My classmate has started  new project. We're going to try to make a movie about our training.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1852558216/wudangswords

Hopefully we can get this thing started as planned. Check out the link to find our more.

Also, on Sunday we're going on a short trip to Guilin in southern China. I'm really excited! Next post should have some stories and pictures from the trip.

Not too much to say this time. We got to go on a class trip to a park about an hour and a half away on Monday. It was nice to just relax, have a picnic, read, play games, and lie in the sun. I felt so good afterwards. Not to mention the fact that we got to sleep in that morning, yeah! From all the splits stretching we've been doing I've been having some restless nights. My legs are so tired and sore sometimes that I just can't get comfortable. Even last night was tough (usually Wednesday nights I pass right out) so any extra sleep I can squeeze in is welcome. Tonight I'm planning to turn in before 9 pm to try and catch up before getting up at 5:30 am for another week.

I, along with thousands of other Canadians, sent a letter to the Leader of the opposition in regards to comments in the government demonizing Canadian environmental charities and received a response email with a link to Jim Cowans' speech to the senate on this matter. I was so impressed with the speech and I have included a link to it here:

http://www.liberalsenateforum.ca/In-The-Senate/Statement/15902_Involvement-of-Foreign-Foundations-in-Canadas-Domestic-AffairsInquiry

It's long but really well written and anyone interested in this topic will surely find it engrossing.

Another cool week. We've continued our super intense stretching and I'm still improving, though I am getting more and more sore. I know it'll just take time and perseverance before it gets a little easier. We also started learning Dragon Sword! It's a totally AWESOME straight sword form that I've been dying to learn for what seems like forever. I imagine my classmates were getting tired of having the exact same conversation all the time:

me: What do you think we'll learn next?

them: ummmm, I dunno, maybe spear or something........

me: I hope it's dragon sword! I mean I guess anything is good but dragon sword would be amazing. What do you think the chances are of us learning it next? Oh man, that would be so great! It's just so cool.....etc, etc.

Well now the time has finally come and it's every bit as cool as I thought it would be....maybe even more so! I'm really enjoying learning it, it's taking my mind off the pain in my hips and legs.

yay!

I am not only really tired but ridiculously sore (hips, back, ankles, shoulders and chest). It's been a very challenging week....and a great one! It's not often that I have weeks like this and it makes me really happy to experience it.

On Friday I swallowed big gulps of air which is something I've been struggling with for almost 2 years. We practice a technique called tu gu na xin (swallowing air) that really helps clean the digestive system and is one of the basic building blocks for internal training. It's been so frustrating to try to get it for such a long time but thanks to a tip from a friend, I've finally started to get the hang of it. yay!

I also had my best splits day EVER the other day. sitting relaxed on the ground for the flexion splits (one leg in front, the other behind me) and touching my inner calf to the ground in the adduction splits (both legs out to the sides). yay again! This year we have a different coach leading our basics practice. We only learn new stuff from shifu but we have a senior student lead us for the practice of basics (kicks, stances, etc) and drills our forms sometimes. Well he is amazing. This week he really pushed us in our stretching and everyone improved so much. Last week it was jumping. I can see that if we continue training with him, we'll go through a quantum leap of progress. He's my new favorite! This is a photo of him.

It's raining outside with thunder, lightning, the whole deal. Even though we don't have heat in our rooms this kind of weather always makes me feel cozy inside. We do have hot water bottles and warm blankets. It was getting pretty warm for a few days there and then things took a turn for the worse and we're in winter again. Spring and fall are such short seasons here, summer and winter are both too long.

This week I did something to my lower back so I've mostly been taking it easy. It's been a lot of tai chi and bagua walking and although I never enjoy injuries, it has been nice to practice more internal stuff. I think my posture has improved in just one week of concentrated practice, even Shifu commented on it. I also love the feeling I get from doing bagua walking (circle walking) for a long time, it's euphoric. Although I've never experienced runners high (I dislike running), I imagine it's a similar experience.

Well, time for some hot tea. Hopefully spring comes soon, here and at home for you guys!

We had our disciple ceremony on Friday. It was such a great experience in a way that is so hard to describe. Up until that day I'd kind of been worried that a lot of the tradition and meaning had been lost by including so many people but that turned out not to be the case. Not for me anyway. I really felt like I was making a serious commitment and being accepted into a very special group. We took an oath and did some ceremonial bowing, presented Shifu with an offering, received a booklet with our Taoist name inside as well as a ceremonial sword with our Taoist name inscribed into the blade. Then we bowed to our kung fu uncles and the next group went up. Doesn't sound like much I know, but for me every part of it was infused with weight and magic.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonfreak/6820741300/in/set-72157629182053122/

This is a link to a classmates photo of me in the ceremony.