Renovations

We have been in the mist of renovating our house and getting ready it ready so we can list it.  Again I find myself wondering why am I doing all the changes NOW that I should have done over the last 13 years.  There are two types of renovations,  those to make it look better, and those that dive deeper and fix the foundational layer.

The funny thing is I was it made me think how renovations relates to KungFu and my journey.  There are changes that I can do to make something look better  immediately.  Similar to putting on a fresh coat of paint in your house.  I think of these as lowering a certain stance in a form, putting in a cool move for my weapons form, or making sure that there is intent when I am kicking and punching.

Then there are the renovations that take more work, that fix the foundation.  No different than when you tear up the tile floor and find out you need to repair the subfloor.  You could just tile over it and pretend you didn't see it or you fix it and no one will know that you put in this work but it builds a better foundation over the long run.  This is what I am working on in KungFu.  Saturday I practiced and practiced and practiced Kempo.  I have always tried to get that snap (you know the one I mean) by using rotation and force.  While using force, I have lost out on so many other things.  Flow, stances, center of balance, etc.  So Saturday was back to basics while I lowered all my stances (which then helps my balance - who knew LOL), and worked on the two handed rotations trying to build on flow.  I will work on the foundations and then I can work on the fine tuning to making it look even better.

There is another comparison to home renovations that I can relate to as well.  Some people are just really good at doing them and can do something perfect the first time.  They can lay a floor in a few days or they can install a new deck over a weekend and it looks great.  I am envious of these people because they make it look so easy.  Yes they work hard, but it never looks like its an effort.  This is again the same as KungFu.  In both KungFu and home renovations, I am NOT that type of person.  I have to fight every step of the way.  I will need to do it once, realize its not good enough and try it again.  I analyze every step.  Both of these journeys though will be mine.  I may not have the awesome forms of Sihing Meier, or the grace and flow of Ms Tomie, or the tenacity of Ms. Bjorkquist, or the natural aptitude of Ms Burke, or the sheer guts of my daughter Ms Kohut (I have picked on the females of my class but I could have easily put many different names in each of these categories) but it doesn't mean I can't get there eventually.  I just means that I need to keep trying and working hard on it.

We are not all the same, but like renovations, we are unique, mixed with a little blood, sweat and tears.  And don't wait for a reason to make your changes, do them today!

See you on the mats!