Because we can

We had our annual (2nd year running) forms marathon the other day. Basically, forms have to be done for 24 hours straight, with no breaks. It’s a group effort, luckily, and as one person ends, another begins. It was a really fun time, and we were all joking around while sharing our knowledge of the forms. My shift was from 1-330am and me and Craig were already sleepy by the time we arrived, but quickly woke up. There were a few close calls, but luckily we didn’t drop the ball. We tried to have at least 2 people going at a time as we had 4-6 people there with us. Even with all of the help, I almost ruined the night early on. I’d decided to try kempo in mirror image, and I got through parts one and two, but at the side-heel in part three I lost focus on what move came next. It’s really hard to do a form mirrored. By that time everyone was watching me out of curiosity and I had to call for help as I was starting to stutter in my moves and almost stopped. Luckily someone caught the ball as I dropped it, just in time.


Something I noticed about doing something like this and trying to explain it to others is that it’s a hard concept to grasp. I told a few people at work as we were talking about our plans for the evening. I told them about the marathon and they asked why I was doing it. Is it to raise money? Awareness? To set a record? Why oh why am I doing kung fu at 1am? There always seems to be a need for a reason to do something like this, but in reality we didn’t have a grand purpose to it. There is no charity receiving a cheque, no penalty for failing at it, not big prize for succeeding. We did it just because we can. Does there need to be a better reason than that?

Jonathan Robinson

www.silentriverkungfu.com

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

UBBT: Wicked Fun

It’s the same thing every time exams roll around. I study, I study and I feel like if I am not trying to study that I’m being a bad student. I basically guilt myself into focusing solely on my studies and not on anything else, including my kung fu. Today was different. I wrote one exam, drove to kung fu and stayed for all of the classes, pretty much 4 hours of kung fu whether I was participating, helping someone out or watching. I ran two warm-ups, with one of them a tag-team between me and Craig. He was in the back of the room, I was in the front. We’d pass the class back and forth by doing 180 degree jumps from horse stance. I worked hard today. The best part is it was sparring class in ALL of the classes! Bonus! Sparred a bunch of people I almost never spar and some that I haven’t sparred until tonight! Sparred some people with really good blocking, awesome aggression and just wicked fighting spirit for everyone there too. I arrived at Kung Fu a little down in the dumps and lethargic and I left feeling so pumped up and vibrating from the good energy. This just slaps me in the face with a reminder that I can’t neglect one part of my well-being for another as they are all connected. It’s simple, and I sometimes think I understand, but it takes a wicked class like today’s to really drive it in deep. Total, a handful of forms, couple handfuls of sparring and about 270 push/situps in that time. Wee!


Jonathan Robinson

www.silentriverKungfu.com

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

UBBT: Thank You Muchly!

So received a little gift from someone on our UBBT team. The note said it was to fulfill one of their challenges which was a few anonymous good deeds to fellow teammates. I had finished doing the kid’s classes and was about to leave when Sifu Wonsiak pointed out that there was an envelope with my name on it at the table by the equipment closet. I opened it and inside was the mentioned note and a 100$ giftcard for SaveOnFoods. I’ve mentioned a recently about how I’m short on money and not eating well lately because of that and someone heard and helped out, so I want to send my thanks to Someone. Thank you! I bought many cheap and healthy things and am eating some fried veggies from that stash right now! I originally thought I knew who it was that had left this awesome gift, but now I’m not so sure… I’ve got a new prime suspect now. I’m not going to try and uncover the mystery though, it’s meant to be anonymous and they deserve their secrecy. Again, thank you very much! I will be able to eat for a couple weeks at least on what I bought from that.


Jonathan Robinson
http://www.silentriverkungfu.com/
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada