Well....

 Yeah hey there! How y’all doing in this fine Sunday morning? Well I’m okay I do suppose. Not super great but not in the dumps. I’m flatlined!! Which is actually an amazing finisher! The Flatliner. Mil Muertes aka Ricky Banderas has a beautiful flatliner!!  If I had a wrestling promotion, I’d straight up have Ricky as my top guy!! Yeah and he’d fued with the likes of bray Wyatt, ricochet, Pentagon Jr and a few guys from NJPW. I honestly can’t spell their names.....but they are great! Japanese pro wrestling is much harder hitting and more of a shoot match. And a shoot match is basically a full on fight! Not near as many pulled moves!! You can totally hear the difference!! Ha whoa sidetracked  

You know I learnt a bit about myself last week. A lot of what I learnt is not new to me, just lots of reminders. Little resets. Much needed! I did get caught up in making that money and damn I was making money.... Our minds are such a powerful entity and if given room to grow, oh the wonders we can wonder.  If given a dark room oh the things that can fester. It’s truly amazing. I mean either way you choose to go, obviously there’s reprocusions. Consequences that can lead us to glory or to gloom. 

I let my mind go to the darkness. It was a distinct choice. I remember the talk I had...okay, just a few days okay!! I like the punishment I guess? I don’t know! It’s a bad habit to keep, but, for me anyhow, It’s a useful tool when used properly. I feel anyhow! I used to love the insanity of everything and as I’ve grown up, I have tried to walk away from insane thoughts and people. These weeks were hard because, I’ve had to make real tough decisions about moving forward in life and who gets to ride with me from hence forward! 

I’ve grown tiresome of being a scapegoat for certain people in my circle, and now, even after talks, they just will never understand until they are willing to take honest looks at themselves. I’m all done caring, all done. Time to move on with my life. Something I should have done years and years ago, but, I kept them around because family...

Well, onto new things and places in life. This is gonna be great. I am very excited to move forward with out people holding me back. I’ve got my plan on paper, I have a great mental attitude about moving forward with Kung fu. And I’m going to continue kicking the crap outta life! Life got me a few weeks ago, I’m rebounding and coming back with fists flying man! I’m not going to give up and roll over. Not today and not tomorrow! 

Kung fu, is the best release I have. I have some solid teammates, I have some amazing teachers and have managed to continue to build up an awesome friendship that sprouted outta the IHC. One of my strongest role models has come from Kung fu. Some of my favourite people I’ve met in class. My biggest supports are on this school. Yo, I honestly have a tattoo based around silent river Kung fu. I straight up asked permission to include srkf on my piece!! Forever implanted on my being. Yeah, like a tag! Sure whatever. It’s a constant reminder of where my strength comes from. Of where my mind belongs. The strongest  part of my spirit comes from silent river. Honestly, we have techniques that literally rip shoulders apart, but we don’t. That’s strength. The ability to not hurt, even though you can! 

I don’t want to jump on my own band wagon to early and say how amazing I’m doing, cause that’s silly. I need more action. More results. I have a mission, I have a game plan and I have some awesome teachers. It’s time to truly utilize my time. 

I want to be blogging about my physical breakthroughs more so obviously, I need to train more and more. This routine is going to go well for me! Just gotta stick to the plan. Push ups and sit ups in the am, kids to school, prep supper, get chores done, lunch, train and family time afterwards. It would be silly if I can not get a few hours of training in a day again! What also am I going to do? Smash darts? Done enough of that! 

I just want to say, I hope this wasn’t too aggressive. I just kinda wanted to put it all out there and just have it out of my mind. I’m an aggressive fella to begin with and then I get wound up and it’s like a tornado some days! Ha. Seriously though, again the power of blogging and accountability! 

Okay teammates! I think that’s all the rambeling I have for now. Hopefully it’s coherent and understandable! 

Thanks for your time

Mr.Duncan

Knees, elbows and fists

 Hello there! How are ya? I’m better! Really I am. Got things sorted out. I am fairly straightforward now, again. Ahh life’s curveballs and groin shots! Learning lessons. I am over this work situation. Forget them! 

Any which way, back to getting that plan together. Honestly I knew I wasn’t going to stick to anything until I got closure from that last spot. So here we are. This past weekend I worked hard a changing my attitude and I focused just how fortunate I am. A few of my friends reached out and did the old check up. Since I’ve been gone I’ve had numerous reach outs from old friends. Like some of the boys from back when! That’s cool. Every one is all familied up and such. It’s nice to see. Didn’t think we all where gonna make it!! Haha! 

King fu wise, I moved forward in one aspect, and seriously just hit the heavy bag. I did not do forms. Not hand nor weapon. I truly just smashed the bag. The only thing I worried about was stance and working my quadrants. Trying to get that snap all lined up! Just break faces! I wanted raw power. Let me see what’s hiding in here? Knees, elbows and fists oh my! How I missed the heavy! I didn’t have the luxury of a heavy bag in gp, so I wanted to put a literal hole in that heavy bag. Believe me I tried. Man, and I threw Twiztid on bleeding ears loud and zoned in! Haha. It wasn’t a flurry of flailing. No no, it was and is a calculated de-construction. I ran scenarios in my mind and played with techniques. Times like these I wish I had like a robot that you could press a button and you got a fight partner!! How cool would that be?!? I’ll take two please!! 

And then, well...that’s about it....see ya later folks

Thanks for your time!

Me.Duncan

Parental advisory....seriously...more of a pg13ish I rewrote this like too many times so this is it.

 Hi. Seriously, I’m pretty off. I’m not really all here right now. I’ll get there. I find blogging is a great place to write things out. I find if I’m asking the write questions and listen to me words, I’ll find hints and such about what’s next. You know what I mean? Just kinda write and hopefully some semblance of coherent language comes out? I really don’t know what to write. I’m scattered. Just had the old L-Bomb dropped on me. Saturday morning having coffee with my kids, “Oh quite please, I gotta take this! Oh hey boss! This is odd what’s up? I’m laid off? oh cool, thanks. Oh yah I’ll be sure to drop off your gas card...

 Upstairs I’m pretty mad. Straight up pissed. But, this is the calmest I’ve been since sat morning. So, As, I’ve been documenting and sharing with everyone, I’ve been working outta town minimum 24-4. Last shift was 31 days on. I’ve sacraficed a lot to be where I was with my company. I was the go to guy. I was running equipment and cleaning the site. I was jumping and helping picking rocks load me up, let’s do this boys. Rocks flying man! I earned the respect of my peers and the respect of most my bosses. I’ve missed every Kung fu engagement and a fair number of online classes, so I could work....I’ve watched my kids frustrations grow through a computer screen because I can’t give his hug. I’ve sacrificed and given up a lot. Too much it seams. God dammit I got into a full on yelling match with my beautiful wife about working for this outfit and I still show up. “It’s gonna work out baby. I promise. Please, this will be good. I can feel it in my bones. I’m gonna bring the ironworker to a pipeline and blow their minds”....fudge sakes. I honestly thought with everything I had given and the A+’s I get at work for working like a fun demon, I was gold. Straight up, I’ve had inspectors write up reports and send them to my office on me, for the work I do. Well, as I’ve been told. I have had the head inspector ask me, how’s your back?  Youre carrying the crew on this project...the HEAD inspector. Nine times outta ten they don’t give a hoot about you, because you don’t matter. Like at all. 

 Everything was good, until some office politics. Stuff I had nothing to do with. A lot of really not cool stuff. Stuff in an office I’m 5hours away from and have never had business in. But, my name came up and with no opportunity to say anything about anything, I’m down the road. Get out! Just leave.....cool thanks. Yes I thanked my old boss for at least calling. I mean I was standing and bullshitting with you on Thursday afternoon. The week prior I’m, specifically told not too worry. I’ll keep you busy Willy! Yeah no worries?!? Then too have the gumption to call me on my days off, because I don’t give enough already, and lay me off....over the phone? Punk me like that?!? That one hurt. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been laid off lots, lay off is time off! I used to look forward to layoffs!! Layoffs meant job was done unless the bosses liked you! But I have always been looked in the eye and let go. Over the phone...bust your.....with my.....and then I’ll .....and place things......friend! Muhahaha  fill in the blanks, ahaha at your own risk. 

   That’s just fun fine I said to myself. I’ll show them. But, a few hours later, I was offered an opportunity in a different kinda field. And good honest work none the less. Just a few hours later! Here maybe try this! So, it’s on the table and that offer was a great pick me up! I’m very grateful but going to hold on right now. I’m going to take a week or so and just kinda hang out. Get my mind back. Re focus and blast through new doors. Get caught up at home. Actually be dad! I do know this, yeah, I’m disappointed about work, something else will happen for me. There’s a lot happening in my field, so, I just gotta look around. 

  So, that’s kinda that. Something else will work out, it always does. Sometimes quickly sometimes slowly, it will always work out. Anyhow, I’m gonna go finish cleaning out my apartment, hopefully that doesn’t catch on fire or some shit, it’d be my luck lately! Ha. Laws of attractions, my arse. Forget the pandemic, this was the worst summer of my life. This was not the outcome I was looking and hoping for! I lost. Okay I’ll tap out today. But tomorrow, you’d best look out. I’m not hiding. I’m hitting this like a bull on a clown. Sure, I’m knocked down and hurting and pissed, doesn’t mean I’m out. It doesn’t mean, it’s over. This is journeyman stuff. It’s mind twists like this and challenges like this that I eat for breakfast. I trudge the path for my happy destiny, because no one else will and I love it because no one else can. This is nothing more than fuel for me to use. Absoluelty, I’m on the sidelines licking my wounds and kicking water bottles, you bet. But, all these people really did was piss me off. Determined? Sure and whatever other word used to describe that. For lack of better terms, I’ll show them, every single one of them. I’m not done and I will succeed. 

I know what I’m capable of when I’m like this. I know how focused I can get. This is good. I know where I can go. I know just what I’m capable of, if I turn this mental train wreck around and just start breathing again. It’s a wonderful place, with continued success, just different victories. Take the step...

 No bad days, just bad moments.

I’m here on my patio; writing my blog

Thanks for your time

Mr.Duncan 

More patience.

 Okay hi there! What’s going on here? Well, this was a great week for me. Work wise, I had a good week. I’ve been bugging my foreman to jump in a hoe and mover dirt around, if it’s possible, well, one our operators has left the job and so I was able to jump in for a few hours! Bam! So, this is what I did. Gave the machine a quick look over, jumped in, fire it up and read the controls, took a few moments and got fami,air with the controls before we even rolled an inch. Oh, running diggers is just like playing video games! Running equipment! It’s all in the touch. Fill bucket with dirt, lift up put dirt over there! Repeat! Only a few bangs and shaking of equipment!! Oh snap, don’t do that calm down, let go of the levers for a breath, try again. I honestly got compliments for the decent beginner job I did! So, no problem, just need more practice. 

Speaking of practice, man I completely forgot the last few moves of Da Mu Hsing. Nailing the movements at the apartment, and then forget it all in front of the camera! Good gracious, I was excited to show everyone too, been working hard on it! Haha ahhh, then I forgot the techniques! Then, I messed up the bow out, and I’m like oh my god, what a train wreck! Yup, and like a minute later, I remembered what I was supposed to do.....Ahh well, I’ve stumbled before. It was the internet lag....yeah! The internet! Yeah, it was just time lapses, or whatever! Any how, I gotta get crushing more reps, what I have been doing of slower methodical forms, I want to amp up the flow into speed. So, like I say, I'm use to stopping and checking stances, I have to keep pushing forward with flow. But, at what cost? Stance? Intention? No, I need those. I want to start going for speed, but nit if it’s gonna cost me stance and grounding. Maybe, I could just be patient and keep going as to what is working so well, you know, basics and proper Kung fu. So, I gotta slow down and just stay steady with flow and stance. Everything else will happen when it’s supposed to! 

My combinations, feel not bad. There’s a few I spent a lot of time with. Simpler techniques. 3-4 moves in there. Running through the older ciriculum, and now even more of the sweeping knife block and the punch. It’s been in rotation since I’ve first seen it months ago, but i can step it up! No sweat! I feel I’m doing it right, I feel it’s doing well. I’m getting the extension and snap Sifu was asking for. Making sure not to lean over, just into the punch. Probably one of my more favorite techniques have always been out of horse stance. Seriously, that side heel thrust kick screams out of a horse stance, so simply falls into a backfist, spinning back kick then whamo, into a fighting stance squared backup, ready to rock. It’s even better when you make sound effects when you train....I’m not sure why you don’t? I always loved that combo. I get that a horse stance you “loose” some of your weapons, but, you gain “strength” in others, opening and closing the gap is fast I find in the horsestance. Mind you I have a large wing span, so that always helps, but still. 

So, I mean, I’m on day 25, worked 20, only 4 more to go! I’m getting a little stir crazy, going to have an insanely busy few days off and then back up here. That’s okay, supposed to be a quieter fall. Yeah, we will see about that! I doubt it. I’d like to just sleep the next few days until I can go home, but, alas, what I will do is keep getting up, and I’ll keep going! Besides, I’d miss out on Kung fu, if I was sleeping! That’s not good. Ha. Okay, I know I’m rambling, I’ll let ya go!

Thanks for your time

Mr.Duncan

Type in title here

 Why hello there! Last night I was going to blog, but, my boys and I got on the phone last night and we chatted and played games online way to late for me. And today was supposed to be rain, and it is, so here we are! Anyhow, it’s nice that we do get rain days, I just hate how this company decides those are our days off and they reset our work schedule for us! Just ask if it’s my favorite or not! 

   So, that spot in da Mu Hsing, that one spot specifically, the high back stance with double knife strike. That’s the spot I just want to stop at. It’s kind of blah at the moment. I want to stop, but, I’m reminding myself to keep flowing, so it’s this smash up of hesitation and uneasiness. I’m sure it looks as ridiculous as it feels. Haha. But. With that being said. It’s coming. When I bust out some forms today, it will flow even better. It’s been thought about and talked about. Continually worked on and concentrated on. So, this will be nice to wrap up. So yeah, it’s flow I want right now. I can feel the stiffness wanting to creep in. Like stop here. Nope, only forward progression here. Haha. And I’ve got all day, I could literally do that action 500 times, maybe, and it’d still be supper time! I don’t know, I’m just trash talking! 

  Okay, I started the blog yesterday, but, did not finish it. No, I honestly after dinner played with my kids online. We really had a good time, and seriously, all I’ve got is digital interactions with them, I’m a hands on kinda dad, so, if I can do something other than nothing you bet your arse I will. No, I wanted to actually talk about something else, but, I literally just witnessed a wowie of a car accident. It was an accident that missed the front of my car by maybe a meter. It’s was a holy pucker up moment. Fortunately everyone involved is alive. I was on the phone to 911 in seconds and watched the life gasp back into other fella  a few moments later. Myself and “dude on the bike”, we cheered when he did his comeback. Even the 911 lady sighed a sigh! Wow! I’m still a touch shell shocked if you may, it’s not everyday you see something like that. 

   So, I  thinking wow, that was a literal meterish from my car. Three seconds earlier, I’d of gotten it. Three. So, for some reason, I went back in my mind and processed, what took three seconds in my drive from the shop to store to accident scene. Rules of the road followed, blah blah blah. So I thought, hmm, Maybe it was the pedestrian I came to a complete stop for about 75 meters before the accident happened. Huh. Maybe. Maybe it’s a ripple. I stopped from slowly running over a person, who was in a crosswalk I know, weird and something stopped me from getting holy not healthy due to accident. 

   I’m rambling I know. I’m processing. I think what I’m trying to say is, these little things we do for others, our acts of kindness. More importantly, the way we treat ourselves and think of ourselves. It adds up, our thoughts and actions. You put all this effort and energies into the universe, and good things come back. I understand this is an extreme example of goodness out and good luck in, but, I only understand extremes.  It makes me think. Okay, I was shown that and placed there for a reason. I don’t believe in coincidences. Those don’t exist. I do believe in lessons from getting what you put out. Karma, man. Always play nice with lady karma, you always get it ten fold. Good or bad. 

  So, yeah, not quite sure of what to make of the above, but, hey, there is. Maybe, it’s time I look at some of my life choices again, and maybe do something about it, because whamo, just like that dudes...stay safe out there everyone. 

 Okay bye!!  

Mr.Duncan

rain day

 Hola! What’s cracking fellow rat-finks? Oh I’m doing great thanks! I have no idea where I’m going here today...... hahaha. Tuck your chins folks!

I can get this blog out early today because well, we got rained out this morning!! Awesome! Nothing better than hanging out in gp for the day! Haha. Actually, if you get up early like I do, and go for a cruise earlier in the day, boy, you see the events from a Saturday night in grande prairie! Oh what a place. There’s a lot of lost souls here. A lot of people swallowed up by addictions and mental illness. A lot of people just simply forgotten about. I stopped and “gave” a fellow a few coins in change, not entirely sure, but, he was on planet Pluto. Just “standing” there and staring into the sun. I more or less dropped the change close to his feet. He was too messed up to know what just happened. He did speak a bit, but you could hear the hopelessness and sadness in his voice. I don’t say this to make fun of him, I really don’t. I see people in a position like that and my heart breaks a little for them. It’s easy for people not living that lifestyle to just brush them away and sluff them off like they are burdens on society. I am not perfect, no, but I want to help. The honest to goodness truth of it all, is all I can do to help, is drop some change and live by example. I mean, I wasn’t in his exact shoes, but, I was close, and I know how heartwarming it is, when someone genuinely tries to help. Whether you’re in a position to see or accept that help, is another story. 

I’ve seen the same tent parked in front of the same coffee shop for around a week or so. Look hard, but they where there. And almost every morning you’d see the police there. Once they all had a cup of coffee in hand, the next time I saw everyone there, the police where trying to help pack up the campers. I saw that same look of defeat in everyone’s face that day. Like now what? Now where? 

Now, here I sit, deep in contemplation about life and where things could go. What could happen. The some many of life’s possibilities. What can I do to come out ahead, if I can. What can I do to own my situations. I’ve already said it, live by example. Help when I can. You know, I see the team doing the demos and drive-ins and such and that’s really cool. I’m proud to be on this team. I can’t exactly be there often, so, what can I do from here. I do do a fair bit of training, with more coming. My intensity has come back, my need to push and be better, is, well, better. I want to be better. I want to show people, who have had rough goes and been stuck in the same rut and just spinning your tires. Sometimes, a fella has to stop pressing the gas and pause and rethink his approach at life. 

Mentally this summer, I’ve been up and down, but pretty level headed. People have come back and some have ran away. Ha. I’ve met new people, some I care for, others not so much. I’ve learnt a lot about myself while away. It’s easy to disengage when by yourself. Thankfully I’ve got a solid training partner who helps keep me pointed in the right path. And I do the same for him. Kung fu has given me confidence just in myself to be batter person. It’s cool. I have a really good idea of what I am capable of. Not just physically. Mentally, with my words. How to speak. I know I’m a bit of a brute, but, I am good with words when I choose to be.  

To what’s help get me to these questions and thoughts. When we presented our forms this week, I felt good doing my form, I felt good about things. But still there’s a few points of wanting to pause and stop. These are the same places I was stopping and fixing my stances a lot. So there’s, like this built in stoppage of play just sitting there, bam, keep running into it. It has become more noticed in myself, I am more aware of those flaws. Therefore fixing them will be easier. Still ensuring my stances are correct. That’s whats most important, I feel, is my stances. That’s gotta be there before moving on. Otherwise it’s gonna be a long training session. The combinations are working out well I think. Flow feels good, I’m not trying to kill the air in front of my kicks and punches, but, the quality is there. The flow is getting better, the more I pay attention. I’ll get this back. I’ll be back better than I was before. Maybe I’m there? No, not yet. And really where I was is just an older chapter in my book. Where I’m going, that’s a whole new story. 

How’s it gonna go? How’s that story going to unfold? Couldn’t tell ya, but, it’s gonna be good! No matter what happens in my future, it will be just fine. I have the utmost faith that what I’m doing, mentally and physically will lead me to greater places. The desire, the drive, the tenacity, it’s all there, I want all the know,edge! Beforei receive, I gotta put in all the work! Work and pushing limits? That’s what I do. 

I know my positive life decisions have made a difference  in other people’s life’s. Members of my family thank me, for doing what I did so they could see, just what not to do in life! Ha, yeah no problem, great times....hahaha. 

Anyhow ladies, gentlemen, children of all ages, I’m outta here. Gonna clean the snot out of my apartment and meal prep and bet up the shadow in my living room, keeps following me around and copying me.... pretty frustrating, I tell you what! So, irritating *heavy sigh* 

Thanks for your time! See you soon!

Mr.Duncan

Yuppers

 Hey hey it’s me it’s me it’s Mr.D! Hey-ya how ya doing? Me, I’m great thanks for asking. So here we are six months in. And I’ve been at the kwoon what twice maybe? I don’t know. Wild hey?!? Really it’s not much different this year than any other. I’m just gone outta town! Like always! Ha. 

  So, I did want to say a few things at the meeting I just didn’t unmute in time, and the poor connection, by the time I realized, man, Sifu was speaking, so it’s chill, I’ll put it here! I just wanted to say my peace about a few things. Just saying my thing, that’s it. For me, I lost a lot of steam right after the tournament, if I’m going to be honest with everyone. Being that excited and jacked up and striving for something, and boom, work and life interferes and well, I guess I’ll sit this one out. No sweat, I still sent in my videos. I trained for it and pushed limits, and then it’s oh no you gotta work today. Yeah hey boss, could I maybe have this day. Like I’ve worked hard to get into tourney shape and, I’d really like to participate. No, will you can just go home if that’s how it’s gonna be. Oh okay, no sweat I understand, sorry for bothering you with my humanity. I’d didn’t say the last part, wanted too. That kinda sucked. And then we could start having live classes again! Super, but we lost those fantastic videos/lesson online. No sweat that’s a lot of work for everyone involved. But seriously, I meant outside of working with another person one on one, that was the best tool I have ever had. It’s like, oh what did Sifu say? Rewind and oh that’s what he said, bang on! Absolutely that’s a lot of work for everyone! Right then, so, my forms and techniques are kilometres better than they were, but they are twice as far as I want them to be. My kicks, looking good, but, come on, I can do better. Therefore, I need to go back to the intensity I had when I first came back. It will, I’ll just go there, quit being lazy with outside circumstances. No matter the reason, it’s no excuse. Anyhow, back to the basics of what I was doing. That always gets me results. 

   As for the last week, I didn’t get a lot of training in. These last few days, I started kicking and stances and forms again. I did take the long weekend off and seriously just rested. Well needed and deserved. That was a long stint. Anyhow, it was a nice break, I could wish for more, but that’s gonna be a hard nope. Another good stint ahead of us, and hopefully more down the road. It’s sketchy out there, but, hey hopefully, ill still have a gig, when most others are at home. That’s why I work the way I do. So I get to stay around and reap the rewards of still working but an expected honest half as hard. Ahh this is nice. Sure beats running 20km a day! Doing cleanup, so, it’s a lot of machine work and spotter work for me. Spot things and that’s it! A lot of standing and walking. I walk solid 10-15km on a slow day! I should get a Fitbit or something! 

   Anyhow, I do like where my kicks are at. It’s been long enough of just that focus. Back to punches and knife chops. I really like chops! They are so powerful, it’s kind of mind blowing. It all makes sense how everything works, but, once that knife hand is locked and then unloaded, it’s like a fricken bomb goes off. Ha. Love it. Just watch the heavy bag fold around the hand. A literal fold and a skip. Haha. Awesome. Actually, I’m going to delve back into combinations, I was re-reading the focus on hands and I’m like, nah, I should be back at both in combinations. That’s whats needed. Cool. How’s that for a hard turn! 

Anyhow, I’ve said a lot of stuff for now and I’ll talk at ya soon!

Thanks for your time

Mr.Duncan