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travelingadiva) wrote2012-01-23 11:05 am
travelingadiva) wrote2012-01-23 11:05 am
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Qufu picture post, part 2
I couldn't fit all the pictures in one post, so here, have a part two.
Let's start with Kevin, being pretty cool while he practices his staff form.
This is what I tried to do in order to get in an example of the fact that this place was just constant activity. It was really interesting to watch; people from all over the world getting together to learn. We were all doing different things and were different skill levels and it was all very neat.
This was the Wall of Torture Implements, housed in the training hall.
Also known as the glorified coat rack.
Carol (Sweden), Brittany's roommate, fresh from practicing her own sword form. Don't be fooled by her lack of outerwear; this was after running laps to warm-up, stretches, more warm-up, Basics class, and then freeform class. Most of us shed layers throughout the day, and then put them back on come afternoon/evening.
Like so. Left to right: Patrick(? I was never sure of his name), Carol, Sarah, and Dan(, with John-from-France's back), sitting around waiting for the lunch whistle.
Sword tree. Basically everything became a place to put everything. Winter gear hung on weapons, swords got stuck on the trees (along with mops, brooms, thermoses...).
Me. Ready for bed. Most of the clothing I wore for the day, and I just put stuff on top. I'm wearing...four pairs of pants, two (or three?) shirts under that white hoodie, and three pairs of socks. The hat I pretty much never took off. Not an exaggeration. I pretty much didn't see my hair for a week, barring showering. My skin I saw even less of; if I undressed, it was under my covers, and the showers weren't very well lit.
That's why I didn't notice these until several days late:
Bruises galore. I have a few fading ones on my arms as well, but the majority are on the insides and outsides of my thighs. But how did I acquire such bruises? Well. Thursdays classes including Conditioning. Wherein you condition your body to be stronger and harder and to withstand blows. By doing things like kicking and punching each other, hitting yourself with sticks, and whacking parts of your body against hard objects like trees and rocks. My partner and I, well. We warmed up by basically knocking our forearms together for a good five minutes at least, followed by 50 kicks on the outside thigh of each leg, 50 on the inside (that...was not fun), 50 punches to the stomach, 50 'chops' to both shoulders (OW), 50 punches to the upper sides of the ribcage, and 100 punches on the back (either side of the spine--that actually felt kind of good). So yeah. Interesting class. Fairly painful, but not too bad, really. I can see the point to it, as well.
Me, getting ready for a middle split stretch during Friday's "Power Stretching" class. James in the red pants, Chris Stone in green, and Chris-from-Sweden on the floor, ready to pull my legs farther once I start going down. Note my anticipation. Also note the many, many clothes we are all wearing.
I descend.
It is actually incredibly painful.
Chris-from-Sweden and Brittany PULLING ON MY FEET to force me lower.
Help. I can't move.
Brittany's turn for pain. I told people to smile for the picture. James is a goofball.
Sarah is also a bit of a goof. I wanted a picture of her before leaving, except we left in the morning, so Sarah was still in her sleeping clothes. So she grabbed a jacket to put on, because it looked better. And then we figured that posing with her ukelele would be even cooler on top of that. And then she made a silly face. And then I took a picture.
Me practicing Wudang.
And there you have it. That was Qufu. Pictures put up only three days after the fact. Eesh, I am so behind.
Let's start with Kevin, being pretty cool while he practices his staff form.
This is what I tried to do in order to get in an example of the fact that this place was just constant activity. It was really interesting to watch; people from all over the world getting together to learn. We were all doing different things and were different skill levels and it was all very neat.
This was the Wall of Torture Implements, housed in the training hall.
Also known as the glorified coat rack.
Carol (Sweden), Brittany's roommate, fresh from practicing her own sword form. Don't be fooled by her lack of outerwear; this was after running laps to warm-up, stretches, more warm-up, Basics class, and then freeform class. Most of us shed layers throughout the day, and then put them back on come afternoon/evening.
Like so. Left to right: Patrick(? I was never sure of his name), Carol, Sarah, and Dan(, with John-from-France's back), sitting around waiting for the lunch whistle.
Sword tree. Basically everything became a place to put everything. Winter gear hung on weapons, swords got stuck on the trees (along with mops, brooms, thermoses...).
Me. Ready for bed. Most of the clothing I wore for the day, and I just put stuff on top. I'm wearing...four pairs of pants, two (or three?) shirts under that white hoodie, and three pairs of socks. The hat I pretty much never took off. Not an exaggeration. I pretty much didn't see my hair for a week, barring showering. My skin I saw even less of; if I undressed, it was under my covers, and the showers weren't very well lit.
That's why I didn't notice these until several days late:
Bruises galore. I have a few fading ones on my arms as well, but the majority are on the insides and outsides of my thighs. But how did I acquire such bruises? Well. Thursdays classes including Conditioning. Wherein you condition your body to be stronger and harder and to withstand blows. By doing things like kicking and punching each other, hitting yourself with sticks, and whacking parts of your body against hard objects like trees and rocks. My partner and I, well. We warmed up by basically knocking our forearms together for a good five minutes at least, followed by 50 kicks on the outside thigh of each leg, 50 on the inside (that...was not fun), 50 punches to the stomach, 50 'chops' to both shoulders (OW), 50 punches to the upper sides of the ribcage, and 100 punches on the back (either side of the spine--that actually felt kind of good). So yeah. Interesting class. Fairly painful, but not too bad, really. I can see the point to it, as well.
Me, getting ready for a middle split stretch during Friday's "Power Stretching" class. James in the red pants, Chris Stone in green, and Chris-from-Sweden on the floor, ready to pull my legs farther once I start going down. Note my anticipation. Also note the many, many clothes we are all wearing.
I descend.
It is actually incredibly painful.
Chris-from-Sweden and Brittany PULLING ON MY FEET to force me lower.
Help. I can't move.
Brittany's turn for pain. I told people to smile for the picture. James is a goofball.
Sarah is also a bit of a goof. I wanted a picture of her before leaving, except we left in the morning, so Sarah was still in her sleeping clothes. So she grabbed a jacket to put on, because it looked better. And then we figured that posing with her ukelele would be even cooler on top of that. And then she made a silly face. And then I took a picture.
Me practicing Wudang.
And there you have it. That was Qufu. Pictures put up only three days after the fact. Eesh, I am so behind.