Yes, I’m going to talk more about martial arts because it’s one of the shining stars in my otherwise dark sky. I knew that asshole was going to ignite everything on fire, but I did not expect it that quickly. I should have, but I didn’t. I knew he was going to let all his dysfunctions fly, but I thought he would have taken a week to settle in before destroying the world. Here is the post from yesterday.
I just can’t. Arc of justice, yadda, yadda, but I think it might be better if our country just went away. If that many people want to take it in that direction, well, then I want no part of them–or this country.
I have never been very patriotic. I never understood being that loyal to something that will give you nothing back. I mean the actual country itself, not the people in it. Also, it was just a fluke that I was born here (and we are NOT getting into that right now because I cannot), so I don’t see how it makes this country any better or more special than any other. I’ve never felt overly attached to this country or thought it was better than every other country on earth.
I survived the first term of this asshole. Barely, but I did. When the idea that he might have a second term became evident, I just could not understand it. He had lied about everything, fumbled almost everything, and left the country worst than when he started. In addition, he had no respect for anyone. He did not care who he hurt and many of his acolytes did get hurt along the way. Not that he cared about that, of course. Nor would he take any ownership of that, I’m sure.
I am a pretty pragmatic and cynical person. I have been on this earth for over half a century. And yet. Apparently, I still am an idealist at heart as a friend in college once labeled me, much to my indignation and dismay*. This many decades later, I still think that maybe, this time, people will do the right thing.
Taiji helps me deal with this as it does everything. Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do with it. looking at the bigger picture, Taiji saved my life. Looking at the medium picture, Taiji has helped me navigate my relationships much better than before. Looking at the small picture, Taiji allows me to put one foot in front of the other each day. Looking at the, uh, I don’t know what size picture, Taiji has ameliorated most of the bodily pains I’ve had. I feel much better at fifty-plus years than I did when I was in my twenties.
I am still obsessed with the fan. Below, I have included a more aggressive Fan Form that appeals to the more aggressive side of my nature. You can tell that this form is for combat, for sure. I’m guessing it’s a more commonly-known form because I recognize the music from other Fan Form videos. Or it’s jsut the piece of music that everyone uses for the Fan Form.
It’s interesting. I study Yang-style Taiji, but I can appreciate other forms. As long as the basics adehere to Taiji principles, it’s ok if there are variants here and there.
In my private lesson today, we focused on Bagua. I want to finish learning the Swimming Dragon Form, and we’ve been doing other things the past month or two. I don’t mind, and it’s at my behest. It’s because there are so many things I want to learn, especially now that I’ve added Bagua to the mix.
My teacher showed me afew new movements. Plus, we talked about the fact that Bagua is mostly 60% weight on the back foot whereas in Taiji, it’s 70& weight on the front foot the vast majority of the time. It was quite the adjustment to make, and my teacher told me that I could ‘rock’ forward quickly and then just as quickly go to the back foot to make the adjustment. This was when I first started studying Bagua.
Today, I asked if I was supposed to rock forward and back or not. I didn’t think I was, but I couldn’t quite remember. In Taiji, unnecessary movement was not ideal, which rocking forward before rocking back again certainly was. She said that she had suggested it just so I could get used to the back-weighted stance because it’s so different than Taiji. I was relieved to know that my instincts were good in that I thought the rock forward was unnecssary.
We are now roughly two-thirds done with the form. There is a lot of repetition, but with variations.. I know from Taiji that it’s a way to keep your mind in the present. There is a series of movements in the (Taiji) Solo Form that always appear together. And that chunk is the prelude to several different subsections of the form. If you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to forget where you are–that’s the purpose of the Solo Form being like that.
One of my favorite movements in the Solo Form is in the third section, and it’s a variation of a movement we do several other times prior to it in the form. It’s called White Snake Spits Out Its Tnogue, and it’s a variation of Chop With Fist, which is an unfolding position. Meaning,you strike with the elbow and if that doesn’t do the damage you want, you strike downwards with the knuckles of your fist. That’s the normal posture. The White Snake variant is that after striking down with your knuckles, if that isn’t good enough, you flick out your fingers into someone’s eyes, nose, or throat.
I am pleased that I remember the Swimming Dragon Form thus far–as much of it as I’ve been taught. I’m also glad I clarified that I don’t need to rock forward–in fact, I should not be rocking forward, ideally. My teacher demonstarted how it should be done, and, boy, is it a fast and dynamic form. I canot wait to add the DeerHorn Knives to the mix–which will be just as soon as I learn the Hands Only version. I would like to finish it up in the next two months–I feel like that is eminently doable.
*Here’s the scene. I was saying I was a cynic, but I don’t remember the context. He thought about it for a minute and said, “No, you’re not. You’re an idealist.” I was in my emo, nihilist, everything-sucks phase, and I was apoplectic that he would call me an idealist. I was no starry-eyed ingenue who looked at everything through rose-colored glasses, damn it! I planned on telling him exactly that, but he took the wind out of my sails when he explained what he meant.
He said that I expected the best out of people and when I didn’t get it, I was disappointed. That’s what made me cynical over time, not the fact that I was a pessimist (in general). I opened my mouth to protest, but then I shut it again. Why? Because he was right. Loath as I was to admit it, he was fucking right.