Run, walk, run walk

Now that we have a new family member it has become my job to walk him each saturday and sunday morning(not sure when I agreed to that but oh well). Last year one of my goals I failed at miserably was my running. I used to love running everyday up until I was about 22. Then I made the idiotic choice of becoming a smoker, which I did til I was about 35. When my wife became pregnant with my daughter we both made the smart choice and quit smoking. At the time we were dancing 4 days a week and were quite active. But from age 38 til when I started kung fu in november of 2010 I only played a little softball(which is short sprints) or walked occasionally. The inactivity had hit harder and deeper then I realized. When I started running last year it was with way too high an expectation and no idea just how much work it was going to take. The last 2 weekends I have started running approximately 1/2 km, walking 1/2 km as I take Dougle(our new dog) for his walk in the mornings. This much more practical and realistic approach is working well so far. My endurance is getting better slow but sure. Fitness class helps a ton, but I still need to actually run longer distance to improve my endurance and breathing. I have put alot of effort and time into working on good form and technique(which I will continue to do each day). But I need better endurance and flexibilty as well if I want to grow as a martial artist. Both of which are goals this year and are both progressing bit by bit. Fortunately I have the young dog to pull this old dog along. Hopefully if I fall flat on my face, he won't drag me to far before he stops hehe.

Going through the motions

Sorry I'm late getting this out, had some internet problems this week and it took shaw a bit to figure out the problem. Hopefully no more internet connection problems. I have been feeling a bit blah last week. I'm still doing my routine each day but mentally I'm not as sharp as I should be. I think this is partly due to my work load and also that I am so looking forward to spring. I haven't been able to practise stick as much as I would like due to the fact we got a new dog on the 10th. He's an amazingly good pup(8 months old), but as soon I pull out my staff he thinks its play time. It will be so nice to be able to just go out in the back yard or the park behind my house when the snow all melts. It will also work well for forms as I will have tons of rooms to do them and not have to stop and shift all the time. I have been trying Sifu Prince's idea of doing a form in a 3x3 foot square at times, it is definately a challenge.

Here's looking forward to warmer, snow free weather soon.

Going through the motions

Sorry I'm late getting this out, had some internet problems this week and it took shaw a bit to figure out the problem. Hopefully no more internet connection problems. I have been feeling a bit blah last week. I'm still doing my routine each day but mentally I'm not as sharp as I should be. I think this is partly due to my work load and also that I am so looking forward to spring. I haven't been able to practise stick as much as I would like due to the fact we got a new dog on the 10th. He's an amazingly good pup(8 months old), but as soon I pull out my staff he thinks its play time. It will be so nice to be able to just go out in the back yard or the park behind my house when the snow all melts. It will also work well for forms as I will have tons of rooms to do them and not have to stop and shift all the time. I have been trying Sifu Prince's idea of doing a form in a 3x3 foot square at times, it is definately a challenge.

Here's looking forward to warmer, snow free weather soon.

Dealing with the daily grind

This year is going so much better for me then it did all last year. I have finally started to get a set routine of push-ups/ situps each day. Plus being more aware of my time and doing 5 and 10 mintue segments of various parts of my training when and where I can fit it in, is working well for me. Even though the stress level at my jobsite is growing, and so to is my work load. I find I'm not stressing out like I used to in the past. I still hate having to lay a good worker off just due to the fact we are short of work. But I no longer allow the negative feelings that creates, dominate my thoughts. Being in the kwoon as much as I am definately helps me. I find I leave the outside world behind when I enter the door. I focus, work hard, learn, get corrected and relearn over and over with no stress or negativity. Then when I leave the kwoon and head home each nite the stress I left behind at the door is no longer as pressing as it was. I still have miles to go, but I finally feel like I'm moving forward again. I know I have been on a long plateau for some time. Now I feel like I'm moving uphill and that feels great because I'm making progress again. It sometimes feels like I'm trying to fill a tanker truck with a thimble when I look at all that there is to learn. But then a calm voice enters my head and says of course its gonna take time, enjoy it. That's what I can say has really clicked for me the most. No matter how hard the workout or form or technique I'm trying to learn, I'm thoroughly enjoying kung fu on a level I haven't before. As Sifu Brinker says ( and I truly get it finally), there are just things you can't do YET.

Blown away

This week I started out being sick with the brutal flu that has been going around. I went through the worst of it monday and tuesday. I was finally able to eat something late tuesday nite and keep it down. Then being the stubborn guy I am I went to kung fu class on wedsnesday nite. I took something for the sniffles and headache I still had and figured I would just do what I could. We ended up testing for our blue and yellow stripes that nite. I already had both, but have always believed that just because you have a stripe doesn't mean you can slack on it. Blue stripe testing was not bad. I didn't have as much power as I usually do, but my I don't think my form was totally sucky. Then we hit the fitness test. Push-ups went better then I thought they would, sit-ups ok. Then we hit roundhouses and I started to run out of gas. I didn't go full speed, instead I tried to concentrate on good form and technique and got through the kicks. Then burpies began. Oh my did I hit rock bottom. By 10 I was completely gassed and struggling. Even Sifu Lietz came over to see if I was ok. Some how I got all 20 done, but it took everything I had to complete. It wasn't til well after class that I realized the change that has occured in me. A year ago, I would have just stayed home, thought I'm sick I don't need to go to class. My mindset has changed dramatically from then. Now I want to go to class and do the best I can no matter how I feel. I am no longer satisfied with just doing enough. I want to do the best I can and push my limits whenever possible. I like the drive I am developing and I look forward to where it is going to take me as I continue my journey in kung fu.
Now for my blown away part this week. I help out with the kids classes on tuesdays and thursdays. I really enjoy doing it and I learn so much from the kids each and everyday. It is very rewarding to be able to give something back to the school and I look forward to it each and every day. This last thursday, one of the yellow belts gave me a hand drawn thank you card. She said it was for helping her so much with her kung fu. I was completely floored and I really didn't know how to respond at first. I did tell her that I should thank her, because I get so much enjoyment from helping all the kids in the classes. It dawned on me that I don't thank those that teach me as much as I should. So here is a start to that, "Thank You" everyone in my classes and to all the Sihings and Sifus that teach and inspire me each and every day.  I am truly lucky that I didn't let the opportunity pass me by when my son challenged me to start kung fu. I am also lucky to be part of such an amazing, inspiring, caring and motivating family that is Silent River Kung Fu.