Friday, August 14, 2026

Friday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

I'm counting this as Day #4

It's 61 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:57.

I've got a 3:30 appointment with Darren Ricchi in Pittsfield this afternoon to receive and calibrate my replacement Signia Hearing Aids.....Finally! I need to leave here around 2 ish.

I've been trying to set up a meal with Travis this week but haven't been able to find a time when we could meet. I texted that we should try next week. I haven't heard back yet.

The Practice:

I started in The Driveway with a round of Taiji Staff (both sides) I did the second side twice because I ended up on the wrong side at the end. I fudged it in the middle and ended up on the correct side. I still need to flush this form out on side #2.

Next I went up to my main training area and did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang 8 Animal Palms Changes 1-4 (both sides) focused on Sequence especially on The Bear (#3) I think I've flushed this out.

Next I did a round of Anyo Apat focused on Basics, Sequence and Applications.

Next I did a round of Wansu Kate focused on Technique and Mobility/Agility.

Next I did a brief Warm Up focused on Health and Consistency.

Next I did a Round (left side) focused on Observing, paying Attention to the Principles.

Next I did a brief Standing and Healing Qigong.

That's it for today. I'm a bit distracted about my upcoming drive to Pittsfield and yesterdays visit to Black Mountain Estates. Oy! This moving and the next step is daunting. 



Thursday, August 13, 2026

Thursday Practice

 



The Details and Notes:

It's 67 at the house. The Sunrise was at 5:55.

We lost power all night last night. It came on momentarily at 1:45 and before I could turn off all the lights it went back out until early this morning.

We need to leave at 9:30 am for appointments to look at a couple of houses in Brattleboro. Nice house in BlackMountain Estates worth looking into. 

I have a haircut with Shayna at 11:15 this morning. Done

I need to call Darren Ricchi to confirm my appointment tomorrow at 3:30. Done

I need to call to confirm our appointment with Ed in Oct. to get our oil burner serviced. Done

I left a message with Bagley and Goodwin to cancel the dental cleaning they had me scheduled for. Done

The Practice:

Before we left for our appointments I went out to my main training area and started with a brief Warm Up 

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

Rub The Neck Against The Collar

Next I did a brief Standing and Healing Qigong.

That's it for today..It's time to head to Brattleboro to look at houses.



Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Wednesday Practice

 



The Details and Notes:

Day #3

It's 63 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:54.

I've got music in The Barn this afternoon from 2-4.

No electricity this morning, so we thought it would be a good time to hook up and run the generator. It took a bit but we got it all working. I put a little more gas and some stabilizer in the tank. The unit ran for over an hour, the longest it's run in years??

Calls to make:

- Darren Ricchi in Pittsfield to confirm my appointment on Friday afternoon. I called and left a voice mail. I later received and automated message to confirm my appointment. I still need verbal confirmation before I drive all the way to Pittsfield o

- Travis to set up a get together. I texted him. I haven't heard back.

- Chris to get the photo's off the boards. I haven't contacted her yet.

The Practice:

I started in the driveway with a round of Taiji Dao using Master Liang's Broadsword (above) watching the tip, shoulder and wrist health and the timing of the steps

Next I did a round of Pakua-Knife (shaolin) tuned into Mobility, Agility and Sequence.

Next I went up to my main training area and did a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Linking Palms Changes 5-8 reciting the names of the Postures throughout. I also focused on Relaxed Balance when doing the Kick Ups as well as the angle of my thigh and foot.

Next I put the generator away (the electricity came back on)

Next I did a round of Anyo Tatlo focused on Jumping and Applications.

Next I did a round of Seiunchin Kata tuned into Stretch during the Crescent Kicks and Sequence (for cognition)

Next I did a round of the 10+ focused on Consistency and Health

Next I did a Round (right side) tuned into Meditative Observation and Attention to the Priciples.

Next I did a brief Standing and Healing Qigong.

That's it for today......


Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Tuesday Practice

 



The Details and Notes:

It's 68 at the house and the whole house fan is running. The sunrise was at 5:53.

Things to do:

- call Darren Ricchi in Pittsfield to confirm my appointment on Friday.

- blood work before my appointment next Wednesday with Dr. Van Dyck

- go into the Gfld. Savings Bank to find out about the savings account I have with them. Done!

The Practice:

After my visit with Gfld. Savings Bank I left my car (Volvo) there and walked to the YMCA and did a round of CYBEX and GraviTron then I walked back.

I stopped at Tito's to pick up lunch for us. After eating lunch when I got home I realized I hadn't done my Round for the day yet.

So I went out to my main training area and I'd a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I & II.

Next I did a round of Standing and Healing Qigong.

That's it for today.......



Monday, August 10, 2026

Monday Practice

 



The Details and Notes:

Day #2

It's 61 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:52.

We've got our neighbors coming for dinner at 5:30 this evening. We're going to serve Burgers, Corn (Ciesluk's) and Caprese Salad.

I need to get blood work at the Brattleboro Hospital this week. 

The Practice:

I started with mowing the lawn and gassing up the lawn mower. 

Next I did a round of Taiji Jian reciting the names of the postures throughout. I did really well right up to the end. I need to review those names. I also focused on the tip of the metal sword (Lung Ching) that I was using (above)

Next I did a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Linking Palms Changes 1-4 (both sides) reciting the names of the postures throughout.

Next I did a round of Anyo Dalawa focused on Sequence and Technique.

Next I did a round of Naihanchi Kata solidifying the changes I've made. 

Next I did the finger cognition exercise and a brief warm up

Next I did a bit of weeding in the driveway.

Next I went up to my main training area and did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I & II.

Next I did a brief Standing and Healing Qigong.


Sunday, August 9, 2026

Sunday Practice

 


The Details and Notes:

Day #1 in the rotation

It's 68 and muggy at the house. It rained overnight. The sunrise was at 5:51.

I've got the sheets in the washer.

I'm going to balance the Check Book later this morning

Echo is lying on the bottom stair in the sun...Life is good!

The Practice:

I started in my main practice area with a round of Taiji Cane (both sides) focused on using a Light Body and Low Stances.

Next I did a round of Anyo Isa with a focus on Basics and Leaping

Next I did a round of Seisan Kata focused on retracting my kicks and using good quality Basics.

Next I did a full round of The 10 Exercises focused on Health and Consistency.

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I & II focused on:

"Rub The Neck Against The Collar"

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong

Next I did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang Yin/Yang Figure Eight Walking focused on 

"Hook Step (kuo-bu), Swing Step (bai-bu)" 

using the correct Stepping in the correct Direction.



Saturday, August 8, 2026

Saturday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

Day #8 in the rotation

It's 70 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:50. 

Jeff is coming up to train this morning from 10-noon. We've been working on The Taiji Dance and Cheng 

Style Baguazhang 8 Animal Palms Changes 5 & 6. 

I need to balance The Joint Checkbook soon....Perhaps today?


The Practice:

I went out to my main practice area and started with a Round (left side) focused on observing the Taiji Principles and Consistency.

Next I did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang 8 Old Palms (both sides) focused on doing the Changes at the correct Gua on the circle as well as reciting the Names of the Palms as I was doing them.

Once Jeff came we started with my Modern Arnis Cane Warm Ups. 

Next we did a round of all four Modern Arnis Cane Anyo (both sides) stopping at #2 and #4 to discuss Double Zero, Applications and Sequence.

Next we did a round of Anyo Walo focused on Sequence and the names of the numbers in Taglog

Next we flushed out Sunsu at the end. I figured out that I was leaving out one of the triple elbow striked and ended up doing the last triple elbow strikes in the wrong direction. That's the reason I was ending up facing the wrong direction.

Next we did a brief round of Tapi Tapi (both sides)

Next we did a round of The Dance (both sides) focused on observing The Classics and Sequence.

Next we did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang 8 Animal Palms Changes 1-6 working on #3, #5 and #6 for Sequence and Basics.

That's it for today.




Friday, August 7, 2026

Friday Practice

 



The Details and Notes:

Day #7

It's 70 at the house. It's forecast to be another hot and humid day today. The sunrise was at 5:47.

Zack Avery is coming this morning to repair the driveway drainage.

I'm still not feeling well. Ugh!!

The Practice:

I started in The Driveway with a round of Double Dao using my wooden Broadswords (above) focused on Technique and Sequence.

Next I went up to my main Training Area and did a round of Anyo Pito focused on Sequence and Direction.

Next I did a round of Sunsu Kata focused on Sequence, Technique and Direction. I got a bit distracted right at the end when the guy's from Avery Lanscaping showed up to put larger stone in the bottom sleuth.

Next I did a Very Brief Warm Up followed by a Round (right side) focused on observing and contemplating the Classic Principles.

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong. I worked of the Sequence of Postures during the Standing Post Training; changing the last few Postures. 


Thursday, August 6, 2026

Thursday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

Day #6

It's 67 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:48.

Slept it this morning GG too! 

The Practice:

I started in The Driveway with a round of Lo Family Staff focused on lower crane stances, Fa Jin, Shoulder health and Jumping [light body]

Next I went up to my main training area and did a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Palms Changes 1-4 reciting the names of the Postures throughout.

Next I did a round of Anyo Anim focused on Application, Sequence and Stance Work

Next I did 1-6 of the Original 10 focused on Stretching Fascia, Balance [#6 variation], Health and Consistency. 

Next I did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I & II

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong.


Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Wednesday Practice

 



The Details and Notes:

Day #5

It's 61 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:47.

I've got Shubal and Bobby V. coming to play music this afternoon from 2-4.

I only saw one Garter Snake by my garage this morning. It left as soon as I opened my garage door to get a Staff.

The Practice:

I started in The Driveway with a round of Monkey Staff focused on Sequence and Techniques

Next I went up to my main training area


I did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang 8 Animal Palms Changes 5-8 focused on #5 [Phoenix].

 Next I did a round of Anyo Lima tuned into Applications, Sequence and Direction Of Techniques.

Next I did a round of Chinto Kata focused on Agility, Mobility, Spinning and Jumping.

Next I did a full round of The Original 10 Exercises.

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I & II

Next I did all 8 Standing Postures and Healing Qigong


Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Tuesday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

It's 61 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:46.

I've got a 10 am appointment in Pittsfield (with Darren Ricchi [audiologist] which is 1 hour and 45 minute drive from Leyden. Oy! Getting my TrueHearing insurance to kick in has taken months of effort; multiple phone calls and lot's of waiting. Hopefully this will work? Time will tell! 

I did it!! 1 hour and 45 minutes each way. I have to go back on Friday August 14th @ 3:30 in the afternoon. Ugh!! But I should be back in business after that. Fingers Crossed!!

The Practice:

I started inside with a brief Warm Up using #1 - #6 of The 10 Exercises. I substituted Knee Ups and Touch The Ground Standing on One Leg for #6. I started doing those in addition to #6's then felt that they were tightening up my hips....So I stopped. I may add them back when I do a 'Brief Warm Up'

Next I went to my main training area and did a Round (right side) observing the Taiji Classcis throughout the Round. I focused on Brush Knee Twist step 

Next I did a Brief Standing and Partial Healing Qigong.

It's was 8:15 and time to drive to Pittsfield. I needed to stop for gas. That took a while.


Monday, August 3, 2026

Monday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

Day #4 in the rotation.

It's 71 at the house and it's raining (again). The sunrise was at 5:45.

I'm looking at the routes to my appointment in Pittsfield tomorrow morning. It looks like it's going to take me an hour and a half to get there! Oy Vey!! I confirmed my appointment with Darren Ricchi. 

The Practice:

I started in The Driveway with a round of Taiji Staff (both sides) focused on Light Body, Full Squats, Health and Sequence (especially on the left side)

Next I did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang 8 Animal Palms Changes 1-4 (both sides) focused on the Lion Walk, Doing the Changes in the correct Gua, reciting the Names of the Changes, Turning Fully to the Rear and Sequence.

Next I did a round of Anyo Apat focused on Sequence and Basics.

Next I did a round of Wansu Kata focused on Basics, Sequence and Applications.

Next I did a full round of The 10+ adding to #3, #4, #6, #7, #9 and #10. I did the Ba Shi after #7

Next I went inside to get a raincoat (it had started to sprinkle a little) afterwards I went back out to my main training area and did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I & II.

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong.

Sunday, August 2, 2026

Sunday Practice

 


The Details and Notes:

Day #3

It's 70 at the house and humid. The sunrise was at 5:44.

We've got the Celebration of Life for my Mom at the Greenfield Moose Club from 1-4 today.


The Practice:

I started in my main practice area with a brief Warm Up.

Next I did a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Linking Palms Changes 5-8 (both sides) reciting the names of the postures when I could. 

Next I did a round of Anyo Tatlo focused on Sequence and Applications. 

Next I did round of Seiunchin Kata focused on Basics and Sequence.

Next I did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I & II

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong


Saturday, August 1, 2026

Saturday Practice - Day 9,162 -

 



The Details and Notes:

It's 60 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:43.

I've got a 10-11 video meeting with Jeff this morning.

We went to Chris and Jim's for lobster and corn last night. I got to visit with Eli and Molly, Katylin and Dylan, Walker and Jade too.....It was great to see them all.

The Practice:

I started with a brief Warm Up downstairs and then went up to The Loft

Next I did a Round on the right side. I wasn't sure which side today was supposed to be so I stuck with the right. I focused on Breathing through my nose and Deflect, Parry and Punch.

That's all I had for today. I spent an hour talking with Jeff over the internet.