Pandamonium 2018

In my opinion, we just completed the best Pandamonium Silent River Kung fu has ever held. $15,000 going to five charities, an eight lion Chinese Lion Dance performed by sixteen rookie lion dancers, and  spectacular engagement by an unbelievable team.

Tonight I am grateful for the community we have built and the dedication by so many to realize a vision shared by us all.

“The way to change the world is through individual responsibility and taking local action in your own community.” - Jeff Bridges (b. 1949)

Surround Yourself

May has been a month of interruptions and consequential reactions. My best laid plans have gone awry yet somehow I have been able to stay on track and measure significant progress.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to not move forward when you are surrounded by positive influences. Stress and crisis are easier to manage if you have support and guidance. I have been mindful to rid myself of drama and negativity and my life has entered a phase where it has become easier to stay in the moment and react appropriately to whatever surprises life has in store.

Things are getting easier.

 “Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.” - Saadi (1184 - 1283)

Mother’s Day

It is cliche and obvious to state that I owe everything to my mom. She brought me into the world, she raised me, she endured the stress I inflicted upon her life, and she loves me unconditionally.

In most ways my mom and I are polar opposites, yet somehow we have always been close and she has always supported me. When I first began studying kung fu, mom was not pleased. She worried what influence the eastern philosophies would have on me. The influence was profound but mom kept her mind open and recognized how the art was helping me.

The one thing mom never easily accepted in my life was any form of roughness or violence. Like my hockey, mom did not ever see me practice my kung fu. For the first twenty or so years of my training, mom would tell her friends that I was studying taekwondo. Today mom celebrates my students’ successes. She still bristles and questions my sanity every time I have another knee surgery, but she understands that kung fu is who I am.

I love you mom!

 “My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” - Mark Twain (1835 -1910)

Kind-Act-A-Thon

My school launched it’s annual Kind-Act-A-Thon fundraiser this week. Acts of kindness are not the first thing the general public typically associates with kung fu, but I can’t think of anything more important when it comes to developing a complete martial artist. With that I must stress that there is a difference between being a martial artist and just being someone who practices the martial arts.

Over the past ten or fifteen years I have witnessed a shift in why people are looking to get themselves or their children in the martial arts. It seems people are more focused on weaponizing themselves and their family than they are on building character, compassion, and confidence. I remember a time when every martial arts instructor believed that if everyone studied the martial arts, we would have no crime or wars. Today’s more popular claim is: “If you don’t have a good ground game, your martial art is a joke.”

Let’s reclaim what it means to be a martial artist. Lead by example, reflect before reacting, help others, and stay humble.

“When people ask me about what I learned from martial arts, I don't talk about favorite punches or kicks, or about fights won or lost. I talk about learning self-discipline, about ethics and manners and benevolence and fairness.”- Jonathan Maberry (b. 1958)