Takin a Break

 I've decided to take some time off of work. I'm taking a break to focus on my Kung Fu, and my second degree brown belt requirements. For the next 8 days, I will be primarily focused on assignments, and reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

I have been trying hard to fit everything in - family, Kung Fu, work, life; and we all know how that goes. We have a really good 'physical' plan going, that runs fairly smoothly without much interruption. But, as I tried to fit more into my schedule to work on the 'mental' training, it was very tough, and I was not accomplishing all I wanted to. So I decided to just take some time off of work to focus on this particularly, and I believe it will take me a long way. I feel that if I can focus on mostly the assignments and the book this week, then it will be easier to incorporate with the rest of my training once I am back at work. 

I am very much looking forward to the next week for the knowledge and insight that I will take away, and be able to grow on. I am interested to see where this will take my journey. Will it be a new direction, or build on the direction I am currently on? I'm excited to see where it takes me! 

See you on the mats!

Aaaand Were Back!

 Some restrictions have been lifted, and we are back in the Kwoon again tomorrow, March 8/21! This is exciting, and exhilarating, but of course also comes with some change. 

Yes, I am blogging about this (again), as I like to have a record of where we were all it, when I look back years from now. Going back this time is restricted to low intensity. Martial arts, low intensity? Begs you to wonder... when I think low intensity, maybe I think Tai Chi? But, I have all my confidence in Master Brinker, and our instructors, and even though it will be low intensity, there will many opportunities, knowledge, and insights to gain. I am very much looking forward to it, as I know everyone else is. We are still distanced, 3 meters this time, and masks required at all times. Hence the low intensity. I really hope this sticks this time, and we can see progressive lessening of the restrictions, instead of another shut down. 

We have spent the better part of a year at home now, with a few months in the kwoon, before the second shut down. We have gained so much opportunity in that time, so much knowledge about Kung Fu, but also about ourselves. 

I started this Year of the Ox at home, virtually with my school, and team mates, and some classes will continue virtually, for now, but I started strong. I plan to stay strong. I will adjust when needed (some adjustments have already been made). We must remember that even though an in person class is low intensity, that does not mean our training is all low intensity. We are journeying through mastering a martial art, and our lives, this needs to continue outside of the Kwoon, more now than ever. We cannot become complacent with our training, and the restrictions. We stay strong. 

I have absolutely fed off of my team engagement in this past year, and I will continue to do so. Life's curve balls don't have anything on the strength of this school, the students, and the leaders. We have proven that, and we will continue to do so, even though it looks a bit different (again). 

See you on the mats tomorrow!