Updates n stuff
So... I guess I owe everyone an update.
Bagua
I did Bagua Swimming Dragon and Bagua Jian at Chinese New Year, and there has been a resurgence in interest in the art. Jia has me teaching anyone that asks about it -- showing them Tang Ni Bu, and the first basic posture (Fierce Tiger Coming Down the Mountain). I've shown about three or four people, and more have asked in passing or said something to the effect "I should learn that."
Whether or not this actually turns into an actual group class, I can't tell. I hope it does. We haven't had a group Bagua Class for at least 6 months, since Gonzalo had to switch to Xingyi night, and I would love for there to be a group class again.
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Stretching (I need some sort of help here!)
I've been working really hard on my leg flexibility. My breakthroughs from the Chinese New Year Party are going away, and I'm not really sure why. More to the point, when I gain side-stretch flexibility, my front-stretch flexibility seems to decrease rather significantly. Maybe it's a transition period or something, or maybe I'm just not being dedicated enough, but not getting the gains I want is sure annoying.
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Chen Taiji
I feel like I'm getting much better at Chen Taiji. My body feels comfortable doing most of the moves (except for the low stances, of course). I've been forgetting the long form (not enough practice), but I can learn that back in no time.
Oh, and the Cannon Fist Form is very fun!!! :)
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Chinese Language (also need help!)
My progress is slow but very steady. One thing I have come to realize is that native speakers of Mandarin have NO IDEA which word has which tone when you ask them. They tell you something they think is right, but the next person will tell you something different.
I've also decided I will learn the Traditional Characters (as opposed to the Simplified Characters) first, since that's the only newspaper I can find. :P And since it's the most wide-spread outside of China -- it's on all the china town signs.
I'm learning a few new characters every day -- even learning one is better than not learning anything. Right now I need to develop or find a list of martial-arts vocabulary, with the English, Pinyin (with tone marks!!), and Traditional Characters.
I'd love to know the tones and characters for Jian, Dao, Chiang, Kou Bu, Bai Bu, etc etc. :) It would be wonderful if, when I am teaching one of the Chinese Students, I say the name of something in Chinese and they DON'T look at me like I've just called them Satan's Personal Whore.
Bagua
I did Bagua Swimming Dragon and Bagua Jian at Chinese New Year, and there has been a resurgence in interest in the art. Jia has me teaching anyone that asks about it -- showing them Tang Ni Bu, and the first basic posture (Fierce Tiger Coming Down the Mountain). I've shown about three or four people, and more have asked in passing or said something to the effect "I should learn that."
Whether or not this actually turns into an actual group class, I can't tell. I hope it does. We haven't had a group Bagua Class for at least 6 months, since Gonzalo had to switch to Xingyi night, and I would love for there to be a group class again.
------
Stretching (I need some sort of help here!)
I've been working really hard on my leg flexibility. My breakthroughs from the Chinese New Year Party are going away, and I'm not really sure why. More to the point, when I gain side-stretch flexibility, my front-stretch flexibility seems to decrease rather significantly. Maybe it's a transition period or something, or maybe I'm just not being dedicated enough, but not getting the gains I want is sure annoying.
-------
Chen Taiji
I feel like I'm getting much better at Chen Taiji. My body feels comfortable doing most of the moves (except for the low stances, of course). I've been forgetting the long form (not enough practice), but I can learn that back in no time.
Oh, and the Cannon Fist Form is very fun!!! :)
-----
Chinese Language (also need help!)
My progress is slow but very steady. One thing I have come to realize is that native speakers of Mandarin have NO IDEA which word has which tone when you ask them. They tell you something they think is right, but the next person will tell you something different.
I've also decided I will learn the Traditional Characters (as opposed to the Simplified Characters) first, since that's the only newspaper I can find. :P And since it's the most wide-spread outside of China -- it's on all the china town signs.
I'm learning a few new characters every day -- even learning one is better than not learning anything. Right now I need to develop or find a list of martial-arts vocabulary, with the English, Pinyin (with tone marks!!), and Traditional Characters.
I'd love to know the tones and characters for Jian, Dao, Chiang, Kou Bu, Bai Bu, etc etc. :) It would be wonderful if, when I am teaching one of the Chinese Students, I say the name of something in Chinese and they DON'T look at me like I've just called them Satan's Personal Whore.