Looking Back on 2015
This time of year is often a time for many people to reflect upon the previous 12 months and look towards the year ahead and for me it is now something of a tradition to share these reflections and goals with you…
2015 has definitely been one of the most challenging years for Cambridge Kung Fu since we began. As is often the case this has not been for one particular reason but rather a whole host of challenges that have emerged to block our path. As I write this, at the end of the year and looking back with perspective, I also feel that it has been a great year for us as we have been able to genuinely embody what we teach in our classes on a business level in order to solve these challenges.
One of the things that so many people never get a true feeling for in their Kung Fu practise is; that it never ever gets easier. As we get better the challenges adjust themselves accordingly, it is not to say that there are not periods where we feel that everything makes sense and everything flows, those of course are the great times, the moments to cherish on the journey but eventually we will come across the next challenge to our development and we will once again have to decide whether we can deal with the discomfort long enough to find our unique solution. Do we understand the principles well enough to apply them in this new/more pressurised situation or do we find ourselves locked up/stressed out/unable to stick with the problem long enough to find our way through/over/around… This is the great challenge that Kung Fu was designed to help us navigate.
At Cambridge Kung Fu we believe that at its very core Kung Fu is nothing more than the practise of the skills needed to navigate our journey in the most useful/helpful way. The crucible of physical combat is simply the vehicle utilised to practise the skills needed to most artfully enjoy our lives as it provides arguably the most visceral challenge in which we can choose to test how well we have integrated our skills. To paraphrase the late, great Miyamoto Musashi, author of classic text The Book of Five Rings,”The secret is to practise the skills in such a way that they are useful in all things and at anytime”.
We believe these skills are; Awareness, Focus, Resilience and Integration. It is the integration of awareness, focus and resilience into every activity that we are seeking. These are the skills that create mindfulness, the skills that allow us to be strong, confident, agile and considerate people. This is what Kung Fu practitioners are aiming for whether they are conscious of it or not because this is what Kung Fu practise at its heart hopes to cultivate. The secret is to connect our strengths to all aspects of our lives, not keep them isolated or locked away, whilst simultaneously compassionately hunting our weaknesses as we are only ever truly as strong as our weakest link. Training like this takes hard work as it involves truly connecting to what we are excellent at without embarrassment as this builds the courage needed to face and overcome our weaknesses.
For 2016 I wish you success in the cultivation of these skills, for within them lies the secret to responding to any external situation with grace. The practise can be found in anything, that’s why Tea Ceremonies were created; to elevate even the most basic of activities to an art through the elevation of the skills of life. This is our goal at Cambridge Kung Fu; in every class we teach, for ourselves, and in the way we run our company. We have overcome our challenges this year and look forward to reaping the rewards of this hard work in 2016. This will inevitably lead to new challenges to face, which we hope we can find the solutions to through the integration of our Kung Fu practise of Awareness, Focus and Resilience into all the aspects of our lives.
Wishing all members of the Cambridge Kung Fu family an incredible 2016, see you in the New Year!
Sifu Ross