Belly Button Lint and the Art of Navel Gazing

Clarence Benjamin Jones

2012-02-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across an interview with Clarence Benjamin Jones on the BBC this week. Listening to him describe his experiences as Martin Luther King’s legal and personal counsel was fascinating.

Clarence Jones first met Martin Luther King when King personally visited Jones’ home in California to convince him to become part of his legal team. Surprisingly, Jones turned King down. After King left, Jones received an invitation from one of King’s aides to attend the upcoming service at a local church where Martin Luther King was to be the guest preacher. Jones accepted the invitation and found King to be much more charismatic in that venue than he had been in his living room. Not only did King direct a big part of his sermon directly, but anonymously, at Clarence Jones, by the end of his sermon Jones was convinced to become part of Martin Luther King’s legal council.

What struck me about this Clarence Jones interview is how different his life would have been if he had not attended that sermon. He would never have become part of King’s counsel, nor would he have helped write King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. The world would be a different place.

Life is full of opportunity. Some opportunities are exploited while others are ignored. While it is easy to see what comes of opportunities taken, it is more difficult to realize the consequences of opportunities missed.

“Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.” - Alexander Graham Bell (1847 - 1922)

Oh Canada

2012-02-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

Training in kung fu presents certain unique challenges. Chinese hand forms tend to be fairly lengthly and they cover quite a bit of real estate. Finding a location outside your kwoon that gives you enough space to complete an entire form uninterrupted is almost impossible. Most of us break our forms down into segments for practice at home and piece them back together when we return to class. Weapon forms exasperate the issue, and in most cases, are impossible to practice indoors safely.

This brings up the unique challenges a person faces when practicing the martial arts in a northern climate. At our latitude, the climate can force us to keep our training indoors for seven months of the year. That’s a long time to be away from your weapon practice. During the deep freeze intervals when the temperature drops below -30 degrees centigrade, any outdoor cardio exertion is impossible without the cold, dry air damaging your lungs.

I do believe these unique challenges give us the opportunity to become better martial artists. Overcoming the limitations of the short daylight hours and extreme weather in the winter help us prepare for the other inevitable pitfalls that end up crossing our paths. Like any other challenge that falls your way, it’s how you choose to react to the challenge that determines whether or not you will come out ahead for it.

“Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are." - Bernice Johnson Reagon (b. 1942)

Incremental Progression

2012-02-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

The Sihing Class I ran on Friday reminded me of the key role incremental progression plays in mastery. There are no shortcuts, the harder you work the more you will progress. An hour of practice can produce great results but finding an interrupted hour for mindful practice can sometimes be the single most challenging aspect of mastery. Fortunately, it is almost impossible not to be able to find ten uninterrupted minutes a day over six days to apply to mastery. As I continue to tell my students - if you can’t spare ten minutes a day to kung fu, I’ll show you how to set your alarm clock to go off ten minutes earlier. Any limits to how we apply ourselves to our training are in between our ears.

My Sihing students were exposed to a sample nine minutes of the future final twelve hours of their black belt grading on Friday. It was not only an eye opening experience for them but one for me as well. These past five months I have been spending the majority of my time honing the skills of my five candidates who were promoted to black belt at our Chinese New Year Banquet. Seeing my current Sihing class mentally breaking down over those nine intense minutes brought into focus how far my last five candidates developed over their grading year. I definitely get spoiled working so closely with a group whose focus was narrowed upon achieving mastery. It is very inspiring and motivating to be reminded how far one can progress when they dedicate a portion of every day toward their goals.

Incremental progression is the key.

“Success is steady progress toward one’s personal goals.” - Jim Rohn (1930 - 2009)

Toys in Space

2012-02-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

I find this story unbelievably inspiring because as a kid I worked on a project to put a toy into orbit. I came up with many designs and the ultimate design may or may not have ( if I was a betting man I would say not have) achieved orbit. The technology available to me back then precluded me from ever recovering my rocket or proving it’s ultimate destination.

What I find so inspiring about this story is that these two teenagers not only dared to dream, they followed through. They did the research, they invested the time, and they ultimately achieved exactly what they set out to do - first try. Just goes to show that if you take a well thought out plan and couple it with good old follow through, anything is possible.

Thank you Mathew and Asad. You guys made my year.

“We didn’t really believe we could do it until we did.”- Mathew Ho (b. 1995)

Be Bold and Proceed

2012-01-30T22:03:00.001-07:00

This is the time of year my students tend to become inspired an motivated to refocus, retool, and begin their drive for black belt. Nothing like seeing a few of their peers get promoted to light the old fire.

I will be meeting with a few of my students this week to help them get on track to achieve their goals over the next couple of years. Any plan we come up with will still come down to their ability to follow through. Actions, not thoughts, produce results. No matter where you’re at, no matter where you want to go, the journey begins with just a single step. Overcoming the inertia of inaction can be a formidable task and anyone who takes that initial step gets my respect.

“If you’re going to do this you gotta pack your bags, kiss your wife goodbye, and go to war.”- Samuel Mockbee (1944 - 2001)

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

2012-01-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

Today is the final day of the lunar year, the Year of the Dragon begins tomorrow. Chinese New Year is an important festival for a kung fu school and the next few weeks are going to keep us busy with lion dances, demonstrations, and celebrations.

The new year brings an opportunity to begin anew. The festivities of the lunar new year are about leaving the negative behind and starting the year off right. My plans are to start the new year strong beginning with 100 push ups and sit ups at midnight. By the end of the day I will complete at least 1000 of each. The pride of this accomplishment will be tempered with limiting my caloric intake for the day to less than 1000 calories to keep me mindful and appreciative of my privileged life.

It is no coincidence that my student UBBT team, the I Ho Chuan, begin their year-long challenge tomorrow. They will be leading my school for the next year through the power of example by mindfully embracing mastery. I am looking forward to sharing this journey with them.

“Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail.” - Og Mandino (1923 - 1996)

Psychopath Test

2012-01-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

I am currently reading Jon Ronson’s ‘The Psychopath Test’. It is a fascinating book that ultimately explores the prevalence of psychopathy in corporate and world leadership. It is estimated that about 1% of the general population could be classified as being psychopathic. In the corporate world, the percentage of psychopaths in leadership roles is four times as high.

This finding helps explain how corporations can turn a blind eye to environmental rape and exploitive labour practices in the name of profits. In fact many, if not most, companies actually seek out CEOs who have a proven track record of being able to make decisions without remorse or guilt so that shareholder profits are always maximized.

Jon Ronson is quick to point out that while it may be a psychopath who is leading the charge, it is the rest of us that are supporting and accepting this leadership. A lot of damage is being perpetuated by our collective greed and the political intimidation that induces a fear of speaking out or going against the flow.

“Suddenly, madness was everywhere, and I was determined to learn about the impact it had on the way society evolves. I've always believed society to be a fundamentally rational thing, but what if it isn't? What if it is built on insanity?” - Jon Ronson - (b. 1967)

Opportunities in a Moment

2012-01-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we work so hard to improve ourselves physically and intellectually that we forget about our spiritual development. I eat healthy and exercise to feed my body, I read and study to feed my brain, and I practice mindful activism to feed my soul.

In answering the question - “What happens when we die?”, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh replied:

“The question can be answered when you can answer this: What happens in the present moment? In the present moment, you are producing thought, speech, and action. And they continue in the world. Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do, it bears your signature. Action is called karma. And that's your continuation. When this body disintegrates, you continue on with your actions. It's like the cloud in the sky. When the cloud is no longer in the sky, it hasn't died. The cloud is continued in other forms like rain or snow or ice. Our nature is the nature of no birth and no death. It is impossible for a cloud to pass from being into nonbeing. And that is true with a beloved person. They have not died. They have continued in many new forms and you can look deeply and recognize them in you and around you.”

All your thoughts and actions continue on and bear your signature. What a wonderful thought and awesome responsibility.

Beginning Anew

2012-01-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

Everyday is an opportunity to wipe the slate clean, leave the past behind, and begin anew. The start of a new year brings this opportunity to the forefront of awareness.

Beginning anew is an opportunity for forgiveness. Conflicts can take their toll without you even being aware of the cost you are paying. A lot of things seem to be important on the surface but upon reflection you are so much further ahead if you just let go.

Beginning anew is an opportunity to create. Creativity is an important ingredient of self worth. Often a lack of creativity is nothing more than a lack of mindful awareness. I plan on creating becoming part of my daily practice.

Beginning anew is an opportunity to simplify. Our daily clutter has a way of keeping us from seeing what is important. Sometimes we are so busy working for the future that we forget to live in the present. Experiences, not things define us. A mindful life free of conspicuous consumption is also a life free of guilt and endless want.

Beginning anew is an opportunity to act. Our world is created by our actions and our inactions. I live in a country where I can speak out for what I believe in without fear of persecution. For now. Rights and freedoms only exist if we exercise them and protect them.

My goal is to begin anew, everyday.

“No one else can speak the words on your lips. Drench yourself in words unspoken. Live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten.” - Natasha Bedingfield (b. 1981)

My Christmas Wish

2011-12-24T22:33:00.001-07:00

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

2011-12-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

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

2011-12-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

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

2011-12-04T10:13:00.001-07:00

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

2011-11-27T10:10:00.003-07:00

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

2011-11-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

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

2011-11-13T19:29:00.001-07:00

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

2011-11-07T07:39:00.000-07:00

“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

2011-10-30T22:32:00.000-06:00

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

2011-10-23T23:43:00.001-06:00

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

2011-10-16T10:36:00.000-06:00

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

2011-10-09T10:57:00.000-06:00

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

2011-10-02T11:36:00.000-06:00

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

2011-09-25T21:07:00.002-06:00

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

2011-09-18T14:45:00.000-06:00

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

2011-09-11T08:50:00.000-06:00

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

2011-09-04T23:43:00.001-06:00

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

2011-08-28T17:55:00.002-06:00

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

2011-08-20T18:48:00.000-06:00

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

2011-08-14T09:32:00.002-06:00

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

2011-08-07T20:07:00.000-06:00

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

2011-07-31T19:38:00.000-06:00

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

2011-07-24T21:59:00.001-06:00

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

2011-07-17T10:25:00.001-06:00

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

2011-07-10T19:36:00.000-06:00

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

2011-07-03T18:01:00.000-06:00

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

2011-06-26T20:56:00.000-06:00

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

2011-06-19T13:28:00.000-06:00

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

2011-06-12T10:10:00.000-06:00

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

2011-06-05T16:27:00.000-06:00

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:

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.
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.
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

2011-05-31T11:19:00.003-06:00

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

2011-05-29T17:58:00.000-06:00

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?

2011-05-22T18:12:00.000-06:00

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

2011-05-15T18:14:00.000-06:00

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

2011-05-08T16:20:00.000-06:00

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

2011-05-01T16:38:00.000-06:00

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

2011-04-24T09:11:00.000-06:00

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

2011-04-17T09:04:00.000-06:00

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

2011-04-03T08:46:00.000-06:00

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

2011-03-27T19:10:00.000-06:00

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

2011-03-20T10:03:00.002-06:00

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.

2011-03-15T13:10:00.001-06:00

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

2011-03-13T18:56:00.002-06:00

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

2011-03-06T19:12:00.002-07:00

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

2011-02-27T16:56:00.003-07:00

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

2011-02-20T10:31:00.002-07:00

“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

2011-02-13T08:08:00.005-07:00

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!

2011-02-06T20:23:00.002-07:00

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

Happy New Year

2011-01-30T12:06:00.002-07:00

The year of the tiger definitely lived up to its hype. It was an absolutely relentless year of crisis, injury, and non stop stress. I was reminded throughout the year of the classic Chinese curse - “May your life be interesting.” This past year was the most interesting year I have ever experienced. Awesome.

All that being said, the year of the tiger has been a productive year that has seen me tackle many ambitious projects. The constant parade of crisis that the year has put before me has not seen me finish any of the projects to completion but definite progress has been made - enough that should guarantee the year of the rabbit to be a very satisfying year for me personally.

This thursday marks the first day of the year of the rabbit. For me, Chinese New Year marks a fresh start and a new beginning. I’m going to hit the ground running by completing 1000 pushups and 1000 sit ups and riding that momentum into the new year.

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.” - Edith Lovejoy (b. 1904)

Appreciate What You Have

2011-01-23T21:50:00.001-07:00

Chinese New Year is approaching and so I am entering my busiest time of year. I’ve had the kind of week that was made for the Ultimate Black Belt Test. Always adapting, I’ve had to put a few projects on hold while I shift my priorities toward preparing for the festival. I am constantly reminded that what we do when life interferes with our best laid plans is where mastery can be found.

A friend of mine had to move to a new home this weekend. This summer he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and the symptoms have progressed to the point where he has to start adjusting for the consequences. I have thought of little else than his diagnosis for the past six months and this weekend’s event weighs heavily upon my mind. He has lived a healthy, productive life but some things just cannot be predicted nor prevented. We all take our health for granted and a significantly shortened life expectancy is not something many of us even consider. Watching someone face a challenge such as this forces reality upon us.

Every moment is precious.

“The first wealth is health.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Adopt-A-Driveway

2011-01-16T07:53:00.003-07:00

We’ve experienced more snow this year than I can recall since my childhood. With my school’s current Adopt-A-Driveway project into it’s third year of clearing local senior’s sidewalks and driveways of snow, this season’s workload has really stretched our resources thin. It has been a struggle to keep everyone engaged with their snow removal commitments and I know there are times when many lose their resolve and question the efficacy of the entire project. To avoid burnout, we all need reminding that not only do our actions have consequences, but so do our inactions. If only one team member fails to live up to their commitment to the project, there is a ripple effect felt throughout the team that could quite literally determine the future of project.

Before I made my first trip to Greensboro, Alabama, I did a lot of reading on Hale County and the Sam Mockbee Rural Studio Project that had inspired our UBBT build project. Something that one of Mr. Mockbee's students had said really struck a chord with me. He said that before he made his first trip to Greensboro, poverty was just an abstraction for him. I absolutely guarantee that it is also an abstraction for the majority of people. We all think we understand poverty but unless you actually experience it for yourself, you will not truly understand the utter despair that is associated with it. However, through experiential learning, you can remove that abstraction and begin to understand it. This is the power and importance of empathy.

We lead a privileged life here in Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada. Most of us did absolutely nothing extraordinary to earn what we have. The majority of our privileges were literally guaranteed by the geography of our birth. We spend more time thinking about what type of car we wish to own in the future than where our next meal is going to come from. It is very easy to become complacent and forget how precarious our situation actually is. No matter how secure we are, most of us are only two or three timely personal catastrophes away from the possibility of homelessness. It has happened to others, it can happen to us.

Most cultures judge a civilization by how they care for and revere their elders. The world we have inherited was created by those who came before us - most importantly, our seniors. An absolute certainly is that one day we ourselves are going to be seniors who will require assistance. Who is going to step up for us? Back in the day, when you were new in town and had no place to go, no shelter, no food - you stopped in at the local kung fu kwoon and they would hook you up. This is how our kung fu predecessors had defined their rolls in their community but what we at Silent River Kung Fu and other martial arts kwoons do in the here and now will define the role of kung fu for the future.

In kung fu we revere our lineage and our heritage. If we spend too much time resting on our heritage rather than living up to it, we will be in danger of loosing our connection with our lineage and changing the very definition of who we are. As always, who we are and what we stand for is defined as much by our inactions as our actions.

“A test of a people is how it behaves toward the old. It is easy to love children. Even tyrants and dictators make a point of being fond of children. But the affection and care for the old, the incurable, the helpless are the true gold mines of a culture.” - Abraham J. Heschel (1907-1972)

Ripples In My Wake

2011-01-09T08:06:00.002-07:00

I’m a week into my third consecutive Ultimate Black Belt Test and I have been doing a lot of reflecting on what the UBBT means to me. Predictably my approach to the process has changed with each passing year as my life has become more and more entwined with my pursuit of mastery.

For someone who is constantly evolving, mastery is not a truly tangible objective but rather an endless pursuit. It is that thing that is always lurking in my periphery, not quite in focus, and just beyond my grasp.

The task is monumental and the commitment relentless, but its value is undeniable. I have come to realize that the power and significance of my pursuit of mastery is not only found in my personal achievements but in those who are following the footprints I leave behind and the ripples in my wake.

“Nothing is so contagious as example; and we never do any great good or evil which does not produce its like.” - Francois de la Rochefoucauld (1613 - 1680)

Jack LaLanne

2011-01-02T10:59:00.002-07:00

2011 started with what has become a tradition in my school, 1000 pushups and 1000 sit ups coupled with a caloric intake limit of 1000. I find it sets a strong tone for the entire year when you start it off with a big act of discipline. The swelling in my elbows has not receded permanently like I had hoped, so I had to stop at 650 pushups and make up the difference on the exercise bike.

For me, at least when I am healthy, 1000 pushups is not a big deal since I have been doing 150/day for a few years now and when I tackle a day of 1000, I always spread it out over 10 hours. Sure there is a little soreness the next day but nothing like I would experience if I did not have my daily regime.

I have been reading up on Jack LaLanne this past week after seeing a video of him from the 50’s. His way of thinking back then was progressive for the times and is very pertinent today. I noticed that at the age 42, Jack LaLanne completed 1000 pushups on television in 23 minutes. 23 MINUTES! That makes my 1000 in 10 hours look completely lame. This guy’s accomplishments are amazing and according to Wikipedia, include:

1954 (age 40): swam the entire length of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, underwater, with 140 pounds (64 kg; 10 st) of equipment, including two air tanks. A world record.
1955 (age 41): swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco while handcuffed. When interviewed afterwards he was quoted as saying that the worst thing about the ordeal was being handcuffed, which reduced his chance to Star Jump significantly.
1956 (age 42): set a world record of 1,033 push-ups in 23 minutes on You Asked For It, a television program with Art Baker.
1957 (age 43): swam the Golden Gate channel while towing a 2,500-pound (1,100 kg; 180 st) cabin cruiser. The swift ocean currents turned this one-mile (1.6 km) swim into a swimming distance of 6.5 miles (10.5 km).
1958 (age 44): maneuvered a paddleboard nonstop from Farallon Islands to the San Francisco shore. The 30-mile (48 km) trip took 9.5 hours.
1959 (age 45): did 1,000 star jumps and 1,000 chin-ups in 1 hour, 22 minutes and The Jack LaLanne Show went nationwide.
1974 (age 60): For the second time, he swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman's Wharf. Again, he was handcuffed, but this time he was also shackled and towed a 1,000-pound (450 kg; 71 st) boat.
1975 (age 61): Repeating his performance of 21 years earlier, he again swam the entire length of the Golden Gate Bridge, underwater and handcuffed, but this time he was shackled and towed a 1,000-pound (450 kg; 71 st) boat.
1976 (age 62): To commemorate the "Spirit of '76", United States Bicentennial, he swam one mile (1.6 km) in Long Beach Harbor. He was handcuffed and shackled, and he towed 13 boats (representing the 13 original colonies) containing 76 people.
1979 (age 65): towed 65 boats in Lake Ashinoko, near Tokyo, Japan. He was handcuffed and shackled, and the boats were filled with 6,500 pounds (2,900 kg; 460 st) of Louisiana Pacific wood pulp.[19]
1980 (age 66): towed 10 boats in North Miami, Florida. The boats carried 77 people, and he towed them for over one mile (1.6 km) in less than one hour.
1994 (age 80): Once again handcuffed and shackled, he fought strong winds and currents as he swam 1.5 miles (2.4 km) while towing 80 boats with 80 people from the Queensway Bay Bridge in the Long Beach Harbor to the Queen Mary.

I’m definitely going to have to ramp up my training.

"I cannot afford to die, it will ruin my image." - Jack LaLanne (b. 1914)

Debt Makes the World Go 'Round

2010-12-26T10:01:00.003-07:00

Almost all of our religious holidays have been hijacked by consumerism. This Christmas season is sure to see the majority of people taking on more personal debt. Canadians owe $1.47 for every dollar of disposable income. Credit card companies charge loan shark interest rates. Our economy relies upon our conspicuous consumption to roll along. With our resources quickly running out, it is obvious that something has to change drastically because our current strategy is not sustainable.

When you consider the how much money the credit card companies are charging for interest, it is easy to see who is paying the ultimate price. Most lower income families have to resort to using their credit card whenever any extraordinary household expense pops up. Since they’re already living from paycheque to paycheque (60% of Canadians do), they have to carry that credit card balance. The high interest rate they are paying guarantees longterm debt for them and record profits for the the credit card companies.

I’m not sure how to fix a system that continues to rely upon the underprivileged to maintain it unless we can convince people to redefine their definition of quality of life to represent their happiness, not what they own.

“The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied... but written off as trash. The twentieth-century consumer economy has produced the first culture for which a beggar is a reminder of nothing.” - John Berger (b. 1926)

Let It Snow

2010-12-19T09:12:00.002-07:00

We’ve been digging ourselves out all week from the biggest snowfall we have had so far this year. Last Wednesday marked the first time I have ever had to cancel classes due to the weather. One of the highways was completely closed making it nearly impossible, not to mention incredibly dangerous, for anyone to get to the school.

Winter is an awesome season. I know some don’t share my enthusiasm for the local climate this time of year but I find that the more time I spend outdoors experiencing the weather, the more I enjoy it. I can understand how the short days can become oppressive if you are augmenting them by shutting yourself indoors for five months so my advice is always to dress appropriately and spend some time outside.

If you started your day like I did yesterday you would understand exactly what I mean. There was fresh snow on the ground first thing in the morning and with the massive snowfall we had earlier in the week, everything was completely covered under a thick blanket of the white stuff. The silence that comes with all that snow was absolutely deafening. I stood perfectly still and just experienced the moment. That is definitely something that cannot be experienced any other time of year. Stay inside and you would never know what you had missed.

Winter solstice is in two days. This year will be the first time in over four hundred and fifty years that a lunar eclipse will coincide with the solstice. If the weather is clear, I am getting up at 3:17 am to experience the event. They say the phenomena should display the most fantastic coppery glow on the winter landscape. Regardless, the days start getting longer on Wednesday so enjoy what there is to experience before winter is gone.

“People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy.” - Anton Chekov (1860 -1904)

I Like To Wear Pumpkins On My Feet

2010-12-12T09:34:00.002-07:00

As I watch my newest cat watch me watching him, I can’t help but smile at the serendipitous opportunities life continues to throw at me. Milo, the cat I am currently losing a staring contest with, has been gaining strength and weight everyday since I adopted him a month ago. The vet estimates his age to be about 17 or 18 years old and in his emaciated state, he looks every second of it. He wasn’t expected to live more than a few weeks but as things are going now, I am pretty sure I will be sharing Christmas with him and maybe a good part of 2011.

Milo’s Christmas gift to me has been the gift of perspective. He clearly accepts everything life throws his way and he makes the best of every moment he has. As with any cat, he doesn’t really convey gratitude and acts as if he decided to adopt me and let me feed and care for him. I have to respect his unshakeable confidence and his faith in the good of man.

I am inspired.

“Bunny slippers remind me of who I am. You can't get a swelled head if you wear bunny slippers. You can't lose your sense of perspective and start acting like a star or a rich lady if you keep on wearing bunny slippers. Besides, bunny slippers give me confidence because they're so jaunty. They make a statement; they say, 'Nothing the world does to me can ever get me so far down that I can't be silly and frivolous.' If I died and found myself in Hell, I could endure the place if I had bunny slippers.” - Dean Koontz (b. 1945)

No Impact Man

2010-12-05T20:04:00.002-07:00

I have learned a lot about the environment and the interconnectedness of everything from David Suzuki. His ability to convey complex ideas in layman terms has gone a long way to educate the masses about environmental issues. David Suzuki is 74 years of age and I am concerned about the void that will need to be filled when he passes on.

I have been following Colin Beavan’s No Impact Man project for a few years now and I believe he, and others like him, can lead the charge in convincing the masses to consider the consequences of our lifestyles. His latest blog on the No Impact Man project offers solid advice and guidance on how the rest of us can positively engage others in discussions about climate change.

As long as someone is always carrying the torch there is always hope.

“What I do matters. It affects how other people act. The choices we make in life affects the choices of everyone else.” - Colin Beavan

Big Finish

2010-11-28T17:27:00.002-07:00

As UBBT 7 winds down into its final month, I have given all my Student UBBT Members a final journaling assignment to write about their UBBT experience. There is still a significant portion of UBBT 7 left but I always assign this task at this time of year for a reason. No matter how the test has gone, you will always remember how you finish. This will go a long way to help you recognize the path to mastery.

It is important to reflect upon the entire year in order to truly appreciate the scope of the journey and it is my belief that upon reflection there will be evidence of growth no matter how poorly the year went. The great thing about the UBBT is the fact that it is a process as opposed to a program and if you recognize this, there is no such thing as failure.

It is impossible to judge anyone else’s experience. My respect for anyone who steps up and attempts to improve themselves and the world around them is absolute. I am proud of everyone that has ever taken on this challenge.

“Eighty percent of success is showing up.” - Woody Allen (b. 1935)

Gratitude

2010-11-21T14:11:00.001-07:00

As the year is winding down I have been reflecting upon the past 11 months and giving thanks for the blessings that have been bestowed upon me this year. I recognize that my pursuit of mastery has led to a lot of personal growth and has kept me on the path to a life of consequence.

As I get older, and hopefully wiser, the value I place upon personal relationships grows. I have come to recognize that the quality of my life is directly proportional to the quality of the people I am surrounded with. I am definitely blessed to have so many people of quality who I trust in my life.

No matter what is going on in your life, stress is always more manageable if you have people you trust to turn to. Trust. There is a lot to be said about trust. It takes a lot to earn but next to nothing to lose.

I have learned to keep the value of trust in front of me and my goal for the next year is to ensure my actions and words bring value to those around me and never betray the trust I hope to earn.

“We're never so vulnerable than when we trust someone - but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy” - Walter Anderson (1903 - 1965)

Lest We Forget

2010-11-14T11:04:00.002-07:00

I believe Remembrance Day is one of the most important days for reflection, and the fact that we are a country at war makes the day even more significant. I hope everyone has taken the time to stop and contemplate what a privilege it is to be Canadian and the price so many have paid in service to us and our country.

Whether or not you support the war in Afghanistan, no one should be doubting the sacrifice that has been made by Canadian soldiers over the past century. We enjoy the privilege of our lifestyle because of lives that have been sacrificed or forever changed on our behalf. Remembrance Day of all days is a perfect time to consider our own responsibilities not just as Canadians but as free, engaged human beings.

If you believe we should be supporting our troops in Afghanistan, it is important that your support is reflected in your actions at home. Hold your political representatives accountable for representing your values not their own party's agenda so that there is meaning to the sacrifices being made at our government’s bidding. If you believe in freedom, exercise your freedom by actively striving to improve the world for yourself and for those who will inherit what you leave behind. If you want change, let your spending, or better yet your lack of spending, reflect your values. If you see injustice don’t stand by, speak out and let your voice be heard.

Support our troops by recognizing that your actions and inactions can have equal consequences. Become the change you want to see by not accepting mediocrity and becoming active in your community as a visible objector of apathy and indifference.

“Words and thoughts concerning compassionate action that are not put into practice are like beautiful flowers that are colorful but have no fragrance.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Milo

2010-11-07T11:26:00.004-07:00

I adopted a senior citizen cat this week and I have dubbed him Milo. Milo came to my attention a couple of weeks ago when he visited my fish pond for a drink of water. He was completely emaciated and whenever food was put out for him he would stagger off like a wary stray without seeing or consuming it.

On Wednesday Milo was once again drinking from my pond but this time when I set food out for him, he came right to me. Obviously Milo was not always a stray because even though he was very weak from malnutrition, he was more interested in cuddling than he was with eating. He was so thin that I was uncomfortable petting him for fear of hurting him in his frail state.

I took Milo to my vet for a tune up and a kick start with some fluids. The vet estimates that if he is lucky, Milo only has a few more weeks to live. He is very old and his kidneys are shutting down. A big bill and an undignified enema later, Milo is back at my place living the good life with a warm bed, his own ceramic heater, and all the expensive kidney food he can eat. I am hoping that his last days are going to be some of his best.

Something my vet said to me has caused me to consider a few things. My vet was touched at the efforts and expense I was putting into an old stray cat. It had not occurred to me to put money ahead of a life but when I thought about how our society continues to treat animals as a commodity and the earth as a resource to be exploited for profit, I realize that my attitude is not the norm and in fact, probably one that will be ridiculed by others.

This whole experience has caused me to consider our contention that we are a just, civilized society who have enough moral high ground to impose our values upon others. I know our hearts are in the right place but our credibility is seriously suspect.

If we truly are civilized with credibility, why are we pursuing biofuels that are taking resources out of the food system and causing deforestation to support our unsustainable lifestyle while others are starving? If we are just, why are we accepting the torture and internment of children without a trial despite signing on to a UN agreement to protect and rehabilitate child soldiers?

We recognize bullying as a serious problem and we devote so much time to combat the issue while at the same time I watch political campaigns use bullying tactics and intimidation as a strategy to generate votes. What frightens the heck out of me is that this strategy seems to be working.

“If one benefits tangibly from the exploitation of others who are weak, is one morally implicated in their predicament? Or are basic rights of human existence confined to the civilized societies that are wealthy enough to afford them? Our values are defined by what we will tolerate when it is done to others.” - William Greider

God Bless the Bridgestone Tyre Corporation

2010-10-31T11:39:00.004-06:00

I ride my motorcycle any chance I get. Some mornings in rush hour traffic it is like Road Warrior out there with the traffic so heavy and ev

eryone rushing to get to work. I’ve been in three motorcycle accidents in my life and my parents and friends always question why I continue to take the risk. I always tell them it is the meditative benefits of the ride that make the whole experience worthwhile.

My motorcycle is the one place where I am always in a totally relaxed meditative state. The more hectic the traffic, the more in the moment I remain. No matter how many close calls there are on the way to my destination, I always arrive feeling calm and refreshed. Thus is the power of meditation.

I have never been someone who has consistently taken the initiative to specifically set a time to relax and just meditate. I find the constant buzz around me while I juggle the responsibilities of my healthcare career, my school, my business, and my personal life tend to prevent me from consistently following up on my best laid plans. Yet meditation is a major part of my daily routine and one of the most beneficial byproducts of my training. It is in the unplanned moments where the opportunity to return to the here and now present themselves that I take the initiative to meditate. Whether it is a ride on my motorcycle or the weight of my cat purring on my chest, I make the most of those precious moments.

“Wait until you see God, then brake.” - Kevin Schwantz (b. 1964)

Someday

2010-10-24T11:29:00.002-06:00

"we reforest what we clear
because we believe in generations beyond our own
knowing now that so many of us
have grown past what used to be
we can stand here today
filled with all the hope people have
when they say things like “someday”
someday we’ll be great
someday we’ll be this
or that
someday we’ll be at a point
when someday was yesterday
and all of our aspirations will pay the way
for those who on that day
look towards tomorrow
and still they say someday"

Shane Koyczan (b.1976)
Excerpt from “We Are More”

152

2010-10-17T16:30:00.002-06:00

I met with my Member of Parliament on Friday. Even though it was ridiculously easy to secure the appointment, it was something I have always had in the back of my mind to do but have never gotten around to do it. Everyday we have opportunity to have our voice heard and impose our opinions on the world but sometimes it seems that we are too busy complaining and dealing with the frustration of feeling impotent with our situation rather than taking action. I’ve noticed that it is infinitely easier to wallow in self pity than to step out of my comfort zone.

I knew ahead of time that my meeting would only last thirty minutes so I really had to prioritize my goals beforehand. The list of topics I wished to address was quite large but I managed to narrow it down to: lack of representation due to party leader autocratic power, the war in Afghanistan, Mike Duffy’s Senate appointment, the long form census, and broken promises in the form of Bill C-16’s fixed election date law. I ended up using most of my time on the war in Afghanistan.

My MP is also the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and ex-military. I knew going in that he would have strong opinions on Canada’s role in Afghanistan. I definitely struck a nerve when I brought up the topic and he immediately got his back arched. His belief in the role we serve and the people we are helping is so absolute that it is impossible to not respect the man’s passion for the mission. What really impressed me was that despite his vested interest in his opinion and his extremely busy schedule, he listened to my concerns patiently with an open mind.

  I have always understood why we are in Afghanistan and the good that can come out from the mission. I may not agree with Canada's Afghan strategy as making the world safer in the long run, but I can understand the logic behind our actions. What I can’t accept is what seems to be our blind acceptance to the fact that 152 Canadians have died there while at home our government is actively suppressing the rights of the citizens that our soldiers are dying to protect.  

Canadian citizen, Abousfian Andelrazik, was stranded in the Sudan for years because the Canadian Government refused to issue him travel documents and threatened to arrest anyone who helped him. This was despite the fact that Andelrazik was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Sudanese Government, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It took a Federal Court Order to force the Canadian Government to respect his rights as a Canadian citizen and allow him to come home to Canada.  

Omar Khadr, a child soldier, is the youngest prisoner held in Guantanamo Bay. A Canadian, he is the only Western citizen remaining in Guantanamo but he is unique in that Canada has refused to seek extradition or repatriation. This is despite the urgings of Amnesty International, UNICEF, and the Canadian Bar Association, and despite the ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada that Kahdr’s constitutional rights had clearly been violated. After eight years in custody, Omar Khadr has not even stood trial let alone been convicted of any crime.  

My plea to my MP was to consider the effect our government’s actions were having on the morale of our troops in Afghanistan, their citizens at home, and how these actions are furthering the cause of the Islamic extremist minority. What possible security risk could it be to Canada to have us do the right thing and protect the rights of all our citizens no matter their race or religion? Having Abousfian Andlrazik or Omar Khadr sit in a Canadian detention centre as opposed to trapping them in a foreign land while their predicaments are worked out does not put any of us at greater risk and it reinforces the ideal that as a Canadian, we all have rights and the protection of those rights are guaranteed by our citizenship.

I want to thank my MP, Laurie Hawn, for listening to my concerns with an open mind and allowing me to have my voice heard. I have a much better understanding and appreciation for the challenges you face as an elected official and you have my absolute respect for your honesty and your ability to communicate your viewpoints concisely and directly. If all our elected officials have the integrity I sense that you possess, our country is in good hands.

“Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighboring communities, and so on.” - The Dalai Lama (b. 1935)

Da-Da-Da, Da-Di-Da, Da-Di-Da

2010-10-10T11:54:00.002-06:00

I have never been a big fan of politics nor have I ever belonged to a political party. In my experience, political parties seem more interested in serving their own agendas than they are in representing the people who they were elected to serve. Government policy tends to be more about securing the next election than it is about securing the future of the country.

As I mature I am slowly realizing that if I want my voice as a social and environmental activist heard, I have to become more politically savvy and active. With government policy being dictated by election strategy, we as individuals hold great power in determining the future of our country. If enough individuals are speaking up and holding our government representatives accountable for representing our views, we are going to be heard.

This Friday I have been granted a thirty minute meeting with my member of parliament. I was pretty surprised and impressed at how accessible he is. It will be a challenge to keep my thoughts and words concise enough to get my concerns across without letting things get so bogged down that I do not accomplish my goal. I have to remind myself that I need to plant the seeds of change, not expect instant results from a single thirty minute meeting.

“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” - Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968)

Activism

2010-10-03T15:10:00.000-06:00

George Galloway is now permitted to enter Canada. His access was denied because he was considered a terrorist supporter by the Canadian Government. No, he did not detonate any bombs or launch an attack on innocent people. George Galloway organized a shipment of humanitarian aid to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. It is hard not to agree with the Federal Court’s decision to rule the Government’s ban of George Galloway as inappropriate and politically self serving when the Canadian Government itself also sent aid to Gaza.

What was really at play here was an attempt by the Canadian Government to prevent an outspoken critic of the war on Afghanistan from keeping his Canadian speaking engagements. There have been 152 Canadians killed in Afghanistan fighting for the rights and values our government is avidly trying to suppress. When I see people actively encouraging everyone to “Support Our Troops”, I wonder exactly what they are asking. The best possible support we can give to our troops in Afghanistan is to hold our elected representatives accountable for protecting the rights of ALL Canadian citizens and abiding by the laws of the land. If lives are going to be lost, they should be lost in support of our values as Canadians, not the political ambitions of our elected officials.

Entire political agendas and strategies are based upon our population’s general apathy and willingness to allow our naivete to rule our decisions and accept politically motivated propaganda. Activism is the key to reform and education is the key to activism.

“First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.” - Martin Niemˆller (1892 - 1984)

Why

2010-09-26T10:07:00.001-06:00

I spend an awful lot of time asking myself the question - Why? Some of the ways of the world seem obviously wrong but yet, as a society, we continue to accept them. I watch people polarize on different issues and what I seem to be witnessing can only be ironically described as passionate indifference. Everyone is too invested in their own dogma to objectively consider change. Despite the fact that many of our core beliefs are hand me downs from our parents and previous generations, the inertial forces that have us maintaining the status quo are so powerful that we tend to not accept alternative points of view.

Sometimes change is only a matter of scrutinizing the propaganda we choose to entertain. There are so many self serving agendas out there that it can be confusing to ascertain what is accurate and what is not. I think the thing to remember is that everyone has an angle. It’s up to us to determine if their angle serves a higher purpose. Better yet, we should all analyze the motives behind our actions and inactions and consider their consequences to our grandchildren’s children.

“Propaganda replaces moral philosophy.” - Hans J. Morgenthau (1904 - 1980)

Power In Our Hands

2010-09-19T09:04:00.001-06:00

The Alberta Government’s scientists contention that the oilsands are not polluting the Athabasca River has been refuted by an independent study conducted by University of Alberta scientists. I am surprised that anyone feels it is even necessary to address this issue. Do they really think that the methods we are using to extract that oil can be used without consequence? In all of this Ed Stelmach continues to try and convey an image of being open minded and unprejudiced. Again I have to ask, does anyone really think that he does not have a stake in keeping the oilsands running, no matter the cost?

Alberta has been the richest province in Canada for decades. We have been raking in the royalties off of oil revenue that have been filling the provincial coffers as well as creating the Heritage Trust Fund - our province’s insurance plan for Alberta’s future. After over thirty years of living the high life, we find our economy, and ourselves, still completely dependent upon oil revenue. We haven’t diversified one iota and in fact we have become even more dependent upon oil revenue. Thirty years of interest income from the Heritage Trust Fund continues to be spent as fast as it accumulates as part of our provincial budgetary strategy.

Today we find ourselves in a situation where our Premier cannot lead the province without the oil companies. Ed Stelmach may be the Premier but make no mistake, it is the oil companies that are running the province and dictating government policy. If we want to change government policy, our beef is with the corporations and the corporations are only a reflection of our spending habits. Change is up to us.

“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. ... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” - Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

Tradition

2010-09-12T11:54:00.001-06:00

Kung fu has always been about family and community. Styles and knowledge were passed down from generation to generation within a family. It isn’t just coincidence that kung fu rank titles literally translate to family titles such as older brother and father. A kung fu kwoon has traditionally taken a central role in its community. If you were a new family moving into the area or someone in need of assistance, your local kung fu school was the resource to turn to. It was an integral part of the community wheel.

I believe our place and significance in the community is analogous with the strength of our kwoon family. The connection we have to our training mates defines the experience and serves to motivate in times of need. Another key requisite element for staying engaged in your kung fu is connecting with your kwoon.

In a structured school with scheduled class times and monthly tuition, it is a challenge for a student to maintain a proper perspective and relationship with their kwoon. It can be easy to fall into the gym membership mentality and just show up for a quick workout before jumping back into the rat race. Our traditions serve to ground the mind and the spirit to ensure proper training perspective is maintained so that maximum benefit is achieved.

We have an annual renovation project that give our students an opportunity to reconnect with their kwoon. The project allows them to put their own blood and sweat into the walls and take ownership of their training hall. It is no coincidence that our most dedicated and motivated students always take advantage of this opportunity and the students that struggle the most are the ones that cannot see the value in the project for themselves. It is unfortunate that they can’t see their lack of participation fuel their apathy.

This year’s renovation project was our most ambitious to date. Walls were moved, flooring was replaced, and the entire spirit of the kwoon was altered. A small, dedicated group of students managed and implemented the entire project and turned the vision into a reality. I take great pride in the leadership they have shown and I am comforted that the ownership of the kwoon is in capable and able hands. What is even more gratifying is that through the efforts of Shing Wiebe and Sihing Lindstrom, we are once again reminded of the value of tradition.

“Tradition does not mean that the living are dead, it means the dead are living.” - Harold Macmillan (1894 - 1986)

What If?

2010-08-29T20:02:00.001-06:00

What if everyone on the planet today were told that they would be reborn again in 100 years?

Would today’s economy continue to take priority over the ecological future we are currently destroying to stimulate it?

Would our excitement over our financial gains be replaced by regret for what we sacrificed to attain them?

Would the wars we wage today still seem so righteously important enough to risk future wars by choosing retaliation over reconciliation?

It seems to me that what we are lacking is empathy. The world’s crisis can be reversed if all of us look at the world through our great grandchildren’s children’s eyes.

“If the person you are speaking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.” - Winnie the Pooh.

Power of Example

2010-08-22T21:34:00.002-06:00

I’ve made some major changes in my life over the past couple of months. My focus has shifted from my training and personal goals to address long standing issues in other areas of my life. I have been reminded of something one of my first kung fu instructors had tried to teach me long ago. He had asked me what was the most important thing in my life. I had answered that it was my daughters. “No”, he said, “It is your health.” At the time I disagreed with him but now I finally understand what he was getting at.

As a parent it is easy to forget to take care of ourselves when it comes to our kids. We sacrifice so much to provide for our children and to be there for them as much as possible. One of the greatest legacies we can leave our children can be found in the power of our example. As my daughters’ independence grows, I see the influence the example I set for them in how they approach challenges in their lives. There is passion in their actions and confidence in their deeds.

The lifestyle I continue to enjoy can be directly attributed to my health and my health is directly related to my lifestyle. My kung fu has given me so much but the greatest gift it has given me is the enrichment of my children’s future.

Thank you Sifu Shergold.

“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means.” - Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Adaptation and Evolution

2010-08-16T13:41:00.001-06:00

I don’t think anything else could have been thrown at me this past month to make training any less challenging. Tendonitis in my forearms from 100,000 pushups over the last two years, rolling my toes causing swelling on the pad of my foot, preventing me from pivoting and practicing forms properly, called away on business for four days taking me out of the kwoon, all this while renovating the school.

These challenges have created a major opportunity for me to take advantage of some forced downtime to focus on cleaning up my curriculum, connect with my mentors, and better organize and simplify my life.

There are never setbacks if you are adapting and adjusting to your situation and always moving.

“The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water moulds itself to the pitcher.” - Chinese Proverb

Black Belt

2010-08-08T22:18:00.004-06:00

As I progress in my kung fu and learn more from the experience of others, I find myself questioning the whole concept behind the rank of black belt.

On one hand the rank is a fantastic motivational paragon. Having a goal such as the black belt adds an element of completion to the journey. Yeah, everyone who has earned the black belt understands the journey never ends but I doubt anyone would deny its value as a tangible objective.

My concern with the black belt is how easily it can be reduced to a commodity whose acquisition can be negotiated for a price. How many students lose sight of what is important and assume that class attendance and service above and beyond excuse the need to master the art? Worse yet, how many instructors fail to uphold the standard of the rank by promoting students who really haven’t earned it? Time training is important but it is not a substitute for skill acquired and while the two are directly related, one does not guarantee the other.

In a perfect world, there would be no ranks, just like the old days. We’d all be training for the love of the art and the benefits of the lifestyle would be reward enough. The fact that the benefits are not enough says a lot about those of us who are ambassadors of the martial arts.

Methinks we need more organizations like the UBBT and The One Hundred that encourage us to make the martial arts so relevant that in the public’s eye they're indispensable. Better yet, we need to raise the bar and prove to our industry that enrollment in these organizations is right for the soul. We all need to realize that what is right for your soul and what is right for your business are not mutually exclusive.

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” - Bruce Lee (1940 -1973)

I Ate What?

2010-08-01T12:33:00.003-06:00

Throughout my life I have always been reminded of my mortality by the accumulation of years. Double my age and compare that number to people who are at that age and I have a benchmark of what I can expect. I can remember when I considered the age of 30 as old. My view of 30 was defined by people whose best years were behind them. They had peaked in school and now were living the routine: get up, go to work, come home, eat supper, watch some TV, go to bed - repeat.

Kung fu has allowed me to literally preserve my youth. I feel like I am in the same shape and condition now with the same mental outlook as when I was in high school. I am always looking ahead and I am excited about the prospects the future holds.

Lately I have begun to notice that my perspective of my mortality has shifted. I haven’t been predicting the quality of time I have left by doubling my age, I have been basing my mortality assessment by what I perceive to be our society’s inevitable demise. How much longer can the earth sustain our present consumption rate of her resources? As a large portion of the earth’s population is starving, the rest of us continue to waste and consume in an effort to sustain the unsustainable.

With that in mind, my Student UBBT Team has begun a project for the month of August. We will be documenting everything we eat this month in a group journal. I believe the project will make us all more mindful of what we put into our bodies and the impact our choices have on the planet. This will lead to positive, permanent lifestyle changes for many of us. My hope is that the public nature of the project will create a greater awareness for everyone who reads it and maybe, just maybe, the seeds of change will have been planted.

“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result” - Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

Balance

2010-07-25T19:10:00.001-06:00

This past month I have been reminded how difficult it is to maintain balance in your life. It is always a struggle to prioritize, or even recognize what should be your priority, when each aspect of your life is interwoven within the fabric of your life’s other aspects. At the end of the day, no matter what decisions you make, there are always consequences - both good and bad.
I have never been one to second guess my decisions, at least the decisions that have been made for the right reasons. Yes, I have made some spectacularly bad ones in my lifetime and hindsight is always a vicious undertaking but bad decisions for altruistic reasons happen and as such I accept them and move on.

What I have always had difficulty accepting is that no matter my motives for the decisions I make, there will always be people who will interpret them in the least favourable light. So the challenge for me is to keep my head up and carry on, if my conscience is clear, and not pull a David Brent by ensuring my decisions are not influenced by the pursuit of popularity but rather by what I truly believe.

“Popularity is not leadership.” - Richard Marcinko (b. 1940)

Work In Progress

2010-07-18T21:43:00.000-06:00

I’m over halfway through my second consecutive UBBT and I’ve had my share of ups and my share of downs. Obviously the ups are what everyone wants but I find it is the downs that really define the challenge. My ability to adapt and continue to progress in spite of what obstacles are thrown my way has given me the confidence and drive to pursue mastery every day and in every situation.

The perpetual injury situation isn’t anything new for me nor is it unusual for someone as active as I am. It definitely makes me feel the challenge and I learn something new about myself everyday.

My goals continue to evolve as I develop new skills and master old ones. I am happy to say the UBBT process has permeated my entire life.

“The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water moulds itself to the pitcher” - Chinese Proverb

Lost and Found

2010-07-11T22:10:00.002-06:00

I know of a man who lived his life as if time was endless. Tomorrow was always in the horizon carrying the promise of possibility so that accountability for today never existed. He was oblivious of what he consumed and treated the earth as if her resources were infinite. Years had passed before clarity was found and with it came an awareness of lost opportunities, the preciousness of time, and the miracle of life. Each day is a gift and if each moment is lived as such, life becomes effortless.

“Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day.” - Billy Graham (b. 1918)

Progress

2010-07-04T10:21:00.001-06:00

I’m halfway through my second consecutive UBBT and as some of my students approach their black belt grading, I have been reflecting upon the value of the UBBT process. The relentless march of time is something we do not have any control over but we do have 100% authority over what we do with our time.

I shudder when I think about the amount of time I have wasted over the past twenty years - always waiting for significant ‘free’ time to apply to my kung fu. Raising my children and running my business all while working a full time job, pretty much guarantees the term ‘significant free time’ will never apply to me. The power of incremental progression has become the lynchpin in my training regime.

Over the past couple of years I have been able to annex over two hours a day to apply to my kung fu. A schedule like mine only provides for snippets of free time several times throughout the day but by applying myself consistently during these seemingly insignificant intermittent intervals, I end every day several steps closer to achieving mastery.

My daily meditation regime continues to be an integral part of my training success. Meditating gives my mind the focus to recognize the multitude of opportunities as they present themselves that allow me to progress incrementally everyday. After a couple of years of small daily progress, I have achieved significant improvement in areas that have been stagnant for a long time.

If only I had applied myself this way twenty years ago....

“Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.” - Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

Process of Mastery

2010-06-27T21:55:00.002-06:00

"What mastery might be is our ability to deal with life while improving our self in the process. It might be in balance and making it through the obstacles --and STILL come out ahead." - Tom Callos

With those words and our ensuing conversation, Tom Callos convinced me to enroll in the Ultimate Black Belt Test. My life was as hectic as ever and taking on a challenge like the UBBT seemed insane to me at the time. I am now in the middle of my second UBBT and have already enrolled in my third. I have kept our conversation in front of me for the past couple of years and his words have helped me maintain my perspective through many challenges.

Whatever challenges I face in life, I am confident that if I cannot control the outcome I will adapt and ultimately come through the other side better and stronger than ever.

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

Walking Meditation

2010-06-20T10:59:00.002-06:00

One of the most intensely spiritual and solitary moments I have ever experienced was shared in the Colorado Rockies during walking meditation with a few hundred other people last year at Thich Nhat Hanh’s Zen retreat. I spend so much of my day surrounded by the commotion of life that it is easy to lose awareness of myself, life’s miracle, and the integral part I play in the collective.

Walking meditation was a real challenge for me when I first started practicing it. It is difficult to stay in the moment when there are so many distractions clambering for my attention. However when the experience is shared with others (the more the merrier), there is the added power of a collaborative effort.

In walking meditation I practice being aware of the number of steps I take with each breath. The trick is to match the steps with the breath, not the other way around. This awareness goes a long way in keeping me in the moment so that I am walking without arriving, just experiencing the moment and enjoying the walking with no particular aim or destination.

“The mind can go in a thousand directions. But on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, a gentle wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms.”
- Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Cha-Ching!

2010-06-13T20:24:00.002-06:00

Canada is preparing to host the G8 and G20 summits. Stephen Harper has gone on record in the past justifying the purpose of the summit as a way to address global issues like poverty and climate change. Yet Harper has decided to purposely leave climate change off the main agenda while spending over a billion dollars on expenses to host the conference. Not sure how that fits in his plan for addressing world poverty but that expense is obscene when you consider the economic challenges facing non G8 countries.

When I was growing up, I was led to believe that democracy and capitalism were one in the same. It was implied that there were two basic systems - communism and capitalism. Communism was what was happening in the USSR - suppression of human rights within a totalitarian state, and capitalism was what we had in Canada - freedom and a democratic form of government. The world was different back then. The iron curtain still existed and the cold war was one of the biggest threats facing the planet. So now that the iron curtain no longer exists, why do we allow our government to continue to conduct their affairs as if capitalism is equated with freedom? The way the west practices capitalism has very little to do with equality, freedom, or human rights. It is all about money, money, and money. As long as we continue to equate money with happiness, we’ll continue to work harder and harder while spending more and more on products that exploit people and resources in countries we don’t like to think about.

So let’s all drive our SUVs to rallies to protest the oil companies that continue to harvest high risk oil. We all need to look in the mirror if we want things to change.

“The time will come when it will disgust you to look in the mirror.” - Rose F. Kennedy (1890 - 1995)

Right Place at the Right Time

2010-06-06T18:57:00.001-06:00

I’m sitting on my deck and watching a perfect sunset. The clouds are that shade of purple with orange highlights - complements of the sun’s setting rays. All of this with the blue sky in the background. A moment ago I was inside. Delay my excursion outside, even for a minute, and the sunset would not be what I am presently witnessing, nor would it be the same if I had come out earlier. I’m in the right place at the right time.

Something Thich Nhat Hanh has taught me is that I am always in the right place at the right time. That place is here and that time is now. The hard part is staying aware of this and actually living as such.

“We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Need Oil?

2010-05-30T20:51:00.001-06:00

I have spent the week trying to catch up on the thirteen projects I currently have on my plate that have all reached a status of critical. I never notice how these things sneak up on me and how I always underestimate the amount of time I will have available to apply to each project. The more organized I become, the more efficiently my time is spent and more clarity returns to my perspective. Therefore I intend to spend the next couple of weeks clearing the clutter from my environment so that I can slowly but efficiently make some headway on these projects.

While I chased my tail all week, people lined up to be one of the first to own Apple’s new iPad. People spent hours in the queue to get their hands on the latest thing they didn’t even know they needed a couple of months ago. At the same time British Petroleum failed to stop the flow of oil into the ocean with their top fill method. What is now the largest oil spill in US history will be continuing to spew crude into the Gulf of Mexico until at least August. Will we even care by then or is this environmental disaster just going to become background noise that fails to distract us from our own immediate lives. As a society we need to wake up before it is too late.

“If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll bet they'd live a lot differently.” - Bill Watterson (b. 1958)

Boredom or Apathy?

2010-05-23T21:26:00.002-06:00

So about a month ago Craig Venter brought to life the world’s first synthetic cells. He described the cells as “The first self-replicating species we’ve had on the planet whose parent is a computer.” I know some of mankind is looking at the possibilities in front of us to improve the world and perhaps repair some of the damage that has been inflicted upon the planet in the name of capitalism. Being a jaded realist, I know at the same time there is a whole other group that is wringing their hands with glee as they imagine the money that can be made exploiting this science.

Boredom is a state from which a person can be roused but apathy implies a fundamental lack of basic humanity. Let’s hope our current state of affairs is a result of widespread boredom because with the ability to design and create life comes colossal responsibility. I pray we’re up for it.

“It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities.” - Josiah Charles Stamp (1880 - 1941)

Vocabulary of Motion

2010-05-16T22:53:00.001-06:00

As with most martial artists of my generation, one of the greatest influences on my kung fu was Bruce Lee. The intensity he brought to any technique was only overshadowed by the fluidity of his movements. It is difficult to imagine anyone moving with more agility and passion.

In kung fu I have always been taught to value innovation over imitation. Kung fu is an art, not a science and as such a person’s mindset when practicing their craft is as important as the specifics of the techniques they are executing. When it comes to movement, the journey is more important than the destination. The art is found in how we move not what we have moved nor where we have moved it.

The whole idea behind a curriculum is to produce the knowledge and skill required for mastery of a particular subject. In kung fu all the specifics of our curriculum are meant to be tools to help the practitioner perfect their craft and become the martial artist they wish to be. In essence, everything we do and train with is all about perfecting the six harmonies. The beauty and power of kung fu is found in the six harmonies and the mastery of them can only be achieved through mindful practice of the ideal, not the specifics.

“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” - Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973)

I Gotta Be Me

2010-05-09T12:48:00.002-06:00

Fulfilling journalling has become a challenge for me these past couple of months. My mandate this year was to concentrate more on documenting my training and personal growth, or at the very least have my journals reflect more directly my participation in the UBBT. But alas I find my thoughts, and therefore my writing, constantly pulled back to the things that cause the screaming in my soul. I guess I should not be fighting against the current as obviously this is where my personal growth is taking me and that in itself is helping define my Ultimate Black Belt Test.

Something I think about often is the number of great thinkers and enlightened people we lose every year. I live in a world that is influenced by some truly amazing individuals, people who inspire a better world and create a legacy that will influence the ways of the world for countless generations to come. Who is going to replace the loss that will be felt when these people are no longer around? So many of us walk on this planet but so very few are actually stepping up as leaders and examples of enlightened living.

So I guess I will succumb to the inexhaustible pull I feel to journalling about the issues that weigh upon me, and believe me they are many but they all would be dealt with if we were to eradicate apathy and indifference.

"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.” - Elie Wiesel (b. 1928)

And So It Goes

2010-05-02T20:58:00.000-06:00

Sixteen hundred ducks die on a tailings pond in the oilsands and an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico is spewing crude into the ocean. It is easy to point a finger at greedy corporations but we have no one to blame but ourselves. As our appetite for fossil fuels remains insatiable, corporations will continue to get rich while meeting our demand. Everyone is aware of what is happening but yet we ignore any solution if it threatens our current lifestyle.

Bottom line is if we begin to live simply and cut back on what we are consuming, the market for high risk and dirty oil will dry up. Trying to sustain the unsustainable is not only impossible but immoral.

"The conspicuous consumption of limited resources has yet to be accepted widely as a spiritual error, or even bad manners" - Barbara Kingsolver (b. 1955)

Master Dave McNeill - Living Hero #10

2010-04-25T20:28:00.003-06:00

When I first pondered documenting my ten living heroes, Master Dave McNeill immediately came to mind. I barely knew him at the time and as such it was difficult for me to verbalize my reasons for choosing him. Now two years later I can’t say that I know him much better but the rational behind my choice is much clearer.

I first met Master McNeill on the Alabama Build Project in April 2008. Anyone who knows me understands how awkward I am in social situations and how difficult it is for me to make casual conversation. Traveling alone across the continent to spend the better part of a week with a bunch of people I had never met before, in a place I had never been before, was way, way out of my comfort zone. Within a few minutes of my arrival, Master McNeill and his wife Mary Ann went out of their way to make me feel at home and take the edge off my social ineptness. Over the course of that week I came to realize that perhaps Master McNeill had not gone out of his way, this just was his way.

A few weeks after I returned home from Alabama I received a surprise telephone call from Master McNeill. He had called for no particular reason other than to check up on how I was doing. We spent 45 minutes on that phone call (his dime) talking about martial arts pioneers, martial arts history, and the current state of my knee after my latest surgery. The conversation was fantastic and I couldn’t stop smiling for a week.

My latest issues with my legs should have taken their toll on my mental and emotional state by now yet my attitude is more positive than ever. I am on top of my game in so many aspects of my training despite my limitations and Master McNeill has been the biggest influence on my outlook. He has offered advice, treatment, and tremendous support throughout my ordeal. Thinking back to my first trip to Alabama I can remember the lineup of people waiting for Master McNeill to treat their aches and pains. Despite having put in 12 hours of heavy labour himself on the build project, he had time for every single person who needed him. This is his way.

Master Dave McNeill is the most engaged person I have ever met. When you find yourself in his presence, he doesn’t just make you feel important, he makes you singularly significant. Most importantly, by his actions, he inspires you to be a better person. I can’t think of a better role model for someone who wishes to change the world

“We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.” - Buddha

Can't Complain

2010-04-18T20:38:00.002-06:00

Breathing in, breathing out.

A week of thanks for the friends who support me, for my peers who step up when I am lacking, and for the health and lifestyle I enjoy.

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” - Dr. Seuss (1904 -1991)

Take One For The Team

2010-04-11T18:11:00.002-06:00

I have spent a large part of this week trying to inspire and motivate my student UBBT team to step up and bring their participation level up a notch. There are so many motivational traps that we can fall into over the course of a year that it is an almost certainty that there will be multiple challenges popping up to tax resolve.

The biggest issue I am experiencing with my team is their inability to maintain a team perspective. When a person is not focused on their role within a team they tend to make bad decisions with good intentions.

Not wanting to be perceived as whiner by asking for assistance forces one to face their trials alone. What is being forgotten in this scenario is that if one team member falters, whether he is faltering publicly or not, he drags the whole team down with him. What should a hockey goalie do if he knows he has a pulled groin and can't possibly go down to block a shot? Should he tell his team or should he keep this information to himself? What is best for the team? Each member of a team must ensure their perspective is such that they are more cognizant of the team concept and as such they must share their insecurities and failures with their teammates. Open honesty - that's what accountability is all about.

“Accountability breeds response-ability.” - Stephen R. Covey (b. 1932)

Greed = Guilt

2010-04-04T22:54:00.001-06:00

People continue to deny global warming is a mankind influenced phenomena. They expend an amazingly large amount of energy passionately refuting any argument to the contrary. The thing they have going for them is time. It is impossible to prove that the current global warming crisis isn’t just part of a natural cycle. I guess if a person chooses, they can pretty much justify any choice no matter the consequence.

Sometimes we are so tied up in our personal convictions that we lose sight as to what is logically the correct moral choice. Whether or not global warming is influenced by mankind’s decisions, the world we leave behind will be a reflection of our values and what is left will ultimately be our legacy.

We all should be consuming to live, not living to consume.

“I'm yet another resource-consuming kid in an overpopulated planet, raised to an alarming extent by Hollywood and Madison Avenue, poised with my cynical and alienated peers to take over the world when you're old and weak.” - Bill Watterson (b. 1958)