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