Destruction of Structure

I’ve been challenged with lots of travel in the first few months of the year. Every time I travel it takes me out of my routine. I started to develop a new routine while I’m travelling but the last trip was hectic and I was not able to do what I have planned. Oh well, one week and then we are back to normal.

Well that did not happen. I started working from home. Kids are at home. I don’t like practicing at home. I like the disconnect of being at the Kwoon or being at the gym.

I’m sure a new routine will be formed soon as it seems this is going to be our new normal for the next few months.

One structure gone. New one will be formed.

Engagement

Engagement is one of the key components of the IHC. As long as you are engage in improving yourself and engaged with the team you are set. 

But engagement can come in all different levels. From doing nothing to being the energizer bunny. Both extremes are not good. With doing nothing it is obvious. With going overboard you are risking burnout. 

Showing to classes, attending meetings, blogging, reading blogs, actively participating in IHC projects, knowing who is on the team, helping each other. This is what engagement means to me. And it requires lots of effort. 

Years of practice

We all start somewhere. Each person will have their own starting point and skill level. 

As a white belt, do not expect your techniques to look like a black belt techniques. You will get there one day but it takes years of practice. 

As a black belt, I do not expect I will have as pristine techniques as my instructors. I will get there with years of practice. 

Going deeper

When doing many repetitions of forms I find it is hard to maintain deep stances. I can list many reasons for this - muscle fatigue, can complete the form faster, I’m just focused on sequence. But when I do focus on good deep stances the form feels better and looks better. 

Working with weapons amplifies the need for good deep stances. You can see and feel how your skeleton alignments better, how your vector of power is better defined. You are also working the muscles harder which will make them stronger. 

We keep hearing “lower your stance” and there is a good reason for that!

Why is it important to learn how to lion dance or how to dragon dance?

Other than the obvious reasons of team work, improving the team spirit, fitness, etc. there is also the benefit of making sure Kung fu is not becoming another MMA arena. Kung Fu is an art that existed for centuries and it will only exist in the future if the same spirit is maintained. In order to keep the spirit of Kung Fu, one must learn the history of Kung Fu and immerse themselves in the Kung Fu culture which a very important part of it are the lion dance and the dragon dance.

One More

The One More concept is an important mindset I’ve learnt from sifu Prince many years ago. 

The idea behind this was that you always do one more than what you are told during warmup. 20 push-ups become 21. 50 jumping jacks become 51. 

Always push yourself a little more. Don’t stay in your comfort zone. 

Vocabulary of Motion

I’ve been working lots in the last few months to better define what vocabulary of motion means. Sifu Brinker often uses the analogy to speaking. The way I see it, at first we learn words. Then we learn how to combine them in a sentence that makes sense. Then you are mastering your speech by changing the speed of your speech, the tone, the rhythm, the fluctuations, etc. 

There is so much to learn in martial art on how to master your techniques, put them into a sentence, find the right rhythm. It is a journey that will keep me evolving.