Sometimes I ask myself, why am I in martial arts? Take today for example. I forgot my FeiYue shoes and ended up getting a bruised foot from a round house kick because someone dropped their elbows to protect their ribs. A good kick, to a good open spot and a good block.

Are the bruises worth it? Are these injuries, the price of learning, fair value for the ultimate goal? What IS the ultimate goal?

Today, having not sparred for ages, I just stood in there, telling myself, "It's ok to get hit. It is all part of the learning process." I might as well have been reciting the Bene Jesuit creed "Fear is the mindkiller. I will let it pass over me. When it passes, only I will remain." That is why I am in kung fu. There is no ultimate goal. It is just in my blood, no matter how much of it is spilled.

Things to work on:

• 45 degrees
• Minding my gates
• Outside opponent's stances
• Do not stick attack for show
• Strong legs

Sound cryptic? Well, I can't let my future opponents get the upper hand can I? Yet, if you think about it philosophically and apply it practically, it might just assist your own learning. :)

I am slowly but surely getting back into my training. It is annoying when I know what must be done when working a technique and the body does not respond to the mind's commands. It is also daunting when looking ahead at the work that must be done to get my skill level up to what it used to be, and then to surpass it. Yet it must be done because it is in my blood.