Changing gears

Well July first is tomorrow and so is our demo and parade. I am personally glad the month of June is behind me. For work it was a hellish time and my training was more minimalistic for the past two weeks because of the long hours. Now that it’s over I can refocus and start to jump ahead on where I want to be. These next two months are where I gain any ground I fell behind on and will push ahead to another level personally – I can’t wait. I know there are many of us under some pressure, just remember a little pressure is good and an individual can really shine under this pressure. But a lot of pressure can make a person feel helpless. In this case you need to take stock of where you are and reprioritize. Find and make new goals and learn from your failures. I have failed many times in my life, but again I continue to refocus my goals and stick to a plan. I hope everyone can take the next step and enjoy this year as a martial artist and an individual. Let’s have some fun tomorrow and celebrate our hard work we all have put in as a team.

Sifu Bryant
Silent River Kung Fu

Half off

Well one week until our Canada Day demo. I’ve changed my form so will take this week full of hard work to keep it together in my head. I basically halved it so it is more condensed for the weekend demo. Luckily it’s easy to take things out instead of having to put things in. Do have to change a few stances and such because of the way I need to face the audience. Fingers crossed the weather will hold for the day of but again we should all come together just fine. On another note, have to be thankful we haven’t had to experience the devastation down south of us. A good friend of mine had to be evacuated and now has around three feet of water in his basement. Lucky everyone got out safe, amazing how we are still at the mercy of Mother Nature. Made a donation to help those affected in Calgary today, nice to see all the support they have been getting thus far.

Sifu Bryant

Silent River Kung Fu

One mind

June has turned out to be a very busy month for me. Usually things are winding down at the schools and such but with additional job duties it’s been a race to get to the end of the month then things will change gears again. I’ve felt a little stretched as of late and again felt that way on Friday night at class. We were working on Kempo and at one point and I could not for the life of me transition from one move to the next at a certain point. Next time through same thing over and over again. Just could not get my mind to click into the right moment I just was bringing too much outside noise into my head that night. Doesn’t happen very often but again you just have to take a deep breath and refocus your thoughts and energy on where you are and what you are doing. Not the best feeling but again I wise reminder of what can happen when you lose focus. Sure enough at home this weekend not a problem with that form – stupid noisy brain….

Sifu Bryant
Silent River Kung Fu

It's been a week

This past week has been…well…. I don’t have words to explain. We had another great parade and demo in Onoway yesterday which was great. I am glad all is coming together and we continue to grow as a team.  I still look back and see we are light years ahead of last year when we were scrambling for a Canada demo and now two are in the bag. No this week was overshadowed by events at the start of the week. First came Tuesday when our next door neighbour’s house was broken into while Judi and the boys were playing in the backyard. Not the nicest thing to have taken place but again no one was hurt and whatever was stolen can easily be replaced. Then Wednesday I receive a frantic text from my wife to call her asap. Turns out an older gentleman decided to shoplift from the grocery store where Judi was just leaving. Three staff followed him out and asked him to stop and give up the items he had taken – he got in his car to leave. As this unfolded another bystander decided to stop the gentlemen and jump through the window and pull him from his car. The man in the car while fighting with the other bystander backed up and then drove away smashing into Judi’s shopping cart and pinballing into two vehicles beside hers. Driving away the bystander disappeared and the car is gone as everyone sits in shock. My boys had been in the shopping cart less than two minutes before. Now as I have gotten older and maybe a little wiser I see things differently than years before. If I had been there at that moment my concern would be for the three staff members, my family even the would be shoplifter at the moment – emotions can lead to dangerous situations. The young man that jumped in the car, yes you were brave but was it worth putting your life and now others in danger for a small sum that was stolen – I think not. What if the guy pulled a weapon, anything can happen. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty and I am obviously relieved no one was hurt especially my family. Put yourself into the shoplifter’s eyes, maybe he was desperate for something to eat and had no money. Every time we get into a fight we have missed the thousands of opportunities to not engage in one. Being mindfull of your actions, your emotions and your thoughts is paramount. I gave my wife and my boys a big hug that night; take nothing for granted in this life.

Sifu Bryant

Silent River Kung Fu

 

Moving with balance

Well the first demo is in the books this past weekend and all went pretty well. No lions or dragons were harmed in the festivities and no one stepped in any gopher holes during the demo. Well I stepped into one hole during the dragon dance but only dropped about half a foot. When doing my form many have told me to extend and use my length during each movement of my form. As I performed on Saturday all went well but there are a few spots were I have been overextending to try and again create length. I need to change these spots because now I have been overextending in areas. How do I know, because I can’t change to my next stance without pulling my weight back over my hips which takes time and just feels off. So my work is on rotation of my hands to pull my sword out while not overextending past my centre. Guess it is all how your body feels; have to listen to it once and a while.

Sifu Bryant
Silent River Kung Fu