Some days

I have been reading the blogs from my fellow training mates/ students and am inspired and humbled by their journeys. Watching the I Ho Chuan team over this past year has been a reminder that while we are each on our own path, we have this great potential together.

This brings to mind what I experience with the Lion Dance every year. And like last year, we have the addition of the Dragon. There is a sense of camaraderie that I miss during the year. But I don't usually notice it much until we start preparing for the Chinese New Year Banquet. This is a busy time of year, but it brings me a huge sense of purpose and a sense of accomplishment.

I am excited about this year's performance. A wee bit nervous as well, but that will keep me on my toes.

The day we had

Yesterday was our annual Tiger Challenge (our in house tournament). I have to say, it was a great day, and I truly enjoyed having it at our school. Having it there instead of a different venue, allowed me as a children's instructor, to be able to watch the older children and also judge the adults. In the past, with only one ring for the kids, I pretty much spent all day there, and missed a lot. So yesterday I got a bit of time to be a mom, and to watch the kids I teach compete.

 

I was really proud of everyone who competed. Especially the kids that i teach - it always puts a fresh perspective on how far their Kung Fu has come, and of course they all seemed to have fun. (After they got over their nervousness!).

 

Yesterday also served to remind me how much anxiety can affect your day. As my daughter gets older, her anxiety gets more apparent. She has always been my go getter, the one who didn't hesitate to get on stage to show her stuff. But Friday night, she had an anxiety attack, which caught us both off guard. We talked about and she thought at she could compete. However, after going up for her first division, and drawing a blank, she gathered her courage and tried again. It was an I possible feat for her, but I am so proud of her for trying. It says a lot to me. She stayed brave, and persevered, and even though she was unsuccessful in getting through her form, she got up there.

 

I am proud of you love.

 

And I am proud of all of you who took your time to compete, cheer, and organize. It was a great day.

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There is always something that we have to do that we don't really want to do but of course we do it anyway. (How's that for a wordy sentence?). Anyway, I am on a course tomorrow that I need, but don't exactly want. It's needed for my job, so that I can do the best I can and I will give it 100%. However, I have had to remind myself that in order for me to better myself, I have to walk through those open doors. Not unlike Kung Fu really. An instructor may ask us to do a technique or take a different approach to something, and we may question it, however, we trust them, do what we are asked, and suddenly our Kung Fu is that much better. We accepted the opportunity that we were given and have grown because of it. Again, this can be likened to the Tiger Challenge. It's a fantastic tool - it forces us to make a goal and follow through. The Black Belt Success Cycle is very prominent in an event like this. 1. Set a goal. 2. Have a plan (and a success coach). 3. TAKE CONSISTENT ACTION! (this one is bolded because it's VERY important!). 4. Review your plan 5. Review your goal.

1. Goal = Enter Tiger Challenge ( ex. Hand forms)
2. have a plan (and a success coach) = Practice for 30 every day from day of goal setting to January 19, 2013 and ask a Black Belt for feedback at every class.
3. TAKE CONSISTENT ACTION! = Make sure you are practicing for 30 minutes every day
4. Review your plan = Take inventory of your practicing. Are you actually practicing for 30 minutes every day? Or is it more like 20?
5. Review your goal = Was perfecting this hand form for this tournament reasonable? ( of course it was!)

So there you have it. The Black Belt Success Cycle applies to everything. It applies for me tomorrow during my course, and it applies for anything else that I wish to accomplish.

Good luck to everyone next Saturday!

Seriously?

I have to share this little anecdote that took place on Saturday. Just after it happened, I wasn't sure if it warranted a big laugh or a brawl on the mats.

I was bringing in a big tote of uniforms from my car into the kwoon when a young man (wow, do I sound old!) asked to hold the door open for me. (He was probably in his early twenties at the most). I said that would be great, thank you. As I was walking through the doorway, he asked me how my Kung Fu was going. I said "Awesome!". To which this charming boy says " Well, I studied Muay Thai and Wing Chun, so no offense but my kung fu is better than yours". I smiled and nodded while thinking "you little punk! Let's go right now - on the mats and I'll kick your butt!". Of course I wouldn't do that, but I thought it!

And upon further reflection, I have to put a thanks out to that guy. While I still think his ego is way too big for his britches, he did get me thinking. Here is what I know.

I could never say that my kung fu is better than someone else's. I am always learning and my biggest hope is that I am better today than I was yesterday. If I am not, well then I didn't put in an effort. And the guy next to me? Well, I am sure there is something that he is better at, and I will strive for it, but it doesn't make him better than I am. And....

I also don't care. It's MY journey. No one else's. I love what I do, I have been given this gift of Kung Fu that I can share when I teach. I learn every single day, and I am thankful for that.

I also realized (and it has woefully been brought to my attention before), that I don't exactly look very tough. I am still working on my "meanness" during my forms and my build doesn't exactly intimidate anyone. So while this person annoyed me, he also taught me something (once I stopped deciding whether to laugh or punch him in the nose). He taught me never to forget my journey and the wonderful gift that Kung Fu is.