It's Not About the Belt

The more I read the more I come to appreciate what kung fu has done for me. Anyone who has done anything amazing, miraculous, or worthwhile has travelled the very same journey that we have travelled along to achieve the black belt. Lance Armstrong, Mike Magnuson (author of Heft on Wheels,who turned his life around from couch potato to amazingly healthy, fit, and a better person, and wrote about it), Lebron James, and his 5'3" team-mate, Little Dru, and his dad, Coach Dru, of basketball: I've just finished reading books written by all of them. In all of their journey's, they've had to have the focus, discipline, the intensity, willingness to overcome obstacles, belief in themselves, and trust in their mentors, striving for mastery, battles with our own egos and demons, the humility, and so much more that was required of us in our journey's to black belt. In reading about such inspirational people, I can recognize and identify with many parts of their journey. In achieving a black belt, I recieved a gift of such great value, it overshadows, what was achieved in the small arena of kung fu.

Sihing Bachand's daughter told me that she plans to rejoin kung fu soon. This young girl will graduate from high school this year, as will my own daughter. I can't think of anything more worthwhile for her to do, than continue on her kung fu journey. It's a road map to personal success. No matter what she chooses to do. You just don't get this type of learning at school, or by reading books, or being told. You have to experience it. And then apply it to everything else you choose to do. Why do so many successful athletes go on to further success in life? Willie de Wit; a successful lawyer in Calgary. Nancy Green; spokesperson, inspiration, ambassador to generations of people. Muhammad Ali, whose book on his spiritual life journey I am reading just now. Rick Hansen. Sifu Becket in China, Sifu Edge in Vancouver. There were lessons that they learned and they recognized that those lessons they learned in sport, adversity, and personal growth, must be applied as they continued on in life. Muhammad Ali said, in his book "The Soul of a Butterfly"

"Everyone has his or her own lessons to learn and obstacles to overcome. The experiences should not be weighed against eachother because they are all equally important in the end. Each time I thought I had achieved my life's purpose, I discovered it was only another step in my journey. I thought boxing would help me be that public Black role model who was missing while I was growing up. I thought my purpose was to be that hero who shoed children that Black is beautiful. I thought my purpose was to be that champion who showed White people they couldn't treat Blacks like second class citizens. I learned that all of these accomplishments were important, but even more important, I gained a platform that allowed me to carry out my real mission, which has been to encourage all people to respect eachother and live in peace. I am still discovering God's purpose for me."