Nearly a month ago I earned my 2nd degree black belt. After regaining my strength 3 days later, I enjoyed many activities I had put off in order to focus on my training. I played basketball, went hiking, wrestled, played racquetball, and did some climbing that first week. The 2nd week I jumped off a bunk bed and landed on someone's deodorant. It sliced and diced my foot right at the ball of my toe, about two inches long and one inch wide. I gave it four days to begin healing and then began…

A little over a week ago now I joined Sifu Bronson and Sue at the dojo to participate in my 2nd degree black belt test. It was a special day. We shared some good conversation about wild places before test and had a good peace for the test. It was a cold morning, 42 degrees, and thankfully the dojo was cool as well. I don't think I have sweated like that in my entire life.

The test itself was rewarding. I felt strong and good for the first two hours. Somehow Sifu Bronson was able to…

It has been another great training week, even with the challenges of food on the holidays and traveling to Montana for Christmas. There is a great gym here to train and I was able to get my three hour forms work out in the day before we left. Our 12 hour drive day was a rest day. My first day in Montana did a two hour workout going through each form four times medium speed in four different directions and then each form twice fast. I had a real nice stretch afterwards. The next day I did all…

I did it! 3 hours and 1 minute of forms. Ohhhhhhh I'm tired, but it felt good. I did each form facing four different directions. If I messed up, I did it again. Once I finished the sword in 4 different directions (5 really because I ended facing the wrong direction and did it again), I did each form at Tai Chi speed - low and slow. I got my wind back during this time, but my legs were burning. I continued and did each form as fast as I could, twice each. This left me 15 minutes left to hit…