Speed

On Friday we had a sparring class and we focused on speed. If you have good foot work and you are fast, you can hit like a lightning and avoid being hit. But you have to have the endurance to do so. Last year I watched a video of a Karate black belt fighting with a "street fighter". I remembered how fast she was and wanted to watch that video again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3OgpLmtQuE

Snapshot:
Push-ups - 1,500 (8,000/50,000)
Sit-ups - 1,500 (8,000/50,000)
Nunchucks - 22 this week - 182 out of 1,000
Staff - 32 this week - 132 out of 1,000
Acts of Kindness 23 -  this week - 186 out of 1,000
Plank - 16 this week - 86 out of 1,000 minutes
Horse Stance - 19 this week - 95 out of 1,000 minutes
Qi Gong - 0 this week - 7 out of 365

Passion

I have to admit that as a kid I was never passionate about anything. Just do what you need and that is about it. My friends loved motorcycles (and could name them by sound), basketball (and were part of a team), partying (and were drunk...). I was average with everything. Never sticking to something or committing to anything. Maybe because I was scared of letting someone down or not being good enough.

Kung Fu was the first activity I was passionate about. I wish I had more time to learn and practice. Being passionate about Kung Fu is something that comes from within. You cannot be told "show your passion in class". You can develop passion in time but you either going to have it or not. You cannot fake it.

At the same time being passionate about Kung Fu doesn't mean you have to stand in the middle of the kwoon and scream all the time. Passion is internal.

Just some thoughts about my passion.


Snapshot:
Push-ups - 710 (6,500/50,000)
Sit-ups - 700 (6,500/50,000)
Nunchucks - 18 this week - 160 out of 1,000
Staff - 21 this week - 100 out of 1,000
Acts of Kindness 27 -  this week - 163 out of 1,000
Plank - 6 this week - 70 out of 1,000 minutes
Horse Stance - 9 this week - 76 out of 1,000 minutes
Qi Gong - 0 this week - 7 out of 365

Ahhh - I need to get a Qi Gong routine

Spring

Days are getting longer, warmer and sunnier. It feels good.

I completed my staff form (for now) and I need a lot of practice. It is hard to practice at the kwoon as it requires space and the ceiling is not high enough. Few more weeks and I will be able to practice outside. :-)

What a week

I've been sick most of the week. Not able to do most of my routine. I did go to some of the classes and I found it really hard to exercise. Especially the fitness class on Saturday when I thought I'm all healed up.

Anyway - a new week is ahead and it is also warming up.

Snapshot:
Push-ups - 200 (4,500/50,000)
Sit-ups - 200 (4,500/50,000)
Nunchucks - 15 this week - 139 out of 1,000
Staff - 12 this week - 55 out of 1,000
Acts of Kindness 26 -  this week - 109 out of 1,000
Plank - 0 this week - 53 out of 1,000 minutes
Horse Stance - 2 this week - 63 out of 1,000 minutes
Qi Gong - 0 this week - 7 out of 365

What am I doing?

At our last meeting I was looking at the bench. My son was sitting their and watching us. I kind of feel bad that he has to spend so much time at the kwoon watching us. It is more so true for the younger girls who usually don't join us on the mats for open training. When we got home and we were discussing some of the stuff from the meeting, he was repeating Sifu Brinker's words. I guess he is getting something from sitting and watching us :-)

We all struggle with schedule and priorities. I'm learning 2 new forms and I focused on one. The second one was neglected. Sometimes you need to focus on what is more important at the moment. You cannot focus at everything at the same time unless you have no work/school to deal with.

Sickness, injuries, changes in life / work are all an obstacle (or a ladder) to being in the I Ho Chuan. It all depends on how you approach it. I was thinking what would have happen I had to be in a wheelchair. Would I stop being part of the I Ho Chuan or would I use the group support and do what I can in my condition. I can't really tell what would have happen but I would like to think I will stay engaged.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448

Snapshot:
Push-ups - 1,070 (4,300/50,000)
Sit-ups - 1,040 (4,300/50,000)
Nunchucks - 44 this week - 124 out of 1,000
Staff - 5 this week - 43 out of 1,000
Acts of Kindness 23 -  this week - 83 out of 1,000
Plank - 16 this week - 53 out of 1,000 minutes
Horse Stance - 17 this week - 61 out of 1,000 minutes
Qi Gong - 0 this week - 7 out of 365