Injury #2

So I had a good training week....up until wednesday night. During sparring I somehow sprained my ankle. I'm not sure exactly how it happened but Sifu prince was doing a takedown on me and I think I just landed on my foot funny and twisted it. Well it hurt a bit but the by the time I got home I was MAD! I was really frustrated because I don't have time for injuries right now, every day I need to be training hard and I can't afford to take days off. The next morning it was really stiff and sore. I had to take the day off of work AND jiu jitsu. By Friday I had it a little more in perspective, I decided to do the outline for the class I'm teaching at this years boot camp and catch up on some boring paperwork that I haven't had time for. Now it seems to be healing really quickly so I'm happy about that and I managed to participate in classes all day today with very little problem. I also got caught up on my push ups over the past few days so that's good. A setback like this can be frustrating but it really made me appreciate how lucky I am. There are others who are just as busy as I am that have much more severe problems, I should feel compassion for them, not sorry for myself.

Test of Character

UBBT. Ultimate Black Belt Test.

What can I say, it is exactly what it sounds like. A true test of character. There are many days where I wonder what ever posessed me to take this on. I am working full time, training in 2, soon to be 3 different martial arts, and trying to organize several different projects. I'm moving to China in August so I have less time to complete a lot of my requirements and preparations for that to deal with too.

On the other hand I've progressed in leaps and bounds. Combined with my previous trip to China, I've progressed more in the past few months than I have in the past few years! I would never have done a lot of the training I'm doing now if I didn't have the test to motivate me. So I'm really glad that I agreed to this even though some days I question my sanity! I think I'll look back on this period of my life as defining the person I'm becoming. And I like that person.

:)

I love Kung Fu!!!!!

If only I could spend about 5 years just training in kung fu....Oh wait, I'm doing it! Dreams really do come true!

Winning and Losing

My requirements are really all over the place right now. The Tiger Challenge went really well and I'm very happy with my performance overall. I failed at acheiving my goal though which was to place in the top 50% in each division. So now I'm in a weird state of mind. I succeeded and failed at the same time. These goals that I've set are definitely challenging, especially since I've decided to go back to China in August. There are days where I get overwhelmed and discouraged and other days where I'm on top of the world. I've also failed at meditating 15 minutes every single day. I've missed a lot of days but yet I keep going, keep trying. I've usually don't commit myself to such lofty goals but I'm so glad that I have because it's completely changed the way I see my world. Despite that fact that I know I won't succeed at everything I've chosen to do, I'm still making progress in leaps and bounds. I've changed the way I live my life and I make kung fu one of my top priorities. I always have a reason to train so I always find the time.

Even though I haven't achieved some of my goals, I'm really happy. I wish that I'd always known what I know now about success. It's about the journey, not the destination. If you don't try, you'll never succeed. And my new personal favorite: It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game. These are all things that people say (and hear) all the time but I never really understood until now. I hope I can pass on what I've learned to other people so that they can feel what it's like to give it your all and not hold anything back.

It may seem like I've failed at certain things but I feel like a winner. I know now that to do your absolute best is to win, no matter what the end result is. The only way you can lose is by not trying.

thanks

I read this really awesome quote once that I wanted to put in this post. I can't find it in my book now though so I'll do my best to paraphrase. Basically, it said that once you make a solid commitment to something in your mind, things start to fall into place. Doors open and opportunities present themselves. It is not enough to say it and yet have doubts inside. You have to be 100% committed. I've experienced this a lot with kung fu. I am constantly discovering new levels of commitment that at one time I would have thought impossible and each time I do, I receive all the tools that I need. Almost magically, it is made easier and more simple than it would have been if I'd been holding back.

Well that's the gist of it. If I manage to find the quote I'll include it later. It's much more eloquent than I am.

On a side note the tournament was today and everything went really well. I performed to my very best and I'm pleased with my success. I managed to scrape up a trophy for grand champion which is proof that lots of hard work really does pay off. Thanks to everyone who supported me. I'd write more but I'm on cloud nine right now and I really just want to sit outside and enjoy the sunset.