Long time, no chi.

In spite of my best efforts to ignore it, and the wonderful enthusiasm of my fellow dorks, I have been feeling low chi for the past several classes. I don't know if it's work-related stress, lethargy from the heat, or being thrown from my regular training schedule, but I have had a hard time feeling motivated. Last night, finally, the chi returned. I admit I had a little coffee before class, which I'm sure sparked my initial energy, but the anticipated crash never came. Instead I felt awesome all the way to the end. It was a big group, several new/trial people, and everyone was constantly clapping and yelling more chi! etc. I had a great time and it helped me remember how much fun training is. I mean the physical act. I always have fun with the people there and after class I always feel a winner, but lately being in class itself had taken a lot of strength to make it through. Last night was still hard (i.e., erluquan feels so long and I'm like 1/3 through!!), but I was enjoying myself again.

Also, since my mom is visiting this weekend, I knew that the next time I train she will be watching, and that inspired me to train harder. I haven't seen her for over a year, which is a lot for me. We're really close, so I'm very excited to share with her this thing that has become such a big part of my life. I think I'm bringing her Sunday since that seems to be when more people will be there. I can't wait for her to meet all you crazy dorks!

Vote for Zhong!

Heng Zhong aka Rick Seedman, who teaches the kids' classes, is auditioning for cable channel G4's America Ninja Challenge as part of their Ninja Warrior program. Check out his super-impressive audition tape here:

If his tape gets selected by G4 as one of their ten favorite videos, it will appear on their website this Friday, August 3rd, whereupon the top 3 vote-getters will have an opportunity to compete to represent the US in Japan.

Support our Temple brother by checking out the site and voting for him here on FRIDAY, AUGUST 3RD. You'll have to register on the site first to participate.

CHI!!!

Update: From the Ninja Warrior message board -- "Users will be able to vote for the contestant who they would like to see compete on 'Ninja Warrior.' Users may vote beginning Friday, August 3, 2007 at 12:00 p.m. PT through Sunday, August 12, 2007 at 5:59:59 p.m. PT. Voting times subject to change in Sponsor's discretion."

SO THAT MEANS STARTING 3PM ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 3RD...

Update #2: Unfortunately, Zhong's video didn't get selected this time, but we are still proud of our Temple brother and his effort. He is amazing, and we are confident he will return even stronger next time. CHI!!!

Shaolin Kicks

By now, you are probably familiar with our trials and tribulations for learning the sweep kick. Lately, as I've been able to make somewhat full circles (yay!), I decided that my beat-up, well-worn pair of training shoes have been a plus due to their smooth bottoms which allow me to spin around somewhat easily on the carpet. I imagine that a new pair of feiyues with their grippy ridged bottoms would render rotations more difficult.

Saturday, however, I hit a snag, quite literally. My right shoe dragged at one point (probably during fanyao or pubu chuanzhang lunbi zaquan) and ripped, connecting the hole that was at the tip of my shoe with the hole under my big toe, resulting in a gaping hole with a flap. I also noticed that when I did pubu to that side, especially during yiluquan, the lack of any grip caused me to slip even deeper into the stance. Owie!

I imagine I'll have to retire this pair very soon, as I doubt training with a monster opening on my shoe could be a good thing. The dork in me loves it, however, when I've managed to wear out another pair -- it's like a kung fu milestone, or some badge of having trained harder.

PS -- Saturday, I noticed Gombulla had some awesome magenta/pink feiyues on. At first, I assumed he might have ordered them from somewhere, like from this European feiyue website (which is bloody expensive), but then he revealed to me that he dyed a white pair himself. Awesome!