InMat is coming!

Just finished a photo shoot with the Sf Chronicle.....they wanted to know how the Chinese Community feels about the Olympics............and my basic response was that the Chinese Community is quite proud of China, though we realize China still has a ways to go........but without the Olympics China would not be under the scrutiny of the world.........this is key to China changin, it's also important for the world to actually see how Chinese Society operates........and to find out how the people are............friendship thru sports is a powertful way to change the world........having said that I still feel politics have no place in the Olympics....it is a time for the athletes to shine in a fair yet friendly competition.....that has more significance for world peace than any demonstration can do!!

  Well, tomorrow marks the third InMat tournament that I have helped with.  This event basically is for showcasing a lot of the young talent in the Shaolin Martial Arts Schools.....they certainly are popping up all over the Bay Area...............South Bay also has the highest number of Wushu School.........so it should be a fun event.  Usually, one of the high point of this event will be the competition with the athletes from China......good chance for anyone who wants International Competition experience.........in addition to He Tao from Tony Chen's Omei wushu School there is also Li Ao.....the women's Chuan Quan Champion from the Asian Games.....so that part of the event should be interesting....and in the evening Fei Yang Dance Group will also perform. 

    Have been working with fellow AnDer, Harry for about two months now........it has been a great experience......it reminds me how complex Wushu is as a physical activity.......often teaching little kids you don't need to explain very much.....you just make them do it.......but when you come from other disciplines....you have different training and concepts of how you do things.............so I try to explain the similarities yet note the differences..........even a front stretch kick.....to get power most people bend their backs....isn't that the way your body works.........yes, but in Wushu the requirement is the back and shoulders cannot move......so what are you usingt to kick.....only your quads and hamstring muscles...........compare with Taekwando.....you must swing your hips foward to supply power......again in Wushu you cannot do this either.......makes your form look bad.........this of course brings up again the question of how to promote an art that is so complicated.......it contains so many techniques that must be practiced thousands of time.

    Ok, anyone out there want to compete for the US in the Third World Traditional Competition.....just got a notice that Wudang will be hosting city for the competition....Oct 26-Nov 5........cost about $2600.....check out the TaiChiKungfu.com website for information!

     Cya all for now....time for me to get to Berkeley and plow thru the friday nite traffic....yuck!!