Today is the day I had set in my training goals to review my progress and have Master Brinker look over my training journal.

As I reflect on the last 2 months (I began on July 1st), I am confronted with the fact that I am not where I had hoped I would be. Granted, I have had successes, but one goal in particular is bothering me; tai chi.

I had set quite a few goals for myself to have completed by October 31. These goals included 150 push ups a day, 150 sit ups a day, learn the spear form, perfect my fan form and learn the tai chi long form. So far I have kept up my push ups and sit ups ( I do 160 of each now), I have learned the spear form and have been pushing forward.

But, the tai chi form is still on my to-do list.

Tai chi has never been my favorite part of Kung-Fu; I've never really liked it. However, I know it is good for me. The benifits to one's flow, centering, balance, etc. are tremendous and I should be all over it, but I'm not.

So, as I sit here reflecting, I'm trying to come up with a good excuse as to why I've been avoiding it. Truth be told though, I have only myself to really answer to when it comes to achieving my goals, so why bother trying to find excuses anyway?
I need to stop focusing on the problem (Oh my gosh I haven't learned it yet! I've been lazy and procrastinating and how the heck am I going to learn all this?!?) and focus on the solution (you can do this...think!).

Here it goes:

Tai chi action plan

step 1: Define the goal
I want to be able to make it through the entire tai chi long form without stopping or getting help. I will utalize the following resources: fellow black belts to learn from and the video to fine tune.

step 2: Motivation
I will have to stay motivated and focused if I want to succeed.
options: start a tai chi log
train with a buddy
reward myself when I succeed

choice: I will keep a tai chi log of my progress and will reward myself when I have learned it. The reward is yet to be decided.

step 3: Practice
I need to actually buckle down and practice this if I'm going to succeed.
options: practice once a week
practice once a day

choice: practice once a day. I'll do it once a day at least.

step 4: Deadline
I want to have this completed ultimatly by October 31.


This action plan takes effect as of tomorrow, September 1st.

There, a solution has been created, now I just need to follow through with it.

Well, my cat successfully published 3 blog posts this evening; what a genius.

For the last couple of months I've been trying to dedicate more time and effort to my training. I've been struggling with achieving my goals and, with another school year fast approaching, tonight I found myself worrying about my training when school begins, with exams, projects and what not also on my plate.

But then Master Brinker's voice popped up in my head and said, "What are you talking about, no time for Kung-Fu? School work is Kung-Fu!"

I am guilty of forgetting this. Kung-Fu is in everything I do, if I look for it. If school work is what will be occupying the majority of my time, then bi-golly I'm going to do my homework like a Kempo Kung-Fu black belt would. I'm going to excersise that brain of mine until it hurts and do the best I possibly can.

All I can do is try my hardest and that's what I'm going to do.