North Lake Tahoe – SIFUZ.COM

Here is a good video and a great article on mastering social media – Wing Chun style. No more Backwards Monkey style. Fun, time saving, super efficient WC Tech rocks yer party pole.

Social media has become a ubiquitous part of modern life, providing a platform for individuals to connect with others, share information, and build communities. While there are many benefits to social media, it can also have negative consequences if not used in a responsible manner. One of the most pressing concerns surrounding social media is the pressure to constantly compete for likes, followers, and attention.

To combat the negative effects of social media, we can implement several strategies, one of which is reciprocality. By engaging with others on social media in a way that is mutually beneficial, we can foster a sense of community and support. When we follow someone who creates content that we enjoy, we should also support them by liking, commenting, and sharing their posts. This helps to create a more collaborative and positive environment where everyone benefits from each other’s engagement.

Another approach is to be a non-monetized creator, creating content purely out of passion and interest, rather than for the sake of making money. By doing so, we can reduce the pressure to constantly create content that is designed to get more likes and followers. Instead, we can focus on creating honest, meaningful content that contributes positively to the online community. This can help to combat the negative effects of social media, such as fake news and misinformation.

However, it’s also important to be aware of the dangers of a “cult of personality” and celebrity worship. When we blindly follow a particular person or group, we may become blind to their flaws and mistakes. This can be harmful, as it can lead us to accept ideas and policies that are not in our best interests. To avoid falling into a cult of personality, it’s important to be critical of the people we follow on social media. We should ask ourselves why we’re following them and what values they represent. We should also be aware of the negative effects of celebrity worship, which can harm our mental health and self-esteem.

In conclusion, social media can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on how we use it. By implementing strategies such as reciprocality, being a non-monetized creator, and being critical of the people we follow, we can turn the potential crisis of social media into an opportunity to advance as a society. When we engage with others in a positive, collaborative manner, and create meaningful content, we can build a healthier and more supportive online community… and a better World.

February 28, 2023

Tahoe Snow 2/28/2023

The snow here in Tahoe is nothing short of impressive. I’m going on day two of being snowed in from work due to avalanche dangers.

The snow has almost consumed the little cottage I live in. I have to shovel just to get out the door. Good healthy exercise – non stop yo!

I can only imagine what all this snow melt is going to mean for the lower elevations. Lake Tahoe seems as if it is about to overflow.

February 23, 2023

Basic 20 Min. Exercise Routine 4 Days/wk

Sifu Z’s Basic 4-day a week, 20-minute workout plan that includes a warm-up and cool-down routine:

Day 1 – Upper body workout:

Warm-up:

• Arm circles (1 minute)

• Shoulder taps (1 minute)

• Jumping jacks (1 minute)

Workout:

1. Pull-ups or inverted rows (3 sets of 10 reps)

2. Plank (3 sets of 30 seconds)

3. Dips (3 sets of 10 reps)

4. Chin-ups or Australian pull-ups (3 sets of 10 reps)

Cool-down:

• Triceps stretch (1 minute)

• Shoulder stretch (1 minute)

• Chest stretch (1 minute)

Day 2 – Lower body workout:

Warm-up:

• Leg swings (1 minute)

• High knees (1 minute)

• Squat jumps (1 minute)

Workout:

1. Squats (3 sets of 10 reps)

2. Lunges (3 sets of 10 reps)

3. Glute bridges (3 sets of 10 reps)

4. Calf raises (3 sets of 10 reps)

Cool-down:

• Quad stretch (1 minute)

• Hamstring stretch (1 minute)

• Calf stretch (1 minute)

Day 3 – Cardiovascular workout:

Warm-up:

• Jumping jacks (1 minute)

• High knees (1 minute)

• Butt kicks (1 minute)

Workout:

1. Jumping jacks (20 minutes)

2. Burpees (20 minutes)

3. Mountain climbers (20 minutes)

Cool-down:

• Hamstring stretch (1 minute)

• Quad stretch (1 minute)

• Calf stretch (1 minute)

Day 4 – Full body workout:

Warm-up:

• Jog in place (1 minute)

• Leg swings (1 minute)

• Arm circles (1 minute)

Workout:

1. Plank (3 sets of 30 seconds)

2. Push-ups (3 sets of 10 reps)

3. Squat jumps (3 sets of 10 reps)

4. Leg raises (3 sets of 10 reps)

Cool-down:

• Butterfly stretch (1 minute)

• Glute stretch (1 minute)

• Full body stretch (1 minute)

The way you approach this routine is important. Your Wing Chun Form training alone is far more superior in developing overall balance. Yet we can use these simple exercises to gauge where our bodies are at in reference to a general level of fitness. For instance, knowing what exercises you feel weak on informs us of where we should be focusing in our Wing Chun postures. If your abs are weak you would focus more on your core when doing your Wing Chun forms.

As you establish gains in one area you can then start working the next weakness, say your arms hands or wrists. This Wing Chun approach to exercise also assures you don’t dogmatically repeat your fitness routine (or Life) without dynamic regard to what’s happening to your dynamic body. Mindless repetition eventually creates more injury than body strength. This mindless approach comes with diminished returns.

Remember to always listen to your body and adjust the intensity and difficulty of the exercises as needed. Incorporating a warm-up and cool-down routine can help prevent injuries and improve overall flexibility and mobility. On your off days you can perform your Wing Chun postures, which also take no more than 20 minutes to perform the entire traditional system. Again this is a basic routine that creates a solid foundation to build upon and refer back to when needed. In Wing Chun we always refer back to the basics. The roots must never be neglected. – Sifu Z

February 23, 2023

Chin Na is the Hidden Wing Chun

Here is a growing playlist of valuable chin na (grappling) concepts and important exercises to support the techniques. Wing Chun’s standing postures support the ground training and require a connecting of the dots that may not be immediately apparent due to gravity and body orientation.

February 5, 2023

The System Will Eat Itself

The system (all systems by definition) will eventually fail. The process will always find it’s way through. Sifu Z’s 12 Laws “Transition over transaction.”

system: a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network. “the state railroad system”

process: a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end. “military operations could jeopardize the peace process”

entropy: is simply a measure of disorder and affects all aspects of our daily lives. In fact, you can think of it as nature’s tax. Left unchecked disorder increases over time. Energy disperses, and systems dissolve into chaos. The more disordered something is, the more entropic we consider it.

Words have meaning and connecting the dots between terms allows the Wing Chun practitioner a clearer understanding of the process required for problem solving. -Sifu Z

January 16, 2023