It's all about value

I'm huge believer in the power of value.  Value in my world is defined as something that isn't driven by price as the main mitigating factor.  Price has to be at the lower end of the scale.  In fact I'm willing to pay more for something that to me has value.

I travel a lot for work and Calgary is a regular destination for me.  I choose to stay at the Hotel Blackfoot.  They don't have a "points program" or are they the cheapest.  What they do is treat me like a valued customer.  They know my name, they great me by name and the smile when I walk up to the counter.  They sometimes leave  me a handwritten note thanking me for my business! This has value to me and the price isn't that much more than a comparable hotel that has a rewards point program. 

As consumers we all have choice.  We can choose and reward value totally on how and where we spend our money.  Next time your looking to exercise your choice with your money, ask yourself if the product or service your purchasing provides value?

"I'm the absence of value, price is King"

Mr. Ian Repay

Basics before application

I've been doing some thinking on practical Vs application.  When I've been away from SRKF over the past two years I dipped my toe into some "practical" martial arts training.  It was pretty interesting to experience this.  I've already had 5 years of training under my blue belt but I was very interested in watching the new people. 

You see there was very minimal time spent on proper stances, alignment and technique.  There was a lot more emphasis on the moves for say blocking and countering.  I found this interesting as without proper alignment and grounding there wouldn't be much power to either block or counter.  I watched how the students went through the motions that they were taught and some looked pretty good in a controlled environment. 

However the next main focus of the school was sparing.  It was then that I really saw the deficency of this style of training.  From my perspective the students sparing were off balance, not centered and when it came time to throw a punch or a kick it lacked power.  When the speed of the sparring session increased students with little proper understanding of how to generate power from a properly centered stance quickly either covered up and become defensive or wildly threw punches and kicks.

I love the style of Kung Fu that we're learning at SRKF and the foundation of everything is learnt at the white belt level.  I personally have forgoten this lesson as the techniques has increased in complexity.  However when I get back to basic everything falls back into place again.

Mr. Ian Repay

Steady pace

I'm a person that likes to go all in on what I do.  I can say that when I've reflect on the past nine years of my training and life this has been my "MO".  Upon reflection, I've seen massive highs and massive lows.  Rarely have I seen steady and calm.

As I get back to training I've already had to battle myself not to repeat the past.  I can't get back into shape overnight no matter how hard I want or try to.  I need to listen to my body more than ever, if it's too much too soon then I might have to take a knee in class.  In the past I would've seen this as a sign of weakness.  However now I see this as a sign of intelligence. 

I'm extremely happy to be back and I will approach my training and progression at the pace of consistency and what my body allows me to do.

Mr. Ian Repay