Yesterday was the taiji lunar new year demo at my teacher’s teacher’s studio. I didn’t hear about it until last Saturday because I hadn’t been in class due to my sickness. I was caught off-guard because I like to plan things well ahead of time and because I was still feeling iffy. I had missed the last few demos, though, due to health reasons, and I really wanted to go this time. I just didn’t know if I could endure, and I didn’t want to embarrass my teacher in front of her teacher. In addition, we had a snowstorm on Friday that lingered into Saturday (the day of the demo), and the winds were up to 45 mph. I was talking myself out of it, but I really felt I should go. Not only to represent my teacher, but because there was going to be a ton of weapon forms. I had to set some ‘rules’ for myself so that I would feel ok going.
The first was that I could go at any time. One of my issues is that if i go to something, I feel have to stay for the whole thing. I have to deliberately give myself permission to leave, and weirdly, that makes me enjoy it more. I don’t have to be uptight and agonizing about how I’ll make it to the end. I can stay ten minutes or half an hour, or I can stay until the end if I’m up to it. That way, I don’t feel trapped, and I’ve used it to a good effect for the past couple events I’ve gone to.
Secondly, I had to tell myself that I didn’t have to do anything. There were three things I knew well enough to participate in, the Solo Form, the Sword Form, and the first section of the Fast Form. Funnily enough, they were the first three performances of the afternoon, one right after the other. The thing is, I really wanted to do the Sword Form. I had not participated in it before even though I’ve known it for years, and I wanted to show my teacher’s teacher that she was a damn good teacher in her own right. As my classmate said, we have to represent the Seven Stars. The problem was that the Solo Form was first, and I knew if I did that, I would not be able to do the Sword Form. I did not have the energy for both of them.
Let me be real with you. I felt the need to show what I could do. Why? I don’t know. No one cared but me, but it was in the back of my mind. I don’t take any classes at my teacher’s home studio even though it’s in the same building and I’m able to take any of the classes, and I am very competitive–though I try to keep it to myself. I had to tell myself that I didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. My teacher knew where I was at, and that was really all that needed to happen. Even more to the point, I knew where I was at. I know some of my insecurity is because I’ve missed so many classes in the last two years. Plus, there’s a woman in the home studio who I found out started roughly the same time I did, and she’s so much further. It’s hard for me because I know it’s all on me, but I want to be so much further than I am.
I ended up skipping the Solo Form and the first section of the Fast Form. I did the Sword Form, and I felt good once it was over. I did not make any major mistakes, and I definitely looked like I was one of the crew. I didn’t bring my own sword because it would have been one more thing to make me anxious–keeping track of it and making sure I didn’t leave it behind. There are plenty of practice swords in the studio, so I just grabbed one of them. I will admit a second of feeling embarrassed because I normally practice with my stainless steel sword, but I brushed it to the side. I did the Sword Form to the best of my ability, and I was pleased once we were done. I didn’t hit anyone, though I came close, and I remembered all the movements. I call that a win.
I had a mini panic when I arrived at the studio because I could not find my key fob. It wasn’t in the pocket it was supposed to be, and I couldn’t find it in the other pockets, either. Since I had been at the tire shop on Friday, I thought maybe I left it in the cup holder in the car. Nope. I spent five minutes rootling around in my car, but I could not find it. In desperation, I checked the original pocket again, and I found a hole in the corner. My key had slipped into the hole, and while I was relieved to find it, I also was grumpy about the hassle it caused.
In addition, it was brutally cold yesterday, even for me. It reached ‘feels like’ -14, and I had to close the window on the way to the studio, especially as it was lightly snowing. I had on a nice Taiwanese silk shirt and fake velour pants, so I was a tad cold. I even turned on the heater for a few seconds. I was wearing gloves, too. This is all important because of what happened after the demo, but I’ll get to that in a minute.
The first section of the demo was the taiji section, and it included my teacher’s teacher doing the Sabre Form. This was the highlight of the demo to me by far. It wasn’t just because I am currently learning the Sabre Form, but because he is a master with the weapon. I don’t use that term lightly. I’m not sure he would say that about himself, but watching him do the Sabre was subliminal and transcendental. He is clearly heads and shoulders above everyone else, and it’s not even close. I can’t explain it, but he had a fluidity and precision with his weapon that really sang to me. Watching him made me want to achieve his level of proficiency with his weapons, even if it takes the rest of my life.
The weapon that I really want to learn next is the Double Sabre Form. It was taught to the military, and it’s fucking cool. I have two dowels and am practicing the first drill in my goal to become a human Cuisinart. I watched my teacher’s classmate move the two sabres with ease, and I had lust in my heart. I wanted that in my life. I wanted it now. I just Googled double broadswords, and I want these so bad. I’ll start with practice ones, of course, and I highly doubt I will ever drop seven-hundred dollars on two sabres, but never say never.
There was also the 6-Harmony Staff Form which really got my juices flowing. That’s a two person form, and I think that might have to be in my future if I can get my teacher to teach it to me–or maybe her teacher. My poor teacher. Every time after a demo, I ask her if she can teach me half a dozen weapons. Some of which she knows and some of which she doesn’t. Weapons are not her fave, but she’s always game if she knows the weapon and is given the go-ahead to teach it. Oh! She demonstrated the Karambit Form, and I WANT. I have two practice karambits, and it’s useful in that it’s a small knife that can be easily ported. I’d like to learn the fan at some point as well, but that’s been pushed further down the list.
The demo itself was great. What happened next was not. My car wouldn’t star. All the lights on the dash came on, and the radio came on when it felt like it, but the car would not start. I tried to start it about ten times, and it would not. I called my brother. He, funnily enough, was in my neck of the woods and had to drive to me. He told me to look it up, and I did. I tried again. I put the fob right on the start button, but it didn’t work. I was not happy as it was fucking freezing, even for me. I did have a coat in the trunk, so I put that on. It was still cold, however, and I hurried back into the building to wait for my brother.
Take one guess what happened? It started on the first try for him. He put the fob on the right side of the button, and it worked. I’m guessing the battery in my fob is running low combined with the bitter cold. My brother said to try the spare fob first and if that doesn’t work, then it’s the battery in the car. Either way, I’m grateful that my brother was available, and it’s always the case where my brother simply needs to be near by in order for something to work.
I was wiped out by the time I got home. I’m still dealing with the effects today. I’m glad I went, though, and it’s a sign for me to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Hopefully, without the car drama–I could do without that.