The best chef do the simplest things great and a bad cook brings out the worst of any given ingredients. Student cooks focus on fancy recipes, great chefs focuses in how to bring out the best of each ingredient. If you don’t put your heart and thoughts into your work, you will never reach the elite level.
Some of you are looking for that big secret to success to kung fu and life, guess what: attitude.
My sifu (陳亦人) had genetic arthritis but that never stopped him from greatness. Hsing-I master Guo Yunshen (郭雲深)was locked up in a prison for 3 years with both hands and legs bolted up and have perfect excuse not to practice, but when he was released, he can still knock a whole wall down. Hsing-I have 5 basic punches but Guo specializes in just the Bēng punch (崩) and won countless challenges with just that one punch.
Over all the years I was with my sifu, even when he was teaching beginners, I stand by his side, imitating, observing and practicing the basics over and over again – each time I find some new twist / details that I did not notice before. I never had that “I know it already” attitude. When my sifu was busy, I would rather practice old stuff than trying to learn a new move from other seniors. When my sifu asked for a volunteer to do demonstration, I was always the first one up. Some of those first hand experiences provided me an inspiration and a direction that lasted forever – some showed up vividly in my dreams even years after my sifu passed away.
I remember practicing stretching or stances while I was doing my homework. I remember practicing long hours in my living room during summer and I sweated so much that the wood tiles are bleached. I practice de-sensitization while I was watching TV. I practice standing meditation for over an hour every day. Nowadays, I don’t see similar work ethics too often.
What you learn in class today is not just what is from my sifu. I had prior martial arts training from other styles. I read. I learn from within martial arts as well as other sports. And yes, I also got new understanding and inspirations through gymnastics. Maybe you don’t believe it, but I also learn through teaching young boys and girls, teenagers, adults, the elderly, the Special Olympics and more. If you ever think you are too good to be in the same class as someone else, you just lost that one important clue towards a lifetime of success.
It is easy to teach a form or to change a person’s physical attributes. However, for attitude, while others can be supportive but the ultimate decision to change has to come from within. Furthermore, it is so easy to think that this post is meant for someone else because you already ‘have what it takes’. If that thought even creeps into your mind, you have already fallen into the trap of ‘I already know it’ syndrome. 🙂 Find ways to improve – only YOU CAN DO IT!
Exercise (email or facebook me):
– Click to watch this video
– this week, try to exceed what you think is your max or something you have left on the side burner for a while (can be physical training like push ups, sit ups or whatever. Just make sure you don’t injure yourself)
– make an extra effort in practicing something simple that you have learn already and see if you can improve on it.
– make an effort to help someone improve, especially someone who is not yet at where you are at.
Tell me what you actually did.