The Science within the Art

My focus has turned to the science of the art. My quest is not focused on the physical training but on the mental and analytical aspect.
I need to move deeper into the reasons why we practice the applications the way we do, and recognize my own weaknesses and strengths and the weaknesses and strengths of how others move.
This is something we start doing from a white belt, it is why Kung fu becomes so addictive. It becomes mentally engaging constantly.
My goal is to bring the mental engagement to a deeper level.
All marital arts have basic fundamentals because, well, the common factor is the human body. Knowing the the biology and mechanics of the human body and some basic physics is knowledge you can apply to the science of martial arts.
When this is in the forefront of your training the science can become pure in your movements. The art in martial arts is the physical practice that discipline and commitment will help you achieve.
To become an actual artist is the lifetime goal , knowing and recognizing the science is one of the stepping stones to the goal.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

All I want for Christmas

I asked my son what did he tell Santa he wanted for Christmas?
He said " all I want for Christmas is a Time Portal"
'ok" I said.
Really, who wouldn't want a time portal? I continued to try and reason with him, I think he asked for a time portal before and it didn't happen. I told him, I don't think its on the list of possible gifts. He argued back Santa is magic and of course he could bring a time portal.

I'm beginning to think 6 year olds are smarter than they look. Almost diabolical. They have a pretty good idea of what is realistic and what isn't but are smart enough to still ride the make believe train if it serves a purpose. Pushing the envelope if you will. I think he is messing with me to see how or what I will come up with.

I asked him if he had a second choice and he quickly responded with "of course!" .."and what would that be?" I asked, "a park full of animals". he replied.
Again, not so easy to put under a tree.

We continued to discuss and debate the possible outcomes. I think I lost.

So there is no point to this blog, no tip or underlying theme, its only to capture a moment I had with my son in regards to Christmas that I found completely entertaining and challenged in a game of wits.

He is my Christmas.

Oh, and if you are wondering why one would want a time portal, its for the purpose of bringing back a Woolly Mammoth to play with you and your friends.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Training Stuff

Part of being a martial artist is to keep yourself fit.
I like lifting weights as a part of my fitness routine.
 Just to share some training routines, I like to incorporate kettle bells as well. The difference between using a barbell or weight machine and a kettle bell is huge.
Lifting weights focuses on an isolated muscle group as kettle bells incorporate the same idea of weight lifting with a combination of body muscles and core. Moving the body with weights in hand increase strength core and stability. This comes into play when the body is in motion as a martial artist sparring grappling, etc.
You can  have some fun with your forms  as well and wear ankle and wrist weights or a body vest(it hangs on "Bob" in the Kwoon most days).
Brought to you by "Random Thoughts on a Friday Afternoon".



JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Death, Taxes and Kids getting Sick

I have time now to blog, 3 things you can count on...death, taxes and kids getting sick. Right now I am inbetween puke duty bouts. I was up late last night and going to work today was out of the question.

Work has sucked lately, I took on a 4 month superintendent position and its been more than consuming. Its only temporary but I have found it so exhausting it has cost me in other areas of my life. Its not so much the overtime as it is taxing mentally. Work ethic, integrity and accountability can be difficult to find in people sometimes.
When I have time to hang out with Raymond or work out it takes alot to fire up the mental motivation, my enthusiasm is tapped.

Its never good when your kids are sick, but when you take a time out to be with them and just nurse them back to health, you also get time to contemplate the important things or more accurately the important people.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Awareness Training

Try and add another perspective to your training. Awareness…, in particular, your partner.


A lot of times during applications, defence techniques or sparring we concentrate on what we are doing as an individual. Over and over again trying to improve the way we move or attack while not paying much attention to our training partner’s movements.
Its normal, especially when you are new to the marital arts and even as a seasoned practitioner, you find yourself (myself!) focused on your own form when faced with something unfamiliar.
Try watching and feeling how the other person works with you. If the attack is not executed in the manner the drill was meant to be it changes everything for you, but this is not to say it is a negative thing, when you recognize a difference in their body movements you can also work on adjusting your reaction to compensate or if too far of the mark it may be a time to correct.
Very often when we start to become aware of how our training partner moves its visual.
To compliment the visual aspect you want to seek another level of awareness by feel. This takes some practice but when you start to use more than one of your senses you begin to improve your timing a lot faster.

Here's something you might want to try for fun, if you are practicing your applications try working with your partner and close your eyes. Carefully of course, this means a clear area and move slowly to allow for balance issues.

Once the distraction of vision is removed you will be surprised at how much you can read from the other person when you make contact. It’s a fun drill and done safely it gives you a new perspective.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta,Canada

Defeat the Monster

Stress in our lives can be immediate or it can be something looming in the background.

Usually we deal with the immediate first and foremost. Its in our face and we have no choice but  to address it.

Its the stuff that sits in the back of your mind, slowly simmering that can literally kill us. Chronic stress will wake us up in the middle of the night and keep us up till the alarm clock goes off (yeah, that was last night).

You cant ignore the chronic stress, actually , I guess you can ignore it but you shouldn't. Chronic stress may not change your life all of a sudden but it  does change your life slowly and almost silently.

Solution: deal with it now, make a plan to rid yourself of it.

First , clearly identify whats bothering  you, then decide how to solve it. This is the scary part because this is where we have to face a solution  that might not always be the most pleasant to carry out. It might mean confronting someone or something we are not comfortable with or it might mean some hard work or sacrifice on our part to accomplish.
It may take days , months or even years, but once you start taking some action you have already started to defeat the monster.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

And now for some good news...(tumbleweeds and crickets)

I have got to quit looking at the news.
 Yeah, a person needs to be informed, locally, globally. You cant ignore what goes on around you but I feel myself wince when I open up the news in the morning. There is no doubt headlines are spun to shock and disturb, its what sells. The reality is, sometimes what is going on  is shocking enough without the leading headline.
After glancing over  the doom,despair  suffering and continuous acts of greed, cruelty and apathy. I feel rotten. A person can lose hope and faith in humanity and take the approach that its every person for themselves. Its in the news isn't it. Who can you trust, what can you believe in, it seems pointless.
Finding  good news that is inspiring is definitely more challenging but its worth looking for. If you cant balance out the bad news of the day with some good, you need to look around you for some, if that doesn't work there is nothing like an act of kindness to offset  that hopeless feeling.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada