on-line presence: ok
3 public performances: 0 to date.
learn Lion dance: incomplete
un-excused absences: none
memorize Mastery: working on it , again! I hate memory loss.
Adopt-a- driveway: ok


Need to ramp it up to finish strong, no surprise I guess, I seen it coming but let things slide.



JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Knowledge vs Understanding

Question:

Is it better to know 1000 applications or understand 10 applications?

Application=Defence vs an attack

Not really a fair question,.. exposing yourself to as many applications as possible opens your mind to other possibilities. Fully understanding 10 applications opens your mind to the body mechanics, the why and the how of the applications.

Both are important.

Right now, I am reviewing all the “Q” belt applications, defences and techniques from our curriculum. When I was grading for my black belt I memorized them all with some understanding but never with enough attention. This time, I am approaching them from the “why” and “how” perspective. I welcome the idea of revisiting the simplest moves for pure technique.

Its interesting to see how I read the application written in the curriculum and how I interpret it. Some of the curriculum I have not visited for awhile, admittedly I have forgotten plenty of detail, I find myself questioning each step. However, this is a good thing.

If something is not efficient or does not flow correctly, chances are, I am not executing the application correctly. This is my exercise in recognition and my exercise to imagine a correct reaction.

Nothing is definitively prescriptive, there can always be some variations in our responses because the attacker may or may not react the way we anticipate but I think the curriculum is built on the most probable response from our opponent.

My goal is not to re-memorize this time but to slow things down, pay attention to detail and fully understand the body mechanics of each move.

Thankfully, I have the I Ho Chuan team to source from when practicing and they can help guide me back to the intention of the application as written in the curriculum.

Knowledge can be an accumulation of information that can get lost over time but Understanding can never be forgotten.

Personal Challenge

There has not been the transformation that I was hoping for this year, as of yet.

 Maybe transformation is not a good word.

Perhaps, realization would be a better description.

I seek a clearer understanding of the martial arts. Its coming, but slowly.

In order to grade for a third degree, I have an expectation of myself that has to be in place before I can ask to be assessed let alone test.

At the core of my own expectations is the concept of recognizing and reacting.

I believe, a full understanding of the fundamentals of martial arts will help make an individual adaptable to any situation. There are common principles between different techniques, common principles between different styles of martial arts. It is those common principles I need to recognize and capture.

Becoming adaptable to anything placed before you means you need to recognize the situation then react accordingly and in a timely fashion for the outcome you want not what others want.

This applies not only to an application, technique or sparring scenario but in true martial arts fashion to our life challenges as well.

Recognizing the fundamentals quickly is where my personal challenge rests.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta ,Canada

A Hidden Gem

Sihing Choy's blog has prompted me to post in regards to the early morning class.
For whatever reason I had overlooked this opportunity, not realizing its a hidden gem.
Albeit is rather early in the moring for some folks, once you get the habit started its hard to stop.
Working on your Kung Fu while the rest of the world is just thinking of getting to their morning coffee is an accomplishment in itself but the feeling of putting in an hours worth before the day has started is fantastic.
Not only that, but the two Sifus... Sifu Bryant and Kichko, are two instructors that are in tune with their students. I have watched how they show great empathy for where the students are at and pay particular attention to what the students need to practice on. The small class lends itself to great one on one instruction from the Black Belts.

|So there you go...a shameless plug to encourage those who have thought about it, if it works for you, join in...lots of room, lots of attention and lots of fun!

Plugged In

The month of July is gone.

I have been pretty much absent from the Kwoon from being out of town so much this month.

The challenge is always to stay true to your martial arts training and philosophies when you are away. Its tough when you are one and surrounded by many who may not get what you are about or why you seem to "obsess about that stuff" as it was put to me.

When I get the chance I check in with Kwoon talk, blogs and the I Ho Chuan site. 

There is no question this keeps me in the loop with my fellow students, the school, and team mates.

No question I source from this to rejuvenate and motivate myself when on the road.

Its not the same as being in class or in the community but believe me, it goes a long way until I get back home.

It makes me feel like I am still plugged in.

Where am I

Back from Whitehorse this weekend.

I enjoy Whitehorse, I try and take time out to visit some of the historical sites there.

Lots of Canadian history. I think we have it easy compared to what some families had to go through back then but that’s another blog all together.

Where am I…

...that is the theme for the I Ho Chuan team(unintentional rhyme).

My sai form has been one of frustration. About 6 weeks ago, it was to the point, where I had to put them down.

I have been trying to create a form that is worthy of a demo but has meaning and originality. It is quite apparent to me now that this is really a 5 year project the way I envision it and trying to cram it into 6 months has only left me annoyed and resentful.

It was Mr. Chervenka that suggested I try throwing the knives outside…so  I did.

SHAZAM, I say!

Suddenly its fun again. Creativity is back and I can see how the weapon really is a weapon and not something I am twirly around like a fool.

I am certainly not finished the form, it is a long process that will take years to perfect and master but thanks to an I Ho Chuan  teammate I have been pushed forward again.

Thanks to the I Ho Chuan philosophy I am better than I was and I feel the wheels moving again.

But not so fast…not sure if it was overdoing the sai form, push ups or age, both my deltoid muscles have been screaming in pain to the point of hindering further practice.  Ice,heat and rest have not helped so I am going to have to seek other resolution, seems like something always pops up. If motivation is gone the body is able when the body breaks down the motivation is back on line.

Looking to make motivation and the physical ability come on line at the same time, then look out!

When I ask myself "Where am I at this point of the year" I don't mean to sound angry , it is not anger but frustration with where I thought I should be.

A visit with my Aunt put things in perspective again...its not a race against time, time always wins but its the challenge to savour time that counts.

JC Masterson, Silent River  Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Make it Happen

I don't have much time to write, I'm packing again. This time its to Whitehorse and its work. I will be gone for a week and to be honest I am wishing  I was back already.
As much as I try to plan ahead and anticipate the challenges of training away from home, motivation is always the biggest hurdle.
Whether its holidays or work  its the influence and temptation of the other people you have to manage.
By this I mean, its easier just to go along with the others as opposed to finding the time to get some training in.
Sometimes the work doesn't end till late in the night and exhaustion sets in, coworkers want you to come out to the bar after work, holidays with family...they like to  load you up with too much food and sometimes you find yourself  three days away from the last time you did any training.
(see how I like to blame other people for my own laziness!)

Anyways, the plan is to get up early, do what I can in the hotel or surrounding trails and make it happen.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Downward Dogs and Triangle Chokes

I spent over a week in Christina Lake,BC with my family and extended family members.

It was  loads of fun... lots of skiing, surfing, tubing, biking and hiking.

I spent time with my sister who is big into yoga, she has told me before the benefits

of yoga and how it will prevent injury in the other activities (martial arts) I take part in.

It really hit home this week, how yoga really compliments grappling. This week we compared yoga moves and poses with grappling drills and its quite easy to see the relationship.

I thought that was pretty cool and it just encourages me more to keep up with the yoga stuff. Patience is probably what I need the most however, I have trouble staying in a pose for more than 10 seconds. 

Yoga is an old practice and although quite trendy right now(everybody seems to be doing it) I see there is more to it then simply holding an awkward position. My sister has aspirations of instructing yoga and she embraces all aspects of the art. 

I will try and listen to her more, especially if it improves my triangle choke!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Be-lated Post

I had limited Internet access last week so this is a belated post..

Finding ways to relax and meditate is  a great challenge for me. Because I have trouble reaching that calm moment I get discouraged easy. If you don’t experience the moments of calm and relaxation even for a few seconds it makes it tough to want to try and meditate. Yesterday I rented a paddle board , it was a rained out day so we weren’t in the water much so I thought I would try a paddle board in the light rain.

It was the next morning when I went out on the lake in the quiet and stood there on top of the water, looked around at the glass calm lake and just stared.

Nothing entered my mind for a little while…(it was probably  just 3 seconds, but it felt like an hour). I wont say it was cool or awesome I will just say it was nice…very nice….now I get it.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Travelling and Tracking

The month of July is going to be a month on the move. First week I will be in British Columbia, one week back in town then off to Whitehorse, one week back and then off to Drumhellar.

Training will have to be creative but the real concern is tracking my diet. This is the month my I Ho Chuan teammates have agreed to commit to tracking our daily diets publicly.

Truth is, its never a good time for me. I attempted this on my own a few times and failed. Probably because I prefer not being aware of how much I consume.

I have a wall of diet books, nutrition books, sports medicine articles you name it. I have researched and educated myself the best I can about nutrition all my life. Ironically, I lack the will power to limit myself from over indulging.

But this time, this July ,I think I am going to approach it differently. Instead of logging at the end of the day, I am going to take note of what I am about to eat before I consume. I am hoping this will force me to take the time(extra 2 seconds) to decide not only what I am about to eat but why.

Should be an interesting month. I’m already embarrassed!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

The Bad Days

There will always be days where you had a bad class for one reason or another.

The problem is, sometimes you gauge your whole life’s training on that last class.

Occasionally, I have come home thinking…”boy did that suck…boy did I suck, more accurately!”

There is no doubt as we try and achieve the next level to our skill we will have set backs.

It happens at all levels, I remember it as green belt and I remember it last week!

These are the times where you should reflect(this is the important part) on what went wrong, without the emotional Debbie Downer attitude, think over the mistakes made.

Write down your thoughts, questions and maybe what you could have done better. Pick one thing you want to improve upon and focus in on changing it for the better. If it’s a giant list of things to fix, keep it as a list and save the other items for another day.

Bring your focus and your questions to next class, then, before you know it …Shazam! You’re feeling back in the groove again.

People are generally hard on themselves.

Don’t buy into the “Only as good as your last performance”.

Martial Arts should be a lifelong pursuit, be patient with yourself, allow yourself to fail.

The only thing that is mandatory is Effort, the rest will come with time and guidance.

So  next time you are feelin’ bummed out, relax, reset, and  just get back to class!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

4 little letters

At work we have the power to allow a registration for an aircraft or not, if we deem it to be embarrassing or unseemly.(kinda like customized licence plates).
Well, this week one came in that clearly is an obscenity in my opinion and it started a whole conversation about morales.
The 4 letters chosen spell a swear, when I asked why we were allowing it, I was told ...'who are we to make that call? it is subjective and those suggested letters can be found on T- shirts now-a-days"

ok?...

I argue, as a society we become more and more tolerant of suggestive messages based on freedoms and rights. and basically what the public will allow without outrage. this happens in a slow but steady increase as not to push the extreme too far.
The "grey"area becomes broader and larger and no one wants to make issue of something for fear of offending or stepping into the argument of morale consciousness and responsibility.
Desensitising ourselves is easier than challenging ourselves to keep society on a path of morale example for our next generation.
 I argued the point of disallowing the letters of choice for the aircraft ...I stand behind the challenge to make a call on something. Don't be afraid to make a stand based on right and wrong.
I believe people know right from wrong, some choose to ignore that little gut feeling for sake of not wanting the backlash. it would mean supporting your position. One you may not be sure about, but i'd much rather put it out there then quietly accept what I find uncomfortable.
Sometimes you have to think that the wrong action is better than the inaction. At least you have a chance to learn from your mistakes.
Clearly  I am talking about more than 4 letters on an aircraft but this was where the conversation led.
Did I get my way...No.
But I am working on being Queen of the Universe...then look out!


JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Inactivity Aches

The past 2 weeks I have noticed various muscles that are sore. No rhyme or reason. An ankle, wrist, left side of neck,lower back,etc..seemingly rotating to different areas. Something new aches each morning.
This month has been particularly hard to get enough training time in so I can only blame the aching muscles from inactivity. Too much sitting, talking on phones ,emails, meetings ..blah blah blah.

Conclusion; I would rather have a sore, aching body from too much physical activity then too little.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Mental Wellness

I was going to post about something else until I read Sihing Langners post.
It made me think of the turmoil that some people hide within themselves. What leads them to a point of despair and how did we lose them along the way?

I think about mental wellness everyday, I am pretty sure I see victims of an unwanted issue when I pass the wandering souls in the downtown core. Some of them are regulars down there,
I say "good morning " to three of them just as I would my co-workers. One fellow has a routine and I usually pass him every morning.
He was someones child at one time,...I wonder what his story is.

What happens to our fellow human beings, I believe depression and instability can develop over time and people find themselves spiralling slowly downwards. It can effect families, it effects society and its sad.
I have no answers, I cant answer Sihing Langners question of "what to do".
Except, try to help but most importantly care.


JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta,Canada

The remainder of this month has been and will be consumed by a work project I am managing and the wind up of Raymonds lacrosse. I have been getting up early in the morning to train but it isnt enough time to cover everything I need to do.
I am looking forward to June, I want to take back some of my time and focus in on grappling and my Sais, maybe some sleep too.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Bring the Rain

The weather was not on our side Saturday.
I was more so annoyed by it, since Fridays forecast boasted a sunny day with warm temperatures.
However, not even mother nature could dampen the spirits of Panadamonium!
I was impressed by the energy level inside the hall and outside. no shortage of help and happiness.
My hats off to the tent crew for enduring the wind/rain at their backs during the morning pancakes, Sifu Shipalesky and Mr. Chervenka looked more like bank robbers with their hoodies tied up over their heads, then pancake makers!
Thankfully it cleared up  in time for a fantastic Dragon/Lion dance ,loads of kid fun and polished off by some hardcore kung fu into the late hours.

What a great group of people to be associated with, ..so Mother Nature Bring it!
Bring the Rain, you are no match for the Silent River Kung Fu crew!

PS: just a note of thanks to Sifu Wetter and Mr. Brady Young whose company donations will help greatly with the food costs.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Rally up for the Pandamonium

This weekend I completed one of my personal requirements. I am glad to get that off the list but it unfortunately took all my time this weekend and I was not able to help with the expansion.
I know I missed out. I recognize the hard work that Sifu Lindstrom and his crew have put in. My contribution has been small by comparison and for that I will have to make up else where.
Next project to tackle is a BBQ event. In particular the Pandamonium outdoor BBQ.
Its going to be challenging as with any of event of this nature, its purely a guess as to how many people will show up for pancakes and what not.
I already have a great group of individuals whom have donated equipment and time but I know I will need more help.
Soon I will have to post on "Kwoon talk" to rally up volunteers who would like to show off their Pancake and Hotdog cooking skills!
I know we may be tapping into the student body volunteer reserve that is probably stretched to the limits already but I am hoping the school will dig deep and make this a great Pandamonium event!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Evolution

I sit here thinking about the past week and I have decided not to go there. It was crappy, stressful and full of negative outcome.
However, I come out the other end with more determination, I want change. More specifically I want change in myself.
Changing should be a daily pursuit. If you strive to change for the better and learn from your mistakes and your triumphs , shortfalls and your successes you are moving forward.
 If you think you don't need to change, you have arrived...then you really need to change!
I like to think of the human spirit as an internal evolution.
We may stop growing after our teen years but we should continue to grow in our hearts and minds till our last days. The day you have decided not to evolve is the day you have decided not to live.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Free Runners

The other night I was watching the "Sports Science" show and they featured some free runners in this episode.
First off, I had no idea this even existed as a sport, turns out there was a movie produced about it last year,  apparently its also a following and some even call it an art with a life philosophy much the same as martial arts.
The clip above is an advertisement for an academy for free runners!...who knew..I guess not me!
OK.. I know, I am out of touch and as usual behind in the youth cultural movements by about 2 to 5 years.

Anyways, I was fascinated by the extreme heights at which these kids could jump and survive. The basis for everything was timing and dissipating the energy throughout the body.
The basic shoulder roll of course.

There are some more clips that are a little more extreme, they all have disclaimers to not try this at home, not a problem for me!...cool stuff anyways.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Drag Yourself thru it and Shake Yourself Down

I'm not sure if its the time of year, when everyone is tired of snow and cool weather, that we get a little down. Seems to be a common feeling, getting in a rut. A few of the blogs and some of the conversations I have had at the gym all point to a lack of enthusiasm to train.
It might be a coincidence but March is the 3rd month of the year and this is about the time a body needs a shake up.
What I'm saying is every routine needs a change approximately 6 weeks to 3 months depending on what you are doing. The body adapts and the mind gets bored.
So what if you have to do 1000 reps of something by year end, lets say a form, and you are only a quarter of the way in? Shake it up by changing the time you are doing it, by changing the section you focus on or the tempo at which you practice.
Whatever it is you are working towards change the routine to snap the body back to attention.
If its the mind that is not interested anymore, drag it along for the ride. Ignore the negative talk in your head.
As they say "just do it".
A lack of enthusiasm comes from a lack of motivation, a lack of motivation comes from a lack of inspiration. Try and remember what motivates you and what or who inspires you. Why you do the things you do.
The body is quick to respond to a change in training but the mind needs to come along for the ride sometimes until it gets on board again.
Don't be discouraged by the "blah "feelings. They are normal and to be conquered on a regular basis.
Just as Mr. Hamilton's blog states , "going thru the motions" is not necessarily a bad thing, having no motion is not so great however,so drag yourself on the mat and give the mind a shake down!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Me Minion

The other night I laughed when Sifu Freitag asked me to be her minion. I said sure, whatever you need.

In my mind how easy that would be, just carry out tasks as they are given to you. That would be great.
I imagine minion work as mindless tasks to serve the greater purpose, but then I thought more about it.
Even the most minuscule task supports something of a greater value, without quality at the bottom end  something along the way suffers. It may not be significant enough to be noticed and maybe strengths in other areas can manage to compensate but you are still going to hold back the full potential of what could have been if all effort was not put forth in a mindful way.
Even the minion needs to make decisions about the task in front of them. Its the difference between a good widget or the best widget ever of all times!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Limitations with no Boundaries

After the group discussion yesterday, I realized there are a few people around with some injuries these days. Not the usual, pulled, sore or overextended type injuries but long term damage that requires months and some even years of reworking. Its a gift in disguise they are told and I have witnessed in the past where this seems to be true.
I have managed to avoid serious injury over the years. I have had my share of black eyes, torn muscles , etc, but nothing that put me down for a long period of time where I had to rethink my methodology.
I would imagine a limitation of this nature would slow you down first and foremost. You would now have to pay attention to how you move so as not to induce pain or aggravate a problem.
Now , this is where I could learn something, if I slow down and I mean really slow down, and pay exclusive attention to what my limbs are doing in conjunction with my core in conjunction with my balance and feel every muscle placement then ask myself right or wrong , feels good ?feels bad? I may have a chance of changing for the better.
I am guilty of rushing through my forms, my applications. I have a misconception that they feel good now so I add speed prematurely. The result is a short changing of power and completion.
So, I imagine injuries and limitations force the issue.
You have no choice but to revisit the movements in an almost tedious fashion but the results can be priceless.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

My Auntie

My Aunt is back from Mexico, her and my Uncle normally go every year for 3 months but this year is different. She had to come back for cancer treatments.
Around November she was diagnosed with lung cancer and it had spread to other areas of her body. She never smoked in her life but developed a cough last fall.
Her cancer is terminal but you would never know it.
She does not work anymore but spends every day with grandchildren, family and friends. She never dwells on her situation but will share her experience freely if you ask. She is quick to tell you not to waste your time sweating the small stuff.
She has two more treatments left and the doctors will cut her loose. In their words, there is no more point after that , go and enjoy the rest of your life.
To me she has the strenght of 1000 men, she does not despair but has chosen to do just what they said, enjoy her family which she as cared for all her life.
To me , she is a women who must have true inner peace and she has led a life that would deserve such inner peace.
She is truly a role model to me.
I know I have a sense of panic when I imagine being in her shoes. I am not the person I need to be yet, I have not done all that I can do for the people in my life.
I watch her and I hang on every word she says these days.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

The Trouble with Blogging

I was about to post my blog when I read it again and scrapped it.
Reading it over…, it sounded like a lecture in my head.
“Delete”
This is one of those weeks where journalling (blogging ) is painful, so I will share my pain.
The problem I have always had with blogging is the lack of conversation.
I have no end of things to say or opinions (just ask my husband) but I seem to need that initiation of the topic brought up through conversation.
There is nothing like good old fashion round table debate. Uncensored, no research, no time to pause, unscripted off the cuff wit, sometimes even made up but fun just the same.
Where did that go?
I know this obviously isn’t the platform for what I describe but some days it seems odd to be having a conversation with myself to convey to the blogging ecosystem.


On the other hand, if I didn’t blog about blogging I would not have taken the time to appreciate the art of conversation or the fact that this is not a conversation.
I’ll stop now before I confuse myself!

Sifu Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Clear as Mud

Yesterday I wrote a blog speaking to the principles of techniques and applications in the martial arts.
Last night I had a frustrating class where the simplest concept eluded me. I was so focused on the right hand I did nothing with my left hand. Too focused on a small section, I missed the big picture, thanks to Sifu Freitag who pointed out the obvious and I was back on track. Simply put, the concepts of equal and opposite action, working to apply leverage and the result is a lock.
Once again, kung fu is ever humbling.

Sifu Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Becoming a Student of Principle

Trying to be a student of principle. Sometimes its easy sometimes it takes a little more brain power.
In the beginning we tend to be students of memorization. Learning a technique or application in a very perscriptive manner. If bad guy does this we must respond with movement A then B then C.
I would ask tonnes of detail and try and practice exactly the same way every time.
Which is good, the body needs correct repetition for the correct execution of the application. Somewhere along the way I realized our curriculum is loaded with Principles in the applications and techniques that can be plucked out and adapted to other scenarios. Its recognizing them and applying them appropriately that has been fun and continues to be challenging.

Sfiu Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Courage

If we could see inside people we could see the true measure of their courage.
Often we do not even realize what someone is dealing with inside, we just see their actions.Something that may seem courageous to us may in fact just be another day in the life of a well trained individual.

The difference or the true measure of courage is the size or extent of fear. Fear, anxiety, stress.
The larger the fear, the more courage is required to go where you don't want to go, sometimes at all costs.
From the outside we usually cant see this, mostly because people are pretty good at hiding their fears.

The fear of not succeeding, the fear of getting hurt(physical or emotional) the fear of rejection or not belonging, the fear of not being the right fit. The fear of embarrassment or humiliation, the fear of being alone.

There are many courageous people we encounter everyday, I think we really have no idea what some people go through, sometimes when we realize their fears by listening, taking the time to get to know them and their challenges we may be more than just surprised at their courage but inspired as well.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Gracie Girl

I'm out of town again, but this time its worth it.

Right now I am in Torrance, California on a helicopter course. Thats the boring part.

I am a big fan of the Gracie family, their lineage and pioneering in the marital arts.
I know the headquaters for the Gracie Jiu jitsu Academy is here, so last night I thought I would find it and check it out (they have a museum to visit) and buy myself a T-shirt.
So, I walk in, at the front desk is Rener Gracie (like no way!..that is the actual teenage phrase that went through my head )... I try and act all cool and ask if I could get a size in this shirt, blah, blah . I can hear classes going on in the back hall, so I boldly ask if it would be OK to watch?
He(Rener) asks me what my background is with the marital arts, so I let him know about Silent River Kung fu and my interest and novice experience with grappling(emphasis on novice).
He said, and I quote"..this is the best night of ever any nights of all time to walk in my friend, I will do you one better, you can gear up and participate with the next class and the following specialty class."
Next thing you know, I have been given a Gi to borrow and I am lining up with the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Combatives class...(most excellent!).
Ryron Gracie spends 10 minutes with me to assess my grappling then pairs me up with a blue belt.(Sweet!)
The next class is the Women Empowered class, basically a self defense class only everything is on the ground, that too was super awesome!

The thing that really blew me away is after the class, They brought me up front and introduced me as "an extended student family member from Canada" to all the regular students, I received hand shakes after class and some friendly chat.
All this was free of charge, and this is the Los Angeles area, not what I expected, still a little shocked.
They deal with hundreds of students a week, I was impressed how they took the time at no cost, and I am not sure if they knew how much it meant to me but it was something else to be treated so kindly.

Anyways, that is my bragging story ,I am like a kid grinning Christmas morning. 24 hours later!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

The Focus Skill

Focus is a pretty simple word and a simple concept but there is no question it is a moving target for me.
I think when are lives become consumed with busyness and a lack of balance, focus becomes overtaken by distraction and quality suffers.
As part of the I Ho Chuan , with teammates to follow as examples,my, hope is for a improvement in my ability to focus on any given goal, person or moment.
Trying to do many things at once has become a way of life but only to my disappointment sometimes.
The ability to truly focus is a skill I hope to achieve through, of course, practice.



JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada