Coming Soon

 I’ve been working on one of my personal requirements.  It’s nothing fancy, but it will be a start and I can always expand. 

Side Heel Visualization

Over the last several weeks I’ve been doing a lot of visualization with almost everything.

Something that I’m excited to start working on again when I can is my side heel.  I was working on this a lot prior to my surgery.  But while being “off my feet” I’ve been analyzing a lot of old videos.  And while visualizing the kick in my head, trying to figure out what I need to do to really send my foot straight out, I stumbled upon something that I think may make a difference.

Previously, my initial intent was for my crane stance and bringing my knee up.  Then my intent would shift to my foot for the kick.  There always seemed to be a disconnect here.

I then happened upon a different approach.  Instead of focusing on bringing my knee up…I instead would focus on bringing my foot up.  With my focus and intent already with my foot, it feels like I will have better control and a more seamless shift to the kick.  I know it seems like the same thing, but I don’t think it is.

I’m antsy to start putting this theory to the test.

On The Mend

I had my first physio appointment yesterday.  My foot was pretty tired after that.

I also did my first Tai Chi class back on my foot yesterday.

And my first core class.

And IHC tonight.

It’s taken a beating these last few days. 

But although its feeling sore, I think it’s feeling better.

Success And Failure As An Instructor

A Success

Yesterday in the Level 1 Young Dragons, I was asked by a student what the white stripe was for.  I might have easily answered "The white stripe is your 6 harmonies, and that means your forms".  But I hesitated.  We've been talking alot as instructors about how we need to not be so focused on specifics of the syllabus.  We don't want the students (or ourselves) to simplify the striping system to such a degree that it becomes a checklist.  As mentioned in a recent article by Sifu Brinker, we don't want to train in, or teach from, a silo.  Instead, we want to help the students (and ourselves) realize how everything within the curriculum, and the syllabus, is connected.  And we want to help students connect the dots in order to expand their opportunity for progress and growth.

So instead, I challenged my own thinking and changed my answer to "Well, the white stripe is our 6 harmonies.  And specific to what we are working on today...."

I went on to explain a little about the external harmonies (hands/feet/elbows/knees/shoulders/hips) and showed her how that would work specifically with the choke defense that we were learning.  How it's not just our arm performing the technique...but also our legs, feet, entire body really.  And by having everything working together, in harmony, we maximize the efficacy of the technique.  I did not get into the internal harmonies and tried to keep my explanation short and "level/age appropriate".  I was pleased in that she seemed to understand and began to utilize more of her body.  And I could tell in her expression, that she felt the difference and was happier with the results afterwards.

I was happy I made the attempt to answer her question about a stripe by using what we were working on in that moment as the example.  This is a practice I will continue as I can see the benefit to the student, and to myself.

A Failure

Later on with the Level 2s, I was leading the class and was going to progress the choke defense to a small taste of how it could lead to an arm bar.  I was not happy with how my explanation went.  Reflecting on this afterwards, I could see a couple reasons for this.  The first is confidence.  Half way into the explanation, I realized that I was lacking confidence in my words.  And that, to me, means that this is something I need to be practicing more myself, before I will have a good ability to teach it.  The second factor was that I had Sihing Burke and Sidai Csillag demo this for me.  I'm still favoring my foot and didn't want to risk an accidental twist.  In hindsight, I think that I may have done better with the explanation if I had actually been doing the demo physically as well.  Or, alternatively, it would have been better if one of them had explained and demo'd so they could have stopped, gone slower, moved around, etc, in real time with their explanation.  Either way, I will remember this in future so I can adjust my instruction to best serve the students.

IHC Number Update - August 1

2023 Year of the Rabbit

Year of the Rabbit - January 22, 2023 to February 9, 2023 (384 days)

Base Requirements

Hand Form - Tai Chi Short Form  459/1000

Weapon Form - Kwan Dao  489/1000

Push-ups  23,468/50,000

Sit-ups  23,114/50,000

Sparring  429/1000 *this has suffered a bit over the last couple months.

Kilometers 710/1609 *this has suffered alot.  But I'm seeing an upward trend since I started walking again

Acts of Kindness  527/1000

Blogging/Online Presence - yup

Unexcused Absences - yup

Mastery by Stewart Emery - 👎

Mend a Relationship - 👍

Lion Dancing - no

Tiger Challenge - complete!

Public Performances - Tiger Challenge

Core Curriculum - hope so

SRKF Projects and Initiatives - Children's Class Weekly Recaps, Spring Break Mad Minute Challenge, Earth Day, Dragon Dance organizing, Blood Drive

Personal Requirements

Monthly Movie/Game Family Night  6/12

Lion Dance Drumming - Going good.  I need to ensure I'm doing the 5-star properly

Chi Development - not at a total standstill, but could be better.

Establish online presence for pottery - I've been looking into a platform

Daily blogging  192/384 *14 of these are "I  Am" blogs

Weekly Kick Assessment - no progress at this time

Daily Report

I gotta say.  Today was a really great day.

I managed to start my day when my alarm rang.  That’s 4 days straight now.  Although I didn’t get everything accomplished that I wanted it, it was for good reason.  I decided to pull out my Kwan Dao today.  I’ve been using a stick for the past while to avoid any extra weight and strain on my foot.  But I figured if I went really slow with my turns and pivots I’d be okay.  And I was.  Until I really got into it and started really extending my blade.  So much so, that I took out my ceiling light with a particular overhead strike.  And so I was on cleanup duty for the remainder of my training time.

My first day at work went well.  I’ve missed my colleagues.  And it returned a semblance of normalcy to my day.  Finally some structure!  I did very little walking and kept my foot elevated and managed to last the whole day.

I was really proud of the kids today too.  They were home alone all day and managed really well.  They entertained themselves with lots of different “non screen” activities.  Games.  Colouring.  Lego.  Played outside.  I really do have great kids.  As a parent, I’ve gotten very lucky.

And to end my day, class was great.  Although my foot seemed to swell quickly, for the first time in a long time, I was able to participate in the class with some combinations that involved my whole body and even did some (shallow) bow stance slide stepping.  Might not seem like much, but it’s been a while!  Todai Csillag and I were also invited to teach both levels how to make paper cranes.  It was a nice way to be really immersed the class. 

Yup, a really great day.  

Back To Work

I think I overdid it today.  I go back to work tomorrow and so I, of course, decided there was a bunch of things that needed to get done.  I’m now in bed elevating and icing.  

I’m both looking forward to, and a little nervous about tomorrow.  Yet another adjustment in this process with potential to derail.

Either way, my alarm is set.

So Far So Good

So far so good with my plan to get back on track.  Two days in a row doesn’t sound all that impressive, but it has to start somewhere.  And 2 days is better than 0.

Technically I would normally let myself sleep in on weekends.  But I feel like when you recognize a need for change, you need to do it then and there when the motivation and desire is fresh.  Not “I’ll start Monday” or “I’ll start next week or “I’ll start in the new year”.

Once I get back into a good routine, I can adjust.  Right now, I just need to be as consistent as possible.

Finally Some Direction

Today I ran through each form, for the first time in 8 weeks, using both my upper and lower halves while also reimplementing rotation and proper direction.

It wasn’t pretty.  My stances are super shallow…almost non-existent.  I’m still very very careful with any pivoting with that foot.  But it was interesting how I couldn’t really do anything with power or intensity with my upper half, when my lower couldn’t match it.  Meaning, because I was taking it slow and steady with my legs and feet, my arms and hands couldn’t exceed that same pace.

Anyhow, even at the extremely low intensity, it was exciting to be able to do these physically again.

My List To Get Back On Track

Okay.  So I know I’m in a rut here.  I guess recognizing that is the true first step. It’s also not totally unexpected.  As prepared as I tried to be going into this, 8 weeks into recovery from major bone surgery is bound to cause some challenges.

Step 1 Due Friday

I had a really great conversation with Sihing Csillag tonight about my recent blog of feeling stuck.

In my blog I mentioned how I know what to do, but just can’t initiate it.  So he suggested that I make a list of these things I need to do. A list might 1) indicate to others how they might be able to help and 2) define it better for myself.

I started thinking about this a little earlier today.  And I realized that I only had a couple of clear thoughts that came immediately to mind…which made me wonder if perhaps I DON’T know exactly what I need to do.

Which makes this exercise an important first step.

So I don’t have a list yet.  But I will.  And I think I should set a deadline…so it doesn’t become something else I'm not doing.  So I intend to have a list…a plan of action….by Friday.  

Stuck

I need to do something.  I’m stuck in a rut.  I know what I need to do.  But I just can’t seem to initiate anything.

Too Many Twists

 

I just want to do stuff.  

I tried to shrimp today.  I tried to do Broadsword.  

Both caused too much twisting and I had to sit.

There’s no lingering pain.  So I’m fine.

But I’m getting frustrated.  I just want to do stuff.