Adaptability

This past week I was faced with an opportunity to progress with my training in the area of adaptability.  We learn in the martial arts how to perform a combination of techniques and then “adapt” them to our own style and let them flow as we feel would work best.  The combinations in our curriculum are there as the foundation of the style.  We are then expected to learn them (obviously) then more importantly adapt them to suit our own particular way we move or fight.

Well this past Monday was the most horrible Monday that I think I can remember.  Reflecting upon this Monday after a week had passed has allowed me to see what it has taught me.  What happened was that our family’s horses broke the gate to the pasture where they are spending the winter.  This gate was made of very weathered old wood that should have been replaced this past summer when the weather was nice but it wasn’t.  So long story short, I had to immediately drop everything, react and adapt to the situation at hand.  Here is where the adaptability comes into play.  I had a very busy Monday at work which required all of my attention before this gate was broken.  So not only did I have to fix a gate (I am not a carpenter and anyone that knows me knows that I HATE building anything) I had to address and resolve the issues at work all at the same time.  I would not recommend using a skill saw and a Blackberry at the same time!!  I managed to run out and gather a bunch of lumber very quickly and somehow rebuild the entire gate from scratch in the middle of a cold Alberta’s winter day.  At the same time I managed to stay on top of work and get both things done before the day ended.  I know for a fact that before my Kung Fu training I would not have been able to get both things done without a lot of stress and something would not have been completed. 

After I was finished building the gate I stepped back and marveled at how well it had come out.  I must thank my father for teaching me the basics of carpentry as he always said someday it would come in handy.  I am extremely happy that I listened enough to learn the basics!  You just never know when you will be tested and it happens more in life than in the Kwoon. 

Mr. Repay

Student of Silent River Kung Fu

www.silentriverkungfu.com

Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

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