Internal versus external

Today at the I Ho Chuan open training I had one on one where I worked with Sifu Hayes on Mlong Kwoon. It was such a good class. I got a lot of valuable knowledge and I am really excited to keep working on it. It was a lot of energy related stuff, which is personally a little difficult for me to grasp. But I feel like I got a little taste of it, and I really want more. 

We talked about external versus internal power. I am generating my power externally through my body, whereas I could be doing it entirely from my core. I usually feel some core engagement. But I was working with Sifu Hayes who was trying to get me feel more. And it was really tricky for me but I really want to keep practicing it more. 

Sifu Hayes demonstrated doing it like I was, with more external power, then showed me it with internal power instead. The internal version looked more tame at a first glance, but after looking it had so much more power. It really turned a lot of wheels in my head and I am excited to work on it more now. 

We also worked on a sort of slower release of power. Its related to the external versus internal power. But instead of generating some of my power from the added acceleration and snap and tightening of my muscles, I get all of it from the internal power from my core up to my limbs. 

Again, also related, we worked on my expansion of limbs. I tend to do my strikes too low and too close to my body. When I do it this way, it lacks the expansion of power from my core. We worked on me putting my techniques higher and further out then I was doing them before, and the difference felt so drastic. By extending, it forces me to take all the power from my core. I can't rely on just my arms. It was really good and I am really excited to mess around with it more. 

And I guess thinking about these things, I've realize that its all things I've been told before. But tonight it was just in a different way that really resonated with me for some reason. I feel like everything just clicked. And it was really nice to get feedback in real time and be able to work on it together in person. I am very excited to do more. 

2 Minute Blog Challenge: Superheroes

My personal favourite super hero I think has to be spiderman. I like how he just starts out as a normal kid. And he works anonymously to protect his neighborhood from crime. He doesn't do it for personal gain. He does it for those around him. I think that is inspiring, any of us can be like spiderman. (minus the web shooting abilities). We all have the power to make the world a better place. 

Smoothies

Lately I have started having smoothies in the morning with my normal breakfast. I get hungry fast and I have found that smoothies are an easy way to combat that. They are yummy and have a consistent texture, which I like. I've been adding frozen berries, yogurt, banana, milk and protein powder. I find that drinking smoothies helps keep me more full until lunch time. Also I think that they are healthy for me because I am getting in more fruit and protein.

You may be thinking, Noa what do smoothies have to do with kung fu/mastery? Well, I think that they have lots to do with it. I believe that mastery is constantly making little choices and taking little actions that make your life slightly better. As a martial artist, I always want to push myself to become the best version of me that I can. Even if that is just making sure I am fueling my body in a healthy way. 

Pushups: 305

Situps: 560

Hand Form: 22

Weapon Form: 21

Sparing: 27

Kilometers: 13.5

AOKs: 6

Lion Dancing

Yesterday I got the opportunity to do a lion dance for an elementary school. It was very fun. Children are probably my favorite audience for lion dances. And this group of students were very interactive, which I always love. There was a lot of excited cheering and gasping, and only a little bit of crying. Overall it went very well. It was a great way to start off the new year.

It was also a good practice run for the banquet on Saturday. I am really excited for the lion/dragon dance. It is very complicated this year and I love how it is turning out. I like how all the lions have different personalities and relationships with each other. And the different drumming patterns are really cool. I am super proud of everyone involved in it, and I am looking forward to showing it off on Saturday. 

Pushups: 110

Situps: 110

Hand Form: 4

Weapon Form: 6

Sparing: 10

Kilometers: 0

AOKs: 4

Kingsman Christmas Hamper

On Sunday I helped out with the Kinsmen Christmas Hamper. I wasn't able to do it last year, so I didn't really know what to expect. But it was such a good experience. I really enjoyed it. So many people stopped to donate money or toys. By the time my shift was over the box donation box was nearly overflowing with toys. It was so heartwarming to see so many people pitching in together as a community to help kids and families in need. It made me very happy that I got to be involved with it. 

Struggling

I have been struggling lately. 

The first few weeks of school, until recently, I was struggling with the adjustment of going back to school. I was finding it very hard to keep up with my training. During the summer, I would do my repetitions at night time before I went to sleep. It became a part of my bedtime routine. It was working very well for me. However, this changed when going back to school. By the end of the day, I would be feeling so tired and burnt out, that I found it difficult to train. 

But in the last few weeks I made the switch from doing my repetitions in the evening to doing them in the morning. I wake up a little earlier, and do my pushups, sit-ups and form reps before I get ready for school. This has been working very well number wise. I have been on top of completing my repetitions. By doing them in the morning, it leaves me feeling accomplished before my day even starts. 

Even through I have been physically doing my repetitions, I don't feel like I have been doing them. I've been struggling with training mindfully. Which sucks to say, because I just need to change my perspective. But I have been really struggling with this. I don't know what to do to fix it. 

Push-ups: 11,854

Sit-ups: 8,118

Hand Form: 637

Weapon Form: 707

Sparring: 512

Kilometers: 625.1

AOKs: 531

Open Training

Today was open training. It was very nice in my opinion. I got to get some form reps in, along with help out some other students. 

There's always this same group of students from the kids classes that come to open training. I think they're very sweet. They almost always ask questions and I think it's nice because I get to help them out with things. I love helping them. I love their positive attitudes and how excited they get about training. I find it very motivational and inspiring. 

Push-ups: 9934

Sit-ups: 7053

Hand Form: 578

Weapon Form: 645 

Sparring: 492

Kilometers: 536.1

AOKs: 504

Routine

I have been struggling lately. As much as I complain about school when I'm in it, my life sort of falls apart when I'm not. The forced structure of school is very helpful to keep me motivated and on schedule with the rest of my life. Since summer started I have been having a harder time with my training and my numbers. I'm not really sure what to do about this. I have still been trying to stick to a regular routine. 

Push-ups: 8386

Sit-ups: 5875

Hand Form: 482

Weapon Form: 584 

Sparring: 413

Kilometers: 474.1

AOKs: 442

Famers Day Parade

Last weekend was the Farmers Day parade. I wasn't able to participate last year because I was busy with a school project. So I was really looking forward to it this year. I got to lion dance which was awesome. I really like interacting with people while in the lion. I think it is very fun. Overall, it was a very good engagement and team building opportunity. I am very glad I got to take part. :)

I've been feeling a little overwhelmed with school lately. I am close to the end, so we've got a lot of final work to finish up. I planning that once summer comes to start attending extra Kung Fu classes again. I'm excited for this, because I think that the classes can be very valuable. 

Push-ups: 6271

Sit-ups: 4415

Hand Form: 415

Weapon Form: 511 

Sparring: 373 

Kilometers: 396 

AOKs: 366

Engagement

I have been really struggling with engagement lately. I haven't been blogging. I feel quite disconnected. 

However, I am proud of my numbers. Even though in some areas they aren't perfect, I'm happy with them. I have been very consistent this year, which is something I have struggled with in the past. In previous years I would have bursts of good training, but then it wouldn't be sustainable. This year I have been able to maintain a consistent training. I have only had one day this year that I didn't do anything. I am very proud of that. 

Push-ups: 4281 

Sit-ups: 2865 

Hand Form: 327 

Weapon Form: 420 

Sparring: 260 

Kilometers: 276 

AOKs: 269 

Adult Classes

I haven't blogged in a while. I feel like the more I push it off the harder it is to do. But here's my blog yay!

I have gone to a couple of the Teen Adult classes recently. I really enjoy these classes. I don't go to them very frequently because I'm often busy with schoolwork or afterschool stuff. But recently I've made more of an effort to attend these. 

I'm very happy I have been. I really enjoy the physical aspect of them. I love joining in on them. I think they are very valuable, and I learn lots. I am going to keep trying to attend them every once an a while. 

We've been doing a lot of sparring recently, in all classes. I like this. I think sparring is something I would like to get better at. Additionally, I find it really cool to watch other people spar. I think it's interesting to see how people move and act differently with different opponents. Overall I am enjoying the sparring. 

Push-ups: 2570

Sit-ups: 1590

Hand Form: 209

Weapon Form: 274

Sparring: 196

Kilometers: 170

AOKs: 189

Why am I here?

Why am I here?

 This is at surface level very simple. Of course I know why I am here. However sometimes I lose sight of this. So why do I come to Kung Fu classes, why do I continue training?

I am here because I like the person I am with Kung Fu.

Kung Fu has taught me the skills to succeed in all aspects of my life. It has taught me compassion. I think before I speak or act. Kung Fu has taught me that I can achieve anything if I persevere. It has taught me to work hard, and to give my all. Kung Fu has taught me to believe in myself. It has taught me that I am worth it. 

Kung Fu is very grounding for me. If I'm stressed about something, I can go to Kung Fu and leave my worries behind me. I have a place where I feel safe. It is really reassuring. Kung Fu has given me so many positive role models. One of the reasons I am here is because of all the important connections I have. The Kwoon is like a second home to me. I really value it. 

The I-Ho-Chuan team in particular is a very important group of people to me. It is such a positive environment to be in. It's so encouraging to be surrounded by people in the same journey as me. I really like how we're all working together to become better people. 

I also really value being able to teach. I really enjoy it. I think it makes me a better person. I am more compassionate because of it. I like that I am able to teach people, and help change their lives. 

I am here because I want to be the best version of myself. Kung Fu helps me to do this.

Push-ups: 1065

Sit-ups: 600

Hand Form: 105

Weapon Form: 130

Sparring: 63

Kilometers: 77

AOKs: 90

Sick

I was sick last week. I really don't like being sick. It was sucky because I couldn't attend any in person kung fu classes. I know I've only been away for a short time, but I really miss it. I especially miss the kid classes. I love those. 

Despite being sick, I was still able to keep up with my requirements. Sometimes they weren't perfect, but I managed to do at least some of all of my requirements each day. I am very proud of myself for this. I have improved a lot in terms of adapting to change with my kung fu. This is good. 

And now I am finally feeling better! I'm very happy about this. I am really excited to attend classes again. Yay!

Pushups: 590
Situps: 465
Hand Form: 63
Weapon Form: 34
Sparing: 45
Kilometers: 33.5
AOKs: 61