WOD
For Time:
1000 Meter Row,
1 Mile Run,
1000 Meter Row,
1 Mile Run.
Tuesday Night Musings with Coach Julia.
SHIBUMI.
Tonight, I’m going to talk about my high school years for a moment and my sports background from that time period.
I played basketball all 5 years (high schools in B.C. are typically from Gr. 8 – 12), as well as 1 season of volleyball, 2 seasons of x-country running, and 1 season of tackle football. I played spring and summer basketball, and I went to tryouts and made provincial teams, where I got to go the BC Summer Games, as well as the Canada Games for U 19 (that was on the coaching staff though in full disclosure). I had an amazing high school experience because of sports.
I must note however, that one of the reasons I grew and succeeded as a basketball player was because I do feel I got a bit lucky since I got to be coached by (in my opinion), the best women’s coach in the country, Bruce Langford, (who is now the head coach at Simon Fraser University) and I happened to be in the same year as some of the most talented players and athletes in the country (for example my point guard, Teresa Kleindienst was the Canadian National Women’s Basketball Team’s Point Guard for many years and went to the Olympics and one of our opponents and teammates in the summer, Karina LeBlanc, was the Canadian National Women’s Soccer Team’s Goalie as well and also went to the Olympics). I just was surrounded by the best of the best and it constantly pushed me to try and keep up with them…. but it was also because our coach, Langford, just had a tremendous belief in us, and I felt that he had an absolute belief in me, (when I did not have that belief in myself, or was struggling in high school). And I am absolutely certain it was his support through those years, that was one of the critical reasons why I excelled where others certainly didn’t expect me to – because he was positive and he encouraged me to try. (I will also note it didn’t hurt that my parents had instilled in us the importance of working hard either).
Moreover, Langford instilled some key principles that I want to share with each of you. If we said the word “can’t” we ran sets of lines, but more he taught us about the concept of “Shibumi”. Now, I encourage you to read the actual book by Trevanian titled “Shibumi” for an in-depth explanation of it because it is a Japanese concept and the book is an entertaining story.
Yet, in high school, Langford instilled “Shibumi” as a mantra in his players and while it changed a bit through the years, in essence, it stood for: SHIBUMI – Success, Hustle, Integrity, Best you can be (or Building character or Building Community), Unity, Motivation, and Intensity.
This concept and the underlying character traits have stood with me through the years in everything I do. And I find I fall back on them when I am in personally difficult times and/or facing challenges, such as this last month or two, where I remember Langford telling me I could do it and believing in my capabilities. (And, on a side note but for the record we are not closing Helo – we are relocating it – either through buying a place or renting a spot if need be – just so there is no confusion!)
In these times, I find comfort in Shibumi and I encourage each of you to do the same, whether it is getting through a difficult wod, a job situation, or even a family matter, remember to keep your drive while acting with integrity, go that extra step, help someone for no reason, and just give it your best and that is absolutely something you will be proud of later when you look back on it – that you gave it your best effort at the time and then, let your heart rest easy knowing that the rest will work out.
So with that, I’ll also leave you with a little poem that we had on our sweatshirts, and I hope you find it as motivational as I always have:
“The contest lasts for moments,
though the training has taken years.
It wasn’t the winning alone that was
worth the work and the tears.
The applause will be forgotten,
the prize will be misplaced,
but the long hard hours of practice
will never be a waste.
In trying to win you build a skill,
you learn that winning depends on will.
You never grow by how much you win,
you only grow by how much you put in.
So any new challenge you have just begun,
put forth your best and you have already won.”
– W. A. Clennan
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Coach Julia