Next Demo

Pretty excited about the Canada Day Demo,  due to circumstances I have missed the previous two opportunities (Farmers Day & the Seniors) so this will be fun.  Going to bring all my weapons and have been reviewing stuff all week just to smooth them out and refresh my aging memory.  Not sure about the dynamics or setup of the event but it sounds interesting.  Hung up my uniform to shake out the wrinkles so I represent Silent River well. 

Still struggling with the footwork/orientation on the two kicks in the horse whisk form, not 100% yet.  Its awkward to go from an open X stance into a spinning reverse roundhouse and a roundhouse,  the foot placement is critical and its not consistent or smooth. 

Once I get it I will wonder why it took me so long!

June 17, 2016

Survived the dance event.

Still working on my forms although I am going to have to change the footwork coming out of an open X stance and into the spinning reverse roundhouse, the way I am doing it hurts my knee and torques the hip.  Couldn't figure out why it didn't feel good and looked worse, a talk with Sifu Beckett and we worked out where I was stepping into it incorrectly.  That's why the I Ho Chuan team concept is so great ... lots of expertise, lots of help and support.  As a blackbelt I would like to claim that my eye for detail and six harmonies are flawless, unfortunately that's not the case.  Appreciate the help!  Not going to be able to make the demo or the meeting this weekend as Dean and I are looking at a property in Penticton and won't make it back till sunday.

Staying focused

It has been very challenging this last couple of weeks to stay focused on Kung Fu.  Dean & I are doing a solo performance (quickstep) and a group dance with three other couples.  So just like the Silent River Banquet there is a lot of intense practicing before the performance date.  My feet hurt, I have blisters, I am stressed out and I falling behind on my king fu numbers because this week everyday we are practicing dance routines.  Why do I do this?  It must be love.   I am really concerned that the solo that Dean & I are doing is going to crash and burn.   The dance is fast, a single mistake and its almost impossible to recover or cover up, I could wind up on the prone on the floor.   For some reason my husband likes the quickstep ... fortunately for him he doesn't have to wear high heels and run backwards. 

The owner of the dance studio tells us all that this is not brain surgery ... no one dies if you make a mistake ... just have fun, but I am finding it difficult to enjoy this performance and will be really glad when its over.  Next year we are going to do a west coast swing or a waltz, they are nice and slow!

So yes I am having performance anxiety! 

There must be some deep seated issue that I have that gets me involved in activities that require performing.   I will be investigating this further and will let you know when I figure it out.

Good Hard Work

So this weekend I did a lot of a number of things ... Saturday morning, yard work. Saturday afternoon multiple dance practices in preparation of performances.  Saturday evening yard work and kung fu practicing.  Sunday morning gardening, yard work, more kung fu.  By dinner time on Sunday I was tired and sore.  But all of it was good.  Maybe its my Saskatchewan rural upbringing but I don't mind working hard, in fact I enjoy it.  Its what you are doing that makes the difference, when I do gardening, kung fu, build something, cook something, practice dancing these are all good types of work.  You have a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of satisfaction when you start to see the results. Over the past few years learning from Master Brinker, my daughters and the I Ho Chuan team about being in the moment its gotten even better. I enjoy the sweaty, dirty, demanding, frustrating, learning parts of my hard work more than I ever did in the past.  My only hiccup is that I am still afraid of failing. I think all of these things (and many more) would be even more enjoyable if I could just get past that issue.  This is always my indicator that I have slipped back into my ego / brain when I start worrying about messing up or looking foolish, or stupid.  When I am in the moment just doing I am happy. 

Done in by technology - last weeks blog

Last week was so frustrating and not because of kung fu, it was technology. My computer would only work in safe mode and after two days of trying different things I finally called it quits and bought a new tower.  It sounds simple but then there is a full day installing software, setting up email access, connecting to the network blah, blah blah blah blah!!   I was pretty crabby and then on Friday I got everything working and wow I am like a new woman, smiling, easy to get along with.  Does this reflect my dependency on technology?  I think its the endless need for communication ... not warm fuzzy stuff ... the documentation that goes with safety, project management, and running a business, its way easier with computers and internet.  Maybe that's why I struggle with blogging ... I have to do it on a computer.  To me computers and the internet are all about the job, not something fun!  When I finally got home on Friday ... at about 7 pm I was sick of it.  So other than my inability to blog last week my kung fu went pretty well.  Still working on my foot work and vectors in the horsewhisk form.  Still behind on my pushups.   Sorry I missed the meeting.

Was the meeting I missed recorded?  I looked and can't find any link