Testing Your Limits

I had a great opportunity to participate in our annual "boot camp" this past Saturday and had a tremendous time.  Throughout the day I was concerned about how much fuel I would have left for the two and a half hour physical test, at the end of the day going into the evening.  To my surprise, my numbers were still strong, relatively speaking.  I learned a lot about myself going through this process and I am proud of the accomplishment.  The team concept has been engrained into me from participating in team sports for my entire life.  With this in mind, the highlight of my day was the motivation and energy surrounding the entire team of students and sifus, throughout the physical testing.  The synergy and encouragement was strong.  Congratulations to all of my team mates, and thank you to all of the sifus who made this day exceptional!

Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta

Active Listening

I feel that a great characteristic to have as a person is to be a great listener.  We have had several consistent messages from our sifus lately pertaining to the "four phases of kung fu".  The consistent message is we need to focus more on the first phase of kung fu which is "form", or "technique".  This is especially evident in my forms.  When I think of this personally, it is a tremendous opportunity for me.  When practicing or performing forms, my focus has always been demonstrating the aspect of power.  I always consider each technique as crashing through a cement wall.  This has been my comfort zone. 

I need to change this to focus on the first phase which is "form".  I am going to challenge myself starting today to mindfully practice forms focusing on the first phase of kung fu.  The benefits will include centering, flow, quality of moition, effortless movement, and the connection of the six harmonies.  I look foward to the benefits of this direction with my forms practice.  This will align my path in making kung fu an art for me.

I will also listen to the advise from Sifu Brinker on Saturday.  Today I have stopped breaking boards, partially because I have broken all that I have, and also because the advise makes sense to me.  I will focus on the specific techniques within my board breaking sequence.

To keep this front and center for myself, the four phases of kung fu:

Form or technique
Speed and power
Accuracy
Realism

Have a great training week all!!

Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta

Gaining Momentum

A group of us have been recording our kung fu training for the month of June.  We have been very focused on our conditioning, and it has become the focal point for our kung fu training.  I am finding that as my conditioning level increases, all aspects of my kung fu training are improving physically and mentally.  Our challenge for June is to record two hours of training per day.  Personally, I am going to strive for three hours per day and will add more endurance and quickness training with more distance running, wind sprints, and the P90X training program.  I am also going to record my daily weight as I seem to be successful when I document what I am doing.  I will strive to be at 175lbs by the end of June and I am starting at 184lbs today.  Daily documenting has helped me a great deal with my physical training, but has not stopped me with stuffing chips in my mouth in the late evening.  Have a great week!

Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta

Allan Gamble - June 09

0.5 hr push ups, sit ups, pull ups, stretching
0.5 hr forms - all
0.5 hr cirriculum review
0.5 hr walk, stretch

2.0 hr day total
19.75 hr month to date total

June is "Go Time"

Hello all,  it is time for me to kick things up a notch as our black belt grading is approaching.  June will definitely be a very productive training month.  We have an internal UBBT challenge to document our training based on a two hour daily requirement.  I look forward to this challenge as it will be great physically and mentally!!  Have fun.

Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta