My Kung Fu Advent Calendar

It's funny how a small thought can quickly evolve into something much bigger.

I was putting together a Christmas Advent Calendar today for the kids and thought to myself, 

"What can I put in here for me?"...

...because who doesn't like a fun surprise everyday, right??  I couldn't bring myself to include candy....because I've basically been gorging Halloween candy for the month of November 😬.  So I needed to get more creative.

Of course my thoughts eventually went to kung fu....and how I've really enjoyed these challenges we've been doing....and how I love adding spontaneous things to my regular daily training....

And well, one idea led to another....and I now have a "Kung Fu Advent Calendar" 😂

24 days...24 different challenges...

And call me crazy, but I'm sorta pumped!..........until the "Power of the Instep" day gets pulled....then I may not be that pumped anymore....😆😭

Insight into Injury

This current Side Heel challenge has been much more difficult for me than the Front Thrust.  There is so much more involved and it just literally takes more energy to do 10 side heels versus 10 front thrust kicks.  The Side Heel also causes me pain in my one knee, which I believe is being caused by hyper-extension.  I've gotten some feedback on this and I've been working on some adjustments, but even so, after almost 800 kicks in the last 6 days, plus my regular training, its taken it's toll.  

I'm not sure if my kick has improved that much with this challenge, technically speaking, but I've taken this opportunity as a chance to try and pinpoint when I am experiencing pain, as well as when I'm not. 

Here's what I know.

• I don't seem to cause injury when kicking from horse.  Only from Bow stance.
• If I can really engage my leg muscles (ie. quads), less pain.  *This was some direct feedback I received and it has worked as long as I can engage those muscles.  This has proven more difficult than expected.
• If I pivot my base foot just a bit more than I've become used to, no pain.  This also seems to help me engage my leg muscles (as per my previous point) and seems to keep everything more aligned, right from my head to my heel.  I worry with this because I don't want to start venturing into back kick territory.
• The more power I direct to my heel, the less pain.
• The more I focus on chambering properly, the less pain.
• I have no pain in my left knee.  My left leg is my weaker side so perhaps I'm just not putting as much force into it.
• There is more pain if I get sloppy.  Ie. if I let things slide during the last couple of kicks in a set.
• The less stable I am, the more sloppy the kick.  I really need to improve my balance.
• I would describe it more as tenderness or tension rather than sharp pain.  And it's in the back of my knee, not really the joint.

From what I can tell there are a myriad of factors involved here.  But I have a feeling they are all connected to the same thing (engaging those muscles to avoid hyper-extension) and if I can make these adjustments, I'll be able to alleviate this pain.  The hardest part is consistency and being fully aware with each and every kick.  

The Power of 1000

During my recent testing, Sifu Hayes and I discussed how a kick needs to have a release of energy at completion.   Specifically, we were discussing the front thrust kick.  His feedback was that I wasn’t fully doing that.  He indicated that I was almost there, but needed to hold that last moment of my kick just a millisecond more to make that happen. 

Wouldn’t you know it, the very next day Mr. Bjorkquist posted the “1000 Front Thrust Kick Challenge”. 

This challenge came at just the right time with Sifu Hayes’ feedback fresh in my mind.  With each kick I focused on what he said and I realized exactly what he was talking about.  Allowing my kick to completely "finish", and not pulling back to a crane before that moment, really made a huge difference.  I was no longer just throwing kicks....I was delivering kicks....if that makes any sense.  Everything felt much more in control with the one "small" adjustment.  Everything I was doing seemed to be more complete and everything seemed to be fully engaged.  Prior to this, I now realize that finishing my kick before it was truly finished was impeding my stability, strength and control by just that little bit.  My front thrust is feeling really good after this challenge. 

I think I’m going to try this with the Side Heel.  I had worked on my side heel as a goal for about 4 months.  Not long ago I decided to table it for a bit and come back to it later with a fresh mind, because I felt my progress was starting to stagnate.  I think maybe this type of challenge is the fresh approach I need.  

Side note:  Does anyone else feel like things are posted, comments are made, or lessons include things that seem to be directed specifically at you at exactly the right time?? Lol.  I feel like this happens to me alot.

A Good Example

I had one of the new students in the Adult Level 1 class approach me recently.   The question asked of me was, "Did you find everything really hard when you first started?".  I grinned and laughed and answered, "When I first started?!  I still find everything really hard!" 

I went on to advise this student that yes, everything was hard when I first started.  REALLY HARD.  I told them that when I first started I felt like I was basically flailing all over the place, completely uncoordinated and had no idea at all what I was doing.  But that I took the advice of Sifu Rybak, and just faked it until things started to come together.  I told this student not to worry about it too much and that they were doing great....to just keep at it and that slowly things would start to make more sense and there would be improvement.

I walked away from the encounter hoping that my answer helped a little....and that it maybe boosted their confidence.  Because I certainly remember that same feeling when I started!

It wasn't until today that something dawned on me.  That student approached me because they saw ME as an example!  I'm assuming they must have been watching me, or listening to my questions, at some point in class and their perspective was that whatever we had been working on, I found easy!  Which really isn't the case...I've just gotten better at faking it. 😉  In any event, it seems I'm not the new kid on the block anymore.  Just how I am watching and learning from the students in front of me...and just how they are my examples....I have become that to those following me.  

We are all examples to others, whether we've chosen to be or not.  What a powerful realization that I might be an example to someone else.  I can only hope I'll be a good one.

My Annoyance

For anyone that follows Thich Nhat Hanh, you will know that he practices mindful breathing.  Within this, there is what's called mindfulness of feelings.  This is a way to acknowledge any feelings that are present, both good and bad.  For the bad, it's also a way to heal and accept.  He teaches not to suppress bad feelings or try to remove them, but instead to keep them, acknowledge them and take care of them because they are a part of you.

The other morning I was practicing my mindful breathing.  The kids were playing not far from me and were being somewhat loud and distracting.  I found myself getting more and more annoyed.  That feeling seemed to rise further and further up, and I could sense anger starting to follow it.  Thinking of Thich Nhat Hanh, I managed to re-focus.  And instead of trying to suppress my annoyance, I just let it come.  I accepted it and I found myself thinking "Hello annoyance.  It's okay that you're here.  Because let's face it....they truly are being annoying."  And immediately I found myself smiling and then laughing.  My annoyance dissipated...and the anger never had the chance to amount to anything more.

A feeling might start because of an external source, but it is completely within my own power to determine if, or how much, it grows.

Edit:  I was literally about to publish this when Sifu Brinker posted the announcement for the second shutdown.  This blog entry can apply to how I move forward with this challenge as well.  I am in total control of how I respond to this shutdown and the challenges that come with it.  Do I prefer to be at the Kwoon?  Yes.  Do I halt my progress and wait for it to re-open?  Absolutely not.  There is a tremendous amount of opportunity and growth to be had in any situation.  Often more so in the difficult ones.

Yellow Belt

I was promoted for the very first time.  I now have my Yellow Belt.

In all honesty, I did not realize I was being tested.  Officially that is.  We are always being tested to some capacity, so to me, this was no different.  I thought I just got lucky in getting to train with Sifu Hayes one-on-one for the class!  Haha.  In hind-sight it should have been obvious but I think I was just too focused on the feedback and information I was getting to read into it too much.

But I'm not going to lie, I was super excited when it happened. It was hard to stay humble and gracious when I sorta wanted to fist pump the air.  Lol.  It's always a great feeling to have your hard work recognized, even if it’s not the main motivation. 

My strategy will remain the same as it's always been.  Train to my maximum ability...not necessarily to the colour of my belt.

Side note:  A strange coincidence is that my very first Kung Fu class was November 4, 2019.  I was promoted to Yellow Belt on November 4, 2020.

Ouch

My poor dog got "quilled". 

A year ago, this would have sent me into a panic.  I would have been stressed out....anxious....and generally confused about what to do.  I would have been worried about her well-being, the cost, missing work, still getting the kids where they needed to go, etc, etc.  All of those worries would have been too much to handle all at once and I possibly would have lashed out at those around me because of my discomfort and frustration.  

For some reason I was able to handle the situation calmly and with a clear head.  Was my morning a little crazier than usual?  Of course.  But I seemed to be able to assess the situation, determine the severity and make a plan, while keeping the kids' morning routine basically normal, all without becoming overly distraught or anxious.

I'm fairly certain that Kung Fu, and my meditation practice, are likely the main reasons I was able to stay in the moment and keep a clear head.

Sunday Funday....not

I had a terrible day yesterday.  It didn't start terrible.  But slowly, throughout the morning, I found myself getting increasingly annoyed and angry at the smallest things.  Often there wasn't even a "thing" to be mad at.  I was just mad for no reason at all.  I almost felt as though I was vibrating with anxiety and tension.  I felt resentful at having so many things to do...yet I couldn't motivate myself to do any of them...even the ones I normally enjoy.  I was not myself at all.  The entire day was a write-off.  And I couldn't think of anything that would have made me feel like this....

...until this morning....after I finished my training and was ready to take on the day....it dawned on me....

I don't train on Sundays....which was yesterday.  And if I recall correctly, this isn't the first Sunday that I've felt lost and unmotivated.

Could not training have that big of an impact on me?

Dan had suggested yesterday that I go hammer out a bunch of pushups or throw some kicks at my heavy bag.  I glared at him until he slowly back-stepped out of the room to safety....and I ignored his ridiculous suggestion.....but maybe he was on to something.