When Wrong is Actually Right

I've spent quite a bit of time working on my forms. In the beginning it was all about remembering the proper order and the different components of the form. Once that is cemented in my brain, I then start to break it down and work on the technique of each strike, block, stance and kick. And just when the form is starting to feel good and I think I've got this, we break it down some more and then it doesn't feel so good . Not quite back to the beginning, but almost... or so it seems sometimes.

For those of us that like to things to be set and follow a logical order it really can mess with your mind, but at the same time can be super cool as you work on the form repetitively and make your own discoveries. Those ah ha moments can be quite amazing and not something that can be taught.

 I remember working on using both hands in my forms, it just about did me in. I struggled at home as I practiced adding in that second hand. There was a lot of negative self talk going on and just as I thought to myself, I can't do this (meaning Kung Fu) I stopped... took a deep breath and told myself I am going to figure this out! I continued to practice and figured it out that very same day. It is still a work in progress, but that's ok.

When I'm practicing a form and trying to perfect it (ha ha! funny), technique is what I grasp and hold on tight to. I try to be mindful of flow, but with the ever evolving form there always seems to be something else to work on. I was doing some reps of Da Mu Hsing on Saturday at the kwoon, when Sifu Hayes shared some valuable insight and instruction with me. One of the suggestions was that I work on flow and speed things up. I was concerned about technique and loosing some of the ground that I had gained, but sometimes we need to go backward in order to move forward, so for now flow is a priority.

It can be difficult to work on speed and flow without stopping to fix things as I go through the form. It just feels wrong! That is where trust comes in. Trust in your instructors, trust in the process and trust in yourself. And definitely some patience.

Sometimes, doing something that feels wrong at first is actually the right thing to do!

Michele Ward