So I'm really, really back to martial arts, in a no-compromise, give-it-all way. Which is great ... can't believe I've been doing just tidbits for the last year. But then, the last yar has been particularly tough, having to adjust to so many things ( Read more... )

The weekend sword seminar is over and it's been fabulous. Well, my legs hurt - now wonder, after 12 hours swordform practice in 2 days - but otherwise, everything is fine, even the strained sinew came to its senses and stopped protesting after midday on Saturday ( Read more... )

Just a quick note from work over my coffee: the sword training was woderful. Master Wang teaches clearly and even though this was a beginner class, I learned things I have bever been told before.


( Read more... )

As I watch Doctor Who in the background of trying to complete and edit the bibliography of my latest book (an extremely dull task which only the Doctor is making bearable), I am all excited -- tomorrow morning I have my first sword training class here in Berlin. It involves traveling through half of Berlin and I have NO idea what to expect, as I've ( Read more... )

I did realize the lecture yesterday did leave me exhausted ( Read more... )

Finally, we have persuaded our sifu to teach us at least part of Xin Jia Yi Lu, and I must say it's wonderful. It's very powerful, and as our sifu teaches us really slowly, taking care that we comprehend every single bit, I must say I also feel quite safe in the bit I know now :o ( Read more... )

I have been to a seminar with my Sifu today, learning a new sword form, and it was just great. She is explaining every move, including application, and won't let us do things wrong... Three hours sword training any my wrist hurts, but I am happy. Another four hours tomorrow :o ( Read more... )

My life has been crazy lately. I've been traveling a lot and though I managed to stay online quite a lot, I rarely spared a moment to write ( Read more... )

Today was the last warm day for some time - it's 11 PM now and it's raining outside, but the day was sunny and warm. No wonder I wanted to spend some time outside. Above all since R put my sore back back into function (ouch, the therapy hurts, but it WORKS) and advised me to skip sparring today ( Read more... )

And it actually went very well. I had three groups of different levels to manage, and they respected that I could not speak and were trying their best. I even managed to correct their mistakes by just showing. I think this condition is actually making me learn a lot - I speak a lot when I teach, I tend to pass a lot verbally, and now I was ( Read more... )