When I first got my practice jien, the first wet season it went through, a part of the guard warped and separated from the blade. This is because it was made in a very cold, low humidity and it is now in the exact opposite. So Sifu arranged to get it sent back to his friend who made it to get another one fixed.
Fast forward to a year -year and a half later, I finally got it back.
The reason was that get guy fixing it had one of those unexpected massive heart attacks and passed away. So Sifu had to wait until he went over to Alaska to visit before he could really get my sword and the rest of his back and send them back home.
But I have my sword back, just needed to glue the new guard plate back on and let it sit in clamps for a couple of days.
I had been using one of Sifu's swords in the mean time, although I gave that back yesterday. And I have to say that my forms feel really different now. I suppose it's just a matter of getting used to the feel of the sword (the weight, grip etc) again.
So yeah, very happy at the moment to have my sword back. I'll post a pic when I get home ^.^
Currently Reading: The Dwarves by Marcus Heitz
29 October 2009
21 October 2009
Nearly Didn't Happen
I've been training with Sifu now for around two years.
In that time I have acquired some skills with the Jien (Chinese Straight Sword), including two forms (Liang yi Jien and San Tsai Jien), techniques and some drills (good forearm strength!).
Last night Sifu said as that I was (virtually) the only student who consistently serious about the jien, said that he would start teaching me Kun Wu Jien. He showed me the first 6 or so movements and I have to say I love the feeling and expression of the form already. It's a fairly long form at around 45 movements long. So while it will take a while to learn (and then years to master), it shouldn't take as long as Lian Yi Jien. As that was the first form I learnt and had to learn a great many steps and sword techniques just to be able to perform it.
I've seen a youtube video of Adam Hsu performing Kun Wu Jian and that is just incredible to watch.
Looking forward to the next couple months of sword classes :)
Currently Reading: The Dwarves by Marcus Heitz
In that time I have acquired some skills with the Jien (Chinese Straight Sword), including two forms (Liang yi Jien and San Tsai Jien), techniques and some drills (good forearm strength!).
Last night Sifu said as that I was (virtually) the only student who consistently serious about the jien, said that he would start teaching me Kun Wu Jien. He showed me the first 6 or so movements and I have to say I love the feeling and expression of the form already. It's a fairly long form at around 45 movements long. So while it will take a while to learn (and then years to master), it shouldn't take as long as Lian Yi Jien. As that was the first form I learnt and had to learn a great many steps and sword techniques just to be able to perform it.
I've seen a youtube video of Adam Hsu performing Kun Wu Jian and that is just incredible to watch.
Looking forward to the next couple months of sword classes :)
Currently Reading: The Dwarves by Marcus Heitz
13 October 2009
Push - Push back
I've just been going through some of my posts (fixing the many, many spelling errors :sweatdrop:) and I came across this post last year.
I use to follow the 100 pushups before I realised how much it was overtraining my arms and stopped. But on a whim I decided to do a quick exhaustion test (ie keep doing push ups until you can't to anymore).
My score? 30. The last one (see link), I managed to complete 28. So in the year and a half I have been seriously focused on kung fu has helped me keep up the strength in my arms and shoulders. Cool.
We don't train push ups because they set muscle strength in a limited range of motion. For practicioners of kung fu, we need to have a greater range of motion. If we did train in push-ups it would be counterproductive.
I use to follow the 100 pushups before I realised how much it was overtraining my arms and stopped. But on a whim I decided to do a quick exhaustion test (ie keep doing push ups until you can't to anymore).
My score? 30. The last one (see link), I managed to complete 28. So in the year and a half I have been seriously focused on kung fu has helped me keep up the strength in my arms and shoulders. Cool.
We don't train push ups because they set muscle strength in a limited range of motion. For practicioners of kung fu, we need to have a greater range of motion. If we did train in push-ups it would be counterproductive.
12 October 2009
All Good Things Must End?
It's a bit sad, but my second job is coming to an end today. I'm picking up my last paycheck tonight.
The store just isn't making enough warrant keeping me on for the couple of shifts that I do. While it's a bit unfortunate, I'm not that upset because the job isn't worth that much to me anymore.
When the previous manager was running it, I was making around $300-350 a week extra in my pocket (mind you I did put in a quite a few hours to get paid so well). But with the new manager I was lucky to get $150 a week (the hours got cut right down).
So while the job was very good for me in the sense that it paid for my trips to Japan and New Zealand, I'm not sad to be leaving it. I was starting to looking for another job closer to town anyway.
Now I just need a replacement so that I can keep saving for Europe. I'm thinking of finding some work in a restaurant bar or something like in hospitality the hourly rates are quite good ^.^
Here's to hoping...
- Grover
The store just isn't making enough warrant keeping me on for the couple of shifts that I do. While it's a bit unfortunate, I'm not that upset because the job isn't worth that much to me anymore.
When the previous manager was running it, I was making around $300-350 a week extra in my pocket (mind you I did put in a quite a few hours to get paid so well). But with the new manager I was lucky to get $150 a week (the hours got cut right down).
So while the job was very good for me in the sense that it paid for my trips to Japan and New Zealand, I'm not sad to be leaving it. I was starting to looking for another job closer to town anyway.
Now I just need a replacement so that I can keep saving for Europe. I'm thinking of finding some work in a restaurant bar or something like in hospitality the hourly rates are quite good ^.^
Here's to hoping...
- Grover
Nuts
Yeah so it's been a little while again. Time seems to be very slippery of late.
Didn't get the job, but came second in the interviews which isn't too bad I suppose. Makes a pleasant change from the couple of shocking interview performances I've had previously.
But I am currently applying for a Project Officer job with Weed Management that sounds right up my alley. All dealing with stuff that I've had experience in before. I'm just spending a bit of time getting the application as perfect as I can to ensure that I'll get an intervew.
Here's to hoping...
- Grover
Didn't get the job, but came second in the interviews which isn't too bad I suppose. Makes a pleasant change from the couple of shocking interview performances I've had previously.
But I am currently applying for a Project Officer job with Weed Management that sounds right up my alley. All dealing with stuff that I've had experience in before. I'm just spending a bit of time getting the application as perfect as I can to ensure that I'll get an intervew.
Here's to hoping...
- Grover
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)