Down, Hopefully not out

 The week was going so well. I finally nailed down the end of the Broadsword form. Well, at least remembered the moves to finish the form. I completed several reps to help with the muscle memory, and keeping it straight in my head. 

Several weeks ago I launched the Coldest Night of the Year challenge to my team at work. I’ve headed up this initiative for the last 5 or 6 years. We usually raise a good amount of funds through the branch, and involving the community to raise funds. This year we raised just over $2600.00 for the Parkland Food Bank. Saturday was the walk for this event. The turnout with my team was disappointing, and I was there by myself. I was still excited to do the walk, and did know several people there, so wasn’t worried about being on my own. Don ended up coming to walk with me, and it was great. At the start. 

Todai William Choy of course was one of the people there raising funds and walking for the Town of Stony Plain. We were at the back of the congested line of people, and he suggested we run along the side to get ahead and find a bit of a break in the long line. Good idea right? 

In the fall of 2021 I injured my knee. Not exactly sure what I did to it, most likely just overworked and strained. I took it easy for a bit, and it seemed to mend. I had gotten acupuncture once as well. I’ve teeaked it a few times since, and have gotten to know when I needed to back off and let it rest. It’s never quite been the same, and I’ve intended to get it looked at, but hadn’t done anything yet. Fear of being out of commission in my grading year, and not being able to catch up choked me a little. I let my ego drive my decision, and now I’m paying the price. 

As we ran along the sidewalk, in the hard packed snow, on a bit of an incline; I could feel that my knee was not liking it very much. We ran for about three quarters of a kilometer when I called it quits for the running. I then hobbled along for the rest of the 2km walk. I had intended to do the 5km walk, but at that point knew it wouldn’t be a good idea. I didn’t sleep well, and this morning can barely walk. I can’t bend far, can’t straighten my knee, and the pain is about an 8 at times. 

I had my massage booked for this morning, and she lightly worked it to get the muscles to relax a bit, and put ice, and icy/heat on it. That helped for a bit, and some R&R for the rest of the day. I’ve also booked a physio appointment for next week. So hopefully I haven’t done myself in for the long haul, but this week may be benching it for classes. Hopefully the rest today provides a less painful day tomorrow! 

Finding Rhythm

 I’m starting to find some rhythm with my sword form. I’ve learned almost the whole form, with only a few more moves at the end to go. I’ve tried to practice these last few moves from the livestream video, but am having a difficult time with the flow, so I don’t think I am doing them correctly. 

I’m working on the flow with the form, and breaking down the techniques to get them correct, while still feeling how it connects together in the form. Sword one is feeling pretty good, two is coming along, and three is still fairly new, but probably my favorite part of the form. 

I’m also feeling good with my rhythm in the rest of my training. It took me a bit to find a good schedule to fit everything in in the week, with going down to two scheduled classes for myself, and attending the two other classes as an observer.. I’ve enjoyed attending the other classes, and soaking up the knowledge given. I’m certainly there to help where I am able, but not quite sure of my role yet. 

I’m also really excited about a project I have planned for myself coming up. More to come on that. 

Sword Form

 Learning a new form is always exciting for me. First learning the moves and mechanics of how the form flows together, and then working on that flow. We starting learning the sword form a couple of months ago in class, and then it was put on hold for a bit to train for the banquet. 

I’m enjoying being in the level 2 class and working on the form, learning the next moves. Being in person for me is always a bit easier to learn. We also have the wonderful videos, but I find it more difficult to actually see how the move or technique is performed. So it is great to have the in person right now to have the opportunity to learn live. 

As with all new forms for me, I learn in steps. First the move and technique, then putting it together to flow correctly, and then practice, practice, and more practice to make it feel good. This form has some difficult sequences for me due to injury, so I’m working on those particular parts a bit more to help myself be able to do them correctly. And with learning a new form, it always helps my other forms with technique and flow. 

As soon as we started learning this form, I chose it for my IHC form for this year, and I’m looking forward to see and feel the progression through the year. 

Rough Week

 It’s been a rough week, and it’s been a bit of a struggle to get past it. It started with a bit of a struggle with my new training schedule and it has snowballed from there. Is it a coincidence that when I struggle with my Kung Fu, everything else seems to be harder? I don’t believe so, the two are definitely connected. 

Embarrassment and self doubt are proving to be a little tougher to move past at the moment. But, I have struggled before, and will struggle again, and I will get past this. The best thing that I can do is continue to push forward. Continue to work through this, and I will prevail. Beating down the ego is proving to be a bit difficult right now, but continuing to attend classes, keeping my training up, and even writing this blog will help. 

Kung Fu is such a large, important part of my life as a whole, when I struggle with that, other things crumble easier as well. One of my favorite Aunts passed away this week, and then a long time client the same day, which certainly hasn’t helped how I’m feeling. Although it feels like dark days at the moment, brighter days are ahead. 

Routine Revitalize

 I have been struggling the last couple of weeks to find a good balance. My routine went through a big change after the Chinese New Year banquet. 

For 8 years I’ve had a minimum of 2 classes per week. Then the last 4 years was a minimum 3 classes per week. And the last couple of years 4-5 days a week, and 5-6 days in the last year or so. Preparing for grading, and the new years banquet was intense. I loved it, it was a top priority, and I learned a great deal. And then, the next day my world shifted slightly. 

After several years of multiple classes per week, it was a schedule that was comfortable, even though sometimes hectic. Now being back to 2 scheduled classes per week, I am struggling to find the balance of training I am used to. I still really enjoy joining the other classes in the week, and although still learning a lot, they are not my classes to practice and train in. 

This is the test of mediocrity for me at the moment. It is easy to choose down time, and the old saying of I deserve a break for a bit, but this can very quickly snowball into weeks and months. I am still keeping up with IHC numbers, as I’ve built a good routine for those over the last few years, but I am missing my other training practices for forms, and everything else Kung Fu provides. 

I know this is a time of change, and adjustment, and I know I will find my way. I guess I didn’t prepare myself enough for the struggle I am having getting there, or maybe I thought it would be more of a natural transition. Either way, it will come, and I simply need to push forward, and have mastery in front of me at all times.