An awesome nite with friends and family

Saturday nites banquet was fun, inspiring, happy sad and most definately awesome. I so look forward each year to the banguet. Yes it's a ton of work, but in the end it is always worth it. I was more nervous this year then last. The demo with Sifu(know I'm gonna mess that up a few times) Robinson was very fast paced and intense and being his nite I wanted to to the best job I could for him. Yay we didn't kill each other for real. The muse demo was even more nerve wracking. I put in alot of hours the last 2 weeks fixing my stick form. I was not expecting to be in the muse demo doing stick. I know that was no excuse not to be better prepared. Even when I thought I was ready I wasn't even close. I had learned stick with bad technique and everything looked incomplete and jerky. My stick was my nemesis or so I thought. What I realized was I was my own worst enemy. I let my frustration with my lack of wrist flexibility and my elbow injury( I find out in a couple weeks what I did to it) distract me from putting in an honest and true effort with my stick form. I started down the path to mediocrity, but thanks to Sifu Rybak and Sifu Brinker for believing in me and allowing me the opportunity to switch tracks and show that I could be better and do better then I was. Nothing in Kung Fu has come especially easy for me. But I have not had anything challenge me the way my stick has. Looking back on it, that is a good thing. I have learned to focus better and pay more attention to my training. And to ask for help earlier. I am not ashamed or afraid to ask for help. Heck I have a ton to learn yet so I had better not be. I have to be more honest with myself when I'm struggling and not get into such a deep hole that I can't get out. I can't wait to watch the video from the banguet, just to see how many things I can improve. That's the one thing about practising at home, it's easy to think everything is ok with your form when you can't see yourself. But if you're truly honest with yourself there is always room for improvement. On a side note I am going to substitute kicks for pushups until such time as I get my elbow injury fixed. It is getting worse at times and pushups hurt like heck now. Oh look an opportunity just sprang up, who woulda thunk it. Thanks Sifu Brinker for the way you word things, it sticks with me and I am able to grow, that is definately not something I would have been able to do 3 years ago when I first started this amazing journey.

Year of the snake

I am looking forward to this next year in my journey to become a martial artist. I am a snake, so that's cool to start with. Second I am growing bit by bit, step by step everyday. I am nowhere near where I want to be with my effortless effort. But I am gaining the tools I need to achieve that. It's going to be very wierd to not be an official member of the team this year. But I wont stop what I know is working for me. That means doing my daily situps and pushups(or kicks til my elbow heals). I want to and need to stay engaged in my training. I'm still helping instruct the kids classes. It is so rewarding to me and I am able to give something back to the kwoon that is giving so much to me. The kids inspire me, and motivate me in so many ways. I see my struggles in theirs and share in their triumphs and even their failures. I know I expect to fail at times. I'm human and far from perfect. But to learn and grow from your failures is a far greater gift then vast riches or false praise. Society seems to be driven by the acceptance of mediocrity and the pursuit of wealth or things. To find a place and a group of people who don't want that and are striving for a better self and a better community and better world. Thats the place I want to be. I feel I have found that at Silent River Kung Fu. Thank you Sifu Brinker for unlocking the door and allowing me to begin an amazing journey. Now I just have to make the most of the opportunity and work hard at being a better martial artist each day then the day before.

Away she goes

I'm editing this post from last week as in my total lack of sleep I managed to send it to my draft folder and not post it. Sorry everyone. Staying up for 37 hours straight was definately not a good thing to do. Just an hour ago my daughter headed out on her first big solo life adventure. She and 20 others in her grade are headed to Quebec city for winter carnival. They will be very busy each day with various activities, from sledding to going to circus school. I'm really glad my wife and I were able to give her this opportunity. It took alot of budgeting and some sacrificing but it was worth it. It's going to be her first airplane flight and her first time away from us for an extended period of time. Part of me is nervous, but mostly I am excited for her. Her dream is to go to Paris someday. I think this experience will only stregthen that dream. We'll be able to facetime with her on my sons ipod. I can't wait to see the expression on her face as she tells us about her first day. The stories she'll be able to share and the sights and culture she'll experience. You can't get that from a book or video. I'll miss her terribly, but at the same time I'll be happy for her.