by Sifu Nick Francis
If you have been following along with us here in class or perhaps you're joining us here by blog, you're well aware that I just got home from a training trip to Hong Kong. Although this has not been my first time to Hong Kong, it has certainly been filled with many firsts.
It was my first time...
• Visting Si-Bak's school (Sifu's older Wing Chun brother). • Meeting and connecting face to face with some of my extended Wing Chun family. • Bringing along some students from the LWCA. • Visiting some new places and new sites that I did not get to visit previously like Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Park and Kung Fu Corner.
Strangely, one of my favorite places to visit this time in Hong Kong, has not been a first for me at all. Like on my last visit,
I truly enjoyed visiting the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery.
Now, although this does not reflect a spiritual pilgrimage for me, I do find it deeply meaningful. If I were to summarize the experience, I would explain it like this:
Imagine: • 10,000 steps • 10,000 gold painted Buddha statues (one each step) • Each different. Each unique. • The monastery at the very top.
Strangely, on this trip, it was not nearly as taxing to climb all the stairs as I previously remembered. In my mind, I somehow constructed the idea that it was an endless uphill climb of steps, one leading only to another with the destination never in sight.
But, truthfully it wasn't like this at all. And honestly, I am quite sure now... it isn't even 10,000 steps. I just remembered it this way.
Why did I recall it this way? Well, if you would like to know...
It was all just my own perception.
Partly, the reason is, if you are like me, I yearn so badly to always get to where I am going. I am always in a rush to hit that goal, finish the race, conquer that new challenge.
I am the type of person that struggles to enjoy the process and take in all that the journey has to offer. I am guilty, so often, of quickly want to get to the end. The problem here of course, is that to rush on ahead means that so much has be missed.
So much beauty overlooked. So many lessons lost. So many memories never made.
The reason I want to share this with you is because our Wing Chun journey cannot be this way.
Nor should it!
To me, learning Wing Chun is like an invitation to make the climb at the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery. It's an invitation to take our time, to enjoy the journey. If we can, if we do, there are 10,000 lessons awaiting us on our first trip alone. And this is just going up...
What about the journey back down?
Although we were passing the same steps, again there were another 10,000 details to see, explore, enjoy.
And what about coming again a year later?
The learning is still there for us. The experience precisely what we choose to make of it!
We can never view our training in Wing Chun like we have been there before.
Thinking, "We have done this"!
It is so easy to think,
Ugh! Dan Chi Sau again? Oh my, Lap Sau Drill! Really? -or- Pak Sau, I know this already!!!
No! We must resist this mentality. We need a new perspective.
With each lesson, there comes an opportunity to focus on the moment we are in. Concentrating and exploring each little movement and technique as it is the first time. In doing so, we take our learning to a new level, with new insights, new excitement, and ultimately, new outcomes.
So this week I hope you will join me on the trek...
One Step at a time! |
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