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.