One thing that we discussed in last night's workshop was the underlying philosophy of each martial tradition taught in the school. Each Chinese martial art begins with a central principle that defines it and shapes how each technique is developed for, or incorporated into it. It also provides a statement that is essentially a victory condition: we ( Read more... )

It's funny how traditions develop. We're surrounded by one-off occurrences all the time. If something is repeated, it might be coincidence - a little less random than the rest of our lives, but the pattern is still only half formed. Three times seems to be the magic number: it reinforces the repetition and confirms a pattern; not just for the event ( Read more... )

Lots of things have been happening lately. My ICWSM paper has been approved! Though it needs to be re-written as a short-format paper, before the end of the week. That means that I will be able to attend the conference in Barcelona (mid July), and meet a bunch of interesting people working in the social media field. This makes me happy ( Read more... )

I went to a Kung Fu class last night, for the first time in about ten years. It's strangely familiar. The warmups and drills are the same as when I left. The forms taught now are the same forms I saw a decade ago ( Read more... )

It's been a few weeks of Interesting Times, though I seem to be surviving okay at the moment ( Read more... )

We finished the 36 Fan form in this morning's Tai Chi class. The final sections are still pretty rough, but the basic structures have been welded in place... now I just need to work on polishing it up a little. Just in time, too, as Semester 1 apparently ends next week ( Read more... )

More painting - this time for Lon ( Read more... )

More Tai Chi yesterday. I'm not sure which is harder to adjust to - starting class at 0745, or using muscles that have been neglected for six months... Still, I can already see some progress since Tuesday, and I've re-learned most of the forgotten parts of the 18 Fan form. Next week I'll start on the 36 Fan, which should be interesting - from the ( Read more... )

First Tai Chi class of the year, today. Like any return to training, it's helped me to isolate the things that really need work - unfortunately, after a six month break, almost everything falls into that category... I was surprised how well my knees and ankles held up, but my memory is full of holes. On Thursday I'll re-learn the 18 Fan form from ( Read more... )

If 2007 was a year for expanding borders, 2008 is one for working on things much closer to home. It's already getting off to a good start. I've been spending much more time with friends, and generally getting out a bit more often... making up for lost time, as I feel like I've been living under a rock since getting back to Melbourne in October ( Read more... )