morgothan's kung fu repository » Pa Kua

Sorry for the lack of posts

morgothan — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:34:22 +0000

Firstly I want to apologize for the lack of posts in the past couple of months. I recently accepted a position in my company that had me move to Germany. So I have not really had anytime to update. This being said since I am now living in Germany my Kung Fu training is unfortunately going on hiatus. I do plan on still working out, and practicing forms on my own, and with whoever is around that wants to join me. We will see how this works out, and how bad I change things when I get back to the school in a year or so from now. Other then this I have had some significant accomplishments in Kung Fu since last I posted. Firstly I received my black sash in shaolin, and my purple(advanced) in both Hsing Yi, and Pa Kua. It will be a focus of mine while I am here to work on my internals, and hopefully not forget too much of what I have learned from them. I have also taken a large amount of photos from the school. I plan on uploading them to the gallery section of the site soon.

I will try and keep updating this site with information about how I am using my Kung Fu, and training whilst away from the school. Hopefully it will not be as long between updates now that I am here, and almost fully settled in.

Dr. Pain will see you now

morgothan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:17:34 +0000

Last night I went back to Hsing yi, and Pa Kua for the first time since the end of the semester. After those two classes there was one basic shaolin class. This class would be the first shaolin class I taught, or took, since I got back from a two week vacation. So I was really in the mood to make it a class to remember. To top it off we have a few new students from last time I was there, so I need to introduce them to my particular style of workout. The remember you are still just a mortal style of work out. Furthermore a bunch of the Pa Kua students decided to stick around to see what I had in store for the new guys, so that just added to the fun.

I ran them through a very quick warm up, then lead then right into a 5 station one round circuit. Station one being dips, two being burpies, three being brick crunches, four being push ups, and five being standing in horse stance with 4 rings and arms held out like you are hugging a tree. Each station lasted five excruciating minutes with one minute break to catch your breath in between. We had one student pop during his last station, but other then that all ten people did really well. Including two women who where showing up for their first class.
The thing I love about the circuit style training, is in a relatively short period of time you can really abuse the whole body. By that I mean, by switching stations the body doesn’t get a chance to get used to the exercise, and you get to switch muscle groups quickly allowing the worked muscles a chance to rest, while still working out your cardio and other muscle groups. Personally I think that the circuit style training is the best type you can do for a pure calisthenic style work out.
After we did the circuit I ended the class with some simple kicking drills, to act as a cool down, and to let the students work out a bit of frustration from class. It was after that when everyone was limping out of the school, trying to look as if they still had any strength left in them, when I received my new nickname. One of the other instructors at the school referred to me in passing as Dr. Pain. Upon hearing this I smiled my little smirk which was noticed, and then a the Pa Kua students who were still hanging around the school started referring to me by that title as well. I guess I left my mark on them.

Continuing my Training

morgothan — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:12:53 +0000

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.

Training for Black Sash Tests

morgothan — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:15:24 +0000

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.

Remebering Hsing Yi and Pa Kua

morgothan — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:36:10 +0000

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.

I was thinking during Hsing Yi about the applications of some of the twelve animals. In particular of Dragon. For those of you who do not know the move, it is just like metal, in that you block down with one hand, and with the other come overhead and strike with the heal of your hand. However instead of ending up in an equatorial stance, your sink down to a sitting lotus. So your butt is almost on the floor, and your body is kind of twisted up. Now, thinking about what you are actually doing in this move, the best I can figure, is someone grabs your shirt. Your hand that blocks moves their arm so it is elbow up, but still on you, while your other hand goes up and then comes down hard, and you sink to the sitting lotus, dragging them down with you breaking the elbow in the process. Its a pretty ingenious arm break.