Back in October, White Lotus Kung Fu moved to a new location. We said goodbye to the strip mall and moved to a huge warehouse two miles away. Despite the addition of tons of awesome new classes and sessions, I attended about four classes there for the rest of the year.
Ah, but it’s January now, and the schedule has been finalized. I’m still taking kung fu three nights a week (and it still kicks my ass like nothing else ever has), but I can now indulge in Tai Chi twice a week instead of once! I’ve mentioned recently how much I love getting back to Tai Chi. Tonight, the realization hit me that if I had to pick just kung fu or Tai Chi to do the rest of my life, I’d pick Tai Chi. Kung fu is awesome, but it’s very demanding and hard on the body. Tai Chi refreshes me. It helps with my posture and breathing and balance. I always leave Tai Chi feeling healthier and happier and more energetic than when I started.
I also started taking a weapons class this week. I’ve been dying to do weapons since before I even started taking martial arts. My old kempo school dabbled in weapons: nunchaku, staff, and Chinese broadsword. But we only had a smattering of weapons lessons during my 5-year stint, and I never came close to proficiency with any of them.
Now I am in martial arts heaven. We’ve started with the Chinese staff, which I have learned is quite different from the Japanese staff work I did at my old school. (The spins, blocks, strikes, and philosophy are so very different.) After just two days, we’ve learned a variety of forward and reverse spins, one-handed spins, around the body spins, and overhead spins. (I am terrible at the overhead ones. It’s only a matter of time before I kill myself or another student while attempting them.) I got a huge blister the first day, and a second blister tonight. Blisters are tiny, painful badges of honor, and I rejoice in their gooey beauty.
What classes am I not taking? Judo, Parkour, Freerunning, Chi Kung (It’s the same time as Tai Chi! *weep*), Yoga, and Self-Defense/Streetfighting. So much goodness! I feel like a starving woman admitted to an all-you-can-eat buffet. There’s so much I want to try! But for now, I’m sticking with kung fu and Tai Chi, at least until I catch up to all the material I missed while I was “away” last year.
And there you go. That’s the giddy, hands-clapping-with-glee martial arts report for early January. :)
Thanks! I'm glad you like the new look!!!
Don't forget about Chi Kung — I don't think there's any movement in that at all, just a lot of energy building. But of course, I'd prefer to have you in Tai Chi. :)
Okay. I’m now seriously considering Tai Chi. As Kung Fu is currently out of the question because of my knees.
Oh, btw – LOVE the new look of your site! Woo!