You've been sworded!

There was a lot of rumor, mystery, hearsay and legend built up around the infamous Shaolin butt-sword. Every time I got a minor pain or injury in my hamstring I would fear that the alleged-horror of the SBS had descended upon me at last. Luckily, those pains always worked their way back out again to where I began to think the whole thing was a myth. Or at the most an injury cast upon the less fortunate by the wrath of God. Or Buddha, if that's your style, but I don't know how wrathful he is...

Damn my hubris. About a week and a half ago during L2, I was doing my best to pop during biantui and something gave up in my leg. It was very nearly debilitating so I started doing the other side. Alas, by the end of class both legs were condemning me for doing this stupid thing called kung fu. There's no question this time. I've been sworded. On both sides. A double butt-sword!?! I feel like a medical miracle. Only in a bad way.

The left side is definitely worse than the right so I have taken the last week or so very easy, cutting my usual 4 or 5 training days to 2-1/2 (the 1/2 was movie night). And I have been careful not to get over-zealous with the left side kicking. The pain has been ebbing slowly, though there are moments in class when I hit a pubu or a zhengtitui funny when it re-asserts itself. But I'm hoping that with conscientious stretching it won't turn into this 2 year extravaganza experienced by some people. I guess I should count my blessings that it's taken this long to strike me. Still, the only swords I want involved in my kung fu are from learning weapon forms. Uh oh... I just thought, there isn't a Shaolin butt-nine-section-whip is there?

Dork Profile... #6!

Name: Whitney
Temple Name: Heng Mo, Tres Bien, Keeper of Turtles
Occupation: Director of Construction Mitigation
Borough: BK, Holla!
Chinese Sign: Fire Dragon

When was the last time you trained? Last night-- Tuesday, 18 September

How is your commute to the temple? From work: 15-minute walk up Broadway, during which time I do some thinking or make some social calls on my cellular telephone. From home: One stop over the bridge on the Magical Q Train. It is a beautiful commute, no matter how you slice it.

How did you learn about the temple? And what made you start training? A friend, the amazing Heng N'ou, introduced me to Shifu and Temple. I saw Level 2 testing and was left with a deep impression. My then-boss and I met with Shifu a few months later to try and help with a real estate matter. On both occasions, Shifu invited me to train. I felt it was an honor to be asked, but it took me a few more months of incubating the idea before I actually made it to Temple. After 11 years of yoga, and a pervasive blah feeling about my gym membership, I was eager for a new physical focus. Training at Temple fit the bill in every way I could have imagined, and well beyond.

When did you start training? March 2006

What is your favourite basic move? Waibaitui. It is so satisfying.

What injuries have you had from training? Yeah, the Shaolin Butt Sword is still around, having celebrated its first year haunting my butt. Happy birthday, SBS! My latest favorite (this is so embarrassing) is that I have been elbowing my own shin during Cetitui. My alignment is off, but I am working on it. One time Heng Zhou punched me in the lip because I was too close to him in line during Mabu. My parents were at Temple watching, and were horrified. I guarantee it was not worse than what I've been doing to my own shin though.

What's the most important lesson you learn from training? There are humbling lessons in everything. Cleaning the mirrors: if you notice an imperfection, try and fix it. Stand back to get perspective on what needs to be fixed. In line during basics: See yourself in every fellow student-- and see everyone else in yourself, from brand-new and endearingly clumsy, to the most graceful and powerful. We cheer each other on because we are all connected-- everything spreads-- competitive chi, aggressive chi, supportive chi, light-hearted chi, loving chi... Even in the changing room: Come prepared, be on time, honor yourself and your body, and the world, by treating yourself well, keeping healthy and sharp.

Soup or no soup? I love soup. I have a psychological blockage training internal-style, but I'm okay with that. Training encouraged me to lift my 10-year embargo on meat-eating, so I am quite patient with the rate at which I've made changes in what I consume. I've really enjoyed overhauling the wardrobe of my diet.

Shower or no shower? Usually not.
Gatorade or water? Water and emergen-c.
How many uniforms? 2 blues.
Straddle or wall stretch? Before: only wall. Now: Only straddle. The transition has been intense. I like all the moral support during stretching.

Perpetual Butt Injury

I think I have a vaporized Kung Fu being who lives in my butt-cheek, just above my thigh. It hurts! And I will celebrate one year of co-existence with this beast in June 2007.

What I have continuously learned from this is, despite apparent scars and wounds, despite nagging discomfort, it pays to train harder. You forget the pain that way-- learn to fight through it, learn to focus on the strengths, and ultimately laugh in the face of the little Shaolin sword poking your left buttock.