Hello all, this week's training has me focusing on our "stick" form. I did 10 reps last night and saw great improvement in technique and speed. The biggest thing I worked on is the mental aspect of a focusing on a specific form, at a specific moment in time. Before practicing, I spent a little time emptying my mind to ensure that I could focus on nothing other than what I was practicing. This really worked for me. Normally when I am practicing kung fu, there are always a number of other things that I am thinking about at the same time. The things Sifu Brinker repeats to us all the time are starting to sink in.
Where am I and what am I doing
Mindful practice
Living in the moment
Wish everyone a great training week!!
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
World Health - The Real Issue
I am posting an extra blog this week as I have been doing a lot of thinking related to our planet. We had a great discussion at our UBBT meeting this past Saturday, much of which was related to choices. The choices were related to our environment such as non-renewable resources and food choices. There are many perspectives and viewpoints related to the following issues;
non-renewable fossil fuels
alternative energy sources
CO2 emmissions from all industries
global warming (this one is vague in my opinion)
fresh water supply (most critical in my opinion)
meat vs vegetarian vs vegan diets
conflict over control of the above
All of these and many others seem to be top of mind for most people and governments within the industrialized nations.
This is my take on it, and only my opinion. The world needs to get control of world human population. In the year 1900 the world population was 1.6 billion. In the year 2009 this has grown to 6.8 billion. This is a growth rate of 325% from the base 1900 year. This means that there are 325 more people today for every person who existed in 1900.
For a more micro perspective, the world population is growing at a rate of about 200,000 people per day. This is staggering growth and the world population projected for the year 2050 is 9.2 billion.
World population is growing and the natural resources are dwindling? This will become more staggering as the bulk of the developing countries, which represents the bulk of the world population, becomes industrialized. The developing countries represent about 75% of the world population.
Based geographically here is where the world population is located:
Asia - 61%
Africa - 21%
Europe - 5%
North America - 7%
South America - 5%
Other - 1%
In summary, over the last 100 years our population has increased from 1.6 billion to 6.8 billion and is ramping up at the rate of 200,000 people per day. To me the solution is simple. What can we do as a group to influence world population?
A nice little video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thuViaxRd_w&NR=1
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta
non-renewable fossil fuels
alternative energy sources
CO2 emmissions from all industries
global warming (this one is vague in my opinion)
fresh water supply (most critical in my opinion)
meat vs vegetarian vs vegan diets
conflict over control of the above
All of these and many others seem to be top of mind for most people and governments within the industrialized nations.
This is my take on it, and only my opinion. The world needs to get control of world human population. In the year 1900 the world population was 1.6 billion. In the year 2009 this has grown to 6.8 billion. This is a growth rate of 325% from the base 1900 year. This means that there are 325 more people today for every person who existed in 1900.
For a more micro perspective, the world population is growing at a rate of about 200,000 people per day. This is staggering growth and the world population projected for the year 2050 is 9.2 billion.
World population is growing and the natural resources are dwindling? This will become more staggering as the bulk of the developing countries, which represents the bulk of the world population, becomes industrialized. The developing countries represent about 75% of the world population.
Based geographically here is where the world population is located:
Asia - 61%
Africa - 21%
Europe - 5%
North America - 7%
South America - 5%
Other - 1%
In summary, over the last 100 years our population has increased from 1.6 billion to 6.8 billion and is ramping up at the rate of 200,000 people per day. To me the solution is simple. What can we do as a group to influence world population?
A nice little video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thuViaxRd_w&NR=1
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta
Monday, February 28, 2011
Random Act of Kindness I Received
I have been paying a lot of attention to the kindness I exhibit since joining the UBBT, however this blog is about receiving an act of kindness over the weekend.
My daughter and I were at the airport picking my wife up after a week long yoga retreat in Mexico. As we greeted her and were about to leave the airport I noticed that my wallet was missing. I suspected that it fell out of my pocket where we were sitting. We rushed back to that spot and noticed that is was not there. We retraced all steps from when we had arrived at the airport and could not find it. We checked at the information booth and with some employees to see if it had been recovered. My mind started to think of the ramifications if it had been stolen. We left the airport and I noted an inventory of everything that was inside of my wallet including cash, identification, bank cards, credit cards, and other pertinent information. I started to think of credit card fraud, identity theft, and the process of canceling and replacing everything that was inside. As I was driving home my wife started the process and canceled two of the four credit cards. She then suggested that she should check our home phone messages to see if anyone had found it and called our home. She made the call and started smiling. A gentlemen had found my wallet and looked up our telephone number and called our home as soon as he could, so we would know it had been safely found. He left his cell number and wanted us to call him anytime to arrange for pickup. He also wanted us to know it was found before we started canceling our cards. The next day I met the gentlemen and picked up my wallet. He was a very friendly and helpful man. I thanked him with a gift card and we both parted very happy.
I don't know why when this happened that I immediately thought of the worst possible scenario vs the most optimistic scenario, but I am thankful for this gentlement who was truly helpful, sincere, and caring. What a great day!!
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta
My daughter and I were at the airport picking my wife up after a week long yoga retreat in Mexico. As we greeted her and were about to leave the airport I noticed that my wallet was missing. I suspected that it fell out of my pocket where we were sitting. We rushed back to that spot and noticed that is was not there. We retraced all steps from when we had arrived at the airport and could not find it. We checked at the information booth and with some employees to see if it had been recovered. My mind started to think of the ramifications if it had been stolen. We left the airport and I noted an inventory of everything that was inside of my wallet including cash, identification, bank cards, credit cards, and other pertinent information. I started to think of credit card fraud, identity theft, and the process of canceling and replacing everything that was inside. As I was driving home my wife started the process and canceled two of the four credit cards. She then suggested that she should check our home phone messages to see if anyone had found it and called our home. She made the call and started smiling. A gentlemen had found my wallet and looked up our telephone number and called our home as soon as he could, so we would know it had been safely found. He left his cell number and wanted us to call him anytime to arrange for pickup. He also wanted us to know it was found before we started canceling our cards. The next day I met the gentlemen and picked up my wallet. He was a very friendly and helpful man. I thanked him with a gift card and we both parted very happy.
I don't know why when this happened that I immediately thought of the worst possible scenario vs the most optimistic scenario, but I am thankful for this gentlement who was truly helpful, sincere, and caring. What a great day!!
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Full Schedule
Hello all,
This is a very busy time for me with year end work, hockey playoffs, kung fu training, and my wife away for the week on a yoga retreat. I have learned how to make our morning "healthy" smoothies but our dinners have mostly been take-out. Will have a more meaningful post next week. Happy training!!
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta
This is a very busy time for me with year end work, hockey playoffs, kung fu training, and my wife away for the week on a yoga retreat. I have learned how to make our morning "healthy" smoothies but our dinners have mostly been take-out. Will have a more meaningful post next week. Happy training!!
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
In The Zone
I have been very fortunate to compete in the sport of hockey for the past 40 years. I still enjoy playing every game, however being the oldest player in a younger league is a fun challenge. Last night we played our last regular season game and we finished in first place playing the second place team. It was a great game and a lot of fun.
When I signed up for UBBT 8, I was sure that I would feel the benefits of better conditioning and this would help out in all areas of my life, including hockey. For January and the first part of February I felt only a little improvement and was waiting for the benefits to really kick in. In last night's game I played the game "In The Zone" and haven't played or felt this way in at least 10 years! My conditioning was great, mindset was strong, and hands were unbelievable. I owe this feeling to the results of becoming involved with UBBT!!! I think the real beauty is that you only feel "In The Zone" on rare occasions and when you least expect it!!
Have a great training week!
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu - Stony Plain, Alberta
When I signed up for UBBT 8, I was sure that I would feel the benefits of better conditioning and this would help out in all areas of my life, including hockey. For January and the first part of February I felt only a little improvement and was waiting for the benefits to really kick in. In last night's game I played the game "In The Zone" and haven't played or felt this way in at least 10 years! My conditioning was great, mindset was strong, and hands were unbelievable. I owe this feeling to the results of becoming involved with UBBT!!! I think the real beauty is that you only feel "In The Zone" on rare occasions and when you least expect it!!
Have a great training week!
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu - Stony Plain, Alberta
Monday, February 7, 2011
Black Belt Test - Preparation
The best way to ensure that you meet your goals is through diligent preparation. I am reviewing my game plan for testing this fall and I need to build a repetitive practice routine for timed kicks and board breaking.
Specifically I need to build a quicker recovery time after performing the front thrust, side heel thrust, roundhouse, and spinning back kicks, for one minute each leg, with a one minute rest between each repitition. After this eight minutes of kicks and eight minutes of rest I have found that my energy is quite depleted. The answer always hits me as I write it down. I will practice this set every week after our fitness class on Saturdays. I am confident this will work!
Secondly, we spend time board breaking in class but I have yet to purchase the boards, cut them to size, and break them on a regular basis. Again the answer is quite straight forward. I will practice board breaking with my own boards every two weeks, probably after fitness class on Saturdays.
Have a great training week!
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta
Specifically I need to build a quicker recovery time after performing the front thrust, side heel thrust, roundhouse, and spinning back kicks, for one minute each leg, with a one minute rest between each repitition. After this eight minutes of kicks and eight minutes of rest I have found that my energy is quite depleted. The answer always hits me as I write it down. I will practice this set every week after our fitness class on Saturdays. I am confident this will work!
Secondly, we spend time board breaking in class but I have yet to purchase the boards, cut them to size, and break them on a regular basis. Again the answer is quite straight forward. I will practice board breaking with my own boards every two weeks, probably after fitness class on Saturdays.
Have a great training week!
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Late Night Snacking
I knew that at some point early this year I would have to address the issue of late night snacking. The physical training for the UBBT is progressing well, I am having a great time playing hockey, and kung fu classes are great. With all of this physical activity I am realizing that I need to make changes related to my late night eating habits. It is quite simple really. If you are physically training hard you need to fuel your body in the same manner. I have become good at the physical training part, as I have been involved in competitive sports for most of my life, but it is now time to pay more attention to "late night snacking". During the day I am eating right for the most part, but the majority of evenings are filled with chips, cookies, and pop. Doing this once in a while is certainly fine but when it becomes most evenings, something must change, today.
Starting today I am going to replace the chips and cookies with fruit, yogurt, or eggs and the pop with water or green tea. I will give myself one night a week to still have chips and a pop. This should make me better by 86% related to late night snacking. Have a great week!!
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta
Starting today I am going to replace the chips and cookies with fruit, yogurt, or eggs and the pop with water or green tea. I will give myself one night a week to still have chips and a pop. This should make me better by 86% related to late night snacking. Have a great week!!
Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta
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