Perspective

I found this video posted on one of my websites I visit frequently and thought it was relevant. I know many might be struggling on the team and feeling like they have failed, remember you haven’t failed as long as you keep trying and keep pushing no matter how tough it may feel. I know I’m ridiculously sore today having played six baseball games in three days (and while doing all of the back catching), yet it’s not hard, I love to play baseball and the weekend was awesome – great weather, friends and ok a little too much sun but hey it’ll be cold sooner or later so enjoy it. I myself was born with a birth defect; my advantage is that no one can see it. No one can judge me at first sight and try to say I can or can’t do the things I want to do. Every day I am thankful that I can do the things I can do and it’s what drives me each and every day to do more. What we have to take stock of is we all have such an advantage over so many in the world, our worries are miniscule compared to others with poverty, disease, access to education you name it. Unfortunately on the weekend my Uncle was diagnosed with lung cancer and it doesn’t look good – he didn’t even smoke over the years. Always keeps things in perspective no matter the where and the what.
Sifu Bryant
Silent River Kung Fu

Recompute

Another weekend winding down for me back to work after my holidays have come to an end. I had a very fun and relaxing time off and got a lot of things off of my long list of to do’s around the house. I for the most part just enjoyed hanging out with Judi and my boys each day. They really love having us both around together and the fun we had at the parks and in the backyard was something that I enjoyed the most. Each year by year we evolve, we make small or big changes in our life and for Judi and me each year is a big new adventure with so much going on. Last summer was great and this one was even a step beyond only because of our family and the fun we have. I constantly have been using the term recompute with Judi, since each day I still have to plan my training time and our family time out each day. I always like to be prepared so am always figuring if we do this then later I can do that and so on. Darn brain just never shuts down it seems. I’m not back to work yet and am already planning my next two weeks due to the massive amounts of things I want to accomplish before our school year begins. I know that yes if all is not done there is always later except but that never sits well with me. I’m always a lets work and get it done kind of guy instead of a lets work and see what happens person. I hear too much of that old phrase good enough and it makes me twitch. On Friday we started going over the Dragon dance once again for the Rotary Run for Life performance and should be nice to have everyone up to speed in the next couple weeks, not much time left I’m afraid. I also saw this past week Sifu Laurie posted on her Facebook page about putting together a team to run in the race. I think that would be great, even better if we could have some of our team to run together in it this year which would be fun, maybe something to discuss one day over our painting and cleaning week.

Sifu Bryant

Silent River Kung Fu

Summertime

Time flies these past few weeks. Still on holidays and enjoying the different pace. I still can’t believe we are already talking about the fall renovations so soon but again it’s just around the corner. Soon kids will be back in school and my usual routine once school starts begins again – where does the summer go? I have really enjoyed the time to get outdoors to parks with the family, biking, running and generally hanging outside. I had another wedding yesterday and during the afternoon ceremony which was outside everyone was complaining it was so hot outside – really. Just wait a few months and we will want this weather back in a heartbeat. I still wish we had a few less months of winter and a few more of spring, summer or fall though. Training is going well during my holidays, trying to do a little extra each day and will hopefully carry through for the rest of the year.  Just like to be prepared so I can keep increasing my momentum to carry forward into the fall.

Sifu Bryant
Silent River Kung Fu

A camp and a legend

Well another boot camp in the books and all went great I believe. It was great to be immersed in our martial arts for an entire day and spend time with our fellow teammates throughout the day. I really enjoyed the Wing Chun seminar in the morning, although sometimes my body would fight to do certain techniques since the styles are so different. It was nice to learn these techniques mind you since everything has a purpose and expanding your knowledge is always a great advantage. I enjoyed the 2km run to end the day, always a fun time and couldn’t resist in getting in a good run to end the day. On another note, Saturday marked the 40^th anniversary of Bruce Lee’s passing. I read online of a new exhibit in Hong Kong honoring the man and his extraordinary work not just as a martial artist but of his philosophy and teachings. Kind of fitting that we were working on Wing Chun on Saturday it seems. His presence is still felt to this day even in a little gym at Keephills.

Sifu Bryant
Silent River Kung Fu

Holiday time

Past week was a race to the finish at work for me, officially started my holidays on Friday and did something for the day I hadn’t done in over a year – nothing. Felt weird but nice to just hang out with the family and lounge around outside. That night we had practise again and unfortunately we were short team members so I helped out. Definitely some different team building exercises lately but again nice to change it up a bit now and then. If we can pull off these routines we will really have raised the bar. I am always keeping tabs on my requirements and have a few items I will be working on the next few weeks. Luckily I now have some extra time to do them which helps. Hope next Saturday the weather holds for us, should be a day for all coming up.

Sifu Bryant
Silent River Kung Fu

Dance, dance

Well this weekend we started with our dragon team practise. Have to say it should be quite entertaining if all goes well, at least we should have strong legs, abs and backs. The routine will be a huge step forward from last year and I think we can pull it off. This will be fun having a new group together and I know last year it really made us all feel like a team as opposed to individuals in a demo and practises. I am sorry to hear about Helios Sifu, my parents put their dog down last week after a long battle and it is so hard to say goodbye to family members no matter how long we have them with us.

Sifu Bryant
Silent River Kung Fu

Post Demo

Not much to say this week. Definitely post demo hangover at the kwoon this past Friday with only a few out for the practice. I still pushed doing my requirements that night and felt good. I always say that when you are full of energy and motivation it’s easy to accomplish anything you set your mind to. When you are feeling lazy, tired or just unmotivated like we all do from time to time, that is when you can get so much out of your training. I can’t count the times I was tired after a long day of work and feeling like I should just stick myself in neutral but instead pushed through. I love that feeling of absolute accomplishment from those days; they make me feel like a climbed a steep mountain and conquered myself mentally as much as physically.

Sifu Bryant
Silent River Kung Fu