This post was going to be ” Friday Kyudo /Kung Fu”…However, @ 4:30 am when I was going to work it was some 40 degrees, heavy rain and wind gust at 25 mph. I did not bring my Yumi out of the house so no Kyudo. While watching the buckets of rain thrown rain I was contemplating not driving an hour to practice that evening to Kung Fu if this kept up.
Later the rain stopped, the winds as well, however it did stay COLD!
I went to Kung Fu even though I did not feel like it. It is some kind of mental test every time to get my self in gear and go. Mind training part one I guess. Anyway, it was only about 6 of us there at Shifu’s that night.
On the way down to the school I was thinking about getting someone to go through a few two man drills with me. I needed to practice. When I arrived, that is just what was going on two man sets. Fong Sisuk was not there so those that were, were practicing one of the two man drills I wanted to do. Perfect. I watched for a while then joined in. It was good to refresh the mind.
Next I hit up Arthur SiHing on going through the two man Hsing-I form. That was interesting not at all what I thought it would be like. Somewhat simple so far. We did not finish it, but I got a good start on it.
Next we went through some knife defense of various kinds. Shifu reminded us that we did not have to have a knife to practice. We should just work with each other and get a feel for the arm control we needed to do the technique. Once that “feel” was in place the rest would be easier.
Another senior Sihing showed up late. His father was one the elder students of Sigung and ran a school in Hawaii until he passed. His son Brian, who was there tonight studied from a young age. This Sihing went through the same two man set and did the same basic set, however his footwork was more active. Much more monkey style, which is what Art Sihing was saying it should be. The Praying Mantis system uses “Mantis” hands and Monkey footwork. So watching him added a different flair to the set, more body work. Shifu commented, that it was about a personal style, you could do more “tiger” if you wanted, more “Monkey” if you wanted. Up to the person.
Earlier Art sihing and another sihing from his class did the same two man drill “Tai Chi” style. Much softer and stayed in contact with the other person, rather than releasing to attack. They had did that in response to my partner saying how I had switched from doing it the way we learned to staying more in touch like Tai Chi. I had not planned it, it just happened that way because of the way I needed to deal with his attack and just felt right for me . With this new info in mind it increases the depth of this drill for me…very cool.
Another worthwhile night with Shifu.
Recent Comments