Nerd in training

So I am in Calgary doing a third test run on blogging when away from work or home. Tried doing this on my cell phone with no success.  However the iPad works great,  this was easy to do however the copy & paste to the other site might be challenging.  Really the technology is nice but the learning curve can be brutal.  Got the tracking sheet from Sifu Weibe and got it working, its pretty slick!

Fascinating

So it's been scary trying to put together a form for a weapon I know nothing about. I have felt like a fake doing a performance and it eats at my confidence.  So I have been seriously studying the philosophy behind the movements. Did you know that the reason the form is so linear and has such limited foot movements is because originally it was practiced in rice fields.  So in the rows between the rice plants, where it is muddy and slippery, where big foot movements could have you quickly sitting in the mud.  That's fascinating!  And it helps me in designing the form, now I am in a rice field, it makes me aware in a totally different way.  I am really enjoying studying the style and learning the patterns and they have cool names as well.  It's still pretty slow in comparison to what I see on utube but it is coming toghether mentally as well as physically.

Catching up

It has been an insane two weeks with work, my computer crashed (lost all my email stuff) and had to be restored to factory defaults and all the programs downloaded and installed. Then just to keep things fun ... a two day trade show and a three day business course last weekend. I haven't been in the office and I still have all the regular stuff. So the result is I am behind on everything, teaching, form reps, situps, kicks, acts of kindness, blogs ... all of it needs to be caught up on. So I will start catching up with the most important one blogging.

This week I bought an ipad, easiest piece of technology I have setup in a long time. Never used an apple product before and I must admit I am impressed. Linked my email account, so I can stay in the loop with the school and can blog from home easily. Got my evernote which I use for organizing things downloaded and the whole thing works beautifully with my wireless booster from home and its fast. Still got lots to learn but so far awesome, I think I am in love!

Worked on my escrima stick form today and have actually gone backwards and not forwards because I have not been focused on developing it. Yikes! However March is almost over and the rest of the year is not so heavily booked up things will go back to the regular schedule. Now I am focused on catching up, will probably be sore but hey so what. Looking forward to attending classes on Friday & Saturday, have really missed the training and people.

Learning Technique from YouTube

I have been watching escrima, kali and arnis stick forms until my eyes cross trying to decipher strikes, blocks and stances.  Most of the stuff on YouTube is so fast you can hardly see what is going on.   It has been very challenging although Sifu Dennis (who always see the positive side) did point out that it will help me develop my eye for detail.  Well the 'eye' is getting a real workout. So it may not reflect in my stick work yet but my brain is stuffed.  

Here it is, late again

So its been challenging trying to get my blog done.  Computers at work broke so the laptop from home is at the office being used by Page.  And my plans for blogging on Sunday have gone out the window.  Its tough to get this done during work hours as I need time to think and write and that does not happen at work.   This AM I came in early and took care of a whole bunch of things to make time for the thinking and writing.  So here it is.

I was bummed that I had to miss the meeting, the last one was great and I really enjoyed it.  So I have a thought ... who can do the video recordings in March for the rough draft of our forms.   I could bring Dean's camera and stand but then how do we get the videos too everybody so they can review it?  Not versed in video stuff and not sure how complicated this might get.  Will put it out on kwoon talk for feed back.  I got caught up (form reps, kicks) on Sunday, at minus 30 something I did not want to go out thats for sure.  So there is a positive side to really crappy weather.  Still have not started my Spanish class or my reading project and acts of kindness is still hit & miss.   Have been using my fancy new phone with all its options to keep better track of stuff and set up reminders and to do lists.  I can even read peoples blogs which is really cool if somewhat awkward because of the screen size.

Tecnology struggles

So I have had computers crash at work so in addition to my regular stuff I have been tech support and doing all kinds of troubleshooting and as a result my laptop from home is being used at the office ... so that means I have to do all my kungfu computer stuff from the office.  And painfully all the new phones came in and i had had to setup nine blackberry z10's.  It has taken all day!!!!   So what does this really mean ... it means that this week I have not gotten my form reps for the escrima sticks done.   (i am mentally yelling right now)!  It has been very frustrating and very little progress made on my form.

Chinese New Year & Promotion

So it went awesome ... despite a new venue that no one was familiar with, and Sihing Dunning getting really sick.   The whole thing flowed beautifully.  

Its challenging with everything going on ... sound systems, performances, demos, promotions, silent auction and a buffet dinner for 300 people to get everything taken care of.  We could give an event planning company a run for their money!

Thanks to all who helped with the dishes/tables,  the kids were great at clearing the tables,  Mr. Hamilton kept things running on the floor and Ms. Kohut was great in the kitchen.  For all the muscle required for the dishes thank you it made the transport go very smoothly.   Kudos to everyone involved.