It's got me too!

I got the brain blahs! I am still making my body move and train, but my brain in not interested in thinking much. I'll be back next week.

Family

Over the last couple of days, I have been observing the folks that I train with (not in a creepy way). I was watching how they react to feedback in class, how they focus or not during open training, and how they react to each other.
I especially noticed how they responded in class to instruction and what they did with it. It seemed like each person perceived the instruction in a slightly different way, I think this is pretty normal. The completely amazing thing is how do our instructors figure out how to reach each and everyone of us, in our own special language. I realize it is partly our responsibility to tell them if we don't understand but they get us (each one) and work really hard to make sure that we understand the concept/move that they are teaching. I call this concept amazing because it is gift that they have, to figure us out, talk to us , to teach us.
I looked around at open training yesterday and was pleased to see how many people were there. There were all different belt levels and age groups, some were really focused trying to remember the moves in a form, while others were visiting with their training partners and sharing war wounds. Sometimes you can tell if there is major school event coming up by the number of people at open training, as I looked around yesterday, I realized that all these people were working on being better martial artists. Too cool!
I noticed that everyone there also was willing to stop what they were doing to help someone else. I think that is what creates such a warm family like atmosphere in our kwoon, the willingness each person has to help advance each other's training.

All Is Well....but I have already said that

So here I sit, trying to think of something to write. I want to write about how fabulous I feel about where I am but I am afraid that I am talking too much about that. I want to write about this amazing journey that I am on but I am afraid that I have already done that. I want to write about my incredibly supportive family but I am afraid that I have said that too often. I want to write about how fulfilling it is to have a pet family that makes me laugh everyday but I am afraid that I have done that too. I want to write about my amazing training partners, new and old, but I have done that a few times.
So I am not really sure what to write about....I do have one bit of news. After years (9) of wondering why people get up so early in the morning to practice kung fu, I have finally discovered the answer. I have attended the 6:40 class a couple of times and discovered that I really enjoy getting up early and doing kung fu. I totally get why all those people do it all the time, it is fantastic! I am not sure if it is because it is still dark but it feels like there is hardly anyone else in the whole world that is up and doing anything as cool as we are. The students are dedicated and hard working and I am looking forward to getting to know them and watching them grow.
This week I will discover how it feels to work until 11 pm and get up for the early class the next day and then work until 11 pm again. Wish me luck :)

Hidden Benefits

I have changed over the last year in a way that I didn't expect. This is my third year of being on the UBBT/I Ho Chaun team and it is different than the others. Yes, I am a black belt now but that is not what has changed so much. It's the numbers! I used to be so focused on the numbers, I have to get this many of this and that many of that in order to have accomplished something each day. Now I am more focused on running to improve my cardio, practicing my form so that I can improve it, doing kicks so that they have more power, and doing acts of kindness because I can. I am racking up the numbers but they are no longer my focal point.
This is what I love about being on the I Ho Chaun team, there are hidden benefits all the time. I didn't plan to become a better martial artist, a teacher, a person, it happens when you concentrate on being a better person today than you were yesterday, everyday.