morgothan’s kung fu repository

On Thursday was my exam to get into the advanced class. All week I had been nervous about it. Practicing everything I could. So after the intermediate class on Thursday, Sifu and Rob kicked everyone out of the place, and they tested me. I picked one for to do, so I picked Hua Chuan 1. After that Rob made me do Long Shaft, which I must confess in one move by the end I lost contact with the long shaft, but other then that I did ok with it. Then Sifu made me do both sdes of Chi Na 2 with Rob. That was not an issue. I then had to do the beginner form Gung Li. I was not ready for that. I made it through the whole form up till the end with the jumping double knee. Where I started going into Dwen Da. I caught my self, and went back and did it correct. The Sifu made me do 20 methods. Which I nailed. Everyone said I did it really good. I think I did 20 methods best out of all the forms I did that night. On the written part of the exam I got a 96. Getting 1/2 off a few questions that I misinterpreted. Personally The mistakes I made in long shaft, and Gung Li are really bothering me, I would not have passed myself on that grounds, but then again I think I am harder on myself then I would be on someone else testing. So anyway I passed, and am expecting my sash, and certificate sometime next week.

So classes this week have pretty much been nonstop reviews for me. On monday I went over all the two man fighting sets needed for testing. And in the beginner class went over all of the beginner forms. I even did them all while wearing the rings. I am thinking of doing that for all of the beginner classes. I did not want to do it, while everyone was learning the forms, however since we just finished springing leg, and we are just going to be reviewing it. I think I will start doing it every class now. What was intimidating though, was thursday. On thursday Rob did not show up on time, and we had a new student. So I took charge, and started the warm up procedure. Guided the blocking drills, etc. Once Rob got there he offered to let me teach the class, which I declined, as you know he is a certified instructor, and I am just a student. However after the beginner class, I was working with Bill on 20 methods two man, and Rob comes up to me, and says “Thursday, thursday”. Meaning that my test date has been set for thursday. As in this thursday, 3 days from now. I would be lying if I said I was not nervous. I am going to class a half an hour early today in order to be pretested by Rob. So he can tell me what last minute things I need to work on before I test in front of Sifu. Hsing Yi was also just a review class, running through the two man fighting sets. Come January things are going to get crazy though. I will be in the advanced Shaolin class, learning new material, and I will be starting Pa Kua, so that will be new material. I may go into information overload. Its going to be awesome.

Shaolin this week was pretty much just reviewing everything I need to know for my upcoming Blue Sash test. Once I get my blue sash I will be able to go to the advanced shaolin class. This will make my visit to the school got from two hours on monday and thursday to three hours on monday and thursday. Saturday will remain two hours as the advanced and intermediate classes are combined. The material that I have been working on for Shaolin is 20 Methods single man, 20 methods 2 man, both sides(attacking and defending), Hua Chuan 1, Dwen Da, Broad Sword, Long Shaft, and Chin na 1,2, and 3. Hsing Yi this week was also a review. However we reviewed the material and focused more on the internal aspect of the forms. On wednesday I did Ba Sil, 5 elements single man, 5 elements two man, Dove, Swallow, Rooster, falcon , and An Shen Po. During my thursday intermediate class I accidentally hit the mirror with a wooden broad sword. I left a small scratch on it. I feel like a mongoloid. In the beginner classes we are going over road 11 from Tan Tui. Saturday I ended up teaching line 11 to the beginner student. I like teaching the material because it really cements it into your own mind. Road 11 is a real pain though. Its not a hard road to do, its just a lot of little details, and its the strangest road out of the twelve in the form. Starts like road one, turn the back toe out 45. open the left hand sweep it down to your center, and step to an inside empty. Step back to a bow and arrow, adjust the front foot, and bring the left hand to chest level. Turn the right toe out 45. heal kick with the toes turned out 45 and pal strike to the left. Step down to a high lotus. Fist to the ear, left hand grabs as you spin down to a low tiger and punch down your center line, fist heart in. Turn forward to a bow and arrow, and hammer fist across. Turn the hand up, and arm break to a double punch. Rinse and Repeat on the other side. So its not a hard road, only one low stance, its just a lot of details, and its very different from the other roads. Well thats pretty much covers the week at China Hand for me. I will more then likely be testing out in the next two weeks. Then in January I will start taking Ba Gua, and some Ti Chi two man stuff. Ill be sure and keep this up to date.

I am taking a new direction with this site. I am planning on chronicling my progression through learning Kung Fu. I am planning on writing at least once a week covering what I am learning both inside and outside the kwoon. So other then the occasional site news like this. The site will be focusing only on Kung Fu, and in particular what I am learning.