Back in the game

Its seems like a long time since I've been in the head of lion and I guess it has been. It felt really good except do RV the multiple times that we stopped and chatted. I should have brought this up in the meeting but I get much more enjoyment and learn a lot by doing the dance rather than talking about it. I can't get better if I don't practice and my definition of practice is not talking at each other which it seemed like that was happening. When we all stop we seen to argue on who's doing what and who's wrong and who's right and that makes me angry cuz I get less practice and we all lose valuable time that should be spent practicing. At least that its my opinion. Anyway I felt really good in the lion head and hope it continues to get better from here ok out!

Training partner

So another week gone since the grading and another week closer to the next. I have already started thinking about next year. Me and Sihing Tymchuk have teamed up as training partners and we are ready to tackle this thing head on! That was one thing I did wrong this year.I didn't have a training partner to keep me going so I lost focus. I think this will be good for both of us. I can learn from him and he can learn from me. I an super excited for the coming year.

Back from the dead

So it been just over a month since my accident and im feeling pretty good, not the way i used to but close. When i was out i realize how much i hate not doing anything. It sucks watching everyone else train and me sitting on the sidelines thinking about training. I really fell out of my routine due to my physical abilities but i am beginning to regain strength and find a way to prove myself to myself. I think that is the biggest thing is that i don't realize my one potential an i think that is where i went wrong this year in i ho chuan. This is what i am going to focus on next year. Believing in myself. I wouldn't say this year is a complete fail but i did not achieve the things i wanted to. I do still have a few months to regroupe myself and carry it into next year. So its full steam ahead for me!! Choo choo

A long bumpy road

This year for me has really taught me a lot about myself and about the people im around everyday. No it has not been smooth sailing for me by any stretch of the imagination in fact anything that could go wrong went wrong but those wrongs led to so many rights. I had the chance to learn the lion dance and really enjoy that and from peoples reaction towards it makes me enjoy it more. I had a chance to be a part of the dragon and put myself out of my comfort zone in demos and performances. I realize that i think too much and never completely engage myself in one thing and that is something i would like to change next year. I think that this years team has held me in the their grasp and never let me fall too far away when i was not physically able. Everyone of u has changed my life forever and im sure u will continue to change it in the future. I know that my numbers are not good and 100% blame myself for that because there is so much more i could have done to accomplish that. I find that whenever i am not physically able i come back with a regret of not doing more and trying to push myself to the limit and then back off and go back to not doing what needs to be done. Next year will be redemption for me but there are still a couple more months left those year where i can redeem myself. I've learned i need to say focused obviously the task at hand and that u can't do it alone, u need someone to push u and and sometimes u need a shoulder to cry on. I want to thank all of u team members for that and hope to see u all next year.

Can't top that!!

Yet again another day goes by with joy and excitement of a lion dance! A very successful lion dance! My favorite so far at the stony plain library. I had so much fun... Maybe to much fun doing that dance. Kids were screaming and running and parents moving back so they didn't get kissed by the lion. A shower of lettuce and very fun filled successful day. I just can't explain how much fun it really was. I think everyone had fun because of the mood of the dance. I think i have found my style of dance! I feel when i dance in the lion i exude a very playful and a "i don't know what hes going to do next" kinda mood and people seem to enjoy it. I enjoy it! It feels even better when people come up to u and say "that was awesome u did really good" i can't help but smile because i know i did something that uplifted their mood or made a memory of something they will hold in to. Its even better when a small child approaches u and says that because u know u made their day! I just can't help but wondering what my life would be like without kung fu! I don't want to know because it has given me so many opportunities and new experiences i would never have realized! I know now and strongly believe that the sky is the limit. People always said u can do whatever u want as long as u work hard. I thought that was a bunch of hooey but look at me now. Im a second degree brown belt on an i ho Chan team with wonderful people to push me along and am a beginner lion dancer with the guidance around me to become better. No one nor anything can stop me now. Sorry i ranted a little but what i wanted to say is that i really... Really enjoyed todays lion dance and hope to have more of those in the future!!! :-)

Jordan Dunning
With great power comes great responsibility!

Nothing on my mind

Sparring is one of those rare moments where my life is on hold and everything is blocked out so i can do what comes natural. It feels great when i come out of the match knowing that only i and i alone was the only one in the match at the time. Everything just seems better.

Sick and tired

Apparently i caught a really bad bug on the weekend and I've been sick for three days with different symptoms! Im really tired of it because i want to be at kung fu learning and helping others learn and grow! Im just saying that im not having a good year! First my appendix restricting me from training to my full potential to being away for a month to this! Im tired of it but what would my life be out it. Challenges is what keeps me going but sometimes they r too overwhelming to be where i want to be. In that case i have decided to hold off my black belt testing until next year. This year i just lost my focus on this one goal. I have not trained enough to pursue it and feel i have more to learn before taking that step. I can assure u though things will always stand in my way but it is how i overcome them that makes me who i am.

Jordan Dunning

I Have something to say but there's nothing to be said other than i am behind and i am not happy about it and some things are gonna change because of it.

Jordan Dunning
If everyone likes what your doing your doing it wrong!

lost

i feel almost lost in my training like i have no where to go. it feels like whatever i do i don't have an urgency to do something but at the same time its there because i do everything i need to do every day. i go running daily i do my reps and push ups and sit ups and yet i don't feel satisfied. maybe Im just in a slump and i need to break free.

Jordan Dunning
one more

New experiences

When we were on vacation in the past month i got to experience something new and awesome. White water rafting! It was awesome! Completely new to me and my father i had the time of my life and a new thrill in life! These new experiences in life for me is like opening a gift. U never know what its gonna be until u see it. The ride down the river itself was awesome and mesmorizing one thing i hope to do again and again.

And now this past weekend i went fishing and caught my first fish ever. I know nothing about fish but i would say it was a pretty fair size. After that happened i caught another one even bigger. At this point my mind was blown and i didn't know how much fun it was until it happened!

This just proves that i love learning and experiencing new things in life and hope to continue until im six feet under!

Jordan Dunning
Embrace the paste

Happy to be back

Sorry everyone for not blogging in a while but for some reason it wouldn't work when i was gone! Anyway my trip was awesome we won our division at the basketball camp. I learned a lot an had a great time! I am glad to be back am im ready for more kung fu!

I want more

For a couple months now i have been going to the white/yellow adult class on Monday and Thursday and i am always happy to be there. That class is one of my favourite classes to help out in. Every one of the students has huge potential and such a huge willingness to learn. It makes me happy because as they r learning they don't know it but i am learning so much from them. They are just a great group of people and share a bond with each other that is truly awesome. They r growing as martial artists and as people at an emmence rate. I.just want to say to them keep up the good work. But ho could i forget the blue/brown adult class. It seems that i am always te guy to ask.to do warm up. Maybe its because.im usually there. But don't get me wrong because i love doing warm up in that class. There us no better feeling to me than to watch multiple people struggle through warm up because that means that i did my job. When i hear moaning and groaning of pain its like a big block chevy V8 to me. I can't get enough. There is not one warm up that a least one person is not gasping for air or having trouble walking after it is over. That just makes me happy. So for all u kung fu nuts out there that want to have fun and experience awesomeness come to these classes. They are awesome!!!!!!!!

Music

After the demo i was feeling like i needed to take a day off or so but when i started to listen to music i heard that one song that made me want to do kung fu. So now every time i listen to music i want to Do kung fu. I think this will keep me motivated and im not about to stop!

Sorry accidentily saved it instead of posting it!

Success

Todays demo was fantastic and i really learned a lot from all of u and enjoyed doing it!!! I much enjoyed getting the opportunity to practice in the lion head and by the time Chinese new years comes i hope i can debut my new found talent!!! I also learned a lot from my board break!! #1 don't stand on a hill cuz that really messed up my alignment!! #2 i got almost dizzy from spinning so next time im going to try and do two separate techniques instead of one!! Thank you to the team and to sift wetter for making this event a huge success and an enjoyable memory in my life!!

Art for thought

Ive really been getting in to the painting scheme latelly and i thought i would show off some of my kung fu inspired art pieces and see what u guys think. I really enjoyed working on them and will hope to continue to do more and more as the year goes on. ENJOY!

Im just a kid

Everyone always says that i have the time because im just a kid. Wait till you get a job and have a family they say. Well i do have a family and school is my full time job plus a part time job on the side so i can have a car and a phone. So yes i am just a kid but that doesnt make me any different than any one else. Nothing is easier for me cuz im just a kid. I have life problems and bad days. The only difference between u and me is a number and a mindset. So next time u refer to a "kid" say your just a part of civilization.

Lion dancer

I have just begun my lion dance career yesterday and i love it. I know i have much to learn but i am being pushed to learn quickly as canada day is fastly approaching where my first ever performance will be! Hopefully everuthing will go smooth and i wont fall of the headstack like i did last night but with more practice it should be good!!!! I am really enjoying the dragon an lion dance team i am working with which is basically the i ho chian team!! Thanks guys and girls. U are my home away from home!!!

Something new

This weekend during the parade i expirienced being one of the lion heads and i loved it!! I enjoyed iteracting with all the people and the way it makes me feel. I almost felt lost in my training a couple weeks ago an now i feel like just doing that has uplifted my spirits and made me want to do it and kung fu more! Sifu Brinker noticed a talent i apparently have for the art form and wanted me on the dance team and i am also looking foreward to that!! I am looking foreward to this coming weekend in onaway where i can do it again! Go team!!!!

Pandamonium

I really enjoyed my 12 hrs. at kung but next year I am shooting for the full 24 like some did this year... Congrats yo them. I hope each we will grow and grow as a school, a community, and as a family!

Socks, the insignificant truth

Everyone always says that socks are the least important piece of clothing. But when u really think about this is not the case! When you have a pair of socks and you misplace one you start to get upset and dont understand where it could have gone. You really dont think about this until its gone, the sock! This applies to many life expiriences. Know I dont think of kung fu as a hobby but as a lifestyle. I didnt think about it until it was taken from me by too many hospital visits leading to surgery but know that I am full steam ahead and have it back I am very thankful. Just like the sock u have a decision to make, do I put it on or should I leave it off. But both you run the risk of losing it. So I say to you socks are important, more important than you think. Never run out of socks to replace the others.

Demo season

I am looking forward to doing demos with all the wonderful talented people in the I ho chuan class as well as showing off my spear!! I think that our will be a very enjoyable summer and spring for that matter!!! Can't wait!!

Meant to post this last week but I guess I had just saved it

Learning the language

As I go theough learning and memorizing mastery I really get what it is trying to say!! I feel a great deal of satisfaction from as from it I feel as though I am growing and becoming more aware of everything around me! I want to push myself to the limit more and more and I'm just happy about that! There no saying what I will do with my life and I'm glad that the future isn't written but right now I'm happy!!

The fight of a lifetime

Recently I have been thinking a lot about my grandma. My grandma has cancer and is going through chimo and I can only imagine what kind of fight it must be. The pain and suffering and the physical exhaustion are really changing her life. She lost almost 1/3 of.her body weight and just us going to visit her and see her in the state she is in pains her to the core. But if I know my grandma at all she is going to fight to the bitter end. And this is why I am going to run! Run for her sake! I dont know where and I dont know how far but I.am going to do it!!! Im doing it for her and all those out there who are going through this! I would be glad to have more join me! When I figure the details I will post it! I think this will be good for me and the tole on my body will just be a small part of what cancer patients feel! I love you grandma!! Your in my thoughts and in my prayers!

Change for the better

Well today as I was leaving work I saw an elderly lady putting groceries into her car and it didnt even cross my mind... At that moment! As I was driving away I felt like I could have helped her and her saying thank would give me the satisfaction I enjoy!! I am feeling a change in mindset due the things required for I ho chuan and I feel things can only get better from here. I do feel bad for that lady and I feel bad for myself that I didnt take the opprotunity to help!! As Mike Tyson said "everyone has a plan, until they get a shot to the mouth!" I had a plan of going home and not worrying about anything but I think that Kung Fu is giving that shot to the mouth I need to make a change for the better in myself!! So next time im only thinking of myself ill be darn sure I can take that minute out of my day to help someone else out!!

Keep on keepin on!

The end of basketball season at school has returned which means the beginning of spring basketball! Spring ball is more relaxed so my main focus can be kung fu! I need to do a lot of things in my life to keep true to myself! I cant stop doing stuff! Its not in me!! Also this opprotunity of playing spring ball will take me on a trip to Gonzaga University where hopefully I can refine my skills as a player physically and mentally as well as refine my overall person mentally and physically! Life brings opprotunity and I intend to them and flourish from them!!! So all you gotta do is... Keep on keepin on!

Enjoyment

Sorry I forgot to blog this last week so I am doing it now! I find lately I am really getting enjoyment out of everything in kung fu! I really enjoy getting up in the morning and doing push ups and sit ups that I do 60 befoe I even leave the house! Ive just enjoyed doing push ups and sit ups that im doing around 300 a day and ive been attending the monday wednesday classes and I enjoy that! I guess im just excited that im getting this much enjoyment out of all this! I hope you feel this way cuz its just a great great feeling :-)

Sihing Dunning

Courage

This past week in english class we have been talking about courage. It seems as though everyone had a different defintition of courage not that this is surprising to me. We think of a lot of people that are the most prominate definition of courageous: fire firefighters, soldiers etc. We think yeah thats good but we dont go down deep into thought and think how courageous ALL of us can be. Little things can be courageous in your own mind that other people may not understand. I think one of the most courageous people i know is my Grandma. She was diagnosed with cancer a couple months ago and it has been really hard on all of us and no one wants to see someone they love go through something like that. But some how, some way she is being really strong through this. Being the stubborn person that she is she doesnt want to believe how vurnurable she is. She is really being strong through this. She could have folded and let the cancer defeat her and consume her or she could have kept going on with her life like nothing was wrong. Neither of these would be the best descision so she decided to fight and i respect that and gain hope for her each and every day. I always say if there was a mountain in front of you and there was three ways to go which way would you go? You could go left and go around it or go right and go around or you can go straight over top and say you conquered it. Which way would go? For lots of people they would say they would go around it because its easier and some would say they would go straight over top before they even see the mountain. The only way to conquer it is to find it in yourself that you can do it and you wont quit. Straight over top is my grandma is decided to go because she doesnt want to give in. Theres too much at stake for her and we dont want to lose her. So what i have to say to you is "conquer it and find that courage inside you"

16 at Life

Life is a funny thing to me. There's ups and there's downs in life itself. To me i feel like your either up or your down, and there's no floating in between. Days can go bad or days can go good or they can start good, have a grenade dropped on them, and end good as it happened to me today. I'm only 16 so i cant really speak from experience but life's gonna suck. Your gonna have to make hard decisions and those may be the hardest decisions of your lives. As i said I'm only 16 so decisions may be hard for me but i can get through it because everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect. As someone just recently said to me "You just need to be 16!" This really opened my eyes. I need to live my life as a 16 year old should live. I need my to spend time with friends and i need to be alone sometimes and sometimes i just need to announce my presence to the world. I cant always be someone that does everything correct and make the right decisions. I need to learn. From that learning it brings experience. Experience brings life. Life brings 16 and 17 and 18... Life sucks but you have the power to fight back. Fight back in a way that says "I am who i wanna be and should do what i wanna do and its up to me to make that decision."