6 Harmonies & Forms

So I have been staying very focused on the 6 harmonies in my forms ... its been frustrating to say the least.   It does not seem to matter which form I do I am like a light fixture thats shorting out.   I will go thru parts that flow really nice and I am feeling it ... grounded ... feeling the power moving thru the movement and then pfft, the light goes out and nothing!  Mostly it happens when I am not in a horse stance or bow stance ... there is something not 100% correct in the cat stance and when I do things like attacks to opponents behind me or I am retreating.  Maybe its just my visualization/interpretation of what is happening that messes me up but I crash and burn badly in those types of moves.  Sifu Brinker yet again explained the harmonies in the cat stance ... so the plan is start with the move before a cat stance and the move after in a number of different forms and hopefully I will be able to establish the connection/flow throughout.  Wish me luck!

Dragon Dance

I just wanted to say how much fun I am having with the dragon dance practices ... you know other people actually pay to go to a gym and work up the kind of sweat that we do at practice.  They spend their time with machines and equipment, very little interaction with other people, staring at bad television, other people on equipment, or parking lots while they work out.  No team spirit, no creative juices flowing, no getting tangled up in the dragon with a lot of other fun people trying to learn/perfect a new skill.  Seems a shame ... do they realize what they are missing?  

Great Team

So one of the nicest things about having decent internet access at home is the fact that now I have time to read other peoples blogs on a more consistent basis.  It was always pretty hit and miss and then I would get so far behind well it just seemed I was out of the loop so to speak.  Not anymore, and let me tell you there are some very interesting and insightful people at Silent River Kung Fu and I loved spending the evening catching up on the blogs.  I learned a lot ... got some tips and got a rush thinking about what a great team I am part of.

KungFu & Dancing

So I know its kind of weird that I study Kungfu and ballroom dancing as well, but there are some things I learn in both activities that apply to each other.  Weight distribution and orientation in the hips and feet is very similar.  Despite some of the fancy upper body stuff in dancing, the orientation of the spine (core) is what allows you to move efficiently both in marital arts and dancing.  Being physically relaxed and yet engaged also travels across both mediums.  And circles, both dancing and kung fu are all about circles. 

I think the one of the most important things that dancing has added to my kungfu is my awareness of foot work.  Feet were just something I used to stand on, all I really worked on was making sure my stances were technically correct.  Now my awareness of where I am putting myself in relation to my opponent and the footwork to make it all happen when practicing is so much better.  I actually feel it when I get it right.

One of the biggest negatives that has travelled from dancing to kungfu is my willingness to lift my heels off the floor and it shows now in some of my stances / kicks ... if you see me do this give me heck!  Smooth dances like the waltz & foxtrot have rise and fall in the feet and I am way too comfortable now with lifting my heels off the floor ... so I am constantly watching for this.

There are a number of kungfu things that don’t translate well to the dancing,   I struggle with straightening my leg (locking the knee), opening my arms into big sweeping gestures, lifting my chin and stretching the neck, arching my upper back, and pointing my toes ... the kung fu side of me is screaming nooooooo ..... 

Last Fridays black belt class was awesome, thank you Master Brinker .... I know sometimes you get frustrated and probably want to knock on my head and ask ‘hey is anybody in there listening’ and I guess Friday I was ready to ‘hear’ what you were saying about chi.  I am already practicing with this on the heavy bag and in my forms ... for me something just clicked.

Update

Had like the best weekend ever on the long weekend, it started wtih Tai Chi on Saturday and ended with pushups on Monday night.  Did not go anywhere really just a couple of barbeques but the weather was great,  got to practice my forms out on the back deck and out by the garden between planting and yard work.    Freaked out the neighbors Dobermans doing the stick and cane forms out by the garden.  Really glad there is a big fence between me and them.  Was really tired in a good way with all the outdoor activity.  Still struggling with getting the Spanish lessons in ... figured out maybe I need to be on the back deck with the laptop while doing them ... just want to be outside I guess. 

Handed in the last of money for the Pandamonium, raised approx $1300.00 only achieved half of what I set for a goal and now am kicking myself for not putting in more effort as it really wasn’t that hard to do.   Business associates and dance friends and family well I never even talked to all of them.  Next year I will start earlier, talk to more people and as result raise more money.  Feel bad about not achieving my goal because it certainly was achievable ... just had to put in the effort.

Rewarding Careers in Child Development and Human Relations

A woman, renewing her driver's licence , 
was asked by the woman at Registry to state her occupation. 
She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. 
'What I mean is, ' explained the woman at Registry,
'do you have a job or are you just a ...?' 

'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 
'I'm a Mum.'

'We don't list 'Mum' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,' Said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, 
efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 
'Official Interrogator' or 'City Registrar.'
'What is your occupation?' she probed. 

What made me say it? I do not know.
The words simply popped out.
'I'm a Research Associate in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations.'
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in mid-air and 
looked up as though she had not heard right. 
I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. 
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, 
in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. 
'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,
'just what you do in your field?'
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, 
I heard myself reply, 
'I have a continuing program of research,
(what mother doesn't)
In the laboratory and in the field, 
(normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) 
and already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, 
(any mother care to disagree?) 
and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of- the -mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.' 

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door 

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, 
I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, 
(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, 
testing out a new vocal pattern. 
I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mum.' Motherhood! 
What a glorious career!
Especially when there's a title on the door. 
Does this make grandmothers 'Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations' 
And great grandmothers
'Executive Senior Research Associates?
I think so! 
I also think it makes Aunts. Associate Research Assistants.' 

The Air Card

So I live in the country and as a result computer access to the internet from my home is sporadic at best as a result I have done the majority of my internet stuff from the office in edmonton.  Today I set up my 'aircard' and I talked to the girls in china on skype and I did a google search on a number of subjects and actually had the computer respond without me needing to cook a meal during the wait ... all from home.  I have tried a number of different technology options but this Graminia area seems to be a real dead zone, finally something that works. I am jumping up and down and kicking my heels together!  So now I can blog when I actually have time to think and will not be constantly interrupted with tasks/responsibilities at work.  Its a huge relief as the blogging while at work can be very challenging to accomplish, next is setting up my new phone so that I can receive emails and be in touch with KwoonTalk so I am always in the loop and not a couple of days behind everyone else.  I truly appreciate technology today!  I think I will blog again on Sunday ... just because I can.