Challenges

It can take courage to face new challenges, and a belief in yourself to follow through. I know that we all saw this firsthand when the kwoon shut down, and we had to rethink the way we approached our training. So here we are now, a week into our phased in re-opening, and I am slowly finding my feet. I’m not feeling as creative as I was 2 weeks ago, as I have different types of classes running at the same time, and it’s challenging to keep the guys at home engaged and having fun at the same time as the guys in front of me.
But it’s a challenge, and one I am grateful to have. It warmed my heart and soul last week to see everyone finally face to face (1 hockey stick apart), and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. My training needs to amp up a bit again, as I know I haven’t been working as hard as I can. It that I also know is doable.
Let’s continue to keep each other safe and healthy

Another new “normal”

In our office at home, we have a calligraphy by Thich Nhat Hanh. It says “I know you are there and I am very happy.”

I love this quote and it has really grounded me during these last 3 months. I am home with my family and I am happy. I have screen access to my students and fellow students of Silent River Kung Fu. And this week I get to see our students in person, and that makes me happy.

It will be different, and another new “normal” will evolve. But I am up for that challenge, because you are there and I am very happy.

Another First!

Yesterday marked Silent River Kung Fu’s first Livestream Tiger Challenge, and it was awesome! We had expected there to be glitches, and disorganization but it flowed quite smoothly. Although that’s in large part to Sifu Yitzik Csillag and his amazing skills! Thank you so much Sifu! I don’t know where we would be without you!

I loved judging the kids, although like every other time, it was difficult because they all try so hard and just warm my heart. It’s hard to pick the best one. And it was really amazing to see everyone else participating in challenging spaces. You guys were all incredible!

As for me, I got through my hand form. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to, because when the Black Belts started, my anxiety shot through the roof. My stomach was in knots and my heart was pounding. What the heck! It felt really out of proportion since this was a) online and b) just for fun. It seems no matter how many times I compete, I always seem to react this way. But I did it! I got through my whole form in one piece. No breakdowns!

It’s always good to push through. I know that if I took the easy way and dropped out, not only would I not be fulfilling my I Ho Chuan promises, I wouldn’t grow from the experience.

Congratulations everyone, for a job well done yesterday! And thank you to all the black belts who made this possible. Both you, our great students, and Sifus, made yesterday amazing!

Here Tiger, Tiger, Tiger...

The Tiger Challenge is this Saturday, and it’s going to be different. I’m looking forward to doing it online this year, even though that adds a challenge. And I think that’s why I am looking forward to it. It’s going to be different, and we are going to learn a lot. Judging takes on a whole new dimension, as does performing. For myself, the competing is creating less anxiety in myself than in the past. Im not really performing in front of people in the same way we would usually. I’m liking this so far...good luck to everyone, and remember to have fun!

Mental Health

Something I have thought about a lot since the pandemic took hold, was that we need to make sure we are taking care of our mental health. It’s important that we take a few minutes everyday to do something for just ourselves. It might be a few minutes to focus on Kung Fu, or a walk outside, or just sitting outside in the sun.

I have tried to apply this to myself as best as I have been able to, and this morning I got to thinking about a strategy that I have employed for many, many years. While thinking about it today, I made the connection that this is something that being in the I Ho Chuan taught me unbeknownst to me. I’d like to share this with you.

It requires you to break down things into small bite size pieces. 50,000 pushups is a daunting task until you break it down into daily requirements, and then it’s even easier once you look at how many sets of 25 you have to do in a day. Suddenly it’s that much easier to accomplish. I’ll use my process from when I worked for the government, as I think it’ll illustrate my point the best.

I would wake up with my alarm and not feel I had the mental strength to face the day. But, my kids still had to go to school. So I would get up, and while I was getting the kids out the door, I would tell myself to just get dressed at least. I can let myself go back to bed once the kids are out the door. Then once they were out the door, I would challenge myself to at least go to work since I was already dressed. I could change my mind when I got there. Once I would get there, I would again challenge myself to just get through a couple of hours. Then my next goal was lunch, then by the time that passed staying was easier, and got easier as finishing the day approached.

The strategy is simply setting small goals, and as we know, small things do add up to big things. And I think we need to apply this mindset more now than ever. When things seem overwhelming, just stop and break things down into bite size pieces.

Air Hugs!

Listening

How often do you listen with your whole self? Listening with your body - you’re still, not fidgety. Listening without judgement - are you making faces during the conversation? Are you getting your back arched? Feathers ruffled? Listening with your eyes as well as your ears - are you noticing the body language used? Listening while trying to hurry the conversation along? Are you finishing sentences for the other person?
I know that I have done all of these. My worst ones though are finishing others’ sentences and making premature judgements. This is something I have been working on for a long time. And I think that for the most part I do ok, but if I am not mindful of listening, if I am not aware of where my mental state is, I too easily fall into my old habits. Therefore not a very good listener.
I bring this up as it’s something I think we all have to work on, one way or another. We are spending more time with our families and I think it’s easy to let true listening slide. And with Kung Fu, if we aren’t really present in our listening we just might miss a gem, some key piece of information that could possibly transform us. You just never know.

Looking forward

It’s best to look forward, not behind you. Your journey is in front of you, and while you may stand still sometimes, or maybe even take a step back, keep your eyes in forward. Learn from what’s behind you, and apply that to the path in front. Look to each side, and see who is there with you. Your mentors, your peers, your loved ones. Without them, the path forward is a difficult journey. They are there to support you, encourage you, teach you. They are there to help pick you up when you fall, to run alongside you, and remind you of why you are here. Your blood, sweat and tears are not for nothing. This is what makes it all worth it. Knowing that you have gone all in, and earned everything. There is more value in something that you, yourself have worked hard for. Look beside you again, and see who you can help. We are all together, and we may sometimes have to ask for help, for a gentle nudge, or to help pick you up. We all have something to give.