Friday Practice

 

I used my phone camera for this image. Zoomed in as far as I dared to. Then I cropped it trying to get the 5 deer that were grazing throughout my practice session on the deck. Oh yeah and first a single hawk crying for it's mate then the mate and the first hawk flew away. Nature is amazing!!

The Details:

It was 30 here at the house...Brrr! Clear sky and lot's of sunlight. It'll be warmer this afternoon, all the way up to the 60's. Yay! 

The Practice:

I started off with a round of Taiji Jian with my metal sword and the music with me reciting the names of the postures. It's a CD that I made for training this form, back in 2009. It still works!!

Next I did a brief warm up #1 and #2 of The 10.

Next I did a Round (right side) to Master T. T. Liang counting the beats One Da, Two Da......tuned into staying with the count and issuing from my back, with the resulting Jin forming in my fingers

Next I did a Round (left side) to just the music. I was having a challenging time keeping my concentration on the continuous flow of the form and keeping it in time with the beat. Interesting practice from a mental attention point of view. Then when I did find I was out of sync (spaced out), trying not to react and just stay calm and focused and simple get back to it. I was able to do that on both Rounds. Doing a right followed by a left round is challenging from a mental attention and short term memory stand point. It requires the same sort of mental focus that playing an arrangement in music demands. You have to know where you are in the arrangement and if you're doing multiple iterations, as in a band practice, you must keep straight which iteration you are currently playing. Very similar mental attention is needed to keep 'things' straight.

I also tuned into the use of my back to store and release energy throughout the Round (s)

Yang Cheng Fu's Ten Essential Points of T'ai Chi Ch'uan (a handout from Master Paul Gallagher's classes)

#2 - "Let the chest be hollow and pluck up the back."

Master Paul's commentary: "Hollowing the chest means to let the chest be held in a bit do the ch'i can sink to the tan t'ien. One must avoid forcing out the chest; if the chest is forcibly expanded, then the ch'i will accumulate in the chest with the result that the upper part of the body will be heavy and lower part will be light; the heels will easily rise of the ground and ones's root will be broken. Plucking up the back means the ch'i must adhere to the back. If one can hollow the chest in the proper manner, then one can automatically pluck up the back; if one can pluck up the back, then energy can be issued from the spine so that one can be without match."

Next I put on wrist 2lb weights and did a round of Anyo Apat tuned into keeping my shoulders in the proper place and generally being careful not to injure or aggravate my shoulders. I have hurt them both in the past and one of the culprits was using wrist weights incorrectly. 

Next I did a round of Kusanku Kata using the same 2lb wrist weights. I tuned into the agility and health benefits of this Kata.

I finished with a Healing Qigong - 

"Pore Breathing 

- Qi Permeates My Bones - 

Breathing Out Into The Space 

That Is Everywhere

 Inside And Outside Of Me"

Thursday Practice

 

I shot this with my phone camera. I waited until the sun warmed things up to a balmy 40! Oy!! It was lovely on the deck out of the wind.

The Details: 

The sunrise was at 5:51 and it's 32 here at the house....Brrr!

It looks like it's going to be clear and warmer this afternoon.

The Practice:

I practiced on the deck again. I started with the first half of Master Haywards 30 Warm Ups and then went into The 10+ starting at #5.

Next I did a Round (right side) using Master T. T. Liang's music with him counting

Next I did a short Spear session in the driveway. I also found my metal Jian and the Dao that was bequeathed to me after Master Liang passed in 2002

Next I did a Round (left side) using Master Liangs music without the count. I lost a beat somewhere in Part III. Oh well, tomorrows another day. 

Next I did a round of Bagua Zhang working on Snake And Sparrow Palm and Yin/Yang Circle Walking

Notes:

During my Rounds I focused on Yang Chenfu's first principle:

*Copied from a hand out from Master Paul B. Gallagher

#1 - "Suspend the crown of the head lightly and alertly."

Master Paul's commentary: *"Preserving energy on the crown of the head (i.e. suspending the head) means that the head must be held perfectly erect, so that the spirit can reach the crown of the head. One must not use force; if one uses force the muscles of the neck will be strained and the result that qi and blood will not be able to circulate freely. Rather, one must have  light and alert feeling. if the crown of the head is not suspended lightly and alertly the spirit of vitality cannot be raised."

Wednesday Practice

 

I shot this with my phone camera mid-morning after it stopped drizzling. The buds are coming! All we need is one more sunny and warm day and they'll be busting open;^) Nature's Qi is strong here!

The Details:

It was down to the mid 40's and drizzling first thing this morning. I waited until 8:00 or so, then went out to practice on the deck. It had stopped drizzling for the most part but it was still cold. I wore a jacket and gloves.

The Practice:

I started with a full round of The 10+ tuned into breathing fresh air and lightly stretching internally from foot to finger tips and top of head. I aimed to produce a specific frequency, natures frequency; I was calibrating my mind/feeling/experience.

Next I did a Round to Master Liang's music and count on the right side tuned into my environment. It's beautiful here!

Next I did a round of Anyo Tatlo tuned into the flow of the postures and the quality of my basics.

Next I did a round of Chinto Kata tuned into the agility that this Kata demands.

Next I did a Round of Taiji on the left side to Master Liang's music without his count. I stayed right in time up until the very end when I got a spam phone call and stopped for a few beats to look and see who it was forgetting that I needed to keep the count because the music just kept going. I was off a few beats at the end. Oh well! Tomorrow's another day. 

I finished with a Healing Qigong.

Tuesday Practice

 

The Details:

I shot this image with my phone camera from the deck, mid morning after it warmed up a few degrees as the sunlight warmed up the earth and air. It was super clear without a cloud in the sky. It was 'crisp' but the air was fresh, clean and tasty! The Spring Qi was strong and delightful.

The Practice:

I used The Music with Master T. T. Liang counting out the beats. I used the solo form as a 'warm up' this morning. 

I started with Round on the right side to the music with Master Liang counting. One Da, Two Da........ 

Next I did a Round on the left just to the music. I was accurate with the count all the way through.

I noticed that the quicker pace (15 minute Round) afforded more opportunity for 'light and agile' movements. I like the idea of multiple round alternating between the right and left sides.

Next I did a round of Bagua Yin/Yang walking first using 'Wild Goose Leaves The Flock', followed by 'Snake And Hawk Palm' and I finished with 'Yin/Yang Palm'. The last two palms were spontaneous and came out as I continued to practice with Wild Goose Leaves The Flock Palm/Guard'. An epiphany that comes from doing and not overthinking, but allowing the epiphany to occur by getting out of the way mentally and spiritually while still doing the practice physically. A very interesting experience.

Next I did a round of Anyo Apat - I messed up the ending and had to re-start.

Next I did a round of Wansu Kata tuned into the quality of my basics getting full extension and more snap.

Email me if you see this.....

                            Holding The Moon at Christmas time on the beach last year.

*I've just returned to Leyden. Please email me if you're reading this. Thanks!

Email Sifu Roy

Monday Practice - First day back in Leyden

I started my day off with a cup of tea dedicated to Master Paul.  I used the teacup that was given to me soon after he passed. RIP - Gone but not forgotten!

 

I shot these images with my phone camera.

The Details:

I practiced on the deck this morning soon after it warmed up a few degrees! It was in the high 40's! Brrr!!

The Practice:

I started with a full round of The 10+ interspersed with beginning on Master Ray's 30 Warm Ups. I tuned into getting a very specific stretch; Not too much or too little, but just right.

Next I did a Round (left side) tuned into the view, the trees, the quiet, the air quality, the deer and most importantly the bird songs. There was continual bird songs throughout my Round. Spectacular Round! 

Next I did Standing Meditation session exploring the Taoist idea of the hardest section should be in the middle, making the beginning and ending more relaxed.

Next I resumed my rotation of the Modern Arnis and American Karate-Do forms with a round of Anyo Tatlo tuned into the applications of the postures.

Next I did a round of Seiunchin Kata tuned into the quality of my basics and adding more focus at the end of my postures.

Next I did a round of Taiji Double Dao with my Dragon Canes

I finished with a Healing Qigong.

Sunday Practice

 

We finally arrived back in Leyden this afternoon. I had a fabulous practice in my original practice spot in Leyden, near Big Greenie and all her friends. I had a profound connection to the trees all around me.  One the best Rounds I've had in weeks.

The Details:

Later than I usually practice but I wanted to wait until I got back to Leyden as opposed to practicing again in the hotel room before we left this morning. It was a good idea!

The Practice:

I started with a modified warm up. Less reps done slower with more feeling. 

Next I did a Round (right side) tuned into the trees all around me especially Big Greenie.

Saturday Practice

 

On the road practice in the hotel room before we hit the road again. Not the best round I've ever had but I got it in!

Friday Practice

 

My last sunrise beach practice for this season (2023-2024) this morning makes 158 sunrise practices this season. I shot this with my phone camera just as the sun was rising above the horizon.

The Practice:

No warm up just a Round (right side) tuned into the environment.

Thursday Practice

 

I shot this image with my phone camera as soon as I arrived at the beach. There was very little wind and what there was, was coming in from the west, so the beach was in the lee. The noseeums were out and bugging my face and neck. I was happy that I had long pants and long sleeves on.

The Details:

It's 69 here at the house. The sunrise was at 6:55 and the last high tide at 5:48. There was a strong Sea Scent reminiscent of the Sea Scent that I'm familiar with on the coast of Maine.

The Practice:

I started down by the water's edge with a full round of The 10+ tuned into the health benefits of doing this set daily. 

Next I stayed down by the water's edge to do a Round (right side) tuned into expressing Jin in my fingers and using that expression to connect to the horizon for cultivation of natures energies.

Next I did a round of Anyo Dalawa tuned into the quality of my basics and overall postures.

Next I did a round of Seisan Kata tuned into the timing of my steps and strikes. I used the crane stances to open my hips.

Next I did a round of Taiji Dao reciting the names of the postures out loud. I've been working on memorizing the names of the postures. I'm at about 40-50%.....More work is needed on this.

Next I did a left hand Dao session using Level Push and Draw the Knife Horizontally.

I finished with a Healing Qigong while I returned to the house.

I've got a 10 am haircut and lot's and lot's of packing to do .......Tomorrow we migrate north!

A Demo tribute to my late teacher Dr Leung Kay-chi RIP

Yin Fu 8 Palms with Master Ray Hayward.

Wednesday Practice

I shot this image with my phone camera when the sun first appeared over the horizon. 
 

The Details:

It's 70 here at the house. The sunrise was at 6:56, last high tide at 4:56. As soon as I arrived on the beach the steady south wind delivered a very strong scent of the ocean. It reminded me of Maine at low tide (love that particular aroma - The Sea). I frankly couldn't understand what was causing such a strong Sea Smell. A strong Sea Smell is very unusual on the beaches of NSB. It was pleasant surprise this morning. 

The Practice:

I started down by the water's edge with a round of The 10+ in combination with the beginning of Master Ray's 30 warm ups tuned into the environment, breathing in the aroma of the sea, feeling the gentle sea breeze, the sun rising, the clouds, the sound of the waves crashing on the beach....Ahhhh! 

With gratitude and appreciation!

Next I did a Round (right side) tuned into counter balancing and experiencing how a 'Round a Day' helps to keep ones gate and balance more youthful. 

Next I did a Standing Meditation session using Holding The Moon and Play Guitar tuned into cultivating with the horizon. I've been doing this version most every day after my Round of Taiji.

Next I did a round of Anyo Isa tuned into the quality of my basics and stance work. I focused on the flow, rather than the power.

Next I did a round of Niahanchi Kata tuned into the changes that I'm contemplating. I have a bunch of this form that is currently under revision. Stay tuned....

Next I did a round of Modern Arnis' 4 Cane Anyo's first with the right side and then with the left. I noticed that the left side of #4 was more accurate and easier than before. Yay!

I finished with a Healing Qigong as I was returning to the house.

Notes:

Marc, Gayle and Bill walking north. They are regular sunrise beach walkers. Like clockwork I see them most every morning when I'm down there exercising. They also socialize as they are exercising. 

"The very best exercise? The one that you'll do!"

Sifu

I said my good bye's to Marc, Gayle, Bill, John and Doris this morning. Although I may see them tomorrow. I'm not sure if I'll make it to the beach on Friday morning before we leave for Leyden.

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