It's May 1st here and that means it's only 4 months left until we're done. I've been making so much progress since I've started practicing on my own more and it's so exciting! In a way it makes the 4 months seem too short, wish I'd done this a year ago. haha.

So with all this freedom, I'm working on fixing some bad habits I have, healing my old injuries, and some strength and flexibility stuff which is all really great. The best thing of all though is that I have the chance to really discover my own style, my own way of doing things that best suits my body and my temperament. For years I have been struggling to imitate my teacher as much a possible, an important step, but now in order to truly become a 'master' I need to integrate those lessons into who I am as a person and a martial artist. I'm finally starting to get a hint of what that is, there's a long way to go still but it's already making a huge difference in how I feel about my kung fu. It's a little like the movie Kung Fu Panda when he finally gets the scroll and it's empty, Tigress tells him that the 'secret is you' and he sees his reflection. I know it sounds cliche but I really understand how he felt in that scene. I am just starting to get a sense of my kung fu and I have a growing confidence that it is enough and good and right for me.

Just a few thoughts that have been floating around in my head lately.