Thursday, February 20, 2014

Week 11 - Thinking About Acts of Kindness

Another week down. I'm late on this entry but squeezing it in. Here we go.

The numbers: 

Push-upsSit-upsKataSparringSwimBikeRunKindnessJournalVideo
Annual Totals:
11,250
11,250
222
70
0222244
223
10
0
466
Annual Targets:500005000010001000240010005212
Percent of Annual Targets Complete22.50%22.50%22.20%7.00%19.42%22.30%19.23%0.00%

I feel good about my numbers. I'm staying consistent and some things are starting to get easier. I'm pushing a bigger gear on the bike now so I can go further faster and my average speed is up a bit. That's encouraging since the bike portion of a 1/2 iron is 56 miles. I need to start getting some swimming mileage in. It'll be a very slow build-up so I have to get that figured out. Sparring... Well, I'm getting the rounds in when I can and they hurt every time. Need to get myself to the dojo on Saturdays to get that number up.

Now on to the part of the test that's been on my mind lately. Acts of Kindness. It's been on my mind because... Well, there are a couple reasons. For one, I've noticed that when I explain to someone all the things I have to do for this test, acts of kindness often turns heads (the other one is empathy training). 

People can wrap their heads around the push-ups and sit-ups and mileage and sparring pretty easily because that's all physical stuff. They get the association there. But they don't see the bridge. That bridge that martial arts builds between strength and compassion. And that's okay, but I hope we can change it. Because, really, acts of kindness are a huge part of being a martial artist

The second reason it's been on my mind is because people tend to ask what constitutes an act of kindness. Well, just about anything kind, really. That's what's so great about it. It can be a small gesture like opening a door for someone. Or it can be grand gesture like donating a chunk of cash. It can be picking up a piece of trash, sharing your last stick of gum, smiling at a stranger, or it can be driving across town to pick up a friend. I read an article that said, "Next time you're out walking about, you may want to give passers-by a smile, or at least a nod. Recent research reveals that these tiny gestures can make people feel more connected." That's pretty cool, and pretty kind. You should so try it! 



I've noticed that being conscious about kindness is also making me notice them more when they're offered to me. And that it just feels plain good to be nice. In an interesting way I've noticed that it gives me confidence, also. Maybe because of that connection theory? I'm not sure. Either way, I like it. And I'm glad it's part of the test... Not just because it's an easy part :)










Monday, February 10, 2014

Week 10 - Rekindling My Motivation

So, I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about my karate journey. We talked about my test, the criteria, we talked about how I feel I'm doing. And then we talked about why it's important to me. And it made me realize that my journal posts feel... removed. So I'm going to do something different here and see how it feels...

The numbers are just the start, so you know where I am. Here they are:
Push-upsSit-upsKataSparringSwinBikeRunKindessJournalVideo
Annual Totals:
9,450
9,450
183
50
0164215
191
8
0
379
Annual Targets:500005000010001000240010005212
Percent of Annual Targets Complete18.90%18.90%18.30%5.00%15.81%19.10%15.38%0.00%

I feel good about my numbers, but still feel very challenged lately. I've averaged about 5.5 miles a day for the last 70 days. Not too bad, right? Except that I was reminded this week just how different long distance cardio is from sparring cardio. In a lot of ways triathlon training is overlapping well with my black belt requirements. Still, there's nothing that trains you for sparring except for sparring.  But...starting in week 11 I will add 3 rounds of heavy bag work to the end of each trainer ride. That will help, I hope.

So, my numbers are, for the most part, right where they should be.  But here's the thing... The numbers are just a representation. Not of fitness, but of desire. Those numbers are my way of showing discipline, purpose, determination. The numbers show that by achieving small things each day a larger goal can be reached. And then that gets me thinking... Why? Why does a black belt matter? 

And I'm so glad for that conversation with my friend, because thinking about the "why" is what gets me really motivated. I've mentioned before, this "ah hah" moment I had in my martial arts training. The reason I love martial arts? Here it is... You must be kind. I played soccer growing up and achieved some pretty awesome stuff doing it. To be a good soccer player I had to have good ball control, strong fitness, tactical creativity, practice A LOT, etc.. But you can be a world class soccer player... and be just plain unkind.To be a true, a real martial artist, you HAVE to be a good person. Martial arts creates relationships between athleticism and community, between strength and compassion, between fierceness and kindness, that do not exist in any other sport. Real martial arts fosters true and constant growth. 

And THAT'S why I'm willing to do 150 darn push-ups a day! That's why I'm dreaming of cyclometers and new running shoes! That's why I'm logging ACTS OF KINDNESS! This test is my way of showing that I want to be THAT martial artist. The kind that trains in the martial and nurtures the art. I absolutely need to keep that in mind as I do this. That's the stuff that motivates me. 

I lost track for a while, of what those numbers are really for. I will try not to let that happen again. I am humbled by the ability the people in my life have to pick me up and point me in the right direction. Thank you.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Week 9 - Hello February

Okay, another week down. It was a good week all around. I'm in a pretty consistent routine when it comes to push-ups sit-ups and kata. I can get it all in on my breaks at work pretty much. Still concerned with my sparring and not getting in the amount of rounds I need per week. Mileage was good. Got closer to the 200 mile mark for the month of January and I've got almost 350 total so far. Steadily logging acts of kindness, too.


I'm spending a lot of time thinking about sparring. Not just that I'm not getting enough rounds in, but actual sparring. I am trying to angle more. And working on moving into the attack. Need to work on targeting the head, also. I like my sidekicks but I need to get some more techniques working. Sparring is a real challenge for me. So much of it is mental agility.

Did some review of those katas that seem to have fallen out of my head over the last couple of months. I realized that focusing on one kata at a time is great for details but I have to continue to touch base with the others. Kata is my thing, I love kata. And the more I repeat a kata the more I love it. It's a thing that I get to work on and improve every time. I wonder if/when I will ever perfect a kata. 


I've also started working on my first video entry. A few clips of different training elements: running, cycling, sparring... my dog laying on the couch while I do kata in the living room... 

This test is teaching me all the things I've accumulated over the last few years of training. I think when you're learning day-to-day you don't realize how much you gain. When you start to put it all in one place you see how much it is. It's like studying for a big exam and realizing that the CliffsNotes aren't gonna cut it. There's no short cut to this. You just have to do it.

But it comes full circle. Push-ups every day. Sit-ups every day. Kata every day. Mileage every day. Kindness every day. 
The study guide for this test is a whole lot of push-ups and sit-ups. The lesson so far... little numbers do, and will, add up to great, big 5-digit numbers. You know... Eventually...