Wash the Window, Peel the Onion, Work the Mine

That's how it feels sometimes when doing any kata, but especially the basic ones that I've done uncountable times. It gets cleaner and more useful, old layers come off and reveal the inner substance, I find valuable nuggets that are often just laying there and huge veins that required more work to expose and even more to extract.

It may not be only techniques of delivery and avoidance that are brought to light. Sometimes the enlightenment may be in teaching technique. For instance, How to best convey the kata and/or purposes to a student. Sometimes it may be more philosophical.

Whichever or whatever, they all conspire to make me a better martial artist when I take time to practice kata with thoughtfulness.

Those were the results of Sahm Dan yesterday and Sah Dan today.

I love weekends and holidays!

SUN!

TcB

Water

A note forwarded to me by a friend.
I can't speak on it's level of validity but nevertheless - a good topic to be conscious of during the summer months.
Falcon-


When to Drink Water - From a Cardiac Specialist

Correct Time to Drink Water.....Very Important. This is interesting!! I knew you need your minimum water to flush the toxins out of your body, but this was news to me. Correct Time to Drink Water....Very Important From A Cardiac Specialist! Drinking water at certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body: 2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal organs 1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion 1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure 1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

Dialogs

It is never easy to deal with the death of a loved one. Our lives revolve around, and we are the reflection of, the relationships we have forged with others and the ongoing dialog that ensues. That dialog can last minutes, years, or decades. Frequently there is mutual closure of the conversation and we move on with satisfaction. But then, there are those conversations that end abruptly leaving you longing for another sentence to add, even if it's just to say "goodbye, I love you, it's been fun."

This week my honorable, industrious father had successful surgery to place a stint in a neck vein. That evening he laid back to take a nap and suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and went into a coma from which he never awoke.

The next day, after receiving the report that Dad would not survive more than a few days, my sweet, frail, courageous mom suffered a broken heart and died two days later surrounded by family who desperately wanted the conversation to continue just a little while longer. Dad followed her into Paradise 3 days later as I held his hand and spoke but he could not hear. They had been married 68 years.

Take from this what you will. We are all just one breath from eternity. It would sound trite to recommend you treat every goodbye as the final one. But I will tell you this, a conversation abruptly ended when your cell phone drops is annoying but will soon be continued. A dialog interrupted by death leaves you empty. My only comfort, and it is considerable, is that Christ conquered death and the relationship will continue in the future.

I said "goodbye, I love you, it's been fun", to both of my parents yesterday. There was no reply this time.

TcB

Condolences

I want to express my deepest sympathies to Master Crane on the recent loss of both his parents. The unusual circumstances and dealing with it all have to be overwhelming.
I hope you can eventually find some relief and peace my friend.

Take a Break

Master Hawk,

You have hosted many "Break Nights" where students, even white belts if I'm not mistaken, take part in the study and application of breaking bricks.

Would you please describe the technique involved, including weight, control, penetration, focus and the physics behind it all?

I am always amazed at what you pull out of your students and the results that follow.

SUN!

TcB

Jang Kwon Kong Keock

Andy Osborne "Mr. Snake"

I regret to inform you that on April 12th, our Mr. Snake, Andy Osborne passed away.
His Mother emailed me with the news yesterday. He was 32 years old. She expressed that his Martial Arts training was a high point in his life. They are planning a memorial get together on May 14. Please let me know if you would like more details about that.
Andy and I had kept in touch after he moved to Madison to pursue writing and acting. He also had continued martial arts, studying Chinese Kempo.
Those of us who trained with him remember what a character he was and how serious and sincere he was about training. He was always right there with an enthusiastic "SUN!" I really liked him and wish somehow I could have done more for him.