My Christmas Wish

Christmas has a way of reminding you of what is important. My most vivid memories of Christmas past are about the people I shared the season with and those whose absence reminded me of how important these shared moments are. The holidays bring us together as families, reconnecting us with who we are and bring to mind that we are the sum of our own experiences as well as those of our parents, and their parents. Every moment we experience colours the next. 

My wish is for Christmas to always be about the moments we experience and how great a gift a shared moment can be when we recognize all that is contained in that moment. May all our shared moments be enriched by our presence and may the quality of our presence be defined by the void left in our absence.

“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

"A" Is For Attitude

I have spent the past week helping my upcoming I Ho Chuan (Student UBBT) team prepare for the year long challenge that is going to begin on January 23, 2012 - Year of the Dragon. Many of the team became intimidated and filled with self doubt when they considered the scope of the requirements that lay before them. A few became frustrated when their strategy of only choosing personal requirements they were guaranteed of fulfilling was rejected by me.

There is an elegance behind Tom Callos’ Ultimate Black Belt Test that is easy to overlook. Every program requirement and challenge plays an integral role in ensuring the success of the participant. Whether the curriculum is making you more aware or helping you stay engaged, all serve a purpose.The best way to approach the curriculum requirements is to view each as a tool to assist you achieve mastery. I have found some people immediately interpret a requirement as a hoop they must jump through as opposed to the ladder it actually is. Just a small change of attitude can change the entire aspect of the challenge.

The UBBT has taught me a lot about kung fu and success, and all of that knowledge has come to me experientially. I have always known that a bunch of small things add up to a single big thing, logic dictates that. However, logical or not, that knowledge does not empower you until you put it into action and experience the rewards.

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference" - Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

Children Do As They See

Bullying is an issue that continues to blight our society. Learning disabilities, health issues, and suicide are just some of the consequences of bullying. Our school system is not protecting our children from bullies and at the same time they punish the victims as harshly as the perpetrator if the victim dares to take a stand. Social media gives bullies 24/7 access to their victims, creating a relentless atmosphere of persecution. What is it about our so called ‘civilized’ society that allows this supposedly unacceptable behaviour continue to flourish?

Watching the USA’s Tea Party in action should open anyone’s eyes as to how it has become acceptable to use fear and intimidation to get what you want. In fact it seams that over the past ten years or so, fear and intimidation are the standard modus operandi for politicians in North America. Was there ever a time that Stephen Harper was not known as a bully?

As long as we continue to accept bullying and intimidation tactics from our leaders, is it reasonable for us to expect anything less from our children? As with most issues change comes from having your voice heard. Bad behaviour is only unacceptable if someone takes a stand and does not condone it. Silence and a blind eye has never changed a thing.

“Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don't want war neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” - Hermann Goering (1893 - 1946)

Empathy

Pro Infirmis is a Swiss organization that assists people with disabilities. They conducted an experiment involving a man, Fabian, dressed in a bear costume giving out hugs. Their tagline for this video is:

Pro Infirmis conducts an experiment: there are only a few people who don`t have empathy with disabled people. Nevertheless, the passenger seat in the public bus next to Fabian often stays empty. Handicapped people are a regular part of our society.

A friend of mine sent me this video a few weeks ago. I had seen it before, perhaps in another blog, but somehow it did not speak to me that first time like it has this time. I have been unable to get the video out of my mind for the past couple of weeks.

Why do handicaps and mental illness carry such social stigma? Obviously our lack of empathy reflects our lack of understanding. This ad by Pro Infirmis should really open eyes.

“Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all." - Bill Clinton (b. 1946)

Education is Power

I stumbled across this video on YouTube today but I wish I had known about it two years ago when the coalition controversy was raging. It was shocking how many people were worked up over an issue that they had little understanding about. At that time fear became a major weapon in Canadian politics and its use continues today. Our collective ignorance gives fear free reign in Canada. Most of our government’s policies on crime, security, the economy, and the environment are pushed ahead by campaigns that prey upon the public’s emotions and fears rather than facts and logic.

If you want to have say, if you want to affect change, educate yourself and use the democratic system to your advantage.

“Fear always springs from ignorance.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

Don't Stand Still

Sidney Crosby is rumored to be returning to play his first game in over 10 months on Monday. His injury has raised awareness about the severity and long term consequences of head injuries. Like any injury, a concussion heals but if you suffer a couple within a short period of time, recovery is more complicated. I’ve suffered a couple of concussions in my lifetime and I have been very lucky that they came years apart. I certainly wasn’t smart enough to rest and give them a chance to heal so my recovery was more blind luck than a mindful strategy.

I’ve watched one of my students struggle after suffering a concussion a couple of months ago. A kung fu lifestyle guarantees the brain bucket is going to take abuse on a regular basis and finding a balance in your training without aggravating the injury is the biggest challenge. No one wants to rest and atrophy while healing so finding alternative paths to mastery is important when recovering from any injury or setback.

Some of my greatest accomplishments have come about as a direct result of a major injury. Whenever I suffer a setback I use it as an opportunity to narrow my focus and concentrate on aspects of my training that do not aggravate my injury. The trick is to stay mindful of the healing process and push around the injury.

“A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind.” - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi (1893 - 1986)

The Rich Get Richer

Listening to random people on CBC Radio One express their support or opposition to the Occupy Wall Street movement has exposed, for me, what is fundamentally wrong with our capitalistic society and why we seem doomed to continue to stampede down this self destructive path of unsustainable consumption.

To hear someone say that while they support the movement, they feel it has gone on long enough and the tent cities should be dismantled, shows that some people do not fully understand what the protest is about. The troubled economy is the direct result of unethical and totally illogical banking and investment practices that got us into this mess but yet some of these practices continue to this day, despite the huge publicly funded bailout, in the name of free enterprise. How is anything going to change if we do not have the gumption or stamina to stand up for what is right and just?

In the meantime, the government that Canada has so recently given a majority mandate has already reneged on many of its election promises. Our Minister of Defence took a military search and rescue helicopter out of service to pick him up from his vacation at $32,000/hour while at the same time his government forced Air Canada and Canada Post workers back to work with legislation that undermined their bargaining power and justified it in the name of the troubled economy.

We need our politicians to be accountable for the promises they make and if they are going to fly the free enterprise flag, that flag must wave equally for the rich and the poor.

“Advocates of capitalism are very apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim: The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate” - Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)

Pandamonium

“I want my child to feel confident so they are not an easy target for bullies. I want my child to be a leader, not a follower.  I want my child to use their confidence and skill in a positive manner, I don’t want them to be a fighter.” — These are some of the most common statements made by parents of prospective students during our enrollment interview process.

What we do in the kwoon with our students builds the foundation of discipline and respect that empowers our students. The training gives them the power of self esteem and self confidence to resist peer pressure and discourage bullies. As with any power, it comes with responsibility. What we do outside the kwoon helps determine how our students’ empowerment is channelled. Participation in our community projects teach children empathy for others. Seeing the world through another’s eyes ensures power is handled responsibly and compassionately.

“Will we have to do any fundraising?” — This is one of the most common questions posed by parents during our enrollment interview process.

We don’t require our students to do any fundraising BUT I do not have a better tool at my disposal to teach a child empathy than have them look at the plight of others and recognize how they can make a difference. Asking me to give a student knowledge with humility AND confine the lessons to the training hall, makes that task almost impossible.

Once a year Silent River Kung Fu conducts a fundraising event called the Pandamonium. Our goal is to raise $100/student with all the money going to support charity. This year’s Pandamonium will see us donate money to Malawi Girls on the Move, the Children’s Ability Fund, the Homeless of Katmandu, the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society, and the Simon Poultney Foundation. By raising funds for these initiatives, we’re also raising awareness and empathy. When our students see exactly how their fundraising efforts have changed lives, they acknowledge the positive consequences of their positive actions and recognize that they really can be the change they want to see in the world.

"Only your compassion and your loving kindness are invincible, and without limit." Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Opportunity From Injury

I know my hockey years are major contributors to the mindset that I can push through any pain and if I’m not hurting then I’m not pushing myself hard enough. Respecting injuries and pursuing mindful recovery have never been my forte but I do recognize the importance of wise progression when it comes to training.

Some of my greatest training breakthroughs have come about due to a major injury. My first of five knee surgeries transformed me from a kicker to a more balanced fighter. A major car accident put me on the path to study holistic healing and give me major insight into the internal harmonies. A fractured ankle and chronic shoulder swelling forced me to throttle back my weapons training and share the demonstrating responsibilities with my qualified students.

All injuries feel like setbacks when I first suffer them but when I stay optimistic and mindful, every one of them represent an opportunity.

“Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.” - William Arthur Ward (1921 - 1994)

Otter Therapy

It was disappointing to see the new regime in Libya start exactly where the old one left off. The destructive cycle of hate marches on. Maybe I am being naive but it seems like so many of our problems could be easily solved by taking just a single step. An act of kindness has more power than an act of hatred but seeing that potential can be difficult.

A few months ago I read an article about a litter of orphaned otters at the Valley Zoo. Their mom died of cancer shortly after their birth. After seeing the pictures in that article I realized that the only thing in the world cuter than an otter is a baby otter. Those cute little guys can bring clarity to anyone’s perspective. We need more otters.

“We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to let us love one another.” - Jonathan Swift (1667 - 1745)

The Process

I am coming to the end of my final official UBBT. UBBT 8 is my third consecutive Ultimate Black Belt Test and since the changes to the program require a person to be eligible to rank for a higher degree, UBBT 9 is not an option available to me. After three years and over 150,000 pushups later, the UBBT is fully entwined into my life and will always be a part of me. I am putting the final touches on my Student UBBT Team for 2012 and will be hitting the ground running. I have a lot I want to accomplish so there is no time to waste. Official UBBT or not, the process continues.

“How long should you try? Until.” - Jim Rohn - (1930 - 2009)

"P" is for Passion

Steve Jobs passed away this week. As a hardcore Macintosh user, I am the first to recognize the huge impact this man has had on my life. Seeing the tributes continue to flow in, there is no doubt that he has impacted almost everyone and his legacy will continue to do so long after his death. Everything already feels different with him gone.

It seems ironic to me that while Mr. Jobs is being recognized as one of the greatest CEOs of modern times, that recognition tends to gloss over exactly what made Steve Jobs different. It wasn’t just a matter of taste, as Steve would put it, but more about passion. Steve Jobs loved Apple and he believed in what Apple was doing. His vision was always about the long term future of the company he ran, not instant shareholder gratification. I can only imagine what our economy would be like now if all CEOs actually managed as if their responsibility lay with the company rather than the shareholders.

Somewhere we have lost our way. People are using the stock market as a roulette wheel — buying and selling stock in companies they don’t even care about in an attempt to make a quick and easy profit. As long as this continues, corporate strategy will continue to revolve around shareholder greed rather than company need.

Steve Jobs took Apple from the brink of collapse to make it the most valuable company in the world in just over ten years. Apple’s shareholders have made gigantic profits and they did so without having the company’s future compromised for quick and easy shareholder gratification. The answer to much of the world’s financial crisis may be found in Steve Jobs’ approach. Whether or not our greed allows us enough vision to recognize it remains to be seen.

“I was worth over $1,000,000 when I was 23, and over $10,000,000 when I was 24, and over $100,000,000 when I was 25, and it wasn’t that important because I never did it for the money.” - Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011)

"T" is for Tradition

Culture and tradition continue to have a major influence on my kung fu. Everything that has been passed down over the past couple of thousand years has a purpose that is as pertinent today as it ever was.

The stances, the movements, the subtle nuances that go into conveying an expression — they all bring a Chinese lion to life. As an instructor I watch in fascination when I teach a student the lion dance and how their head movement and facial expressions mimic that of the lion they are controlling. Their spirit becomes entwined with the spirit of the lion. This connection between student and lion cultures a person’s empathy and eye for detail. To move like a lion, one must think like a lion. In order to translate those lion thoughts into lion action, one must have acute body awareness. This is the reason why this ancient tradition continues to hold so much reverence in the kung fu community —the strongest lion dancers become the strongest martial artists and the strongest martial artists are the best lion dancers.

The dragon dance is very new to me. Mastering the dragon dance has been a goal of mine for a long time and as of last weekend I have begun this journey. The dragon dance requires synchronization with the entire team (10 on our team) in order to give the dragon life. The dragon’s head is completely static when it comes to expression so everything must be conveyed by the movement of the body. Like the lion dancer, the dragon dancer must also connect with the spirit of the dragon they are controlling but they must take that connection a step further by extending their awareness to include the rest of the team. While my team has only been together for a total of two hours, I am awestruck at how fast their connection is developing and how that connection is translating to exponential improvement in their performance.

Chinese New Year is less than four months away and for me the preparations for the festival dominate my time and my spirit. I feel more engaged in my art at this time of year and my motivation and drive are always at their peak. Having something new to learn and master and share with so many positive people will make this year that much more special.

"Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse." - Winston Churchill (1874 -1965)

"D" is for Dragon Dance

Yesterday marked a milestone for Silent River Kung Fu when we held our first ever dragon dance practice. Our dragon has been in storage for a couple of years waiting in anticipation for Chinese New Year 2012 - The Year of the Dragon and Saturday was our first chance to dust it off and take it for a spin. We also used this practice as an opportunity to test out our new ‘Lion Cam‘ — an Oregon Scientific HD action video camera. We attached the camera to the dragon’s nose and recorded the dance practice from the dragon’s point of view. At one point of the embedded video there is a picture in picture feature where you can see both points of view simultaneously.

Thanks to SRKF’s Student UBBT Team for your efforts in our first ever practice. Despite this being the first time any of you have tried this sort of thing, you guys did great. I have no doubts that your performance come Chinese New Year will do our school proud.

“Practice is the best of all instructors” — Publilius Syrus

Knowledge

The eternal challenge in kung fu is figuring out how to maintain quality in your skill across your curriculum before something else falls off your plate. It does not matter where your goal in mastery lies, there are always new ideas and concepts to learn and adopt while staying proficient with your existing expertise. I see my kung fu studies and associated responsibilities as being comprised of three major components — maintenance, mastery, and accrual.

I maintain the majority of my knowledge with a broad focus. In maintenance mode, I keep as much of my curriculum in front of me as possible. I make sure I have a strong working understanding and basic execution of the principles. My goal is to minimize any  proficiency erosion.

I have only a few techniques and forms in mastery mode at any given point of time. My focus is narrowed and I devote most of my eye for detail upon mastering these few techniques. Typically, I will rotate a single form and maybe five applications through a mastery phase each year while the rest of my arsenal  remains in maintenance mode.

Accrual of new knowledge comes from both outside and inside sources. When I am working on mastering technique, my main focus is on developing the six harmonies in the technique. This attention to detail will always open new insights that can be applied across the spectrum of my knowledge. I am accruing new knowledge on a daily basis by devoting myself to mastering my existing knowledge.

Accrual of knowledge from a source outside of my immediate style puts a lot of pressure upon my training structure. Learning something new and different is exciting. Since the new, exciting knowledge is the shiniest thing in my kung fu, I always want to practice it. As with everything, nothing is for free and this new focus comes at the expense of mastering and maintaining my old techniques.

For me, perspective is the key to proper balance in my training. It is easy for me to get lazy and focus on the new rather than the old if I am not taking care of my mental well being. I try to start everyday by giving thanks for the knowledge I have and reminding myself of those who trusted me enough to pass it on to me. The sense of responsibility that comes with this mindful approach is usually the only incentive I need to stay the course.

“I’m not young enough to know everything.” — Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)

Peace Now

It has been a decade since the world changed forever. Like everyone else, I can remember where I was and what I was doing the moment the news of the towers hit. I remember being horrified by what had happened but at the same time, not completely surprised. It seemed a matter of time before things escalated to a breaking point. Ten years later, are we any closer to solving our conflicts? 

I plan on spending today reflecting upon where we are and how we got here. I will remind myself of how much pain and suffering has been perpetuated in the name of religion and ideology and that there is no moral high ground for violence, anger, or revenge.

Peace can only be achieved if there is hope. Hope comes from understanding, understanding promotes dialogue and acceptance of responsibility, and responsibility empowers lasting change. 

“The more you sweat in peacetime, the less you bleed in war.” - Chinese Proverb

The Living Kwoon

Every year at this time, we shut down our school for a week to allow everyone to prepare for the start of the academic school year. Being the start of a new school season, there is a sense of beginning anew and enrollments tend to peak.

We take advantage of the annual downtime this week offers us to conduct renovations and maintenance on our kwoon. This project gives everyone the opportunity to connect with and take some ownership of their training hall. It is no coincidence that the most motivated and dedicated students are also the ones that devote most of the labour toward this project each year. There is a reason why in the Chinese arts we call our training hall a kwoon (temple). A personal, spiritual connection to the kwoon is a very important aspect of kung fu training and we must stay mindful to foster and reinforce that connection. Those who I see putting a piece of themselves into the walls of their training hall tend to excel over those who approach the kwoon as if it were only a gymnasium.

When I enter our kwoon, my mind is instantly calm and clear.  The walls reflect my black belt, thick with my sweat and my blood. My connection with the kwoon narrows my focus and peaks my awareness. I know exactly where I am and what I am doing.

“The man who works recognizes his own product in the World that has actually been transformed by his work: he recognizes himself in it, he sees in it his own human reality, in it he discovers and reveals to others the objective reality of his humanity, of the originally abstract and purely subjective idea he has of himself.” - Alexandre Kojève (1902 - 1968)

Three Fingers Back At You

Australia's decade long drought has caused food shortages in a first world nation who is now required to ship in bottled water to support some of its major municipalities. Global warming is an accepted, irrefutable fact. Acceptance of this fact was difficult to come by, and maintaining clarity long enough to do something about it is proving to be even more difficult. Those who benefit from our collective indifference use fear to manipulate us into resisting the change that is required to pull us off this unsustainable path of consumption, excess, and destruction. Technology, blame, and the economy are all used as justification to stay the course.

Technology may someday provide some answers to address our current pollution intensity but it will not provide a solution to our current consumption intensity. We've already reached the limit on many of our resources - technology cannot reverse that.

It is easy to fall into a state of blame-fuelled apathy. The bigger the target, the easier it is to slough off the blame. China, India, the USA, Walmart, McDonald's, and Exxon are all easy targets. Yet would China and India's thirst for industrialization be where it is if the West hadn't defined the standard of living that everyone has come to expect? Would Walmart, McDonald's, or Exxon even exist if we didn't provide the overwhelming demand for their products?

I am told that any plan to address global warming and other environmental issues must take the economy into account. The irony of putting our consumption-based economy's continuous growth ahead of the long term needs of the planet whose resources are required to fuel this growth should not be lost on anyone. Yet here we are and there we go.

“Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)

Linguistic Framing

I’ve been following some of the work by linguistic expert George Lakoff. Something that fascinates me is what he calls “framing”, which is the manner in which politicians position issues to fit their respective moral world views. Framing allows a political party to define themselves as a green party that supports the environment even though they are really attacking the environment in the name of the economy. You just have to frame your strategy by calling it the “Clean Air Act” and use phrases like “reducing emission intensity” while you are allowing overall pollution levels to rise to unprecedented proportions.

Linguistic framing is a strategy that works. It manipulates underprivileged people to vote for a party that exhorts “tax reform” which implies reducing taxes but in reality is really about cutting social services so that corporate taxes can be kept minimal.

Linguistic framing is not all about manipulation and deception. The more we understand the power of the language we use, the easier it is to properly communicate our ideas. Linguistic framing can help people open their minds and become more receptive to new ideas while breaking down their existing paradigms. From my perspective, linguistic framing is a definitive strategy that is going to have to be applied if we ever want the western world to make the environment and long term future of our species THE priority.

"Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about." - Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897 - 1941)

Transformation

I practice an art where discipline reigns king. In anything worth achieving in life the difference between a person who succeeds and a person who fails comes down to discipline. If you discipline yourself to do what needs to be done to realize your goals, anything is possible.

The real value of the Ultimate Black Belt Test comes from the process one develops after a year long immersion in a self imposed life of discipline and yes, sacrifice. Nothing is ever for free so everything worth achieving will involve sacrifice. The ability to discipline myself to stay the course comes down to the value of the goal and its place in my priority queue. It is much easier to sacrifice when the successful outcome of the sacrifice is a high priority for me.

The value of the UBBT process is that it will stay with me for the rest of my life, if I so choose. I am not sure how much value there is in temporary acts of discipline and self sacrifice. As long as I continue to approach everything I do mindfully, the positive aspects of my lifestyle continue to be priorities for me and become permanent changes as I continue to evolve.

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” - Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

Why I Journal

A photograph captures a moment in time. It can show every physical thing about a person in that particular moment but it cannot show what is in the heart. What you were doing, where, and with whom is forever recorded but what you were thinking while you were experiencing that moment can only be accurately recalled through journalling.

Mastery is a process in transformation. Once the transformation is complete, a different person emerges out of the journey. That person has a new way of thinking and the confidence that comes from accomplishment. Mastery is a process, not a destination. The path is different and unique for everyone. If one wishes to help others along their own path to mastery, or if one wishes to be able to repeat and improve the process, recording the journey is critical.

Journalling is the breadcrumbs one leaves behind so that their path to mastery is defined and thus repeatable. The greater the distance between the breadcrumbs the more difficult it is to derive the path one took. There is a reason why those who journal consistently find more value in journalling than those who do not.

“After the writer's death, reading his journal is like receiving a long letter.” - Jean Cocteau (1889 - 1963)

Joe Lewis

Grand Master Joe Lewis has influenced me and my kung fu more than I realized. He came from the blood and guts era that included many legendary martial artists like Chuck Norris, Jim Harrison, Skipper Mullins, David Moon, Fred Wren, and JT Will. Now all these guys were ferocious fighters but for me Joe Lewis was always the meanest. I don’t mean “mean” in the cruel sense, I mean “mean” as in he did everything for keeps. I remember seeing a clip of him breaking David Moon’s and Fred Wren’s ribs in a “light contact” competition. I have always valued meanness as a black belt attribute because of Joe Lewis.

I can’t imagine anyone ever more confident than Joe Lewis, even now with him well into his 60’s. I swear he defeated many opponents before he even threw his first technique because of the sheer intimidation that was such a huge part of his arsenal. His two biggest competitive techniques were the back fist and the side kick. Everyone knew they were coming but seemed helpless to do anything about it.

It really shook me up when I learned of Grand Master Lewis’ diagnosis of brain cancer a couple of weeks ago. I can’t imagine him losing any fight, let alone this one. It’s unfortunate that it sometimes takes a crisis like this to mindfully recognize the influence someone has had on you. Thank you Grand Master Joe Lewis. I may not have become a martial artist, most definitely not the martial artist I am today, if it were not for you.

"I have always believed that one of the last strongholds of maintaining a non-violent society lies with the martial arts industry. Do I have a concluding point? Violence in any form implies a loss of self-control. It is of great importance that martial arts’ instructors reinforce those behavior codes that are about acquiring an attitude of self-control." - Joe Lewis (b. 1944)

Shop Class As Soulcraft

This week I began reading ‘Shop Class As Soulcraft’ by Matthew Crawford. The book speaks volumes about the value of mastery and how its pursuit fosters certain ethical virtues including individual responsibility.

Crawford’s book explores the merit found in working with one’s hands and removing our dependance upon, and blind acceptance of, present consumer culture. The empowerment that comes from self reliance is a major step toward acceptance of personal responsibility and more importantly - accountability.

I feel the real solution to many of the world’s communal problems are in the hands of each of us and our willingness to take action. Change, or inspiration for change, can come from a single act.

“People think responsibility is hard to bear. It’s not. I think that sometimes it is the absence of responsibility this harder to bear. You have a great feeling of impotence.” - Henry Kissinger (b. 1923)

Interbeing

The longer I train in kung fu, the greater I see the connection between mindfulness and mastery. When I really think about it, I see mindfulness as the key to solving almost any problem.

With mindfulness I tend to hear what people are saying rather than interpret what they are saying. I learn so much more when I don’t impose my paradigms upon the empirical data I accumulate.

With mindfulness my eye for detail is more refined. I see things for how they are without allowing my ego to distort the reality. Applying an egoless eye for detail to my training allows me to accept my present limitations and begin the process of eliminating them or adjusting my expectations.

With mindfulness the reflection in the mirror is an accurate and honest reflection of myself, not just physically but mentally and spiritually as well. This honest insight gives me the opportunity to embrace what I like about myself and the insight I need to eventually eliminate every skeleton from my closet. Stress disappears when I accept who I am rather than spend energy trying to hide it. If there is something I feel the need to hide, I bring it out into the light so that I am motivated to eliminate it.

With mindfulness I am totally aware of the consequences of my actions as well as my inactions. This awareness empowers me by reminding me of the capacity I possess to initiate change. The world around me is a product of my creation.

With mindfulness I am reminded of the miracle of life and the interconnectedness of everything. Awareness of interbeing makes me happy by giving my life consequence.

“You are me, and I am you. Isn’t it obvious that we “inter-are”? You cultivate the flower within yourself, so that I will be beautiful. I transform the garbage within myself, so that you will not have to suffer. I support you, you support me. I am in this world to offer you peace, you are in this world to bring me joy.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Relevance

This is what I woke up to today. Milo making himself completely relevant. Relevance is a term I have come to value because of, well its relevance. It’s not because the word is cool like ‘kiosk’ or ‘smock’, it is because relevance determines influence. For anyone who wishes to initiate and inspire change, influence is everything. Words and actions hold no influence over others unless those words and actions are relevant in others’ eyes.

Everyone has different perspectives on the same issues so what is relevant for one person is not necessarily relevant for the next. At times it seems that the only common relevancy in everyone’s lives is money. Political and social issues become more relevant if money is a factor and less so if it is not a factor.

I guess the challenge of all activists is to help people realize that wealth does not equal happiness and inspire them to believe that the power to initiate change resides in every moment. What we choose to do matters as much as what we choose to ignore. Nothing is without consequence.

"The greatest wealth is to live content with little.” - Plato (428 BC - 348 BC)

Perspective

Stress has a way of skewing perspective to the point where things that should be alleviating stress are actually compounding it. It isn’t difficult to regain a clear outlook but one has to recognize a distorted perspective first before the issue can be addressed.

I often have to remind my students that kung fu is there to serve them, not the other way around. When we’re not training and improving as we should, guilt tends to set in. With guilt comes a multitude of negative emotions that induce a negative mindset that shifts perspective so that where kung fu used to be an opportunity and tool for mastery, it becomes a responsibility with its own associated stress.

I begin and end everyday by reminding myself that I am who I am because of kung fu. Most of the defining moments of my life can be traced to that seminal first kung fu lesson almost thirty years ago. Any guilt I feel about the state of my training, or of my life in general, is only a reflection of my own ego. Kung fu will always serve me and any limits to its capacity to help me are set by my own efforts.

“Guilt is anger directed at ourselves.” - Peter McWilliams (1949 - 2000)

Bootcamp 2011

Yesterday was the highlight of my year so far. Despite the colossal amount of time and effort it takes to organize our annual bootcamp, the inspiring efforts of the participants make every hour I spend on this project more than worth it.

I am reminded of the importance of heart in making a black belt. While sweat does not always generate the results one is hoping for, effort is never, ever wasted. If discipline of effort is consistent, improvement of skill is inevitable.

Those students who maximized the opportunity yesterday put before them, have my total respect. You guys are definitely different people today than you were yesterday. Pursuit of mastery does that for you.

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” - Michelangelo (1475 - 1564)

Happy Father's Day

My dad has always been a big influence on my life. He has never been a man of many words but his advice has always guided me wisely. My dad has taught me a lot including everything I know about hockey. Many of those lessons have translated very well into my life and how I live it.

I have come to realize that many of the ideals on which I base my life have come from my dad. I’ve always appreciated how simply my dad lives his life and how he always has time and sweat to give to anyone, whether he knows them or not. My dad is not a big man but he has the heart of a giant.

“One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” - English Proverb

Art vs. Science

I have made a number of observations over the past couple of decades on how students of the martial arts approach their craft. I tend to categorize them into two groups - the artists and the scientists. Obviously there is a little of both in every martial artist but after about three years of training, students tend to gravitate to a dominant approach.

The scientist approach values function over form. This approach comes with a thirst for more knowledge and with an eye always firmly planted on the next step or technique. While every student, artist or scientist, wants more knowledge, the scientist tends to focus on the knowledge but not necessarily the skill required to apply the knowledge. It’s not unlike my approach to magic. I have an intense curiosity that drives me to understand how a magic trick is pulled off but I have little interest in spending the time required to master the trick so I can perform it myself. Applied to the martial arts, the scientist tends to value realism over form and relies upon speed and strength as opposed to technique and timing.

The artist approach values form over function. This approach focuses more on the journey than the destination. To an artist, it isn’t just where your hand ultimately ends up, it is how the hand travelled to where it is. The artist will pay attention to how the body feels during motion and unlike the scientist who performs motion, the artist experiences it.

I often talk to my students about the value of a pure moment in kung fu. It is in those moments where our technique is perfect and all our effort becomes effortless. I have experienced a pure moment less than a half dozen times in my life but with everything I have accomplished and experienced in the martial arts, it is those rare pure moments that I value the most. Only an artist can understand.

“Take a look at your natural river. What are you? Stop playing games with yourself. Where's your river going? Are you riding with it? Or are you rowing against it? Don't you see that there is no effort if you're riding with your river?” - Frederick Friesekes (1874-1939)

Bat Dung + Anything is Still Bat Dung

Dietary supplementation is pretty much a necessity in North America. The food we are consuming is so over processed, over vaccinated, over pesticide treated, over fertilized, and over preserved, that much of the nutritional value has been bleached out. It is no wonder that incidents of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes are reaching epidemic levels.

As difficult as it is to find sound nutrition in our everyday food choices, it can be even more difficult and confusing to find quality supplements. Since supplements are regulated as food, they are ironically subject to the same loose quality standards as the nutritionally poor food they are supposed to be supporting.

There are three things I look for in a quality supplement:

1. The supplement must be manufactured to pharmaceutical grade. Quality supplement manufacturers produce their supplements to the same standards required of pharmaceutical drugs. This ensures that the nutritional information label accurately represents the contents. A supplement produced to this quality will also be guaranteed to have active ingredients that still retain their potency. 
2. The supplement must have an aqueous coating that dissolves easily. Some manufacturers use shellac to coat their supplements so that they can be swallowed easily. Unfortunately, shellac is not so easily broken down in our digestive tract and can result in the entire supplement passing right through our digestive system totally intact without delivering its payload of vitamins and minerals.
3. A supplement produced by a company whose main focus is producing a quality supplement, not a pyramid based marketing empire that sells everything from household cleaning products to cosmetics. While this does not ensure the quality of the supplements one way or another, it does help me feel secure that the premium price I am paying (these things are expensive) is going towards improving the supplement products.

Dietary supplementation may be necessary but it does not replace the need to eat wisely. If you are eating bat dung for food and complementing it with quality nutritional supplements, you are still eating bat dung and that will have negative consequences.

“When diet is wrong medicine is of no use. When diet is correct medicine is of no need.” - Ayurvedic Proverb

This is a Test

This is a test. This is only a test. This is a test of the emergency blogging application known as Blogsy. Had this been a real blog, you would be reading something more profound and witty than this. Okay maybe not something more profound but definitely something more witty.

"A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure." - Lee Segall

Meditation

An unanticipated consequence of changing motorcycles has been a shift in my meditative state while riding the bike. My Daytona was a performance machine that promoted empty mind meditation and always saw me arrive at my location relaxed and refreshed no matter the level of chaos on the road. Things happen quite a bit slower on the road in front of me with my new Bonneville and I am having difficulty achieving an empty mind state on this bike. Empty mind meditation has never come easy for me except on the motorcycle so I am going to miss that benefit of a sport bike.

Mindfulness meditation comes fairly easy for me but making time for my practice has always been a challenge. The new motorcycle enhances this form of meditation and every time I get on the bike, it gives me an opportunity to further develop my practice.

“How fast? You’re an idiot!” - Dad (b. 1931)

What is a Black Belt?

Black belt is a term that instantly creates certain connotations within a person’s mind. Our own personal definition of a black belt is the biggest influence upon what type of black belt we are or will become. By the same token, the example of current and future black belts will have a massive influence on the popular definition of the term. Looking at it that way, as a black belt my responsibility to the future of kung fu is massive. Two thousand years of tradition is being redefined by today’s black belts. I definitely lose a lot of sleep when I consider the current state of today’s black belt standard.

I have spent the past day thinking about what qualities I value in a black belt. For me they all can be characterized by the quality of leadership. A black belt is someone who:

• thinks of the term “black belt” as an adjective, not a noun
• values innovation over imitation
• shuts up until he/she has put up
• lives simply and mindfully
• has passion in his/her craft
• earns respect, not demands it
• values reconciliation over retaliation and reflection over reaction
• skilled enough to be confident in his/her craft and humble enough to be aware of how much more there is to learn
• is a perpetual student who never stops learning
• is a control freak who takes responsibility for what they put into their body, who they allow to influence them, and how they choose to interpret things
• disdains mediocrity
• holds himself/herself 100% accountable for success or failure
• understands the quality of his/her words and actions have an impact upon the quality of the world
• believes in the power of example

For me the term black belt refers to a way of life that embraces mastery. It is not a tangible destination but rather a constant never ending journey.

“He that gives good advice, builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both; but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other.” - Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)

Goodbye My Friend

I have discovered that the repetitive strain injury to the tendons in my arms was not all due to the couple hundred thousand pushups I have done over the past few years. After a relatively good couple of months I found the pain returned within hours of my first motorcycle ride of the season. Apparently my arms cannot handle all the repetitive pushups and the constant weight I place on them due to the riding position of my crotch rocket.

So I find myself faced with a decision. Get rid of my beloved Daytona or stop doing all the ^%$# pushups. Sold the Daytona yesterday. I hate you Tom Callos.

“Action expresses priorities.” - Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

Happy Mother's Day Mom

My mom has not always agreed with my approach to life. I know she sees me as being a bit reckless. The violence of the sport kept my mom from attending my hockey games but she never once discouraged me from participating. She had some real concerns with me getting involved in the martial arts but through her and my dad’s support, I now own my own school and am living a life of consequence. My mom continues to be a voice of reason in my life and she always offers her support no matter what decisions, reckless or not, that I continue to make. It is amazing what one can accomplish with that level of support.

I do not always have what I want, but I have always had everything I have ever needed. I owe my parents everything.

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” - Washington Irving (1783 - 1859)

Ignorance is Bliss

• Canada’s debt stands at $560 billion. After over a decade of budget surpluses, our latest deficit is $55.6 billion, the highest in Canadian History, despite having a government that continues to run on a platform of fiscal restraint.

• Our government has shut itself down twice in the past couple of years. Once to avoid a non confidence vote and the second time to avoid having to answer to the Afghan detainee controversy. Both times left us without representation for months.

• Despite the fact that the majority of Canadians voted for a party other than the current governing party, our current government manipulated people to believe that a coalition government would not represent the will of the people.

• Our current government is the first in Commonwealth history to be brought down with a non confidence vote because of being found in contempt of parliament.

Our federal election goes down in 24 hours. Our current scandal filled government is hoping to win its first majority through a campaign of fear. Fear of what will happen if another party gets elected but seemingly oblivious to what has already happened under their administration.

Our democratic process has been slowly dismantled over the past five years in the name of economic growth and security. We need to remind ourselves of the danger of letting something like that pass without protest. Even if you trust the guy in charge while this is happening, you need to consider the precedent he is setting and the fact that he won’t always be the guy in charge. A democratic system must be adhered to by every elected official, not bent to serve any agenda, whether it is good or bad. Personal rights and freedoms are easy to give up but next to impossible to earn back.

I have never been politically active and I would never belong to a political party. I do feel culpable though when it comes to the current state of the world. Activism is the key to social change and political activism is imperative for any type of lasting social progress.

“When a government starts trying to cancel dissent or avoid dissent is frankly when it’s rapidly losing its moral authority to govern.” - Stephen Harper (b.1959)

Educational Responsibility

For the first time in the history of the British Commonwealth, a government has been found in contempt of parliament and forced to call an election due to subsequently losing the confidence of parliament. It says a lot about the historical state of Canadian politics and the total lack of confidence we have in the integrity of our politicians that our current scandal fueled government could actually use this humiliation to gain a majority victory in this election. Shows what a fear mongering, character bashing, negative campaign can accomplish. It’s too bad that none of these guys are considering the long term affects of their strategy on the unity and morale of the country.

Something I have learned but am having difficulty accepting - people are willing to accept less freedom and liberty in the name of security. We also seem to be willing to accept less democracy in our government as long as our unsustainable lifestyle can be supported for just a while longer. We have forgotten that despite the ease in which we can give up these rights it is far more difficult to win them back. Not to mention that we currently have people dying in Afghanistan fighting for the very rights and freedoms we are giving up.

I have set a lot of personal goals for myself that are focused on accepting responsibility for the state of the world and the quality of not only my life, but the lives of those with whom I come in contact. I have always had a disdain for politics but I have come to recognize the importance of educating myself about what each political party actually stands for (not always what they imply they stand for) when it comes to actively making a difference. My vote does count and where I cast that vote carries huge responsibility.

I doubt if one political party is less self serving and corrupt than another. However, the statement I make with my vote does affect the direction my government will chose to take my country. Lack of involvement in the political process has a huge affect on government policy. In fact, a government can come to rely upon public apathy to allow them to further their own agendas over the needs of the country.

“The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.” - Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

Nurture or Nature

A recent British study has found that there is definitive differences in the anatomical structure of the brain that accurately predict a person’s political orientation by how they manage fear. Liberals tend to have larger anterior cingulate cortexes - a region of the brain that monitors uncertainty and conflict and conservatives have larger amydalae which processes emotions related to fear. Researchers believe the physical differences reflect the nature of voters: that liberals tend to be more comfortable with uncertainty while conservatives are more sensitive to fear. By measuring the size of these centres of the brain, they are able to predict political orientation to a 70% accurately.

It is fascinating to learn that many of us are hardwired to base our decisions on fear as it does explain a lot of the inertia that resists any changes that may shift current paradigms. There is much less fear associated with maintaining the status quo as opposed to accepting new ideas or approaches that may facilitate change at a risk.

As long as maintaining our current lifestyle remains the highest priority of our society, we will continue to justify sacrificing the environment for the economy, we will be less tolerant of different cultures, we will advocate reaction over reflection and revenge over reconciliation.

Something that the British study could not ascertain - whether or not our decision making hardwiring was a result of nurture or nature. As a leader I choose nurture because no matter your political leanings, this is the crux of responsibility.

“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” - Nathaniel Branden (b.1930)

Massey Lectures

I happened to stumble across the final hour of Douglas Copeland’s five hour Massey Lecture on CBC Radio 1 a couple of nights ago. Copeland’s presentation marks the first time ever that a Massey Lecture has been presented through a work of  fiction. I only caught maybe fifteen minutes of it but what I did hear struck a chord with me, especially while we’re embroiled in another national election. I plan on downloading the lecture off of iTunes so that I can hear the entire presentation.  

Part of Copeland’s lecture touched on what would happen if the price of oil jumped to $900 a barrel. We’re talking about an event of apocalyptic proportions in that the world as we know it will cease to exist. Whether directly or indirectly, we’re all dependent upon affordable oil to make a living. 

People continue to deny mankind’s contribution to global warming. No matter what scientific data we accumulate, there will always be the “natural cycle” argument that will never be possible to disprove. One thing that everyone agrees upon is that oil is not an endless resource. It will run out. Yet even with this indisputable knowledge, we continue to consume oil conspicuously. 

A lot of money is being made off our current, oil dependent, economic model. Corporations answer to their shareholders and Governments answer to the corporations. We hold the power. If we want things to change, we must make sure our political choices and our purchase choices, or better yet our non purchase choices, reflect our values and our priorities. 

"I believe that oil production will peak in a few short years, and it will have very serious ramifications for society.  ..... The fact that this threat is not being taking serious enough frightens me, and that is why I take this debate very seriously." - Robert Rapier

Opportunity is Knocking

We’re facing what I believe to be our fourth federal election in seven years in a few weeks. I think most Canadians have become so numb to all the political strategizing that has been going on that their general apathy concerning the voting process is at an all time high.

For the first time in Commonwealth history, we have a government that has fallen because it was found to be in contempt of parliament. What is going to be the real tragedy of this whole situation is that the present government is going to rely upon the public’s frustration and general apathy to possibly get themselves reelected as a majority government this time around - despite the fact that they have been embroiled in one corruption scandal after another. The present situation of the government is nothing new. It doesn’t seem to matter which political party is in power, their approach tends to be the same - take care of your own and support the party first, the country second.

This election is an opportunity. An opportunity to educate ourselves about the parliamentary system and about the issues that are truly affecting our country and our lives. If we make the most of this opportunity we can protect ourselves from self serving political manipulation and base our vote on facts, not manufactured fear.

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” - John Quincy Adams (1767 - 1848)

Inactions

I've been watching the world tiptoe around the quagmire that is Gadhafi's Libya while Japan is dealing with its worst disaster since the bombing of Nagasaki. All of this while Haiti is still in a crisis and multiple nations continue to struggle with unrest and corrupt dictatorships. Life continues on in my area of theworld unabated.

I remember as a kid, Gadhafi being a major thorn in the world's side but as long as the flow of oil continued, we continued to do business with him. I'm not a big proponent of war or military intervention, but should we not have stopped financially supporting his regime decades ago?

Haiti has been a mess forever yet it took that disastrous earthquake to get the world to do what it should have done a long time ago - step up and help out. Unfortunately for Haiti, it has been relegated to the back burner while the horror in Japan is brought to the front and centre.

It seems that as a group, we really don't like to be proactive in any social or political issue unless we are smacked across the face with it or there is some sort of angle that will benefit us.

If everyone could stop and consider the consequences of their inactions, the world would be a very different place. We all talk about how to best combat the bullying problems our youth face today and how speaking out and taking action rather than turning a blind eye is paramount in dealing with this issue. Can we not see the same holds true in political issues? Silence supports the status quo.

“I never worry about action, but only about inaction” - Winston Churchill (1888 - 1955)

This is a test.

I am testing a new blogging tool that may allow me to update multiple blogs with a single entry. This is my first test, wish me luck.




"The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.” - Tom Bodett (b. 1955)

Activists Wanted

Once again I am frustrated at the level of apathy displayed by so many people when it comes to holding their public representatives accountable. The past few months have been rife with fraud and scandal perpetuated by our Federal Government, yet that very Government seems so confident that they will be reelected regardless of what is going on that they are poised to call an election. That is how much they are counting on our collective indifference.

I often wonder how much the face of politics would change if people voted for what is morally right, as opposed to what will put the most money in their pockets. I’m not sure how political parties would cope with that type of paradigm shift. They would definitely have to come up with new reelection strategies.

If the masses could be inspired to become active in their community by speaking up and letting their voices be heard, change for the better would be initiated. Thousands are dying in the middle east where freedom of speech is not a right yet they are speaking up and rallying to have their voices heard. Here in the west where freedom of speech is taken for granted, we tend to be silent and let things happen.

Activism may be alive but in my opinion, it is not well.

“There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.” - Howard Thurman (1900 -1981)

Cha Cha Cha

I accomplished one of my major goals this week by launching my new website. It will take a while to iron out all the bugs but the lion’s share of the work has been completed. Next project on the horizon is the refinement of my school’s curriculum. I have been working on that project for almost two years now but I just can’t seem to get it to a finished state before I find myself taking the entire project into a new direction. Hopefully with the website off my plate I can make some progress on the final push with my curriculum.

My difficulty with most projects is my tendency to think in abstract terms. I always have a general outline in my head of what I want the project to accomplish but by the time I finish, it is in a completely different state than I had envisioned. I think this abstract approach maximizes creativity but it definitely hampers output. Since I am constantly evolving, so are my ideas - so much so that every project becomes a moving target. My goal over the coming months will be to get my curriculum into a beta test state and begin adopting it into my classes while continuing to refine it on an ongoing basis.

I had a good week, especially with my meditation. As always, I was reminded of all the positive people I am lucky to have in my life and the sheer miracle that I ever connected with them in the first place. I am blessed.

“You don't have to be a "person of influence" to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they've taught me.” - Scott Adams (b. 1957)

Grounding

I’ve had a pretty good week. I had the opportunity to connect with Coach Callos and a couple of my teammates over the past couple of days and its impossible not to feel great when surrounded with all that positive energy.

I met with my student team yesterday for our monthly meeting and came out feeling very pleased with the efforts of my team and how engaged they are at this point. We’re setting up some team projects for the next few months and we had a couple of great discussions.

Something that we touched on was the value of a vegetarian diet. We live in a province where beef is king so eliminating meat from our diet can be a challenge. Mindful eating goes a long way in motivating a person to stay the course. When you approach your diet in a mindful way, it is impossible not be completely cognizant of the environmental, health, and moral consequences of consuming meat and supporting that industry.

“One farmer says to me, "You cannot live on vegetable food solely, for it furnishes nothing to make the bones with;" and so he religiously devotes a part of his day to supplying himself with the raw material of bones; walking all the while he talks behind his oxen, which, with vegetable-made bones, jerk him and his lumbering plow along in spite of every obstacle.” - Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

Protocol

“I’m new here, and so I just didn’t understand the proper protocol.” Protocol. I have come to detest that word. I am finding that a lot of people use that word to explain their poor conduct and their failure to utilize their empathy skills. Something I have learned through tracking and logging acts of kindness is that proper protocol is about common sense, respect, and above all - empathy. Effective communication is not just about the words being said, but also the context in which they were meant. Context is always a matter of perspective and if you are not looking from the perspective of another, you are not effectively communicating.

Motives and consequences. Basic anger management training helps a person realize that they may not have control over what other people say or do, but they do have control over how they interpret what other people say or do. Considering the motives behind what is being said will immediately apply a context to the words and help in the proper interpretation and ultimate communication. Considering the consequences of how you choose to reply will also impact on proper communication by influencing how receptive others are to your words. Words should be chosen carefully.

“To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.” - Anthony Robbins (b. 1960)

Opportunity

Change has come to Egypt. What this change ultimately manifests into is going to depend on the values of those supporting it. Where will the west place its priorities for the outside aid it will provide? Will the priority be democracy or will it be capitalism? While the two are compatible, they don’t always go hand in hand.

It is hard not to be inspired by the change being generated through peaceful activism. Each of us has the power to initiate change but very few of us accept that responsibility. Those of us who enjoy the power of influence must mindfully ensure that our values are reflected in our leadership and that these values not only address our current situation, but cater to the legacy we wish to leave behind. In this light, as a martial artist, there is no doubt that peace is more important than punches.

Everyday presents new opportunities. Through our actions and words, our indifference and apathy, our commitment to mastery, or our acceptance of mediocrity - we either seize opportunities and accept responsibility for creating the world in which we wish to live, or we shuffle on, oblivious to wasted and eventually lost potential. Our choices, no matter how seemingly insignificant, are ripples that are creating waves.

“The function of leadership is to provide more leaders, not more followers.” - Ralph Nader (b. 1934)

Whew!

While I have been keeping up with my UBBT requirements, I have definitely been absent from actively engaging with my team. Just too much on my plate these past few months has forced me to narrow my priorities and focus on the basics. Now that Chinese New Year has passed, I have my life back. Sure there’s still some projects to complete but now that our school’s annual banquet is finished, the pressure is off.

My first order of business is to catch up on my sleep. That in turn should help me achieve my second goal - heal a couple of aggravating injuries. Training full time pretty much guarantees never being at 100% but these past couple of years have been ridiculous when it comes to chronic issues. I can tell I’ve turned a corner so I am really looking forward to the coming year.

“A project is complete when it starts working for you, rather than you working for it.” - Scott Allen