Round 2

Only the hardcore can manage two kung fu christmas meals two nights in a row.

(yes, we're fairly predictable in our choice of venues)

Order of the Tiger

I'm awarding myself this for completing my self-imposed Tang Lang Quan 200 reps challenge.

(Couldn't find a medal with a Praying mantis on it)

Quite possibly the only one of my targets I am going to meet this year...

Thousand Character Block

One of the blocks in the two person PaKua set I know is called the Thousand Character block. This is something similar;

92 reps of the Mantis so far. Two thousand punches on the speed bag in my last session. More repetition...

Firm But Fair

In charge of the kids class this weekend, along with the other assistant instructor. And we had those kids working hard...hope they're back next week!

Clocking 'em Up

40 out of 200 achieved to date. Plus a few fragments...

Repetition is the mother of skill

I've challenged myself to practice the new Mantis form I've just learned 200 times by the end of November, in a bid to get it into my muscle memory for the long term.

7 reps today.

Brings Hot Chip to mind.

Plum Blossom Praying Mantis Kung Fu

(Chinese: 梅花螳螂拳; pinyin: méihuā tángláng quán)

My new favourite

Compact and Bijou

Spent tonight explaining the principles of Wing Chun to a newcomer to my class. Which made me think of this, one of my favourite fight scenes ever;

Just when you're least expecting it...

...she returns

First bit of lunchtime training today since starting my new job. Felt good.

I've been waiting for soooooo long

but I am now finally learning a set with the Sai...

...a weapon I have hankered after wielding since I was about eight years old! Sadly it doesn't seem to start with me wearing them crossed on my back, but I think I can improvise that bit.

南刀 Nandao

One for me, and one for mini-me;

Now that's what I call responsible parenting...

I can resist anything except temptation....

Have ordered new sword. Eagerly awaiting its arrival. Watch this space....

I'm Mandy, Fly Me...

It would appear that Hong Kong Airlines have decided to train their cabin crew in Wing Chun to deal with unruly passengers.

It's certainly a style that lends itself to use in confined spaces. Perhaps training cabin crew in safety procedures and the martial arts is an ideal opportunity for me to combine my work and my hobby...

Want!

...and why have I never thought of that pun before?

Demolition Man

After a few minutes of side-kick practice on the heavy bag last week I noticed that I was pulling several courses of brick out of the wall of my house. Luckily I noticed before they came right out and bricks plus 70lb of kick bag collapsed on to me, but it looks like I'll need a builder to sort it out (picture is after I've pushed them back into place as much as possible).

Needless to say, other half has banned me from using the kick bag any more.

Called this song to mind - I couldn't decide who's version to post, until last night I heard the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain do a cover of Slave to the Rhythm...

Bananeira

Spotted this Fritz Hoffman photo on One Inch Punch, one of my current favorite websites. See more at National Geographic.

Apparently handstands teach you to "eat bitterness"...and here I was thinking they were just a bit more of a fun way to exercise the upperbody than endless press-ups.

Carradine and The Cannibal

Well, today I discovered that one of my favorite Jazz artists, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, once appeared in Kung Fu. Whilst not one of his typical Hard-Bop performances, worth a watch I reckon - he appears around 5:30 in this clip;

A Niche Market?

Star Wars Tai Chi

Star Wars Tai Chi from John Leo on Vimeo.

Very similar to the 42-Step Straight Sword I learn. Who'd have guessed tai chi belonged to the dark side?

Gōng xī fācái!

Hidden Flower Block

How many of these techniques do you know?

Tai Chi Chair

Can I have one of these to liven up my hours in the office?