Last week was crazy busy and it looks like this one is starting off the same way.
I was up at the joyous hour of 4:30 am to go to the Leisure center and get started on my push ups and sit ups...320 situps and pushups done 680 of each to go. I am off to a clients hangar today so no chance to do anymore until tonight...This is just a short blog, more like a note, I will write again later this week or sooner when I get a couple of thing out of the way.
Sifu Masterson
Sient River Kung fu
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Conditioning
So I signed up for the “Police Prep” course at the Triliesure center last week. The course is run by an active RCMP officer with a background in physiology and fitness.
Is name is Vince and his mission is to push us beyond the comfort zone and then some.
The class consists of a wide variety of people, some are applying for different police forces..RCMP, EPS etc, and some are there just for the fitness aspect, something different.
I have always been at a certain level when it came to cardiovascular conditioning. I usually last 20minutes of sparring and then I start to run out of gas.
Vince guarantees after 12 of his classes your conditioning will improve and he supplies you with the knowledge and tools to upkeep your conditioning.
Tuesday night was the first class. It lasts 90 minutes and you hardly have time to take a sip of water. His idea of taking a break is pushups! Perfect!
He timed us on some drills to give us a baseline, something to measure our progress with.
5 laps around the track with 15 pushups and 20 lunges in between each lap.
My time 9:17
I achieved 3 chinups (palms facing out with a wide grip) he says palms facing inwards is easier, the bicep is incorporated more in this kind of chin up . Palm facing out flattens the bicep making it more difficult.
I achieved 55 situps in one minute.
So that is my starting point, we will see what my numbers are like by the end of February.
After recording where our starting point was then the fun began.
He likes stairs, sprinting, pushups, plyometrics, more stairs and then abolicihous drills (his term)
Seems to me conditioning is all about putting yourself outside the physical comfort zone. So far the class is pretty uncomfortable so I must be doing something right.
On a completely different note. As I was writing this blog, I was listening to the radio. They were interviewing a pilot and his take on the accident that occured yesterday in New York.
The radio guy asked the pilot "it must take a special person to be an airline pilot?"
The pilot answered "No, its all about the training, anybody who has the discipline to apply themselves can be an airline pilot, if the time comes where you need to apply your training for real you should handle it in a calm fashion and everyone should survive."
Sounds like kung fu, sounds like good advice.
Is name is Vince and his mission is to push us beyond the comfort zone and then some.
The class consists of a wide variety of people, some are applying for different police forces..RCMP, EPS etc, and some are there just for the fitness aspect, something different.
I have always been at a certain level when it came to cardiovascular conditioning. I usually last 20minutes of sparring and then I start to run out of gas.
Vince guarantees after 12 of his classes your conditioning will improve and he supplies you with the knowledge and tools to upkeep your conditioning.
Tuesday night was the first class. It lasts 90 minutes and you hardly have time to take a sip of water. His idea of taking a break is pushups! Perfect!
He timed us on some drills to give us a baseline, something to measure our progress with.
5 laps around the track with 15 pushups and 20 lunges in between each lap.
My time 9:17
I achieved 3 chinups (palms facing out with a wide grip) he says palms facing inwards is easier, the bicep is incorporated more in this kind of chin up . Palm facing out flattens the bicep making it more difficult.
I achieved 55 situps in one minute.
So that is my starting point, we will see what my numbers are like by the end of February.
After recording where our starting point was then the fun began.
He likes stairs, sprinting, pushups, plyometrics, more stairs and then abolicihous drills (his term)
Seems to me conditioning is all about putting yourself outside the physical comfort zone. So far the class is pretty uncomfortable so I must be doing something right.
On a completely different note. As I was writing this blog, I was listening to the radio. They were interviewing a pilot and his take on the accident that occured yesterday in New York.
The radio guy asked the pilot "it must take a special person to be an airline pilot?"
The pilot answered "No, its all about the training, anybody who has the discipline to apply themselves can be an airline pilot, if the time comes where you need to apply your training for real you should handle it in a calm fashion and everyone should survive."
Sounds like kung fu, sounds like good advice.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The Trouble with Nothing
Meditation
of all the goals I have set for myself, this one seems to be the most difficult to the point where I have clearly ignored it. There is lots for me to improve on and achieve but everything else is straight forward to me. My sparring needs work, my spear form is terribly rusty,I have some research to accomplish,etc. etc. however, meditation has me stumped.
I know the basics, I have done a little research on it but I am just not sure how to get it going and keep it going.
One definition described the goal of meditation as "enjoying the emptiness".
Sounds good, no pain involved, your supposed to be comfortable and most of all you are not supposed to think!
I remember as a color belt, the first time I tried it. All that ran through my head was ..."is it over yet...if I look like I am relaxed and focused they will leave me alone...I have got to get up early for work tomorrow..is that paint on the mat?...blah, blah ,blah."
The closest I seem to get is with practicing Tai Chi. I am focused yet relaxed.
I think it is tough to let yourself stay motionless physically and mentally when the rest of your day is just the opposite. Isn't that what sleep is for?Is there a way to meditate while you sleep? If I can figure that out I will try a figure out a way to do pushups while I sleep!
I am being silly, of course, I know people who enjoy the benefits of regular meditation. They are well natured, calm individuals who mysteriously seem to manage the level of stress in their lives.
Now I think I am on to something worth pursuing.
Of course like everything, repetitive practice is key but do people meditate differently? How did these individuals get started. I imagine in small steps... I will be working on this further, I anticipate there will be some ..no.. lots of frustration so I am open to others experiences.
So here I go , ....I suppose turning off the computer would help.
of all the goals I have set for myself, this one seems to be the most difficult to the point where I have clearly ignored it. There is lots for me to improve on and achieve but everything else is straight forward to me. My sparring needs work, my spear form is terribly rusty,I have some research to accomplish,etc. etc. however, meditation has me stumped.
I know the basics, I have done a little research on it but I am just not sure how to get it going and keep it going.
One definition described the goal of meditation as "enjoying the emptiness".
Sounds good, no pain involved, your supposed to be comfortable and most of all you are not supposed to think!
I remember as a color belt, the first time I tried it. All that ran through my head was ..."is it over yet...if I look like I am relaxed and focused they will leave me alone...I have got to get up early for work tomorrow..is that paint on the mat?...blah, blah ,blah."
The closest I seem to get is with practicing Tai Chi. I am focused yet relaxed.
I think it is tough to let yourself stay motionless physically and mentally when the rest of your day is just the opposite. Isn't that what sleep is for?Is there a way to meditate while you sleep? If I can figure that out I will try a figure out a way to do pushups while I sleep!
I am being silly, of course, I know people who enjoy the benefits of regular meditation. They are well natured, calm individuals who mysteriously seem to manage the level of stress in their lives.
Now I think I am on to something worth pursuing.
Of course like everything, repetitive practice is key but do people meditate differently? How did these individuals get started. I imagine in small steps... I will be working on this further, I anticipate there will be some ..no.. lots of frustration so I am open to others experiences.
So here I go , ....I suppose turning off the computer would help.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Whats in a Number
So every 3 months I review my goals and logs to see how I made out.
This one covers Oct to Dec. I didn't do too bad with the numbers, however, as I sat and thought about what I had accomplished and just before I was about to pat my self on the back I realized for all the numbers I wrote down...I did not improve!
Particularly with the spinning back kick, side heel thrust and Kempo.
I have become focused on numbers but I have forgotten the purpose. Complacency has set in and I need to change that.
If, I take the push ups for example. I can knock off 50 in a row but I guarantee the last 20 are in poor form and done as quickly as possible. This could lead to a chronic injury and gives you a false sense of accomplishment. I now analyze the whole motion in the pushup. Abs tight, plank position all the way up and down, don't let the shoulder blades peak, look slightly ahead, breathe at the end of exertion, change hand positions so all muscle groups benefit, try executing some pushups at different speeds, try targeting an inch away from the ground therefore utilizing the full length of the muscle..so on and so on.
I need to apply the same mental focus with everything I practice.
The 100 times rule is very effective in mastering whatever you choose but I need to remind myself; something practiced 100 times with sloppy technique is worst.
All this being said, I am pretty much going to redo last terms goals but this time lower the numbers and concentrate on the outcome.
Good luck to me!
This one covers Oct to Dec. I didn't do too bad with the numbers, however, as I sat and thought about what I had accomplished and just before I was about to pat my self on the back I realized for all the numbers I wrote down...I did not improve!
Particularly with the spinning back kick, side heel thrust and Kempo.
I have become focused on numbers but I have forgotten the purpose. Complacency has set in and I need to change that.
If, I take the push ups for example. I can knock off 50 in a row but I guarantee the last 20 are in poor form and done as quickly as possible. This could lead to a chronic injury and gives you a false sense of accomplishment. I now analyze the whole motion in the pushup. Abs tight, plank position all the way up and down, don't let the shoulder blades peak, look slightly ahead, breathe at the end of exertion, change hand positions so all muscle groups benefit, try executing some pushups at different speeds, try targeting an inch away from the ground therefore utilizing the full length of the muscle..so on and so on.
I need to apply the same mental focus with everything I practice.
The 100 times rule is very effective in mastering whatever you choose but I need to remind myself; something practiced 100 times with sloppy technique is worst.
All this being said, I am pretty much going to redo last terms goals but this time lower the numbers and concentrate on the outcome.
Good luck to me!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Human Resources
Lately I have been exploring the idea of changing careers. Apparently I have been in the "old school" way of things for too long. I am actually finding this experience humorous.
Whatever happened to sitting down with the Boss, handing him a resume and you both talked about life and expectations.
I have now entered the world of abbreviations, online applications, practice exams and job coaches.
Abbreviations: WCPT, ACPAC, OST and my favorite GIT (general intelligence test).
Online applications: start an account, download the application, time limited and it always seems this is when your computer decides to freeze up!
Practice Exams: You can spend a small fortune at Chapters purchasing all the "How to" books and guides required to pass the endless amount of front line entrance exams.
Finally, there are people out there ,for a small fee, who can coach you at any particular aspect of the application process...personal trainers, consultants, websites etc.
Is it the sheer volume of applicants that force this type of system or is it the liability factor that drives everything and everyone to be documented in case the individual goes (sorry to use the term) "Postal" later on and the Employer cannot be held accountable because every measure was taken to ensure the employee was of sound mind.
I don't know...but so far have yet to meet the Human in Human Resources!
Whatever happened to sitting down with the Boss, handing him a resume and you both talked about life and expectations.
I have now entered the world of abbreviations, online applications, practice exams and job coaches.
Abbreviations: WCPT, ACPAC, OST and my favorite GIT (general intelligence test).
Online applications: start an account, download the application, time limited and it always seems this is when your computer decides to freeze up!
Practice Exams: You can spend a small fortune at Chapters purchasing all the "How to" books and guides required to pass the endless amount of front line entrance exams.
Finally, there are people out there ,for a small fee, who can coach you at any particular aspect of the application process...personal trainers, consultants, websites etc.
Is it the sheer volume of applicants that force this type of system or is it the liability factor that drives everything and everyone to be documented in case the individual goes (sorry to use the term) "Postal" later on and the Employer cannot be held accountable because every measure was taken to ensure the employee was of sound mind.
I don't know...but so far have yet to meet the Human in Human Resources!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Regrets
You hear the common saying "I have no regrets"
I have to be honest... I do.
I look around at the young people in the studio and I am so impressed by their goals, their focus and drive to be productive, giving individuals.
Why wasn't I this smart at their age!!
If memory serves me right, I spent too much time socializing and making bad decisions in the name of "socializing".
In my 20s I managed to accomplish a post secondary education and acquire the different levels of tickets in my trade but ...I coasted through. As an example, the first year I picked a semester to really apply myself, I did and I won a grant, WOW! I thought to myself, that wasn't so hard but then I once again found myself back in party mode! No thought of the future.
I have many more examples but I won't bore you with the details, lets just say my teenage years lasted about 7 years longer then they should have.
I feel I short changed myself in alot of areas. If I would have stayed focused on some major dreams and goals when I was younger I wouldn't be sitting here thinking about how to make up for lost time.
I read others' blogs, they focus on their goals, plans for the future and how to surround themselves with the right people and friends that will support, encourage and participate in the path they take.
That is "Brilliant" I think to myself.
If there is anything I can offer, as words of experience is ..do not be fooled into thinking time is on your side, it flys by, do not be side tracked by the wrong people( I don't mean bad people, I mean others who would rather see you spend time hangin' back like they do, you know what I mean) Watch out for the opposite sex! ...seriously, if their goals are very different then yours be careful ..love is blind, etc,, etc and other descriptions I can't print here.(that was about 4 years lost!)
Don't get me wrong, I am definitely wiser because of past experiences and this has shaped me into the person I am today, I still have time... I'm not dead yet!
finally, you should PLAY HARD but you should WORK just as HARD.
Again, why wasn't I that smart...
I have to be honest... I do.
I look around at the young people in the studio and I am so impressed by their goals, their focus and drive to be productive, giving individuals.
Why wasn't I this smart at their age!!
If memory serves me right, I spent too much time socializing and making bad decisions in the name of "socializing".
In my 20s I managed to accomplish a post secondary education and acquire the different levels of tickets in my trade but ...I coasted through. As an example, the first year I picked a semester to really apply myself, I did and I won a grant, WOW! I thought to myself, that wasn't so hard but then I once again found myself back in party mode! No thought of the future.
I have many more examples but I won't bore you with the details, lets just say my teenage years lasted about 7 years longer then they should have.
I feel I short changed myself in alot of areas. If I would have stayed focused on some major dreams and goals when I was younger I wouldn't be sitting here thinking about how to make up for lost time.
I read others' blogs, they focus on their goals, plans for the future and how to surround themselves with the right people and friends that will support, encourage and participate in the path they take.
That is "Brilliant" I think to myself.
If there is anything I can offer, as words of experience is ..do not be fooled into thinking time is on your side, it flys by, do not be side tracked by the wrong people( I don't mean bad people, I mean others who would rather see you spend time hangin' back like they do, you know what I mean) Watch out for the opposite sex! ...seriously, if their goals are very different then yours be careful ..love is blind, etc,, etc and other descriptions I can't print here.(that was about 4 years lost!)
Don't get me wrong, I am definitely wiser because of past experiences and this has shaped me into the person I am today, I still have time... I'm not dead yet!
finally, you should PLAY HARD but you should WORK just as HARD.
Again, why wasn't I that smart...
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Religion...any kind of Religion
Tonight I brought my son to church. No particular reason..just because.
Just because I had a previously bad week? or I have been thinking about going back for a long time? or parental guilt? Not sure, however I am glad I did.
It is a Roman catholic church and I have always been annoyed by the catholic politics and heirarchy. Actually to the point where I quit going, much to the dismay of my parents.
What I realized is, I was using that as an excuse to not go.
I don't think any religion is perfect and since I am not committed enough to convert to Buddism I believe I must approach attending church from a different perspective.
Go with an open mind, use the time to reflect, if you don't like the sermons and stories look for the message beneath all the clutter.
This is a short blog. Going back to church was on my list of things to do. The experience was not as bad or as boring as I expected it to be, so I will go again, I think I am actually looking forward to it...but don't tell my parents!
Just because I had a previously bad week? or I have been thinking about going back for a long time? or parental guilt? Not sure, however I am glad I did.
It is a Roman catholic church and I have always been annoyed by the catholic politics and heirarchy. Actually to the point where I quit going, much to the dismay of my parents.
What I realized is, I was using that as an excuse to not go.
I don't think any religion is perfect and since I am not committed enough to convert to Buddism I believe I must approach attending church from a different perspective.
Go with an open mind, use the time to reflect, if you don't like the sermons and stories look for the message beneath all the clutter.
This is a short blog. Going back to church was on my list of things to do. The experience was not as bad or as boring as I expected it to be, so I will go again, I think I am actually looking forward to it...but don't tell my parents!
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