No title, just sad.

I had a great holiday in Maui, I would go back in a heartbeat.


So back to reality, 208 emails, voicemails, deadlines and mysterious files waiting for me at work, laundry stacked up, my training schedule is way off the rails, no babysitters this week, Lacrosse games and doc appointment to get Raymond to and finally an Easter dinner to prepare. Wow, that doesn’t seem fair.


Then a terrible tragedy happened yesterday morning on the way to work. I take the bus into the downtown core and the driver was telling us about having to make detour.
You see, another bus had possibly hit a pedestrian, she told us. Once, I got up to the 11th floor of our office, it was quite clear below our building something bad had happened.
The police had everything blocked off and the bus sat grimly in the middle of the street for the remainder of the morning. I had a hard time focusing because you only had to pass by the window and feel a sickness to your stomach. It wasn’t long before news spread, the young woman had passed.
I felt bad for all the people that must be affected by this, the guilt, despair and the long road to overcome such trauma and loss.

Again, it makes you think how quickly things can change or end. Appreciate everything you have now, don’t say or do something you may not be able to rectify later, there may be no later, there may be no next time.

My anxiety at the beginning of the week now seems silly and trivial. I really do feel stupid about it. I should relish in the challenges that come my way, it is part of living.



My deepest sympathies and thoughts go out to the victims of this accident.



JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Maui

Still have 3 days left in Maui...water,whales and sunsets(whats a snow shovel?)
I hope I miss my flight home...

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta , Canada

The Day of Grading

Last night the Sihing class did a portion of the fitness test. Nutrition for the day of testing was a topic after class. I was asked to post what I consumed for the day of my grading. So here it goes.

 Basically I kept to a liquid diet during the time of grading. A light breakfast in the morning. I packed an ice-cooler with 2 protein smoothies(fairly thick) consisting of strawberries ,banana, skim milk and a protein powder. At the time, I think I was using the Dymatize product, (whey protein). I also packed 2 jugs of sports drink. Similar to a Gatorade but without the high sodium and sugar. If I recall correctly, it was Ctyomax powder mixed with water. Its a higher quality electrolyte drink. It maintains a stabilized blood sugar level, hydrates without a bunch of extra junk in it. These products I purchased from the Muscle Beach store in Edmonton.

This was about 6 years ago, products have changed since then so reading labels is a must. This is not a product advertisement, its just what worked for me this day.
The bottom line, the liquid diet for the day kept me from feeling hungry but never did I feel like I just ate something. You do not what to put your digestive system at work too much as it can lead to cramping and loss of performance. I would sip on something any chance I had.
More important, focus on each task at hand. Give everything asked of you 110%. The rest will take care of itself.

Oh, note to self: My 5 minute horse stance is rusty, Some of the Sihings put me to shame!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

In no Particular Order

I have several thoughts floating around in my head. Even a couple of blogs I drafted but after I read them they quite clearly would only make sense to me. So, I will post them once I refine what I am trying to say, but, in the meantime this is my random, incomplete, and in no particular order, kind of thoughts.

• Going on holidays this Sunday, we are going to Maui, excited and not excited. Seems I am thinking about the stuff that won’t get done while I am gone and uncomfortable and guilty about taking holidays in a part of the world that is close to another country that is in a disastrous state


• Kung fu in the house!, Raymond joined kids classes this month and he is pumped, he wants to sign up for the tournament and talks about his kung fu stuff all the time. What a difference a few classes have made. The Instructors for the Tiny Tigers are fantastic! I have the greatest admiration for them.


• Personal purpose in my training. Do I have it or not. I thought I did but its very focused and perhaps to narrow a scope . I might be restricting myself too much and missing out on other opportunities.


• Hope Sifu Shipalesky is doing well on her road to recovery, she is always a source of common sense comfort when I talk to her.


• Global stress – I think between the dreary weather and the constant feed of global distress, in the environment, in the Middle East and in our economy it puts a weight on everyone’s disposition. No longer can we ignore the neighbours. (if we did before)It truly is a global community. One neighbours tragedy and one neighbours despair is everyone’s problem on the block. You are a fool to think otherwise.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Winding Down

I find it difficult to come home after an evening class (usually around 10: 00pm) and just go to bed and fall asleep. I am mentally alert because of the kung fu class and winding down can be a challenge. I recall when I was a green belt it was even more difficult because I was physically charged up as well. Its hard to come home and just turn it off. Not so good when you have to get up early the morning after either.
This seems to work for me so I thought I would share it.
Most people have a "go to bed" routine. Have a cup of tea, brush your teeth, etc.
If this does not seem to be enough, try laying on the floor beside your bed and stretch for a minimum of 5 minutes. Nothing heavy duty, just a head to toe stretch. Lots of breathing and moving slowly. Do this without distractions. Meaning turn the TV off, the radio any white noise(hopefully you don’t include your spouse in that category! )
Anyways, if you get the body to recognize a wind down routine and let the muscles un-tense, the mind usually follows suit.
Like any good habit, it takes time to become a habit and see the results.
Seems to be working for me so I just thought I would share.
Kung Fu Dreams:)

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Happy 71st Birthday Chuck Norris!



JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Take Care of Yourself

I was in an airport waiting with a colleague a little while back. We started talking about exercise.
He could not believe how much I worked out and trained.
He said to me, “been there, done that”. He was a police officer for ten years and he kept himself in shape back then. He said he seen no point in putting that kind of pressure on himself now.
“For what”, he said, “why?“
He turned to me and said “you and I are both going to die. It doesn’t matter how much you exercise.”
“sure,” I said back. “but who said I wanted to live forever? Its not about living longer, its about living better.”
It so happened we had a couple of hours to wait for the airplane, thanks to the Winnipeg weather, so we had a good chat about quality of life.
I wont go into the long version but essentially, for me it works like this…
Exercising is the foundation. You keep your heart and lungs in shape with cardio work and you keep your muscles in shape with strength training. This doesn’t mean you need a gym membership, how you choose to accomplish cardio and strength is a personal choice with lots of ways to achieve this.
Next my martial arts training sit on top of my basic physical fitness. Practicing, analyzing and looking for ways to improve. From there I expand out to the mental and spiritual challenges that are part of a well-rounded martial arts student. This flows or should flow into your everyday way of living.
The basics of exercising and training give me the discipline mechanism to make other things in my life happen. Keeping yourself in shape and in training keeps the stress levels balanced and the self-confidence and self esteem in tact.
My thoughts, you cannot separate the body from the mind and heart. They all need to be nourished and maintained.
If you take care of yourself you can look forward and expand outside of yourself, this affords you the capacity to take care of others.
Anyways, that was my lecture to my colleague and its also the lecture I give to myself on a regular basis when I ask
“why am I doing this?”

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada