Two Weeks Notice...of Possible Awesome

Well, this week my big training day, Saturday was instead eaten up by an event called Wordsworth. As much as it pained me to train less than usual that day, I must say it was worth it. Among the assorted lessons I learned there, one of the more interesting was breathing exercises. One particularly entertaining exercise was the making of a sound scape. For those not quite as artsy as others, I'll explain what this entails, and I assure you, it is much better than it sounds. The sound scape consists of a group of people making sounds with no set plan. Think of it like the vocal version of trance techno.
The environment of the event was especially enjoyable since everyone treated everyone else as though best friends regardless of whether or not they knew each others names or had ever met. Also, there an effective ban on negativity. That it, no one insulted each other and feedback was kept positive, though always constructive. It was the perfect atmosphere for productive writing, relaxed within the constraints of a tight structure. It is the atmosphere everyone claims to desire in all situations, and yet it is so very rare.

But let us not forget the slant with which this blog is written. In the spirit of kung fu, I'll adapt the techniques I learned to make my punches stronger, my overall attacks more psychologically debilitating, and of course, just to improve my all around humanity.
The training techniques of the martial arts center around cultivating discipline and respect, which are the two greatest tools for getting what you want in life. Peace and creativity are also great assets, ones which are often neglected. I had heard it said to many times to count that we must be creative, but how often do we try to build on it? How often have you considered creativity a weapon to be forged?
One of the writing exercises taught is known as flash writing. One goes and does something, such as kung fu, for a time before a signal is given, such as an alarm, and he/she then immediately begins writing. No editing is allowed and it doesn't matter what it written. I believe it was Thomas Trofimuk who said,"Give yourself permission to write ----, it might be better in two weeks."
I think this applies to kung fu just the same. Never throw things out and don't worry if what you are creating seems horrible right now.

Ben Davies
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada
www.silentriverkungfu.com