Once a upon a time, people used to say, "I'm hungry."
It was all you would hear.
Nowadays, all you hear people say are, "I'm bored."
Who do you think was happier?
Saturday 23 February 2008
Thursday 7 February 2008
post 57. Happy Chinese New Year
Lol, just got off the phone with Zhou lao shi. Prepped me up heaps. We didn't meet today cos it's a "rest day", but that wily old man went for a run! Cos he's scared of falling behind. Oh no! And I been slacking off. Need to get me act together or else will be his punching bag again!
Hahah. On another note, he asked me to eat durian cos it will make me miss home more (it's a word play: the Chinese word for durian has the same sounds for "leaving thoughts behind"). When I said he was cruel, he laughed so happily.
Anyway, here's to having a better year for everyone, including the both of us. Better wishes for the new year!
Hahah. On another note, he asked me to eat durian cos it will make me miss home more (it's a word play: the Chinese word for durian has the same sounds for "leaving thoughts behind"). When I said he was cruel, he laughed so happily.
Anyway, here's to having a better year for everyone, including the both of us. Better wishes for the new year!
[MV] Jay Chou - A Secret I Cannot Tell (不能说的秘密)
Ah.
How did you find me here?Still, in case I didn't say it, I'm glad you called.
Tuesday 5 February 2008
Star Wars: Father and Son
MUHAahhahAHha. Imagine trying to live up to that kinda dad's expectations.
(click on image to start gif. for some reason, which i am too tired to dig up now, it wouldn't run by itself.)
Monday 4 February 2008
random thoughts: irony
irony:
a) ironic that I seem to be in better physical condition than when I was in the army. I can do almost twice the amount of chin-ups, and my endurance running seem to have improved as well. Just came back from a run that I used to need to in 2 segments. Guess I perform better when not under excessive stress. I do not like people pushing me all the time.
b) the world is going out of whack. Weather patterns are changing world-wide, animal species are going into extinction at an unprecedented rate (even the koala's future is uncertain), and all the news seemed to be focused on is the coming election in America and the local price of living. I guess that kinda shows what kind of outlook we, humanity as a whole, have.
c) irony = the tangy taste of iron. usually can be sampled when delivered a good sock to the face.
a) ironic that I seem to be in better physical condition than when I was in the army. I can do almost twice the amount of chin-ups, and my endurance running seem to have improved as well. Just came back from a run that I used to need to in 2 segments. Guess I perform better when not under excessive stress. I do not like people pushing me all the time.
b) the world is going out of whack. Weather patterns are changing world-wide, animal species are going into extinction at an unprecedented rate (even the koala's future is uncertain), and all the news seemed to be focused on is the coming election in America and the local price of living. I guess that kinda shows what kind of outlook we, humanity as a whole, have.
c) irony = the tangy taste of iron. usually can be sampled when delivered a good sock to the face.
post 56. Chen Ziqiang Tui Shou
More TJQ (Chen-style), this time showing push-hands (tui shou). Looks painful, eh? Wouldn't fancy to be on the receiving end.
Sunday 3 February 2008
Post 55. Chinese Martial arts Performance --taijiquan（太极拳）
Watch the first 30 seconds. Probably a good indication of how taiji can be used as self defense against common attacks. Notice it's the same movements except performed at speed. Quite ouch at the 32 second mark.
post 54. meeting another CMA practitioner
So I had a recent meet-up with an local practitioner of Chinese martial arts (CMA), and it's quite frustrating.
1) Why play the game of seeing who's tougher? I'm didn't come by to test how strong or tough you are, even if I am heaps younger than you. Getting me to try to crush your hand, honestly, it's a far cry from Zhou lao shi's hand. I'm quite sad that someone of his age had to actually try that.
2) Please speak clearly. Don't try to throw out terms that I don't understand, and when I ask, do not answer. Why? Is it supposed to impress me? It doesn't, especially when you do not even know what xing yi. Gosh. Fine, maybe you are not exposed to it, and you are a practical kind of person who doesn't read a lot of books. But then don't start throwing out terms like "Do you practise gong," and when I say I don't exactly understand the question, smile smugly and don't clarify. Are you asking about fali, or yunqi, zhan zhuan or what? Just say it. Don't try to hide behind mystique and think it makes you appear wise.
3) Yes, xing yi has tiger form. Just because I'm only learning the five element fists doesn't mean xing yi doesn't have it. Also, pi quan is part of tiger form. And fancy not knowing the five element fists and five element theory are linked. No, honestly, get your facts right before showing off your superior knowledge. Else, it's just sad. And I don't care if you have 5 tigers at home. Cos you know what, you don't explain what it means, and you are obviously not willing to share. If you want to show off, fine. You know what, I have a bear back home in Australia too. His name is Pooh and he's real mean if you deny him his honey. My bear against your 5 tigers anytime.
Sigh. If a man's action reveals his character, I'm glad I'm learning from a non-Singaporean. No, honestly, I don't understand what he was trying to do. I only wanted to talk, but obviously, he doesn't and was off on a tangent.
But I'm pretty pleased with myself. Lol, I think I'm getting quite good at hiding contempt and disdain behind a smiling mask. Getting devious in my old age. Hahaha. I think if it was a younger me, I would have just gotten up and left. Proabably threw my drink in his face if he really pissed me off. Must congratulate myself for a good job sitting there, smiling and listening. Well done!
But seriously, if that is the caliber of practitioners here in Singapore, then it is quite sad. But okay, just one person. We'll see.
1) Why play the game of seeing who's tougher? I'm didn't come by to test how strong or tough you are, even if I am heaps younger than you. Getting me to try to crush your hand, honestly, it's a far cry from Zhou lao shi's hand. I'm quite sad that someone of his age had to actually try that.
2) Please speak clearly. Don't try to throw out terms that I don't understand, and when I ask, do not answer. Why? Is it supposed to impress me? It doesn't, especially when you do not even know what xing yi. Gosh. Fine, maybe you are not exposed to it, and you are a practical kind of person who doesn't read a lot of books. But then don't start throwing out terms like "Do you practise gong," and when I say I don't exactly understand the question, smile smugly and don't clarify. Are you asking about fali, or yunqi, zhan zhuan or what? Just say it. Don't try to hide behind mystique and think it makes you appear wise.
3) Yes, xing yi has tiger form. Just because I'm only learning the five element fists doesn't mean xing yi doesn't have it. Also, pi quan is part of tiger form. And fancy not knowing the five element fists and five element theory are linked. No, honestly, get your facts right before showing off your superior knowledge. Else, it's just sad. And I don't care if you have 5 tigers at home. Cos you know what, you don't explain what it means, and you are obviously not willing to share. If you want to show off, fine. You know what, I have a bear back home in Australia too. His name is Pooh and he's real mean if you deny him his honey. My bear against your 5 tigers anytime.
Sigh. If a man's action reveals his character, I'm glad I'm learning from a non-Singaporean. No, honestly, I don't understand what he was trying to do. I only wanted to talk, but obviously, he doesn't and was off on a tangent.
But I'm pretty pleased with myself. Lol, I think I'm getting quite good at hiding contempt and disdain behind a smiling mask. Getting devious in my old age. Hahaha. I think if it was a younger me, I would have just gotten up and left. Proabably threw my drink in his face if he really pissed me off. Must congratulate myself for a good job sitting there, smiling and listening. Well done!
But seriously, if that is the caliber of practitioners here in Singapore, then it is quite sad. But okay, just one person. We'll see.
Friday 1 February 2008
post 53. Heng quan (横拳) and more
Ah. Heng quan, usually the last of the five element fists.
When Zhou lao shi first said Heng quan had a bit of difficulty, I confess I did doubt him a bit. Come on, it looks simple: just keep your fist facing forward and walk from left to right, right?
Right, it's the things that look easy that are not easy.
First, the footwork. Looked a bit iffy but picked it up after 2 or 3 reps. Basically, from san ti (left foot forward, right foot back), swing left foot to right, turning it 45 degrees inwards. Rear right foot follows, but stops facing forward. So both feet form a rough triangle. Bring left front foot foward at 45 degrees, and bring rear foot up and facing in same direction as left so that both feet are parallel. Sink. Now, swing rear right foot across and around to the front, stopping with foot hooking in 45 degrees. Rear left foot (which was the front foot before) now goes to the back and follows, facing front. Repeat.
Basically, it's moving from a rough triangle to parrallel, swing and cross to form triangle, to parallel, swing and cross, etc etc. The swinging bit I find hardest, cos it's hard to balance and control the position of the rear foot when stopping.
It's easier with a vid, but then, hmmmm. Pondering taping Zhou lao shi doing the forms, but lack of digital camera. Still, something to consider.
So that's the footwork. Moves you left to right while still advancing. Heng = horiszontal in Mandarin. So, that is what the footwork achieves. Moves you side to side but still advancing towards oppoenent.
The upper body now. So, from san ti, when moving left front foot to right, close fists, and as in zuan quan, left hand jerks down and right hand drills up. Position: left foot forward, right hand forward. When moving to parallel, right hand still faces forward. Now the tricky bit. When swinging and crossing right foot to the front, twist body to the right and send the hand foward a bit more; do not passively allow the arm to follow the body movement of left to right. When right foot touches ground, left hand pulls down and right arms drills up, right foot stomps into foward facing position. All in one instant.
I find the twisting of the body hardest. Zhou lao shi suggested thinking of a S-shape , but then he also said that muscles in the curved-in region (quadratus lumborum, i think) should also push upwards. At the same time, the shoulder and upper limb should be sent forward, as if someone was pulling on it.
Lol, if that sounds complicated, try doing it. It is. I wonder if Heng quan is usually taught last cos it's the hardest to learn.
And you know what's the most irritating thing? That a middle-aged man can make it look so effortless. Zhou lao shi got me to feel his back whilst he was doing the motions, and yeah, I wouldn't have thought it possible that someone's small back muscles can be so developed. Lats, traps, yeah, that's normal, but quadratus lumborum, I would have said it's dodgy if I haven't felt it myself.
Zhou lao shi empahsized the twisting motion helps to massage the viscera and work the back muscles as well. That's a simple way of possibly explaining how internal martial arts mantain organ health. I just find it bloody hard to do.
He also mentioned something that makes sense to me though. It's important to work on the internal (organs, viscera) as well, not just the external (nice big muscles), because it helps with abosrbing force. It's a matter of conditioning, I think. The Chinese have a saying, which when loosely translated means, work on the internal, so that strength stems from the inside. Makes sense to me. Can't get strong without good lungs and heart.
And then possibly because we didn't fulfil our quota of hands-on, he set about showing me how to show different parts of the body to smack someone around. I wouldn't have though a chin could be used in that way, or that it could be that painful or effective. And he also did do the stomach thing when you shove someone with it. It's like being lifted up by a big solid mass of air. No, really. It's an up and out motion, basically breaking your root/centre of gravity. And he was doing it slow. If he did it fast, I really think I would have been hurled far away. I can see how it would work in a fight.
And then he really got into it, showing me the butt-shove, the head butt, the shoulder stroke. We both had a laugh when he showed me how to use the head to attack continously. Looks funny, but bloody painful if used on you. Basically, they all adhere to the principle of xing yi: attack continously, using every part of your body, until your opponent is totally vanquished. Or to put it in a nicer way: Overcome your opponent with such an overwhelming force that he feels like he cannot possibly fight against it.
Hehe. I still remember the continous head butts.
When Zhou lao shi first said Heng quan had a bit of difficulty, I confess I did doubt him a bit. Come on, it looks simple: just keep your fist facing forward and walk from left to right, right?
Right, it's the things that look easy that are not easy.
First, the footwork. Looked a bit iffy but picked it up after 2 or 3 reps. Basically, from san ti (left foot forward, right foot back), swing left foot to right, turning it 45 degrees inwards. Rear right foot follows, but stops facing forward. So both feet form a rough triangle. Bring left front foot foward at 45 degrees, and bring rear foot up and facing in same direction as left so that both feet are parallel. Sink. Now, swing rear right foot across and around to the front, stopping with foot hooking in 45 degrees. Rear left foot (which was the front foot before) now goes to the back and follows, facing front. Repeat.
Basically, it's moving from a rough triangle to parrallel, swing and cross to form triangle, to parallel, swing and cross, etc etc. The swinging bit I find hardest, cos it's hard to balance and control the position of the rear foot when stopping.
It's easier with a vid, but then, hmmmm. Pondering taping Zhou lao shi doing the forms, but lack of digital camera. Still, something to consider.
So that's the footwork. Moves you left to right while still advancing. Heng = horiszontal in Mandarin. So, that is what the footwork achieves. Moves you side to side but still advancing towards oppoenent.
The upper body now. So, from san ti, when moving left front foot to right, close fists, and as in zuan quan, left hand jerks down and right hand drills up. Position: left foot forward, right hand forward. When moving to parallel, right hand still faces forward. Now the tricky bit. When swinging and crossing right foot to the front, twist body to the right and send the hand foward a bit more; do not passively allow the arm to follow the body movement of left to right. When right foot touches ground, left hand pulls down and right arms drills up, right foot stomps into foward facing position. All in one instant.
I find the twisting of the body hardest. Zhou lao shi suggested thinking of a S-shape , but then he also said that muscles in the curved-in region (quadratus lumborum, i think) should also push upwards. At the same time, the shoulder and upper limb should be sent forward, as if someone was pulling on it.
Lol, if that sounds complicated, try doing it. It is. I wonder if Heng quan is usually taught last cos it's the hardest to learn.
And you know what's the most irritating thing? That a middle-aged man can make it look so effortless. Zhou lao shi got me to feel his back whilst he was doing the motions, and yeah, I wouldn't have thought it possible that someone's small back muscles can be so developed. Lats, traps, yeah, that's normal, but quadratus lumborum, I would have said it's dodgy if I haven't felt it myself.
Zhou lao shi empahsized the twisting motion helps to massage the viscera and work the back muscles as well. That's a simple way of possibly explaining how internal martial arts mantain organ health. I just find it bloody hard to do.
He also mentioned something that makes sense to me though. It's important to work on the internal (organs, viscera) as well, not just the external (nice big muscles), because it helps with abosrbing force. It's a matter of conditioning, I think. The Chinese have a saying, which when loosely translated means, work on the internal, so that strength stems from the inside. Makes sense to me. Can't get strong without good lungs and heart.
And then possibly because we didn't fulfil our quota of hands-on, he set about showing me how to show different parts of the body to smack someone around. I wouldn't have though a chin could be used in that way, or that it could be that painful or effective. And he also did do the stomach thing when you shove someone with it. It's like being lifted up by a big solid mass of air. No, really. It's an up and out motion, basically breaking your root/centre of gravity. And he was doing it slow. If he did it fast, I really think I would have been hurled far away. I can see how it would work in a fight.
And then he really got into it, showing me the butt-shove, the head butt, the shoulder stroke. We both had a laugh when he showed me how to use the head to attack continously. Looks funny, but bloody painful if used on you. Basically, they all adhere to the principle of xing yi: attack continously, using every part of your body, until your opponent is totally vanquished. Or to put it in a nicer way: Overcome your opponent with such an overwhelming force that he feels like he cannot possibly fight against it.
Hehe. I still remember the continous head butts.
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