Adaptability....Real life Kung Fu

This week at the 9 am class, Sifu Brinker talked about adaptability and style Vs function.  What never ceases to amaze me is what we learn in the Kwoon is so useful in real life.  I think so many people look at martial arts as either just self defence training, kicks or punches.  I also think for some people that is just fine if that's what they want to get out of their training.  However if you really embrace Kung Fu and what our school really teaches then you are going to not only improve your kicks and punches but you are going to improve your life skills as well.  What I love the most about our school is this aspect of training.  The aspect of taking what we learn out of the kwoon and into the world.  However this is not for everyone and I have spoken with people that don't like to have to do this and only want to come for the work out.  I guess that is fine but you are not really going to get the most out of your training in my opinion.

I rambled on a bit there and never really talked about what motivated me to write this blog.

In my work life, I am the regional sales manager for most of western Canada.  We have a major distribution center that we just built in Calgary and I have a small sales office in Edmonton.  Here is where the adaptability comes in.  The GM in Calgary has instructed me to shut the sales office and move to work out of our house.  I have two reps including my self that share the office in Edmonton.  I find that by having a common space it allows us time to meet as a group in a private and comfortable setting.  This allows us to share experiences and ideas and grow as a team.  With the shut down of the office I am fearing that we are going to lose that connection. 

I have just realized that my fears could be justified if  I don't adapt.  I could work from my home and become bitter and disconnected from my team in Edmonton or I could embrace this change and adapt.  Before Kung Fu I am pretty sure that I would have gotten bitter with my company and resisted the change.  Now I see things more clearly.  Why put so much negative energy into something I can't change?  Why not take the negative energy and circle it around (Kung Fu again) and put a positive spin on it by adapting and embracing this change?  That is what I am going to do.  I am going to find creative ways to connect with my team such as weekly breakfast meetings, perhaps do some hands on baking training with a customer with my team present which is a win win for the customer and my team.

There are so many ways to adapt to this change and this can only happen if we are in the right state of mind.

Thank you Sifu for continually training our minds and showing us how to take our skills "out of the Kwoon and into the world".

Ian Repay

Attitude

I would like to share with you a bit about attitude.  My 90 year old grandmother fell and broke her hip about two months ago.  This is pretty tough on anybody and at that age most people could throw in the towel and say why bother any more.  However, my grandmother has about the most positive attitude that I have ever seen.  Not only did she not give in she stayed positive and kept smiling.  She is now up and walking and pretty much looking after her self just two months after a complete hip replacement!  Come to think of it I have never seen her angry anyone (other than my grandpa)!  She is always smiling, helping her neighbours and and her family.  It is amazing to see and she sets a great example for people with out even trying!

I believe that she is the way she is because she is so positive.  She has and continues to live her life the way she wants to and does it all while smiling.  I think we all need to do our best to look at life with a positive outlook and stop getting down on ourselves.  I know that I tend to "sweat the little things" a bit to much.

Now when we look at our lives and think we have it hard and life looks so daunting, keep in mind the following thing about my grandmother that I haven't told you yet. 

She has lived all 90 years of her life with out the ability to hear, she is deaf.  What an amazing mother and grandmother and I am so thankful to the Lord above to have her in my life. 

Ian Repay

I HATE MONDAYS!!!

What a day this Monday was!!!  When people say "I HATE MONDAYS" I can relate!!!  From the time I left the house for an early meeting with a customer, I realized that I had my keys and my wife's keys in my car.  I had to turn around go back home and then rush back to the city for my meeting.  Not a great way to start the week.

The meeting did not go well.  The relationship I thought I had (both personal & business) was not as solid and meaningful as I once thought it was.  Because of what happened it will never be the same.....which had first upset me and now saddens me......  The rest of the day spiraled down from there.  It seemed that I could not get my feet underneath me at all today.  A lot of reps needed my time across the region, insane amount of email and just a huge demand for my time.  I really think I got a glimpse of what Sifu Brinker must feel like at the Kwoon.

I did take the time to check Kwoon talk (where did that time come from???) and saw the post by Sifu Brinker on "Effortless Effort".  That five minute clip was great and it seemed like he posted that just for me and was talking just to me even though I know that it was meant for all of us.  Sifu is exactly right in the fact that we need to take the time to train (even a little everyday) and apply our Kung Fu in all aspects of our life.

How could I have used my Kung Fu today other than put my customer in an ARM BAR????  The meditation and breathing would have helped me catch my breath and regain my composure.  The breathing techniques we learn in class can be used in real life situations to help control anxiety and help calm our selves so that we don't let emotions dictate our responses.At the end of the day we need to keep our wits about ouselves when other are losing theirs......this is where my Kung Fu and my training steps in.


Ian