1000 PUSH UPS

Lost in Translation:

How Miscommunication Led to a Remarkable Feat

Embracing a New Week of Possibilities

Happy Monday! Thank goodness it's Monday! A new week filled with possibilities. As I embark on my morning routine, I seize the opportunity to express gratitude for the experiences I had on Sunday Funday. Whether you're a newcomer to the Temple Training Club or a long-standing member, you know that I firmly believe in the power of teamwork in achieving our dreams.

T's Inspiring Challenge

Lately, I've been emphasizing the importance of utilizing the Temple Training App to foster growth within our community, ultimately benefiting each and every one of us at Temple. With that in mind, I want to share an exciting challenge that my son, T, who is currently residing in China, came up with over the weekend. He posted it on the forum, providing a brief description and even attempted to accompany it with a video explaining the rules. Unfortunately, the video didn't successfully upload.

Determination Ignites a Flame

When I saw his post, I was incredibly inspired by his determination. It moved me that he reached out to me for assistance in getting the video up. It reminded me of the significance of having a goal and how even a simple challenge can bring our friends, family, and Temple community together, fostering focus and a shared desire for success. Witnessing his determination to overcome the obstacle and share his challenge with others brought an immense smile to my face.

Filling the Gaps

Though T faced challenges with the video, it reminded me that in life, there are often gaps to fill, assumptions to make, and the responsibility to understand a situation falls upon us. So, naturally, I took it upon myself to comprehend the essence of the challenge. Here's what I gathered:

Pushing Beyond Limits

Initially, I misunderstood the challenge, reading it as doing 10 push-ups every 2 minutes and continuously pushing through each level. But now, with the video, I have a better understanding. Before seeing the video, I commented on T‘s post, mentioning that I was planning to give it a shot, aiming for around 600 push-ups. However, I had a change of heart and thought to myself, why not use this opportunity to push my limits and do something I've never done before? Perhaps fear or doubt held me back in the past, but this time, I wanted to surpass those limitations. So, I set a goal of 100 sets, reaching level 100, which equates to 1000 push-ups.

Unleashing the Challenge

And you know what? I believe in doing what I say and saying what I do. So, on Sunday morning, during my one-to-one sessions with Tafari, Hector, Dino, Lan, and Hong, I incorporated the challenge. Every two minutes, regardless of the activity we were engaged in, whether it was forms or stretching, we dropped down and did 10 push-ups. Tafari, who had just received his new Temple uniform, even whilst getting dressed. As soon as that buzzer sounded, we hit those push-ups. There was not a moment to waste. I must say, all my students who participated in their lessons absolutely smashed it, accumulating hundreds of reps. Dino had a tough time but pushed through, Tafari showed incredible energy, and Hector didn't complain once, despite the evident struggle in his eyes. Hong and Lan, although you weren't directly working with me, I know you gave it your all. I believe Lan reached 600 push-ups, and Hong, I'm not sure when you stopped, but I admire your efforts.

Triumph and Miscommunication

As for me, I completed the challenge, and I have a video to share of my last and final set toward the end of the afternoon. You know what? I want to thank you, son. I can proudly say that I've achieved "the thousand push-ups in one day challenge," and it wasn't even as difficult as expected. In fact, it has only fueled my motivation for the next challenge ahead. Let's go, champ!

Clearing Up the Misunderstanding

After completing the challenge around 3pm, T reached out to me via video call to bid me goodnight and check in before starting his new week, and finally, we managed to successfully upload the video. T deleted his original post, re-uploaded it along with the video, and cleared all the previous comments, including mine. When I explained to T that I had already completed the challenge, he burst into laughter and exclaimed, "Oh my god, that was not the challenge at all!" It turns out the actual challenge was to perform 10 different variations of push-ups, as set by T.

Embracing New Challenges

Now, watching the video, I'm exhilarated by this new stimulating challenge. I plan to incorporate it into today's sessions with the in-person Temple students I'll be meeting later in the evening. This serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of communication. Sometimes, we assume that others will naturally understand our perspective, but in reality, standing from a different viewpoint can alter everything. Effective communication and the development of communication skills are essential for building strong relationships and achieving success in life.

Finding the Positive

T found it hilarious that I misinterpreted the challenge and put myself through the rigorous task of completing 1000 push-ups. Surprisingly, this turned out to be beneficial, highlighting another crucial message: learning to find the positive in every situation. Upon completing my 1000 push-ups, I feel a sense of elation, and I believe I've sparked motivation in other students to give it a try. When I first met Lan, she couldn't even do a single push-up, so to hit 600 just a couple years later—wow! That's strong mind, strong body. And for T, the ingenious creator of the original challenge, I have no doubt that he has been both inspired and motivated to give it a shot himself. I know he is fueled by the burning desire to surpass his father, and it reminds me of an enthralling episode from Dragon Ball. While I may currently hold the record for completing a thousand push-ups, I am 34 years old. However, I am confident that by the time T returns to the UK at the remarkably young age of 14, he will conquer the challenge and achieve the thousand push-ups. This accomplishment will not only be a personal triumph for him but also a source of immense pride for me as his father. Words cannot adequately express the immense pride I feel in being the father of T, who truly embodies the title of the Young Warrior. To anyone else out there interested in trying it out, I encourage you to give it a shot. Set a timer for 100 sets of two minutes or adjust it to three or even five minutes to make it more manageable. Whenever the timer goes off, regardless of what you're doing, stop, drop, and give me 10 push-ups.

More Challenges to Come

In the upcoming weeks, we'll be introducing more home challenges and featuring them in the program section of the Temple Training app, ensuring accessibility for everyone. This way, you'll never miss