Wushu Video

I just finished editing a wushu video I shot back in May of 2004. It was a demo done by a bunch of kids and is very inspiring to see the level of skill for their age. This is just a small bit of the afternoon long display of their wushu skills and gongfu training. I hope you will find this inspiring as well no matter what style you practice.



YouTube link to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAC3a0iHojU for those who have iPhones or enjoy YouTube formats.

The Video was filmed back in May of 2004 at the Yue Shan Temple (Moon Mountain Temple) which is in Bo Ai County, Henan Province, China. Moon Mountain Temple (a Chan or Zen Buddhist temple) was built in the 12th Century. This area of China also has a very long martial arts history.





Like I said I have a lot more footage from the time I spent there including some nice footage of a Chen Taiji form. Also there is some good video and instruction in fighting and working different movements.

The next video project is some footage of Master Di of Beijing doing a very nice Bagua Sword form in a private setting and then going over some good pointers on footwork, basic practices, and circle walking. We will have to see what ends up on the floor of the editing room. Let me know how you like these video and I'll post more of course!

Also, stay tune as I will also be posting some good pointers on Wujifa and Zhan Zhuang alignment focusing on key points to aid people with getting into a good stance, what we like to call 1, 2, 3, 4 and 1, 2, 3, 4. Until then be sure to stop by and check in.

Spacing out in training

Many people zone out when they engage in different types of training. As we know connection is one of the points we seek to develop when training Wujifa. Here is an interesting post at: http://internalgongfu.blogspot.com/ which I think is very common with a lot of people, that is "trancing out." Trancing out is like disconnecting from one's self which may or may not be that useful when one is training to engage connections.

"Trancing out" or "zoning out" feels like not-here-now, not-present, not-connected. Breaking the stance trance results in a feeling of present-ness, of being here now. And through greater present-ness, I feel connection to my kinesthetics, to my body which presents me a greater opportunity to feel deeper into my body, where there are tensions, where there is relax. I needed to feel both to feeling-understand the feeling difference.

There are so many ways people can disconnect from their training. Awareness is key. Where are you noticing? Where are you focusing? What else are you focusing on? What is the purpose you seek to train for?

Ones focus can be functional or disfunctional depending on ones purpose. I will suggest that it is very useful to allow at least one or two bits to stay open to the present which would include this connection with one's self. When I say one or two bits open I'm suggestion keeping a bit of your mind open to what you feel and and experiencing in the space of the moments.

Focusing and returning back to what one is doing can be a useful tool as well when watching and learning something new... Yet, when you are training... those open bits and noticing what is showing up as you train can be such a very functional approach to discovering and growing.

Summer is here (in this half of the world) and I have been having a great one... I know... I've been very busy and a little behind in posting here... Yet, I wanted to share the link to the website above... Also, I'm working on a few new posts so check back as I'll be putting some new stuff up very soon! So, until then I hope everyone is having a GREAT August 2009 and a wonderful time training and noticing the oppertunities for growth, learning something new, and discovery!

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