Perspective change

       

I have come to realize recently that my perspective has changed regarding what I wanted to get out of my Kung Fu.  When I first walked into Silent River Kung Fu it was all about getting back into shape and learning how to properly fight.  This was my perspective one year ago.

During this time and especially through the UBBT test I have come to realize that I am getting more out of my Kung Fu than just getting into shape and learning to fight.  Don’t get me wrong, both of these things are greatly welcomed and appreciated!  However I have come to realize that the spiritual side of the martial arts has had a profoundly positive effect on my life and those around me.  I am a changed person because of my Kung Fu.  The biggest change that I have seen in myself is humility.  Before Kung Fu I had an over inflated view of myself that was far from justified.  Kung Fu has taught me to treat everyone with respect and empathy.  This is something that I personally was lacking for many different reasons. 

This UBBT test has clearly changed me.  I have fallen and failed through this test but through this test I have learn much about myself and that of my UBBT teammates.  I have taken what I have learned in the kwoon and have started to adapt it to my personal life with amazing results.  Things like incremental progression as a way of reaching a goal (50,000 sit ups and pushups etc) that seems so large has been something that will stay with me for the rest of my life!  Martial Arts and in particular my Kung Fu is not just learning how to punch and kick but it is truly a way to live my life, for the rest of my life.

Mr. Ian Repay

UBBT 8 student member

Student of Silent River Kung Fu

Back in the saddle

When I first signed up for the UBBT 8 Team I honestly didn’t know what I was getting into.  I had some idea that this was not a sprint but more of a marathon.  Wow this a marathon… 

As for most my UBBT started off with a bang and I was cruzing along full of emotion and motivation.  However somewhere about SUMMER the wheels started to come off.  I can actually almost peg the day which was my first day of holidays.  Once you allow yourself to take a day off it gets very hard to get back into the swing of things.  Now if you allow yourself to take a couple of days off in a row…..well forget it!  It is so hard to get back “into the saddle”.  Sifu Brinker said to me the other day “we all fail and fall off the horse.  What matters is how quickly you get back on”.  That bit of wisdom is soooooo true. 

Well today was the day that I kicked myself in the butt and got back on the horse!  I ran through all of my forms, did a bunch of push up and sit ups and I have posted my journal.  Today is the first step in getting back into a routine that is my UBBT 8 test.

Mr. Repay

Student Member of UBBT 8

Student of Silent River Kung Fu

Always Training

This past July I have been on holidays with my family near Falkland, British Columbia.  During this time I am obviously away from the kwoon and my training mates.  There is comfort and support within the kwoon that makes training easier to look forward to.  However when I am away from the kwoon training is much more difficult.  It is not that the actual physical training is harder but it is harder to discipline one’s self to actually find the time to train.  There are many distractions during holidays that need to be overcome including different surroundings, different time zones and spending time with the family doing things they want to do.

I find that the discipline that I have gained through my training is helping me find the time to train.  I see the value in my training and I have come to find that making the time to train is becoming easier and easier.  I have been getting up early to get my hour of training in and once it is behind me I feel so much better mentally and physically.

The other part of “always training” is the training that we don’t necessarily count as training.  On Tuesday my family and I hiked to the top of a mountain that had a wildfire burn through the previous year.  The hike up was extremely tough as the incline was steep and the air was getting thinner than I was used to.  I took the opportunity to run up parts of the mountain to get some extra training in and also to test my cardio.  I was very pleased that I was not overly winded and I recovered quite quickly.

There is more to training that just our hour or two that we spend in the kwoon.  If we look around our selves and are disciplined we can always be training.

Ian Repay

Student Member UBBT8

Silent River Kung Fu