From COVID to the Kwoon

 One of the topics we discussed in our Saturday class was about training at home. Most of us are fortunate to be back in the Kwoon to train, but some are still training at home. Training and learning at home can be a struggle. Space is generally the biggest thing to adjust to. 

It was about 2 weeks (as best that I recall) after I earned my second degree brown belt, that classes went online due to covid. At the time of earning my second degree, Lao Gar was a form that was only taught to second degree brown belts, and was taught by another second degree student versus learning in class. This proved to be a conundrum for me, as I was now online, and didn’t have a lot of access to other second degree brown belts. Fortunately for me, my boys had learned most of the form, so they were a large part in my learning this form. With one on ones, navigating videos online, and adjusting to the space I had, I learned Lao Gar. 

Once the Kwoon was open again, I eagerly returned with a new form under my belt. Well, not as great as I thought. One thing I realized going from COVID lock down to back to the Kwoon was how I needed to ‘cacoon’ my forms due to space. The forms I knew before online classes were easier to get back to true form. But Lao Gar was a different story. I still struggle with not adding extra steps to allow for room. Shuffle this way, slide back that way. No walls or furniture in my way at the Kwoon, but muscle memory and auto pilot in the brain is still something I need to to be constantly aware of. If I get distracted, I revert to the ‘living room’ form. 

Eye for detail is so very important, and when something needs to be relearned in a way, it becomes crystal clear as to how important it is. A constant awareness, and mindfulness of every move, and every technique is a must.