morgothan’s kung fu repository

Over the past two weeks I have been increasingly focusing on my Shaolin curriculum. This culminated in yesterdays class in which I ran through everything I needed for my Black Sash test and more. I figure if I can maintain the rate I am going now I should be set to test by the end of the month. Then I will focus on Hsing Yi, as I should be able to get my Black Sash in that by the end of October. Then all of November and December to work on Pa Kua. I still am not 100% on being able to do this, but if Sifu is insisting on me getting my Sash is all three styles, the I must give it my all, and not let him or more importantly myself down.

I was recently given the opportunity to spend a year in Germany for work. Nothing is set in stone as of yet, but there is a good chance starting January of next year I will be in Germany, and consequently unable to continue my training at China Hand Kung Fu Academy. Because of this Sifu has decided that I “need” to get my black sash prior to me leaving in January. This means that I need to focus entirely on my training, and get ready for the tests. I say tests because although I am most proficient in Shaolin Sifu wants me to test in Shaolin, Hsing Yi, and Pa Kua. This may prove to be one of the most difficult things I will have done at the school. I am confident that I can test for my Black Sash in Shaolin, but I am still a little shaky on Ba Sil, and Ja Sil, from Hsing Yi, and as for Pa Kua, we ll I am shaky on pretty much the entire system. So I will need to focus on them, but I can not let my Shaolin suffer for it. This will be an intense couple of months. My current plan of attack, is to focus entirely on Shaolin in September, and test at the end of the month for my Black Sash, Then Hsing Yi in October, and finally Pa Kua in December. Hopefully I can clean up each system in only a months time. What ever happens this should be an entertaining couple of months.

Last night was Hsing Yi and Pa Kua. In Hsing Yi we ran through all five elements and all twelve animals. Since I had not done them in a long time there was some dust that needed to be brushed off of a few of the animals. But other then that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I remembered. Then in Pa Kua I took the position of Master Po, and just did continues form on my own circle. Or well I should say I stumbled through continues form. I managed to get through the first four palm changes with little help, but was unable to finish the remaining eight. That is until Dave came at five minutes till the end of class, and we ran through the whole thing one time. Still I do not have that form down at all. I should try and focus on it some more.

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Hsing Yi last night was a refresher on two man material. Which is nice since I have not done any of the Hsing Yi two man work since I left. First was five elements two man. I ran through that as if I had been doing it everyday since I left. I was actually impressed by how much muscle memory I had. We then went to An Shen Pao(12 animal 2 man). This one required a little more work. I was unable to jump right into it, but after one or two false starts I was able to run through the whole thing. Hopefully next week we will do some of the single man forms and see if I can’t get through them.
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After a long pause in my Hsing Yi and Pa Kua training I am heading back. Tonight will be the first night I will be back at Hsing Yi and Pa Kua since I started on my masters. I get the entire summer to continue to work on them. Then it is back to school on Wednesday for me. So I really need to kick it into gear when I am there, and try and really grok everything. I wonder who is still there taking classes. I am a little nervous about it, as I have not been practicing them on my own as much as I should have. We will see what is still in there, and what I need to relearn. I am sure the 12 animals will need some work, and the palm changes at least. I think all of the Hsing Yi forms though, I should be able to run through them. Only time will tell. I’ll try and update tomorrow and let everyone know how it went.