The Domino Affect

Hard week. I missed 3 of my morning workouts. Felt exhausted for most of the week. And then one after the other, like domino pieces - low back pain, shoulder injury, upper back, right calf muscle spasm, left hip, left knee. At the end of Friday practice I was hardly standing.

Saturday we went to a 5 Peaks race in Camrose. Sharida and the kids were racing and I was supposed to only run 3 km with the kids. Boy, those were the longest 3 km I ever did. I was aching and hurting. But you know what? this was also the turning point. I LOVE going to the 5 Peaks races. Not because I love to run. I actually don't and I'm pretty bad at running. I love it because everyone who is there has a great attitude. They are all there to have fun, to be healthy, or whatever their reason is, The place is filled with positive energy. People are there because they want to be there.

Motivation is back on track. I need to work on healing few body parts but that is OK as long as I have the right attitude.

Time, Boards, Crabs and Spear

Back from 6 days of vacation makes me wonder if it was worth it... I was back for hectic time at work. Catching up and starting new projects as well. Between Kung Fu, the Tri-Leisure and work, the days started early and ended up late. Saturday we spent most of the day at the kwoon and then the rest of the weekend we were moving stuff before the mud person is coming tomorrow.

This coming week is not going to be any easier and we are also going to live in a cloud of drywall dust.

Back to Kung Fu  matters, I was working with Kobe on his board breaking. Helping him believe that he can do it. I'm so proud of him and want him to do well. This weekend I also had a chance to work with the 2 girls and when one of them told me she wants to play crab soccer, I've arranged for a game during open training. I think we all had fun. Thanks for everyone who participated.

I'm also making progress with the spear form although I'm having a little block because I know the next step is the jump and I'm a bit nervous because of my knees. I do like the spear form. So far it has been a motivator for me.

See you on the mats.

Breathtaking or Out of Breath

We did a very long hike last weekend. Probably the longest with the kids. I know of many people my age that would not be able to do such a hike and one of the reasons I love Kung Fu as a way of life is to maintain my health and to be able to do these things.

Instead of being out of breath I was able to do the hike and see the breathtaking views.

Kung Fu :1
Couch: 0

Horses and Kung Fu

Yesterday I took part in a Horsemanship seminar. I never felt too comfortable with horses (or any animal other than dogs for that matter). While we were standing near the horses and Tony was pairing a horse to each of us, I noticed that one of the horses is different. Bigger, black, stronger looking. I was thinking to myself, I hope I get one of the smaller looking horses. Well, you probably guessed it, I got that horse. Jim is a 34 years old horse. Big and strong. I was humbled to stand next to him. Tony explained to us how to earn the trust of the horse and then also how to earn the respect of the horse. It wasn't easy but I was able to lead Jim and even trot with him a bit (Tony warned me that he might not trot at all as he is too old).

During the session Tony was talking about our communication with the horses and so many times I was doing the connections with my training, with the classes I teach. You see, there is no much difference between gaining the trust of a horse and the trust of a student (or a co-worker for that matter). Horses (and for some degree people) can feel your energy, can feel your emotions. You need to be able to relax and control your emotions and to be able to be assertive, believe in what you do and show your energy.

It was a fun morning and I'm glad to say that I feel better with horse but I also have some thinking to do on how I behave at the kwoon and at work.