Tag: kung fu

Yin Yang Duality of Tension and Relaxation

Oscar AgramonteWah Lum

You may already know that Yin and Yang are two opposite but complementary forces in Chinese philosophy. They are often represented by the symbol of a circle divided into two halves, one black and one white, with a dot of the opposite color in each half.

Tension and relaxation are also two opposite but complementary forces in physical performance. Tension is strength and power, while relaxation is speed, endurance, and flexibility.

Kung Fu and Tai Chi demand both tension and relaxation. For example, when punching, you need to tense your body at the moment of impact to deliver maximum power. But you also need to relax quickly afterward so that you can recover and throw the next punch.

Elite athletes know the importance of practicing both tension and relaxation. They need to be able to tense their muscles to generate power, but they also need to be able to relax quickly to maintain speed and endurance.

Soviet Professor Leonid Matveyev observed that elite athletes are able to relax their muscles much faster than novice athletes. (800% difference!)

This is because they have trained their bodies to switch between tension and relaxation quickly and efficiently.

Here is a simple example of an exercise that you can do to practice tension and relaxation:

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides.
  2. Tense all of the muscles in your body as tightly as you can.
  3. Hold the tension for a few seconds.
  4. Relax all of your muscles as quickly as possible.
  5. Repeat steps 2-4 several times.

As you get better at this exercise, you will be able to tense and relax your muscles more quickly and efficiently. This will help you to improve your performance in Kung Fu and Tai Chi.

Sifu Oscar

 

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are ways we can help you get started.

1. Schedule a time to observe a class.
Interested in Kung Fu or Tai Chi?  First step is to watch a class and see if we would be a good fit! Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for an appointment.

2. Become part of my exclusive Coaching Group with CYH Remote Coaching.  Get personalized coaching delivered right to your phone and catered to your specific goals.
Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for info.

Tip of the Week: You Are the Solution

Wah Lum AdminWah Lum

Anyone else get a ton of email marketing ads?

As I was thinking about my shortcomings, I realized there is no shortage of information bombarding me!

So the most appealing services, methods, and products are the ones that promise a specific solution.

This service provides comfort and makes us believe that whoever is providing the solution is competent and has the solution. For the record, most coaches, Sifus, and teachers struggle with impostor syndrome (ahem…as I raise my hand).

But I do believe we need to be wary about the fact that a specific solution implies that you have a specific problem.

If I were to sum up all the solutions/problems that have been offered to me, I would probably be convinced to enter the fetal position, never to act or move with any kind of confidence again.

If you want to practice Kung Fu or Tai Chi and move with comfort, ease, and fluidity, you need to believe in yourself, and your body.

I know it’s cliché, but you need to be the solution.

There is a story we all tell ourselves. How are you going to rewrite your story this week?

Sifu Oscar

 

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are ways we can help you get started.

1. Schedule a time to observe a class.
Interested in Kung Fu or Tai Chi?  The first step is to watch a class and see if we would be a good fit! Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for an appointment.

2. Become part of my exclusive Coaching Group with CYH Remote Coaching.  Get personalized coaching delivered right to your phone and catered to your specific goals.
Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for info.

Break Through Plateaus In Your Martial Arts Journey

Wah Lum AdminWah Lum

Hey there,

Do you ever feel that an invisible ceiling is inhibiting your progress?

As a martial artist, (or aspiring martial artist) we love mastering new movements, pushing ourselves, and getting those incremental improvements, right?

But life gets busy and we find ourselves wrestling with time. Endless commitments, demanding schedules…

The big thing that holds many students back from progressing is being able to get into certain positions. Low stances, high kicks…

But it doesn’t end there!

Once you can get into a certain position, you also want to feel strong there.

I’ve been working on some mobility training that has been helping and I am looking to start a project soon that’ll take a handful of students through a targeted mobility program.

Reply if you want to hear more about it.

Sifu Oscar

 

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are ways we can help you get started.

1. Schedule a time to observe a class.
Interested in Kung Fu or Tai Chi?  The first step is to watch a class and see if we would be a good fit! Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for an appointment.

2. Become part of my exclusive Coaching Group with CYH Remote Coaching.  Get personalized coaching delivered right to your phone and catered to your specific goals.
Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for info.

Take It Day by Day by Brittany Caldwell

Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Sifu Mimi's Blog

Feature story by Brittany Caldwell of the University of Central Florida schools of Journalism

3/19/20

“Take It Day by Day”

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Chief instructor Mimi Chan (center) demonstrates a kung fu form to a group of students. Photo by Hao Nguyen, Courtesy of Wah Lum Temple

Cars whiz past a yellow brick wall on North Goldenrod Road. After 40 years in Orlando, the Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Temple still maintains an air of mystery. Tucked back in a forest of bamboo trees, the Chinese martial arts school stands with cultural pride.

Chief instructor and UCF alumna Mimi Chan begins her day with tea and gratitude. She meditates and takes a moment to reflect on her blessings. At Wah Lum, she lights incense to honor her ancestors, a long-standing tradition of respect. She is an athletic woman of average height, dressed in her uniform of a comfy T-shirt and loose pants with her hair pulled back in a ponytail.

Throughout the day, she juggles technical difficulties and coordinating the business with the help of her MacBook and iPhone. Whereas the school would be full of students preparing for kung fu and tai chi classes, this week it’s just Mimi and a few instructors, who are careful to stay healthy as they livestream classes on Zoom. As the operation manager, Mimi runs the show- even in adversity.

“My day has been tackling and putting out fires and how I’m going to plan and implement for all the things to come,” Mimi said.

Because social distancing is being encouraged as a way to combat the coronavirus pandemic, small businesses are at risk. This has been in the back of Mimi’s mind since news of the outbreak in February. But her main concern was the students- the people that made Wah Lum like a family.

“The more we were hearing as things progressed, about how the disease could be spread from people who don’t show symptoms, the more concerned we were,” Mimi said.

She cancelled in-person classes in early March before the Florida government mandate closed fitness businesses. Even though she was saddened by the closure, she did not want to have the virus endanger the health of the students, especially given the range of ages.

“While all of our students were very mindful and careful, you could just never be too safe,” Mimi said. “I would’ve preferred to make the decision on behalf of the students while having a plan in place.”

Along with two other certified instructors, Mimi is referred to as “sifu,” which means a teacher or a father figure. It’s a symbolic title in Chinese kung fu, where the person guides the student through training but is also like a second family to them.

At 42, Mimi has managed the family business that her father created for the past 21 years. Her father, Grandmaster Pui Chan, and her mother, Simu Suzy, are the owners and influential to decisions. The school is not just a business to Mimi and her family- it’s also a temple rooted in history. She is dedicated to upholding her father’s legacy of authentic Chinese culture and martial arts.

Overseeing a small business amidst the coronavirus is not an easy task but her gratitude for the Wah Lum community motivates her to keep going.

“We run our business like a family,” Mimi said. “All of our students are like family members.”

Some students and instructors are UCF alumni just like Mimi. UCF is not far from the Wah Lum Temple- about 12 minutes away.

Virtual classes don’t mean that the students watch a video at odd times in the day. The schedule is the same as it was pre-coronavirus. If you have a class at 6:30 p.m., you log on to Zoom at 6:30 p.m. The only thing that has changed is the format.

“For us, the priority is keeping our students engaged and active, and helping bring them some normality in a very abnormal time,” Mimi said.

Mimi said they wanted to livestream the class at the school in a familiar place- in front of the martial arts altar.

“It is far better for them to actually feel like they are there with us,” she said. “That way the students can get as traditional of an experience as possible.”

Mimi has been working at least 12 hours each day to organize the virtual classes. When she feels stressed, she uses the breathing exercises they teach in kung fu and tai chi classes. The impacts of the virus on Wah Lum are like math problems that she has to solve, yet she said she enjoys figuring out how to fix them.

“This is very unprecedented so we just have to take it day by day,” Mimi said.

Mimi constantly balances the needs of the business with the concerns she has for her family. Her sister, mother and father fall into the at-risk category for the coronavirus. She said she feels better knowing they are safe while she is working. Her family may be absent from the school but that doesn’t stop them from contributing. Mimi’s mom records tai chi classes from home.

With the Orange County stay-at-home order in effect, Wah Lum will continue with their online classes.

“We will not reopen until it is safe to do so,” Mimi said.

The school depends on students’ membership to support the service-based business. While the virtual classes keep them afloat, it’s unclear what the future may hold.

But even in a pandemic, those closest to Mimi have faith in her coordination behind the scenes.

“We are very lucky that we have someone like Mimi who’s very good at handling problems and looking at solutions,” said Oscar Agramonte, 40, Mimi’s husband and a Wah Lum instructor.

When he is not helping out with kung fu and tai chi classes, Agramonte leads a kickboxing and sparring class. He also has his own associated fitness program called “Control Your Health.”

A UCF graduate, Agramonte got his certification to be a physical trainer while teaching at Wah Lum and realized he could do one-on-one training as a full-time job. He recently made the decision to move his classes online but has found teaching virtually to be a challenge.

“I’m so used to talking to people in person,” Agramonte said. “I feel very relaxed. And when I’m doing it virtually, the energy levels is just different.

“I have to project more. I have to draw the energy out. And I don’t have an instant reaction as to whether they’re giving me that energy back.”

Agramonte is hopeful that with time, the process will get easier.

“It’s harder for me right now because it’s a little bit newer,” he said. “The longer that we get into this quarantine type of situation, the benefit will be that we’ll get better at it.”

The move to online classes poses an obstacle as to how almost 50 students will learn detailed kung fu forms from one screen. In a face-to-face setting, there are separate areas for different classes to take place at once.

“I think you can do [kung fu] on virtual,” said Jeremy Rose, 41, a student for 10 years and a UCF alumnus. “It’s just going to be harder when you’re trying to give so many people something at the same time.”

With one week of virtual classes under her belt, Mimi feels good about the future of online training. There are still some technical things she’d like to improve but she said it was “pretty successful overall.”

She said she appreciates that the students continue to support Wah Lum and how positive they have been with the virtual experience.

“The best thing is that we can still be connected,” Mimi said. “It was a really beautiful thing to see that everyone’s in their home and we’re all still participating in the same kung fu classes.”

After the students say goodbye to the instructors and the Zoom classes sign off, Mimi stays at the school a little longer to work on scheduling and communicating with staff members. After she leaves for home, the temple is truly empty.

Plunged in darkness, the Wah Lum Temple rests, grateful for another day to spread its message of fitness, culture and community.

Mimi Chan poses with kung fu fan

Why women should practice kung fu: my real life application

Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Kung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog

I have been asked about teaching a ‘women’s self defense’ seminar over the years, and I always decline because in all honesty, I don’t ever feel like I am a true authority on the subject.  Yes, I have done kung fu my entire life.  Yes, I have done sparring class.  Yes, I have been taught self defense.  However, I do not practice fighting on a daily basis or apply my kung fu in a combat environment as often as I would like to.  I never like to pretend I am an expert in something I am not, so I usually shy away from the request for a women’s self defense class.

The main focus of my martial arts training has always been its expression as an art form, preserving the cultural tradition, health, philosophy and self defense application.  I always hated the question “Have you ever used kung fu in a fight?” because as a traditional practitioner, my goal was always to avoid a fight.  Learning to deflect and avoid confrontation is kung fu to me.  I know some people may scoff at this and say “yea, but if you were attacked those things aren’t important.”  They would argue that knowing how to physically fight and defend yourself is the most important thing.  I disagree.  I do agree at the end of the day, a woman should be able to defend herself physically, and have the tools to harm an attacker.  However, I am also realistic in the fact that an average female is at a disadvantage to a male in size, weight, and strength.  Don’t get me wrong …  I am all about girl power, and anything he can do I can do better… but nature can’t be overlooked.

Do I think I could defend myself against someone within my weight, size, and skill level?  Yes.  Do I think I could fight off a couple 6′ 3″ 250 lb guys attacking me?  I certainly would put up a good fight, but probably not.  Furthermore, if my attacker had a fire arm or other weapon, I would certainly be at a disadvantage.  This is not a kung fu movie.  However, I liked to believe that my kung fu training has taught me to have heightened awareness of my surroundings, ability to detect potential danger, and the ability to react quickly in a stressful environment.  I know many are scoffing at these ideas as well.

I unfortunately finally had a live test of this theory.   This past week, I was sleeping in my room and heard a loud noise that woke me up.  I thought it was O in the kitchen and remembered that I wanted to remind him to take some boxes to the Temple.  So I left the bedroom and went down the hall to find a man in a hooded sweatshirt running through my house.  When he turned his face, I saw that he had a full face mask on and at that moment I knew it was not O.  In reflection, I believe that my adrenals kicked in and I went into offensive mode.  It was fight-or-flight and my instinct was to fight.  I changed my stance (albeit I was in my fluffy bathrobe, and was probably the least threatening I have ever looked), started yelling at him to get out, and advanced forward.  He ran away from me, slammed the sliding glass door onto the ground, and ran out the back. I then proceeded to barricade myself in the room closest to the street and dialed 911.  The police arrived within 5 minutes, but were on the opposite side of the street.  I had to direct them to the correct house, asked them to come in, and clear the home because I did not know how many people were in the home or if he had returned with a weapon.  Even under the duress, I was able to give concise directions, describe the thief, and felt confident in the interaction we had.  I did not pursue him out the door because I did not know what was waiting around the corner, and knew he must have had some tool or weapon to break the glass.  I was not trying to be a hero in this scenario, which I truly believe was the smartest choice I could have made. When people asked if I ‘would have’ used kung fu on him, I tell them I did use kung fu.  I didn’t have to fight, but I was defensive when I needed to be, and offensive when I needed to be.  I held a confident posture, I yelled loudly and pointedly (enough to make him run in the opposite direction of the woman he outweighed and was larger than).  I secured myself in a safe room and called for help.  I gave clear directions when I saw the police was at the wrong house.  I was able to tell them what direction he headed, what he was wearing, and general details about his appearance.  In this stressful situation, I did not freeze, I did not get emotional, and as a result, I am alive.  I attribute this to my kung fu training.  So have I ever used kung fu in a fight?  Yes.

To hear more about this, subscribe to my podcast as I will be discussing it on there soon.  I HAVE ALSO MOVED THE BLOG TO: www.sifumimichan.com

Birthdays!

Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Kung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog

Even though we don’t get a true Autumn here… it always feels like the leaves are falling on me!  October 12th is my father’s birthday, October 31st is my mom’s birthday, and November 2 is the anniversary of the temple.  This is a busy time for me! I always get overwhelmed and am worried about what to do for the celebrations, not sure what gifts to get for my parents… and I usually start planning about a year away.  So last year, I already knew that this year we would be celebrating my dad’s birthday in England, and my mom would be having a huge bash for her 70th milestone!  This means I had to do something ‘low key’ for the 37th anniversary of the Temple.  By low keyI mean having something with only about 100 people… this is low key!  We are having a lecture, book signing, and ‘Celebration of Food’ at the Temple tomorrow.  I’m excited. I have been talking about this ‘Celebration of Food’ idea on my podcasts, and feel that it is just what the doctor ordered.  I’ve been frustrated at the divisiveness of this country lately.  Especially since I just returned from visiting the hallowed grounds

Normandy American Cemetery
Normandy American Cemetery

of the D-Day beaches, Normandy American Cemetery, and the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.  I was so proud to be American as I walked through these places thinking about what our country was fighting for, and the sacrifices that were made.  I feel that we have  become so angry with one another now that we forget how alike we are.  I truly believe everyone has something in common.  Yes, we are all human, yes we all breathe air, etc. but the one real commonality that I see people unite over is food.  More often than not, we as humans don’t just eat to live, we live to eat!  My wishful thinking is that if the world could participate in a huge potluck and respect each others’ culture through the sharing of food, then we could all be friends.   Hopeful? Naive? Maybe.  However, I can still dream and partake of all the delicious meals people will be bringing tomorrow.  I promise to share some photos after the event on our Facebook page.

germany
Grand Opening in Germany

The other major stress this weekend has been the 100 guest list formal birthday party that I’m planning at my parents house.  I’ve gutted the interior and transformed it into a ballroom.  Linens, centerpieces, champagne welcome, and a buffet station with a 10 course meal lies ahead. (as if we wouldn’t have eaten enough that day)  Some people have said I am crazy to have 2 main events in 1 day.  They would be right. (However… I have done this many times before… holding a tournament and a huge stage production the same day anyone?)  I like to pride myself in my logistical prowess, and my strong event planning skills… while both events will be incredible, I am feeling the effects.  We just returned from the Grand Opening of Wah Lum of Germany less than 2 weeks ago, had a big Parent Day Show for the kids class right when we got back, and then jumped into planning for all the events this weekend… I’m stressed.  I admit that I can’t handle it as well as I did in my extreme youth.  I’m grumpy, I’m tired, and I’m frustrated!  My parents and I have different planning methods, that often clash and I have had to make adjustments over the years.  As I get older, I get more stubborn…and I think it’s safe to say the same goes for them!  It can be a nightmare to try to work it all out, but in the end I remember one of the most important things in life is gratitude, and it leaves me with these questions:

How lucky am I that I have parents that are around with soooo much energy to drive me bananas?

How lucky am I to have the opportunity to throw a 70th birthday party for my mom and celebrate the 37th anniversary of the Wah Lum Temple all on the same day?

Pretty darn lucky.

 

 

 

A Tale of Two Weekends

Sifu Mimi ChanKung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog

I’ve been meaning to write a recap of my training weekend in Boston with my Si Hing (older kung fu brother), Sifu Bob Rosen.  However, we had a little storm named Irma come through and kind of threw things of track.

Weekend 1

The Labor Day weekend was time I had designated to do my personal training.  A little ‘me’ time!  As I stated in previous posts, even instructors have to test, and maintain their material.  One of the vows that I made at the last test was to spend more time training with my peers, which meant that each year I would go to Boston to connect with my Si-Hing Bob Rosen. (I also tried to get my Orlando brothers to go too; Sifu Tu joined me on this fun weekend)  The end of the year was quickly approaching, and I saw an opportunity with the holiday weekend.  It turns out to be great timing for Sifu Bob because he closes the school to clean, fix, and regroup for the fall.  I know many of you are imagining really crazy ‘secret’ kung fu training that might have taken place; consisting of levitation, flaming weapons, etc.  Sorry to disappoint.  I like to go over fundamentals and delve deeper into my understanding of the forms.  We collaborated on ideas for self defense applications, technique, and practiced advanced forms that we rarely teach.  (so ok, some secret cool kung fu stuff)  I am so appreciative to fullsizerenderhave such incredible kung fu brothers that are willing to spend time with me.  I learn so much from them and feel fortunate to have such knowledgeable brothers.  Sifu George couldn’t make it this time, but he will definitely join us next time.  The Orlando crew often gets together though, and hopefully we will be able to train more often.

Per tradition, after training you eat!   Having lunch in Boston chinatown is special for us because it is so nostalgic.  I love being in Boston because it makes me feel closer to my father, knowing I am walking the path that he once walked everyday.

The best part about being in Boston? I do not have to ‘worry’ about my students.  😉  We all love teaching, but we also love kung fu.  Once you become a Sifu, personal training time requires strategic planning and prioritizing.  I had to travel all the way to Boston to get away!  I know people often think… “but you are at the Temple all day! You can train when there are no classes.”  Unfortunately, that is not my reality.  Running the Wah Lum Temple and the Wah Lum System consists of many administrative tasks, meetings, planning, etc. It is certainly a challenge and hard work on a daily basis.  But then again, that is kung fu too.

The last part of the trip consisted of a little bit of official business, but it was something I was excited to do.  I visited two new locations while in town. Wah Lum of Quincy’s brand new location and Wah Lum of Taunton’s relocated building. So proud of our growing Wah Lum Family!

 

A fun interlude for the weekend was an event at Paper Asylum, Pete K. of Wah Lum of Boston‘s pop culture store.  I did the Mulan appearance bit: signed autographs and took photos with fans.  They had a fun cosplay group out there to add to the Disney theme.  Confession: My favorite character is Ariel, and her asking for my autograph was pretty amusing.

 

Weekend 2

On my way back to Orlando I heard the news of the gigantic storm headed our way: Hurricane Irma.  I usually try to keep calm during storm warnings, because while one has to be prepared, it doesn’t help to panic.  I returned on Wednesday evening, and there was no water or gas, and the city was madness.  I started imagining scenes from Mad Max… and decide which character I could be.  First I had to decide which film… well, let’s say it’s the most recent one for our younger readers.  Obviously, I am Furiosa (based on the name alone), and O is the guy hanging off the truck playing the electric guitar. ha! Ok, I digress.

The storm grew and intensified, and by Friday I was a bit concerned… but Friday night, it started to ‘shift’ and the projections of a category 5 hurricane splitting Florida in two suddenly changed.  It veered west.  Not great either, but a better scenario for several parts of south Florida.  Then Cuba intervened.  I think if it hadn’t hovered over the northern coast of Cuba for a bit, we would not have been so ‘fortunate’.  I know several areas in Naples, the Keys, etc. had major devastation, but imagine a category 5 making landfall versus the 4/3 that hit us.  By the time it got to Orlando, it

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Jerk Salmon over egg papparadelle with spinach and tomatoes.

had lost some strength, but still made an impact.  Yes, we were without power.  (Oh no, the world is ending we have no electricity!)  However, we had running water, and that was fine by me.  O and I had a lovely candlelight dinner on Sunday, as I had a butane stove to cook our meal.  Not too shabby for a hurricane powerless meal?

 

The winds were howling at 3:00am on Monday morning, and I knew Irma had arrived.  My anxiety wasn’t for my home and possessions, but for the Temple.  I always worry about the Temple (as does my dad).  The steel building could’ve been gone in an instant, had a tornado decided to take it away. (we get a lot of tornadoes when there are hurricanes) We img_4149prepped the Temple the best we could, but honestly there wasn’t a lot we could do except hope for the best.  In 2005 during Charley we got lucky because a tornado came through and tore up the street.  Had that tornado decided to be a few feet over, the Temple would’ve been gone.

I’m certainly not trying to diminish the devastation that so many have felt, with 82 fatalities, and over 60 billion in damages and counting.  My heart goes out to all who have lost their loved ones or homes.  I can’t even imagine being on Barbuda as 90% of the entire island is now destroyed.  I was just in lovely Saint Martin earlier this year, and my heart goes out to them especially.  I feel fortunate.  I am so lucky to be in Orlando where we always seem to ‘just miss’ the wrath of the storm.  Yes, there was some damage, and yes, I was without power for 5 days.  But I had running water, food, and was able to borrow generators to keep my food from spoiling.  Inconvenient?  Yes.  However, seeing the images of entire homes leveled or floating away reminds me of how fortunate I am compared to others.  The Temple survived another storm.  We feel that the bamboo and our ancestors always protects the building.  The bamboo is flexible and sways with the wind versus causing any resistance or fighting against it.  This is something I am also trying to be better at.  I need to learn to be flexible… to flow with the wind… and hopefully I will endure as the Temple has.

—–

Our starfruit tree from my first blog post was a bit shaken, but we img_4235quickly gathered the salvageable fruit to share with others.

Featured image above is my ‘mantis signal’ that I sent out when the storm started.  We lost power and I started doing shadow puppets. Oh what fun.

 

 

When at war…turn up the heat

Sifu Mimi ChanKung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog

I am at war every day.  I am at war with the mosquitoes that inhabit the Wah Lum Temple.  I’m at war with
the heat.  I know some people may not believe that the earth is truly warmer than it was a hundred years ago, or that 1.53 degrees does not seem like very much… for those that think that, come to Orlando in August.  Today as I entered the Temple it felt like I was crossing the Sahara desert.  Ok, I’m being dramatic, but we do not train with air conditioning, and the summers are brutal.  Between the mosquitoes and the heat, it can be very difficult to stay motivated to train.

Since I complain about winter being too cold, I try to embrace summer so I say: turn up the heat!  I welcome the challenge, but I try to be smart about it.  I hydrate like crazy.  Pure h20 does the trick.  I know advertisers would have you insert their candy colored sports drink here, but really water is the best. I do also love coconut water, and discuss more of this on our Kung Fu Pod episode on Hydration. Something I didn’t discuss on the podcast is Sole. (pronounced Solay) I drink that every morning and it gives me natural electrolytes without the high fructose corn syrup.

As for the mosquitoes, I have done everything from making my own repellant of essential oil mixtures, creams, etc. and recently bought a LOT of citronella, lemon grass, and basil plants for my war these blood suckers.  I ‘think‘ they have all helped in combination, but one of the kids here described them as ‘kung fu’ mosquitoes, so they are tough.  Even the chemical products with deet and picaridin I tried never worked. So why overdose on the toxins if they don’t help?  At least with the essential oils you smell nice.  If anyone has any ideas for mosquito prevention – share!

So during the war of the summer, I opt to turn up the heat!

 

 

 

A day in the life of Grandmaster Chan

Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Kung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog, Tai Chi

img_1089-2O always tells people if they want to lose weight just follow around Grandmaster Chan for one day.  That is definitely one way to burn calories.  A day in the life of Grandmaster Chan consists of waking up before the sun and working in the sun, often until it goes down.  Grandmaster Chan enjoys his time in the garden and tending to his fish.  Whenever he goes on vacation, one lucky person is given the task of watching over his fish and plants. No one wants this job.  All will be going well, and then right before he is due home, suddenly a plant or worse, fish dies!  It is a nerve racking time for us back home and we have been known to try and resuscitate fish!  No CPR or anything, but we were taught to push the fish through the water, as it moves the water through the gills.  We have saved a few this way.

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Back to a day in the life of Grandmaster Chan.

He is a creature of habit.  He wakes up goes to the Temple to bisan, and makes his breakfast.  (usually oatmeal and coffee)  While water is boiling or the oatmeal is cooking he will start clearing things around the kitchen.  After his breakfast he starts his outdoor routine.  If you have ever been around the Temple in the morning or mid day, you might catch him doing any of the following: building fences of bamboo, clearing leaves or garbage from the Temple grounds, planting new trees, or even on the roof clearing the gutters.  I am not very happy about that one!  Depending on what area needs his attention he makes his way there and never asks for help.  As a matter of fact when you try to help it often ends up being a bit of a fight…and who wants to fight with a Grandmaster of kung fu?  At that point just volunteer to take care of the fish.

A question I get asked a lot is: Does he still practice kung fu?  And my answer: every day.  Maybe I haven’t ‘seen’ him doing right hand stick or 36 hands this week, but I see him using a broom (stick) to sweep the floors everyday, and I watch in awe as he moves up and down in a squat or to a side to side while cooking, cleaning, chopping, or clearing the grass…just like a form.  He is constantly moving, and constantly working…. working hard =  kung fu.

 

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Juggling

Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Kung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog, Tai Chi

Nope. I can’t juggle. I actually can barely catch a ball. However, I do juggle tasks and priorities all the time. Same goes for my personal training, unfortunately sometimes it has to take second or even third place in line of what needs to get done.

When the Sifu Test was approaching, I was in kung fu mode 24/7.  I even visualized my forms before sleeping!  Not that I don’t practice my kung fu consistently, but as I have mentioned in previous posts, my year is scheduled out according to my work schedule, and I go from there. This weekend, O is at a 4 day fitness summit learning a bunch of fun fitness things. So for these few days, the priority is taking care of his fitness clients and coaching his classes.  At the same time, I also have to make sure that the kung fu and tai chi classes are covered, as we also have most of our instructors out of town on vacation. This is actually pretty easy, because it was scheduled a while ago.  The tough part is when a wrench is thrown in my perfectly planned schedule.  This is what often happens with my personal training and wellness habits.  I admit there are times when I have run myself so ragged, it was a detriment to my health! I do not recommend this.  When someone tells me they have kids or too much work that prevents them from eating right or working out, I always ask: What is it they always say on the plane? (What? No one listens to the safety talk right?) Well I do, and they say: Put your oxygen mask on before assisting others! This is so true. How can I expect to help my family, cook for O, teach my students, and get work done if I am not taking care of myself?  I am basically writing this out to remind myself that it is important to eat, sleep, work out, relax, and enjoy life. So how do I do it?  Juggling!  I basically make sure that the priorities are always being rotated. (It’s the only juggling I think I’ll ever be able to do)

In tai chi we teach the philosophy of the yin and yang, the balance to life. single whipI try to follow this principle with every little thing. If I am on the computer too much, I set a timer to walk away and get off the screen. If I am eating too many delicious foods, I make sure that I am working it off at kung fu, walking extra on vacation, or making better choices the next day.  If I am feeling guilty from eating delicious foods, I remind myself that it is ok, and reiterate to myself that I can enjoy it… and feel good about it. I am sure you will notice by now that I talk about food and eating a lot.  Good food brings me joy!   So think about what brings you joy, accept it, be thankful for it, and then keep on juggling.