Journal of Aaradia's MA Journey

Discussion in 'Training Logs' started by aaradia, Feb 14, 2015.

  1. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Alright, I think I am ready to start up again.

    Monday, June 12, 2017 -
    6:30 - Techniques practice with Ms. B. Yellow, Green and Blue sash techniques.

    7:00 - CLF Private lesson. Hmmm, since last I started logging, my TCC lessons have been suspended. I will have one hour CLF lessons instead. This is to get me ready for my next CLF test. I understand it is necessary, but hate it. It makes me want to test more so that I can go back to my TCC lessons.

    Anyways, my lesson was reviewing kicks and techniques. Brown sash 1st degree techniques and oh I think brown sash 2nd degree kicks. This includes heel hooks and spinning heel hooks, My spinning heel hooks are terrible! They need a lot of work!

    8:00 - Stick fighting class. Which was actually knife fighting class tonight. Very basic introductory class to knife fighting.

    8:30 - Purple sash techniques. Stretching. TCC Fajing form.

    9:45 - School closes

    Week 1 - ( Restart) 3 hours and 45 minutes
     
  2. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Monday, October 30, 2017 -

    6:30 - Warm up
    6:45 - 6:55ish Private CLF lesson. Where am I at since I left off this log? I am doing hour long lessons right now to prepare for my next test. A common practice at my school is that if you are doing both arts, you suspend lessons and mostly practice for one when preparing for the other. So, I have hour long CLF lessons and no TCC ones right now.
    My lessons are what I call pre-formatting. Going through materials, but still stopping for corrections. We haven't been covering as much material as we both thought recently, because of some issues I have had. I have been stuck with some things, not progressing even though I practice a lot. So, my instructor is working on changing the approach to practice. It's kind of hard to explain.

    I have mentioned her before how both my instructors have said they can see me thinking too much and not trusting my training. I finally told my CLF instructor that I thought it was because of my OCD. I told her my brain just doesn't stop. Period- not just in CLF but in life. I was scared to tell her this because I thought she would think I was making excuses, but I shouldn't have been. She and I have been working to just change how I see my corrections in a way that works with my particular brain.

    So, instead of me focusing on a myriad of details, or trying to shut them off, we use key words to convey the message. Words that get the themee across enough for my brain, but just a word so that I can also try to not think through entire sentences of details as I am practicing. I don't know if that makes any sense, but maybe it will as I mention specific details as I log things.

    So, we went over Golden Leopard VS tiger solo and that went very well. We also went over the spear form, which had some work to do, but wasn't bad. Considering I hadn't done that one in a month or so because of a thumb injury. We also did brown sash 3rd degree kicks, which I am having particular difficulty with. But she said they weren't as bad as I thought they were. Brown sash 3rd degree techniques went VERY well. Hardly any corrections at all. Which is very rare.

    Kicks are still my big thing I am working on. The theme was how I need to have more body awareness with regards to balance issues. So, thinking the word balance wasn't working, so I am to think of "weightedness" instead. Paying attention to my weight distribution, because I tend to fall one way or another. Weightedness conveys the concept better because I understand the idea from my TCC training. We'll see if that helps.

    Overall it was a good lesson. I feel hopeful that our new approach may be working in getting me past some sticking points.

    8:00 - Stick fighting class

    8:30 - 9:43 - Solo practice. TCC double fan that I learned in the recent seminar. Kicking practice More brown sash 3rd degree and Purple sash kicks. Ended with some stretching.

    With a bit of rest mixed into this - about 3 hours and 30 Minutes.

    Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - Day off. I worked a night shift so a couple of my co-workers could have the day off. I do my Samhain stuff late at night, so that was fine.
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2017
  3. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Wednesday, November 1, 2017 - Weird schedule today. I had the day off, due to wanting to be able to be up late last night for Samhain stuff. I went in way earlier to the school than normal. I usually go in the evening and stay until closing. But I met up with one of my two person partners and she could only do noon. So noon it was! She is testing for black sash next Monday, and I will be at her test to be her two person partner. So, we have been practicing hard on this. Well, we do anyways, but....................

    12:00 - 1:10ish - Two person practice. 9 star, Golden leopard vs tiger and two person staff. Eh, it wasn't the best practice session we have ever had. I told her we were working out the jitters and mistakes so that they were out of the way for her test. I also hit her fingers, which NEVER happens. So, of course it would before her test. She said she is ok though. I feel really bad about it. Anyways, overall our progress has been great. We sometimes have an off day and today was it. I think I was a little off because I had some stomach issues this morning.

    1:20 - 4:00ish. I practiced some TCC two person stuff with Mr. D. Various pattern and Da Lu. He is also testing the same day for black fringe. I am also his two person partner. I am honored to be asked to help with two tests and I want to do right by my partners for their tests. I will also be his non-compliant push hands/ moving step partner for his test. But we just practiced the pattern Da Lu today. It went ok. I am a bit rusty as I am very limited in my TCC practice right now. But his instructor knew this (as he is my TCC instructor) and still wanted me to be his partner. So it is good for me to have this practice.

    Solo practice- Formal exercise, Siu Moi Fa, stick form, broadsword form. Here we get back to the changes being made in my practice lately. I was having memory issues, even though I practiced all the time. But I practiced forms once a week for a half hour or so? My instructor said to try making sure I practice the forms at least twice a week, but no more than 12 minutes per form at a time. This has not only helped my memory glitches, but it is making me focus in a better way in practice. I only have a limited fime with each form, so I can't get bogged down in OCD type detailing. My detailing and practice have become more effective and efficient. So, maybe I go a bit past 12 minutes, but I try not to.

    Kicking practice - Yellow and Black sash kicks. Trying to work on the weightedness for improving my balance.

    Ended with stretching.

    4 hours
     
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  4. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Thursday, November 2, 2017 -

    6:30 - Last half of TCC class.

    7:00 - Tai Sifu CLF class. Super happy because we haven't had this class for a few weeks. Tai Sifu had an injury and was out. Went over formal exercise several times, details and all. I was teamed up with a student new to this class to do the two person 9 star. She doesn't know it, so in that class, we have permission to teach it when teamed up thus. This is normally NOT the case - that students teach another student a form from scratch. Anyways, we did the first 5 moves or so. I happen to really like this student, so it was great to work with her. And I got nice feedback on my "teaching" from Tai Sifu afterwards.

    8:00? - I asked Tai Sifu to look at my Da Lu practice with Mr. D. He had some good corrections. I hope I can get them down in time for Mr. D's test. It wasn't just my rust though. Mr. D didn't know a thing or two that was said. Then Mr. D and I went over Da Lu on our own and pattern to prepare for his test.

    Then two person stuff with Mrs. M to prepare for her test. Her instructor (also my TCC instructor) watched and gave feedback for a bit of this. As I suspected after the not so great practice yesterday, this one went far better. That is how it always goes with us. We rarely have two not so great sessions in a row. Oh, and I was so worried that I injured her yesterday, but she was just a tiny bit bruised. She was fine! Yay! Much relief about this. So, we ended on a good note before her test. Yeah, there are some things that still need work, but I think we will make a good showing on Monday.

    We normally only do a half hour, but my priority is my two partners and their tests right now. So we went until closing.

    School closes at 9:00
    2 hours and 30 minutes
     
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2017
  5. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Friday. November 3, 2017 -

    6:30- Techniques practice with Ms. B and Ms. M. Went through all of them. Ended about 7:24 I think?

    7:24 - Solo practice. With a little bit of Da Lu and Pattern practice with Mr. D to prepare for his test. Sup Ji Jit Fu, staff. Green and Brown sash 2nd degree kicks. Also TCC double fan and I went through the 32 Gim once. I was really happy I hadn't forgotten it, even though I haven't done it in a couple of months! Went really smoothly actually. Also, a bit of stretching.

    9:00 - School closes

    2 hours and 30 minutes


    Saturday, November 4, 2017 -

    11:00 - sparring class. Sheesh, I managed to re injure that thumb I keep re injuring yet again.

    12:00 - Push Hands/ moving step class. Small group today= 4 students. For the moving step part, we just did drills. No matches due to the fact one student is testing Monday, and another one- me - is helping with tests. I feel like I need more drills anyways.

    1:00 - follow up class for double fan seminar. Got some good pointers and details.

    1:30 - solo practice. Brown sash 1st degree kicks. A touch of Fajing form for TCC, but that one I forgot a few things and need to look at video feeds to remind me. Sup Ji Jit Fu, Small 5 animal, Siu Moi Fa, and some 9 star and golden leopard vs tiger practice with Ms. B. I also asked for a tip from the instructor from the push hands class about ideas in how to counter a move that a fellow student always starts off with lately. He gave me some good ideas. I can't wait until next time to put it into practice.

    3:00- school closes


    Sunday, November 5, 2017 - Rest Day

    4 hours
    (Restart of tracking) 2017
    Week 1 - 16 hours and 30 minutes
    Total = 16 hours and 30 minutes
     
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2017
  6. Brigid

    Brigid Kung Fu Mother

    Great to see you have started your log again. I know I have said it before, but I appreciate the amount of detail you share about your training. I don't have a lot of free time, but it's one of the things I look out for.
     
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  7. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Thanks. I really did find it a useful reference for my training. My OCD basically got in the way of keeping the log. Hopefully, I have figured out a work around that and will keep it up again.
     
  8. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Monday, November 6, 2017 -

    I took the day off work, because I am helping out with two tests. I feel honored to be asked and to be a part of them. These are black tests, so it is in front of Tai Sigung (our school founder and head) as well as the instructor of the student and our Tai Sifu. So it is good for me to put myself under the pressure of doing stuff in front of Tai Sigung before my next test.

    11:00 - warm up and stretch, then work out. I was called into the two tests at various times during my workout, so I will just discuss those first.

    First was Mr. D's TCC black fringe test. I was pretty happy with our pattern, I did ok in the Da Lu, but could have done better. I received corrections on Thursday, but just didn't get enough time to really get practice time to get it down. I didn't have the first move down with the details Tai Sifu gave, but I didn't totally blow it either. It went fine, but could have been better. Again, the pattern was good. I certainly feel I did good enough to be a good partner for my fellow student testing. I didn't let him down and that is the most important thing. Oh and we also did push hands. We were pretty evenly matched. I was overall rather happy with it.

    Later was one of my two person partner's black sash CLF test- Ms. M. Frankly, I was VERY happy with this. I felt like we nailed it pretty good! We were at our best. We did 9 star, Golden Leopard vs Tiger and Two person staff. The latter two we only were asked to do one side. That often happens, but one has to be prepared to do both sides if asked. Which we were. Our hard work practicing together paid off. Again, relieved I did right by her. Tai Sifu later told me it was good.

    I was VERY happy with how I dealt with the pressure. I slipped into my well trained tournament mode of being. Call it an "in the zone" sort of mentality. That is what I wanted and I succeeded. My nerves were just way in the background, trained to not be prevalent. Tai Sigung is actually quite nice, but he just has this really strong presence, and it can be rather intimidating. I know when I am in this mental zone, I do well and when not, I don't. So I am training to have it there at will. And today I succeeded. Yes, this gives me confidence for my next test.

    Another student I have mentioned in this log in the past tested for her black fringe- Ms. R. I am so happy for all three fellow students! :) Where is that old clapping smiley?

    Ok, mixed around this was a lot of solo practice. I did more than the 12 minutes per form that I have been sticking with most of the time. First three forms of formal exercise, forms 1, 2 and Gung Ji. I finally found a decent video of this form. A few details are different the way we learn it, but here it is. This is confusing to many because Hung Gar has a more well known Gung Ji form. Same name - different form.



    Siu Moi Fa, solo Golden Leopard vs Tiger, Broadsword, spear, staff, butterfly knives, and stick. Black and yellow sash kicks. TCC double fan. Some stretching.

    4:00 - Private CLF lesson. We had moved it to earlier in the day because of my being there earlier. It was a good lesson. Well, the broadsword (my big nemesis - lol) didn't go great, but most of the lesson was pretty good. We covered brown sash 2nd degree techniques and kicks. Surprisingly, my instructor was pretty happy with my improvement with those kicks. It is nice to get feedback that your hard work is paying off. This level of kicks includes the heel hook and the spinning heel hook. Which is NOT an easier kick for me, to put it mildly. Formal exercise and butterfly knives a few minor corrections, but overall going well. Small 5 animal - well I wasn't doing the same thing/ state of mind that I was doing in the other forms that are showing improvement. I didn't realize it until my instructor said I wasn't doing the big and more relaxed/ expanded movements like the improvements in the other forms. Again, there is this state of mind thing that is hard to explain. But when she said that I knew I hadn't had this same state. I will practice having it this week with this form. Finally, wall bag, mostly I need to watch my non-striking arm position.

    So, I know I usually stay until the school closes, but I couldn't this time. I had already told the Stick Fighting instructor I would not be there tonight. Hate to miss that class, but it was worth it for being involved in those tests.

    Left at 5:00 - after my private lesson.

    I definitely had a slower pace at times today. And I took time to watch the sash presentations and chat with my fellow students who tested! Oh, and Ms. M bought gifts for the instructors and Sifu's and for me. I received three bookmarks with inspirational quotes. :) So I am going to take an estimated hour off my practice time.

    5 hours
     
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  9. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Tuesday, November 7, 2017 -

    6:36 - a bit of warm up and stretching. Then solo practice. Siu Moi Fa, Small 5 Animal, wall bag, stick, staff, Broadsword, spear and Butterfly knives forms. Still working on that mindset thing, especially with the small 5 animal.

    Green and Brown sash 3rd degree kicks. I can hardly believe it, but I actually think my chicken kicks are getting decent! Chicken to wheel still pretty rough though.

    TCC double fan. Played a bit of fixed step push hands with Mr. D. Man, it is fun to play him! Great challenge from a person with good technique. Also very athletic and strong, but he doesn't muscle in the way one shouldn't. But, playing someone stronger is something I need- to keep relaxed when feeling that. He has this one move that I can usually get out of with other opponents, but he did it so well, I couldn't. So I asked another instructor afterwards for other ways to counter it. Got some good advice. I look forward to trying it.

    Few things in life make me happier than a challenge in push hands to figure out.

    2 hours and 34 minutes

    Wednesday, November 8, 2017 - Evening shift/ rest day
     
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  10. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Thursday, November 9, 2017 -

    6:30 - last half of TCC class

    7:00- Tai Sifu CLF class, well- sort of. Tai Sifu was out, so the full time instructor took over the class. Usually, since the point of the class is learning directly from Tai Sifu, the class is canceled if he can't make it. But the instructor did a good job. We drilled some of our techniques on each other.

    8:00- No two person practice. My partner just got her black sash and is now on vacation. So, about 45 minutes of kicking practice. Yellow, Purple, and Brown 2nd degree. I am a little frustrated my my inconsistency. Sometimes, they feel improved, and sometimes not. I NEED it to be that I can do these well with more consistency. I'll keep practicing.

    Then I worked on the broadsword form.

    9:00 - school closes

    2 hours and 30 minutes
     
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  11. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Friday, November 10, 2007 -

    6:00 - Weapons Class - Hung Sing Stick/ Flute form. The Chief instructor of our school was teaching (Chief instructor being a new promotion. He was assistant chief instructor before. This is also my TCC teacher. Although my TCC lessons are on hiatus until my next CLF test.) it. It was really great, super detailed stuff. Sometimes that class is basic moves, with a few details, but this one was super full of advanced details. It might be because most of the people taking the class this time around are more advanced, so he felt he could take more time to do this.

    6:30 - 7:17 - Techniques practice with Ms. B. Ms. M is on vacation still after her test. All techniques. The time it took to do this is important, because that is the target time to do all of them for the test.

    7:17 - Solo practice. Kicking practice Blue and Brown sash 1st degree kicks. Also random problem kicks - about a half hour TCC double fan. Staff, stick, Formal exercise, Sup Ji Jit Fu. Solo Golden Leopard vs Tiger

    9:00 - School closes

    2 hours and 30 Minutes
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2017
  12. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Saturday, November 11, 2017 -

    Well, this day didn't go as I originally planned. I was all excited to have today to work out. I normally would work it, but had the day off due to the Veteran's day holiday. However, a long standing issue with my thumbs was really bad the day before, and I am just feeling banged up with a lot of various injuries, so I decided it would be smart to do a lighter workout today.:( Martial spirit, not martial stupid. I have a combination of several things with my thumbs. Repetitive strain from work. The two person staff aggravates that. And I injured my left thumb by hitting with it instead of the first knuckle with a sow choi in sparring about a month ago. Hyper extended the thumb, sprained it, or something. And I keep re-injuring it while practicing. Even when I think I am being careful. Also, had my right index finger injured when an instructor was demo'ing something on me. It wasn't his fault, it was a freak thing. And he doesn't even know about it. It just isn't healing quickly though. Yesterday, I started to get shooting pains in my left thumb when doing nothing. So I have to take this more seriously. I really cannot afford a major tear or something while it is in a weakened state. I am too close to testing and a set back at this time would be particularly devastating.

    So, I made myself go in later. Because sparring is at 11:00. And I just knew that I would talk myself into being ok for sparring when I am not. So I made sure I wasn't tempted by being there.

    So, I went in about 11:40ish. Did a little warm up and stretching.

    12:00 - push hands/ moving step class. Great class as always. Near the end, my thumb was feeling it, so I bowed out early from doing more matches. Sigh. I watched though.

    1:00 - Took a long break talking with a fellow student or two.

    1:37 - Solo practice. Kicking practice. Green sash and black sash kicks. Still focusing on "weightedness" and I think I am seeing an improvement in balance doing this.

    Sup Ji Jit Fu and Small 5 animal. TCC Plum Blossom Fan. Mostly remembered that one, except I got stuck at two places. An instructor helped me with those two places. Not bad, considering I am not doing much TCC right now.

    3:00 - School closes.

    Despite today being much lighter and shorter than I wanted, overall this was a very good week of practice.

    2 hours and 45 minutes (17)


    Sunday, November 12, 2017 - Rest day

    (Restart of tracking) 2017
    Week 2 - 15 hours and 19 minutes
    Total = 31 hours and 49 minutes
     
    Last edited: Nov 12, 2017
  13. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Monday, November 13, 2017 -

    6:30 - Warm up

    6:45 - Private CLF Lesson. Knocking up the "format mode" of the lessons a notch. in order, 3rd degree kicks and techniques, staff, Solo Golden Leopard vs Tiger, yellow sash kicks and techniques, Butterfly knives, Siu Moi Fa, Purples sash kicks and techniques, and broadsword.

    Staff, doing the Chau move, I need more body behind the move, not just arms.

    Overall, I need more hip movement. Still working on balance through weightedness. Overall, my instructor said it was a good lesson. LOL! Hard to tell with her, there is always so many corrections!

    8:00 - Stick fighting class. Usually one of my favorite classes, but not lately I must admit. The instructor, whom is my favorite for teaching this class, is on this kick of doing slow motion fights. I must confess that I am not fond of this particular training. The problem is, most of the people in the class don't have enough control, or let ego get in the way or whatever. And then you go in slow, and they speed up to avoid it and attack. The drill only works when both people go slow. There is one other student in the class who has enough control to do it properly. The others, I keep reminding them it is a slower drill and tell them I could speed up too, but that isn't the point. But I get tired of having to say this.

    Anyways, we had some full speed matches at the end and THAT was great!

    8:30 - Bit of a break then some Solo practice. Mostly kicking practice Brown sash 1st degree and Brown sash 3rd degree kicks. Also a bit of TCC Fajing form. Well I got stuck close to the middle, and there wasn't anyone to ask. So I gotta figure that out.

    9:40ish?- School closed up

    3 hours
     
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  14. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Tuesday, November 14, 2017 -

    6:30 - Golden Leopard vs Tiger two person practice with new person- Mr. C. He asked if I would practice with him, so I did. He is taller than most of my practice partners current and past, so we are still figuring out the distance thing.

    7:00 - Forms practice with Ms. R and Ms. D. Staff, Stick, Broadsword, Formal exercise. Siu Moi Fa, Golden Leopard vs Tiger solo, Sup Ji Jit Fu, Small 5 Animal. I felt myself getting a bit sloppy on a few, due to being tired, so I tried to focus on not doing that. Still working in being expanded and not small moves too.

    8:00 - Solo practice. Spear and Butterfly knives forms. I don't do these with the practice above because Ms. D is of a rank where she hasn't learned them yet. And Ms. R learned different forms with these two weapons than the ones I know. She has been at the school well over 20 years and there have been a couple of curriculum changes in that time. She learned the old forms for those weapons, I know the current ones.

    White and Black sash kicks. Frustrated by my inconsistency of balance on my very first level kicks! Argh! Working on weightedness. I definitely lean inwards sometimes and am trying to fix that. Also, I look down and sideways instead of back for rear kicks. Trying to fix that too.

    9:10 - school closes

    2 hours and 40 minutes


    Wednesday, November 15, 2017 - Evening Shift/ Rest day
     
  15. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Thursday, November 16, 2017 -

    6:30 - last half of TCC class

    7:00 - Tai Sifu CLF class- with Tai Sifu again. Forms, Formal exercise, Siu Moi Fa, 9 star two person. Then some partner drills of a couple of common CLF combinations.

    8:00 - Two person practice with Ms. M. Yay! She is back from her vacation. My thumbs are really hurting right now, so we only went through the two person staff lightly to keep up on memorization. Then we went to golden leopard vs tiger.

    8:30 - Kicking practice. Green and Purple sash kicks.

    9:00 - school closes.

    I did something to my shoulder, back neck something or other in Tai Sifu class. I just HATE when something is off and you don't even know what you did. It feels like something is about to go out of place, but is only slightly there. Or maybe it is some sort of spasm? It feels like if I only moved some way, it would be back in place and ok. But I can't figure out what that way is. It is on the right side. Very frustrating. Hopefully. a good nights rest will fix it up.

    Glad Tai Sifu is back, glad my two person partner is back.

    2 hours and 30 minutes
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2017
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  16. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Friday, November 17, 2017 -

    6:30 - Techniques practice with Ms. M and Ms. B. All techniques. I am a little disappointed. I called them out tonight. I thought I called them quickly, but checked the time afterwards and it was almost an hour. It should be about 45 minutes. When Ms. B calls them out, it is that long. I think I will bring a stopwatch with a timer to check my speed calling them out next time. It isn't doing them, I just don't have a good sense of how quickly I call them out. The techniques practice was fine though.

    Did a bit of two person practice with both of them- golden leopard vs tiger. Ms. B is just learning this one. So we were both working with her.

    7:50 ish? - solo practice. Kicking practice. Brown sash 2nd degree and Blue sash kicks.

    Also, a particular problem kick. So, my goal is to ask an instructor to look at one of my worst kicks every week. I haven't done this the last few weeks though. So I asked one tonight. The kick was the chicken to wheel kick. He said the basic mechanics were ok, which surprised me. Just that they need to be faster and flow better. He suggested to just do some practice moving into the crane stances to work on this. I practiced that after he left. Also, for my hip flexibility issues, which is an issue with this kick, he gave me a new stretch on our walkway bar. That bar was not built for this, but it is a de facto stretching bar too. It was really helpful, so I need to remember to ask an instructor at least once a week to look at a kick.

    Also did TCC double fan and Fajing form. I remembered the latter one better than last time, but am still not sure I have the sequence exactly correct.

    I spent a lot of time talking to Ms. M during this time. Also a real slow pace, so I am going to take a half hour out of my time total to reflect this.

    9:00 - school closes

    2 hours
     
  17. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Saturday, November 18, 2017 -

    11:00 - Sparring class. Good class, except in my very last match, I manage to re hurt that same thumb again! Argh! So frustrating! It is just so sensitive to re-injury. Anyways, we worked on several things during the drilling part. But a big part of it was how to respond immediately- without delay- when being kicked. It was a good drill for me to decrease reaction time.

    12:00 -Advanced push hands/ moving step class. The instructor mentioned that this class has now been going on over a year! It has been a pretty successful class with a good steady turnout- maybe not huge, due to the more advanced nature of it. But pretty good considering that.

    1:00 - rest time/ mucking about.

    1:30 - Mostly solo practice. Sup Ji Jit Fu. Stick and broadsword. Kicking practice. Black sash kicks. also miscellaneous problem kicks. TCC double gim. Well not much of that. I really got stuck near the beginning, which makes me sad. Hopefully, it will come back to me quickly when I can practice TCC more and have my private lessons again. Fajing form. That went better. I almost have it back.

    Mixed in, was a little bit of golden leopard vs tiger. I joined in and helped out on Mr. C's lesson. Good opportunity for me to hear his instructor's teachings on the form.

    That weird shoulder/ back things is mostly better.

    It was a good week of practice overall. :)

    3:05 - School closes

    3 hours and 35 minutes.

    Sunday, November 19, 2017 - Rest Day

    (Restart of tracking) 2017
    Week 3 - 13 hours and 45 minutes
    Total = 45 hours and 34 minutes
     
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  18. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Monday, November 20, 2017 -

    6:30 - warm up
    6:45- CLF private lesson. Not a lot of working out this lesson. I spend about 45 minutes talking to my instructor about tests, mental aspects of testing and martial arts and some other training related stuff. I learned a lot, even thought that part wasn't a workout. I did do formal exercise and the Broadsword form the last 15 minutes. Formal exercise only had a few corrections, the broadsword more.

    7:53- geared up slowly and waited for stick fighting class

    8:00 - stick fighting class. Yay! We did some drills today. Then, only a couple of those slow rounds, then a full speed round.

    8:30 - solo practice. Brown sash 1st degree and brown sash 3rd degree kicks. TCC Fajing and double fan.

    9:50ish- school closed up.

    3 hours and 10 minutes


    Tuesday, November 21, 2017 -

    6:30 - Golden Leopard vs Tiger two person practice with Mr. C. Went pretty well.

    7:00 - forms practice with Ms. R. Staff, stick, broadsword. Formal exercise, Siu Moi Fa, Sup Ji Jit Fu, Small 5 Animal, golden leopard vs tiger solo. We did a couple of forms slowly at first then full speed.Ms. R was getting stuck on re-memorizing a few parts of them, so we tried the slow motion first and it seems to help. It helps me too.

    8:10 - Solo practice. What else? Kicks! Yellow and Black sash kicks. I just get stuck on some of the easiest kicks, it is frustrating. Still working on weightedness to improve balance. Also turning my head back more for rear kicks instead of looking down rather than fully behind me.

    Asked an instructor to look at one of my problem kicks. That would be my crescent to rear kick. Again, I was told most of my mechanics are sound. But I do need to make my target of the crescent right in front of me. I was swinging it to the side too much. Then, I need to bend my standing knee after the crescent kick kicking leg lands in the position for the next kick. the movement has your standing leg up, so I need to put a bit of a bend in it before throwing the rear kick.

    Good stuff again. I need to make a commitment to keep asking instructors to look at a problem kick every week.

    Also TCC double fan.

    9:00 - school closes

    2 hours and 30 minutes
     
  19. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Wednesday, November 22, 2017 - Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday tomorrow, my work was open different hours. So I worked a day shift and got to get in a workout! Especially happy since the school will be closed the next two days.

    6:27 - Bit of a warm up. Then solo practice. Kicking practice- Green, Purple and Brown sash 2nd degree kicks. I had an extremely good session of kicking practice today! Very happy with it! Wall bag. Siu Moi Fa, Sup Ji Jit Fu, Small 5 Animal, solo Golden Leopard vs Tiger, stick, staff and spear forms.

    I was called in to a private lesson to run through 9 star with Mr. B. I seem to be being called into help with two person during lessons a lot lately, and I really like that. It means that the instructors think I have it down enough to help. And that I have the right attitude to be a partner to help them in a lesson with a student. I feel honored that instructors feel they can count on me to help out.

    Not a lot else to say about today's practice.

    It is probably good that the school is closed a couple of days so I can rest a few areas of my body that are acting up.

    Left at about 8:55.

    2 hours and 28 minutes


    Thursday, November 23, 2017 - School closed due to Thanksgiving Day Holiday/ rest day

    Friday, November 24, 2017 - School still closed due to Thanksgiving Holiday/ rest day
     
  20. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Saturday, November 25, 2017 -

    Well, I worked out like half the time I was planning on. Two reasons. 1. feeling lazy 2. Weird left inner leg (where it joins the boudy) issue acting up. Sort of a mix of being responsible and taking it easier and feeling lazy.

    11:00 - Sparring class. Tai Sifu was out of town, so this class was taught by an instructor instead. It is the main stick fighting instructor. One of my favorites for teaching when Tai Sifu is no there. This class was great! We did a lot of clinch work. How to get into a clinch from when the opponent is throwing punches and kicks. How to read when to move into a clinch is a weak point for me, so this class was really helpful. Also, some footwork for throwing the opponent off balance after the clinch. We can't fully throw opponents in our sparring rules, so I didn't even know that what he showed us was allowed. It was actually a lot of footwork similar to moving step push hands, so I was really excited to learn this! I have always felt like I should be better able to utilize my moving step and push hands in CLF sparring better. It would give me an edge over the many younger/ faster students who don't know TCC. Today I learned specific things I can do! Yeah, it will take some practice to do it in the CLF sparring environment, but not as much as those who don't do TCC. Super happy for this class today!

    12:00 - push hands/ moving step class. Also learned another thing or two that I can put into my CLF sparring. Now that I am looking for it more specifically. I was looking for it before, but I have a better idea what to look for now. Anyways, in matches in moving step, I am where I am seeing openings to try certain things, but just not able to pull the trigger quite correctly or fast enough. This is a common step in development of sparring for me. I remember it in sparring, stick fighting and fixed step. So, it is far from where I want to be, but I am on the road to getting there.

    Eh, after this I just lagged-chatted/ hung out a lot. I did a little kicking practice- blue sash kicks. Also helped out in Mr. C's lesson for golden leopard vs tiger.

    3:00 - school closes

    But only
    2 hours and 20 minutes or so

    Sunday, November 26, 2017 - Rest day

    Between the holidays and a light day on Saturday, that made for a light weeks of working out.

    (Restart of tracking) 2017
    Week 4 - 10 hours and 28 minutes
    Total = 56 hours and 2 minutes
     

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