In cruise mode

I don't know if its good or bad that I seemed to be in cruise mode this past week. I'm still geting up early getting in my push-ups and sit-ups. Even when I goofed tuesday and set my alarm for pm and got up late at 5:20 I still got ready and got my push-ups in with no fuss or panic( amazed my wife and myself). Having the monday off was odd. You would think the week would fly by but I always feel like I missed something during short work weeks. I'm getting alot of 5 or 10 minutes or practise in all over the place and it is definately working for me. No set times to worry about meeting, just do what I can when I can. Even when making supper the other nite I found I had time to do a couple reps of kempo 1 and 2 and work on my stances and how I move in the form.
I'm am not anywhere near effortless effort but I am finding myself much more aware of my time and what I am doing during the day. I have even managed to be close to completing my first book. It is "How to be Compassionate" by the Dalai Lama. It is not an easy read as I find myself rereading alot of the chapters trying to truly understand the concepts and ideas in the book. For all he has been through in his life, the Dalai Lama is truly an inspiring man. I thought I was a fairly compasionate person before I started reading, but now realize I have a long ways to go to achieve true compaasion for everyone I meet and encounter in my life.

Getting a little more comfortable

This past week was my second round of sparring with members of the I Ho Chuan. I will admitt I was very nervous when I realized that all the people that had shown up were Sihings and Sifus. I have to thank everyone for making it a great learning opportunity. Everything I have done in sparring has been with as much control and limited contact as I could manage. I'm not afraid to spar, its more I know that I have limits on my control and reactions in sparring. The first rounds two thursdays ago were me basically trying to see when my opponent was moving and just trying to react to them, with an occasional front thrust kick or a couple jabs thrown by me. This last thursday I was finally seeing more and trying to counter and flow more. I know I have a long ways to go, but I am happy that I am growing more comfortable and gaining a better understanding of how people move. I see better now when and how my opponent is moving but I still have a long ways to go when it comes to my reactions. I know I tend to use the wrong block or really big movements that put me in unbalanced positions or open me up.  I had so many aha moments as each of my opponents showed me different ways to counter, block or even attack with flow. Thanks to everyone that "schooled" me as the saying goes. With alot more practise and time I hope I can help someone in the future as much as I have been helped the last few weeks.

fitness class is awesome

Finally got back into the fitness class this week. It is definately one of the hardest but also for me one of my favorite classes. I am challenged every week to complete the class but I look forward to that challenge. This weeks workout pushed me further then I ever thought I could go. Thanks Sihing Robinson for encouraging and exhorting me to exceed what I thought were my limits. I always drag my but for half an hour after class, but it is so worth it. I just wish I could convey better to everyone at my belt level how beneficial this class is. It helps me in strength, endurance, balance and also mentally as well.Then to follow it up with open training makes for me a complete day.

It was awesome to see so many people out this saturday taking advantage of the open training. There were all belt levels and activities going on and everyone was working and helping each other out. Thats one of the many things I like about Silent River, is the sense of family and the working together as a team. It's nice to know that there is always someone available to ask for help with even the smallest aspects of my kung fu. I am going to make a bigger and better attempt to encourage and maybe inspire more people to come out for the fitness class and open training. I can't completely put into words how strongly I believe going too both, has helped me grow as a martial artist and as a person. But hopefully my euthusiam and positive attitude will spill over just a little and give someone a spark to want to grow and learn from so many amazing examples that we have in the kwoon.

Mental lows, physical highs

This has been an extremely trying week for me mentally. Work has started to affect me on levels that I'm not very comfortable with. Last week we had some layoffs on our site. Sadly my site is the only big project going at the moment for my company and we no longer require 220 electricians and data technicians to complete the job. So 25 men and ladies were laid off at the end of the day last thursday. One of those individuals must have felt that I had something to do with their layoff and decided to get even. My company has a whistle blower program that just came out in december. The disgruntled employee proceeded to send in a complaint about me that was rambling, vague and untrue. But because it was put in anonumously and had my full name I had to proceed to prove my innocence. I thought about how to respond to the accusations politely and without malice or getting my hackles up as they say. What got me down in the dumps was that even though there was no proof of wrongdoing and I was even told that the job I was doing was exemplary, my project supervisor wrote me up for the complaint to do his due diligence as he called it. I have never been in this situation and was both stunned and taken aback. I felt that my reputation and character had been thrown out the window and it has taken a few days to get over second guessing everything I do or say at work. I have always been proud to work for the company I do and to do the best job I can at all times. But I feel now like I have been betrayed in a way. I have come to realize that my project manager is only doing his job as he sees it, and in the that light I am not angy or bitter. I feel more let down then anything as I always believed that my company would back up a good worker to the best of their ability. Not so it would now appear. So now I need to reassess my future and where I want to be in the next few years in my career. All in all this may turn out much more positive then the small picture I am seeing in front of me at this time, time will tell.

On a very positive note I responded to Sifu Brinker's challenge and I have been getting up a little earlier each day and getting in at least 90 to 120 pushups each morning(sets of 30). My shoulder is doing well so far with no inflamation or tenderness so far, knock on wood(aka own head). I thought of a lot of excuses about why it would be hard to get up earlier and do this, but I finally realized I was just procastinating.  Finishing off the rest in the evening is a breeze in either my own classes or when I'm helping with the kids classes. It only took a year but I finally got it. Situps I get in the evening as I normally due crunchs, plank or variations and get my numbers no problem.

one good step forward along the road the mastery, I'm sure there will be stumbles along the way, but with the teams help and inspiration I know I can right myself.

Mr. Hamilton