Simulate

The past few weeks in the halls of NAIT there have been a lot of "SIM" Labs going on. The respiratory therapy students are rolled down the hallways on stretchers while giving CPR to a "patient", the paramedics have actors simulating an emergency scenario, even the medical lab students deal with an emotionally volatile "patient" in the lab next door. I had my turn in a SIM lab last week as well, an animal comes in, and I choose my drugs and do calculations, induce, tube and hook up to the anesthetic machine. From an outside point of view it seems silly to watch people take a situation that isn't actually an emergency so seriously. I know these are actors, I know that I can't really kill this animal, but these experiences are stressful. We are meant to be put in a stressful situation so we can learn how to keep our cool under pressure. More learning happens when under a certain level of stress, and we learn valuable lessons from these simulated emergencies.

It is important to get put ourselves in controlled situations where our stress level is up at kung fu as well. I know a lot of students get uncomfortable about sparring but it is a great tool. We don't spar so we learn to be stand up fighters, it teaches us how to move and react in a situation where our blood pressure is up so we can learn to think on our feet so to speak. Sparring in class is a safe, controlled environment that brings up a little bit of that stress response and can be a great learning experience.

Mind over Body

Last night I watched the Sihing class run through the sequence of timed kicks and punches that is part of the black belt grading. It was strange to be on the sidelines but it was a great learning experience. Sifu Brinker talked after class about how it's more of a mental struggle than a physical one to get through something grueling, and so it is. I read about a man, and "ultramarathoner" who said that usually when our brains are telling us we can't do anymore that we are actually physically capable of giving another 50%. Many marathon runners are older than you might think-with age we learn to have the mental fortitude it takes to accomplish these great physical challenges. I remember practicing my timed horse stance with bean bags for the grading, my legs were burning and shaking, the sweat dripped down my face- I couldn't hold it another second... so I stood up. If I had really held that horse stance to my physical limit I would have fallen down, not stood up. Learning to use the power of my mind to push myself physically was the most powerful tool I gained during that training time. I can't say I don't still give in to my body's demands when I'm working out, but it's gotten better.

I remember being in Sihing class after doing the timed kicks and feeling like there was absolutely no way, EVER, that I would be in good enough shape to grade for black belt and succeed. As Sifu Brinker said- that was 16 minutes out of your 12 hour grading. Preparing physically is very important,but it's the mental part of these workouts that will serve you even better. Always push yourself and your mind will get stronger as well as your body.

Make the connection

This week I came face to face with reality. As part of my animal health training I am required to work a certain number of shifts at the Animal Care and Control Center, better known as the city pound. It is one thing to hear that there are a lot of unwanted animals and it is quite another to face a roomful of animals that are waiting their turn for euthanasia. Suddenly there is a connection.

I have started to notice that most people don't want the connection, no one wants to face that because its heartbreaking and ugly, and in the moment I felt hopeless. This goes for all the things that we turn a blind eye to because we can. I know that there are starving people, war and injustice just to name a few, but these things are easily put out of our heads because they don't effect us personally. The world needs people like us to make connections to the world around us. This is how we become the change we want to see. I could talk your face off about how important it is to support rescue groups and to spay or neuter your pet after making my connection. Obviously you can't become an advocate for every cause out there, but find something you care about and get passionate about it. The charities Silent River gives to is a great place to start. Don't be afraid to get out there, it's when we stop sticking our heads in the sand that change happens.

New Year

2012 is almost here, in the past I have made hollow new year's resolutions but in the last few years I have just resolved to make the new year better than the last, taking whatever steps I needed to make it happen. This "resolution" has served me well. I am finding more and more people my age (in their 30's) are resigning themselves to domesticity, to a boring life that they must endure or worse yet letting go of their own goals so they can give 100% of themselves to be a great mom or dad, something that will backfire in their near future. I read a friends status on facebook on his 31st birthday, it read- "spent a quiet day at home, perfect for a 31st birthday, couldn't imagine a more boring age to be". It was sad actually, I wanted to tell him he's not doing it right. I plan on making every year that I have count, there are so many cliches about regrets, but they are so true. When I go to bed at night I want to be a better person than I was when I woke up. That is my life long resolution.

the Ultimate Black Belt Test

Great title right? When I talk about the Ultimate Black Belt Test or blog about it, I always use the much easier abbreviation of UBBT, and in doing so I think I tend to forget what it really means. Ultimate... wow. When I think about the ultimate anything it's pretty amazing, and so has this process been for me. This has been my third consecutive UBBT and next year I will not be a part of the new UBBT/ I Ho Chaun and it feels kind of weird. It feels a little like I'm in kindergarten and my parents just dropped me off at school. Can I do this on my own?

I started this process as a green belt and Sifu Brinker told me what a great opportunity it was because I was getting a head start on what it was like to be a Sihing. I had never set so many goals that I followed through on as I did that year. I learned a lot about discipline and being accountable. I got so much accomplished that I have stayed a part of the UBBT every year since. I have made a lot of good habits that I will take with me; acts of kindness, daily pushups & situps and taking the stairs or the long way just to get those extra kms everyday just to name a few.

I do believe that the Ultimate Black Belt Test is only "ultimate" if you give it everything. You have to commit yourself to the process and above all be accountable. Your going to have your ups and downs and fall behind where you thought you would excel, but if you know the no quitting requirement is not an option for you you will accomplish great things.

almost there

I know I'm supposed to stay in the moment, but I can't wait for this week to be over! I'm looking forward to being able to spend more time on my kung fu, right now it barely feels like I'm making it to class and practice let along fix anything. Only two more days. Just have to keep breathing.

a little scattered

I didn't blog last week, and this week is almost over too. I wrote a few different blogs and deleted them, they were just too negative. I feel really spread thin right now. I am trying to figure out what the heck I was thinking when I decided to grade this year and take on 10 courses at the same time. Finals are here, 10 written and 4 practical. Chantal's birthday is today and she is having 4 friends sleep over this weekend. Practice Friday night. Dragon dance practice Saturday. Class Monday and Wednesday nights, Christmas concert, 2 or 3 finals per day next week. I need to cook dinner, make lunches, hopefully shower a few times in there, fix my form and techniques for next practice, and actually studying for those finals might be a good idea. People ask me if I'm "ready for Christmas" and I keep going oh ya, that's happening this year too. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, this is my life and I enjoy it, but things are a tad crazy right now. I'm going to be as organized and on task as much as humanly possible the next week and a half. I'm going to have to focus on what I am doing at that particular time and shut out everything else... that's going to be a tough one. I find I'm just saying random words in my head during kung fu for my medical terminology test, or while sitting in class I find myself thinking about what the green belts are going to do for the Chinese New Years banquet. "Where am I and what am I doing?" is going to be my mantra this week.