Wall Stretch? Anyone?

Poorooop.... Pooorooop... Poorooooooop...

(That's cricket sound in Thailand.)

What happened to the good old wall stretch or just helping each other stretch in general? Is it because we are too lazy to clean up the walls and mirror after the class? Is it because self-stretch benefits more? Is it because we don't want to touch other people's stinky hairy legs?

Two years ago when I first started, I thought it was mandatory to help other people stretch. Now it looks like stretching alone is preferable.

I like to wall stretch because I think my flexibility improved significantly because of it and also because I get to learn people names and then torture them...

Can anybody tell my why we wall stretched at the first place? And now we don't do it that much anymore?

Poorooop.... Pooorooop... Poorooooooop...

Quadruple Happiness!

Though I was exhausted when it started, here are four reasons why today was good, in chronological order:

1. At the end of the day, I found out from my boss that I received the maximum possible raise and

2. maximum bonus possible at work. This is fantastic.

3. During training tonight, Heng Han had us do this lovely move in line -- a Ceshoufan in place, 5 times. What came to mind was a needle and thread, sewing ahead a little bit, but always backtracking as reinforcement -- move ahead, sure, but keep the foundation strong. And it also made me think of how the universe folds back into itself, and joyfully re-discovers itself anew each time. As I flipped around over and over, I kept thinking, "That's where I was! And here I am! And there I go!" but I was going everywhere and nowhere. It didn't feel like I ever really strayed much from the space on the carpet containing my cartwheels, but still I felt like I was infinitely expansive -- like scuba diving, or elation.

4. We started Xiaohongquan tonight. It felt beautiful, raising your arm, making fists, keeping them tight and close, and dingbu, and gongbu, and gongbu, and that quick shift, chambered hands, it felt really good.

Icing was getting to see some of what Cheng, Richu and De learned in Austria. Sprinkles on the icing is that my fatigue and bedtime are currently aligned. Quadruple happy good nights!

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!

Synchronized 二路拳

Are the stars beginning to align? Or is there some magical chi mist that has descended upon our fellow brethren at the Shaolin Temple? For the past few level 1 classes, especially in the daytime, I've noticed that most of the regular level 1 folks are either done or almost done learning erluquan. This could mean that there will be a unprecedented (my exaggeration probably) number of people testing erluquan. By my count, there could be about 14 of us.

It's very fascinating and rewarding to go through a process with the same group of people. I know that Cheng, Mo, and Qbertplaya (edit. -- and Sucheela!) went through a similar experience last Fall when they were all preparing to test erluquan and were helping each other to ignite the chi. You form a very special bond. Like when we were all freshmen in high school walking into the cafeteria for the first time. We just naturally gravitate towards each other and cower sit at the same table.

By having a large group, it's also has been a wonderful way to polish our own techniques by watching others perform the same movements over and over again. For us daytime folks, we are even more lucky, because we get to have Shifu watch and teach us erluquan. In fact, it's not uncommon to see more than two people working on the form at the same time. And on those rarest of occasions, a 4-person synchronized erluquan.

It's All in the Hips

Before I left for the Christmas holidays I was doing battle with some pretty angry shenanigans in my hips/hip flexors. I've had trouble there before, but after a while it eventually passed. With the more rigorous training I've been engaging in since October the pain came back with a vengeance. It pretty well prevented me from being able to get up from a straddle stretch in less than three minutes, impaired my ability to transition stances (say: gongbu-mabu), and pretty much made sweeping a worse challenge than usual. After two weeks off at Christmas, I came back to a rested, un-sore body which included happy hips, hooray! But since we've been training in Austria the devil, crunchy, cracking pains are back. And now they even hurt during ceshoufans, and we know I didn't need anything making those worse. So now what?!?

I feel like my hip problems sound like most other people's knee problems. I'm never had a bit of pain in my knees (knock on wood) but my hip joints have been a concern nearly from day one. I am thinking maybe it's a genetic predisposition as my sister also had to quit running because her hips gave her so much trouble and the doctor told her they couldn't handle the impact. But then, I have done many other sports, one of which was volleyball and if that doesn't impact your joints I don't know what will. Either way, am I doomed to be locked in an eternal battle with this part of my body? Am I never going to be good at latin dancing? Should I pop a certain painkiller? Stretch a different way? Go get acupuncture? Or is it too late and I should just cut off my legs at the hip? That's going to make bringing back mad Austrian skills rather difficult.......

Takin' it back Old School

Austrian Update: Last night, Heng Xin, Heng Yi, and the entire performance team were out at a mini seminar so Level 2 was about half its usual size, and Heng De ended up being called upon to teach the class. It was fun to train USA style in the temple and I think the Austrian folks enjoyed mixing things up as well.

I felt called on to represent, and ended up leading the line. I loved starting off going straight into caijiaos- here they do lots of running and hopping first. And I felt more in my comfort zone in this more familiar routine. For some reason, though, about halfway through class my chi just wasn't there. I've been struggling lately with feeling weak and choking from lack of confidence, in my head I know that it's silly, but I've lost all faith in my arms to hold me up, feel totally pop-less in my kicks, and cannot maintain my balance on anything from long Level 2 movements to a gongbu or waibaitui. I hear Sifu in my brain telling me to relax, let it go, don't get upset, (Heng Yi says, "Stay happy!") and I want to, but it just has been difficult lately.

The last half of class helped cure me. I did kip ups: for forty minutes. I kipped and kipped and kipped, and while I never got UP, it felt a lot better by the end. Maybe pounding my back into the floor over and over and over again released all the tension, or maybe I just got really determined because everyone here can do the kip up and I want to get it too. But once class was over and I was kipped-out, I felt a lot less strained than I did at the beginning. The guy teaching me, whose name I didn't catch, told me, "It looks very close, you are just really tired now; you never know, the next time you do it might be the time you get it." And that is an inspiring thought.

Break-neck speed

Austrian Update: Yesterday In the evening Heng Xin took the three of us to go see the Shaolin tour performing in Vienna. As many of you may know Xin is a CR-azy driver, which was super fun (see Richu's blog for more), but having my head whipped back into my headrest repeatedly did nothing to help a neck injury I sustained in training and I woke up this morning with a vary sore/stiff neck.

Here in Vienna they have jumping class on saturdays right after training, then advanced tumbling at 5. We stayed for the first one, which was mostly basic rolls, then some head flips and liyu dating. Doesn't sound too hard right? Alas, for me it was.

One of the jumps is a diving roll. Some of the folks here jump super high, perpendicular to the floor, head down, then go into the roll. I definitely found this a little intimidating, my constant fear in things like that is breaking my neck. But I figured I used to swim, I used to play volleyball, I understand the mechanics of diving and rolling. Unfortunately, either I'm even more uncoordinated than I think or my arms were just too tired from training to adequately support a diving roll, but they totally gave out and I landed, hard, on my head/neck/shoulder. Yi and Richu were both watching and apparently it looked pretty bad. I shook it off ok but I was definitely leery of my jumping for the rest of the class, and my head flips were just somersaults.

I was talking about it afterwards, and I realized that my fear of getting injured is probably part of why I got injured, as it causes me to hesitate in my movement. But I don't know if having it happen has made my fear worse or helped me get over it because now I know I won't actually die.... Either way, I'm giving my neck a break today so it doesn't get actually broken.

Level 2 Basics

With Spring Testing fast approaching, it is time to sharpen not only our physical movments but also our mental alacrity. I am updating Sucheela's Level 2 Basics post with this one. It has the Chinese characters as well as the Level 2 Form names.

For those of us testing Level 2, it's time to learn how to pronounce the Chinese correctly! For those of us testing erluquan and hopefully making it into Level 2, this will be a preview of what's to come. It's never too early to start studying! More Chi! Train Harder! 多 氣 苦 練!

CHINESE / PINYIN / ENGLISH

STANCES
四六步 / Sìliùbù / Four-Six Stance
三七步 / Sānqībù / Three-Seven Stance

STRIKES
勾拳 / Gŏuqúan / Hook Punch
直拳 / Zhíqúan / Straight Punch
擺拳 / Băiqúan / Curved Punch

KICKS
斧頭腿 / Fŭtoútŭi / Axe Kick
前磴腿 / Qiándèngtŭi / Front Thrust Kick
組合拳前磴腿 / Zŭhéqúan Qiándèngtŭi/ Combination Punch with Front Step Kick
側踹腿 / Cèchuàitŭi / Side Kick
邊腿 / Biāntŭi / Roundhouse Kick
前擺腿後擺腿 / Qiánbăitŭi Hòubăitŭi / Front Crescent Kick and Back Crescent Kick
前掃腿後掃腿 / Qiánsăotŭi Hòusăotŭi/ Front Sweep Kick and Back Sweep Kick
磨磐掃腿 / Mópán Săotŭi / Millstone Sweep Kick

MOVEMENTS
提膝卜步樓手弓步沖拳 / Tíxī Pūbù Lóushŏu Gōngbù Chōngqúan / Lifting Knee Followed by Pubu and Gongbu Punch
穿掌里合腿撩腿 / Chūanzhăng Lĭhétŭi Liāotŭi / Piercing Palm Followed by Inside Crescent Kick and Lifting Kick
弓步雙推掌後掃腿弓步亮掌 / Gōngbù Shuāng Tūizhăng Hòusăotŭi Gōngbù Liàngzhăng / Bow Stance with Pair of Palm Strikes Followed by Back Weep Kick and Bow Stance
鯉魚打挺 / Lĭyú Dátĭng / Carp Straightens Body
烏龍攪拄 / Wūlóng Jiăozhù / Black Dragon Coils Around Pillar

JUMPS
霸王摘魁 / Bàwáng Zhāikuí / Jump with Backwards Punch and Cartwheel
旋子 / Xuànzi / Butterfly Kick
旋風腳 / Xuànfēngjiăo / Tornado Kick
騰空單飛腳 / Téngkōng Dānfēijiăo / Soaring Single Flying Leg
騰空雙飛腳 / Téngkōng Shuāngfēijiăo / Soaring Double Flying Legs
騰空外擺蓮 / Téngkōng Wàibăilián / Soaring Outside Waving Lotus
騰空彈踢 / Téngkōng Tántī / Soaring Spring Kick

FORMS - LEVEL 2
小洪拳 / Xiăohóngqúan / Small Red Fist
大洪拳 / Dàhóngqúan / Big Red Fist
通臂拳 / Tōngbeiqúan / Penetrating Fist
瘋魔棍 / Fēngmógùn / Crazy Devil Staff
羅漢拳 / Luóhànqúan / Lohan Fist
達摩杖 / Dámózhàng / Da Mo Cane
小炮拳 / Xiăobàoqúan / Baby Leopard Fist
長拳 / Chángqúan / Long Fist
劍 / Jiàn / Straight Sword
初級自由博擊訓練 / Chūjí Zìyóu Bójī Xùnliàn / Freestyle Fighting Basics

On the poster, there is no "Millstone Sweep Kick.", but it was on Sucheela's post. Is that a new kick? I added the Chinese characters as best as I could for that one. For those of you in Level 2, please tell me if that is right. Thanks!

Baby Steps

Amituofo, everyone! It has been ages since I've posted due to my knee injury, and it's been just over a month since I've resumed training, so I've felt like I owe the blog a big post about that process of return and rehabilitation, but for several reasons I have not been able to harness my chi and focus. Consequently, I have delayed returning to the blog, but dammit, I'm here now!

I've been feeling all this pressure to say something long and profound about everything, but instead, I'm going to revisit a concept that we learn early on at Temple, and I deem it especially apropos with respect to this re-entry into Kung Fu Dorks Unite. We are taught early on the importance of taking baby steps as we progress through our training. If we come to Temple and look at the beautiful bodies flying through the air and decide, Man, I'm never gonna be able to do all of this, then, yes, already the mind has created a barrier, a mountain, which makes the concept of training quite insurmountable. However, if we approach training one step at a time, from the very first caijiao we kick, and then finesse that, and then move on to gong bu, and so forth, we quickly realize that eventually, it can be done.

(And, as a side note, that is why I think I love caijiao the best. It is the first thing we each learn at Temple. It appears simple, yet is deceptively complex and powerful. I am constantly struggling to refine it. But mostly, when I'm through that door and gearing up to jump in line and run down the green carpet with those kicks, caijiao to me most represents rebirth -- a new opportunity to polish, a new beginning, an announcement that we have arrived, a blast of chi that says, We are here!)

So last night, after catching Heng Zu's play, a few of us hung out at a local bar and talked and talked and talked. Speaking of babies, it was especially awesome to see our Shaolin brother, David L., and to view clips of his beautiful baby daughter (no, that is not her pictured). The proud papa showed us her amazing chi -- the girl's got lightning fast kicks already!

We talked a bit about babies and their chi -- that pure, unadulterated energy, and how as humans get older, something happens to that energy. We develop and accumulate more and more, some of it good, some of it obfuscating, and eventually as adults, we lose sight of that internal energy, which results in some of us seeking ways to tap into it a la training. So perhaps when we train, we seek to recapture that pure chi we once had as babies and children. We work hard to shed the constraints, both mental and physical, that hinder our ability to be full of chi, and in a way, we hope to return to that blissful original state of unfettered energy.

Gosh, I've written more than I originally thought I would!

Yes, baby steps, my friends, baby steps.

Level 2 Number 2

Austrian update: Today's level two class was not as intimidating as Wednesday's, though I was still told to relax more than once :P. For the first half of class we did all moves that were familiar to me, and nothing that I felt particularly bad at except maybe tornado. Again, it was really different from training L2 in NY. The carpet is way longer so you do about twice as many kicks each time you go down. However, there are about 30 people or more in the class, and the lines don't start until the last person finishes, so there is lots of time to be very precise and technical and still do every move at full chi. Hopefully this will give me a chance to work out the technical kinks in all the L2 moves I'm still working on, so when I get back I'll be raring to go.

The second half of class instead of doing lots and lots of daunting jumps we just did one: xuanzi. We did it for an hour. We did it slow. We did it fast. We did a lot of xuanzi. I was glad because mine has always felt pretty weak and with Heng Yi teaching so we got a super precise breakdown of the move and did a really helpful drill that we will have to bring back to you guys in the states. It was most excellent, and by the end everyone's kick looked a lot better.

Heng Yi is a great teacher and his KF is amazing to see. I guess it ought to be since he's been training since he was 8. But it's so inspiring to have him training on line with us and sharing such amazing chi. Can't wait for him to teach the jumping class tomorrow!

Sorry no picture again; I will start taking some tomorrow I promise.