We had our board breaking challenge this past week and I feel it went well. I was happy with my breaks although I played it a bit safe using only the school boards. Still dealing with some achy joints and back. It was great to see others with some great breaks and wins they were working towards.
Numbers suffering a bit still.
Push ups- 25,450
Sit ups and equivalent time with plank - 25,460
Form reps - Hand 630 Weapon 320
AOK’s - 751
Sparring - 450
KM’s - 1394
Blogs - 40
The past couple of weeks have been slower. Slower moving, slower moves. I pulled a muscle in my lower back/top buttock region. It’s been slow to recover. I’m still stiff in the morning, and through the day it loosens up. Stretching has been a constant, and hopefully it settles soon.
We were doing punches on the heavy bag, which caused skinned knuckles and sore hands. And then a bump with a dragon pole caused soreness and some bruising. It’s been a week!
The lessons from these aches and pains? 1. Always warm up and stretch before repetative workouts. 2. Grab my gloves/hand wraps before hitting the heavy bag. 3. Most importantly, I was definately shown areas of needed work and more practice! Recovery is slower as we age, and I need to remember I’m not a young spring chicken any longer!
Sit ups suffered this week due to the sore back, but pushed for a few slower ones.
Push ups- 24,975
Sit ups and equivalent time with plank - 24,990
Form reps - Hand 626 Weapon 320
AOK’s - 737
Sparring - 440
KM’s - 1359
Blogs - 39
I have always had to figure stuff out a little different due to my height. I’m not that short, but short enough that sometimes it can make a difference in what I’m trying to do. A step stool is always handy in the kitchen for example lol. And in Kung Fu. Even a couple of inches can make a big difference when it comes to practicing technique’s with others.
On Tuesday we were doing just that, and not a technique that we usually would practice. First of all is was left handed. I know for a few this may have come easier, but I am right hand dominant. We do not have a lot of left handed prominences in most of our forms that are practiced consistently, and those we do have feel normal due to that practice. When something different is presented, left handed, and something that my height difference factors in, it was a struggle. After several reps it was starting to come along and not feel so weird lol.
When a new technique is presented to learn and practice I do my best to figure it out with the challenges it may also present, while keeping true to the technique being taught. How can we grow if we don’t learn new things, and challenge ourselves? I learn through fail, and working through something that doesn’t necessarily come easy. Great class, once again.
Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, and hope everyone is able to enjoy some wonderful family time.
Push ups- 24,425
Sit ups and equivalent time with plank - 24,840
Form reps - Hand 614 Weapon 316
AOK’s - 721
Sparring - 425
KM’s - 1331
Blogs - 38
It was a bit of a different week as there was no class on Tuesday, and I attended online for the meeting. I made a trip to Jasper on Tuesday to help volunteer with the branch in Jasper as they hosted and prepared the lunch for the Truth and Reconciliation gathering. It was great to be a part of it, and listen to the guest speakers tell their stories. A lot of it was heartbreaking, but also uplifting to hear of the healing, and progress being made.
We also spent the weekend in Jasper with the family for Kody’s birthday, and we enjoyed some wonderful family time.
Lots of driving this week, but also lots of Kung Fu, maybe not so much in the physical sense, but it was cherished time spent, and wonderful memories made.
Push ups- 23,805
Sit ups and equivalent time with plank - 24,220
Form reps - Hand 601 Weapon 316
AOK’s - 704
Sparring - 425
KM’s - 1294
Blogs - 37
The past few weeks I have been in conversation to take another role at work. I would have been leaving the branch and going into a position in a different area, and new to me. This is a position that has been offered to me before several times, and the timing felt right this time. There were certain things I was willing to take a decrease on, income being one of them. I was getting excited to start a new journey, with new courses and training needed, and a big shift in what I currently do.
The position was mine for the taking, but I have turned it down once again unfortunately. There were factors I could not concede to at this point of my life. The working hours would have been great, and a positive in many areas of life for myself and my family. So now I must refocus on how I am going to change my mindset in how I do my current job. I’ve not been very successful changing this in the past, but for my own well being it is a must at this point. I do love my job, and the people I am able to connect with, but it can no longer be at the expense of myself and my well being. Although the situation is disappointing, it is also a good opportunity for me to make some serious changes in what I currently do, and how I work.
As many others are, I have been focusing on parts of forms and techniques to help me in positioning correctly and feeling good. It feels like a struggle at times, but growth usually does. I am starting to feel some positives, so that feels good.
Push ups- 23,155
Sit ups and equivalent time with plank - 23,705
Form reps - Hand 584 Weapon 316
AOK’s - 680
Sparring - 425
KM’s - 1259
Blogs - 36
This weekend was packed with family time. It started off with Kung Fu family time. I had initially declined this as our nephew’s wedding was also on this day. I didn’t believe the timing would work to be fully involved in one and not be late for the other. My husband of course disagreed, and I’m glad he did. It was a great time, and congrats to all three teams on another fantastic performance. It was heartwarming to do this performance at the care facility. I have lived firsthand with the disease these people are living with, and I know how much something like this positively affects them all, and the caregivers taking care of them. Close to my heart, and grateful to be a part of it. We also made it to the wedding with time to spare, and it was a beautiful rest of the day.
Today was spent with an uncle I haven’t seen in 30 years, and precious to that visit it had been more than 10 years. So needless to say, this is a family member I had only spent any time with before I was age 10. My extended family has a storied history, much of which I learned a lot about today. I was fortunate enough to be sheltered by almost all of it from my parents, but there is always a lot of wonder about bits and pieces I have heard. It was so refreshing to connect, learn about family, and have some things explained. He, like my parents separated himself from the family, and has lived a full, successful life. We ended up connected again by a picture a second cousin posted on her Facebook page, and he for some reason came across the picture on his wife’s fb. The wonder of the internet…. Anyway, it was definitely a full, heartwarming weekend, and the start of a reconnection that I definitely look forward to watching grow.
Push ups- 22,605
Sit ups and equivalent time with plank - 23,135
Form reps - Hand 571 Weapon 316
AOK’s - 667
Sparring - 415
KM’s - 1229
Blogs - 35
Both classes this week were filled with many bits of aha moments for me. Some bigger ‘carrot’ moments, and some smaller crumbs of wows. Even if the bigger moments of understanding come, the crumbs can be huge moments, and make big impacts, sometimes bigger than the obvious ones.
Moving my foot ever so slightly brought immediate alignment, and balance. Maybe a crumb to some, but I believe it will make a world of difference for me in all of my forms. Technique tweaks also brought balance and a new understanding. I’ve been practicing keeping these lessons at the forefront, and slowing down to concentrate more, as I found even practicing further in class I was going back to what I was previously doing if not specifically paying attention. Practice brings muscle memory so I need to be mindful.
I was in a mindset of this is how it is supposed to be, and closing myself off to an eye for detail. The takeaways from this week showed me that small changes can be made to help transitions immensely, as of course I am not the same person as I was yesterday. Another reminder for me.
Push ups- 22,170
Sit ups and equivalent time with plank - 22,610
Form reps - Hand 562 Weapon 316
AOK’s - 651
Sparring - 415
KM’s - 1198
Blogs - 34
