Regrouping

I've taken a good look at the personal black belt requirements I wrote out back in November. There are 9 of them. Its interesting that I've made the most progress on the first 5 of my requirements. When I listed my requirements for handing in to Master Brinker I seem to have ordered them in the order of importance to me. The community project was listed first; daily hometraining in physical conditioning and forms were listed 2nd and third; healthy nutrition and weight was fourth; journalling was fifth. I'm a bit embarrassed that 'acts of kindness', sparring, public testing performance and daily meditation are at the bottom of the list and I have the most work to do on these requirements.

I think it will be a good exersize to summarize my progress with respect to only one requirement each week. So I will start at the top this week.

1. The Community Project: Help promote lifelong physical activity at Onoway High School.

I have already posted the details of the Community Project previously. In a nutshell, I plan to help promote lifelong physical activity at Onoway High School by facilitating some opportuntities for students to participate in some track and badminton. To date:

Becoming part of a community coalition that works to make the Onoway a vibrant and healthy one for years to come:
Nothing has progressed with respect to the formation of this interagency coalition, but I am preparing myself. I have learned through experience about how to start an athletic club, because I just started a volleyball club in Saint Albert for Under 15 girls. (In previous postings I mentioned how this club came about, and why it has contributed to much needed opportunities for girls who so desperately want to play volleyball.) This exercise has allowed me to become comfortable with the concept of doing something like this in Onoway. Along the way I also increased my knowledge and confidence in runnning physical conditioning warm ups for youth as well as providing them with education and mental challenges. I'm quite pleased about my personal progress, but am dubious about whether my efforts will end up benefiting Onoway youth in particular. We plan to move out of the community in the next 6 months to 3 years. We shall see what happens.

Increasing the duration of the practice season for badminton at Onoway High School.
Gym time is the issue here. Jill and I have talked with Mrs. F, who runs the badminton club in St. Albert about having a fun tournament one thursday night for the Onoway junior and senior high students. Its a go on her end, so my next step is to chat with the princial and coaches at onoway about a date and also secure a bus. Furthermore, there is room for a skills and drills night and the principal at onoway high school would like Jill to run that. I'll set it up. In that respect, I also recently chatted with the Badminton Alberta president about my project and he offered to look into providing a coaching seminar for badminton coaches in the school division and possibly have Onoway High School host it. All this stuff should occur in February and March.
3. Help to promote a longer school practice and conditoning season for the track and field team. I have approached Mr. Joines (the track and field coach at Onoway) and 'warned' him that I would like to help with track season. That's not until April and May.