Positive Cycles

Something I wrote for a student struggling to find the time to train . . . 

Everyday we are all faced with decisions. Sometimes success is only a positive decision away. It is a lot easier to make a positive decision when you have clarity in your goals. Why are you studying kung fu? Obviously you have spent years practicing it for a reason. If that reason is empowerment, then you already know that there are benefits to all aspects of your life when you train in kung fu. If your training is benefitting all aspects of your life, how can cutting kung fu to focus on other aspects of your life even make sense? 

You have separated your kung fu from your life to the point where it may have already just become yet another stressor. If your training is relegated to "When I have time", there really is no future in the art for you until that perspective/priority changes.

Think about your diet. Very few of us eat clean. We rush about our day sometimes only feeding ourselves with what is handy and convenient instead of mindfully consuming food that nurtures us. Yet when we consistently clean up our diet, we feel the immediate benefits - clarity of thought and reduction of stress. Those benefits give us more time to mindfully prepare our future meals. The cycle has now become self-perpetuating - in a positive way.

At the same time, it does not take much to let things slide. A day here and a day there where, in a weak moment, we let down our guard and eat something we know is not good for us but it is more convenient. Our clarity begins to erode and is not so clear, our thoughts not so efficient, and our stress begins to build. Once again this cycle now becomes self-perpetuating - in a negative way.

If you want to stay on a positive cycle, STAY ON A POSITIVE CYCLE! It really is that simple. If you want to get on a positive cycle, GET ON A POSITIVE CYCLE! That too is really that simple. There is no magic to earning a black belt. Train. If you do not want to train? Train! Positive cycles do not just randomly start. You need to make the correct decisions - one at a time, every time.

“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” - Lyndon B. Johnson (1908 - 1973)

Beliefs and Behaviours

It is unfortunate that our actions do not always reflect our values. It is never a simple matter to fully understand where our true values lay yet most of us are quite adamant about what we believe in and hold to be true. Yet if one were to analyze their daily actions, they would soon realize how much hypocrisy has crept into their lives.

If you are an advocate for animal rights and are against animal cruelty but purchase products that are tested on lab animals, you are actually supporting animal cruelty, not fighting against it.

Perhaps your real values are about money, not animal rights. Or maybe life has become so hectic that you are unable to make mindful decisions. At this point you either have to admit that your values are not what you thought they were or that you are a hypocrite.

With all the divisive political rhetoric out here, reconciliation is going to be difficult unless everyone first understands themselves and their actions. The problem is not the destructive behaviour out here, the problem is the the lack of mindfulness. Behaviour will never change unless there is clarity in action. Knowing why we do things is the fundamental foundation of positive change.

“Voting is not something that we do only once every four years; it’s a daily way of life. We vote with our wallets through every purchase decision that we make. For example: there is only one reason why grocery stores in Hawaii sell mangoes that are imported from Ecuador: people keep buying them. Tropical fruit grows right here on the island but we can’t blame the stores for supplying what we demand. If we change our ways and only buy local mangoes, however, then they will only sell local mangoes; it’s that simple.” - Timber Hawkeye (b. 1977)

Victim or Hero

We all are goal-orientated to some degree. Society has evolved to the point where we spend at least eight hours per day earning a living to put food on the table, another eight hours asleep, and around three more hours eating. That leaves five hours left in a day to accomplish anything personal beyond these basics. When you consider how much time the average person spends in front of a television set or computer screen, having and following a plan to achieve your goals is almost a necessity. 

The busyness of our lives is guaranteed but all the activity generated by our busyness does not necessarily result in the achievement of our goals. Without discipline and focus, time slips away and with it, so does opportunity.

We can’t control the busyness embedded in our lifestyle so learning how to maximize the few hours we have available to achieve our personal goals is imperative if we wish to be successful.

Ultimately, time is the only commodity that has true value. Time is finite and none of us have any guarantee as to how much time we have. Maximizing what we do with the time we have available is the best way to achieve your goals.

The only way to maximize your time is to live in the present moment. Unless you are living in the present moment, your future is random. Tomorrow is determined by what you do today. Action or inaction will set your future. Action gives you control, inaction relinquishes your control. Action can make you the hero of your future, inaction can make you the victim of your past.

“No valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.” - Alan Watts (1915 - 1973)

SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP

We’re going on to the third year of the COVID pandemic, Quebec has started a new wave of infections, Ontario’s waste water analysis is also indicating an imminent surge, and there are still people who do not seem to understand the seriousness of the situation. 

There is a lot emotion that goes into a person’s world view. The main weapon we have at our disposal in controlling those emotions is knowledge and understanding. We have the power of reasoning available to us and the intellect, for the most part, to understand the concepts of cause and effect, as well as the ability to reason out that freedom and rights come with significant responsibility.

My personal belief is that government mandates are never going to be effective unless there is a zero tolerance approach to enforcement. We can argue all we want about whether or not a mandated measure is effective but the argument has absolutely no merit unless the mandated measures are implemented completely and then the resulting data proves them effective or ineffective. If we are not following the mandates, there is no way to prove, one way or another, the validity of the strategy. Unfortunately for the minority who absolutely refuse to comply with any mandate unless they are not personally inconvenienced by it, they can keep fueling this pandemic indefinitely and continue to argue that the mandates are not effective despite the fact that it is their personal actions that are guaranteeing the failure of any mandate.

We will never be at the point where we can rely upon everyone to pull together in a unified, logical strategy. To be clear, when I say logical, I am talking about strategies based upon science and common sense, not strategies based upon emotions. Politics, personal agendas, and illogical paradigms will continue to divide us and continue to be used to promote personal benefit over what is best for our community and society as a whole.

No leadership or strategy is going to benefit everyone equally. Compromise is the only way we can progress together. Unfortunately for the privileged few, compromise tends not to be in their vocabulary.

We are letting politicians decide medical strategies. We are ignoring healthcare professionals and doing our own “research” on the internet. This is why we have entered the third year of a global pandemic with no end in sight.

“Make sure your worst enemy is not living between your own two ears...”  ― Nitya Prakash (b. 1988)

Investing in Karma

Everyone makes mistakes. Mistakes are an inevitable byproduct of effort and growth. Some mistakes are stupid but if our intent is positive and pure, they are nevertheless honest.

The word Karma literally translates as action. Many believe that our actions are reciprocated so a positive action will return positivity. A negative action will return negativity. For many the concept of Karma is spiritual, almost magical. For me, Karma is just common sense.

Every action has a consequence. My action that intentionally causes harm will in turn cause harm to myself - if only for the guilt that accompanies such actions. Likewise kind actions produce ripples of kindness that continue to spread and multiply, eventually coming back to me.

I continually invest in Karma. I know my actions have consequences and I know those consequences affect the world that I am part of. I try to be the change I want to see in the world.

“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.” - Wayne Dyer (1940 - 2015)

Avoidance and Engagment

Disciplining yourself over the long term to achieve your goals is never easy. There are always motivational traps eroding away at your resolve and affecting your self-talk.

I have been through a lot in my lifetime when it comes to my training. I think I have tried every shortcut I could think of when it comes to kung fu; only to face the ultimately reality that I had wasted more time trying to save time. There are no shortcuts to mastery.

My experience has given me a lot of empathy for my students and what they face. Mastery is not an easy journey. The self doubt, the negative self-talk, the long hours - everything seems to be against you.

The common response to the overwhelming magnitude of the mastery journey is withdrawal and avoidance. We avoid thinking about the positives and withdraw from engaging ourselves in the very activities that we know to be beneficial. Our negative self-talk convinces us that the value of what we seek is not worth the investment of our time and sweat.

When we are going through difficult times we tend to disengage - the exact opposite strategy we should be using. Not avoiding but rather pushing ourselves to engage has a positive snowball effect on our attitude. Our perspective clears and clarity returns to our vision and our thoughts. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done.

I am extremely passionate about kung fu because it has changed my life. Everything I have is due to kung fu. I know it will change the life of anyone who embraces the art and I have dedicated the last thirty years to help people realize their potential.

Unfortunately I can only do so much. Being eager to help is only part of the solution. Engagement is necessary to access help.

“He was a self-made man who owed his lack of success to nobody.” - Joseph Heller (1923 - 1999)

Effort and Right Effort

Mastering anything requires effort. The great thing about effort is that it is never wasted. The discipline you develop from applying yourself, even if you are unable to attain your goal, has value. The great thing about discipline is that it is transferable to all aspects of your life. 

There is effort and then there is right effort. Again - no effort is wasted BUT if you are not mindful in your effort, there is a risk that you may confuse effort with progress. For sure effort is needed if you want to progress but like an engine running at 10,000 rpms, effort does not always mean you are getting traction and making progress toward your goals.

Right effort is mindful effort. You are not just actively working but you are mindfully working to maximize the benefits of your effort. This is where a mentor can be priceless. A mentor can help you refine your efforts and fine tune them to help you achieve your goals faster and more efficiently.

I have been blessed with many great mentors in my life. I have learned that having a good mentor is like having a good tool. It is has value if you use it. Put in the effort and use your mentors to help you direct it correctly.

“We all carry the seeds of greatness within us, but we need an image as a point of focus in order that they may sprout.” – Epictetus (50 - 135)

Evolutionary Growth

We tend to, and have been conditioned to, expect instant and obvious results when we apply ourselves to accomplishing a specific goal. A person only needs to checkout the average gym in January every year and then compare the energy and crowds to what you see a couple of months later. All the potential and intent the new year brought has been mostly burned up by March.

What is missing for most people is the understanding of the importance of incremental progression. Lao Tzu has said that “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” On an intellectual level, we all understand that. On a practical level, very few accept this.

Approaching our progression and growth as an evolutionary process changes everything. Setbacks become gifts, hoops become ladders, and destinations become journeys. Our perspective and understanding can open doors of opportunity or it can slam them shut. It is either the biggest limitation to our success or the strongest catalyst in our personal growth.

"One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again." - Abraham Maslow (1908 - 1970)

Trajectory and Sustainability

I’ve said it before - mastery is a journey, it is not a destination. While it is an easy concept to understand and agree with, it tends to be a difficult concept to accept. I think our big issue with acceptance is because the average person tends to not accept change. Our bodies and our minds are in constant flux. We are constantly evolving as we continue on our path toward our death. We literally begin our death journey the moment we are conceived. From that point on it is in our nature to grow old, it is in our nature to get sick, and it is in our nature to die. 

Ultimately, mastery is a moving target. There is so much of ourselves that changes day to day, our mastery journey is always adapting to our new situation. Knees wear out, injuries pile up, and our mentors pass on while new ones take their place. Change is inevitable and unstoppable. Change is not good and it is not bad. It is just change. It is what we do with the change that determines if it is good or bad and that ultimately determines our mastery journey’s trajectory. 

Once mastery is recognized as a never ending journey, the trajectory and sustainability  of our journey will become our focus. 

“What you choose today will determine who you are tomorrow.” - Tim Fargo

Obstacle and Ladders

Every limitation and every challenge I have ever had to deal with in my life started out as an obstacle. Torn cartilage in my knee limited my hockey career and continues to impact my kung fu. Coming from a poor family limited my opportunities and created barriers not being experienced by other children. There is not doubt that on the playing field of life, all things are not equal.

When I started kung fu, I was known for my fast, flexible kicks. Even my instructors had to be careful when they sparred with me. My kicks were quick and my most powerful weapons. Then, somewhere between yellow belt and orange belt, reconstruction of my right knee was required to repair a massive tear and subsequent joint damage. I went from the guy who almost exclusively could rely upon his kicks to defeat any opponent to a guy who could not kick meaningfully again for almost eighteen months. Through the eyes of resentment, my kung fu had been completely wiped out. My best weapon was taken away from me and I was set adrift. Today, over thirty years and four more knee surgeries and another reconstruction later, I only see the injury through the eyes of gratitude. 

The path I was on and unwilling to venture off of, was the path of a one-dimensional martial artist. Who needs to work on his hand techniques when his leg techniques are easily taking care of business? Well the guy who just had his legs taken away from him for the next year and a half, that’s who. In those eighteen kickless months I worked hard on my forms and I worked hard on my hands. When I emerged from the other end of that first reconstruction, I was a more complete and well-rounded martial artist. Yes I lost something but I also gained something.  Something wonderful. Something that changed my life. 



Today I am reaping in the benefits of my wonky knees. I earned my black belt because of my bad knees. I met my wife because of my bad knees. Everything I have can be traced and tied to my bad knees. One could argue that I might have been able to earn my black belt without having bad knees but that is not something I even think about. I like where I am and I like who I am. I am the sum of all my experiences and decisions. Changing anything in my past would put everything I currently have in jeopardy. I have nothing but gratitude for my knees and their limitations. For without them, I would not be who I am today. 



Nothing in life is for free. Everything we are and everything we achieve is because of the decisions we make and the actions we take. I can choose to take the path of resentment or I can choose to boldly proceed forward. The bottom line is, I always have a choice. 

“Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.” - Wayne Dyer (1940 - 2015) 

Truth and Reconciliation

September 30th marks the first National Day forTruth and Reconciliation in Canada. I believe this is an important initiative to help bring awareness and understanding of what our indigenous citizens have unjustly endured by the hands of our nation.

Racism and bigotry prevails in our society and in recent years it has even become more socially acceptable to publicly support and spread bigoted ideas and actions. September 30th is an opportunity to reverse this trend. It is an important day for reflection and, hopefully, reconciliation.

I am someone who believes that one of our greatest strengths as a nation is our diversity. Our diversity brings creativity and opportunity to every problem and situation. Pre-conceived ideas and beliefs only limit what we are capable of achieving.

Silent River Kung Fu is observing Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30th and will not be conducting any formal classes on this day. Our students are all encouraged to reflect upon the legacy of residential schools and the systemic racism that still infects our society. In light of the current healthcare crisis in this province, we will not be officially participating in any public events and we are encouraging our students to remain isolated and safe.

“We have been investing in our collective ignorance, and we have to stop." — Marie Wilson

SRKF COVID Protocols In a Province That Has None

As common sense already predicted, we are seeing a significant increase in COVID cases since the Calgary Stampede last month. Despite the alarming rise in cases, the provincial government is going ahead with their plan to remove all restrictions by August 16. To be clear, this means that people who test positive for COVID will no longer be required to isolate themselves. We are now in this unpredictable situation where our COVID numbers are rising alarmingly fast while we are simultaneously removing all restrictions that have been helping keep the numbers down. It is not easy to keep a kung fu school financially viable while keeping our students safe in a province with no COVID protocols. 

Strong leadership is often more about optics than the logical specifics of a situation. Setting a public example of common sense and awareness will go a long way to help inspire our community to work together so that everyone can function within the reality of the pandemic as safely as possible. 

Ignoring what needs to be done to address a crisis only adds more fuel for the crisis to continue. We need leadership that looks out for the welfare of our population over the long term rather than only looking out for their own short term lust for power and money. 

“Nothing is sweeter and addictive than power, the unlucky soul this demon possesses, if he is not sacrificed on its altar will sacrifice others himself to get it”  ― Bangambiki Habyarimana

Wants and Needs

My province is getting ready to move into the next phase of our reopening. There have been so many phases of relaunch that we have passed through - both forward and backward that I don’t even keep track of what each phase means.  There has not been much logic behind our province’s decisions. Our relaunch phases always come too soon and our shutdown phases always come too late. While I am an advocate of putting the greater good of the public’s health first, I have to acknowledge that how our provincial government is handling things has made a lot of the public health measures in place ineffective. 

Like everyone else in a democracy,  I am subject to the will of the majority. Yes, our Premier publicly lied and cheated to win his party’s leadership but the majority of my fellow citizens wanted him to lead our province and so I accept that. That is how a democracy works. I may have not voted for him but he is my Premier and I am going to participate in my community by providing leadership and support where it is needed. 

The problem that I see us facing as a community is our inability to distinguish between wants and needs. We all want to make our mortgage payments while some of us need a ventilator. When our hospitals are full and we are running out of ventilators to help deal with the impact of the pandemic, the ability to logically differentiate between wants and needs is paramount. While it is not ideal to have a bank foreclose on my house, it is infinitely better than having my neighbour’s child die because he succumbed to COVID-19. 

The good of the whole has to be the priority of a community. Everyone understands that. Unfortunately we have all been conditioned to confuse wants and needs when it comes to the economy. Our economic policies have never been socially or environmentally sustainable yet we continue to support this self-destructive trajectory. As we fight with each other and continue to prolong this pandemic through our actions, this has never been as clearly highlighted as it is now.

“Democracy is not simply a license to indulge individual whims and proclivities. It is also holding oneself accountable to some reasonable degree for the conditions of peace and chaos that impact the lives of those who inhabit one’s beloved extended community.” - Aberjhani (b. 1957)  

Positive Action

A lot of people are struggling with motivation right now. Yes the pandemic has intensified a lot of issues for a lot of people, but these motivational issues have always been here and will always be here until they are dealt with.

Motivation is a chicken or egg proposition. It is a matter of changing your attitude so that you can take action to change your situation. Sometimes though, taking action will initiate the change in attitude that you are looking for. This is why I tell my students that if they do not feel like training, they need to train. This strategy is foolproof and it always works IF it is applied consistently. Always apply the strategy and it will always work. Only apply the strategy some of the time and it will only work some of the time.

Practice breeds competence and competence breeds confidence. Nothing changes a negative attitude faster than confidence. Never underestimate the power of positive action.

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Acts of Discipline

One of my students introduced a “No Added Sugar Challenge” for the month of April so I spent the entire month avoiding eating anything with added sugar. I did not go out of my way to analyze the ingredients of everything I consumed, but I stayed aware of my commitment and was true to the spirit of the challenge.

I like taking on acts of discipline challenges throughout the year to keep me focused on mastery. The no added sugar challenge did not disappoint me. I found my focus on staying engaged in the challenge permeated into other areas of my life. April turned out to be a banner month of accomplishments for me.

No matter the magnitude, an act of discipline is never wasted.

“In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves... self-discipline with all of them came first.” - Harry S. Truman (1884 - 1972)

Two Weeks

Tomorrow my dad will have been gone two weeks. It definitely is not getting easier, in fact it still has not totally sunk in that I will not see him again. The one positive thing is that my mind is filled with mostly happy memories of him. I was scared that my only memories would be of his final years fighting COPD, dementia, and then him dying alone.  Small blessings I guess. 

My dad did die alone though, as are a lot of other people during this pandemic. Listening to people talk about being judged about their personal decisions or hearing people put a spin on the situation by trying to make what they are doing to be about freedom and censorship boggles my mind. Just because people do not agree with you does not mean they are not listening to you. However, you cannot demand that someone respect your decision or your point of view. Respect must be earned. Your personal opinions do not trump science and proven facts. 

My dad died alone and he did not have to die alone. He died alone because this province cannot do what needs to be done to control this pandemic. We are blessed to live in a free society. Those freedoms come with a price. That price is responsibility. Look out for everyone else and everyone else should be looking out for you. We are in this together. Inconvenience for the good of your community is not the suppression of your rights. Surely we all understand this simple concept. 

We need to get it together and start doing what is right. People are dying unnecessarily. People, like my dad, are dying alone. 

“When the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free and was never free again.” — Edith Hamilton (1867 - 1963)

Rights and Responsibilities

My business is currently enduring its second shutdown of this pandemic. I get to go first but everyone else in the province will be following very shortly unless something miraculous happens to take the pressure off of our healthcare system. 

The latest polarizing incident to happen this week was the arrest of an individual who refused to wear a mask in an Edmonton Costco. Watching people’s extreme reactions to the incident just confirms the need for another flipping of the switch. We are not responsible enough to be trusted to make the correct decisions when it comes to controlling the outbreak. Control needs to be taken out of our hands. 

We’re very quick to point out our rights as free citizens of a free country. We’re very slow to recognize the responsibilities that go with those rights. Cause and effect guys, that is what is at play. Nothing is for free. 

We have the ability to avoid a shutdown but that is not something that can be done without universal cooperation. Wear a mask and maintain social distancing or have the government step in and shut everything down. Your choice. If you feel you should have the right to both ways, then don’t expect to have access to a hospital bed if you need one in the near future. If you feel you should have access regardless of the situation, stop complaining when taxes have to be raised in order to expand the healthcare system to cater to your demanded rights. Cause and effect.

We have freedom and safety as a society because we work together for the common good. Those of us who are in a vulnerable state requiring the empathy and support of the rest of us may be the same people who are reaching back to lend you a hand when you need it in the future. The only certainty in this life is change is inevitable - nothing is permanent. Your actions today are a preview of your future world. You create your karma.

“Every right implies a responsibility; Every opportunity, an obligation, Every possession, a duty." - John D. Rockefeller (1839 - 1937)

COVID Fatigue

Eight months after the provincial shutdown and four months after reopening, we begin the second shutdown of this pandemic with the provincial infection rate at an all time high. 

Silent River Kung Fu’s classes continue but for the next two weeks, all of our students will be using the online option to attend their classes. This means more one on one time with the instructors, more access to downloadable content, and continued connection with their kung fu community. With every change comes opportunity and as we proved in the last shutdown, leaning into change can lead to exponential growth. Moving forward we will continue to adapt to ensure our classes remain accessible, efficacious, and fulfilling. 

This pandemic has been raging on for so long that many of us are suffering from COVID fatigue. If we get careless and relax our vigilance, this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. We have complete control of where this pandemic ultimately takes us. We can make things worse or we can make them better.  Your leadership and the example you set will save lives. Something as simple as a mask can make a huge difference. Remember: my mask protects you - your mask protects me. It has never been about you, it is about those you might infect.

It is important that we do not lose sight of what is truly important here. We’re in this together and the only way out of this is together. Please respect the pandemic.

“Knock it off!” - Jason Kenney (b. 1968)

COVID

 “What’s the big deal? 98% of everyone who has come down with COVID-19 has recovered.” 

More and more people are quoting this misinformation. Of course the 98% survival rate is accurate. The recovered part is misleading. They may have survived but many will never recover completely. However the real misleading part of the quote is what is missing — context.

98% of the people who have contracted COVID-19 have survived their first infection. The context is that all of them had access to a ventilator. If we all have access to a ventilator, that statistic should remain accurate. As long as we spread out the infection, we should be able to ensure everyone has access. However, if we do not respect the pandemic and allow the infection rate to climb, we will find ourselves in the same situation that Italy found itself in at the beginning of the pandemic —  not enough ventilators to go around. That is when we will see the survival rate drop.

The concern with a pandemic is about the number of lives it takes, not the number of people who survive. It is easy to gloss over the danger a pandemic poses for a population if you lose sight of the main issue. Finite resources + large percentage of population needing resources = death.

It is in your best interest to not get infected. However if you are going to get infected, it is in your best interest to not get infected at the same time as everyone else. There is a reason why wearing a mask and taking precautions help people survive the pandemic. Your actions today could impact your survival tomorrow.

“We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.” - Donald Trump (February 2020)

SRKF Break-A-Thon

 

After “What is your tuition?”, the most common question I am asked by parents of prospective students is “Are there any fundraising requirements?” Neither question is ideal because without any frame of reference, the answer is totally irrelevant. 

Tuition is relative. You get what you pay for. If you do not know what you are getting before asking the price, what is the purpose of the question? When you purchase a car your price range for the same model can span thousands of dollars depending upon the options you want. Why would martial arts be any different?

Fundraising is also relative. Many activities for children come with fundraising requirements. It is a way for a lot of organizations to supplement tuition so that they can quote you a lower price for tuition that is then made up for with fundraising responsibilities. Fundamentally, the fundraising question is asked to help qualify the first question about tuition. 

Fundraising at Silent River Kung Fu is not about tuition supplementation. In fact, it is not even about money. Fundraising at SRKF is about responsibility but not financial responsibility. It is about social responsibility. 

Silent River Kung Fu teaches kung fu as a traditional martial art. This means we teach martial arts the way they were meant to be taught. Our intelligent curriculum is a reflection of our values and those values transcend fighting and physical self defence. Of course our students learn to become good fighters but more importantly, they learn to become more cognizant and engaged human beings. 

Learning kung fu is empowering. Students are taught to recognize what power their words, influence, and actions wield.  That power must be tempered with a sense of humility and responsibility. Borrowing a phrase from my mentor Tom Callos, Silent River Kung Fu students are taught to take their kung fu out of the kwoon and into the world. 

Once a year Silent River Kung Fu students engage in an optional fund-raising project. This year’s fundraising project will be a Break-A-Thon where SRKF students will solicit pledges for breaking boards to raise money for charity and, more importantly, raise awareness of issues that affect us all.

This year the money raised through the Silent River Benevolent Foundation will go to support the Northern Lights Wolf Centre, the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS), and Rahul Bharti whose tireless work is so important for the homeless of Katmandu. 

The work that the Northern Lights Wolf Centre does to draw attention of the importance of wolves as a keystone species highlights the power of a single action. Killing wolves and removing them from an ecosystem has produced devastating consequences for the entire system. Reintroducing them back into an ecosystem has reversed those consequences by returning balance to the environment. Every action and every inaction each comes with a consequence - good or bad. 

Many instructors and students of Silent River Kung Fu have adopted their pets through the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society. SCARS is a no-kill organization that rescues animals in need and finds suitable homes for them. It has been said that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she treats animals. Empathy and compassion are two of the most important attributes of a real martial artist. 

Rahul Bharti has dedicated a lot of his life to helping people less fortunate than us. Rahul does not accept donations for his projects unless you are directly engaged with his work. He recognizes that money is not going to change anything but the awareness that we create can change the world.

“ He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.” - Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)