Strawberries & Cream

I've been to a few Level 2 sessions now, and want to post my few early observations. It obviously is a new game with new moves to learn and the bright orange uniforms, but there are so many intangibles as well.

- The overall level of chi is elevated. Maybe it's partly due to the orange that makes the room sunnier, but it seems like all the players involved are more energized. The Level 2ers are generally people who've been training for a while and have manifested a long-term commitment to kung fu by virtue of them being there, so the chi is not necessarily greater, but of a different quality. There is a greater sense of group dynamic whereas in Level 1, a lot of newer people are still figuring out their individual energies and abilities to commit. During my short while in Level 2, I've heard a lot more laughing and seen many smiles. People are more relaxed, yet more intense at the same time, if it makes any sense. I really like this feeling of being the newbie again, and hearing every one else who knows me giving me encouragement so that I don't pass out.

- Speaking of passing out, I am finding myself struggling while doing basics in Level 2. Conditioning my body will be even more important, and I'm hoping that my attending Level 2 a few times a week will push it in ways I have yet to see. After being in Level 1 for so long, I kinda fell into a groove in terms of pushing myself due to the overfamiliarity with how class was run. Now that it's new all over again, I have to learn a different way of pacing. For example, basics generally run close to an hour in Level 2, and that also means no walking time! Awesome!

- In the three Level 2 sessions I've attended, I've had three different great teachers -- Han, De and N'ou. Back when I first started training (at the old Temple) we would occasionally have different senior students leading Level 1 class (Jie, Gu, N'ou, Zhou, Tiao, etc.), but in recent times, at the current location, Shifu and Xu teach most of the Level 1 classes. So it is wonderful to have this rotating cast of teachers. They each infuse a different style and energy which really keeps you on your toes, so to speak. This probably means very little predictability, so you really have to be AWAKE!

- And because these senior students are leading class, this gives Shifu the opportunity to really watch what we are doing. I've often felt his gaze, but am even more aware of it now. As I've been stumbling around at the back of the line, I'm partly worried that he's watching me and thinking, Did I make a mistake in promoting her to Level 2? but I gotta just ignore that thought and run with it all. And not collapse.

- I also love that with Level 2 comes a new sense of adventure. For example, I am now committed to the idea of trying straddle and side splits which I had never really done prior. Yeow! Also, before and after class, I watched my friends pull out the mats and trampoline and do all kinds of jumps and flips with varying degrees of success. In particular, after class I found it inspiring to see Leo, Richu and Han working on butterfly twists. It was great to see them keep trying over and over, despite tumbles and face plants and talk of strawberry bruises. People are learning to fly higher and want to help each other soar.

- Speaking of strawberry bruises, this morning I woke up and looked down at my ankle and saw I grew one of my own, probably from all the lunbi caijiaos N'ou had the newbies do on the side for a while. Love it!!! Evidence that I'm growing again!

- Oh, and can I say, handstand pushups?!!?!?

I know Level 2 is a whole different challenge. I am excited and honored to finally be part of the process, and I can't wait to express my chi at a whole new level!

Flippin' sweet!

I often play a little game with myself in my head, thinking about maybe perhaps possibly not training even when I know 99.9% that I will. I am very glad I didn't give in to that vague inclination today because tonight's class - well frankly, it rocked. N'ou has been busy of late so he has been popping in and out of L2 sporadically. I hadn't seen him in awhile, and when he came though the door tonight I started to get excited.

Ok, I was already excited because before class I finally landed my head flip again. I then landed it ten more times!! So when N'ou walked in and then twenty-five of us lined up, I was rarin' to go.

Class was so much fun. The chi was amazing and my SBS was dormant, I was able to kick so much better that N'ou even had me demonstrate lunbi caijiao. Even though that promptly made me forget how to do it right, it still didn't dampen my chi. When it came time to do liyu dating, I landed the head flip each time on my first try! At the end of the class we got to work on some DHQ and I ended class feeling even better than when I started.

It's always a lovely reawakening to find class exhilarating and fun when it has been fraught with pain or a ponderous energy. It's a great way to feel right before the retreat and a wonderful way to start the week.

IT'S A SNAPDRAGON!

Congrats Heng Ji and Chadie on your new arrival! She started her entry into this world on a terrifically blustery day, and now that she's finally here, what a gloriously sunny one it is!

We cannot wait to welcome her! Amituofo! <3<3<3

Tornado Kick!

旋風腳 (Xuanfengjiao - Tornado Kick) is gotta be one of the coolest jump kicks we get to learn in Level 2. I could watch the veteran Level 2 folks do the tornado all day. It's like you walked into a old-school kung fu movie when there wasn't any use of wires yet. It's a combination of speed, angular momentum, strength, jumping ability and sheer insanity.

Khalid and Heng De taught it to the new Level 2's this week and I'm still recovering from the storm. The basis for this move is 騰空翻腰 (Tengkong fanyao), my long time nemesis. You have to be able to use the angular momentum from the spin to perform a 里合腿 (LiHeiTui) and land on the same leg you jumped from. Whoa! Crazy! Now I know why 師父 (Shifu) is always telling us to spin faster and jump higher. It's to prepare us for jump kicks like these. That first step is now even more important. It is the start of a Tornado!

Last night, right after Level 1 class, I was practicing my tornado when Khalid saw me. He nodded and smiled and started to do it too. Next thing you know, we got a mini Level 2 Class going. Chris E., Heng Xu, and Rob all joined in with Level 1's standing on the sidelines watching. They busted out all the cool jumps and were dazzling, while I fell on my face and knees repeatedly. I didn't care though. I landed my first tornado! Can you feel it? Can you feel the storm rising? Yeah! YEAH!!

Phoenix Rising

After a really tough testing, we found out yesterday at Certificate Ceremony the results. I am one of the lucky few that made it through. Only 10 out of 18 people who tested for erluquan were able to get what Shifu calls, "an upgrade." Congratulations to all those who passed!

There is a balance here. Even though I am overjoyed for our achievement, I am saddened that I won't see a lot more of the Level 1 people I train regularly with in Level 2. I really hope that the other 8 people don't see it as a failure. To me, failure is not getting knocked down, failure is not getting back up. Like the phoenix, you shall rise from your own ashes and be even more strong and splendid than before. We will be there with open arms awaiting your rebirth in Level 2.

"But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for."
-Paulo Coelho

Fight on!!!! MORE CHI!!!! TRAIN HARDER!!!!

Twisting and Soaring through the Sky!

For the past year, I've had a nemesis. Its name was Téng Kōng Fān Yāo (騰空翻腰). I could never twist fast enough or jump without taking steps and therefore I would lose my momentum. I was halfway falling through the sky instead of soaring through it. I closely watched and studied Xu, Li, Zhou and Josh. They have really amazing and beautiful Téng Kōng Fān Yāo's. When they are soaring, it looked as if they were suspended in air on a puff of cloud. Then, gently, the clouds would part and set them down gracefully. Oh!! How it would pluck the strings of jealousy in my heart!! I know it takes time. I know the muscles need to be built. I know techniques need years of refinement. But, I wanted to SOAR!! I wanted to FLY!!!

Today, for the first time, I felt a glimpse of what Teng Kong Fan Yao is all about. Zhou led the line and had us do it over and over again non-stop. I twisted, I jumped, and I soared!! I popped into the sky and landed softly. The feeling is incredible. It's everything as I imagined it would be. The exhilaration!


The key is the step. It's all in that one step. To achieve the lift necessary to soar, you have to step quickly into the next jump to build up more and more momentum. That step is the epitome of everything we are learning at temple. That step takes courage, heart and confidence. If you lack in either of those, it's easy to falter. It's easy to fall. It's too easy not to believe in yourself.

"If you don't give your heart wings you'll NEVER never ever fly."
-Footloose

I hope today is the start of a new me. The start of flight!

If at first you succeed, try try again

Yesterday I decided that today was the day I was going to do the head flip. I just decided, ok I am going to land the head flip tomorrow. The crazy thing is - I did!

The sad thing is - no one saw me land it but Heng Xu.

I actually got it pretty fast into my attempts. And then did it several times in succession. Then missed it. My head started to hurt; I took a break. I tried to do it for Richu. I missed it. Then when he wasn't paying attention I did it again a couple times. Then Mo arrived. I tried to do it for her. I failed several times. Mo went to change; I did it a couple more times. She came back out. I failed. My head was really starting to hurt. I decided to take a break. I didn't get it again the rest of the night. My neck is going to be pretty stiff tomorrow, methinks.

It reminds me of the whole, if a tree falls and no one is there to hear it does it make a sound, kind of thing. If you do a head flip and no one sees it does it count? Not that Xu is no one mind you, I just wish there had been other witnesses. I'm deciding yes. Besides, I'm going to have to do it a million more times to make it look clean. So everyone will have proof at some point. Anyway hooray for the power of positive thinking!

VICTORY IS MINE!!!

What's that? What did I hear you say? Cheng got the what? what? KIP UP?!?!?!

I WIIIIINNNNNNN!!

Ok I don't know what I win and of course I now am moving right on to obsessing over the head flip, but we'll get to that later. The point is, after much hemming and hawing I finally got the kip up. I started landing it on the inclined mat last Friday and after spending lots of time pre class working on it on Monday, Tuesday, and today I finally stood up on the solid ground. Parting of clouds! Trumpets! Choirs of Angels! and so forth... Thanks especially to Randy, Heng De, and Richu for their limitless patience in explaining it to me. And to Mo for getting it last week and inspiring to get my ass in gear. Amituofo!

Homecoming

After a long flight with multiple delays, the Austria crew landed late Monday afternoon. We had an amazing time and have lots of stories to share, but really I recommend everyone take the trip themselves because really there's no way to convey the experience without being there yourself, well, experiencing it. But-

I am sooooooooo happy to be back! Last night I rolled into training at my usual time of 6:00 and was surprised and excited to see there were already several students there. After a big Amituofo from Sifu and Randy, whom haven't gotten to train with in some time, I was in a off the wall fantastic mood and couldn't wait for class to start.

Start we did and it was FAST! Austria training is definitely much slower, but I had so much adrenaline going that the speed perfectly matched my energy level. You'd think after two weeks of traveling and training, and essentially five weeks of various combined vacation, I'd be ready for a little recuperation time. Instead, this was one of the best classes ever. There were so many people training there was barely room on the carpet for us all once teaching was underway! It simply felt so good to be home and to see everyone I've been missing that my chi was through the roof. So amituofo to everyone! There's no place like home!

Level 1.5

So last night all but one of the new Level 2-ers turned out for our first orange training session. It was exciting, after hearing about how small those classes can be, to see a solid 21 people line up. It was very October-y with all that orange.

I was thinking, well this first class can't be as scary as your first day ever training, because at least now you know some stuff, and at least you aren't alone in your newbie-ness. Right? .... Ok, scary, no. Different, yes. Hard, double yes. Soreness inducing, very much yes. I don't know why, us first timers didn't do any new moves, maybe it was the result of being tense the entire two hours, but at the end I felt wiped like I did when I first stared training. Not to say we didn't learn anything new. We learned quite a bit about what needs fixing on all of our basics. There's so much there to work on, that watching the older Level 2 folks whipping out forms I felt more like Level 1.5. In a good way. I felt excited about the whole new world of things I had to learn and about the hard work still do do before I could get there. Definitely not going to let up on Level 1 training. Have to work on my caijiao...... Here's my inspiration....

So that I don't look like this:


(j/k, she's just sad because she broke her uniform...)

Train harder!

Been a little while since there was a post, but that's not to suggest any of the dorks haven't been training harder, quite the opposite. And now that testing and all is over, it just means it's time to train even harder. New Level 2-ers have a whole new world of beautiful pain in store; our injured, or otherwise incapacitated amigos will be hitting the physical therapy/alternative training hard; and those who got their very first, shiny, certificates now get to tackle their next form. Congratulations to everyone who tested, and to everyone who was there with us in spirit! Amituofo!

SAT - Shaolin Aptitude Test

Last class before testing... I had to keep repeating that in my head tonight. The air was THICK. When did summer come back? I got the old woozy-hazy-super sweaties and each time I did a full run of erluquan I thought I was not going to make it to the end. I mean it was hotttttt, man. And during warm up I aggravated the rip in my cotton pants, so I had to plow through with only one uniform. But last class before testing, gotta bring the chi. (Yes I bring it every day, etc. etc., but you know what I mean.)

So I was going to list out what I think are my weakest spots and what last minute tweaking I hope to achieve before Saturday. But I realized, I don't want to get stressed and analytical about testing. I am comfortable with where I am and am looking forward to showing that progress to Sifu. This isn't a test for cramming. And I feel I'm as prepared as I can be, if not as awesome at the sweep as I want to be. So I just want to say Amituofo to everyone testing, more chi, test harder!

:-D

Last night Shifu pulled me to the side after seeing me doing Erluquan and corrected a few of my moves. Right before he started, he said "Not bad but you need to...bakjdhsfkjewhsadfldjskfjpwoe..."

Not bad!

Not bad!

Shifu said I was NOT bad!

I was so happy - excited - exhilarated. I thought my need of approval has been worked out with my therapist but I guess it's still there. After the class I was told that my face was beaming the whole time - punching - kicking - crouching - or doing whatever I was taught.

Heeee hee heee

I think these are what he told me:

• At the very beginning of Erluquan and at the end when I whip my left hand up to my chest and right hand 45 degrees behind me, my left palm needs to face down rather than facing out to the front. Also don't keep the left hand too close to my chest.


• After the sweep and arms rotation into Pubu, going into Mabu my left palm should be in the same position as above as the right fist goes into chamber. Then as I get up with my left leg and knee up, slide my right fist over left palm which moves to my right armpit. Keep my right arm straight right next to my ear and look left. After 2 skips, to go into Mabu right before the 5-kicks, head should follow my left hand which rotates downward and up. Then look right as I punch with my right fist.


• After the Pubu following Waibaitui, twist my right hand, arm and leg just like I would my left hand, arm and leg after the Pubu following the 5-kicks but the other way.... This is a little confusing but it made sense when he explained it to me last night...

Headlines from the front....

NEW YORK, NY: Hannah (now known as Heng Cheng) has finished erluquan. Also she has no hair. More on this breaking story as reports come in....

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!

Sweep you off your feet!

Ok, so I won't actually... and I know this is the third post in two days about sweeping, but I officially learned the sweep yesterday. Huzzah! So sad Qbertplaya wasn't there to take part! Almost didn't come to class myself, as I was out till 3 with some other kf dorks to see an art show of a couple of former temple students. Good times, but I didn't anticipate waking up in the morning until about noon. Luckily I was up in plenty of time and got to go to a great class and learn something new. Has "learning" the sweep brought me to new levels of understanding of the move? Wellllll...... ok it's still murder trying to kick around, but I understand the mechanics better now. And at the end I did get around pretty well a couple times. Off to class again in hopes of learing even more!

Kung Fu Dork Profile #5

It's my Shaolin Anniversary today! (Ok, so it's kind of a stretch, and time is an illusion etc., but I like anything that even remotely resembles a holiday.) And what better way to celebrate than by training tonight? While I sit and anticipate that, I thought it would be a good day to publish my dork profile.

Name: Hannah R.
Temple Name: Don't have one yet, but need one if only so I know whether Shifu is talking to me or Hannah T. (ed. note. -- as of September 2007, Hannah R. is now Heng Cheng!)
Occupation: Posing as a competent Assistant to the Executive VP at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. I mostly occupy myself there by drawing cartoons, looking up recipes and doing kung fu in empty rooms.
Borough: Brooklyn - Fort Greene to be precise.
Chinese Sign: Rat - Rats are characterized as being charismatic, pioneering, cunning, etc... Ok, so they also live in sewers. But hey, Splinter was a rat, and he still was able to learn ninjitsu and teach it to turtles.

When was the last time you trained? About ten minutes ago. I do mabus in the elevator. At temple: I last trained Sunday.

How is your commute to the temple? 15 minute ride on the Q train from work.

How did you learn about the temple? And what made you start training? Oddly enough, I found out about the temple randomly when I still lived in GA. About a month after I moved to NY I remembered, "Oh yeah, that place looked pretty cool." So I visited, thought it was really cool, and started training. The people and the chi kept me coming.

When did you start training? July 10, 2006 One year anniversary!

What is your favourite basic move? I changed this answer several times, but I gotta go with waibaitui. The explosion (both the noise and physically), the extension, getting to do it right after stretching, you can't beat it for chi.

What injuries have you had from training? Nothing too serious. I currently have nice bruise from where I fell on Saturday. Does hurt pride count? I hurt that a lot.

What's the most important lesson you learn from training? Patience; any way you want to interpret it.

Soup or no soup? Soup, but number 14 with the vegetarian broth. I'm vegetarian; like Shifu.
Shower or no shower? If I have somewhere to be before I go home. I try to be considerate of other people's noses.
Gatorade or water? Water. The sweet drinks just makes me thirstier, and I drink too much water already.
How many uniforms? 2 NTNL uniforms, and one blue cotton one. Oh and an extra pair of blue pants from my original uniform to which I lost the top. Oops.
Straddle or wall stretch? Both. Straddle lately because just for fun I decided to aim for a middle split by September. Psychological test. Conquer the fear of the straddle!

Looking forward to many more awesome years!

It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside.

Last night, for once, I didn't get to training 50 minutes early. (I'm such a bad judge of commute time, and I dread being late.) So yesterday I actually got there the same time as other people. Walking up the stairs with EZ he mentioned how he still gets butterflies before every class. I was so surprised! I thought it was just me! I don't know if I'm nervous, excited, or just full of chi, but my stomach is always doing back flips before training. It's nice to know I'm not alone with the jitters. But I wonder why I still get them; I'm about to hit the one year mark. I'm not nervous per se. At least I can't identify what I'm nervous about. I want to do well, but I'm not afraid of doing something wrong; I'm not afraid of getting yelled at. It happens. But there's definite tension in the ol' abdomen. Then I realized how many other unconscious manifestations of tension I have.

Like other people, I have the bad habit of holding my breath as I go down the line. (I used to do this when I played volleyball too. Strange.) It's amazing how much easier basics become when you remember to use the lungs god gave you. I also have an unholy amount of tension in my shoulders that I can't seem to escape. Sometimes I see myself in the mirror and I look like I have no neck. Even when I'm doing my best to extend my shoulders are tagging my earlobes. Relax those muscles! And of course the more I tried to think about this during class yesterday, the harder it was to breathe and relax. It seems if I'm not unconsciously tense then I'm over-thinking. My own mind and body conspire against me! But in the end, I'll keep the nervousness or whatever it is. At least it means I'm not bored. And adrenaline never hurts the chi!

Kung Fu Dorks Unite! and Grow!

We have new contributors!

Not just one, but two! Two new dorks!

Welcome Quantou (aka Branden) who has already posted here twice as a guest contributor and Hannah R. who has been consistently expressing herself on this blog in the comments.

Kung Fu Cupid

I was pointed to this document by my co-worker: Some Evidence for Heightened Sexual Attraction Under Conditions of High Anxiety by Donald Dutton and Arthur Aron. The gist of it is already in the title. Basically it said that people get more attracted to each other when they are in adrenaline induced situations - which would include intense exercise or Kung Fu training! :)

The experiment went something like this. An attractive female researcher interviewed a bunch of guys and gave them her phone number at the end of the interview. The number of guys in the group that she took walking across a shaky hanging bridge who called her back was way higher than the other group which were on a sturdy bridge. (Both bridges have the same scenery.)

So.... my point is this: Have you ever noticed how many couples were "made" in the temple? Do you feel like you are more loving when you train? Why is that?

Well... this might be one of the reasons.

And this might be one more reason I should keep training. ;)