Sifu Stoddart: Nothing...

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Nothing...

Not really much to say, which is why I have been putting off doing my journal. My life seems to go along smoothly as the "same 'ol, same 'ol. Nothing new. I haven't even been training too much lately due to a weird kind of foot thing, and have even slacked off on my workouts.

For about 3 weeks now, I have had swelling and no feeling in my right foot. I have had issues with this foot at work before, but it was always to do with pain. I changed my steel toe boots, and the pain seemed to go away. That was months ago. Then the pain came back and with it, no feeling in the top of my foot and my toes. So again I changed my steel toe boots. They were hand me downs anyways, and I had worn the souls completely off the bottom. There was no tread left at all. So last week I bought brand new boots that are a good fit, and have great reads. I regained feeling in my 2 smallest toes, and the far right side of my foot, but the rest is still numb, and swollen.

A big part of the problem with my foot and my left hip that is really bothering me, is that I walk on concrete for 8 hours a day. For the last 2 weeks, I have worked overtime, doing 12 hour days, plus longer when I do my part time job on Thursdays. I know my back is way out of whack, because of the way my arms hang so differently along the sides of my body. I'm beginning to think a visit to the chiropractor may help. I have also ordered some "Ergomates". They are anti fatigue mats that you strap onto the bottom of your boots. They eliminate a lot of the pounding, and instead, cushion the joints. I am really hoping these will help.

For now, I stay off my feet whenever possible, which isn't much. I tried rock climbing last night, and did pretty good considering. Having to wear shoes 2 sizes too small didn't feel so good with the swelling, but I need my toe to be on the ledge of the rock, not just the shoe. I am hoping that once I get my ergomates and make a visit to the chiropractor, and maybe not so much overtime, that I will be up and running with my kung fu training once again.

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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.