Some Kung Fu With a Side of Emotional Healing

Much has happened since I posted last, mainly, the passing of my father, Jack Arthur Davis.

I'm still quite shaken by all of this but I know my broken heart will heal. He was a friend, mentor, hero, and an inspiration throughout my life. He was a man of conviction, faith and strength. A friend to every man, a skilled musician, craftsman, and woodsman. The best kind of man through and through. It pains me to face the world without him behind me, knowing that there's so much I've yet to learn from his wisdom. Knowing that he'll never be at my wedding or hold my future children brings up bitter tears. Dad, I love you and I miss you so much. I promise that I'll be as strong as I can and take care of the family the best way I know how. Please watch over me and send me strength, I know you're up in heaven, helping to prepare the way for us, please rest in peace until we meet again.

At any rate (and please excuse my digression there) this Tuesday the boys and I were able to meet up and train once again. Despite the layoff, most of the principles we've been drilling seemed like they were still fresh in my head. I'm glad that I kept up with my daily practice at home, punching air and doing twitch drills might seem strange to my roommate but it has kept my muscle memory intact.

We got right into it with flow drill; essentially the primary holds his arm out with a clenched fist while the secondary slaps it out of the way. This triggers the primary to bring the other arm under the slapped arm (while it in turn loosely recoils around) in order to trap the secondary's lead arm (pressing it against his body) before finishing with a straight punch. Rinse, wash and repeat. After doing it over and over, I was really starting to get a feel for the 'flow' of the exercise. Manny noticed however that after I trapped, my jolt (a quick push of the opponent, knocking him off balance) was incorrect. He could see that I was trying to use my strength a little too much. Instead of jolting, I sometimes try to just push. My big frame and past experience always makes me feel as if I ought to overpower someone, instead of finessing them. After some work with Manny, I finally did one perfectly. It was as if that proverbial 'light bulb' went off in my head. As soon as it happened, I could see that tell tale smile spread across Manny's face. He jumped back and said, "There, that's it, now do it on Trent!" It worked, my muscles remembered how it felt to really jolt someone and I was able to do it again and again.

I'm I really getting it?

Next, Manny started working on getting me to do the blocking drills with a simultaneous strike included. This may sound impossible, but it really isn't. Let's say someone is throwing a straight punch at your face. (Scary business I know) Wing Chun teaches that you intercept the punch with a tan sau block. (it really kind or reminds me of just slapping some one's hand away if they're trying to stick gum in your hair or something) It's not a hard block, just enough to keep the punch from hitting home. Back to the strike, during the tan sau block I'm taught to start throwing a straight punch immediately. It seems unnatural at first but I could slowly feel my non-blocking arm start to go on its own during the drill. By the end, it was almost becoming second nature. For soft blocking however, I really came out of that one with some nasty bruises, thanks Trent. I can hardly wait for the day when my forearms are hard enough for that not to happen.

I can't tell you enough how thankful I am to train Wing Chun. Having a physical outlet like this to channel my emotions into from time to time is a Godsend. Losing my dad made me, the consummate pacifist, frustrated and angry in ways that I'd never had to confront before. Being able to lose myself in the quasi-meditation of training was just what the doctor ordered.

This weeks practice points:

1. Loosen up. I need to get my shoulders and arms ready to go. I need to keep the tension away as to not lose any speed or sensitivity. Keeping loose will also keep my own arms from becoming energy that my opponent can use against me, via traps and the like.

2. Simultaneous striking. Instead of just punching air at home (to the chagrin of my roommate) I need to punch AND BLOCK air. I'LL GET YOU AIR! Practice makes perfect.