Year of the Tiger

Today is the first day of the Year of the Tiger. As always, the new year marks a new beginning rife with opportunities and possibilities. I am not one to make resolutions but the lunar new year invariably grounds my perspective. It is a time where I become mindful of where I am and what I am doing - consequently narrowing my focus and ensuring my priorities reflect my values.

“The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to its close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences.” - Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

What’s Right Is Right. Right?

I used to think foreign aid was pretty much unequivocal. A country needs help, you send them money and that’s that. I now realize how naive I have been. It is disappointing how the world really works.

When a western country says it is sending thirty million dollars of aid to Ethiopia, for instance, the aid rarely gets there in the form of money. We send food and equipment rather than money because by sending home grown goods we stimulate our economy and everyone wins, right? Besides, if we sent actual money we couldn’t guarantee that the money would be used in a manner in which we approve. Unfortunately our culture’s imperious meddling in foreign affairs can actually exasperate the very situation we are trying to resolve.

Case in point - Malawi. The landscape of Malawi is littered with non functioning water wells that were acquired through foreign aid. There’s water underground, there’s pumps installed to bring the water up, but unfortunately there is no money or expertise to repair the pumps when they breakdown. The idealist in me says our intentions were pure and with a few adjustments we’ll get it right the next time. The cynic in me says things are going exactly as planned. The primary motivation is not to help a foreign country in need but rather subsidize the economy at home. Busted pumps? No problem, we’ll have a bunch more off to you in a jiffy as soon as they roll off the assembly line.

At Silent River Kung Fu’s annual Chinese New Year banquet, we will be presenting thousands of dollars to the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society, Malawi Girls on the Move, the Simon Poultney Foundation, the Children’s Ability Fund, and the homeless in Katmandu. We are fortunate that in every single case we have personal contact with these organizations and we understand that only they have the expertise to ensure the greatest benefit is realized by their group from our fundraising efforts.

It would be great if it were that simple at the Federal level.

“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” - Chinese Proverb

Beagles Love Blueberries

I'm one month into my second consecutive Ultimate Black Belt Test and am starting to find my stride. You would think that continuing on from UBBT 6 into the Live Project would be a natural flow but the transition has been surprisingly challenging. The rhythm I maintained throughout UBBT 6 that helped me succeed is not quite what I need in to achieve my UBBT 7 goals. Once again I am expanding my comfort zone and adjusting to the situation.

There are some things I learned in UBBT 6 that are going to help me make even more personal progress in UBBT 7.

- 1000 reps of anything is a lot.
- A Canadian traveling to Alabama during winter tends to sunburn.
- 12 months is a lot shorter period of time than one thinks.
- Watching Master McNeill swat someone in the shin with a cane is infinitely more entertaining than receiving the swat yourself.
- A team is only as strong as its weakest link.
- I’m lazier than I thought.
- Nothing is for free.
- Journalling and tracking your progress is an important key that reinforces the process.
- Getting enough protein as a vegetarian takes careful planning.
- Doing anything with a group is a lot more motivating than doing it alone.
- Walking meditation with 300 strangers can be intensely intimate.
- Sitting meditation with swollen knees can be intensely painful.
- All the planning and intentions in the world are not worth a hill of beans if you do not take consistent action.
- 87 kilograms is a good fighting weight for me but 84 kilograms would be better for my knees.
- Sometimes listening can show more leadership than speaking.
- Getting and receiving feedback from your teammates strengthens the bonds of the team.
- It is never too late to apply mastery.

"Each painting has its own way of evolving. When the painting is finished, the subject reaveals itself." - William Baziotes (1912 - 1963)

Just Nod If You Can Hear Me

To receive a black belt from me, my students must prove their mettle in the kwoon and their compassion outside of it. And really, compassion is not just a requirement for black belt, it is a basic minimum requirement for humanity.

Haiti has been devastated and the world is stepping up to lend a hand. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and some have gone so far as to say that for the survivors, the earthquake could ultimately be the best thing to happen to them. With all the foreign aid pouring in, the people of Haiti might actually end up with a better life than the one they were doomed to live out in squalor before the disaster.

My question: Why does it take a catastrophic disaster to get people to share their good fortune with their fellow man? And let’s be honest here, it is nothing but random luck that we were born into the life we enjoy. We could and should be doing a lot more and it shouldn’t take a calamity of this magnitude to wake us up.

“There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.” - Art Turock

Process of Incremental Progression

As I complete my transition from UBBT 6 to UBBT 7, I have come to realize how little time there is in a single year. We have almost completed the first month of UBBT 7 and I am still getting my student team up to speed. One thing I know for sure is all the planning in the world is pointless if there is no follow through.

Properly approached, the Ultimate Black Belt Test is an excellent example of the process of incremental progression in action. Small daily progress can produce massive yearly results. Mastery is not achieved over the short term, it is achieved through focus and consistent, mindful action.

We have a concept in the Chinese arts of the six harmonies. While there may be slight variations in the way the concept is taught from school to school, every kung fu system embraces the notion. The three internal harmonies see our spirit harmonize with our intention, our intention harmonizes with our chi, and our chi harmonizes with our strength. What is missing from people who do not recognize the importance of the process of incremental progression is the first harmony - their spirit harmonizing with their intent. Without this harmony our dreams never manifest into reality.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” - Lau Tzu

So Say We All

We are all defined by the things we do, our actions reflect our thoughts and values. At the same time we are defining ourselves by the things we don’t do, our apathy and indifference speaking volumes about our personal priorities and values. In many cases our habitual acceptance of mediocrity directly corresponds to our overall level of discipline and respect.

It is easy to fall into a negative cycle of acceptance. There are a million and one excuses to explain failure and just as many to justify not even trying. I am always surprised how someone can be so nonchalant about failure after they have publicly declared their intentions or accepted a challenge. If we don’t take failure personally, then we really are not holding ourselves accountable. Lack of accountability removes responsibility and if no one is responsible, there isn’t much anyone can do to help. The only thing left in this state is acceptance.

I am trying to stay mindful of my present limitations. I have been suffering from leg issues for so long that I am not even sure if I can accurately recall what it is like to be pain free. It is important that I do not use my limitations as an excuse to accept the ordinary. I’m on the Ultimate Black Belt Test and by the very definition of the word ‘Ultimate’, I must pursue mastery everyday and never accept anything short of the extraordinary.

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” - Pantanjali

Begin Anew

The new year is now underway and I brought it in with 1000 pushups, 1000 sit ups, 4000 ml of water, 1000 words written, and under 1000 calories consumed. It feels good to begin a journey, such as the Live Like a Champion Project with these acts of discipline. I appreciate Master McNeill’s inspiration for starting the year in such a positive way.

I can tell it is going to be difficult to make the transition from UBBT 6 to UBBT 7 smoothly. I have a whole new team to network with and there is definitely not the same sense of beginning that I had last year at this time. UBBT 6 will continue to roll along into UBBT 7 and for me it will be business as usual.

For me, UBBT 6 will officially end in February 2010. At that time I will shift my focus 100% to my new team and the challenge of UBBT 7. I know it is important for me to put my mark on UBBT 7 to fully define it.

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.” - Seneca