Four Days in Beijing
I recently took a couple trips to Beijing to visit friends who were in town. My teacher, Hao Zhi Hua, along with several Wushu West students, were taking their summer training trip to Shi Cha Hai, and of course I was also able to spend some quality time with a bunch of other friends who [...]
Wushu Retrospective (Part 5) – 1996-2000: Wushu Friends
Before getting back in to the experience of learning wushu itself, I thought I would take some time to talk about something that had a huge impact on my experience with wushu over the years. In fact, besides my coach, I would say that this is one of the two factors that contributed the most [...]
Wushu Retrospective (Part 4) – 1996-1998: An Introduction to Wushu Politics
When I first started training at Wushu West my focus was pretty much centered on the world inside my school. It took me a couple months just to get to know my fellow students and start bonding with them. But it became clear after a short time that there was a whole world of wushu [...]
Wushu Retrospective (Part 3) – 1995-1996: Competitions and Demonstrations
This is part 3 of my Wushu Retrospective, a look back at my personal history with the sport of wushu. Please note that there are syncing issues with the sound on the following videos that I didn’t have time to fix before posting them up. ———————————————- It was round-about the time I was 3/4 of [...]
Wushu Retrospective (Part 2) – 1995: The Honeymoon
I picked up the phone. “Hello?” “Hello. Is Mark there? I’m returning his call.” a woman’s Chinese-accented voice said on the other end. I figured it was someone from the school’s office or maybe a parent that helps with registration. “Yes, I’m interested in taking Wushu classes?” I said. “Have you taken any martial arts [...]
Beijing – Day 13/14: Training and New Arrivals
Sorry for the lack of updates over the last 2 days. Not that much have happened to warrant a single entry for each day, but now two days have passed. And since I’m waiting for the guest blog entries on the F0rbidd3n City and The Gr3at Wa11 (Pierre and Ashley? Hellooooo?) I’ll fill some time [...]
Beijing – Day 12: Quick Note & The Great Wall
Sunday was our day off and so most of the students went to the Great Wall to see one of the biggest wonders of the world (or at least one of the longest). I didn’t go with them, but I have enlisted Lauren/Ashley to write up a blog about their trip. Until that is ready, [...]
Beijing – Day 11: Weight Lifting, the Forbidden City and Hutong Pizza
Finally our last 8:00 am training was here. I will not be sad to see those be a thing of the past. Next week all our trainings are at 9:00 and 3:30 in the wushu hall. Jennifer eating breakfast Pierre enjoys some cereal We were in the lower wushu hall for basics and forms. Also [...]
Beijing – Day 10: Pierre and Jennifer arrive
The day had finally arrived for two more members of Wushu West to join us in Beijing. But first, we had to deal with some morning training in the upstairs wushu hall. When we arrived in the wushu hall there were a few of the professional athletes stretching on the main blue carpet; Zhao Qing [...]