Sifu Stoddart: The 5.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

The 5.

Part of my requirements for the coming year, are to perfect a hand form. Over the past few months, I have managed to put together my own form. I went with the five animals of Kung fu, and tried to incorporate the characteristics and survival techniques of each. For example, crane is flowing and internal while dragon is quick and unpredictable. Leopard is strong and fast, while the snake is coiling, agile and whipping. Tiger is stealth, uses brute force, and follows up for the kill.

Putting this form together seems to have put me at a higher level of thinking with my king fu. For some years now, I have wanted to get to a higher level in my king fu. Not just physically, but mentally too. I still feel the same way, but with a huge difference than before. Now, I want to put in the effort to get better. Before I just wished I could be better, but was not dedicated or disciplined enough to put in the work ethic needed to achieve it. I can see that very clearly now. I can also see how much work and dedication, and respect for myself and the art, that will be needed for me to get to the next level. I also know that it's important for me to go forward without comparing myself to others. That only creates a bad attitude within myself, which leads me no where, except to a dead end in my personal progression.

In preparation for my form, I have watched countless hours of videos, read numerous articles, practiced bits and pieces over and over, changing them as I go, and even starting all over again several times. I have 2 notebooks full of notes and scribbles on top of scribbles. It's hard to explain, but it felt so incredibly amazing for me doing this. Last week I finally finished putting it all together, and started the physical practice of performing what I have come up with. It's been a lot of fun, I have learned a ton, and there have even been many frustrations. I know there will be a lot of tweaking done over the next 12 months, but I look forward to it. I welcome the challenge to really and truly show the unique characteristics of each animal in my form.

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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.