The New Dork

Where are the New Dorks?!

:) Leo

Can't Help It! - Second Anniversary

If you ever wondered what the heck people yell out while training, I have a history for you - at least one of them.

Can't Help It!

I can't claim to come up with the phrase. Shifu did. But may I say the dorks popularized it because we can't help being so beautiful?

Leftovers

I've been away from training for a week; my sister was in town and though I did intend to bring her to a class, what with Thanksgiving and sightseeing we didn't make it to the Temple. Consequently I was really excited to come back tonight. There was a lot of HEAVY eating over the last six days, (when people come into town I like to take them out eating + Thanksgiving = lots of eating and more food still in the fridge) and I felt like there was sludge running through my veins, sludge comprised mostly of butter and heavy cream. It was definitely time to train.

Class was great. Randy and Khalid led the lines setting off each move with synchronized super-power. At stretching Sifu joined in and showed us the real meaning of flexibility. During forms we broke into groups for each form and spent the rest of class urging one another on. It was great to clear out all the blocked energy that had been building up and fermenting. And as I stretch out some shenanigans that cropped up in my knee, and avoid eating all the leftovers in my fridge, I feel very post-Thanksgiving thankful for being able to train and for having such a great group of people around me.

I hope to keep the ball rolling as I move towards Christmas and another 10 day vacation so that when I come back I can feel the same level of chi that I felt tonight. Those are the kind of leftovers I really need.

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!

Test Prep

Yesterday was disciple ceremony, and as a result, class was cut a little short. But not before I was able to pound through some forms with re-ignited chi.

It was strange, I didn’t get all that much sleep, and I was pretty sure I was coming down with a cold (confirmed today) but there was no way I’d skip out on class before Disciple Ceremony, especially when I had only been to 3 classes this week. Heng Mo and I met up to walk to the train together and both of us were feeling a fair amount of indigestion from the unaccustomedly obscene amount of meat we ate at Qbertplaya’s BBQ birthday the day before. Our one consolation was that, at least the meat might give us chi (if we didn’t get sick first…).

I guess it worked because we both agreed that it was an excellent class. When forms time came I was able to attack them with a level of chi that I had been lacking since coming back from China. Or maybe we were both just feeling the chi in anticipation of Disciple Ceremony. But it was a relief, because with testing coming up, feeling exhausted during forms is not a good sign. Only so much endurance can be regained in 3 weeks. I am really looking forward to testing both XHQ and DHQ, but they are not walks in the park, so I will need all the preparatory chi I can get!

The Hidden Temple

At the risk of creating an unmanageable deluge of posts over the course of three days, I would like to draw our attention from the current, all consuming meditation on testing, and focus on something more important: the flag. The Shaolin flag that is.

After suffering injury in gale-force winds last month, the flag was sent away for some reconstructive surgery, but has yet to make a reappearance. Every time I am meandering to Temple either from the subway or from work, I get a little lost in thought and then realized I have no idea if I am on the right block. The Temple may be everywhere, but I need a giant red banner to show me where that is!

Ok, so this isn't really about the flag; it's a big old metaphor for training. Sometimes, I feel like without the flag showing me where I am, or where I'm going, I can't get there. This isn't just in reference to a test or certificate ceremony. It can be a part of a move that I need to appear before I feel like I am making progress towards nailing it. It is about setting up false deadlines and benchmarks for myself in an effort to make progress more tangible and more visible. But what I have realized in the last few weeks, is that, you don't need the flag to find temple. It might make the journey a little more challenging (or if you're inattentive like me, a lot more challenging) but it isn't actually important at all. The marker doesn't make the place more real, and trying to find overt markers for my training doesn't make the training I have done or will do more real either. My bawang zakui isn't perfect. I can't do it one handed; I sure can't do an aerial. And while I do aspire to those things, their absence doesn't negate the improvements that are there.

Realizing this is helping me, slowly, release that anger and frustration that comes from not performing to my desired level. Last night was a really fun class, the chi was out of control. And for me, it was because I realized, I haven't reached the level I want, but look at how much I have learned and how much I have grown. Just as climbing up the stairs in an unmarked building is like sneaking in to a secret ninja society, finding those hidden realizations and achievements in myself is equally rewarding. Maybe not as rewarding as the day I can wear a big red flag that says SHAOLIN WARRIOR HERE. I've never been subtle. But still, it's a start.

Sick-o

Lately, in spite of trying to bring the chi, I've been feeling sort of degenerative and sloppy. Training has been good, but I haven't felt that super about my performance. Not a good feeling right before testing. Luckily, the last few classes things finally started to click, I felt like I was training hard and actually pushing through to a new level instead of training hard and feeling like I'm getting worse. Maybe it's because Friday N'ou came back after a long absence from Level 2. (I love all our L2 teachers but no one pushes us quite like N'ou.) Maybe it was training 6 days last week, I was not just maintaining but moving forward. Or maybe it was going off coffee for a week..... Whatever the cause I was in a really good place - which is why I was so bummed when I got sick yesterday.

Monday morning I biked to work, and felt ok. But as the day progressed I got more and more tired and started coughing something fierce; I knew I shouldn't/couldn't train. Coming home to a fever of 102, I saw I had made the right decision. Aside from possibly passing out, it was wise because there is no greater sin than making everyone else sick right before testing. But now as I sit here tonight, continuing to recuperate, knowing they are just now starting forms, I am really lamenting my terrible luck in falling sick. But is it bad luck? Or is it possible, **gasp**, I over-trained and weakened my immune system? Now that's just crazy talk. Everyone knows training kills sick. I'll be back in action tomorrow, but will the streak be gone? I don't want to lose the chi! Testing is coming! Sick delirium spiraling into illogical panic and nervous breakdown! Ok, so KF does make you sick, but in a mentally ill way... :P

Chi-plosion!!

Yesterday, while going down the lines in basics, my chi exploded. A chi-plosion, if you will. To be more accurate, it was more like a build up and then a volcanic eruption. It was amazing and fantastic! I have never felt so much chi before! It was as if every cell and every fiber of my being had just come alive for the first time. Heng Xu felt it too and got out of the way of the flying shrapnel and let me lead line, which gave me another chi-plosion.

Training started pretty rough. I almost didn't make it to temple in time. I was pretty late (11:57am). Yikes! All I remember of my commute was lots of sprinting and wishing the bus/train would go faster. As I walked through the temple doors and said, "Amituofo," I saw a few surprised faces, namely, Ellen and Sucheela's. The night before, I was berating Ellen that she always said she would train Friday morning but she never came. It would have looked pretty bad that I didn't show up while she did. They were ready to pounce like tigers on my egregious mistake. I can only imagine the flurries of IM's and blog lashings they were preparing to unleash from their evil minds. But I made it. Needless to say, I didn't get a chance to warm up.

My muscles felt really tight and stiff from caijiao to xubu, then something happened. During 雙腿屈膝跳 (shuangtui quxitiao), my muscles released. I felt the chi. I began to have an uncontrollable smile on my face a mile wide. The rest of the basics I don't remember so much, except Xu looking at me like I am crazy or have gone bonkers. I just felt the radiating chi exploding from my 丹田 (dan tien). It was one of the few times that I felt my 騰空翻腰 (tengkong fanyao) actually feeling right while I was jumping and twisting.

Of course, once the stretching session came, the chi sort of just started seeping away. During forms, my chi felt low after being so high. Next time, I am going to see if I can keep the chi-plosion going until the end of class. And maybe, just maybe, the chi-plosion will keep going, like a nuclear reaction that never ends.

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.

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.

Abuzz

After last night's class, there was great consensus about the chi-storm we'd created. Analogies were flowing like special water as our bodies buzzed with that ultra-coveted high from our enlightened exertions.

There were eight people, one line, and, in addition to N'ou's perpetually inspiring instruction, much wonderful intervention from Shifu. During Lunbi Caijiao, Cetetui, and forms, Shifu had us make specific adjustments to our movements, which definitely added to our collective spirited efforts.

I don't really know what it was about last night, but it was a happy surprise. Especially given that the absence of a few of my favorite Temple compadres (off having fun in AUSTRIA, *ahem*) has just begun. In short, we had more chi, we trained harder, and the results were precisely, entirely what I strive for each time I train.

Sausage Fest

Amituofo!

Hello My Fellow Kung Fu Dorks!

This is my first official post! Please let me introduce myself! Amituofo! I am Leo! (ROAR!) More Chi! Train Harder! You might have seen me around if you train Level 1 at the USA Shaolin Temple. I only started to train at temple 9 months ago and I'm the youngest blogger here in terms of Temple Age. Okay! Now on to my first entry!

For the first time, there were no female chi! Not even Heng Xu or Mei Mei! Well, that's not exactly true. There have been classes where it has been all guys, but those classes were usually very tiny, probably less than 7 people. But today, we had 16 people. And even Shifu mentioned it has never happened. Especially, since, today was not a holiday or a weekday.

I know the reason why. It's because most of the KF girls were celebrating Heng De's 21st Birthday far too late into the night/morning. I could have sworn before I left the party, I got quite a few half-hearted promises to train. ;) But, alas, I was the only one that made it to temple.

Training today was totally invigorating! When I first got there, I gotta admit. I was tired. My warm-ups consisted of me walking around the circle trying to keep my eyelids up and extended. But after 5 minutes of basics, I was ready to rock. Anybody else have that issue? My body just needs that Shifu-induced-wakeup to be able get the chi up. Once it's up, I'm fine the rest of the class. I probably should come as early as I can to get my chi up so I can start class at full chi. But...the darn bed yoga training was just too inviting... :)

Oh yeah! Joshua was there. For someone who hasn't trained at temple for a long time, he still led the line, and had awesome chi and perfect forms. He's very good about training the basics and forms outside of temple. He's self-motivated while currently, I'm Shifu-motivated. This is one of the things that I will be working on before testing in April. More Chi!

"Temple is in the heart, we take it everywhere with us."

-Shifu Shi Yan Ming

"Double your pleasure, double your fun!"

Today was a hallmark in my training journey. For many reasons, but it started off with training two classes.

Yes, two. Something I had once spoken of jokingly to Level 2 students long ago has recently becoming a more plausible concept to me. And as I'm currently work free, was three days off the training wagon recuperating my legs, and had Heng De singing the benefits of double training, I decided to make today the day.

Level 1 was officially the smallest class I've ever attended. TEN people. And for the first time ever I was the most advanced student in the class. It was a sort of awesome and yet frightening feeling. It was an excellent but very tiring class with so few students. It was not what I would have chosen for the class to precede what was going to be only my third L2 class.

big lunch and a bit of a nap later.....

I rolled myself into class tonight feeling groggy, but more from having napped in the middle of the day than muscle tiredness. I warmed up light because my body was still surprisingly flexible in spite of having taken a nap, and even though I was feeling normal I felt compelled to save every ounce of energy for class.

It was remarkable. It was far and away easier than my last two L2 experiences. Or, not easier exactly, but my chi didn't abandon me midway. It kept on going right up to the end, even through the arduousness of learning a new move (my first new L2 move!!!) and doing sweeps and five kicks till the end of class.

Tired? yes. A little sore? Yes. Going to sleep very well tonight? Yes. Dead and never want to train again? No! I feel outstanding, and while I may not make it a regular occurrence (I really couldn't do anything else with my day between classes but eat and nap) I'm definitely glad I did it and look forward to doing it again. Apparently chi isn't something you use up, but something that builds and expands upon itself, so that the more you train the more chi you actually have. This is a very scientific theory rooted in physics and elaborate math equations, I know, but whatever. I'm just glad it happened because after the grueling mental and physical mess of Thursday, I needed the resurgence of the chi. So now I know, next time I'm feeling flat, don't take the day off, double it up!

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!

Let's do the time warp again!

Everyone goes through cycles in training; someone moves, changes jobs, takes a break, and we see less of them for awhile. Then with a resurgence of chi and some free time they come every day for a month. Now with several people cross training gymnastics, starting school, spending more time in L2, and gearing back up after the summer, the group of faces in the evenings is cycling again.

Of course that also means we get the wonderful joy that comes with seeing a face that's been absent for awhile. Last night the door buzzed and I answered it, someone put their hand over the camera, but I suspected I caught a glimpse of a long lost shaolin brother. Turned out I was right as Heng Nai walked through the door.

I didn't know Nai that well before he moved, but he was one of the first faces I remember seeing when I started training and it was great having him surprise us all. On top of that, Randy trained with us last night as well, something that also used to happen more when I first started but hasn't as much lately. Xu taught which was more normal when I started because I was taking day classes. Then when Zhou (who signed me up in the first place) showed up halfway through class, my nostalgic return to last summer was in full swing.

It was a great class, a great time to reflect on where I started and how much I've learned. I really felt like I attempted every move with as much chi as possible, especially my jumps, and my erluquan felt a lot better, so I felt really ready and was really happy when I got to learn a little more.

When we went out for soup after it was fun having a totally different crowd around the table. On the way home I got to ride the train with Heng Shi, who I've never had the chance to chat with for very long. Lesson: Making new friends and learning new moves is fun, but it's nice to appreciate and continue developing those you already have. Ah metaphors!

Shaolin Crush #1

Yesterday I got all three of my wishes: lots of stretch time, Sifu didn't yell at me (really) and there was lots of chi. Thanks to one Heng Gui.

Every now and then I get a Shaolin crush. A Shaolin crush is not a romantic crush; it can be girl or boy and it happens when some aspect of someone's training tugs at the strings of my heart. Sometimes it's someone doing a beautiful form, or seeing a shaolin brother who I know is in pain or having a rough day persevering through a class. Sometime it's seeing a new student smiling after sweating through their first training session. Sunday my Shaolin crush was Heng Gui and watching him teaching basics.

Class was small: 15 students. Two of them were there for a trial class. Let's just say it was quite a challenge. Gui kept us all going through basics with his usual chi-tastic cheering. But what really solidified my crush was when we started forms. There were 4, count em, FOUR of us on line for forms. And 50 minutes left in class. I felt the chi, but I admit I was worried about its endurance. Luckily, on the other side of the pillars Gui was teaching caijiao and gongbu. If you've ever been lucky enough to have Gui teach you, you know that in addition to his unbridled enthusiam he also has a very creative way of describing moves. His reservoir of metaphors is endless. Sunday, there were descriptions of tigers, snakes, springs, nutcrackers, and staple removers, just to name a few. And while the multitude of mixed metaphors might have been a little confusing, their rich detail kept me Po, Ji and Alex smiling, even laughing, throughout forms and the time went by much faster. Even Sifu was laughing and you could tell the trial students were really enjoying themselves and the chi was palpable. So, for now, on my Shaolin notebook there will be little hearts scribbled around Gui's name: my newest, very inspiring, very entertaining Shaolin crush.

The challenge....

Small classes on Sunday aren't unusual, but today, when I realized we were going to max out at 20 students, I had a bit of a panic. My mom was here to watch and I wanted to be as full of chi as possible, not gasping in short short lines. I know we should try our hardest every day, and I do, but today I tried my extra-hardest. Having my mom there was great inspiration to keep going even when ceshoufans made me crazy dizzy. I've said it before and I said it again, this just shows just how much of training is mental.

Also interesting, in addition to the class being small, there were not a lot of old-school people training today. It's always strange when I feel like part of the older half of the class, but today it was even more pronounced. These things got me to thinking about how much I've learned and how much there is left to learn and so on. I know, I know, how quickly we get through forms isn't important, but I don't want to feel as though the reason I'm not getting through them is because I'm letting my mind keep me from training as hard/as much as possible. So I've made a little bet with myself to train every possible class (for me that's 4 times a week plus holidays) between now and testing in October. If I win (...against myself....) then I will get..something. The validation of having done it. naturally... aaaand something shiny, like gold feiyues... or maybe a leg stretcher... or LeCreuset cooking pans.... mmm yeah... Nothing like a little personal challenge to break down a mental wall...

That's the gauntlet... that I threw down at myself.... yeaaahhh....

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!

Return of the Wandering Shaolins

After spending the weekend delving into the secrets of the fabled sand training technique, the group of us came home once more. It was nice to be back on the carpet again. I am trying to get in as much chi-tastic training as I can because I have work and parental visits coming up that keep me from training the four times a week I've been enjoying. But yesterday my extra chi resulted in extra water guzzling. Which, on top of a very empty and hungry stomach, led to a not so chi-full second half of class.

Where is that self discipline I go on about? Practically every class, by the end, I am groaning about having drunk too much water. But when your mouth is so parched you feel like the Sahara Desert has moved in, how do you resist? But how can I expect to master myself in Shaolin if I can't even learn from repeated mistakes in not mastering my water bottle? I didn't used to even drink a whole bottle. Now sometimes I refill it twice AND drink from the sink. Madness!

Yesterday I was finding all kinds of new shortcuts and sloppiness that have crept into my training that I never realized. My caijiaos are so uncontrolled I am losing balance on every kick. I think also I'm taking too large a step. On waibaitui/zhengtitui/lihetui I've started taking a step between kicks, something I never used to do. There's lots of foot dragging happening in gongbu, my mabu stances are getting super lazy, and I'm not going as far down the carpet as I once did on lots of the basics. What happened?!!!

Here are the remedies I have come up with thus far. 1. Hydrate even more during the day (I already do, but more can't hurt). 2. Make sure I eat enough during the day so that I'm not lightheaded and starving or, conversely, in pain from eating right before class. 3. SLOW DOWN. Chi is good. Sloppiness is bad. 4. One bottle of water max during class.

If I ever want to make Level 2, I need to break bad habits now. Plus my mom is coming next week and I want her to see me doing my best! Hopefully, I can always catch mistakes before they get out of hand.

And Happy Birthday Mo!

Dorks on the Beach!

Last weekend, a bunch of us got out of the City and headed way East for some R'n'R courtesy of Heng De's parents. Xie xie! We spent many hours on Saturday at the beach, and from the minute we got there, we were a whir of non-stop activity. We practiced jumps, ceshoufans, basics, handstands, pubus, forms, etc. We juggled, threw a football and frisbee, bodyboarded, twirled a staff, dug holes in the sand, jumped in the waves. Constantly moving!

At some point in the afternoon a man came over, his curiosity piqued. He wondered who we were and remarked he was impressed with the fact that we spent hardly any time lounging or reclining or doing the usual lazy beach activities. He joked there was a bet going on whether we had all escaped from somewhere. He smiled when we told him we all studied kung fu together in the City. I was rather proud. :)

Awesome Chi!