Tag: Self-Awareness

Use Your Strengths

Oscar AgramonteSifu Oscar's Blog

Do you know what your strengths are?

Not just what you’re good at- but what energizes you.
What puts you in the zone. What makes time fly.
What you’d do again, even if no one was watching. 

 

Your Strengths Are Your Responsibility

Those strengths? They’re not accidents. They’re assignments. 

Your gifts were given to be used.

They’re not just strengths—they’re responsibilities. Our purpose in life is tied to how we contribute them.

 

Why It Matters:

Too often, we obsess over our flaws. But that voice that says “you’re not good enough” is not new.

It’s not helpful. And honestly, it’s kind of boring. 

Your strengths are more interesting.
They speak to who you are and who you’re becoming.

 Strengths aren’t just what you’re good at.They’re the things that energize and strengthen you—even if you’re not good at them… yet.


What To Do:

  • Focus on the activities that you want to do again (hopefully Kung Fu or Tai Chi!).
  • Don’t confuse talent with passion. 
  • Forget the external “adornments”—titles, —and focus on the activity itself.
  • Practice what you love. Your appetite will lead you to mastery.

And remember: nothing great is done alone.

Your strengths grow stronger in community. That’s what we’re building here at Wah Lum.

Keep practicing. Keep contributing. Keep becoming who you’re meant to be.

Control Corner 25 from Sifu Oscar: The Mirror of Mastery

Oscar AgramonteSifu Oscar's Blog

At Wah Lum, the flipped Chinese character for ‘Fire’ reminds us that control is the key to mastering life’s challenges. Welcome to the Control Corner, where we share weekly wisdom to help you unlock your potential.

Essentials: Mastery begins with self-awareness. In West with the Night, author Beryl Markham reflects on how we spend our lives studying others while often remaining strangers to ourselves. As a pilot, alone in the vast night sky, she discovered the power of self-observation—an essential skill in both life and martial arts.

Why It Matters: True progress isn’t just about watching and learning from others; it’s about turning that focus inward. In martial arts, we often want to rush to advanced techniques, but true skill comes from refining the basics with patience and awareness. Just as Markham had to master small skills before flying solo, every stance, every movement, every breath is an opportunity for deeper understanding.

What’s Next: This week, be your own observer. Set aside time to train alone, focusing on the fundamentals with fresh eyes. What do you discover when you’re fully present with yourself? Mastery isn’t just about learning more—it’s about seeing more in what you already know.

Here is a small excerpt from the book West with the Night by Beryl Markham that inspired this post. 

“You can live a lifetime and, at the end of it, know more about other people than you know about yourself. You learn to watch other people, but you never watch yourself because you strive against loneliness. 

If you read a book, or shuffle a deck of cards, or care for a dog, you are avoiding yourself. The abhorrence of loneliness is as natural as wanting to live at all. If it were otherwise, men would never have bothered to make an alphabet, not to have fashioned words out of what were only animal sounds, not to have crossed continents – each man to see what the other looked like. 

Being alone in an aeroplane for even so short a time as a night and a day, irrevocably alone, with nothing to observe but your instruments and your own hands in semi-darkness, nothing to contemplate but the size of your small courage, nothing to wonder about but the beliefs, the faces, and the hopes rooted in your mind – such an experience can be as startling as the first awareness of a stranger walking by your side at night. You are the stranger.”

Control Corner 23 with Sifu Oscar: The Power of Thinking

Oscar AgramonteSifu Oscar's Blog

Welcome to the Control Corner, your weekly dose of wisdom on mastering control in martial arts, health, and life. At Wah Lum, the flipped Chinese character for ‘Fire’ represents control—an idea central to everything we do. 

Let’s explore how focusing on what matters can help you reach your full potential.

Essentials: Throughout history, deep thinking has powered successful people. It’s not about thinking more, but thinking better. Taking just a moment to reflect—whether through Kung Fu, Tai Chi, reading, or time in nature—can unlock insights that shape your path.

Why It Matters: When you pause and truly listen to yourself, you gain clarity about your goals, your challenges, and your aspirations. The strongest traditions, the ones that have stood the test of time, are the ones that encourage deeper thinking. Success isn’t just about working harder—it’s also about thinking just a bit deeper.

What’s Next: In today’s world, focus is the new IQ. Those who cultivate the ability to concentrate without distraction will thrive. Give yourself space to think—slow down during forms, focus on your breath, or take a mindful moment after training.

As Bruce Lee said, “To become different from what we are, we must have some awareness of what we are.” The more you cultivate thoughtful awareness, the more you’ll see old ideas in new ways—and that’s where true growth happens.

 

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.

Control Corner 21 with Sifu Oscar: Mastering Distraction

Oscar AgramonteSifu Oscar's Blog

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Control Corner, where we explore the art of control – whether in martial arts, health, or life. At Wah Lum, the Chinese Character for “Fire” is flipped upside down to symbolize Control, a philosophy also woven into the Control Your Health logo. 

Each week, we’ll share insights to help you focus on what matters and unlock your full potential. Enjoy!

Essentials: Are you sacrificing the important on the altar of the immediate? Distractions often pull us away from our true goals, but the good news is that we can reclaim control. While there are many things we can’t influence, we can shape our beliefs, behaviors, and focus to align with what truly matters.

Legendary coach John Wooden said it best: “Be quick, but don’t hurry. Always be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Focus on what you can control. You can’t control what other people will think of you, but you can control who you are and how you turn out as a human being.”

Why It Matters: Motivation comes from making choices that remind us we are in control. When we assert ourselves—whether by setting a boundary or taking purposeful action—we activate the part of our mind that drives self-motivation. It’s all about the locus of control: internal (believing we have power) vs. external (feeling powerless). 

Teaching yourself to embrace control fosters confidence and propels growth.

What’s Next: Ask yourself: Who are you at your core? What is essential to you? Gandhi spoke of “reducing oneself to zero,” letting go of who we aren’t so we can fully embody who we’re meant to be. Self-knowledge and authenticity are your greatest tools.

Remember, you are a work in progress, and that’s a good thing. The world needs you to fulfill your purpose. Focus on becoming who you’re meant to be—you matter to those who depend on you.

 

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.

Control Corner 18 from Sifu Oscar: Observing the Present, Regaining Control

Oscar AgramonteSifu Oscar's Blog

Welcome to the Control Corner, where Wah Lum’s philosophy of control—symbolized by the flipped ‘Fire’ character—guides us. Each week, we’ll help you focus on what matters and grow in martial arts, health, and life.

Essentials: Our breathing practice during warmups isn’t just a routine—it’s a mental exercise that builds focus and clarity. Just like meditation, connecting to your breath helps you face truths about yourself and better understand your emotions. If you can’t notice the sensation of your breath, how can you begin to truly understand complex emotions like anger or fear?

Why It Matters: Most of us spend our days distracted, our attention pulled in a thousand directions. Our breathing practice is a way to reclaim control by reconnecting with what’s happening right now. Observing your breath during warmups trains you to focus on your thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations with curiosity and clarity. This mindfulness builds self-awareness and self-control.

What’s Next: During warmups, pay close attention to your breathing. Notice its rhythm, how it feels, and where you sense it most. Over time, expand this focus to observe how your body and mind react to emotions like anger or fear.

Control starts with the basics. By practicing mindful breathing, you take the first step toward understanding and mastering yourself.

 

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.

Control Corner 17 from Sifu Oscar: Trusting Intuition, Embracing Awareness

Oscar AgramonteSifu Oscar's Blog

Control is more than a skill—it’s a mindset. At Wah Lum, the flipped ‘Fire’ character represents that philosophy, and the Control Corner is where we explore how it applies to your martial arts, health, and life goals.

Essentials: Intuition is a powerful tool—it’s knowing something without fully understanding why. Gavin de Becker, in his book The Gift of Fear reminds us that intuition can be rooted in curiosity, suspicion, dark humor, and fear. While denial is choosing not to know something despite having the facts, intuition invites us to trust the signals we perceive, even if they defy logic.

Why It Matters: Your intuition is like an early warning system, designed to protect you. Suppressing those feelings in the name of over-analysis or fear of being politically incorrect can put you at risk. The key isn’t blind reaction but thoughtful awareness—listening to your inner voice while taking responsibility for your safety.

What’s Next: Train your intuition by feeding it the right information. Martial artists, study their environment, understand patterns, and refine their ability to discern. When a feeling arises, ask yourself: Am I going to ignore this or pay attention? The more you honor your intuition, the stronger it becomes.

Control isn’t about paranoia; it’s about being prepared, present, and willing to listen to the one person you’re most responsible for—yourself.

 

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.

Control Corner 16 from Sifu Oscar: The Power of Self-Awareness

Oscar AgramonteSifu Oscar's Blog

The flipped ‘Fire’ character at Wah Lum isn’t just a symbol—it’s a reminder that control transforms lives. Welcome to the Control Corner, where we share practical insights each week to help you focus and unlock your potential.

Essentials: Control begins with self-awareness- knowing who you are, owning it, and embracing both your strengths and shortcomings. True control isn’t about perfection; it’s about honesty. 

Why It Matters: When you stop chasing a romanticized version of yourself, accept what you don’t excel at, and lean into what makes you great, everything changes. Execution matters more than ideas, and self-awareness gives you the clarity to move forward with purpose. Accepting yourself isn’t just liberating; it’s your strongest play.  

What’s Next: Reflect on your strengths. What do you do better than most? Where do you struggle? Be honest. Create an environment where you – and others – can speak the truth without fear. Use that truth to fuel your next move.

 

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.

New blog post series: Control from Sifu Oscar – at the heart of Wah Lum

Oscar AgramonteSifu Oscar's Blog

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Control Corner, where we explore the art of control – whether in martial arts, health, or life. At Wah Lum, the Chinese Character for “Fire” is flipped upside down to symbolize Control, a philosophy also woven into the Control Your Health logo. 

Each week, we’ll share insights to help you focus on what matters and unlock your full potential. Enjoy!

Essentials: In this section, we’ll explore the concept of Control. At Wah Lum, the Chinese character for “Fire” is flipped upside down to symbolize Control. The symbol is also used in the Control Your Health logo, honoring the deep-rooted philosophy passed down from Grandmaster Chan. Check out Sifu Mimi explaining a little bit more about Wah Lum Philosophy HERE

Why it matters: Control begins with self-awareness – understanding what’s truly important to you. While you can’t control everything, you can focus on the things within your reach, like your health and martial arts practice.

What’s Next: Stay tuned for more insights on Control in our weekly blog. For now, start your week by reflecting on what truly matters to you!

 

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.