Silent Auction Challenge

With auction items slowly trickling in we are still in need of many more to make this a worthwhile and viable auction. 

I challenge everyone on the team to approach someone new, expand your vocabulary as you talk about the charities, and ask for a donation. This is an opportunity to reach more people and make a difference!

And with the challenge I would like everyone to post a comment about their experience.

Items for the auction will need to include 1 - 5 photos, a dollar value and a description of the item. Remember with the auction being online we can't see, or touch the item so more information is best.

Please email me your item info and any attached photos by January 30th at the latest.

michele.lw11@gmail.com

Little Things Matter!

These past few months have been filled with so much stuff! I've pushed my limits and stepped out of my comfort zone more often than not as deadlines loomed and then passed, and as a result my stress levels were high. Even though most of that stress was good stress I needed to take a few steps back afterwards and find ways to decompress. 

I know how important it is to take care of myself and my mental health so I added in more yoga time and made a point of incorporating mindful breathing into my days. I struggle a bit with stopping throughout the day for mindful breathing, but I am making headway and becoming more consistent. 

At first glance the past week seemed relatively uneventful. It was a good week, just nothing to write home about. It wasn't until after Thursdays IHC class that I started to see a pattern that had developed over the week and recognized the importance of the little things. 

My week consisted of many feel good moments at unexpected times. I felt the difference positive connections and interactions can have. As I unwound I was able to be in the moment more often which helped me to be open to receiving and giving. I love that being in the moment helps to slow things down and cultivates awareness. Time expands and becomes more meaningful. I get so much more from those mindful moments. And what's amazing about this is it only takes a few seconds or a few minutes to make a difference.  

During Wednesday's class, Sihing Lindstrom had us doing a long projection, combative front thrust kick on shields. At first I was doing more of a flying kick. After a couple corrections I was able to gain a bit of air with the projection and still kick with my back foot planted on the ground. And it felt good!

I was able to laugh at myself during our Thursday IHC class when I forgot the next step in one of my techniques. There was no stress attached or beating myself up afterwards. This is an important step forward for me. Another feel good moment which is happening more and more.

Looking back on the week there were lots of little moments where I was aware of a kindness, positive interactions, laughter, and feel good moments. It's the awareness of those important little moments that add value to my journey. There is less worry or concern for timeline and destination and a better quality of engagement and appreciation for all that I am and all that I have.

Totals

Push ups: 770/43725
Situps: 740/43790
Hand form: 11/824      
Weapon form: 2/735
KM: 35/1800        
AOK: 23/1594           
Sparring: 7/717        
Blogs: 1/64             
Yoga: 60/42.5 hours

Back to the Drawing Board

Horribly wrong and yet good at the same time. This is what I’m telling myself as I process my failed board breaks today. 

Good, because it is those failures and struggles that provides the greatest opportunities for me to learn and grow.

So it's back to the drawing board, but not back to square one. I know I have taken steps forward from where I started a few months ago so that is a positive. Having experienced what it feels like to successfully break a board with good technique, power and control, helps to remind me I can do this. 

I live life more fully each time I step outside my comfort zone so I will continue to push myself and get this figured out.

Totals

Push ups: 710/42955
Situps: 720/43050
Hand form: 11/813      
Weapon form: 16/733
KM: 34/1765         
AOK: 19/1571           
Sparring: 5/710          
Blogs: 1/63             
Yoga: 30/41.5 hours

My 1st Wood Board

I've had 6 wood boards sitting at home since October, patiently waiting for me to break them. Every time I walked by they seemed to grow in my mind, getting thicker and stronger. They became an obstacle to break through or avoided for as long as possible.

Fast forward to yesterday. I set up my first 2 wood boards and bam... the first board broke. My second did not, but I know what went wrong and can work on it and fix for next time. The error was on my end and not the boards fault. It feels great to break my very first wooden board. It was almost as if it wasn't even there and no bruises on my hand. 

I don't think I'd ever held a wood board and really viewed it through the eyes and mindset of a person that is going the break that board. That has changed now. I see their strength, but I also see and understand the potential of each board. As someone told me not too long ago, think of them as already broken and apply proper technique, holders and board placement.

I know that any bumps in the road ahead as I continue with my board breaking journey will also come with important lessons and improved skill.

Totals

Push ups: 330/42245
Situps: 370/42330
Hand form: 5/802       
Weapon form: 0/717
KM: 26/1731         
AOK: 15/1552           
Sparring: 0/705          
Blogs: 1/62              
Yoga: 90/41 hours

5 Applications

 

The process of figuring out my 5 applications was an enormous challenge for me. Every time I tried to start my brain would just freeze and I was unable to generate any sort of momentum. I was so far out of my comfort zone I was unable to see a path forward and felt like I was up against a brick wall.

Part of the problem stems from my spirit wanting to duck and hide when it comes to intense situations where there is potential for a lack of control or even just the unknown. Sihing Csillag recently talked about the internal harmonies in class. I found his explanation of spirit helpful. While I may not be a fighter I believe I would do what was needed in order to save myself or someone close to me.

It took conversations with blackbelts and watching self defense videos to help my internal mindset and slowly fuel an understanding of the role self defense plays in my training and life. After numerous starts and stops I slowly began to crawl my way forward and up until I finally had 5 applications.

Now that I've been able to find my way over the wall, I am actually enjoying myself. Each time I work on my 5 applications, concepts are reinforced and I learn more about what works, why it works and how to make them better. Being able to apply concepts we are taught and feel the difference is eye opening. 

I'm learning the value of working with a good partner. Communication, feedback, intent and a degree of realism have provided opportunities for both of us to learn and grow.  

I'm discovering where my power zone is. Too much space equals less power and control. With control my technique works much better and my opponent/partner has fewer options and less time to think and counter.

Working with a few different partners has also helped me to see how suddenly a technique no longer gets the same results. A difference in height, size and flexibility requires adjustments to be made. I didn't spend a lot of time with other partners, but there were opportunities to learn and figure out how to make some adjustments. 

I also noticed that having my eyes up changes my body language, confidence and therefore my ability to be more effective.

The value of building and working on my 5 techniques has been immense and an important piece of the overall Kung Fu puzzle. 

Totals

Push ups: 480/41865
Situps: 480/41960
Hand form: 2/797       
Weapon form: 6/717
KM: 37/1705          
AOK: 16/1537            
Sparring: 0/705          
Blogs: 1/61               
Yoga: 30 min/39.5 hours

Knee Silo

I think we all are in danger of training in a silo to some degree at various times. There are moments when I can easily connect the dots and other times when I'm experiencing tunnel vision and not even aware until slowly the fog lifts. 

The ongoing issues I have with my knees is an area I feel I've existed in a silo for too long. I've made adjustments out of necessity and that is understandable. I've also learned a lot more about listening to my body and how to better take care of it. I'm continually learning how far I can push myself and what my limitations are moment by moment. 

So why do I feel I've been living in a silo when it comes to my knees? I realized I have stagnated. Nothing much has changed, mentally or physically. I'm making the same adjustments. The fog has started to lift due to different instructors that take the time to provide feedback and corrections. And suddenly I feel connections being made. 

Sihing Burke pointed out a noticeable difference in my cat stance in a few of my forms that really had me asking myself some questions. For example, I'm able to execute a decent left lead cat stance at the start of 18 Temple Motions and yet I struggle with cat stances in our sword form and Lao Gar. As I worked through why this was, I realized the technique of calming the ocean helps to facilitate a natural transition into the cat stance. And the transition after as I transfer my weight to my left leg helps to take the pressure off the right knee so I am more relaxed and in the moment. 

Then on Monday, Sihing Lindstrom had pointed out a technique in Lao Gar that I needed to fix. As I corrected my technique from a strike to more of a push I quickly felt my hips engaged in a slightly different way. The change in intent also changed the timing and the release and engagement of my hip. As I think about this I believe I may have also been feeling a more defined contraction and expansion with the correction. 

So while the joints and supporting muscle groups need to be taken care of, I'm beginning to realize intent, flow between techniques and the efficiency of my 6 harmonies play an important role in what my knees can do or not do. They will never be 100%, but with the fog lifted I have another avenue to explore. 

There is an opportunity here to get better at listening to my body and develop my internal and external harmonies to help work with and support the knees. And of course this will transfer over into all areas until the next time I find myself in a silo again. 

Totals

Push ups: 975/41385
Situps: 990/41480
Hand form: 16/795       
Weapon form: 12/711
KM: 39/1668          
AOK: 19/1521             
Sparring: 0/705          
Blogs: 1/60               
Yoga: 30 min/39 hours

Someone I Can Admire

 

When I pay attention, I find additional tools appear according to my current needs. Recently this was a post about motivation that I happened to run across. The article mentioned 10 different elements that help us to stay motivated. Most of them were not surprising and yet it was also interesting how they all fit together so well. Each one by itself is beneficial and yet together they provide a much more solid foundation.

Quite often a particular tool works very well for a period of time, but doesn't usually sustain me long term. There are times when telling myself to "Just do it!" works. And then there are times when it is not enough. There are times when the fear of failure, or the desire to learn and grow motivates me. 

As I read through the article about staying motivated I discovered a deeper understanding of motivation and added a few new tools to my toolbox.  I found #4 really resonated with me. Develop deep personal integrity. Be someone you can admire. I want what I say and do to mean more than just what is perceived by others. I want to be someone I can admire through continued development of deep personal integrity. So as I went through my week and found myself waffling on whether or not to do some form reps or pushups and sit ups, I thought about personal integrity and being someone I could admire. And not surprisingly I found myself getting more done. The choice to do or not do became easier.  

I'm realizing is there is no one solution to staying motivated. There are times when saying "Just do it!" provides a temporary fix but it's not sustainable. Multiple elements are needed and work together to support each other. 

Book - Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
1. Develop the right mental attitude.
2. Aspire to something greater than yourself. Develop a "magnificent obsession."
3. Possess a futuristic outlook; take the long-range view. Release the past.
4. Develop deep personal integrity. Be someone you can admire.
5. Accept total personal responsibility. Remain in complete control at all times. Do not be manipulated by people or events. Operate on a personal timetable.
6. Edify and affirm others. Remember, nothing is greater than love.
7. Be grateful, not critical. Develop a gratitude attitude.
8. Select your friends with care. Minimize people dependency. If you dominate your associates, there is no way for you to expand or grow.
9. Do it now! Decide what habits or changes you wish to alter in your life; make those changes and never let an exception occur.
10. Look for mentors. Mentors who "are larger than life" expand us, mentors in different fields broaden us, and deceased mentors inspire us.

Totals

Push ups: 915/40410
Situps: 900/40490
Hand form: 12/779        
Weapon form: 14/699 
KM: 41/1629           
AOK: 24/1502             
Sparring: 0/705          
Blogs: 1/59                 
Yoga: 30 min/38.5 hours