Stick Together

More solo practice on Friday lunchtime, it was pretty warm and by the end of an hour I was regretting wearing all black - trouble is I don't really have anything else. Spent some good time on li pi, choy li fut and biu jeet. Then, since I had risked the wrath of the security guards by smuggling my sticks in to work, I tried to work on the stick set I'm learning, but realised fairly quickly that halfway through I was morphing into a straight-sword form I know, and that I wouldn't be able to go any further without checking with T - practicing it wrong would probably be worse than not practising it at all.

On Saturday the little ones kids class was completely manic and it seemed like one of those lessons where all we do is tell the kids off for various types of messing around. It got a little better right at the end when we got the beams out for some balancing/footwork practice though, so I think most of them went home happy - just me and T felt emotionally drained! The next class went a lot better, more work on the Baby Tiger set which I'm quite enjoying.

A pleasant change afterwards, instead of just me and T, A and J came along too, so we spent some quality time going over the higher grade stuff together - biu jeet again, and the 2-person stuff, along with some revision of the first part of the char chuan that A and J are starting to learn. Then T helped me with the stick I had forgotten and added a bit more, so that I now have the complete form. I must try to practice it later today just to check I have it in memory at least, if not in my muscles yet.

Baby Tiger Shows its Claws

Busy kids class today. With the older ones we did some more of the new 5 animals form we're learning, which I think is called Baby Tiger Shows Its Claws. The remarkable thing was that because we were all learning it together it was really quiet, you could hear a pin drop. A refreshing change for the Saturday lessons.

Afterwards T didn't stay for long so I went through some stuff by myself for a while, did some good work on the Li Pi, a bit of Baji and then dusted off the Char Chuan...unfortunately there's a bit in the middle I seem to have forgotten.

Resting up now ready for tomorrow's exertions at the Wu seminar.

Legwork

After the kids classes this Saturday went through the baji and li pi with T for an hour and a bit. Brutally hard on the legs. I need to just do the baji drills 'til I can hardly stand up every day for a couple of months I reckon. Luckily since it can be done in quite a small space and doesn't feature spectacular leg kicks I can practice it in normal clothes at any spare moment - like whilst brushing my teeth in the morning. So hopefully this is that bit in any martial arts movie where the hero goes off on his own for a bit for some serious practice (ideally whilst in solitary confinement in prison) and comes back transformed into a great fighter....

Tang Lang

Late to kickboxing last night because of work stuff, so worked extra hard once I got there, especially on the punch pads.

Then kung fu. Lots of people there, not really enough room in the small hall so it was hard to find a spot to take some of the green belts through basic bokken moves. Then over to help out with the beginners - one of whom was having extraordinary difficulty with the start of the wing chun.

Despite taking him through it really slowly about 20 times (no, I'm not exaggerating, that's probably an underestimate), he was still finding it very difficult. Never had such difficulties with an adult before, not sure if the problem was with me or him.

In the sparring, still on a buzz from the weekend, I decided to try out some mantis techniques. They seemed to work quite well so I think I'll work on that for a while.

Went through Li Pi and Pa Chi after the class, then this lunchtime put in a good 40 more minutes just going through Li Pi again, trying to bed it in properly.

Got It Taped

Strapped up my fingers for last night's kung fu and tai chi, it worked pretty well so I think that will be the norm for the next couple of weeks. N and I got free choice during the class instead of doing any teaching, which made a nice change, so we went through li pi quite a bit, then some wing chun 2 person stuff.

I also spent quite a while chatting with S, who is having a baby and was keen to get my advice on what to do and what not to do in terms of training whilst pregnant - looks like I'm a role model!

In tai chi my sword technique was a little bit hampered by my strapped hand but it was still manageable except for the most twiddly bits. I guess Anakin must have found it similarly difficult after he lost his hand in a light sabre duel....

Forgotten Steps

Thursday night kung fu, I got to take the higher group initially and teach them the single person bokken drill. Then a bit of time with the beginners (mostly kids now) working on Char Chui 1.

Quite a few rounds of sparring which made a nice change.

Then a brief run through of Li Pi with T - all my problems solved just by the addition of a forgotten step in 2 places. I must write it down this time while it's fresh in my mind.

Went through bokken vs pole a few times with N, which was just as well because when we went down to Tai Chi D asked us to give a demonstration of it to the rest of the class. After that lots of time working on pole which is always fun, then the 2-person pa kua - starting to get quite reasonable I think, providing I'm paired up with someone who can keep their end up.

Grabbed D at the end to run through the first part of the Chen style that was getting a bit rusty. As we were leaving D asked me if I wanted to start going to the Southampton training days. I'm quite keen except it means using up lots of precious holiday days at work. I'll have to try to figure out how much I can spare.

Lost It

Snatched a few minutes to practise this lunchtime, but to my great distress discovered I seem to have forgotten a large part of the Li Pi Mantis set. Where's that gone? Maybe my brain is full and something has to go for each new set I learn.

JCVD

Guilty secrets revealed - but it seems I wasn't the only one to watch Kickboxer when it was on Channel 5 the other night! The whole class at Kung Fu had a bit of a discussion about it yesterday. The consensus of opinion is that his reverse spinning hook kick looks pretty good (if you can get past the whole eighties/trousers pulled up to the armpits thing), but he over uses it.

Got down business after that, working on the real deal rather than that showy film stuff. Chum ku, kwok sau thay and li pi.

Staggered down to Tai Chi loaded up with all the pads and sticks, since T is away for a couple of weeks I'm taking the classes which means I have to lug the kit about.

First off we went out into the garden and did the Yang style long form. The pub next door to the training hall was having a seventies karaoke evening outside, which was more than a little bit off-putting, but I did manage to block out "Dancing Queen" and "I Believe in Miracles" etc enough to get through the form, actually better than I normally do. Maybe a sound track is what I need.

Then I used the last of the light outside to teach the final bit of the pole set, before we retreated indoors and went through the 2-person sword - one of my favorites. Might have gone better to a bit of "Firestarter" or something though....

N'Sync

Best training session for ages on Thursday night. Nothing special, I just seemed to be in the groove (or "in the dao" as T might say). Although not completely better, my groin strain is on the mend and I've finally shaken off the last of my cold. We did plenty of bokken during the warm up, then chang chuan, biu jeet, char chuan and a bit of stick work with a beginner.

Then after the class four of us went through the char chuan together. I'd never done it as part of a group before, but we seemed to work well together in really good synchrony. Unfortunately I don't know all of it yet (in fact it looks like I know less than a third of it so far!), so I had to drop out before the end. I think because of its flashy nature, it would be a good form to do for a display. Once everyone else was gone I was still on a bit of a high, so went through li pi and some more biu jeet by myself.

Tai Chi was also good - I've made a conscious decision to try to enjoy it more instead of worrying about it, and it seems to be working. Went through more sword, there's just one section I'm still a bit vague on, then it's just a question of stitching it together. Then some more Hsing I, some Wu-style pushing hands and a bit of chi gung for the solstice. D seems taken with the notion of teaching a kung fu class with me, so it's just a question of deciding where and when now.

Blitzing It

Busy Monday, getting some of the kickboxers ready for their first grading this Saturday, then doing the same with the Kung Fu beginners, although they have a little longer to prepare. Then once they'd gone home went through lots of more advanced stuff with T, A and N to prepare for my own grading. In very rapid succession we went through two person Choy Li Fut, Ee Sen Tee, Biu Jeet and Li Pi. Having a bit of a crisis with Biu Jeet, the minor changes seem to make sense but I'm struggling with some of the bits that haven't changed! I'll need to go through it again on Thursday I think.

On Tuesday I came down with a really bad stomach bug, which made me worry I would be ill for the grading (and also made me slow in updating this blog) but now I think I'm on the mend, so should be OK for tomorrow's last chance to blitz stuff

Good to be Back

Back to business tonight after a couple of weeks lay-off, reminding me just how much I love Kung Fu. Went through Chang Chuan quite a few times, then some 2 person stuff, including the new version of the basic wing chun throw with cat stance rather than mountain stance. I think I'm starting to find the new version easier, although you have to put it on pretty quickly for it to be effective.

After the rest of the class had gone I went through Li Pi with T a few times, then we did a lot of work on the Butterfly Knives, both single and 2 person. By the time we'd been through the 2 person set a few times we were really going at it, metal on metal making very impressive sound effects, I wish I knew whether it looked as cool as it sounded.

Down to Tai Chi and straight in to 2 person sword which is one of my favorites, so good stuff there too. The only bad news of the night is that Master Wu has postponed his visit to England and therefore there won't be a seminar/grading next weekend. Slightly mixed feelings about that because I wasn't sure I would be ready for the grading anyway, but it's definitely a shame about the seminars.

Defenceless

Realised just after leaving home that I'd left all my weapons and my sparring stuff at home - but it was too late to go back, so went I went to Kickboxing and Kung Fu without any of my usual clobber. For the pad work in kickboxing I borrowed some gloves that are heavier than mine, which is good, but as I'm typing this my arms are aching slightly. We started work on the second form tonight, which I learnt in a day about a year ago, so it's a bit hazy, but it seemed to come back to me fairly quickly.

In Kung Fu spent some time going over Siu Lim Tao with the beginners, then some stick work and some Chi Nar (?) locks.

After the class T and me and A, J and N went through Li Pi a few times. I seem to be able to do it at the same pace as them now which is a good sign that I'm about ready to grade on it.

Then we went through the 2-person butterfly knives, I'm happy with the defence side but the attack is still a mystery. Lots to brush up on before the end of April...and I'm going to miss a few lessons around Easter!

Kickin'

First kick-boxing, enjoying this more and more - and I think it's really improving my kicking, just the sheer number of repetitions is helping I think, added to my stretching regime, which, while it still hasn't made me particularly flexible, has certainly freed up my movements within my existing range. Perhaps if I persist, and persist, and persist, I'll eventually get a higher side kick?

One newbie at the KB which was good too, need to get a few more in though.

Then Kung Fu, a busy class, I got to go through Chang Chuan with the Yellow sashes, char chui 2 with the higher grades and then the first and second stick set (apologies for my spelling on all of these which is completely phonetic...despite my best attempts I can't manage to get a grip of Chinese at all). Sparred with A at the end, who, as usual, completely marmalised me.

After everyone else had gone went through Li Pi by myself. I watched a programme about Japan on television a couple of days ago which described learning kata as making a sequence of moves "part of yourself". This strikes me as a really good description of what it's like when you know a form really well. Starting to get there with portions of the Li Pi, but not the whole of it yet.

Must Try Harder

Just 5 including me and T at Kickboxing Monday night - cue a fairly intense hour of training including lots of elbow strikes and plenty of pad work. Discovered fairly early on that Sunday's run had left me with a bit of a groin strain, but gritted my teeth and worked through it.

Then Kung Fu, worked on Chum Ku and the Mantis 2-person set, then char chui 2 and the first stick set. During the sparring I was being so cautious because of Thursday's incident that I ended up getting hit by one of the beginners - there's a middle ground somewhere between passivity and attack that I need to find!

After the beginners had left worked on 2-person Butterfly Knives, Mantis 6-punch and Li Pi. It's starting to take some kind of shape I think - how long 'til my grading?