Wushu flavor and food

Wushu flavor is one of those things that is so hard to teach, and yet without it a student cannot rise to the top.  Too many of my students worry about the move not being correct...and indeed spend a lot of time debating among themselves on who is more correct.  While in the beginning it is important to remember the moves, once this stage is past you need to concentrate on the meaning and intent of the form and try and bring it's characteristics out..........you become an expression of the form.  I had lunch with Madame Chen Dao Yan.........one of China's great swordswoman and coach of Hong Dao Academy.....,,we spent some time discussing this....that today's wushu competitors have no martial intent .....indeed they resemble gymnasts..........pausing, getting ready to do their acrobatic runs..........these have absolutely no martial use.  The result of Nandu is to turn wushu into a dance competition.......the internal arts are done the most disservice...........Taiji, Bagua are suppose to flow like water, exhibiting changes between yin and yang...........instead we must stop to do a jump outside crescent kick....land and do a half split...in slow motion!  Martial intent means the form must demonstrate attack and defense..........each form has a specific solution...no two sets are alike. Each style makes use of different tools to combat an opponent...........animal moves, joint locking, punching and kicking........each form has a different rhythm and pace. Fortunately, with the relaxing of the nandu rules for world competition........many of China's competitors are returning to pre-nandu style forms...........Yay! You must let your Qi lead your movement and not think about what you are doing..........feel the connection between mind and body............it is your ego however, that requires correctness...........to learn and progress you must give it up.  In the old days at the Beijing Team they just beat you and break you down so you are ready to learn.............my uncle taught Tibetan white Crane in the same way.  He would sit watching students practice their Horse Stance, and if not perfect he would hit you with a bamboo switch..........after awhile you knew exactly what was required!!  We can't do that nowadays.....so it's important that as a student you watch those who are good and then compare with your own form.........watching is so important.........too often students are busy talking or too concern about their own practice....but watching and sharing is so important to developing a feeling for what you are learning.  This I must admit is very hard to put into words........like many things in Chinese Culture an intuitive understanding is necessary.......words are in fact inadequate!

Flavor in food is easier to understand it has a certain taste...well wushu should have a certain look!!  Anyway had dinner on thursday at Ono's....great Hawaiian Food..........good BBQ....and macaroni salad.

Ono's has great Hawaiian food.

BBQ chicken mix with Macaroni salad.

BBQ mix..Beef, Kalbi,and chicken!

Friday..........Calwushu had it's in-class demo, the A,B,and C Teams all performed.  They are trying to get ready for the Wushu Collegiate Nationals which this year will be at Stanford.  Beat Stanford!  There were many good performances...........Tiffany with her Ermei Daggers, Tungbeiquan done by both Stewart and Shahob were very good.  Shahob's performance showed he understands the flavor of tungbeiquan.  Kevin showed off the flare of his Chang Quan.  The Team sets tho still need a lot of work...............But, great job everyone!

Cal Wushu Team preparing for collegiates,

Saturday...........SF Wushu Team did the Lion Dance and did a half hour show for the Spring Festival.  We were quite lucky as it did not rain while we were lion dancing outside.  Un fortunately, for people in the New Year Parade it rained later.  It was good to see Amy and Terry at the Festival.  Amy in her time was both all around women's champion and the Taiji champion ....a feat no American woman has yet to duplicate.  Good to see you guys!!

SF Wushu Team performing at the Hilton Hotel........this is part of the opening number......Explosion..........a little of everything wushu!