Sifu Stoddart: week 2

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

week 2

This week has been pretty good. I had a bit of a setback in my personal life on Monday, that affected my attitude towards my training. I recognised it, and dealt with it. I forced myself to find deep within me, my most positive attitude and promised myself everything would be ok. By the next day, I was fine, and continued to go forward.
I feel myself getting stronger with the forced effort of my pushups. If I stretch quickly after every 10, or 20, I can do more in the proper plank position. I have noticed though, that they are not only a problem with my shoulder, but also cause problems with my wrists. I am hoping that by strengthening these areas, my arthritis will not be a hindrance, but will become less noticable.
I find myself thinking about the UBBT all the time, which in turn has contributed to my focus on my 3rd degree requirements. My training is always there, whether in the forefront of my mind, or in the background behind all my other dealings of the day. This weekend, I learned to "boulder". It is a different kind of rock climbing than I am used to. No ropes or harnesses are used. On my first attempt, I fell about 6 feet. I kept trying and listening to the advise of my boyfriend, as well as ask lots of questions. After a couple of hours of practice, I finally made it accross the wall, and part way back. The first thought in my head was...I wonder if this could be classified as an accomplishment for my UBBT? I also find myself looking for ways to do acts of kindness, and noticing acts of kindness in others. No matter where I am and what I am doing, I am always thinking, "how does this pertain to the UBBT", or "am I acting the way a black belt should act?" I already notice a difference in the way people around me think about martial arts. Those that know what I am attempting to do, are starting to realise that martial arts is not all about fighting. I am proud to be a part of helping to spread this insight.

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My 20 Wishes. . .I want to do:
1. Vacation in a cabin in the mountains.
2. Fall in love.
3. Travel somewhere exotic.
4. Buy a motorcycle.
5. Write my life story.
6. Take my kids and grandkids to Disneyland.
7. See my dad again and have him meet my kids, and grandkids,
8. Hike the West Coast Trail. (done)
9. Buy my own home.
10. Climb a Via Ferrata. (done)
11. Have corrective eye surgery.
12. Find a reason to trust. (Done)
13. Perform with chi.
14. Go caving.(done)
15. Learn to play piano again.
16. Go Skinny Dipping. (done)
17. Take swimming lessons.
18. Take a wood working class.
19. Take Ballroom dance lessons.
20. Straighten my front teeth.

My 20 Wishes. . .I want to be:
1. Conscious
2. Loyal
3. Faithful
4. Good parent
5. Respectful
6. Talented martial artist
7. Healthy
8. Physically fit
9. Reliable
10. Trustworthy
11. A good grandparent
12. Awakened
13. Honest
14. Independent
15. Strong of character
16. Confident
17. A leader
18. Uplifting to others
19. Full of a positive countenance
20. Free from suffering

I love adventures, and experiencing new things for the first time. Never has this been more true than in the experiences I get from kung fu. Earning a black belt seemed to be all about me. I sacrificed, worked real hard, disciplined myself, and grew to new heights I never thought possible. I watched my life change before my very eyes. Not just small changes, but big ones that even I noticed.

Being a black belt seems to be more about others. I help others to meet their potential through their own sacrifice, and determination. As I do this, I find great fulfillment watching others change the shape of their lives, and find their own sense of peace. Black belts are just ordinary people, but doing extraordinary things, at an extraordinary level. Through this realization, we start to evolve from black belts to true martial artists, with a passion for the art that we strive to pass on to others. We continue on our path of progression, but it is through our sacrifice towards others that changes occur.

I have a huge testimony of what we do at Silent River Kung Fu. I rejoice every time I teach a class, especially the beginners, and my heart swells when I see the future of kung fu in the excited eyes of the students. By helping these students find a new way to look at life, we help them become better individuals, through their own realization of self worth. This in turn builds stronger communities, and a much more positive world to live in. When we fully understand that, we start to look outside of the kung fu box, and begin to see that vision of what we are really doing as we teach kung fu. Instead of just seeing the techniques and the forms, the mistakes people do and the improvements people need to make, we start to finally see...the people.

Students come to Silent River Kung Fu because they have this idea that learning martial arts is fun. They keep coming back because it is fun. What most students don't even realise, is that they also keep coming back because here they feel respected, cared about, and they receive a sense of belonging. What is the first thing we do when we taste something really good? We try to get someone else to taste it by saying, "wow! You've got to try this." It is important to give all students, whether they are new or not, that experience that will make them say, "you've got to try this." Every student that walks through the front door should feel like they are a part of our kung fu family. We can do that by seeing...the people. Watching with an eye for detail, to see their needs, their emotions, their strengths, and their apprehensions. Only by doing that can we really begin to teach, and help shape the lives of others. From my own experience, I believe this to be the only way to progress to that next level as a martial artist. I believe it, I have experienced it, I trust it.