Running to stand still....

Entering week four of the Dolce diet and feeling really good. I cannot remember the last time I made a program work this long. Truthfully I have only made the eating side of the system work. The results have been terrific. The food part has always been the most difficult part. I really feel I (we, my household, Alanna and Oliver) have turned a corner on a healthier life style. No secrets here just a raw organic smart food choice system. I have never lost weight before without some supplementation. No shakes no magic pills, no nothing. Just straight smart food choices. The program tells you not to count calories but to have your calories count. Pretty smart analogy.

So almost four weeks in I am down thirteen pounds Alanna down the same. I have lots of energy and motivation. Once the exercise component is added the results I am sure will multiply. I am just very excited to be moving in the right direction.

B

I was challenged a couple months ago to create a tutorial with helpful tips for easily researching and finding answers to theory questions from our core curriculum.

While Kwoon Talk can be a fantastic source for information (as I will demonstrate shortly), there are many different ways to find the answers you are looking for.

We’ve noticed a handful of questions asked repeatedly on Kwoon Talk.

We constantly have students moving up to a new belt, and when this happens the same questions seem to appear, possibly without any attempt at seeking out the information in an alternate way.

I hope to convey this information in a universal way!


Step 1: Write down what you know about the subject RIGHT NOW


You may be surprised by what you already know on the specific subject. Gathering that information makes for a great place to start your search as well.

Step 2: Kwoon Talk


This is my sad attempt at doing a video tutorial. The kids make it look so easy with their video game step-by-steps on YouTube. I'd like to take another shot at it in the future as this was definitely a learning process for myself.

Kwoon Talk is exclusive to SRKF participants, therefore it is a very powerful tool and you are encouraged to use it to its full benefit.




Step 3: Online research (ie. Google, Wikipedia, etc.)






Step 4: Blog Search.
Many Silent River students and teachers maintain blogs (linked from the Silent River website http://www.silentriverkungfu.com under the "About Us" tab) about their journeys in Kung Fu. Performing a search within these blogs can be a handy tool in finding the information you are looking for.

An example of this was reading Sifu Prince's blog and learning about neti potting. I was then able to go back to the blog from 2009 and find this information again by using the search function.

I simply typed in "neti potting"...

...and the blog in which he talked about it came up with "neti potting" highlighted in red.
These blogs can go back many years, and contain a plethora of useful information on many different topics.


Step 5: Seek out mentor or instructor with a reconstructed question after you have developed a basic understanding


In my experience, I have found this to be a very beneficial step, but before this you need to do your due diligence. A basic understanding and interpretation of the question is your first priority, as outlined above.


I would like for this to be a working classroom (tutorial). Feel free to leave any suggestions or tips in the comments. I can edit and update this page anytime, especially if your video skills are more advanced than mine!

And a special thanks to my helper :)

B

Flexible structure has been my new focus. I need structure I thrive on structure to detriment. I really never realized that until this week. So I was given a new perspective, flexible structure. Sounds like a contradiction at first but then when you really think about it it becomes very apparent. I need to be flexible but always return to my structure as quickly as possible. I set out a schedule or a goal I make a plan.

Perfect example I started this journal on Sunday I was pulled in different directions but I need to flex and return to my structure. So first chance I return to finish.

My first two weeks on Mike Dolce have been great. I am feeling better and seeing results. I really haven’t even kicked it up yet. Getting use to the food part was the first step. It was a big change within our home but bridge has been crossed.

B

This about sums it up. At times I am running through the maze other times I am lost. Right now I am both. My journaling has been one of the biggest disappointments over the past year. I felt journaling had to be a total positive outlet and I was wrong. Journaling should be an everything outlet. It seems when I was journaling regularly I was content with where I was. I have meandered the last year in mediocrity and wonder why I am stuck where I am stuck. Its not that I blame anybody but myself but it is pretty tough not to have an excuse for failure. I have blamed my schedule without adapting. I have blamed others for not motivating me when motivation comes from within. When it really comes down to it I probably was just looking for a way out. I don’t have a way out, I don’t want a way out.

I will get back to goal setting but for now I only want to journal success and failures. Yes that is correct failure. Most of us want to hide failure but it truly means I am still trying. So what I have done not what I am going to do. For now... I understand that this is not the way to mastery but I need to take steps towards that and I am not there right now. This weekend I worked 37 hours in 3 days. That’s a bit more then normal but weekends are always when I work the bulk of my hours. Normally I would make time for very little else. Instead I wrote a long over due email to a teacher. I committed to a project and completed my 100 push ups for the day. Today I am journaling. I failed to do my sit-ups commitment. I failed to start a challenge from my core curriculum teacher. My biggest success was a week ago I started Mike Dolce Living lean. I have lost 5 lbs in the first week and feel great. Good enough that it has motivated me to change. I have a diet partner and together we have made the changes necessary for success. Thank you Alanna. I will continue to post positive and negative progress of the plan.

B

What an incredibly inspiring night.Chinese new years was an awesome night. Was so proud of three class mates that I have watch for three years receive their black belts last night. What an amazing journey they have shared.
Thank you Sifu's
B

I am so almost there again. It really is all mind set. It has been a rough year. I am not sad to see the tiger leave. The rabbit has been filled with many more wins then loses. The truth is I stopped blogging when I stopped having positive thoughts to write down. Many would say that is the time when you really need to be honest but I was still dealing with things and couldn’t bring myself to do it. Quitting training never crossed my mind one time this year. There were and are times I am doing bare minimum but that is changing. I never stopped going forward.

In class and through the school the word mindful has been used a lot. I think I understand the meaning but tonight I trained mindless for lack of a better word. I set up my new training space and touched every piece of equipment. Mainly I used my new pride and joy BOB! BOB is a bit creepy when you first walk into the basement decked out in his black hoodie, but seems to be a new awesome training partner. So tonight BOB and I spared for a good while with no plan in place and it felt great. I am sure he will sleep well tonight.

Brady

Good day! Good class this morning. Ate really well today need to add more water and when I think I have had enough drink some more.Heading into another busy weekend where I usually lose it. Just need to focus and work the plan.Using my classes commitment to compete in the tiger challenge is another motivation for me. Many many many kempo reps to preform. Well time to eat some sushi and write out tomorrow's plan.
B