Blocks

I have been reflecting all week on the sparring class we had on Monday. Even though we practice blocks with the intent of using our arm as the contact point, many of us block with our hands instead while sparring.

I thought about it, do I do this as well? I have to honestly say that I probably do, perhaps not all the time, but it definitely happens. Lack of mindfulness is most likely the cause of this. When sparring, when not mentally prepared, all the training goes out the window, so does technique. Shoulders tighten, big, swinging movements start and way more energy is used than necessary.

I have been practicing with the bags, using only my arms to "block" incoming strikes to reinforce the proper arm placement when colliding with another object. When I practice blocks in the air, the intent is always the use of the arm, so I just need to encourage that intent more during application.

Stick

We practiced the stick form tonight. Going through a couple specific movements and expanding on the intent of those said movements. Weapon forms are fun and quite informative. The amplify your intent or lack of intent as well as your alignment and vectoring. This makes them great tools for improving your overall technique and engagement. This is one of my favorite aspects of forms. One analyzes a movement, breaking it down to the logic of it, then applies it to everything else they know.

I had a lot of fun in class. The energy was in the right state. Many of us had great questions and all learned much from the exercises we practiced. I left the kwoon tonight with a sense of euphoria that is rarely generated anywhere else.

Quality over Quantity

I was practicing my kicks for the fitness test on Saturday. My goal was to get a '10' on as many as I could. This is something I have been practicing for months now and have been making progress, but yesterday was an off day. I was making the numbers I wanted to, but I was beginning to lose the technique behind it.

I was so focused on getting the number at any cost that the cost presented itself plainly, lousy quality. I reflected on this after my kicks. It would be better to slow down and get the quality in. It makes no sense to get in 28 spinning back kicks if only 18 of them would be counted. I did one more round of spinning back kicks with this intent in the forefront, I managed to get in 26 and the feel and quality of them were were vastly improved.

Quality over quantity, this is what I will be working on over the next month and a half. Get that solid technique in, then speed it up, then repeat.

Cat Stance

The cat stance is unique and very powerful. Class tonight was dedicated to understanding the importance and purpose of this stance. What makes it powerful is the fact that it utilizes rotation more than any other stance to my knowledge. Imagine pushing down or twisting a spring, there is resistance  because the spring does not just stop you, it rotates. This rotation creates potential energy that is release when you let it go. This is how I visualize cat stances, you redirect, absorb and then release you opponents energy back onto them. This is present in other stances, but is just not as apparent as it is in the cat stance.

The Journey

The journey is always more important than the destination. There will always be another destination to reach as you go about life, but it is the journey that defines you.

The destination is also defined by how you approach your journey. The choices you make affect the outcome. Sometimes we regret decisions we made, wishing we took a different path. The grass is always greener on the other side, but what we don't realize is we would be thinking the exact same thing if things were reversed.

When you just focus on the destination, your life choices are affected. Some people are so focused on the destination that they fail to slow down and truly appreciate the journey, which would provide us more insight to make correct choices.

In kung fu, it is important to embrace where you are in your journey to black belt. This is what will define you as a martial artist.

Leadership

Two qualities of a good leader are leading by example and inspiring those around you. I feel that I am struggling to harness these qualities with regards to my fellow candidates. The journey to black belt would be more meaningful if not taken on my own. It should be one to share with those around me who are on the same part of their journey. 

It is not as fulfilling to go though a grading year without being able to inspire those around me to push themselves as well. It becomes one driven by narcissism and selfish accomplishment. I am striving to earn my black belt, not only because it is something I greatly wish to achieve for myself, but so that I can make a difference to the world around me, and the achievement DOES NOT end when you have that belt around your waist. It merely begins. 

It becomes a symbol of responsibility, that you have achieved something amazing and hold yourself to the same standards you did while working to earn it, inspiring others to do the same. I feel as though I can't inspire my peers now, so how should I expect to inspire others when I become a black belt?

Our journeys are all unique, we are all going through things in life that cannot be compared with. In my particular case, I am a new father, working 3 jobs in a new career (most of which are either out of town or include some evenings) and help teach the kids classes when I can, all during my grading year. I sometimes can't even keep track of what day it is, my schedule is so inconsistent. I cannot commit the time I could have 4 years ago during my first and most successful I Ho Chuan year, but I am making due with the decisions I made, owning them and putting my best effort into it. Simply by doing what was laid out in front of me, piece by piece throughout the year, I am preparing for one of the top 3 most important days of my life. 

If it was easy, everybody would be doing it and the achievement would lose it's value. I will continue to do what I can to help those around me. We are all in this together, let's do this.

 

Blogging

Blogging is a unique I Ho Chuan requirement. It is one of the only requirements that is purely mental. Definitely one of the more difficult requirements for me when I first began my first year with the team. In high school, my least favourite subject was Language Arts. I felt like I could not think of anything compelling to say, that it was not something I would ever be good at. I only went through the classes because I had to and was happier than ever when I found out I was not required to write another essay again after my last final.

Fast forward 5 years to 2014 and I found myself facing my old nemesis, creative writing, again. This time though, it was public writing, my promise to myself and the I Ho Chuan team. As stated before, I was not thrilled about this particular requirement. I felt that I was not the best with words, nervous about what people might think of what I had to say. I made a promise though, and by then in my life, I wanted truly to live up to my word. Through engaged repetition, whether I wanted to or not, I started to develop my skill in writing blogs, week after week. (A couple missed ones, I will admit.)

Does this mean that every blog I wrote was perfect? Absolutely not. However, like anything I do, I make my best effort to improve a little bit each time. There are still times when I hover the mouse over the "publish" button, holding my breath and cringing as I press it, finalizing what might be a fantastic post or indeed something truly cringe worthy.

You don't know unless you take that last step! I am so grateful that this is something we are required to do for a successful I Ho Chuan year. It is a fantastic tool that expands what we learn through words. Reflecting on and sharing our journey with those around us in a unique way. Many take this opportunity we have in front of us for granted. The ability to freely voice our ideas, our experiences and our opinions without fear of being silenced. We have no idea how lucky we are.

If I could go back and tell my 17 year old self what a joy it is to write a blog once, sometimes twice a week for the entire internet to read, he would laugh in disbelief. Oh, how much has changed in such a short time.

The Void

One of the concepts that were taught in class that I wish to explore is "The Void". To anyone reading this, feel free to correct me at anytime. I wish to understand this concept more in a way that can be defined. From my understanding, the void is defined as being aware of everything around you and nothing at the same time. It is not going with the motions, but is actually acting without intellectually reasoning what you are doing. 

You enter the void when you really get into the groove. It sometimes gets to the point when your body starts to take over, naturally doing what it feels is right, what you trained it to do. The void is not limited to when you are practicing kung fu either. You probably go into the void without even knowing it at times in your normal activities.

I believe that recognizing when you are going into the void is the next step in controlling it. When you understand what is happening, the odds are more likely that you can have more say in when it happens and what happens when you are in such a state of mind.

Day Shift

This is the first year I have worked on kwoon maintenance in the mornings during back to school week. This was an interesting experience. Mainly because most of the students participating in the maintenance did so in the evening. We had our small group come in every morning, witness the progress of the evening group and made our own contribution to the progress. Great job team.

This week is a great way to reset your mindset, focus on the building you train in and begin with fresh new momentum for the last few months of the year. This is not just a gym and we are not just working out. We are practicing an ART. An art that is thousands of years old, one that teaches us self awareness as well as awareness of what is around us simply by encouraging an eye for detail through repetition.

I'm happy to have contributed to the kwoon; to give back to the building and more importantly, what it stands for.