Reflecting On The Year So Far

Time seems to be going at warp speed lately.  In fact it's going so fast that it has turned to plaid (not sure everyone will get that reference).  Hard to believe we're already into November, and that our IHC year is 3/4's of the way done.  November is when things really start to get crazy busy for the business.  People are trying to use up their benefits the last few weeks before Christmas, and we try to accommodate as much as possible.  Add in winter birthdays, which there are a lot of in my friends and family group, and of course Christmas, and the end of the year will be here before I know it.

As I mentally prepare myself for this final push of the calendar year, I find myself reflecting on the days passed.  What successes I have had, what failures, moments of clarity, what I'm most grateful for, what lessons have I learned, etc..  Which has really brought to the forefront of my mind, how mindful I am on a day-to-day basis.  Like our intent in forms, it is difficult to stay present throughout the entirety, and the same is true of my day-to-day.  I could be more mindful and enjoy the present moment more often.  Perhaps I can quell some of that anxious energy I carry with me.\

With that all said, my successes and my failures have both been tied to my personal interactions.  Some of my brightest moments have been in deepening relationships with those around me, and at the same time, some of my darker failures have been losing myself in some of those interactions as well.  I have had times where I've lost my cool, been irritated and frustrated; and for what?  Usually something trivial that really didn't matter.  This has been my moment of clarity for me, wrought from these instances.  In it all, I have been pulled to withdraw into a quiet place and reflect on my inner life.  This may have been one of my busiest years in a while, and I have felt a need to find more time to myself, to just be with myself, and get away from all of the noise that blares into my head.  From this has spawned my requirements for the team next year, and the need/desire to integrate more of my personal life into my requirements.  Goals that serve the direction I want to go towards.  For me, that is strengthening my businesses and my personal relationships.

My ultimate goal is to become a better person, better version of myself than I was previously.  That isn't always linear, nor do I think that it can be.  I think there are parts of us that come up to the surface when we're ready to face them.  So sometimes that means repeating old patterns, and going backwards emotionally, before we can learn our lesson and move forward.  Like our mediocrity-mastery cycle, we go through periods where we are in a good place, but then old patterns can creep in, and we restart the cycle, with the hopes of learning a bit more each time.  Right now I am in the midst of such a cycle, and taking time to really take a good look at myself, my patterns, and behaviours in hopes of learning something new about myself and hopefully shedding old patterns that no longer serve me.

Nigel Bauer

Engagement IS Opportunity

Anyone who has been a student of mine, either directly or indirectly, will have indubitably been schooled on the importance of engagement.  Staying within our comfort zone keeps things the same as always. If you’re happy at exactly where things are at, then great. But if you are looking to grow or improve, going beyond your comfort zone is the only way facilitate the change you are looking for.

On June 30th, I became certified as a National Lion Dance Judge. This certification has opened up some doors for my students when it comes to Chinese Lion and Dragon dance - including a path to competing in international Lion Dance competitions.

Beyond the obvious benefit outlined above, the experience has also generated opportunity to fine tune our syllabus and curriculum to bring us closer to the rest of the international Lion Dance community.

Over the coming months you will see positive changes to our Lion Dance curriculum that will help improve the skill understanding of all Silent River Kung Fu students. Engagement creates opportunity and, even better, engagement is contagious.

“ The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” - Steven Spielberg (b. 1946)

Forms Training

Forms mastery is where the heart of traditional martial arts resides.  Mastering forms means mastering your style. When you earn your black belt you are being recognized for having mastered the basics of a specific style. Your forms training makes up the foundation upon which your black belt is earned.

In forms training we follow three specific phases, taught in a specific order,  to achieve forms mastery:

• Sequence

• Technique

• Flow

Flow is considered the pinnacle of forms mastery but the majority of students never get to that phase in their training. We all focus on sequence first because that gives us a base from which to practice. Once we get the sequence memorized we start focusing on perfecting each technique within the sequence. Once sequence and technique are sound, we are now ready to tackle flow.

Flow in forms is comprised of two major components. The first is the flow within the individual techniques of the form. A thrust punch has a distinctive flow. That flow is defined by the way the left and right quadrants balance with equal and opposite energy along with how the lower quadrant stabilizes and supports the upper quadrant.  This technique flow is usually as far as most students delve into the overall flow of forms.

To master your forms, and therefore your style, you must define flow beyond just each individual technique. Each individual technique’s flow is influenced by the technique that came before and the technique that comes after. Therefore flow training must encompass the transitions between the techniques as well.

For many of you this article will seem somewhat basic and obvious. It will not trigger an ‘aha’ moment. For the more advanced students there is an opportunity here to take this article and apply it to your understanding of intent and recognize its unmistakable link to flow.

The Ultimate Paradox

Change is a constant. It cannot be avoided. Constant change is reality and any interpretation of stasis is an illusion. Therefore the only true steady state is change.

To pursue mastery and eradicate mediocrity, we train with the intent of achieving balance and effortless effort. When we talk about balance in our lives or effortless effort in our training, we are talking about the intent behind our journey. While both balance and effortless effort may appear to be destinations, they should not be considered as such. Any achievement of either is temporary and fleeting; therefore, as destinations, they are unreachable.

Balance and Effortless Effort are only momentarily achievable. If you believe you have achieved them, you must realize that this is only a temporary state. They are immediately, and constantly, being eroded. Any appearance of stability and stasis is an illusion that has been created by mediocrity, or perhaps it is the genesis of mediocrity itself.

The ultimate paradox: BALANCE = EFFORTLESS EFFORT = MEDIOCRITY.

Keep this paradox in front of you at all times. I am constantly evaluating my process and working hard to achieve balance and a state of effortless effort. The second that I feel I have accomplished this, I recognize the danger I am in and immediately re-engage with my process.

Engagement is key.  Always. The space between engagements is filled with mediocrity.

Jeff Brinker