Saturday Practice - Day #4 in the rotation

 

The Details and Notes:

It's 59 at the house and forecast to be in the 80's again this afternoon. The sunrise was at 5:11.

GG opened up the house and put the attic fan on in an attempt to cool the house off. It worked really well yesterday.

I started to take my blood pressure this morning in preparation for my upcoming Dr. Van Dyck visit.

 I've got a 10 am video call with Jeff this morning.

The Practice:

I practiced in The Driveway this morning.

I started with a round of Taiji Staff (left side) focused on leaping and agility.

Next I did a round of Taiji Staff (right side) with the same focus as well as the correct Sequence on the right side.

Next I did a round of Anyo Apat focused on Sequence and Technique as well as applications.

Next I did a round of Wansu Kata focused on letting my latest viewing of Shimabuku performing Wansu wash over me and willingly letting the viewing influence this interaction.

Next I did a full round of The 10 tuned into consistency and overall health.

Next I did a Round reciting the Taiji Classics during Part I

I ended with Standing and Healing Qigong.

Friday Practice - Day # 3 in the rotation

 

The Details and Notes:

It's 55 this morning and forecast to be in the 80's this afternoon. GG opened up and put the attic fan on to cool the house down. It worked!

I learned yesterday at my dentist appointment that I need to have a lower left (Molar) tooth pulled, a bone graft later this month and then an implant in Oct. and finally a crown on the implant in the spring. Oy Vey!

I had a talk with the insurance adjuster Jack Fico about the loss of my hearing aids on the flight from Boston to Rome on ITA. GG helped to contact ITA about the loss and they wrote back that they couldn't find them. I also talked to the folks at True Hearing but my hearing aids were out of warentee so they were unable to help my. Oy Vey!

The Practice:

I practiced in The Driveway this morning.

I started with a round of Taiji Dao using Master Liangs Broadsword (Dao) I focused on Sequence, Timing and reciting the names of the posture where I could.

Next I did a round of Pa-Kua Knife focused on Sequence and Agility.

Next I did a round of Anyo Tatlo focused on 'light body' and agility as well as Applications.

Next I did a round of Seiunchin Kata focused on using quality Basics as well as correct Sequence.

Next I did a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Linking Palms, Changes 5-8 focused on correct Sequence, Lower Stances, Light Body, Breathing and Turning to Open.

Next I went to my main training area and did a Round (left side) focused on Sequence and staying on the left side. At the beginning of Part III during Single Whip I noticed that I had started Part III on the right side; I stayed equanimous and switched back to the left side at Jade Maiden. I maintained mental focus and monitored which side I was on with the intention of staying on the left side.

Next I did a full session of Standing. I continue to work on the new sequence I've been experimenting with. I'm working it out.....

Next I did Healing Qigong.

Thursday Practice - Day #2 in the rotation

 

The Details and Notes:

It's 57 at the house and forecast to reach the 80's for the next few day's.

We put the air conditioner in the master bedroom yesterday and used the attic fan to cool the house down this morning.

I've got an 11:30 appointment at Dr. Goldsher's first to get fitted for another mouth guard and then for a cleaning. It looks like I need a tooth extraction and then a bone graft followed 4 months later an implant....and finally next spring a crown. Oy!! It won't be very pleasant or cheap...

G has a patient visit in Northfield at 9 this morning. 

Oh ya and I had Hartnett Plumbers (Kyle) coming at 8 to fix the toilet in the master bathroom.

The Practice:

I practiced outside in my main training area.

I started with a round of Taiji Jian reciting the names of the postures throughout. I focused on watching the tip of my wooden Jian and using a light body when appropriate.

Next I did Lazay D with the Jian my left hand watching the tip throughout.

Next I did a round of Anyo Dalawa tuned into applications and quality Basics.

Next I did a round of Nihanchi Kata focused on the changes that I've made to this Kata.

Next I did a brief Warm Up focused on Soong.

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Part I

Next I did Standing (adding the 'floating wood Palm toward the end) and Healing Qigong.

Wednesday Practice - Day #1 in the Rotation.

 

The Details and Notes:

It was 52 at the house. I've not recovered from yesterday's air and car travel. I mowed the front along with the middle field path in the morning.

Nezt i practiced drum set (Tama's) for a little while and cleared up a bit in The Barn.

Next I practiced...

The Practice:

I practiced outside in my main training area next to Big Greenie...It was a perfect temperature!

I started with a round of Taiji Cane (right side) focused on consistency and shoulder health

Next I did a round of Anyo Isa focused on using quality basics with full extension and Sequence and light body during the progressive stepping.

Next I did a round of Seisan Kata letting the viewing of Tatsu Shimabuku performing Seisan influence me.

Next I did a brief Warm Up focused on opening my joints and Soong.

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Part I

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong focused on letting the waist turn as I place all my weight to one side, I automatically turn to the other side. I also tuned into when things stop and start.

Tuesday Practice in Leyden

 

Details and Notes:

I got up at 3:30 am in Bari. First I showered then I finished packing then we caught a 4:30 am Shuttle from the Parco dei Principi Hotel to the Airport in Bari. After asking WTF the ITA desk was?? It was in front of the bar out of sight!  We checked our luggage all the way through to Boston. So far so good!

That's when Ginnie realized she had left her Kindle in the seat pocket of the plane we took from Bari to Rome. Oy!

The ITA plane from Rome to Boston was an hour late taking off. Which means we'll be driving home in rush hour traffic. 

After arriving in Boston (long ass flight!) we finally got picked up by the Comfort Inn Shuttle and when we went to retrieve our car (Lexus) only to realize the battery was dead and we 1. couldn't get into the car (key less entry doesn't work when the battery is dead) 2. We couldn't start the car!! Hmm! Luck was with us and the 'guy' behind the desk offered to Jump Start us. At that point we didn't know if the Key Fob Battery was dead also, but it wasn't and we got the car started with Jumper Cables. Many thanks to the 'guy' that helped us out! Kudos!!

The drive back from the Comfort Inn was 3 hours and bumper to bumper traffic almost the entire way. Combat Driving is NOT my favorite thing to do. Ugh!

We finally made it home!

The Practice:

I practiced in The Driveway after putting the Lexus in the garage with a battery conditioner on it.

I was totally shot but wanted to 'get a Round in' so I started with a very brief Warm Up focused on consistency.

Next I did a Round focused on consistency, balance and opening/closing my Kua and leading my limbs with my waist.

Next I did a brief Standing and Healing Qigong.

Monday Practice in Monopoli, Italy

 

Details and Notes:

It's very calm and the Adriatic Sea is like a like. We are going to return the rental car and check in to our room at the Parco dei Principi Hotel in Bari. Returning the car was horrible; we went to the wrong place a couple of times, we couldn't read the signs in Italian and we couldn't seem to find any English speaking person to help us...Boy oh boy did we get lost, confused and short tempered. We finally did find it and ended up getting charges for the gas we used to find it. Oy Vey! 

The Practice:

I practiced on The Balcony again (last time) overlooking the flat, lake like Adriatic Sea. I'll miss that Balcony!

I did a brief Warm Up

Next I did a Round (right side) focused on consistency and overall health.

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong.

Sunday Practice in Monopoli, Italy - June 1st makes for 9,102 days of continual Taiji, Qigong practices over the past 24 years

 

                                              Sunset from our balcony last evening.

The Details and Notes:

Wonderful Wedding Ceremony (Dylan and Giulia) yesterday at Macreme just south of Monopoli. It was hot in the sun but a cool breeze coming off the Adriatic Sea.

We gave Gayle and Joe a ride back to the 'old town' in the center of Monopoli. It was tough driving in the city; there are no stop signs at any of the 4 way intersections. It was just a Free For All...Kinda nuts!!

I didn't sleep well last night.

The Practicea;

I practiced on The Balcony again this morning. First thing was another disastrous attempt at using the washing machine in this apartment. Oy Vey!!

I started with a brief Warm UP focused on Stretching, Breathing in Opening my Joints.

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Part I and adjusting the timing of Deflect, Parry and Punch.

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong.

Young Skyler and Dylan assisting me with a demonstration at Andiamo's (a few years ago)

 

Silly Clothing Relay Race at a Holiday Party

 

Saturday Practice in Monopoli, Italy

 

Details and Notes:

It's a beautiful day again. We've had fabulous weather this trip; not to hot, not to cold, just right.

We have Dylan and Giulia's Wedding ceremony at Macreme (15 minutes south of Monopoli) at noon today. This is the main motivating purpose of this trip. Congratulations to them!

The Practice:

I practiced on our balcony again today (photo above) looking at the Adriatic Sea.

I started with a full round of The 10 focused on Mobility, Agility, Balance and deep abdominal Breathing.

Next I did a Round (right side) tuned into 'When to Stop and Not Move' (Yin/Yang) as well as observing deep Breathing without conscious effort; Relaxed without tension.

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong.

Next I did a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Palms Changes 5-8 (both sides) focused on Sequence, Balance and reciting the names of the Postures where I could. 

Youth Karate Evaluation (a few years ago)

 

Friday Practice in Monopoli, Italy

 The Practice:

I practiced on The Balcony again this morning.

I started with a round of Kusanku Kata focused on mobility, agility, balance and stretch.

Next I did a round of Anyo Lima focused on Sequence and Postures/Basics

Next I did a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Palms Changes 1-4 reciting the names of the Postures throughout.

Next I did a brief Warm Up

Next I did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics and adjusting the timing of Deflect, Parry and Punch.

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong.

The Prof. and Sifu J. R. Roy

 

Thursday Practice in Monopoli, Italy

 

The Details and Notes:

We traveled up to Bari this morning and ended up having a little crunch on our rental car in the parking lot. Ugh! The parking is tough in Italy. Really tough!!

It rained a bit on the way up to Bari but stopped once we got there. Yay!! We did a guided tour through the Historic District and then lunch where we met Nona and her sister ( Giulia's Aunt). 

The Practice:

I practiced on The Balcony (Deck) of our apartment before we went to Bari.

I started with a brief Warm Up focused on Stretching and moving lymph.

Next I did a Round (right side) focused on cultivation

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong.