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Today I left the academy.
It turned out to be a VERY hard good-bye. I’ve left behind some amazing people. People who are beautiful in the truest sense of the word.
Chief among them, and well worth recording here are Robin’s (my christian friend) and my Shifu’s parting words:
I’m not sure why, but Robin (whom I’ve not mentioned until now but is still a great friend to me this trip) marched up to me, gave me a huge hug and whispered in my ear these words “You are not inadequate! You’ve thought so your whole life, but you have never been!” Instead of thanking her for her kind words I just blurted out “how did you know?”. Her words really hit home with me. Like something just burst open in my chest (in a good way). Robin also told me she had “a vision from God” about me. She said she saw me with a cloth sack around my shoulder, and in this sack were globes of golden twine (globes of glory she called them), and in her dream I was throwing these globes to others. When she first told me this, I thought she was crazy, but then I realized today, I have even entitled my blog “On a quest for glory…”. Hmm, maybe it’s just a crazy coincidence. Anyway, she’s a spirit I will not soon forget.
As everyone gave me hugs and handshakes on the stone steps of the school. I felt so loved. One by one they wished me well, and then walked off to continue their training. Suddenly, I realized I was now alone on the stone steps. I turned to see my Shifu standing across the courtyard, alone, staring at me. His black tai chi robes billowing in the crisp mountain breeze. His jin (chinese fencing sword) dangling at his side. “Shifu!” I called out to him, and trotted down the steps. How could I have almost left without saying anything to him I thought? But, as I neared him to shake his hand…he grabbed me and hugged me! I was so shocked. He then looked at me with tears in his eyes and said “Ni bu wang le”. Which means “you, don’t forget”. I promised I wouldn’t.
And…that’s all I have to say about that.
Next stop, truly this time, Beijing.
p.s. I memorized the 82movements in Chen’s aptly named “82 movements Tai Chi Form” in 30 days! But, it is just a small piece of the puzzle. I now have the complete empty container, I need to start filling it with real substance now. Wish me luck!
I made it through the week! The training is awesome here, but VERY different from what I’m used to. What’s really astounding is the training they give to foreigners is nothing compared to that which they give the Chinese born here, or the “Shao Lin Kids” as we call them here. These children are incredibly adorable, and incredibly deadly! The youngest one here is seven years old, and I’m pretty sure he could take me in a fight. Pretty embarassing. But, I guess that’s what you get when training kung-fu is all you’ve known your whole life.
Speaking of training your whole life, the teachers here seem to have done nothing else in life. There are four of them.
They are:
“Shao Lin” Shifu – He is about 23 or 21 (the chinese have a different calendar than us, so he has TWO ages! I guess everyone here does). During training he is as stern as a drill sargeant, but outside he is what we would call a “big softie”. “Shao Lin” is not his real name, but it is the style of kung-fu he teaches here. Most notable about Shao Lin Kung Fu is it’s emphasis on flexibility, speed/reflexes, and acrobatics. Shao Lin Shifu can easily leap 6feet in the air, deliver 3 kicks, and land like a feather.
Jong Shifu – He is the same ages as Shao Lin Shifu. The only person more stern than Shao lin Shifu is Jong Shifu. He once beat one of the students with a stick until it broke! (Beating is common for the undisciplined, and like signs all over the academy say “follow the rules, this is not home, this is China!”) He teaches San Da (spelling?). San Da is Chinese Kickboxing, and it’s emphasis is on self-defense, and beating the crap out of each other. Having said all that, I don’t think Jong Shifu can stop laughing outside of training. he especially likes being picked up by the foriegn students and tossed through the air over-and-over again. He giggles like a schoolgirl as his 98pound body flies through the air and lands on the mats.
“Baji” Shifu – He is a grumpy old man as far as I can tell, but I don’t know him too well. Baji is a style of Kung Fu that emphasizes smashing through your opponent. It involves a lot of shoulder charges, low blows, dirty tricks, body blows, and “rooting” your feet so you can smash through things. It is a very cool art form with lots of stomping of the feet! Once again, I don’t know too much about Baji Shifu, but he also teaches Chi Kung (standing meditation), and when he does that he becomes SO peaceful looking. The only time I see him with a nice expression. I’m sure he’s nice if you get to know him though.
Wong-Shin Shifu- My teacher! I mentioned him in my last post, so I won’t talk too much about him. He teaches Tai Chi, and is proficient in dozens of different forms (of Kung-Fu), and knows 10 different weapon forms. What’s more, he is a student of the former Tai Chi Shifu here at the academy. I can only imagine the power his Master must have.
I don’t really have any complaints about the training at all, and I guess the greatest lesson I’ve learned so far is to stop fearing pain. I thought I was pretty tough, with a good tolerance for pain before I got here. I now realize how much more pain I can learn to bare. I think this lesson translates well into all aspects of life, too. The more I stretch the more it hurts, but the more I bare it the more my muscle grows, and the less it hurts the next time. what’s the point of baring pain at all though? Why not just avoid it? Well, you can if you want to, but I tried that once, and I eventually realized that there is no point to life without growth, and growth means change, and change (almost always) causes pain.
Well, I’ve written a lot as usual, but perhaps knowing a bit about the teachers gives you an idea of what it’s like here.
In one week, training about 7hours a day, I’ve learned about 16 out of 82 moves for my Tai Chi form. When I’m not being stretched, or working-out, I’m doing those 16moves over and over and over again, and the teacher won’t show us anymore until he feels we’re ready. It’s so different than how we train in Toronto.
My favourite part of training: Learning the applications of the various Tai Chi moves
The worst part of training: Power-stretching!
What is power-stretching exactly? It’s when your Shifu (teacher, remember yet?) “helps” you stretch your limbs FAR beyond what they are capable of on their own. During power-stretching it is not uncommon to hear screaming, yelling, and of course begging. Even I fell victim to screaming like a girl. I’m quickly learning how to keep my mouth shut during the session though, because the teacher really seems to like it when you make a noise. And, that is NOT a good thing.
Well, that’s all for now. I’ll write again soon. Maybe next time I can post some pictures of the beautiful landscape. Or, I’ll tell you about the delicious roast duck I ate, and make you all jealous.
Hope everyone is well back home in Toronto, or wherever you’re reading this from!
Ni hao my friends,
It’s been a while since I last updated. The past week has been a mix of experiences. I got sick, performed my tai chi in front of the whole school, rode in a tiny taxi with 6 large people (plus chinese driving!), ordered food in a chinese restaurant (I don’t speak mandarin!), got cheap prices on not-so-quality electronics, shared drinks with a local girl who sings just like Mariah Carey, and slept in the lounge of a 5star hotel.
There are too many stories to share in detail, but over-all I am happy, and getting the hang of living out here. I am a little sad this weekend, as I realize just as I’m getting settled, my time here is half over.
Anyway, as there are too many stories, there are also too many lessons.
Most notably this week, I’ve learned that some times you have to let things go that you really REALLY want in favour of the things that you need.
This is not a fun lesson to learn by any means, I think it is a lesson we all know about, but how many of us actually practice it? Let me eleaborate.
I’m a bit of a celebrity around here. When the locals see me they whisper “wei guo ren” (foreigner), and begin pointing, gasping, smiling, or sneering. Just today, a couple started taking my picture as I was eating breakfast. They must’ve snapped like 6 or 7 shots, and even dared to ask me to pose by the end of it all. This kind of thing happens all the time around here. Anyway, the point is I really crave this kind of attention, acceptance, and admiration. I am a bit ashamed to admit that, but it’s ok, because I know that these are things most of us want deep down.
But, that’s just the thing…the craving is a “want”, not a “need”. It’s very powerful, and giving in to it provides a nice little boost for your ego. You feel great, desired, powerful and wanted. Who wouldn’t want to feel these things? How could the desire for these feelings be wrong? But, I realize now that these feelings have been my “drug” of choice for a long long time.
So, since I realized that this week, I’ve managed a complete 180 (360 if you’re George Kostanza). I ignore the attention and no longer seek it. And, you know what? It is not the LEAST bit fun. I am hoping in time that I will no longer care about such superficial things, or I can slowly introduce friendly exchanges with the locals without this “admiration seeking”. My new goal is to replace external validation with internal validation (a goal I thought I was already reaching for…go figure!?). The “want” must lose out to the “need” if growth is to be achieved (sounds like a chinese proverb, no?). It is painful, but I know how this process works now. It will be worth it.
I guess the point of all this is just to ask yourself “are there any addictions in my life that I am unaware of, making excuses for, or just can’t seem to control”? Some times the answers can surprise us. We think we are so smart and in control of our lives, but there is the potential for addiction to just about anything you can think of. Too much sugar? Sleep? Isolation? Relationships? Too much time spent on the things we’re good at? I know I’ve been addicted to all those things at one pointor another.
Well, that’s it for this post. I hope you are all doing well. I hope this post isn’t preachy or anything like that. And, I hope my growth shows through these blogs. I came out here with the feeling that I would be leaving Toronto as a boy, and returning as a man. I think this lesson has been a pivotal point in that metamorphosis.
my body is in China, but my thoughts, prayers, and love are with you all.
Thanks everyone for the emails and support,
write again soon,
Drew
Well, I’m ALMOST done my first day of training. Just have to eat dinner, and then an easy one hour session. Well, I hope it’s easy. My initial experience with the training goes all the way back to last night (Sunday March the 1st). The day was winding to a close, so I decided to take a walk around the grounds. (Side note: Did you know there are billions and billions of stars in the sky? This is my first time seeing them! I used to laugh at those people who wanted to turn off more lights around Toronto so they could see the stars at night. “What a silly cause to fight for” I thought. I must say, I owe them all my deepest apologies. It makes me want to weep knowing that Toronto has been missing out on the stars all this time.) As I neared the training hall, I noticed the light was on, and there were voices echoing inside. I tried to quietly slip inside, but I’m still not used to these spring-loaded doors they have installed all over the academy. As the door slammed shut echoing through the great hall, three chinese men stopped their secret late-night practice and stared at me. “Ok?” I asked, pointing towards the center of the room. “Ok?” the echoed, I think not out of consent for my entering, but just some sort of confused mimickry.
This is when I met Wong-Shin. A smiling, stout man of about 60years old. I asked Wong-Shin to teach me some Kung Fu. So, he placed my hand against his shoulder, and then proceeded to grunt and twitch just the tiniest bit. I can only describe the sensation that went up my arm (down my spine and back up again) as “excruciating”. I promptly thanked him for the lesson, and told him “you are as strong as a sifu!” (that’s teacher for those who don’t remember). I then took my leave to go to my room and nurse my sprained wrist.
Today, I entered the training hall at a sleepy 5:30am. And, who was standing before me dressed in full sifu’s attire? Why, Wong-Shin of course! My jaw dropped to the floor and I just pointed at him and said “you? Sifu?”. I think he enjoyed that look on my face. All that time, I had been getting a lesson from the Master, and I didn’t even know it.
Anyway, I’ve known him for one day, but already I can tell Wong-Shin Shifu is a great man.
I’ll have to write more about the training later. But, so far it’s going great!
Yes, I definately met a man with GREAT chi (chi is the energy used in martial arts), today.
I recently saw Kung Fu Panda. I liked it very much, I think that it can inspire a whole new generation of Kung Fu enthusiasts. Kung Fu cinema has over the years inspired hundreds of thousands of people to become practitioners, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Lee, and many more talented artists have set high standards for us to reach. Kung Fu Panda speaks to the heart of kids the idea of using actual animals to portray the styles was brilliant. The central message of the cartoon is that “any one” can learn and become a master and I agree as learning is a process. At Wu Xing, our kids Kung fu program initiates children to the 5 animal styles of Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake and Dragon. We encourage the kids to find the inner animal that lies dormant in them, to become the dragon or the tiger. Visualization is a great tool. We have the kids visualize the qualities of the animals growing in them, they imagine a courageous Tiger, a wise snake, a powerful dragon, a fast leopard, as a result their minds grow towards these qualities, we see it in their Kung fu and parents and teachers tell us that they see change in their lives. Kung Fu for kids is in my opinion one of the greatest investments that any one could make, planting seeds that will bear fruit through out life. Congratulations to the makers of Kung Fu Panda for inspiring a new generation to follow in the foot steps of the great masters of the art.
My inspiration to study Kung Fu came as young boy watching Bruce Lee on the big screen in my native Tehran. I thought to my self, i want to become like him . And so a seed was planted in me that grew and flourished latter leading me eventually to teach the art. As I have grown older my understanding of what kung fu can do for me has changed. I have come to realize with time that the human body is an extremely sophisticated instrument, we have the ability to have incredible visions and thoughts, we can fathom the infinite, discover secretes of the universe, we can communicate with the Most High, we have a wide range of emotions, in our mind/body there are gates of consciousness, systems of energy, our nerves sit in living waters. We are capable of deep accomplishments and unspeakable evil. Kung Fu has allowed me to better understand and work this sophisticated instrument. This has affected positively all of my life. As a result of Kung Fu training i generally feel more grounded and centered, after all life is ultimately expressed in the physical world not in the ethereal, it is important to be in the here and now and be mindful of the details of life. Kung Fu practice has helped my consciousness be more rooted in my body and as a result i function better in the world of action and don’t remain a prisoner of thoughts and emotions. I am aware that Kung Fu moves my “CHI” and i emotionally feel more at peace and balanced as a result of training. I have learned through Kung Fu to focus my mind, push through pain, pay attention to details, stay healthy, and learn to defend myself, which is very empowering and confidence building. It’s also a life long process, a life style, it works as long as you do it. Kung Fu is an art, and unless you take a creative spirit to the practice hall, you will never discover the essence of the art. Ultimately like Bruce Lee insisted many times, “it’s about expressing yourself honestly”. Your mind, your body, your spirit. Living in the heart of Toronto, I am glad to have Kung fu in my life.
A lot of us would like to calm and focus our mind, settle our inner world, less anxiety more peace. In Toronto we are bombarded by noise and confusion we desperately need an art that centers us and clears our thoughts. Silent Sitting meditation is a common technique, stilling the body, isolating the mind and gradually through breath control settling the mind. This type of meditation is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks that any body could undertake. Tai Chi offers a bridge into the silence. The slow movements and deep breathing gradually settle down the inner chitter-chatter. The movements of the form allow the mind to focus on an activity this makes it easier to settle down. The form takes about 30 minutes to do and that is the right amount of time for the inner world to enter a pool of calm. Tai Chi qualifies as a moving meditation. In my personal journey one of the great jewels of Tai Chi practice has been cultivating the stillness of mind at the heart of the movements. The practice allows me to take time out of my day and get centered. Taking that focus into my life has improved the quality of my daily walk, and allows me to better focus on what ever it is that I may be doing. For those interested in cultivating the internal energy “Chi”, a focused mind is key. The Chi responds to the mind, a scattered lens scatters the Chi. Improving the flow of Chi through daily Tai Chi practice improves the health of all of our organs. The moving meditation of Tai Chi Chuan is one of the most effective ways that anybody could gain that sought after calm and focused attitude that we all seek living in the tempest of cities like Toronto.
Modern life is complex. The speed of life has quadrupled since we started to talk with our fingers. The promise of a simpler life where robots go to work for us while we sip drinks with umbrellas in them has turned into a speed filled rush where the leash to work is a little tighter and shorter. I enjoy our new gadgets being an information pack rat and a communicator I also like the internet, but then I teach Kung Fu, I can look at the technology from a distance and go back to my practice. There is also more pressure on us to pay our mortgages and to keep up with the Joneses. In the past 4 years I have noticed a gradual but definite change. I can explain it in one word : ” Busy ” People tell me they are too busy to commit to a regular regiment. Is that just something we have to accept? Let’s live impoverished lives, are we so confident that we feel there is no need to take care of the master instrument? Namely our minds and bodies, and of course the all important essence of our being : the spirit. Are we not being carried away in the sea of life, like lost sailors thrown around by the waves? Can we not look into the stars and ask ourselves the great questions, Where are we? How did we get here? Is there a God? and what the heck is going on on this planet any ways? Are we busy or mis-informed? Do we lack time or do we fill our time with the urgent rather than the important. As social creatures we follow the pack, but is the pack right? Should we all eat at McDonald’s, wear lulu lemon outfits, enjoy hockey and own lots of things. Some will say: “sounds good to me.” For me the warrior breaks from the pack s/he zags while every one zigs. The amount of time I suspect is not always the issue, the problem rather is not realizing that which is truly important in life, it’s a lack of wisdom not a lack of time. We need to get our bearings straight, be rooted, decide what is important in this life and concentrate on that. Go deep in a few important matters, and not lose sight of the big picture. I think being too busy is not to our benefit on the long or short run. Despite the propaganda that is aimed at us we need to take the time to find the great truths in life, take a hold of our emotions, know our selves and live lives of accomplishment. For me it has been important to search for wisdom beyond that which is found in coffee shops or in philosophy courses, to know who I am, what I believe in and why. I practice Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Meditation because I am a sick person in a hospital maintaining the master instrument through which I experience life. I need to stay centered, focused, calm, skilled and strong because I live a better life.I need to know the history of human civilizations and the content of religious texts to understand the world that is around me, I need to commune with the divine on a regular basis because I am a spiritual person, and all of these things take time. My family and my work, friends, the joys of life are all to be relished. Keep a birds ey view on your life, stay true to what is important, understand that great goals are not reached overnight, and that the crowd is mis-informed. Have courage, associate yourselves with like minded people who will support you in walking a different path. Stay dedicated rather than jumping from one thing to another, keep your priorities straight. Aim for the highest truths, the loftiest of goals, stay humble and seek wisdom on a daily basis. A Jewish Rabbi of great repute once wrote to his students: whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Are we so busy, gmailing, and hotmailing, and facebooking and myspacing and consuming, selling and being sold to, that we have no more time for wisdom? and is that good? Remember : less is more, trim your life to be organizined according to what is truely important to you.
Summer is the season of the heart. In Chinese medicine at different points of the rotation of the earth around the sun different energy lines (meridians) and organs are most affected. The same way that the rotation of the moon around the earth affects the water systems of the planet, the seasons affect the workings of our organs and general energy levels. The dragon style of Kung Fu corresponds to the summer. It is a time of intense activity, to be sluggish in the summer is to be out of harmony with the season. Be active and eat light. In Chinese medicine the associate organ to the heart is the small intestine. This long organ digests foods and absorbs their nutrients which it sends directly into the blood supply. keep your blood clean you feel better, less angry more calm.
Ginseng and peppermint are great teas to have in the summer. Some examples of fire element foods would be: bell Peppers, hot peppers, Cayenne, curry,tomatoes, meats, fish, poultry,eggs, yogurt, tempeh.
Join us for an indepth exporation of dragon style kung fu this summer. Enjoy our sunny Toronto.
