Dogs helping Dogs

Judy, a blood donor dog

As part of the animal health program at NAIT, students are required to do shifts at various locations like the pound, the emergency clinic etc. We all have to do 4 shifts helping with blood bank. Most people don't realize that there is such a thing as dog blood donors, I know I didn't before I participated. Just like people, canine blood donors are giving the life saving gift of blood to other dogs. Last night was my last shift and there was a lot of great donors there. The owners of the dogs are pretty special people too, there are moms with kids, other AHTs, a paramedic student and an animal foster mom who has had over 80 foster animals through her home. Just wanted to tell you all about something you might not have known about. If you are interested in having your dog donate blood there is more info and the criteria your dog needs to meet here.

Toby donating blood at NAIT

Tiger Challenge

The Tiger Challenge was a great success as always, the I Ho Chuan team did a great job organizing. I am amazed as always with Sifu Wonsiak and her ability to organize and co ordinate every kid in that place and with a smile on her face too (plus she knows every kids name!!)
It was scary competing this year, I felt like I was in a category I didn't belong in with the other black belts. It was fun though and practice is never wasted. Holy cow though- watch out for Sifu Beckett, I had no idea she was such a fierce opponent in sparring! Really inspiring to see everyone out there.
I think the best part of the day was watching all of the faces through my camera. From the beginning with the lion dance right to the end with the trophy for black belt champion, it was awesome. Some of the best pictures are not the competitors faces but the faces of the spectators- they shine through despite my sad photography skills.
I was so so so proud of our advanced black dragons. I am honored to be a part of their training. I don't often  get to appreciate how far they have come since they came to us, but seeing the comparison on Saturday was striking. Not only in skill but the guts they showed competing, it's hard to get out there.
I was also busting at the seams proud of my two girls- especially my older daughter who is in the adult classes now and was the only young competitor (relatively young anyway-I'm not saying anyone's old!). Facing down an adult in a sparring match when your a 70 pound 12 year old girl takes some pluck, I know she wishes she had done better- but I couldn't have hoped for better. I can't wait to see where her training takes her. My younger daughter is at times hard to motivate lets say... But she set a goal for the tournament and really put it all out there, she did sleep with the trophy, but I drew the line at drinking out of it!
Congrats to all of our competitors and the spectators that helped make it a great event.

here tiger, tiger, tiger

The in house tournament is fast approaching. I feel very unprepared. I am doing all I can to be prepared, practice practice practice. I feel that the bar is so much higher this year now that I'm among the black belts. So intimidating! I was surprised to hear how many black belts and other students aren't competing after asking around this week. Something else I've learned by asking around is that most people that are competing really don't like competing, myself included. I hate being in front of people performing or talking...especially when you are being judged based on that performance. So why do we have a tournament every year if no one wants to compete in it? My thoughts on this are that this is a priceless opportunity. You are cheating yourself of a valuable training exercise by not entering. It's extremely hard to replicate a stress response in yourself while just practicing in class or during open training, the tournament gives this to you. I remember the first tournament I sparred in, I was a green belt I think...it was continuous sparring and we were about 30 seconds or so in and I thought I was going to pass out. My mind was racing and I thought oh my god I can't breath! I then realized I had been holding my breath for the entire match so far. What a relief to let that breath out! When placed in a stressful situation I hadn't had the presence of mind to breath...thought that one was automatic! How will you ever use anything you have learned and practiced at kung fu if you can't even remember how to breath when you are in a situation that you need to use it? Don't miss the opportunity to use this powerful training tool, you won't regret it. The practice you put into preparing is never wasted time no matter if you place or not in competition, plus you can say you had the courage to put yourself out there. You're training to be a martial artist- get out there!