shanmonster: (On the stairs)
shanmonster ([personal profile] shanmonster) wrote2007-02-23 03:01 pm
Entry tags:

Bruise My Ego; Bruise My Leg

I'm so embarassed.

Last night, after wing chun class, [livejournal.com profile] gha5t was practicing some southern mantis and Hung Gar forms while I chatted with a new student. When I last looked, [livejournal.com profile] gha5t had been doing a mantis form. The new student looked over at him and asked, "What's he doing?"

I took a brief glance then said, "Mantis."

"Uh, no," said [livejournal.com profile] gha5t.

He was doing long, low stances, back fists, reverse punches, and the ilk. And that's when I clued in he was doing fook fu, the very first form I learned, and it's a Hung Gar form which looks nothing like mantis.

What the hell? Someone had better revoke my sash. Sheesh! Talk about a brain fart....

I think I'm progressing pretty well in wing chun. I'm self-correcting now, so the sifu doesn't have to make nearly as many corrections. I think he only had to make one adjustment last night, which is a huge improvement over the constant changes he was getting me to do during the first two weeks. I'm getting much better at speeding up muscle memory. And minimal directions make maximal sense, now, too. I went through gung gee at the end of the class, and during my double tiger claw strikes, the sifu said, "No, use your back."

This made sense to me, and as soon as I opened through my back, I could feel the power flowing down through my arms. Nice....

If you know anything about pressure points, then you're likely aware of the pressure point a few inches below your hip. Well, I don't have one. Any time I tell a martial artist that (which I suppose is a gaffe on my part, since I'm revealing a Super Power!), they, of course, have to test it out. So right now, I am sporting a lovely black bruise courtesy of the sifu doing a few test punches to see if I was shitting him or not.

Nope. I wasn't shitting him. I do, however, have all the other pressure points, and am not keen on having anyone punch those.

Right now, I'm baking an apple crumble pie. I just thought I'd let you know.

Want some links? Here you go!

Beatboxing flute inspector gadget remix: I used to play flute. I used to try to beatbox. But I never tried doing them both at the same time (thanks, [livejournal.com profile] snowy_kathryn).

This is an awesome necklace. That is all.

Saidance 2003: Saida is wearing a seriously bitchin' dress at the beginning of this clip. Oh yes, and I like her dancing, too.

Israeli defense chief makes lens cap gaffe: Derrr....

Every Bite You Take: I'd rather eat at home than go to restaurants. My cooking is just generally better. And now I know why. It looks like more and more restaurants are going with premade frozen dinners (thanks, [livejournal.com profile] gha5t).

[identity profile] sidruid.livejournal.com 2007-02-23 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
double tiger claw strikes use one's back?

[identity profile] shanmonster.livejournal.com 2007-02-23 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Yup. Otherwise, you're just flinging your hands around. I engage the muscles across my upper and lower back, driving the energy down into my elbows, which makes my hands, in turn, move with a hell of a lot more power. The low stance is necessary, too, for it all to work together.

[identity profile] sidruid.livejournal.com 2007-02-23 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
there are a lot of double tiger-claws, which is why i ask. You're thinking of the long distance one-two set (like palm strikes, but completing with a claw). As opposed to the two-together (twice) that resemble cloud hands near the end of fuk fu (hip elbow and back), or the two-together low ones right after that (all elbow).

Many tiger claw strikes involve all of the force coming from dropping the elbow, and most of the time the handwork is close to the body. There's another one-two which are almost like eagle claws, to the throat.

(also, our system is focused around this, so i think i use my back more than i realize because it's simply how one moves.)

Beatbox/flute

[identity profile] abraxasrutrem.livejournal.com 2007-02-23 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
reminds me of Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) only cleaner.

dance clips

(Anonymous) 2007-02-23 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
great that you are posting dance clips. I feel as though I am getting something of an education in various dancing styles.

Re: dance clips

[identity profile] shanmonster.livejournal.com 2007-02-25 03:21 pm (UTC)(link)
That's the idea! I'm educating myself, too!

[identity profile] real-bethy.livejournal.com 2007-02-24 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
Did you like the soup I made?

Dave told me that you would be "baffled" by it.

Kat said she thought it was missing something. Your thoughts?

[identity profile] shanmonster.livejournal.com 2007-02-25 03:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not super-keen on beef-bean soup, but I do appreciate the thought. Your cookies, however, I am very keen on. Hee!

4 Gallons of Soup...

[identity profile] real-bethy.livejournal.com 2007-02-26 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
...and I am the only one who likes it.

Bummer!

[identity profile] meddevi.livejournal.com 2007-02-24 06:28 am (UTC)(link)
that is a freaking awesome necklace...and safely outside of my price range right now...whew!

[identity profile] shanmonster.livejournal.com 2007-02-25 03:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I know, isn't it great? As soon as I can get the materials together, I just might make something similar for myself. It's been too long since I've done any metal work....

[identity profile] valkryor.livejournal.com 2007-02-24 01:10 pm (UTC)(link)
The restaurant thing doesn't surprise me in the slightest, to be honest. The trick is finding one that actually makes most of what's on the menu.