Reading Kathy Sierra's post on How to be an expert reminds me of my priactising Tai Chi. I do and teach Tai Chi. I am by no mean an expert. Far from it, I learn something new every time I do it or teach it. From a non practitioner's POV, Tai Chi may seems slow and boring. "How long does it take to learn to rise your arms from your sides to the front?" -- Answer -- a very long time. Such a simply movement contains so many details that maybe too subtle to see, but not too subtle to learn and improve. The richness of Tai Chi makes it fun to climb that path to becoming an "expert".
Nike Free Defective
I thought I found the perfect atheletic shoes -- for walking, running, and more importantly, for doing wushu and tai chi. The Nike Free. When it first came out, I brought a pair online from Finish Line. It was great. I was happy. Until about a month and half later...
The mesh material started tearing from the heel, on both shoes. Since it happened at about the same time, and on both feet, I am pretty sure that it is not damaged by me hitting something. (Especially not on the heel)! Examining the tear, it is obvious that the glued attachment at that point is not very strong.
I emailed customer service, and they told me that if I think it's a manufacturer defect, I can bring it back to the physical store and exchange them within 90 days. I took them back to the store, and they were nice about it -- exchanging them for a new pair. However --
They said the reason for the tear is that I must have stepped on the heel to take the shoes off, which I do sometimes. They said Nike actually will not take the shoes back from the store because they do not believe that is normal wear and tear. The store must have gotten a lot of return/exchange requests, they said now they tell the customers not to step on the heel to remove the shoes when they buy them.
What do you think? The shoes are great. You can even use the Nike iD system to customize a pair for yourself. But for $105 a pair, would you think you need to remember to not step on the heel when removing the shoes?
Wushu Training
Just updated my notes on wushu basic training exercise, section one to four here. Finally I got all four sections down. These trainings, together with Kung Li Cheun, are good for perfecting the punches, kicks, and stances.
Enjoy
Sifu on doing a form: "You have to enjoy your own movement". If you don't enjoy your own movement, how can others enjoy yours if you are performing in front of people?
Sifu on tai chi movements: "xing yun liu shui". Wavering clouds and flowing water.
Kung Li Chuen Part 2
Part II Start facing East. 1. turn left into left bow step, double punch to North. 2. swing arms back, left arm elbow strike towards front, right arm straight back, stand on one right leg, left foot point downwards, still faces north 3. step forward with left foot into left bow, left back fist press/chop horizontal down, lean forward north, extend 4. turn left into horse stance facing west, right back fist press/chop horizontal down, left fist withdraw to waist 1. turn right into right bow stance, double punch to north 2. twist step moving right leg behind left, weight on left, block at face with right palm facing vertical south, left arm punch south 3. use waist, turn 270 degrees clockwise to face east, left arm swing horizontal fist strike in front (palm facing up, strike with bottom of horizontal fist right), right arm grab into fist ending straight behind body, slightly higher than shoulder. right bow stance. Do not move foot from 3. 4. bring left foot to side of right, stomp, right fist upper cut/punch to front, draw left fist to waist. end of section 2.
Turning and Kicking
I have decided to write up some notes from my wushu classes here in the blog. I have been doing this for awhile but kept the notes private as they probably mean very little to the average reader. Now I think if I am publishing these it will force me to think about it a little more and write the notes up better. Today we worked on the turning kicks in essence of Tai Chi. How can I power the entire turn and the two kicks using only the waist. The kicks are natural and effortless. The hands are still. Turning, shifting weight between the two legs, and doing an inward and double sweeping kicks all in one smooth circle. Again, it shows how one single movement takes a lifetime of Tai Chi skills.
One of the key again is to sink the hips while kicking and standing on one leg.
wushu basic training section 1 to 4
11 steps. 1-6 front kick toe, 1-7 front kick instep, at 7 point step.8 - wheel turn and slap floor. 9 - hook behind heads forward, 10 - wipe, punch down to corner, bend knees, spine straight bent over. 11 - bow step weight on rt, rt palm push up and left palm push left, look left.
section two: 11 steps. 1-6 side kicks: 1 - rt palm hand point to ceiling, wt on left ft, left ft behind right, side kick rt leg, left palm to ceiling, right elbow strike forward, keeps palm down at chest level. 2 - right hand point to ceiling, turn body 180, weight on rt leg, left hand point down, 3-6 same 7 same, stop after kick 8 - 10 body turn: 8 step left leg behind right, twist step, weight on right, swing both arms to right side, palms down, left hand elbow to left, right hand straight pointing right. turn body over, left, over, right, end in twist step weight on left, right leg back, hands pointing left. 9,10 same, 11 same, at end twist and punch diag up and back with right fist, catch right wrist with left hand, finish.
section 3: 1. both arms stretch out to sides. small left step, right foot sweep out kick right hand 2. small right step. Left foot sweep left. 3. right out kick. 4. left out kick. 5. Right foot inside sweep, kick left hand. 6. left foot kick right hand. 7. right foot kick left. 8. left foot kick right. 9. turn spin left, right foot kick left hand. end facing left front. would have turned 360 + 90 degress. Spin as follows: right foot down, turn body left, lift left knee. hop up/spin using right foot on ground. Before landing on left leg, right foot kick left hand. 10. draw fists and punch right, horse stance, look right (where you were heading). 11. swing right straighten arm left, look left. drop to twist step, step back with left leg behind right, punch left. (note: all punch must start from waist). body faces front still. 12. untwist and turn body 180 facing back, into horse stance, punch right, where you came from.
section 4: 1. turn body 90 degrees right, into bow stand right foot forward, punch left arm forward. (punching hand opposite forward leg). 2. step up into left bow stand, punch right arm. 3. lift right knee, right heel kick forward, punch with left. 4. stomp right foot down. lift left, heel kick left, punch with right. 5. right heel kick, punch left. 6. left heel kick, punch right, and hold 10 seconds, right hand hold left foot if possible. 7. Spin right/hop left kick right hand, end up 360 + 90 degrees facing back. Draw fists and punch left, horse stance, look left (where you were heading). 8. swing left straighten arm right, look right. drop to twist step, step back with right leg behind left, punch right. 9. untwist and turn body 180 facing front, into horse stance, punch left (where you came from). 10. Step right leg cross forward, turn left, push with right hand towards where you came from, hook left leg behind right knee. 11. Step with left towards left, follow with right, left, step over with right foot, jump from right leg, while left knee up, kick instep with right leg while in the air, land on right point step. Cross hands, unwind into left slide step, right hand push up with palm, left hand hook and swing back behing back, lean left look left.
Note: the end of section 3 and 4 are mirrored of each other, since you were heading in opposite direction on the spin. i.e. punch with left mirrored to punch with right. But the relative direction remains the same, i.e. punch to where you are going first, then where you came from, twice.