Update From the Past

(Originally written about 4 weeks ago, I've had trouble accessing my blog and so this is a long overdue update)

There’s been quite a bit going on these past few weeks. Mike has been gone for a while now and training is back to normal.

We’ve had a number of candidates visit the Center for testing. Jachym from Switzerland, Enrico from Italy, Zach from California and we have more coming. Shifu is making his final selections to determine which of the candidates will become disciples this August. From what I understand, Shifu will accept 3 or 4 at the most and that’s it for the remaining 9 years of the 10 year program.

Jons magazine article in “Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine” is out now. Its about jumping and how it relates to martial arts. I took some of the photos used in his article so it was cool seeing them published in a magazine. Good job Jon on your article.

We had testing this past weekend on most of the physical training that we’ve done since the beginning of the school year this past September. What we tested:

-Taijiquan form, applications, and jing (power).

-2 methods of rooting and dantian training; 1 including a staff and the other using ones hand. The objective being to cause your opponent to lose root while maintaining your own.

-Cinderblock throwing: tossing a cinderblock filled with concrete up in the air and catching it with one or both hands. A great way to strengthen the hands including grip for practicing chin-na (joint locking).

-Speed Training-Basically moving your hands and arms in various patterns as fast as possible for a certain amount of time.

-Staff Training (using a traditional staff as well as a “speed staff” -For both speed and technique

-Tumbling-Cartwheels, roundoffs, headsprings, handsprings, aerials, rolls, dives, headstands,handstands

-Running up the mountain with 50lbs on our backs. All of us here agree, this is an absolute killer!

-Jumping: jumping for height, speed, and with added weight.

I think I did well in most areas although there are definitely things I need to improve in. The biggest area is jumping over a stick held at waist, chest, and shoulder height. Shifu holds the stick at a certain level and then we’re supposed to run towards it, jump and dive over it into a roll. All without touching the stick. This for me is difficult. I know I’m capable of doing it, but years ago when I took gymnastics I had a bad experience and now whenever its my turn to go, I psyche myself out thinking I might break my neck…and so I don’t do as well.

When the weather clears up well finish testing with rope climbing, pull ups and dips.

Now that the “body conditioning stage” has ended, we have moved into techniques. These include fundamental shoalin stances, punches, kicks and harder forms of conditioning and strength training. Now the fun truly begins!