Holy moly it’s you again!?! Yeah it’s sunday, sunday, sunday! Oh boy it’s been great so far. My workouts and training is coming together here. I don’t know why it seems to be so hard to stay on one path, but, it’s only been a few solid days since I’ve come up with this new training gem. So, for the most part, it’s consisted of waking up at 5ish and I don’t have to leave for work until 630. Boom, I’ve been jumping in the mornings with push ups and sit ups. Also, its seriously one less thing I gotta do at night. Go do my work thing, and because of all the shutdowns and vendors working less hours, we don’t work as many hours either. Which is spot on in my eyes! I’d rather work less in general. Ha. Any which way, I get back to my place by 6ish. Supper, made lunch, talk with them boys, speak to my missus, it’s usually around 8! Great Scott, this is great. I have a solid hour and half at night before I like to call it a day! So far so good.
Those knife hands from Lao gar are just great hey? Like, just a straight up rearrangement of people’s attitudes with that technique!! Haha. Ahhh good times. I just really enjoy that specific part of just really looking into things. Which reminded, me, I pulled an old book up with me, it has almost all of my old notes and sketches and techniques written down. Penciled out. Written about. Wow. There’s a lot of cool stuff, I didn’t remember doing. But, it’s coming back. Oh boy! I’m looking through things and just remembering is exciting. Working some of the techniques is kind of nostalgic. A lot of the notes have a date somewhere on them. You know, so I could remember where is was and what I was doing on that date somewhere down the line. That was good advice to date my notes. It was exactly like going back in time. It’s funny to see how long I have had some techniques that I have always worked on, whether was formally training or not. One is six years old. Dang, my youngest is eight! One night soon, I’ll add to it. I have the technique, it’s a matter of being able to write and express in picture as well. If I can sketch my thoughts, I believe is important for me. I like pictures! Can I borrow your red crayon? I....ate mine....I mean lost it! I lost it! I wish there was a way to edit this blog thingy.....
Okay okay. It’s going to bed time for me about a half hour ago! I hope your week is as good as mines going to be. #NoBadDays. Only bad moments. And they come and go, if we let them.
Thanks for your time
Mr.Duncan
Sunday, 31 May 2020
Tuesday, 26 May 2020
Okay dokay!
Hey there you bunch of rats you! Sooooo, I’m back and set up in gp. First day of shift down. That’s always fun. Works good enough. I’m hitting work hard and with intention. I will run my own crew, again. But first, the basics. Still lots to learn and absorb. I enjoy a lot of the people out here, as there are a lot of familiar eyes under the masks. Haha. A lot has changed, but, I guess so. Makes sense I do suppose, so, well, I’ll just keep adapting and keep killing it on site. Right where o left off! No sweat!
Kung fu wise, the last few days it’s been a minimum, but, I mean, I just moved to grande prairie on 24hrs notice and I gotta chill out on myself. Sustainable, not destructive. I still did some reps and got some time in, but, realizing, man, easier. I need to sustain for 24 days. No more late nights, early mornings instead. I like sleep. It’s cool. Transitioning back into work form won’t be hard. What will be challenging is remembering what routines worked last time, taking what I learnt in my last few months at home and building a sweet training regime up here. It’s gonna be great. I’m really excited.
Yesterday, I worked really hard at being grateful for my opportunities up here. A major one is, I only have me to worry about. As much as the family misses me, it’s normally a half to full hour of my night. Depends on moods I guess. We aren’t working as many hours in the day, so there’s another small bonus! I have no tv, couches. I have this wide open space, I can honestly go through da Mu Hsing and kempo I without interruption! Oh yeah baby, that’s just great news. The roof though, I mean, I did put that hole there...so I need to be a little more careful with my stick! Hahaha. But there’s still room, I think. I am going to video tape myself and take a little looksie at how I’m standing. I feel crouched because of the low roof. Further inspection is needed dear Watson!
But, wait, hold up, ahh yeah, this is what I really wanted to talk about, and this guy, writes on an iPad and have no idea on how to scroll up. Anyhow, a few weeks ago I had a chat with Sifu about stances and snapping into place. I understood the vast majority on what was going on, it’s was simply getting my body to do what it needs to do. So, Sifu Chervenka offers some more time with me. Shares some time with me on some of his breakthroughs. The old four strikes in under a second. Hahaha. Love it. Anyhow, things clicked that night for me. Seriously folks, I smashed the bag with the fourth so cleanly and efficiently, it felt like Picasso was in on it. I didn’t hit any speed records, I smashed technique. I found that slip into place. Oh yeah I did. Some more guidance and words, cleaner more efficient, I honestly didn’t feel those strikes too much in the hands. Should of had gloves on, but, I did not.
One breakthrough just leads into more and more. Stances feel better. I’m not sore in the hips. Ya know. Things are becoming far more efficient. The more I practice, the better everything feels. Now, I have to practice and practice to keep pushing through. Choo choo! Here comes the Willy train! Ya wanna wait around for the wreck? I wouldn’t either!
Anywho, I seriously beat. I’m gonna get a few more reps in, and it’s early to bed yo!
Thanks for your time.
Mr.Duncan
Kung fu wise, the last few days it’s been a minimum, but, I mean, I just moved to grande prairie on 24hrs notice and I gotta chill out on myself. Sustainable, not destructive. I still did some reps and got some time in, but, realizing, man, easier. I need to sustain for 24 days. No more late nights, early mornings instead. I like sleep. It’s cool. Transitioning back into work form won’t be hard. What will be challenging is remembering what routines worked last time, taking what I learnt in my last few months at home and building a sweet training regime up here. It’s gonna be great. I’m really excited.
Yesterday, I worked really hard at being grateful for my opportunities up here. A major one is, I only have me to worry about. As much as the family misses me, it’s normally a half to full hour of my night. Depends on moods I guess. We aren’t working as many hours in the day, so there’s another small bonus! I have no tv, couches. I have this wide open space, I can honestly go through da Mu Hsing and kempo I without interruption! Oh yeah baby, that’s just great news. The roof though, I mean, I did put that hole there...so I need to be a little more careful with my stick! Hahaha. But there’s still room, I think. I am going to video tape myself and take a little looksie at how I’m standing. I feel crouched because of the low roof. Further inspection is needed dear Watson!
But, wait, hold up, ahh yeah, this is what I really wanted to talk about, and this guy, writes on an iPad and have no idea on how to scroll up. Anyhow, a few weeks ago I had a chat with Sifu about stances and snapping into place. I understood the vast majority on what was going on, it’s was simply getting my body to do what it needs to do. So, Sifu Chervenka offers some more time with me. Shares some time with me on some of his breakthroughs. The old four strikes in under a second. Hahaha. Love it. Anyhow, things clicked that night for me. Seriously folks, I smashed the bag with the fourth so cleanly and efficiently, it felt like Picasso was in on it. I didn’t hit any speed records, I smashed technique. I found that slip into place. Oh yeah I did. Some more guidance and words, cleaner more efficient, I honestly didn’t feel those strikes too much in the hands. Should of had gloves on, but, I did not.
One breakthrough just leads into more and more. Stances feel better. I’m not sore in the hips. Ya know. Things are becoming far more efficient. The more I practice, the better everything feels. Now, I have to practice and practice to keep pushing through. Choo choo! Here comes the Willy train! Ya wanna wait around for the wreck? I wouldn’t either!
Anywho, I seriously beat. I’m gonna get a few more reps in, and it’s early to bed yo!
Thanks for your time.
Mr.Duncan
Sunday, 24 May 2020
Well, that was fun
Well, today is the day I guess. I got a call about 930 this morning. Hey man, we are rolling out Monday and back to work Tuesday....oh, well, shined red fire trucks, that’s a curve ball. I have had an idea for a few days that we are firing back up, but no positive time lines. 24hrs notice, for flaming fudge pops, man, that’s kinda rude. But, on the other hand, quarantine was honestly, an extended spring break up for me, but I did not expect a call like the one this morning. Well, shit, I tell the family that it’s time for me to go and, well, it’s been a day. After the intitial shock comes the frustration and then the tears from them boys. Oh, it breaks my heart, but, I mean this is what I know and what I do. It’ll be okay. My boys. Good boys.
My dog he saw my bags come out and his whole demeaner has dropped, he’s actually very mad that I’m leaving. He’s no dummy, he knows what the bags and coolers mean, he’s been avoiding me today he’s so mad. Normally, he follows me about and constantly under foot. Nope, not today. He literally took one look at my gear, let out a sigh, gave me a not nice look and left the room. Ouch! That one kinda hurt.
But, it’ll be okay. Like I say, it’s the way of life I know. Constantly outta town, constantly missing stuff and gatherings. Raising the kids over the phone and Skyping homework. But it’s okay. It really helps me stay focused on what does matter in my life. I may have tunnel vision but if you’re in it, know I’m constantly thinking of you. Know that what I do and sacrifice, I believe is for the greater good of us all. I’ve calculated my motions. This will be very good in the long run. It’ll be okay.
In any event, I’ll touch back later with some Kung fu, once I get back settled in grande prairie. I’m very grateful to put this here.
Thanks for your time
Mr.Duncan
My dog he saw my bags come out and his whole demeaner has dropped, he’s actually very mad that I’m leaving. He’s no dummy, he knows what the bags and coolers mean, he’s been avoiding me today he’s so mad. Normally, he follows me about and constantly under foot. Nope, not today. He literally took one look at my gear, let out a sigh, gave me a not nice look and left the room. Ouch! That one kinda hurt.
But, it’ll be okay. Like I say, it’s the way of life I know. Constantly outta town, constantly missing stuff and gatherings. Raising the kids over the phone and Skyping homework. But it’s okay. It really helps me stay focused on what does matter in my life. I may have tunnel vision but if you’re in it, know I’m constantly thinking of you. Know that what I do and sacrifice, I believe is for the greater good of us all. I’ve calculated my motions. This will be very good in the long run. It’ll be okay.
In any event, I’ll touch back later with some Kung fu, once I get back settled in grande prairie. I’m very grateful to put this here.
Thanks for your time
Mr.Duncan
Sunday, 17 May 2020
high five
Hey ho, let’s go! So, how’s your day? So far, mines decent! This is great! Nice weather, most of the garden is planted, and flowers are popping like crazy! We went to a greenhouse, the wife and I, big date afternoon for us! I’d rather spend my time and energy in a greenhouse then almost anywhere else, if I have to go out! It’s a feeling of calmness and myself personally, I really feel at home with plants and flowers and trees surrounding me. The concrete jungle isn’t for me. No people’s, I really don’t like the look of concrete. Steel on the other hand, I love the look and smell of raw iron just standing and chilling up there! Myself, if I could, I’d build a steel structure for a house and simply leave the iron exposed, let it get that nice rusty look to it. And, man, I’d climb my house! Turn it into a jungle gym! To get into bed you gotta climb vertically 3m up a square tubed colum, to the next level of 4” beams running horizontally in all sorts of directions, but only one path to your bed! Which, oddly, is elevated another 3m off the already 3m high floor. So another colum to climb, but this one is an I-beam standing on edge. It’s easier to climb than square tubing. Back to the old ironworking days....yowie wowie that was a hard left!
Seriously, though, how you doing? You getting meaningful reps in? Are you asking questions and pushing your mind to try to understand what our teachers are dropping on us? Have you developed any sense of uniqueness into our Kung fu? I am trying hard as well.
Questions that I have and ask every day! Hey, some days I’m getting reps and reps and reps in, other days, I get some reps in. Not always do I hit my high end targets. And I think that’s cool for now. Getting the garden and yard ready to try and grow a pile of food for this upcoming winter. That’s honestly been my goals these last few days. Ensure the garden is ready and healthy, because I could kick off any time here, for work. I’m just a phone call and a days notice away from living outta my bag again! No sweat! Preparation and planning makes for productive times. I don’t wanna go back though boss, can’t we just Covid forever?
Big breath and this week in Kung fu, man it was another killer week. Did some work with Sifu Vantuil online. And in that tenish min meeting, I received “Kempo I”. I studied kempo for a IHC year and Sifu Wiebe pushed those forms hard on us. Tell you what, I couldn’t remember it. I’ve done it literally over one thousand reps, years ago, so I knew it was in there. Sifu Vantuil was like you just need a refresher and here it is, the mind was like oh yeah, and the body was like oh man, does this feel good! I love Kung fu! Now, I have the motions from Da Mu Hsing into kempo I. Next week, kempo II. Again, I apologize for the lack of proper names. I’m struggling there. Names, never been a strong thing for me. Can’t even remember mine some days, there’s so many of them.....
Another huge flaw that keeps me awake at night, is leaning. Leaning in my strikes, leaning when I move. I look like a zig zag some days. Well, that’s how it feels. Still, shoot yeah, this won’t go away. So, booked a session with Sifu Brinker and ask those questions. More solid feedback, and I feel now I’m making progress in getting quadrants working together. It’s still gonna take some time to get those muscles firing at the same time as the skeleton, but, I’ll tell you what, I used to be able to move and flow and strike, just as we are asked to. I used to and I will again! Shortly, a new personal goal! I want that back. I’ll get back there. Get that hip involved again. I can feel it too. Like, it’s right there. It’s like, it’s like having the very tips of my fingers on the ledge of a cliff. Holding on for dear life. Almost there. A little more effort and I’ll have a handful of ledge, and shortly from there, I’ll break through that peak, and there will be far less to no lean. But today, I want to focus on just getting that deep snap. Settling back into those stances. Staying compressed, not small; staying fluidly ready, not rigid.
I do not practice Kung fu, I am Kung fu. This is my life, this is what I do. This is what I know. When I’m swinging my stick around, it’s a part of me. Some folks like bikes and others like other stuff. I like tearing into my techniques, sorting out what it all does and how it mechanically works, and trying things this way, or with that thrown in there. I love looking into and trying to develope mass destruction using only my body. I like slowing down fights and disecting movements. Hmmm, if I grabbed that leg instead of blocking it away...oh goodness now I have ahold of you.....hahahahaha!! Oh that can turn into a choke hold, or a setup for the old one two three four, now your sleeping. That’s one of my passions. You wanna study fights and strikes and build some cool stuff? Give me a ring a ding.
When that sword strikes collar bone, that’s an extension of my hand hitting there. My weapons are me, and I’m my weapons. I can strike hard and fast or I can strike soft and critically. My weapon does not have a mind of its own when it takes off and does whatever, I have not connected with my weapon yet on that day. I’m not paying enough attention to the little things.
When I am paying attention to my weapon, it’s effortless. The movements fly out of me, and I just flow. When I start to “correct” the weapon and break it’s momentum, I am stopping myself from fluidly moving as well. Now, I got to start over, all that expendended energy just to start over!?! I find, when I stand back and let the weapon lead, and I fill in the blanks and ask questions its just better that way.
Well, my kids are doing the dad dad dad are you watching dad dad dad dad, watch this! Dad dad dad dad dad! Wow, you stood on one leg and swung your hands in the air......man, where’s my dog, he’s not...oh he’s eating cat poop...okay....this is where we are today! Haha. Just kidding. Not really...
I see it’s time to release Big Bad Dad and get the Duncan Federation Wrestling Heavy Weight Championship of the Living Room back. I lost it a few months ago to the kids. Gonna stop pulling my kicks!
Anyways, thanks for your time
Mr.Duncan
Seriously, though, how you doing? You getting meaningful reps in? Are you asking questions and pushing your mind to try to understand what our teachers are dropping on us? Have you developed any sense of uniqueness into our Kung fu? I am trying hard as well.
Questions that I have and ask every day! Hey, some days I’m getting reps and reps and reps in, other days, I get some reps in. Not always do I hit my high end targets. And I think that’s cool for now. Getting the garden and yard ready to try and grow a pile of food for this upcoming winter. That’s honestly been my goals these last few days. Ensure the garden is ready and healthy, because I could kick off any time here, for work. I’m just a phone call and a days notice away from living outta my bag again! No sweat! Preparation and planning makes for productive times. I don’t wanna go back though boss, can’t we just Covid forever?
Big breath and this week in Kung fu, man it was another killer week. Did some work with Sifu Vantuil online. And in that tenish min meeting, I received “Kempo I”. I studied kempo for a IHC year and Sifu Wiebe pushed those forms hard on us. Tell you what, I couldn’t remember it. I’ve done it literally over one thousand reps, years ago, so I knew it was in there. Sifu Vantuil was like you just need a refresher and here it is, the mind was like oh yeah, and the body was like oh man, does this feel good! I love Kung fu! Now, I have the motions from Da Mu Hsing into kempo I. Next week, kempo II. Again, I apologize for the lack of proper names. I’m struggling there. Names, never been a strong thing for me. Can’t even remember mine some days, there’s so many of them.....
Another huge flaw that keeps me awake at night, is leaning. Leaning in my strikes, leaning when I move. I look like a zig zag some days. Well, that’s how it feels. Still, shoot yeah, this won’t go away. So, booked a session with Sifu Brinker and ask those questions. More solid feedback, and I feel now I’m making progress in getting quadrants working together. It’s still gonna take some time to get those muscles firing at the same time as the skeleton, but, I’ll tell you what, I used to be able to move and flow and strike, just as we are asked to. I used to and I will again! Shortly, a new personal goal! I want that back. I’ll get back there. Get that hip involved again. I can feel it too. Like, it’s right there. It’s like, it’s like having the very tips of my fingers on the ledge of a cliff. Holding on for dear life. Almost there. A little more effort and I’ll have a handful of ledge, and shortly from there, I’ll break through that peak, and there will be far less to no lean. But today, I want to focus on just getting that deep snap. Settling back into those stances. Staying compressed, not small; staying fluidly ready, not rigid.
I do not practice Kung fu, I am Kung fu. This is my life, this is what I do. This is what I know. When I’m swinging my stick around, it’s a part of me. Some folks like bikes and others like other stuff. I like tearing into my techniques, sorting out what it all does and how it mechanically works, and trying things this way, or with that thrown in there. I love looking into and trying to develope mass destruction using only my body. I like slowing down fights and disecting movements. Hmmm, if I grabbed that leg instead of blocking it away...oh goodness now I have ahold of you.....hahahahaha!! Oh that can turn into a choke hold, or a setup for the old one two three four, now your sleeping. That’s one of my passions. You wanna study fights and strikes and build some cool stuff? Give me a ring a ding.
When that sword strikes collar bone, that’s an extension of my hand hitting there. My weapons are me, and I’m my weapons. I can strike hard and fast or I can strike soft and critically. My weapon does not have a mind of its own when it takes off and does whatever, I have not connected with my weapon yet on that day. I’m not paying enough attention to the little things.
When I am paying attention to my weapon, it’s effortless. The movements fly out of me, and I just flow. When I start to “correct” the weapon and break it’s momentum, I am stopping myself from fluidly moving as well. Now, I got to start over, all that expendended energy just to start over!?! I find, when I stand back and let the weapon lead, and I fill in the blanks and ask questions its just better that way.
Well, my kids are doing the dad dad dad are you watching dad dad dad dad, watch this! Dad dad dad dad dad! Wow, you stood on one leg and swung your hands in the air......man, where’s my dog, he’s not...oh he’s eating cat poop...okay....this is where we are today! Haha. Just kidding. Not really...
I see it’s time to release Big Bad Dad and get the Duncan Federation Wrestling Heavy Weight Championship of the Living Room back. I lost it a few months ago to the kids. Gonna stop pulling my kicks!
Anyways, thanks for your time
Mr.Duncan
Sunday, 10 May 2020
A Good Week
And than, it’s is today! Well, another week in the books. It’s been a great week, for me. Kung Fu is coming more and more. I’m finding, when I go off into my little world and train, man, it’s like a fog gets lifted from my head. I’ll train throughout the day and achieve some good numbers, but, I really like training at night. You know, when, people are flipping on the news or settling down for the night, this guy will find another gear and push. A few nights it’s been 1030-11 at night and I’m working on this or that. Checking this stance, working on these blocks, trying ever so diligently to get my strikes back up to speed. Side note, I’m almost breaking three strikes per second. It’s been a goal for myself to place four punches in and around the one second mark. Not just three punches thrown out there and hoping for the best, oh no no no. Three meaningful purposely placed punches, with the forth coming in like the tsar bomb!! Hmmmm, I love it. I really really do.
So, with the above noise going on, let’s take a ride in this guys mind! Hahaha. Hold on! This week, besides the physical breakthroughs I’ve had, I have hit a couple of mental aspects spots in my training. What I mean, is I’m training, trying hard, listening to my Sifu’s words and knowledge. I was kinda confused about Da Mu Hsing and just how a few things have been changed around a bit. So, instead of sitting in my head, asking myself, who doesn’t know the answers, I started poking and prodding Sifu during a one on one. I received a very good response about why things in forms have changed. To keep flow and help us stay grounded. Okay, sounds good. Now, that I have that knowledge, the form makes so much more sense, and techniques are like, don’t you remember us will? How could you have forgotten about us? Man, and I’m like, honestly, myself was no longer a priority and well, I let you go. Sorry, but I’m gonna refine this and make things right. I start with Asking for help with hand forms. And than practice.
Now, here’s the cool thing. I asked one question. I received some great feedback. Once that feedback was absorbed and made sense of, I had more questions. Well, what about this and that and over there?
Now, in a few days of reflection, listening and trusting in my teachers, it’s like, I have been shown some magical book, with all this knowledge in there, that I can take and use and build some really cool Kung fu with. That book is my teachers, my Sifus. Our Sifus. These people who have committed their lives to this art form and all they ask, is that I give everything I can every day to our shared passion. Sifu Brinker has all this buried in his head. He has this, literal guide to success built into him, it seems. He makes Kung fu look easy, and I try what he does on screen, and I near ko myself throwing those techniques around. You feel kinda silly and bashful, maybe I won’t do that again. Then you hear our leader in the meeting, say things like, I’ve made 100million mistakes, and I try to make it so others only make 99million mistakes. So, if I’m paying attention and not afraid to step out of me, this will eventually become “simple” for me as well. Not simply follow the leader, no. Take what I’ve been given and turn it into mine! Respect traditions and own what I present. For I am not any of you and none of you are me. Thank goodness, I don’t think SRKF could take two or more of me.....haha!
I’m asking questions, I’m building a relationship with my team. I’m focusing on what matters in my life. I’m zeroing in on the pathway to success. I have my little lamp that comes with me on my littl journey and that lamp gets a little brighter each day I ask for help and train. Purposeful training. Sustainable training. Paying attention to the fine details in my body. The aches, go away. The pains, push through. The frustrations, release them into the heavy bag. The days I feel like not doing nothing, better make a phone call and ask some questions. But also, noting and taking care of what’s sore and hurting. There’s a difference between injuries and just being sore, and when I listen carefully to me, and pay attention to what I’m doing, the “injuries” are mere excuses for me to be weak and let excuses rule! Been there, done that, it sucked. Not again. I think back to my punk ironworker days. Nothing to do? Go sweep, go stack the dunnage, go sort bolts, there’s always something to do, it’s not just hanging steel! No more excuses Will.....
I’m a firm believer Kung Fu, is a gift that was given to me. I can’t count how many full circles away and back into SRKF do I need to do, before I realize, this is home. This is my group, these are the people I care about. This is where I want to spend my time. Do you remember when I celebrated 5 yrs sobriety? Maybe not. I most certainly do. Anyhow, I remember, it was almost exactly five years to the day. I will never forget. I could have done so much to celebrate. People wanted to have lunch and dinner with me. People where calling me to congratulate my accomplishment. My day was being swallowed up with others. Honesty, I didn’t know how to take the praise and deal with the accomplishments. I just didn’t know how to take the day. I was stressed about relapsing. That was a real scary thing for me. So you know what I did? You will in a moment. I just grabbed my Kung fu gear, turned my phone off and went and spent as much time as I could in the Kwoon that Saturday. Quite honestly, it was only myself and Sifu Playter that day. I just stood in front of our Alter and tried real hard to appreciate everything there. I knew I had a gift in my hands. That day Sifu Playter and I turned out some awesome techniques. Touched on sparring, worked some punches. He was building
his articulating stick form and I was building a stick form. Honestly, my stick form would have never been as cool as it was without Sifu Playter on that day. And it has become one of the most important days in my training.
For no other reason, than on that day, I made a subconscious decision. I didn’t realize until later. On that day, I chose to rebuild and try my darnest to try life again through an ancient art form, over self-destructive tendencies.
That decision has stayed with me always. To the point, i have a full dragon tattoo from my wrist over my shoulder and to my heart. Whenever I think this sucks, I’m not getting anywhere, I should just quit... I take a moment, look at my dragon and think, my journey has never been a straight line, why should things get easy today? Come on now!
This is probably gonna sound off, but well, that’s what I am, so this dragon that lives inside of me has fought like hell to stay noticed. I’ve seen him so many times in dreams and in my meditations. I’ve literally smelt his aroma. Sometimes, I catch soft whiffs of him deep in training. I have felt his breeze against my skin and clothing in the middle of heavy bag work. Since I started training again with silent River, he’s not letting up on me. Almost every single night he’s with me. Every day I see him. Every sunrise and sunset I catch a glimpse of this dragon, IF I’m paying attention. Haha, I know how this sounds, This isn’t some life long hallucination trip, I don’t think. It’s not like I’m seeing dragons fly around my living room. it’s the examples he presents and courage he shows to me. Simply the little things that are presented for me. Pay attention to the little things.
Anyhow, that’s a fair bit of babbling. Chew on that one for a while!!
Thanks for your time
Mr.Duncan
So, with the above noise going on, let’s take a ride in this guys mind! Hahaha. Hold on! This week, besides the physical breakthroughs I’ve had, I have hit a couple of mental aspects spots in my training. What I mean, is I’m training, trying hard, listening to my Sifu’s words and knowledge. I was kinda confused about Da Mu Hsing and just how a few things have been changed around a bit. So, instead of sitting in my head, asking myself, who doesn’t know the answers, I started poking and prodding Sifu during a one on one. I received a very good response about why things in forms have changed. To keep flow and help us stay grounded. Okay, sounds good. Now, that I have that knowledge, the form makes so much more sense, and techniques are like, don’t you remember us will? How could you have forgotten about us? Man, and I’m like, honestly, myself was no longer a priority and well, I let you go. Sorry, but I’m gonna refine this and make things right. I start with Asking for help with hand forms. And than practice.
Now, here’s the cool thing. I asked one question. I received some great feedback. Once that feedback was absorbed and made sense of, I had more questions. Well, what about this and that and over there?
Now, in a few days of reflection, listening and trusting in my teachers, it’s like, I have been shown some magical book, with all this knowledge in there, that I can take and use and build some really cool Kung fu with. That book is my teachers, my Sifus. Our Sifus. These people who have committed their lives to this art form and all they ask, is that I give everything I can every day to our shared passion. Sifu Brinker has all this buried in his head. He has this, literal guide to success built into him, it seems. He makes Kung fu look easy, and I try what he does on screen, and I near ko myself throwing those techniques around. You feel kinda silly and bashful, maybe I won’t do that again. Then you hear our leader in the meeting, say things like, I’ve made 100million mistakes, and I try to make it so others only make 99million mistakes. So, if I’m paying attention and not afraid to step out of me, this will eventually become “simple” for me as well. Not simply follow the leader, no. Take what I’ve been given and turn it into mine! Respect traditions and own what I present. For I am not any of you and none of you are me. Thank goodness, I don’t think SRKF could take two or more of me.....haha!
I’m asking questions, I’m building a relationship with my team. I’m focusing on what matters in my life. I’m zeroing in on the pathway to success. I have my little lamp that comes with me on my littl journey and that lamp gets a little brighter each day I ask for help and train. Purposeful training. Sustainable training. Paying attention to the fine details in my body. The aches, go away. The pains, push through. The frustrations, release them into the heavy bag. The days I feel like not doing nothing, better make a phone call and ask some questions. But also, noting and taking care of what’s sore and hurting. There’s a difference between injuries and just being sore, and when I listen carefully to me, and pay attention to what I’m doing, the “injuries” are mere excuses for me to be weak and let excuses rule! Been there, done that, it sucked. Not again. I think back to my punk ironworker days. Nothing to do? Go sweep, go stack the dunnage, go sort bolts, there’s always something to do, it’s not just hanging steel! No more excuses Will.....
I’m a firm believer Kung Fu, is a gift that was given to me. I can’t count how many full circles away and back into SRKF do I need to do, before I realize, this is home. This is my group, these are the people I care about. This is where I want to spend my time. Do you remember when I celebrated 5 yrs sobriety? Maybe not. I most certainly do. Anyhow, I remember, it was almost exactly five years to the day. I will never forget. I could have done so much to celebrate. People wanted to have lunch and dinner with me. People where calling me to congratulate my accomplishment. My day was being swallowed up with others. Honesty, I didn’t know how to take the praise and deal with the accomplishments. I just didn’t know how to take the day. I was stressed about relapsing. That was a real scary thing for me. So you know what I did? You will in a moment. I just grabbed my Kung fu gear, turned my phone off and went and spent as much time as I could in the Kwoon that Saturday. Quite honestly, it was only myself and Sifu Playter that day. I just stood in front of our Alter and tried real hard to appreciate everything there. I knew I had a gift in my hands. That day Sifu Playter and I turned out some awesome techniques. Touched on sparring, worked some punches. He was building
his articulating stick form and I was building a stick form. Honestly, my stick form would have never been as cool as it was without Sifu Playter on that day. And it has become one of the most important days in my training.
For no other reason, than on that day, I made a subconscious decision. I didn’t realize until later. On that day, I chose to rebuild and try my darnest to try life again through an ancient art form, over self-destructive tendencies.
That decision has stayed with me always. To the point, i have a full dragon tattoo from my wrist over my shoulder and to my heart. Whenever I think this sucks, I’m not getting anywhere, I should just quit... I take a moment, look at my dragon and think, my journey has never been a straight line, why should things get easy today? Come on now!
This is probably gonna sound off, but well, that’s what I am, so this dragon that lives inside of me has fought like hell to stay noticed. I’ve seen him so many times in dreams and in my meditations. I’ve literally smelt his aroma. Sometimes, I catch soft whiffs of him deep in training. I have felt his breeze against my skin and clothing in the middle of heavy bag work. Since I started training again with silent River, he’s not letting up on me. Almost every single night he’s with me. Every day I see him. Every sunrise and sunset I catch a glimpse of this dragon, IF I’m paying attention. Haha, I know how this sounds, This isn’t some life long hallucination trip, I don’t think. It’s not like I’m seeing dragons fly around my living room. it’s the examples he presents and courage he shows to me. Simply the little things that are presented for me. Pay attention to the little things.
Anyhow, that’s a fair bit of babbling. Chew on that one for a while!!
Thanks for your time
Mr.Duncan
Monday, 4 May 2020
Well, this is today!!
Happy real wet Monday! Boy, that’s a pile of rain. Not sure about spruce and Stoney, but I have to pull out my yard pump and get rid of the Duncan Lake that shows up whenever it rains like this. In any event, it’s all good. I love the rain and the new smells it brings and how the rain just cleans up the winter mess, and, man, my favorite part of spring everything is gonna pop. Neon green, bright green, dark green, flowers of all colours and smells again. Mmmmm I love spring. This is honestly my favorite time of the year. Hands down, flat out, spring time baby!
And with spring comes our garden. I have the garden cold weather crops planted, and we have planted some flowers and such. I watched my dog chase this bumble bee the size of my thumb. I tried to explain what bees do for us to Tucker, and he just looked at me funny....I do t think he understands the bees purpose! And the real only down fall to spring, is, we keep flowers and suck in the garage as well as the back room in my little house. And there is now, very little room to train in my garage with all these flowers and plants in here. That’s cool, I anticipated this and have been working on sections of my forms in the garage and saving the whole form for out on my sweet deck, or the lawn when it dries...again. As for training in the house, dude, have you seen inside my wee house? Haha. There’s room, more for stance training and simpler hand motions! I’ve kicked my wood tv stand one too many times, to say, kicks are a great idea in the house.
Anywho, back to what matters here, training. Didn’t get in the numbers I wanted, but I’ve got some good growth this week. I believe I have slowed myself down enough, to be very confident in my motions. I am very much enjoying these forms I’ve picked. Starting to disappear again, into the forms when I train. Starting to not hear what’s going on around me. And that’s good. I’ve been pushing to disappear into the void, if you might. I miss not being able to tap into that as efficiently as I used too. That’s cool. Progression not perfection. I’ll worry about getting there, when I get there. I, honestly shouldn’t put so much emphasis in going to the void as just letting it happen. Weightlifting is still going strong, Kung fu is coming strong. I’m starting to become very proud of myself again.
The subtle thing Kung fu training gives me. The confidence in my sections are coming back, I don’t second guess myself so much, as I know I have a solid plan. I know I have a solid plan because it worked for me before........whoa, hold that thought.....sorry, my yard pump was sucking air. Had to shut that thing down. Yeah, 40min first thing in the am, to get this water moving. Sidetracked, squirrel!! Like I was saying. Kung fu has always been such a beaut for me. I’ve learnt so much about my body and mind in these last few months, I can’t say enough about Kung fu. I have always held Kung fu and my teachers extremely high in my life. No, I haven’t always practiced or been around, but, I, honestly, always tried to keep in contact with Sifu Brinker, if nothing else.
One thing I have to do, to really boost myself, is, I have got to stop living in the past with regards to my training. I tell my training partner, yeah, it’s no big deal, it’ll come back, but, inside, I’m screaming at myself for letting those techniques slip away. Last week, I didn’t really call anyone and I just kinda stuck to myself. And I got into my head about where my training is versus, where it “could” be. I believe I used the phrase, where I should have been, if I didn’t quit on myself a few years ago. Sure, there where others circumstances, but, still, I stopped. I’m not beating myself up today, just saying, I was really disappointed in myself last week. Too much time to think. So, instead of pouting and being a wiener, I started pushing harder. Train will train!!
I have a wall of saying and notes, and thoughts written on paper and pinned to a wall in my garage. I wrote these things when I was last in I.H.C. It’s kinda funny, the more powerful thought I have was tucked under other notes. There are two notes I wrote that I used to always look at and read, I put away. In any event, it’s back pinned up front and center. One is a mixture of thoughts of Frankenstein from Mary Shellys Frankenstein book.
“......There something at work in my soul.....that I do not understand.....love and rage that should never escape....if I am not satisfied with one, I will indulge in the other....”
To be honest, I kinda stole that from my man Vampiro. He did a clip a quick little promo video for Lucia Underground. I’ve always loved Frankenstein, he’s my favourite and I have always admired Vampiro, and it was an amazing promo! Gives me chills when I watch it. Yes I watch old wrestling promos! Yes, I watch vintage matches from the 70’s. Yes, I am a huge wrestling nerd. Embrace it. You’ll soon see. You thought the title belt was something......hahahaha. You’ll see!!
The second is Leonard Da Vinci “To be haunted by your mistakes is fate far worse than death”
This phrase, I used to live hard and it gosh darn near killed me. Straight up. Those who know my past, you know how hard I used to live this phrase...dark days! Both are powerful for me. Both have me summed up me and my life fairly well. Both mean so much to my training. And just my life and how I carry myself.
Anyhow, I think I’m rambling on now, and my swamp lake is back in near full force, so, I’m going for a swim....
See ya on the flip side
Thanks for your time
Mr.Duncan
And with spring comes our garden. I have the garden cold weather crops planted, and we have planted some flowers and such. I watched my dog chase this bumble bee the size of my thumb. I tried to explain what bees do for us to Tucker, and he just looked at me funny....I do t think he understands the bees purpose! And the real only down fall to spring, is, we keep flowers and suck in the garage as well as the back room in my little house. And there is now, very little room to train in my garage with all these flowers and plants in here. That’s cool, I anticipated this and have been working on sections of my forms in the garage and saving the whole form for out on my sweet deck, or the lawn when it dries...again. As for training in the house, dude, have you seen inside my wee house? Haha. There’s room, more for stance training and simpler hand motions! I’ve kicked my wood tv stand one too many times, to say, kicks are a great idea in the house.
Anywho, back to what matters here, training. Didn’t get in the numbers I wanted, but I’ve got some good growth this week. I believe I have slowed myself down enough, to be very confident in my motions. I am very much enjoying these forms I’ve picked. Starting to disappear again, into the forms when I train. Starting to not hear what’s going on around me. And that’s good. I’ve been pushing to disappear into the void, if you might. I miss not being able to tap into that as efficiently as I used too. That’s cool. Progression not perfection. I’ll worry about getting there, when I get there. I, honestly shouldn’t put so much emphasis in going to the void as just letting it happen. Weightlifting is still going strong, Kung fu is coming strong. I’m starting to become very proud of myself again.
The subtle thing Kung fu training gives me. The confidence in my sections are coming back, I don’t second guess myself so much, as I know I have a solid plan. I know I have a solid plan because it worked for me before........whoa, hold that thought.....sorry, my yard pump was sucking air. Had to shut that thing down. Yeah, 40min first thing in the am, to get this water moving. Sidetracked, squirrel!! Like I was saying. Kung fu has always been such a beaut for me. I’ve learnt so much about my body and mind in these last few months, I can’t say enough about Kung fu. I have always held Kung fu and my teachers extremely high in my life. No, I haven’t always practiced or been around, but, I, honestly, always tried to keep in contact with Sifu Brinker, if nothing else.
One thing I have to do, to really boost myself, is, I have got to stop living in the past with regards to my training. I tell my training partner, yeah, it’s no big deal, it’ll come back, but, inside, I’m screaming at myself for letting those techniques slip away. Last week, I didn’t really call anyone and I just kinda stuck to myself. And I got into my head about where my training is versus, where it “could” be. I believe I used the phrase, where I should have been, if I didn’t quit on myself a few years ago. Sure, there where others circumstances, but, still, I stopped. I’m not beating myself up today, just saying, I was really disappointed in myself last week. Too much time to think. So, instead of pouting and being a wiener, I started pushing harder. Train will train!!
I have a wall of saying and notes, and thoughts written on paper and pinned to a wall in my garage. I wrote these things when I was last in I.H.C. It’s kinda funny, the more powerful thought I have was tucked under other notes. There are two notes I wrote that I used to always look at and read, I put away. In any event, it’s back pinned up front and center. One is a mixture of thoughts of Frankenstein from Mary Shellys Frankenstein book.
“......There something at work in my soul.....that I do not understand.....love and rage that should never escape....if I am not satisfied with one, I will indulge in the other....”
To be honest, I kinda stole that from my man Vampiro. He did a clip a quick little promo video for Lucia Underground. I’ve always loved Frankenstein, he’s my favourite and I have always admired Vampiro, and it was an amazing promo! Gives me chills when I watch it. Yes I watch old wrestling promos! Yes, I watch vintage matches from the 70’s. Yes, I am a huge wrestling nerd. Embrace it. You’ll soon see. You thought the title belt was something......hahahaha. You’ll see!!
The second is Leonard Da Vinci “To be haunted by your mistakes is fate far worse than death”
This phrase, I used to live hard and it gosh darn near killed me. Straight up. Those who know my past, you know how hard I used to live this phrase...dark days! Both are powerful for me. Both have me summed up me and my life fairly well. Both mean so much to my training. And just my life and how I carry myself.
Anyhow, I think I’m rambling on now, and my swamp lake is back in near full force, so, I’m going for a swim....
See ya on the flip side
Thanks for your time
Mr.Duncan
Tuesday, 28 April 2020
My random rambling about stuff
Hey everybody! So I got a text from a good buds of mine....hey man where are you? Well, sorry for the missing in action, and well, to be honest, Thursday morning I picked up my 20lb sledge and motivated my back step into becoming part of a driveway! Yeah! Recycling! Smashed it into nice driveway stuff. Man I messed up that back step. There was concrete chunks flying everywhere! It’s was awesome. Humming a tune to myself and breaking things! I’m really good at that!
Then I figured, why stop there, and tore up my deck! Pulled the 4x4 posts and all. It was rotting out on me. I do plan on using some of the good wood to build the skeleton on the new deck. Well, shucks I figured, if I’m going to go through with rebuilding a deck, I bloody well do it right. Better fix the grade of the land so it’s running away from the house! No problem! I got a hand packer and a rolling drum for compacting! Great times! Well, I figured, been wanting to take off the bottom piece of siding and do an inspection for a while. That’s done and what better way to clean that mess up with some blue skin waterproofing.
I figured the deck I would like to build and bamo, took some finagling, but I figured out a good way to do the foundations without to much expense. And I live on a swamp, so, there’s only so far a guys willing to guy for a deck. It’s gonna be solid like solid man. Once I laid out the deck I could dig down and build good foundations and place a sidewalk block and a 4x4 support in there. Had to dig almost a foot in a few spots, but, I got the desired compaction and height. Took some time but I nailed it. Ah and get this, I have the metal roller for compacting and I dug my base hole big enough I thought I could use it, nopers, not like I hoped. Just made a mess. Had to pack it all by hand with a ten inch steel plate....one thump at a time....thumpity thump thump. My hands are sore.
Anyhow. I’m pleased with myself and the task I’ve completed so far. There was not a lot of physical Kung fu done. Like forms and such, I’ll be straight only a small hand full since Thursday. I’ve been pushing hard to get this done though. This deck has become my obsession! It must be accomplished before madness ensues once more. Hahaha! It sounds kinda reaching but, I’m always thinking about Kung fu and going through my forms in my mind while I smash the ground some more. Or when I’m obligated to destroy the 3’x4’x6ish” thick slab of step by supper, because I challenged myself. I said if this isn’t done, I’m not eating. It’s was mid afternoon I guess. Then the swings had some more swing to ‘em. Honestly, the smile I had driving that beautiful dance partner of a 20lb hickory sledge was ear to ear. You can keep your plastic handle thingy. Those are for kids.....I’ll get back into the heavy of things of training again. Just gotta finish this deck. Almost there. And the lumber is coming tmrw!! Bam hardware deliveries rock!! This is a guys dream come true! Lumber, screws and I don’t have to leave the house! It just shows up on my driveway. Ha! Fantastic! I’ll buy that for a dollar!
Anyhow. Sleep time is ticking away and this cat has a date with a deck!
Peace to the out.
Mr.Duncan
Then I figured, why stop there, and tore up my deck! Pulled the 4x4 posts and all. It was rotting out on me. I do plan on using some of the good wood to build the skeleton on the new deck. Well, shucks I figured, if I’m going to go through with rebuilding a deck, I bloody well do it right. Better fix the grade of the land so it’s running away from the house! No problem! I got a hand packer and a rolling drum for compacting! Great times! Well, I figured, been wanting to take off the bottom piece of siding and do an inspection for a while. That’s done and what better way to clean that mess up with some blue skin waterproofing.
I figured the deck I would like to build and bamo, took some finagling, but I figured out a good way to do the foundations without to much expense. And I live on a swamp, so, there’s only so far a guys willing to guy for a deck. It’s gonna be solid like solid man. Once I laid out the deck I could dig down and build good foundations and place a sidewalk block and a 4x4 support in there. Had to dig almost a foot in a few spots, but, I got the desired compaction and height. Took some time but I nailed it. Ah and get this, I have the metal roller for compacting and I dug my base hole big enough I thought I could use it, nopers, not like I hoped. Just made a mess. Had to pack it all by hand with a ten inch steel plate....one thump at a time....thumpity thump thump. My hands are sore.
Anyhow. I’m pleased with myself and the task I’ve completed so far. There was not a lot of physical Kung fu done. Like forms and such, I’ll be straight only a small hand full since Thursday. I’ve been pushing hard to get this done though. This deck has become my obsession! It must be accomplished before madness ensues once more. Hahaha! It sounds kinda reaching but, I’m always thinking about Kung fu and going through my forms in my mind while I smash the ground some more. Or when I’m obligated to destroy the 3’x4’x6ish” thick slab of step by supper, because I challenged myself. I said if this isn’t done, I’m not eating. It’s was mid afternoon I guess. Then the swings had some more swing to ‘em. Honestly, the smile I had driving that beautiful dance partner of a 20lb hickory sledge was ear to ear. You can keep your plastic handle thingy. Those are for kids.....I’ll get back into the heavy of things of training again. Just gotta finish this deck. Almost there. And the lumber is coming tmrw!! Bam hardware deliveries rock!! This is a guys dream come true! Lumber, screws and I don’t have to leave the house! It just shows up on my driveway. Ha! Fantastic! I’ll buy that for a dollar!
Anyhow. Sleep time is ticking away and this cat has a date with a deck!
Peace to the out.
Mr.Duncan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)