Pyramid rebuild

I have recently been completing a great deal of review of previous curriculum and am really unimpressed with what is not coming to me second nature.  We speak of training as a pyramid in which a strong established base leads to a successful uprising of the training pyramid.

Call it neglect of the pyramid base, but I think it has led to some bad habits.  I think that at times when we train we sometimes get a little ignorant of what makes the pyramid….the pyramid.  It is not something that can be established and forgotten, but has to be revisited, practiced and re-polished more often than we realize.

For the time being the focus is going to be reworking things from the beginning, rebuilding the blocks that have been neglected.

A good dose of support

I just returned from field camp in Red Earth yesterday.  It is awesome to know that things are really going to turn into full on Kung Fu mode for the next few months anyway, as nothing seems to be on the horizon for field work.

I just want to give a great thank you to all the support that the students and Sifu's have offered to me in order to get my kung fu feet back up and running.  Mostly though, I want to thank my wife and family for the support they have shown in the last little while.  The picture is what I came down to find in my Kung Fu laboratory tonight.

Support is so grand when you embark on a program like the I Ho Chuan.  I am fortunate to have a wonderful supportive family, and furthermore a great group of people at Silent River.

So on another note, I found an excellent way to practice rearward break falls.  Sitting on a large exercise ball, roll backward for a controlled type fall to the mats.  I noticed the Kwoon had a couple of these balls as well.  I find this is a great intermediate transition method for people trying to make the jump from a rear break fall from the squat position, to a full on airborne rearward fall.  The ball allows for a slower descent that is more controlled and easier to time, helping to build confidence to a fall that might be required in a throw for instance.

Anyway, hope to see you all the Kwoon this week.

Vince.

January 11, 2015

I have recently returned to town and was able to get into the Kwoon for the first time in a couple months.  Running into training partners again has been excellent.  The last two days since I have been home has been an exceptional time of refocus.  It has started with a revamp of my training area, which has been converted from a dusty bowflex with toys hanging all over it, to a dedicated kung fu area.  It is small, but it will provide a good place to study and work on some essentials.

I am starting with a good deal of motivation.  Carrying the momentum is always an issue, but routine resulting in positive habits, accountability, and reflection will aid in success.  Time seems to fly as always, but I seem to have a clarity for what has to get accomplished.  Probably more so than I have in a long time.

In terms of scheduling, I have one more bout of work for a period of possibly a week, starting Friday.  Following that, it is pretty likely work will be buzzing off for a period of time.

January 4, 2014

In curiosity I googled the top five New year’s resolutions and without surprise they were:

1. Lose Weight

2. Quite smoking

3. Spend less money

4. Enjoy life to the fullest

5. Stay fit and healthy.

6. Scuba dive with a Whale shark.

Now to the credit of the day, there will probably be 2.8 billion less lung fulls of cigarette smoke, 7 Billion rotations of exercise bike pedals, Millions of savings accounts opened, 10 million additional family days, and one guy getting his scuba license as soon he learns to swim. There may have been a little list crossover there, but moving to my point, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Not specific enough

No action plan

No accountability

No measurable consequence.

 

Just a couple items that should be considered when reviewing the goals of the I Ho Chuan.

December 15, 2014

Everybody needs somebody, sometime.  Training partners are sure important.  This week in a review of Kung Fu curriculum, performing shadow techniques was just not working.  I am sure I looked a little goofy, trying to hide on the side of the pickup truck performing an arm bar on an imaginary assailant, out of view of the passing heavy equipment. Fortunately with Kung Fu, there are zillions of things that can be improved on while solo. I will be continuing with shadow techniques probably until into the New Year when I hope to return. Also working on increasing the number of pushups and situps with fewer reps.  I have noticed a great lag in my endurance that I hope to change over the next couple of months.  Currently in Dawson Creek, likely here until Christmas.

December 8, 2014

Staying aware with what is right with your body.  That is something I am realizing lately.  Some of the reasons for the major slides in peoples health I think is really because body change is generally very gradual.  It is easy to forget how a healthy body feels, and to make matters worse, the body is very good at adapting and working the best it can under the worst of situations.  I am working through that right now.  Where I am getting a little extra time due the job circumstances I am putting time into kicks (which have really slid on me in the last 6 months) and horse stances.  I also was kept up all night because I had forgotten the transition on a particular form that I have completed probably a couple thousand times.  How does this happen?  Anyway, come 2 am It finally came to me, and I have been practicing that transition several times a day.

Currently still in Dawson Creek, where the job is taking much longer than expected.  I will probably be here up to Christmas.

Can't wait to get back training with you all.
P.S. - Sent my rope dart into the hotel TV, so I will be taking a break from that for now.

Vince. 

November 30th

Where would I be if 8 years ago if I hadn’t taken the chance and dropped into the Kwoon for my first class. Well, I get a good taste of where I would be every fall, when after a long duration away from a regimented training regime I find myself struggling with joints that aren’t supported properly due to lack of muscle, cardio that is weakened, more prone to sickness due to an improper diet regime, loss of flexibility, strength loss, among other things.

But this also gives me an appreciation for what I have in this lifestyle. It gives me the motivation to climb back when I return from a work season, because quite frankly, I haven’t forgot that this is important to me.

Currently writing from Dawson Creek, in -32 degree weather.  This week I intend on focusing on the horse stance in my “Hotel training regime”.