Sunday Sunday, here again I tidy attire. Yeah! How's it going people? My day is great thus far. Feeling pretty invincible right now. It's amazing what happens when you honestly training again. The feeling of awesomeness just rips through the body, and keeps the soul happy. For me any ways. Numbers are climbing again, and Sifu is right. The numbers are as important as the training. the numbers are important to continue pushing on. One of the basic lessons of I Ho Chuan, I decided to ignore. Not today, and hopefully not tomorrow. The greatest combatant of smoking I have in my arsenal right now, is Kung fu. It's really hard to throw combos with a dart hanging from my mouth! Haha. I've tried it though! Hahaha. Addict to the bone, I am. Meh, it's coming. No need to stress about it. I know I'm going to quit, it's just a matter of time, today.
Yesterday, was gramps birthday. So, we all go and hang with gramps. Celebrate his day with him. just about everyone was there. And, ya know, I was happy to see everyone. There's family members I'm not overly fond of, but, you can't pick family. And, seeing how, I am the only one who admitted his problems and moved towards solutions as opposed to smashing my face into the wall continuously, my cousin wanted my help and advice. He's struggling with the drugs and alcohol. So, away for a conversation we go. I do not mind. I'm happy to help any and all who ask for it. I offered solutions and aid, for his problems. And , honestly, that's all I can do. He wanted a quick fix. And quick solution to a lifetime of abusing. I chuckled with him and said, "No, life isn't that easy. It never has been and it never will be. The only way to solve your problems is to get to the root of your evils. Not moving here or there. Not running and hiding. Not just a conversation. Hard work, full of honesty." He's not ready yet. That's okay. One day you will be and I will be waiting for your call. I suggested her reads Peace is every step. That's a book that really catapulted my spiritualism. When I'm feeling blue, I find a flower and look at its smile until, I start to smile. I find peace knowing that I am not alone in this world. That's comforting all in itself. So, I wished him the best of luck and I do truly hope he finds what he's looking for. After all, he is blood. Never turn your back on blood. It's all we have that will never change. Friends, people, places and things come and go and change. Not family. They are with you forever.
Kung fu training! Has been doing well. I have been finding this free time, that I just couldn't find before. Out of pure laziness, I wasn't even looking to make time. But, today, perceptions have been altered and new outlooks found. Great. Training in the kwoon on Saturdays, is awesome. Seeing everyone and conversing with a few of them is wonderful. I'm feeling like a member of the team again. I know I have always been, but, it's different, when your training and trying to make a difference on the team. Working with Sihing, really forces me to focus and settle down. It forces me to step up my game. Check stances proper punches and strikes and to fall properly. Try to not fight the flow, and just roll with the neck chops!! My Escrimas are feeling great man. Love them. I have been practicing without the sticks, just to check flow and ya know, there's work that has to happen, but, it feels good. If I go at a steady pace, it honestly feels like tai chi. The movements, the circles, the flow. It just feels right. So onward and upwards with it. Keep pushing for mastery.
"These are my Escrimas! There are many like them, but, these ones are mine. My Escrimas are my best friends. They are my life. I must master them as I must master my life. Without me, my Escrimas are useles. Without my Escrimas, I am useless. My Escrimas and I know what counts in war is not the swings we make, the noise of our sound focus, nor the Air we move. We know it is the hit that counts. We will hit.... Before you I swear this creed. My Escrimas and I are defenders of our Kung fu traditions. We are masters of our enemies. We are saviours of my life"
Hey, a little bit of an altered "rifleman's creed" And I do, mean this with the utmost respect and admiration, and seriousness.
I made time to talk to a few teammates about the dragon dance Saturday, heard concerns about training as a team on Fridays and Saturdays. It was good conversation. Only I missed Sifu Lidstrom. Sorry I missed you, but you and Sifu Prince looked very happy hugging on the mats! I didn't want to interupt!! Just kidding I will catch you next week! But, I talked to the team about dragon dancing on Fridays. I truly understand everyone's concerns about burning out, training on Fridays or Saturday's,
as well as being in the kwoon all week. I get it. We will find a solution as a team. And I flat out admitted, that moving to a Friday night or a Saturday afternoon, is a "selfish desire" that is almost mine alone. Seeing as my thursday nights are booked tight. But like I said, last year we had a really awesome dance. We did! It was awesome. My desire, is to build a dance and destroy last years performance. I truly want to build something as a team, that is untouchable, for I Ho Chuan teams coming up. Just ponder with me for a second, and think what we could accomplish with one hour a week set aside for the dragon and the dragon alone. We could build a performance that the crowd is going to wet themselves over, and we can do it I know we can! After all we are masters in training. Something I feel in my bones. And maybe it's just me placing my hand over panic mode at times, but, we are now in the later half of the year and, I feel, we have to start making big strides in a big way, very quickly, or we will be under the gun again, like last year. I would like to avoid that, but it's going to take some serious investments of time and energy on all of our be halves. The spotlight is going to be shining brightly on us very quickly and we need to have something together. And we will, because that's what we do!
Any ways I am excited for the dragon and working with the team again!
Well, I hope everyone has a great day.
Talk to you soon
Mr.Duncan
Sunday, 28 August 2016
Sunday, 21 August 2016
A Fresh Breath
Happy Sunday's to all and to all a good Sunday. Boy, yesterday was a good day. I was able to get into the kwoon, have a good conversation and get in some training. It was nice to see who was there, again. Boy, I miss training on Saturdays. It was a lot of fun. I had the opportunity to work with Sihing Chevenka on his techniques. I had a good time. i learnt some cool things just from him smashing me around! No, it wasn't that bad. Which reminds me to work on my falls. I was able to get in some knee breaking and face caving in with my gorgeous escrimas. I just love them. I love it when they hum I love it when they break things. A match made in heaven. Me and my little sticks of pain. It feels so when practicing with them.
So, our meeting on Saturday. It was an eye opener. A bit of a head shaking and a time to reset. I was feeling kinda bad about my numbers. Not overly, but, it was there. We have our reasons to not train and our excuses as to why something takes precedent over our training. But like it was explained at the meeting. They are just that excuses. Okay Sifu. I hear ya. What am I going to do about it. Well, I have to uphold my end on the bargain. I got thinking during parts of the meeting, that, Our teachers are always here for us. Always. And all they ask, is that we hold up our end of the deal. Push ups sit ups and hand forms and the other requirements. I would like to say, hell yeah I'm just flying right now, but I'm not. Not in the physical aspects of Kung fu. I need to stop right here for a second. I was chatting with a neighbor the other day and I was telling him about I Ho Chuan. And I had to really push out the words, I'm a martial artist. I study traditional Kempo styled Kung fu. Saying those words felt like a bold faced lie. And if you know me, one thing I despise, is being lied to or lying. Even the smallest fib coming out of my mouth drives my mind insane. So I do not. But after the words where spewed out of my face, I felt instant shame. Afterwards, I said to myself, will, it's time to make a decision. Are we going to rock this I Ho Chuan or what? We did this last year. Are we going to do this, or are you okay with being okay? I took the night and I really fought with this topic in my mind. But, I did come out with the decision that I'm sick of being okay. Five years ago, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired and I changed my life. Same thing today. Today I'm tired of being good enough, and I have been for a few months. Tired of insesintalty looking for excuses and reason to justify my laziness. The mind and spirit are pretty well off right now. It's time to complete the change.
so, the answers are pretty well laid out plain and simple. Start elevating my training time again. I did enjoy watching my numbers grow on paper last year, so, yes, the books out and pencils sharpened. Big parts of my eating habits need to be altered as well. Not eating right and skipping meals and such, it's not healthy. That's a big part of my laziness is I'm not eating like I need to be. That's just being silly. I know better than that. And it's not like these things are hard to do. It is the constant vigilance and awarness of where you are and what are you doing that's difficult. That's what it boils down to. Engagement of the mind to remain aware of your presence.
And besides, New years is coming up quickly. My goal is to not look like a jerk at New Years. Man on fire! Maybe I should get addicted to Kung fu, like I do booze and cigarettes!! Hahaha! It's funny come on. If you can not laugh at yourself then you do not know humour. The first step is the smoking. Time to be done now. Right like how many times does a guy have to try to quit? Well, once if he's honest about it. Today's the day. Today I put down the smokes and start breathing. Mark it! Mark it on your calanders. I'm scared as truck though! It's okay. One breath at a time. Maybe I should mark clean breaths in my booklet. The minds already running into panic mode. Ha! Overdrive. Feels like I'm hitting a massive flaming jump over the Grand Canyon in an exploding semi truck at like five hundred kilometres an hour! But It's okay. One breath at a time. I can have that. I've earned it. Just one.
Okay well, I'm all typed out here, and I want to hit something, so I will see you on the flip side!
Thanks for your time
Mr.Duncan
So, our meeting on Saturday. It was an eye opener. A bit of a head shaking and a time to reset. I was feeling kinda bad about my numbers. Not overly, but, it was there. We have our reasons to not train and our excuses as to why something takes precedent over our training. But like it was explained at the meeting. They are just that excuses. Okay Sifu. I hear ya. What am I going to do about it. Well, I have to uphold my end on the bargain. I got thinking during parts of the meeting, that, Our teachers are always here for us. Always. And all they ask, is that we hold up our end of the deal. Push ups sit ups and hand forms and the other requirements. I would like to say, hell yeah I'm just flying right now, but I'm not. Not in the physical aspects of Kung fu. I need to stop right here for a second. I was chatting with a neighbor the other day and I was telling him about I Ho Chuan. And I had to really push out the words, I'm a martial artist. I study traditional Kempo styled Kung fu. Saying those words felt like a bold faced lie. And if you know me, one thing I despise, is being lied to or lying. Even the smallest fib coming out of my mouth drives my mind insane. So I do not. But after the words where spewed out of my face, I felt instant shame. Afterwards, I said to myself, will, it's time to make a decision. Are we going to rock this I Ho Chuan or what? We did this last year. Are we going to do this, or are you okay with being okay? I took the night and I really fought with this topic in my mind. But, I did come out with the decision that I'm sick of being okay. Five years ago, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired and I changed my life. Same thing today. Today I'm tired of being good enough, and I have been for a few months. Tired of insesintalty looking for excuses and reason to justify my laziness. The mind and spirit are pretty well off right now. It's time to complete the change.
so, the answers are pretty well laid out plain and simple. Start elevating my training time again. I did enjoy watching my numbers grow on paper last year, so, yes, the books out and pencils sharpened. Big parts of my eating habits need to be altered as well. Not eating right and skipping meals and such, it's not healthy. That's a big part of my laziness is I'm not eating like I need to be. That's just being silly. I know better than that. And it's not like these things are hard to do. It is the constant vigilance and awarness of where you are and what are you doing that's difficult. That's what it boils down to. Engagement of the mind to remain aware of your presence.
And besides, New years is coming up quickly. My goal is to not look like a jerk at New Years. Man on fire! Maybe I should get addicted to Kung fu, like I do booze and cigarettes!! Hahaha! It's funny come on. If you can not laugh at yourself then you do not know humour. The first step is the smoking. Time to be done now. Right like how many times does a guy have to try to quit? Well, once if he's honest about it. Today's the day. Today I put down the smokes and start breathing. Mark it! Mark it on your calanders. I'm scared as truck though! It's okay. One breath at a time. Maybe I should mark clean breaths in my booklet. The minds already running into panic mode. Ha! Overdrive. Feels like I'm hitting a massive flaming jump over the Grand Canyon in an exploding semi truck at like five hundred kilometres an hour! But It's okay. One breath at a time. I can have that. I've earned it. Just one.
Okay well, I'm all typed out here, and I want to hit something, so I will see you on the flip side!
Thanks for your time
Mr.Duncan
Sunday, 14 August 2016
Experience
Hey Yo! Good Sunday people. How's it cracking today? So far so good here. Both boys are off on sleep overs and so yesterday was quiet. Too quiet. Dad doesn't like his Cubs away from home. But, hey, they want to go have fun with their buddies and such, so, have fun kids.
Monday, I went and got my dragon tattoo outline done in Calgary. It's awesome! I love it. The dragons head is over my heart and his tail is down on the wrist. He's huge. Five and a half hours of chair time just do the outline. It was another of those unknown situations. I had not seen the template before driving down there. I spoke to Chiwon, the artist, once since booking my times. And I wasn't worried once. I wanted to see it, but, I knew it was going to be kick ass, no matter what. There is an artist here in Stoney plain I normally go to, and I get killer rates out of him as well. But, this guy in Calgary, specializes in oriental artwork. He's from Korea and focuses on black and white realism tattoos. I checked his stuff out online and man alive, is he a talented artist. So, I chose the specialist over the really good artist. A fair amount more expensive, and time consuming, but, the differences are already standing out. Less then a week old and the tattoo is pealing. Which in my experience, is awesome. The sooner the peeling starts, the better the tattoo. Heal time is everything. And I haven't found one scab. Not one, which is another sign of very talented hands. But, it's just the outline too, so we will see in two months, what happens with the shading! I am a smidch worried about the shading, as this tatto, is big and there's lots of tender spots. Like the collar bone, or the nipple. Or my personal favorite, the armpit!! Awesome. Can't wait for the shading in there! But as Chiwon so elegantly put it, "It's all about the experience, Will" as he digs in the armpit!! Hahaha. Ouch!
So there's that and here is this. My boys want to do different sports this year. My oldest boy is set on scouts and my youngest isn't too sure of what he wants to do yet. From the sounds of things there is still hope of him taking Kung fu classes with me. They were a little worried to tell me about not wanting to do Kung fu, and I'm like, shoot boys, this is your life. You can try all sorts of things if you want to. Don't feel obligated to keep doing something if you want to try something different. Make sure your commitments are wrapped up, then you can move on. The question is, is this. How much is this going to affect me and my training? Probably a lot. But, with that being said. I can still keep doing what I'm doing and continue to maintain, my skill set and take classes when I can again. See, I can not make my wife deal with the kids sports all the time, and go and do my thing all the time. That's unfair to her. She has goals and ambitions as well. And who am I to say, my goals are greater than hers? So, sacrifices on both parts will be the only way we can continue to build our awesome family up. I wish everyone involved has success and a good time at doing what they are going to do.
So, embrace the change and embrace the challenge to modify my life so, I can still keep training, working, dading and husbanding, like a champ. It's what we do here folks. We learn from trial and error, to find out what works best for us for the day or the week, and continue to build on those successes. And guaranteed, things are going to change and twist sporadically or a lot. It's hard to say what's going to happen all the time. It's up to me to meet everything with the right mind frame and thinking unbiased ly to the situation at hand. Am I still going to achieve black belt? You can bet your last dollar that's going to happen, maybe just not when I want it. Or maybe so, it's really hard to say what's going to happen here. As long as the end goals are in sight and I'm on the right path, that's all that matters. I did say to myself, that no matter what, I'm still obtaining my goals. Only on the big guys schedule, not mine!
And finally I want to finish here. With the boot camp just wrapping up, and seeing everyone's blogs on it, I was brought back to the memories of last years boot camp and the different meditations we were taught. I admit, I haven't gotten in as much meditation as I have wanted to this summer. But, last night, I was dead heading some of my Calendulas. Which is a flower I recommend to all here. Because its colourful and smells great! And the flower is harvested, dried and mixed in teas, for relaxing and mental calming affects. They are great! But, anyhow, I'm in the garden dead heading and then I'm off in la-la land. Staring deeply into the flower heads. I allowed my mind to get lost in the smells and just smiling. And I come back to reality thinking about Thich Nhat Hanh and his words on the dandelion having my smile. I applied that to the garden of dill and calendula and sunflowers! You know, this garden has a smile like nothing I have seen! Smiling is contagious. So I'm smiling back at the flowers and they are smiling at me and for a few moments I had this complete feeling of euphoria ripping though me. What a great time!
Well it's time to have mini donuts and dish out power slams and pile drivers! Boom "Big Bad Dad" Boom. Insert wrestling pose. That's my stage name in the Living Room Federation!! I'm currently heavy weight champ! No big deal.
Have a nice day
Mr.Duncan
Monday, I went and got my dragon tattoo outline done in Calgary. It's awesome! I love it. The dragons head is over my heart and his tail is down on the wrist. He's huge. Five and a half hours of chair time just do the outline. It was another of those unknown situations. I had not seen the template before driving down there. I spoke to Chiwon, the artist, once since booking my times. And I wasn't worried once. I wanted to see it, but, I knew it was going to be kick ass, no matter what. There is an artist here in Stoney plain I normally go to, and I get killer rates out of him as well. But, this guy in Calgary, specializes in oriental artwork. He's from Korea and focuses on black and white realism tattoos. I checked his stuff out online and man alive, is he a talented artist. So, I chose the specialist over the really good artist. A fair amount more expensive, and time consuming, but, the differences are already standing out. Less then a week old and the tattoo is pealing. Which in my experience, is awesome. The sooner the peeling starts, the better the tattoo. Heal time is everything. And I haven't found one scab. Not one, which is another sign of very talented hands. But, it's just the outline too, so we will see in two months, what happens with the shading! I am a smidch worried about the shading, as this tatto, is big and there's lots of tender spots. Like the collar bone, or the nipple. Or my personal favorite, the armpit!! Awesome. Can't wait for the shading in there! But as Chiwon so elegantly put it, "It's all about the experience, Will" as he digs in the armpit!! Hahaha. Ouch!
So there's that and here is this. My boys want to do different sports this year. My oldest boy is set on scouts and my youngest isn't too sure of what he wants to do yet. From the sounds of things there is still hope of him taking Kung fu classes with me. They were a little worried to tell me about not wanting to do Kung fu, and I'm like, shoot boys, this is your life. You can try all sorts of things if you want to. Don't feel obligated to keep doing something if you want to try something different. Make sure your commitments are wrapped up, then you can move on. The question is, is this. How much is this going to affect me and my training? Probably a lot. But, with that being said. I can still keep doing what I'm doing and continue to maintain, my skill set and take classes when I can again. See, I can not make my wife deal with the kids sports all the time, and go and do my thing all the time. That's unfair to her. She has goals and ambitions as well. And who am I to say, my goals are greater than hers? So, sacrifices on both parts will be the only way we can continue to build our awesome family up. I wish everyone involved has success and a good time at doing what they are going to do.
So, embrace the change and embrace the challenge to modify my life so, I can still keep training, working, dading and husbanding, like a champ. It's what we do here folks. We learn from trial and error, to find out what works best for us for the day or the week, and continue to build on those successes. And guaranteed, things are going to change and twist sporadically or a lot. It's hard to say what's going to happen all the time. It's up to me to meet everything with the right mind frame and thinking unbiased ly to the situation at hand. Am I still going to achieve black belt? You can bet your last dollar that's going to happen, maybe just not when I want it. Or maybe so, it's really hard to say what's going to happen here. As long as the end goals are in sight and I'm on the right path, that's all that matters. I did say to myself, that no matter what, I'm still obtaining my goals. Only on the big guys schedule, not mine!
And finally I want to finish here. With the boot camp just wrapping up, and seeing everyone's blogs on it, I was brought back to the memories of last years boot camp and the different meditations we were taught. I admit, I haven't gotten in as much meditation as I have wanted to this summer. But, last night, I was dead heading some of my Calendulas. Which is a flower I recommend to all here. Because its colourful and smells great! And the flower is harvested, dried and mixed in teas, for relaxing and mental calming affects. They are great! But, anyhow, I'm in the garden dead heading and then I'm off in la-la land. Staring deeply into the flower heads. I allowed my mind to get lost in the smells and just smiling. And I come back to reality thinking about Thich Nhat Hanh and his words on the dandelion having my smile. I applied that to the garden of dill and calendula and sunflowers! You know, this garden has a smile like nothing I have seen! Smiling is contagious. So I'm smiling back at the flowers and they are smiling at me and for a few moments I had this complete feeling of euphoria ripping though me. What a great time!
Well it's time to have mini donuts and dish out power slams and pile drivers! Boom "Big Bad Dad" Boom. Insert wrestling pose. That's my stage name in the Living Room Federation!! I'm currently heavy weight champ! No big deal.
Have a nice day
Mr.Duncan
Sunday, 7 August 2016
Balance Beam
Hey there. Good Sunday to you. Well it looked like everyone had a blast at boot camp. I am a little disappointed about missing that too. So let's start here I guess. This year in I Ho Chuan has been a good year. It's been great, I have learnt a lot about who I am and what I do. This year I sometimes find myself feeling bad about the year in general. I seemingly have had no time for what I wanted to do. Struggling with even just practicing Kung fu. Yes, some of it is personal engagement, and some nights I'm like, okay, I could have ripped off some forms and sit-ups, And you didn't, why? Never really too sure of an answer, I say, I'll try harder next time. There always seems to be something to else in the way or to do. And, I have focused on other things at this time right now. There are nights I am just beat, and I really do just sit and chill with the family. And there are other nights that I'm running. The best part of it all, is when you sit back and look at the situation in its whole form, there's balance. And a lot of it. There's time for outside programs and affairs. There's wiggle room with the training and the kids and the Bane.
You see last year, was very successful for myself and I keep comparing the two. And I keep thinking this year is a failure compared to last year. That's not True and it's not fair to say either. Situations, people, places and things are very much the same, but much different. This year, I have really pushed for balance and it's getting much better. Of course I had to extremely pendulum between Kung fu and family affairs, in order to start finding the middle ground. It's part of the journey. Last year I took Kung fu to an extreme engagement. "Ahh nothing else matters but Kung fu! Get outta the way!" Haha. And this parts of this year I'm like, "Ahh the family! Ahhh!" Hahha. It's funny really when you sit and look at the whole situation.
Today, things are starting to plumb bob. Ya know. The circles of insanity are becoming slower smaller. And a much nicer, cleaner calmer circle effect is happening. Or maybe like rain on a lake. The rain is starting to slow down and thus the disturbance of the lake top is becoming calmer and cleaner. Until eventually there is just sun and calm waters. That is the end goal after all is it not? To be like a calm body of water. Absorb and distribute disturbances until they become no more. That's cool stuff man!
This year is a success so far. I. The sense, I am building myself up again. Building friendships and relationships with people. Deepening the bond with the family and when I'm able to, I train hard. Every thing takes time. Playing bionicles or taking Bane for a walk. Everything has a cost to your very personal goals. Are you still working towards that end goal, or are you lost at sea? Progress marches on and goals are being achieved. Not exactly what I want, but what is best for every one concerned. Truly all I had to do was step back, let my power take over and follow his path. That's where my greatest discoveries have been made, when I'm not forcing things to work. But, merely, when I allow things to be!
For that I will forever be grateful
Thanks for your time and thought
Mr.Duncan
You see last year, was very successful for myself and I keep comparing the two. And I keep thinking this year is a failure compared to last year. That's not True and it's not fair to say either. Situations, people, places and things are very much the same, but much different. This year, I have really pushed for balance and it's getting much better. Of course I had to extremely pendulum between Kung fu and family affairs, in order to start finding the middle ground. It's part of the journey. Last year I took Kung fu to an extreme engagement. "Ahh nothing else matters but Kung fu! Get outta the way!" Haha. And this parts of this year I'm like, "Ahh the family! Ahhh!" Hahha. It's funny really when you sit and look at the whole situation.
Today, things are starting to plumb bob. Ya know. The circles of insanity are becoming slower smaller. And a much nicer, cleaner calmer circle effect is happening. Or maybe like rain on a lake. The rain is starting to slow down and thus the disturbance of the lake top is becoming calmer and cleaner. Until eventually there is just sun and calm waters. That is the end goal after all is it not? To be like a calm body of water. Absorb and distribute disturbances until they become no more. That's cool stuff man!
This year is a success so far. I. The sense, I am building myself up again. Building friendships and relationships with people. Deepening the bond with the family and when I'm able to, I train hard. Every thing takes time. Playing bionicles or taking Bane for a walk. Everything has a cost to your very personal goals. Are you still working towards that end goal, or are you lost at sea? Progress marches on and goals are being achieved. Not exactly what I want, but what is best for every one concerned. Truly all I had to do was step back, let my power take over and follow his path. That's where my greatest discoveries have been made, when I'm not forcing things to work. But, merely, when I allow things to be!
For that I will forever be grateful
Thanks for your time and thought
Mr.Duncan
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