Wednesday, 28 February 2024

Positive Steps

 So today I stepped over the dog, and apparently on some belly hair by accident. She yelped, I jumped. And twisted my knee. She was okay, I more or less got a dirty look, and she went on her way. I on the other hand took a gingerly step to see where I was at. Sore, but manageable. The positive point of this is I was sore for a bit, but no real pain, and no swelling. 

This to me is a big positive step. This means I have allowed myself the time to heal that is needed, and am healing well. 

It hasn’t always been easy. I am not one to sit. I like to give advice to people about letting themselves heal, but don’t usually heed that advice myself. The way I saw it going in to surgery is I could listen to the doctor and the proper timelines, or I could be back here all too soon. 

I have been practicing my horse stance, as that seems to cause the most discomfort right now. Each day I hold it a little longer, and get a little deeper in the stance. I’ve been working at my forms in the physical sense finally. Slow and methodical especially changing stances. Positive steps forward. Two more weeks, and hopefully on the mats!

Push ups- 1900

Sit ups - 1600

Form reps - Hand 10, weapon 0

AOK’s - 152

Sparring (modified) - 30

KM’s - 58

Blogs - 3

Wednesday, 21 February 2024

Watching….Waiting and Kindness

 The first week of the Year of the Dragon has been a good start, in some ways. I’ve been benched, and I am anxiously awaiting to be back on the mats. Hopefully soon! My appointment with my surgeon is March 11th, and I’m really hoping for a green light. 

I’ve been enjoying watching from the penalty box, seeing how people move in different ways, different ways of going into techniques, and stances. The end results are very similar, but the subtle differences of how people get there has been intriguing. I’m enjoying listening and learning in different ways than I’m used to. I’ve not been able to do this in quite this way before, as I was concentrating mainly on how I was doing it. I’m looking forward to bringing  this knowledge into the next part of my journey, rebuilding. 

It was a perfect start to the year with the Kindness week, and the challenge brought forward to the school, and the black belts. I agree with Sihing Burke in the fact that it makes me realize how some of the acts of kindness I view as being polite, and a normal thing I would do, and looking for or creating opportunities for others. I too will carry that forward and take advantage of creating more opportunities to be kind. I hope this is only the start and everyone will see how easy it really is to be kind, and the ripple affect it creates. 

My numbers for some goals have a good start, some will lag a bit until I am able to really work on my forms, and be able to move better. My push ups are going well, as I’m able to incorporate more with my stretches for my knee. Now I need to  find a way to put more sit ups in my daily stretches lol. 

Push ups- 1150

Sit ups - 700

Form reps - Hand 0, weapon 0

AOK’s - 85

Sparring (modified) - 10

KM’s - 27

Blogs - 2

Sunday, 11 February 2024

Happy New Year, Year of the Dragon

 As we bid farewell to the Year of the Rabbit, I am reflecting on my year. Just a couple of weeks into the year, I injured my knee. This brought a different set of unexpecting challenges to face. I’ll admit there were times I was at the point of frustration that I wasn’t sure I would see any progression. One of the most important things I learned in this last year is there is always ways to progress, even if at times it is not a physical progression. I was fortunate to have opportunities that wouldn’t have presented themselves otherwise. My blogs have primarily been about this this past year, and a good reminder to look back on. Life will always have some adversity, and it is what we do with that adversity that helps us grow. 

Happy New Year, Year of the Dragon! I start this year exactly one month post surgery. Although it will be a slow start to the year, I look forward to recovery, learning, and forms again! Limitless opportunity. Even if training will look a bit different in my future, there is always ways to progress. I have learned to modify, and listen to my body. These have been lessons that I will carry forward to hopefully avoid injury in the future. And to remind me that no matter what is happening, I am a martial artist, I am a black belt with SRKF, I am thankful for the opportunities given to me, and I will never quit. 

Another Chinese New Year banquet, and another great success! Thank you to all who organized, set up, cleaned up, and participated. This huge feat would not be possible without all the great people taking part to help. 

A huge congratulations to all award recipients, and a special congratulations to our two newest black belt recipients. You all worked hard, did an amazing job, and are very well deserving. 

Welcome to our new IHC members this year. I look forward to being along side you in the coming year! 

The numbers below are the final numbers for the Year of the Rabbit. I am fairly happy with the year, even with the physical struggles. As always, a new year, and an opportunity to grow and to be even better. 

Push ups (most modified) - 35,425

Sit ups (most modified) - 32,595

Form reps - Hand 690, weapon 340

AOK’s - 1825

Sparring (modified) - 335

KM’s - 2695

Blogs - 42


Tuesday, 6 February 2024

Just Because…

 Just because it feels good… it is apparently a bit deceiving. Recovery has been going well, walking feels good as long as it’s not too long, and even navigating stairs is good for the most part. And then comes the push too far. 

I had a bit of a setback yesterday. At work we have the high office chairs, and in attempting to get on it, I accidentally pushed the lever that increases the height. This particular chair needs you to be sitting on it to lower it. So yes I attempted to get on. Yes, that was a miatake. I immediately felt sharp pain, and I believe I squealed. At least I didn’t end up on my face, especially as I had a client in front of me lol. 

Long story short, my knee started to swell immediately, and it is still very sore today. A good reminder that just because the outside feels pretty good, there is a lot of healing on the inside still needed. 

Maintenance

 This past week I focused on maintaining. This time of year is busy for most everyone. It’s also the time of year that people are running ou...