week 4

Another week has flown by, work was insanely busy this past week, it ran me down physically and mentally. I ended up getting behind on my numbers of pushups and situps so I made them up on sunday doing 400 pushups and 450 situps. It was definately a struggle but I'm happy I got them done. I discovered tonight that I have been cheating a bit by using the couch to hold my feet down while doing my sit ups. So tonight I did 100 in the middle of the floor. Wow big burn. I'm still working hard on my center and the 6 harmonies as well as correcting and improving my stances in Da Mu Hsing. I'm happy that I'm correcting some of the bad habits I had developed when first learning the form. I'm starting to see what everyone means by you never truly master a form there is always soemthing to improve. I like that challenge, it keeps me actively thinking about what my body is doing at all times. Fitness class on saturdays is really helping, I look forward to it all week long. I'm sore as can be sunday but my stamina is improving and my recovery rate is wayyyyyy better. I have to thank everyone for their positive encouragement when in class etc. I find I really like to know when I doing something well as much as when I'm not. That way I know that I'm improving and growing in my Kung Fu.

week 3

Wow time is passing so fast these days. This past week has been really good for me. I'm feeling much stronger and really starting to seee the results of the daily push-ups and situps.  I'm still doing well on the eating better and getting alot more veggies in my diet. Now to work on more fruits as well.

I'm working more on my center and the 6 harmonies, especially when doing Da Mu Hsing. The form is feeling better, hopefully it is looking better as well. So many details to work on now that I have it memorized. I'm enjoying the challenge though. I'm still so loving Kung Fu. Every now and then I kick myself and think why didnt I do this sooner. I guess I have to live in the now and make the most of each day and not fret about the past.

My wife bought a plague this summer with a saying on it. I'm finally starting to understand and embrace it.
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain." I try to go with the flow now as things happen and it's definately giving me a much more positive look at life. Yay, the cynic in me is being worn away and a more optomistic, positive person is emerging. I don't just think I can anymore, I know I can.

post #2

The last 10 days have been an interesting mix. I caught one of the flu bugs going around. On friday the 7th it hit full bore with a vengeance. For 4 days I was a hacking coughing mess. It put me behind in my dailys training as I was totally drained of energy or motivation. I truly hate being sick and I am a total baby about it. My poor wife has to put up with my "oh woe is me". It's something that I'm at least aware of, now I just have to change my mind set and attitude and get over being sick in a more positive way. I missed saturdays fitness class and mondays regular class. I don't like missing classes, I really look forward to them.

I did make wedsnesdays class and fitness class yesterday, both of which went well and I enjoyed alot.
I have been doing extra reps of situps and pushups this week after I felt better and I'm sore from pushing to do more reps but I'm also feeling stronger and mentally getting more positive that I can push and do more each day.

It amazes me how much detail goes into Kung Fu. Whether its foot position in a particular stance or just how your weight is divided. That you are grounded and using the 6 harmonies(which I have alot of work to do on) correctly. Each day I train I try to improve something. This week I have been working on my core strength and balance alot. Trying to hold crane stance, then slowly switching to 3 point then back and even trying to hold crance stance with my eyes closed. I never realized I was so wobbly when my eyes were closed.

I'm eating much better now, no junk food (chips and pop since new year's) and I'm adding more salads and vegetables to my diet. Now if I get a craving for chips I make a small bowl of hot air popcorn. Definately a much healthier choice.

Time to go shovel some more snow. I think the snow gods are having way to good a laugh at us all this year. Funny how as a kid I wanted and loved huge snow falls and couldn't wait to go build a snow fort or go tobogganing. Now as an adult my first thought is where the heck am I gonna shovel all the snow too. Oh well, my kids are having a blast in it.

First post of the year.

I've joined the UBBT8 team at my Kwoon(kung fu school). I hope to become a better martial artist as well as a better person through this upcoming year. I guess I should start with the fact that I am presently a white belt(beginer) in kung fu. I started my training in November of 2010 because my seven year old son challenged me to take it and train with him. He started in September of 2010. It is an awesome way for us to spent quality time together and share a hobby we both enjoy very much. I did a little karate training back when I was 20 for a few winters in University achieving my second degree yellow belt. I am presently 45 years old and really needed to get active again. With Kung fu I have found a passion for becoming more in shape and more involved in the community around me.

Here's what I will achieve this year in UBBT8

1. 25000 push-ups and 25000 sit-ups

2. Do the DA Mu Hsing form 1000 times

3. Make healthy eating choices every day. Get out of the junk food cravings and snack on healthier choices.  I will document what I'm eating and How I'm feeling.

4. Complete a 5k or 10k run in the area without stopping

5. Ataain at least orange belt ranking by the end of the year

6. Make kung fu practise an everyday habit, enjoy it and challenge myself at least once a week. By that I mean push myself to do more reps then before and to do them with good technigue. Track my progress.

7. Be able to stay in a proper horse stance for at least 3 minutes, to reach 5 would be awesome 

8. Learn Kempo 1, then do it 1000 times.

9. this one I added for myself, be positive and enjoy what I'm doing. Support my teammates in their goals and make some awesome friends in the process.