No room with the Monkeys

First mandatory class was last Thursday. The kwoon was packed with weapons and it was very hard for me to train with my weapons. It is great to have so many people in class but until it is warm outside, I will have to do my weapon training elsewhere.

With the banquet happening last week, I'm late starting the year of the monkey and I'm actually going to officially start tomorrow. New schedule planned out and renewed motivation and goals. Work has been very demanding lately and I am trying to continue the balance between work, the kwoon and home.

Excited and nervous about the new weapon forms. I started to feel comfortable with the bokken. Now going into new weapons. New adventure...

Good Morning Sihing, Goodnight Sifu.

Good Morning Sihing, Goodnight Sifu. This simplifies the day yesterday...

One day he is 3 years old. Lil-Leopards. Too scared to go on the mats. Then learning kicks and punches. Tiny Tiger. Building confidence. Learning forms. Competing in Tiger Challenge (again and again). Learning empathy. Black Dragons. Team Work. Receiving the Leadership Award. Learning New Techniques. Kids Tiger Challenge Award. Sihing Level. I Ho Chuan. Adults Tiger Challenge Award. Grading. And then he is a Black Belt.

Last night was full with emotions. In between the Dragon demo, the Advanced Black Dragons demo, the I Ho Chuan demo - I still found time to be there for him, to share the experience with him and to make sure he knows how much I love him and how much I will be willing to do for him.

Our journey is now going to be shared even more and I'm so happy about that.

Kobe - I'm sooooo PROUD of you!

Growing Up

Many times, especially at work, I find myself doing something without becoming really good at it. It is good enough and I pass it on to someone else and I move to the next thing. In Kung Fu I've been trying to figure out where I would like to grow into in the future. Doing everything is not possible (unless I leave my work...) but I have yet to decide what it is that I want to do. I like it all - the physical and the mental, learning and teaching, forms, weapons, techniques, grappling, sparring, energy, etc. At this point I'm just doing what I can (and loving it...) and I hope that one day I will figure it out what I want to be when I grow up. 

Happy New Year!!!

This year was not as good as it could have been for me personally. I did not get all the numbers I set for myself, I did not achieve my personal goals, I had (and still suffering from) a shoulder and low back injuries. I have some regrets for the things I did not do, the things I did not start, the things I did not complete. The year of the sheep is ending in few hours and I'm not going to be able to change that.

At the same time I did have plenty of accomplishment. I did practice Lion Dance, I practice the Dragon and more so the head of the Dragon, I was actively helping 2 of the candidates in their preparations to grade, I continued to improve and advance my teaching skills - both for the kids and the adults curriculum, I was able to successfully help organize another Tiger Challenge.

In less than 4 hours a new year is upon us. The year of the Monkey. Putting my current year's regrets aside. Starting with a new slate. There is much to accomplish this year. May it be as good (or better) as the year of the Sheep was.