Forgotten and Not Yet Learned

 In this weeks Blackbelt class we got to do a choke escape application and I felt WAY out of my depth. Part of it is definitely because I have let a fair bit of dust collect on my choke defence skills as I haven’t practiced them in quite a while. When we work on sections of forms I have been able to apply the insights and skill from when I am practicing forms outside of class so that when we work on new things in class I can do them at the same level. However since the opportunity to do applications in class is fewer and further between, and my practice time outside of class in these areas is pretty non-existent, I can’t do them in a way that matches the level of my Kung fu in other areas.

The rest of the blog is going to sound negative, but I am not writing it with the intent to point out how far behind I’ve fallen, but instead to highlight how much further I could go!

In blackbelt class I want to apply my intent and do things at a level 10, but tonight feel closer to a level 4, partly because of the aforementioned dust, that my previous skill has decreased, but another part of it is because I haven’t put in the practice to turn new knowledge into skill in the first place. The difference between making something and allowing it to become tarnished, versus never having made it in the first place. 

There are so many new insights from every single class, so many new ways to think about a technique, so many tweaks to intent that can happen at so many different stages of a technique, how things are being explained. All of these things manifest as new knowledge, and almost none of it has been translated into physical skill. So I am still trying to put in level 10 effort, but the criteria for what it means to me now to be at level 10 has shifted. Which is really exciting! One way the mediocrity tends to sneak into my training is when I think I have something, or I’m doing something well, I’ll keep it at that level of “good” not allowing it to degrade, but not thinking that I could progress; it leads to stagnation in my training. So that class was a fantastic wake up call that not only am I not where I used to be, but I have a lot further to go to catch up, which gives me drive to train, and a purpose to focus on when I’m practicing. 

Current Total

Should Be At

Push-ups

20950

34869

Sit-Ups

23390

34869

Hand Form

232

646

Weapon Form

233

646

Other Forms

190

226

Sparring

386

646

AOK

496

646

Steps

1844

1001

Repair Relationship

4

8

Me and White Supremacy

6

16

12 Applications

2

8

1-on-1's

19

32

Kung Fu Art

1

8

Blogs

23

32

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