Sifu Jason King’s Blog - Chinese Martial Arts 2009

Well, I’m glad that weeks over! Phew!

My recently serviced and fixed up car broke down again, so I went and got another hire vehicle. I needed it because I was doing night shift teaching on top of my day time labouring all week - crazy long days and very little sleep. It was an absolute overload but I really enjoy teaching at this particular acting institution - QAP. The Qld Actor’s Playhouse. It’s refreshing to have students who are eager, skilled and committed and it’s a reflection on the staff and the schoo as a whole. I just hope next time i get more than a couple of days notice before getting called in!

So then my hire vehicle broke down. (Well - a flat battery thanks to someone sticky beaking and leaving an interior light on). If that was all I would have smiled and moved on but THEN I picked up my car from the mechanics -suposedly fixed - and broke down on Hale St in peak hour. I must have run over a black cat recently or something. Anyway, did a self repair job on the radiator and some hoses, managed to make it home and took it back to the mechanics the next day.  Their response? Dunno. “Must have been an air bubble - seems alright now but?” So I left frustrated and not too confident - however so far no further problems so fingers crossed.

Had a good acro class on the weekend. Can’t wait to get good photos of the new balances we have. It’s challenging, a work out and rewarding to do the hard postures we do!

I’m looking forward to returning to singing lessons next week. Priority is the 3 duets I’m singing next weekend for a friends recital and then I want to start some new material. “November Rain”, “Hymn to Her” (with lyric tweaks), “Easy” are next on the list.

After such a big week I wouldn’t be upset to have a couple of days off due to rain. Plenty to do at home including rearranging the house.

Interesting week may be an understatement. My relationship of 7.5 years came to an end after much anguish but this is not a place to discuss it. On top of that my van broke down (only 2 weeks after spendin$1300 on it! I’ll find out today how bad the situation is with it. Thermstat’ broke’, thereby cooling system failed and radiator emptied, motor sizzled. In the meantime, I’ve hired a vehicle (very nice late model Commodore with too much power and too many perks and auto gadgets. A bit of a luxury for me!

I’ve also agreed to teach every night this week which is little ridiculous considering I’m working 13 hours each day already. But it is just a once off week teaching at the Qld Actors Playhouse. Great students - last week’s were very receptive which makes my job as teacher so much easier and more satisfying. I’ll be looking forward to a sleep in come next week!

Meanwhile, leaving work early today for a dentist and optometrist appointment before going home to help pack!

Well,

for the lack of anything interesting to say about myself today, here’s what  some others think. Makes me blush!

The weekend of the 7th & 8th March saw our Zen Chi Ryu Dojo host a Tai Chi Seminar with guest instructor Sifu Jason King.  Planning for this seminar began in the latter stages of 2008 and early 2009 when initial contact was made with Jason after an extensive Web search.  Jason was very approachable and keen to share his martial arts experience with our Dojo and so the date was settled and preparations began in earnest.

My interest in Tai Chi goes back a long way and its elegant and graceful moves coupled with the proven health benefits for mind, body and spirit enticed me to learn more.  I had participated in a series of Tai Chi Workshops in 2006, during which we were taught a ‘form’ and I thoroughly enjoyed that learning experience and believe that it complimented my growing knowledge base of the Martial Arts and Zen Chi Ryu in particular.

My previous experience was in an all female class with a female instructor and there seemed to be a calmness and serenity about the group. This weekend just passed, I thoroughly enjoyed working through this seminar with a number of males of varying ages including teenagers who gave the group a different energy and vibe whilst maintaining the calmness and focus.

When organising this seminar, I had no set expectations, but rather wanted to immerse myself and others in the experience.  We left it up to Jason to decide what he wanted to share with our group of novices and he delivered over and above expectations.  I found Jason to be very open, caring and passionate about his craft. He is eager to share and is a kind and patient instructor.

Jason allowed us to experience a number of building blocks of Tai Chi including the importance of warming up the body; the importance of stretching prior to exercise as well as stretching to increase flexibility.  We experienced and practiced Abdominal Breathing Exercises; Qi Gong Meditation; Sixth Sense Awakening; Tai Chi Applications in self defence as well as learning of the links between Tai Chi and Kung Fu.  The younger males in the group asked if Jason could perform a Kung Fu Kata for them and he did not disappoint.  He was lightening fast in his moves; powerful in the execution of strikes and kicks; athletic in his performance of jumps and rolls and extremely flexible in his deep stances…..Wow!!!

Woven throughout the weekend was the teaching of the 13th Form (Kata).  On the last day, we asked Sifu Jason to perform this Form so that we all had an idea of what it should look like when done by a person of his experience.  Jason was mesmerizing.  He moved through the eight directions of the form with poise and grace and we were all left wanting more.  It is now up to us to practice this Form to the best of our ability to ensure that upon Jason’s return, we might look even a fraction as elegant and graceful as he did.

It is testament to Jason’s interpersonal and teaching skills, that when parents began to arrive to pick up their teens, none of us had any idea that time had passed so quickly, leaving us with a thirst for more.  Jason is keen to return to Gladstone to continue where he left off and we are arranging another weekend mid year, which we are all eagerly anticipating.

On a personal note, I enjoyed the weekend immensely.  Jason was welcomed into our home and our circle of close friends and it was great to get to know him and share stories and experiences about martial arts and life in general. - Sempai Kate Reilly

Such kind words. I look forward to returning in August!

Well the trip to Gladstone went well. It started badly though with Qantas making several stuff ups with my boarding and check in procedure resulting in missing a flight and missing the start of the seminar I was teaching! Good flight - short comfortable trip. Refreshments provided were a single cookie and a half cup of water so I felt very priveleged!

Zen Chi Ryu were great hosts and provided about 16 participants for the Tai Ji workshop. Whole new world for many of them but they embraced it all with an open mind. I look forward to returning in August. The impending cyclone had everyone on high alert and steps were taken to prepare for a posssible hit. Everything outside put well away, food, radios, torches and batteries stocked up on. I was flying out just ahead of it so I was only expecting a fast flight back to Brisbane! Had another alert over the Sat night. Police knocking on our front door at 3am saying prepare to evacuate - there was a house fire a couple of properties away and there were concerns about gas bottles etc. In the end we were fine to stay but when I checked the place out the next day, there was nothing but a shell left. Maybe they’ll rethink inviting me up there again?

Cyclone resulted in wet weather here in Brisbane and as a result I’ve had a few days off work. Caught up on several tasks and even had an induction for this next project I’m applying for. The Airport Link/Northern Busway is 2-4 years potential work which would be great to be included on going into this financial/employment crisis.

If I have tomorrow off I’ll try to catch up with a few people and continue with my committee tasks!

To finish have a think about this quote from Michael Jordan. He puts into personal context the saying if at first you don’t succeed, try try, again.

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”
- Michael Jordan

Failing helps you succeed, as long as you continue to try. And it helps if you learn something from the failure as well. So don’t be afraid to fail. failing is only ‘bad’ if you you don’t try in the first place, or if you give up!

Well, I suspect my job is coming to an end (again!). The last few days have been spent cleaning and tidying up and I’ve been sent home early every day this week.  So I’ve had to put a couple of plans into action.

A. Be seen to be constantly working and not bludging (like many around me). Hopefully they’ll be let off before I am.

B. Be proactive about other projects. I have signed up for an induction on the Airport Link Tunnel which starts later this month. Unfortunately, I’m competing against a lot of guys and I don’t have the expoerience or know someone to get me in.

C. My boss finished up this week and is going to a project at West End/Stones Corner. If I can hang on for a month or two, maybe he can get me in on that job. He’s already mentioned a caretaker position which would suit me to the ground. Especialy if it’s night shift!

But if all fails, I can get by for a while so I shan’t stress.

I’m off to Gladstone this weekend to teach TaiJi at a Freestyle karate School. Flying up Sat morning, teach sat afternoon, sun morning and fly back sun night. Should be fun. Then in May I have a big trip to Perth planned. A few people to catch up and plenty of time to check the place out.

I’m working on a few duets with my mate Webb at the moment. We’ve been invited to sing at a mutual friend’s recital in a few weeks. Vincent (Dom Maclean), Forever Autumn (from “War of the Worlds”), and Senza Una Donna (Paul Young and Zucchero). Then I’m looking forward to starting fresh with some new solo material. Any suggestions?

Two students competed last week and did very well Karen and Marc both represented the school and were skilled enough to bring home awards. Makes me happy! Trophies number 387, 388, 389! Who will get 400!

My $360 - $550 repairs to my radiator ended up costing $1300+!!!! Not happy but at least the van’s not overheating now!

I’m gone for a couple of days, so Sun /Mon I’l tell you about the exciting township of Gladstone! 

So - if anyone out there is interested, let me know what you’d like me to write about? Do you want humour, inspiration, sage advice, or ramblings? What have you liked in my entries so far will give me an idea and help to prompt me as well!