Saturday was my first Dragon demo in over five years. I was definitely nervous being back — after such a long break, I wasn’t sure how it would go. But I was surprised at how calm I felt once the demo started.
It’s funny how much you remember — and yet how much you forget. There was so much to take in again: positioning, spacing, cues from the head, increased cardio demands, and more.
Even with all that, I was really happy I got the chance to assist and felt good doing it — especially with only two practices under my belt.
Another aha moment came during my weapon form. I missed the catch when transitioning my nunchucks to the other hand. Instead of stumbling to recover, I should have just flipped them down and reset for the catch.
In training, I’d been avoiding this adjustment so I could focus on doing the technique “correctly.” But now that part is solid — and I need to remind myself it’s okay to improvise during a demo when things don’t go exactly as planned.
If you’re coming back to something after time away — whether it’s martial arts or any other skill — don’t expect perfection. Focus on presence, not perfect performance. And when things go off-script, adapt and keep moving. That’s often when real progress happens.
Did you find there was some muscle memory that kicked in for the dragon?
ReplyDeleteI’ve been enjoying doing some of the other positions. Let’s me know how the other pieces are being affected down the line.
It may be hard for you to see the little bits of progress you’re making, but it’s obvious to the rest of us. You remain an inspiration in your constant pursuit.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Sifu, and you did Amazing with both performances! So happy to be alongside you again in the dragon!
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