the_gneech | Today Was a Good One. I'll Keep It. :)

Today had three major components, which were Kung Fu Belt Test, Video Watching, and D&D. Too much to write about in the limited time I have before going to bed, so I'll only write about one tonight. I'll start with the belt test...

Three of the students from my class level were testing today, so I went to observe, figuring that I'm going to be doing it myself in 3 - 8 months, and should start studying sooner rather than later. :) There were students from both the Kung Fu and the Tai Chi classes, some of whom were quite advanced. There were no black belt tests [1], but one brown. The two red belts testing for brown had to include some weapon drills in their test, curved broadsword for the Kung Fu, and straight sword for the Tai Chi. (I find it interesting that Tai Chi, which is all about yielding and circular motions, uses a straight sword as a weapon element. Go fig!)

I learned a lot, watching the test, particularly about energy and focus. The students who had the best form and cleanest moves were concentrating and really being deliberate with every move -- and they also seemed to be the ones with the most energy. When they named their forms, or gave their striking shouts [2], their voice and presence filled the room.

I'm also gradually making friends with some of my fellow classmates, which pleased me. It's nice to begin to feel like I belong there. All in all, it was two hours well spent. :)

Anyway, I'll write about video-watching and gaming tomorrow. It's almost 3:30 a.m., and I need to get to bed! G'nite everybody, and have a tomorrow that's even better than you already deserve!

-The Gneech

[1] Traditional Shaolin Kung Fu doesn't use belt colors at all; that's something that Western schools have largely adopted from Karate. The origin of the colored belt was that in the old days, students started with a white belt that would get dark and discolored from dirt and sweat as they progressed, so that by the time they mastered their art, their belt was so grimy it was black. Modern belt colors are a little more decorative, obviously. ;)

I have read that most Kung Fu schools that have adopted colored belts actually go from black belt to white, with black representing no "belt" at all, and white representing purity of skill. I don't know if that's the case, but Qi Elements doesn't do it that way. Their progression is No Belt -> White -> Yellow -> Green -> Blue -> Purple -> Red -> Brown -> Black.

[2] Karate has "kiai;" I believe in Tae Kwon Do, it's "kihap!" Our 'power shout,' as it were, is a nice, simple, "Huh!"